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National Senior team head coach Wim Rijsbergen described the recent five-day scouting/training camp for North American-based players in South Carolina as a worthwhile exercise, citing that he has come up with a list of players who could force themselves into the National Senior and Olympic teams for future competition.


Rijsbergen along with assistant coach Anton Corneal and staff members worked with some 28 players who campaign with clubs and colleges in North America . And according to Rijsbergen, if the necessary arrangements can be within short time, talented striker Stefan St Louis of Oakland University could be added to the National Under 20 team in time for the CFU playoffs with Jamaica this weekend.
 
“It was a worthwhile trip where we got to see the players who are based across there. Of course we didn’t get to see everyone but it was great to see the commitment of those who came to the camp over the Thanksgiving holiday We saw 28 players with the age that makes them material for the under 20 straight up to the senior level,” Rijsbergen told TTFF Media on Tuesday.
 
“We saw guys like Osei Telesford and Darryl Roberts last year so this was a chance to see how much they improved. Now we can bring some of these guys together and we have already planned for the Christmas period when they will be on break back in Trinidad . We will have them together with a group of local players that we will call and then is when we can compare both sides. For most of the guys from the camp, they have a chance to play for the Olympic team and that also means they can be senior team material,” he added.
 
Of course, Rijsbergen continued that comparison among the players and whether they can perform at a higher level will be the main judging point.
 
“It’s difficult to explain but if you train at a certain level then it looks good but then you have  to compare it at a higher level and that’s when we will see the difference. Hence we will bring them together and give them a chance to show how good they are or can be.  It’s the same with the local players where we have seen how good they look at the local level but then when you have to face teams like Austria , you can see the difference and we will continue to work on that. Right after the Big six competition we will invite some local players to train together and then have the US players come over before selecting the squad for the Digicel Cup,” Rijsbergen ended.
 
Players who were at the camp: Abiola Clarence (University of Incarnate Word), Akil De Freitas (University of North Florida,), Ancil Farrier (S. Connecticut State University), Brent Bristol (Monroe College), Darren Toby (Charleston College), Darryl Roberts (Liberty University), Jack Weedon (North Carolina State University), Jeremy Delpino (Radford University), Josh Stewart (Clayton State Univrsity), Justin Hay (Belmont University), Justin Fojo (Lake Mary High School), Kareem Yearwood (Charleston College) ,Keegan Mills (Missouri Baptiste University), Keeron Benito (University of Tampa), Kezi Lara (Lipscomb University), Kyle Bethel (Howel High School), Leslie Fitzpatrick (free agent), Nkosi Aberdeen (Canisius College), Osei Telesford (Liberty University) , Randi Patterson ( Univ. of N C Greensboro) Joel Richardson (Davis and Elkins College), Rondell Honora (Charleston College), Sean Bateau (Charleston College), Simba Aberdeen (Charleston College), Stefan St Louis (Oakland University), Terrance Williams (Lipscomb University), Tremaine Chinapoo (American University) and Yohance Marshall (University of South Florida).