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With less than two weeks to go before this country’s next 2006 World Cup qualifier against St Kitts/Nevis, national coach Bertille St Clair has been hard at work with a batch of locally-based professionals.


The local bunch, spearheaded by experienced midfielder and captain Angus Eve is expected to be complimented by a powerful line-up of overseas-based pros including outstanding Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. Hislop is rated as one of the top goalkeepers in the English premiership and recently received yet another man-of the-match award. The overseas pros will join their local counterparts for the qualifier at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium on Sunday October 10 from 3:30pm. Three days later the “Soca Warriors” meet Mexico in Puebla.

Following a training session at the Hasely Crawford stadium this Morning, St Clair reminded the players that “no-one is guaranteed a spot on the team. Every player must earn his pick based on merit and he must give us what is required out there on the pitch.” He stressed to the squad that discipline was the most important ingredient and without it “no player will achieve his full potential”.

“Not because a player is based in England or China or the US doesn't mean that his selection is automatic and I expect that when the overseas guys return they will set an example for the local lads to follow. I have spent a lot of time with various clubs in England and over there when the “gaffer” says jump, the player just asks ”how high ? But sometimes over here you have to plead with players to train hard. There is always some excuse, either its too much rain or its too hot or they have to go out somewhere. We have selected players to train and some have not turned up for a single session. There is no way that I will select a player who is not prepared to work hard and I will not excuse laziness no matter how talented a player may be. Local or foreign-based, it is one team and everyone must fight for selection,” St Clair said.

“We are approaching this next game on a serious note as all the others because the tournament is at a stage now where any team can make or break,” St Clair told TTFF Media.

”This is in a way a must win match for us because full points will most likely guarantee us a place in the final round. We still have a lot of work to do and the door remains open to all players as long as they are committed to the team and they are prepared to work hard.”

The list of local-based players in the training squad includes the likes of CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Kerry Baptiste, defender Keyeno Thomas, Josh Johnson, goalkeeper Duarance Williams, Joe Public duo Marlon Rojas and Derek King, Vibe CT 105 W Connection midfielder Silvio Spann, Arima Morvant Fire midfielder Denzil Theobald and Angus Eve among others.

Training continues at 5:30pm on Monday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.