Goalkeepers Marvin Phillip and Nicklas Frenderup are stressing the need for a positive result for T&T when the Soca Warriors face Guyana in their opening World Cup Qualifying game on Thursday at 7 pm in the Dominican Republic.
Both men are expecting a difficult contest, however, Phillip said on Monday that once the players can settle down and focus on the game the team should get the result it needs. The Guyanese, like T&T, have not had the type of preparation they were hoping for.
They have recruited the services of Brazilian coach Marcio Maximo and like T&T, they have been unable to move to full-strength as quite a few players are unable to make it back for the match.
Phillip said "I think this campaign is very important so we need to get settled and get our minds on the game. We're looking forward to a positive start, so as I said we need to focus and let the ball do the work.
The last time the two teams met on the field, the game ended in a 1-1 tied with T&T having to come from behind with a Kevin Molino strike in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Phillip said we are going to face a tough match but believes T&T will emerge as the winner.
Frenderup, on the other hand, has said he is happy to have been recalled to the team and wants to do his best to get the required result.
Both teams are playing out of Group F alongside Bahamas, St Kitts/Nevis and Puerto Rico. Only the winner of the group will earn the right to advance to a play-off with the winner of Group A which comprises El Salvador, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, and the US Virgin Islands.
Apart from Frenderup, the Danish-born who plays for club Stjordals-Blink in Norway, the T&T team was on Sunday boosted by the inclusion of defensive midfielder Khaleem Hyland (Club Al-Batin in the Saudi Arabian League), defender Aubrey David who plays for Deportivo Saprissa in the Costa Rican Primera Division.
Watch Matchday - 3 with Nicklas Frenderup
Watch Matchday - 3 Marvin Phillip looks ahead to opening WCQ
Watch Kelvin Jack on the Job