Rundell juggles Olympic and G/Cup duties; U23s seek Pan Am exemption

Trinidad and Tobago National Under-23 Team manager David Muhammad still hopes to have new players included in his squad for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games despite the fact that the preliminary list deadline passed over a month ago.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) assistant general secretary Diane Henderson, who is the TTOC’s Pan American Games chef de mission, suggested, last Friday, that the National Under-23 Team’s efforts to operate outside the deadline was likely to be rebuffed by the 2015 Pan American Organising Committee.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 midfielder Duane Muckette (left) tries to take the ball under pressure from Guatemala midfielder Andy Ruiz during the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 midfielder Duane Muckette (left) tries to take the ball under pressure from Guatemala midfielder Andy Ruiz during the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

However, Henderson said today, although the final decision will be made in Canada, the TTOC will do everything in its power to help the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

“The TTOC is trying to facilitate,” said Henderson, “and will do whatever we can do to ensure the best players represent our football team at the Pan Am games.

“We will try our best to see what we can do.”

At present, Point Fortin Civic forward Jamille Boatswain and North America-based midfielder Christian Ferreira are both training with the Under-23s, despite not being on the preliminary list, while ex-National Under-20 midfielder Xavier Rajpaul is due to join the squad this week from the United States.

However, Muhammed explained that 21-year-old striker Rundell Winchester, who is on loan from Central FC to the Portland Timbers reserve team, will not play at the Pan Am tournament as national coaches Stephen Hart and Zoran Vranes expect to juggle his services between June and August.

Photo: Central FC forward Rundell Winchester (far right) is congratulated by teammates (from left) Jason Marcano, Jamal Jack and Keion Goodridge during a Pro League contest. At present, Winchester is on loan to the reserve team of MLS franchise, Portland Timbers. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC forward Rundell Winchester (far right) is congratulated by teammates (from left) Jason Marcano, Jamal Jack and Keion Goodridge during a Pro League contest.
At present, Winchester is on loan to the reserve team of MLS franchise, Portland Timbers.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Winchester, who has four senior national caps, will join the Olympic team in Puerto Rico on June 21 for its opening Caribbean qualifying group, which includes Suriname, either Dominica or St Vincent and the Grenadines and the host nation. Only the winner from advance from the group.

He will then join the senior “Soca Warriors” for the July CONCACAF Gold Cup while the Under-23 squad heads for the Pan Am Games.

And, if Portland Timbers allow it, Muhammad hopes to have Winchester back for the Caribbean semi-final round once the Under-23s get that far. If Vranes’ troops fall at the semifinal hurdle—and Haiti is the likely knock out opponent—they will be eliminated without reaching the CONCACAF stage.

Muhammad said Vranes will gamble on using Winchester at the group stage despite no firm commitment from Portland that he will be released to represent for the Caribbean semifinals on August 16. Clubs are not obliged to release players for youth tournaments, even if they fall within the FIFA match window.

Photo: Central FC attacker Rundell Winchester (left) tussles with New Zealand captain and ex-West Ham defender Winston Reid during a senior international friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in December 2013. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: Central FC attacker Rundell Winchester (left) tussles with New Zealand captain and ex-West Ham defender Winston Reid during a senior international friendly at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in December 2013.
(Courtesy Wired868)

“We allowed Rundell to miss the (international friendly against) Panama (on 27 March 2015),” said Muhammad, “so that he he could sign with Portland, and he scored on his debut for them. So we hope to have that goodwill reciprocated.


“But our main concern is that Puerto Rico leg (of Olympic qualifiers). Even if we have to compromise, we will ask for him to come for the first leg ad maybe negotiate again by the time of the CONCACAF leg.”

Of course, Hart will also hope to have Winchester available when Trinidad and Tobago 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign starts in November 2015. It will mean a hectic year for Winchester as well as other Under-23 players who hope to break into the senior Warriors team, such as Shannon Gomez, Alvin Jones, Akeem Garcia, Duane Muckette and Neil Benjamin Jr.

The National Under-23 Team will train again from 8 am on Wednesday May 6 at the Fatima College ground on Mucurapo Road. The session was moved from the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, which is preparing for a Mother’s Day concert featuring Michael Bolton and Richard Marx.

More from Wired868
Barney: How stretched, direct T&T played into Nicaragua’s hands—and Auvray-Julien combo was underutilised

“[…] Triston Hodge, by nature, is not as attacking a full back as Keston Julien. In a situation where we Read more

Eve: Negative Nicaragua employed “nasty, dirty tactics” and T&T fans didn’t help much

Playing on home soil in a must win affair, the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team managed a single Read more

Moses clears the way, as T&T thump the Bahamas 3-0—to set up Nicaragua showdown

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve is 90 minutes away from fulfilling his mandate, after Read more

Eve urges T&T clubs to put nation first, as Warriors seek Copa America gateway via two CNL “finals”

“The short-term goal is to win these two matches,” said Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Read more

Eve names 24-man T&T squad; Winchester, Joseph and Rampersad are in—Muckette misses out

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve announced his 24-man squad to face The Bahamas and Read more

QPCC FC mourn tragic deaths of young footballers Belgrave and Taiwan-bound Prudhomme

The QPCC football community was plunged into mourning yesterday after losing two players on the same day in different incidents. Read more

About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

Check Also

Barney: How stretched, direct T&T played into Nicaragua’s hands—and Auvray-Julien combo was underutilised

“[…] Triston Hodge, by nature, is not as attacking a full back as Keston Julien. …

6 comments

  1. I don’t see Portland allowing Rundell to leave for Pan Am qualifying, but Muhammad sure seems confident.

  2. No doubt pullin on the red jerset must have some impact mentally on any young player esp to my knowledge i dont he has represented us before

  3. That’s a good point Jomo. Your standard is bound to be lifted by intense training sessions among quality players. Will be looking out for him in the Pro Bowl.

  4. Indeed but at least he is getting the opportunity to train and be around the team…hopefully he uses this as a steppin stone….hmmm grenada…id like tougher opponents ok np.
    .hopefully the gk situation is sorted out

  5. Still no guarantees eh. But Muhammad seems confident. It is a tough campaign. Hope those games against Grenada that they are planning help.

  6. Good experience for boatswain…..good work as usual Lasana Liburd

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.