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Trinidad and Tobago national football team captain Kenwyne Jones vowed that the “Soca Warriors” will not be overawed on Wednesday June 4 when they meet 2014 World Cup title contenders, Argentina, in a friendly international at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/TTFA)
The fixture kicks off at 6.30 pm (TT time)—following a reported change by the Argentina Football Association (AFA)—and will be broadcast live on GISL Channel Four. The temperature is expected to be 16 degrees Celsius at kick off.
The 22-man Warriors squad landed in Argentina on Sunday night and will hold their first training session this evening at the training field for the famous River Plate football team.
Jones, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Germany 2006 World Cup and plays professionally in Britain with Cardiff City, said the Warriors know what they have to do on Wednesday; and they will not be distracted by their stellar opponents.
“I don’t think it’s going to be something where we are going to freeze on the day,” Jones told the TTFA Media. “Obviously it’s a big occasion for the players but we’re going to be ready for it. My players know what they have to do…
“They will press as they should, they will put in their tackles and they will be going all out to put in a good showing.”
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/TTFA)
Trinidad and Tobago took a sizeable contingent to Buenos Aires, courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, which included ex-West Indies captain and cricket record holder Brian Lara and the Siparia Rhythm Section. Trinidad and Tobago President Anthony Carmona travelled separately on a commercial flight.
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee also travelled to see the friendly match while general secretary Sheldon Phillips went to Buenos Aires a day prior to the team’s arrival.
Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina have met three times before; all in the Pan American Games. The tiny two island nation won the first encounter 1-0 in 1967 but then lost 3-2, 5-1 and 6-0 in the 1971, 1975 and 1987 competitions respectively.
Although the two teams have not met in nearly three decades, Argentina first team regulars Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta might have fond memories of Trinidad. Both players made their international debuts in a FIFA tournament at the 2001 World Youth Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
(Copyright AFP 2014/ Juan Mabromata)
Zabaleta, who is the vice-captain of England Premier League champs Manchester City, scored the goal of the 2001 World Youth Cup with a stunning strike off the underside of the bar against Spain; while Mascherano, a Barcelona employee, was also an ever-present on that Argentina team, which lost to France in the semi-final.
On this occasion, Argentina is using Trinidad and Tobago to warm up for the real competition while the Warriors are preparing for the 2014 Caribbean Cup tournament.
Editor’s Note: The Office of the President has stated that, although the TTFA sent photographs of President Anthony Carmona’s arrival in Buenos Aires along with shots of delegates from the Ministry of Tourism’s chartered flight, the President made his own way to Argentina and merely landed at a similar time to the other party.
Wired868 would like to apologise for the inadvertent error.
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Brian so what happened to our players eh so why haven’t they scored so many convincing goals against any country team of late eh all I want to see tomorrow is they at least score a goal eh . Them really good yes
Yeah Earl but I remember us (T&T) givin Canada 4 or 5 at the Oval in a WCQ ☺
Brian I doh know nah the Canadian national team players followed his instructions to yes and they got 8 goals yes so I only hope that after the game he eh get fired to nah. Hehehehe
I have faith in the Coach and once the players follow his instructions I am confident we WILL leave a positive impression after the game.
Difficult task ahead but just play the game how it is supposed to be played…..
hehehehehe all meh goalscorers needs to do is drop their A game at the right time eh, all they need to do is beat up Argentina ent and it is ah done deal.
Yes. That is true. Every man must do his duty for the team first and foremost.
Lasana Liburd – really hoping the fellas go out there and play for the “shirt” first and foremost. If they do that the rewards will follow naturally. If they go into the game thinking about putting themselves in the spotlight, then I might have to start using fingers on my other hand to count the number of goals that we will collect from Messi and his compatriots. I’m really hoping I only have to use fingers on one hand to count goals:-)
TTFA need to give the women’s team the best chance possible to qualify.
Yes, well said Maylee…..I really hope so too….TTFA really need get their act together
Well,look how poor Messi blight for life.
Well, we will have to keep in touch on that Maylee Johnson. I hope so too!
Ok breddrin Lol. ..keep up d good work. Thanks.
Lasana I hope they have at least a dollar to spare for the women’s team, who I believe has a good chance of qualifying for a WC…
He might be as fast as Nixon but nowhere near as polished. He is a streak player. He doesn’t score many tap ins. It is either top corner or in the car park.
But he works hard and he has a knack of being in the right spot. Good potential. But nowhere near where Nixon was at that age.
Scene…hope dem fellas go to dis game without fear. ..ah tired see we playing kinda frighten football years ago but this seem like ah new younger team…d other Winchester, is he that fast? How would you compare his speed tuh jerren Nixon…ah hear people saying he rell quick.
You and I both. 🙂
It is not a FIFA match day and those guys are in competition for their clubs. Aubrey is in Finland and Seon is in Thailand.
Aubrey and Shahdon Winchester would have been released for the game but they would not have had enough preparation time with the squad to satisfy Hart.
Just about every coach in Europe will be watching the match and quite a few in South America too. It is an excellent chance for the players under-25 in particular. Kevin Molino, Trevin Caesar, Khaleem Hyland, Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones, Rundell Winchester, Willis Plaza… Quite a few players within the right age group.
All they need is to drop their A game at the right time.
I just really hope that the guys take the opportunity. This can open so many doors for our players.
Lasana waapn tuh seon powers and Aubrey david?
Predicting a great fighting performance…
I wish I could have gone to this
Okayyyyyyy
hehehehe
Messi does not have the hand of god luck like other Argentinians…lol!
yeah Messi is a genius ent and have yet to win a World Cup. Messi really good yes. hehehehe
No disputing that Adrian Clarke. The man is a genius.
oh lawd how on earth Radanfah Abu Bakr is going to stop Messi eh, somebody please tell me this nah.
Unfortunately what Kenwyne does once or twice a season, Messi does every two games .
everybody predicting scores……allyuh really good yes…..trinis to the bone….less ent
it will be a great lesson though….
ey Mike you are a real trini to the bone ,ent …
Very likely the score will be consistent with more fingers than I have on one hand. But I’m hoping that we at least play respectably and earn some respect.
Messi might do the double hat- trick himself so we looking at 10 then
Anil must stay home
Lol this gonna be epic
they are going to get at least 5 (if they lucky)
You will never hear a Jamaican or a Tobagonian talk like that about their country and countrymen ; we do not even believe in ourselves. I sometimes wonder which country half of you were born in. You all don’t even attend a pro league game and give support to anything…. jeez
Me 3
Ball Boy
President Powers with the team in Argentina as?
I hope channel 4 don’t break for news if the game starting at 6:30 now…
Make it 6
Me too
I expect a good showing by T&T. I predict a good fighting defeat of 4 : 0
Yeah Right
I can’t wait
how come dey going an represent but dey still enh geh paid?
Actually, it is the 2006 World Cup players who are still waiting to be paid. The only player involved in the case that is on the team is Kenwyne Jones.
oh….thanks for the clarification. Well, I hope these players get their payment sorted out.