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The T&T Fifa Under-20 World Cup-bound team will not be participating in this year’s T&T Pro League. This was confirmed by T&T Football Federation technical advisor, Keith Look Loy yesterday.
With only two weeks to go before the league kicks off on April 24 with a Charity Shield Tournament, there were questions raised about the involvement of the Under-20s because some of the members were also registered with clubs in the Pro League. The Under-20 team coached by Yugoslav-born Zoran Vranes will come up against host Egypt, Paraguay and Italy in their Pool A matches at the World Cup from September 24 to October 16.

As part of their preparations, T&TFF special advisor and Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner had expressed hope that the Under-20 team would compete in the league. By competing in the league, the Under-20s would have had the benefit of top quality opposition on a weekly basis, the same way they did in the bmobile National Super League, prior to their qualification from the Concacaf Under-20 Championship in T&T last month along with Costa Rica, Honduras and USA. Look Loy said, “It will be very difficult for the Under-20’s to be involved in the Pro League, because we have put in place a very extensive international programme until the Fifa Under-20 World Cup kicks off in Egypt on September 24.

“The players will be globe throttling from maybe the next two weeks with a number of warm-up matches all around the world. “Matches are carded for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, then they also have tours planned to South America and North Africa, just before the tournament kicks off. Look Loy added that the local public will also have a chance to see the team in international action before they go to Egypt as they are expected to host Australia at the end of May. “The Australians will journey to Venezuela for a couple of friendly matches and we have already booked some matches against them for early June,” ended Look Loy.

The Australians will compete in Egypt along with Brazil, Czech Republic and Costa Rica. Meanwhile, the Pro League will comprise 11-teams headed by two-time defending champions, Clico San Juan Jabloteh, W Connection, Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, bmobile Joe Public, St Ann’s Rangers, United Petrotrin, Tobago United , Ma Pau, newcomers South End FC and Police, who are making a return after a one-year absence. The Charity Shield on April 24 will involve Jabloteh, W Connection, Caledonia and bmobile Joe Public while league matches are set to officially kick off on April 28 with Jabloteh on a bye.

Pro League fixture:

April 28 T&T

Police vs Ma Pau, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
Defence Force vs Utd Petrotrin @ Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar
Joe Public vs St Ann’s Rangers @ Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Tobago Utd vs South End @ Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet
W Connection vs Caledonia AIA @ Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva