Warriors submit Gold Cup provisional squad

CONCACAF today revealed the 35-member provisional squads for its 12 participants at the July 2015 Gold Cup tournament in the United States.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago players (from left) Daneil Cyrus, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Kenwyne Jones, Seon Power and Andre Boucaud try to keep out a Mexico free kick during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Courtesy YahooSports)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago players (from left) Daneil Cyrus, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Kenwyne Jones, Seon Power and Andre Boucaud try to keep out a Mexico free kick during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
(Courtesy YahooSports)

According to Gold Cup regulations, the rosters are binding and teams can only select its final 23-man from this list. Coaches can make six changes to their final squad at the end of the Gold Cup group phase but those alterations are restricted to the provisional roster.

CONCACAF published data suggest that Trinidad and Tobago was the only team to register just 30 players. However, coach Stephen Hart explained that the confederation asked teams to select an additional five players last week while the “Soca Warriors” were in Curaçao.

Hart said the Warriors have since added four names to its list, which were accepted, although it got to CONCACAF after it already published its Gold Cup squads.

“It was an error,” Hart told Wired868. “The original document from CONCACAF said 30 players and last week they said to add five players to that list while I was in Curaçao… They acknowledged they got (our additional players) and I can choose from them.”

The four confirmed additions to the initial list were Columbus Crew midfielder Kevan George, Police FC defender Elijah Belgrave, St Ann’s Rangers attacker Kadeem Corbin and North East Stars goalkeeper Cleon John.

He did not say why Trinidad and Tobago choose not to take up their full allotment of 35 players.

Photo: W Connection assistant coach Earl Jean (left) barks orders at his squad while right back Shannon Gomez (right) prepares to take a throw during the 2015 Caribbean Cup final. Looking on is Central FC coach Terry Fenwick. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection assistant coach Earl Jean (left) barks orders at his squad while right back Shannon Gomez (right) prepares to take a throw during the 2015 Caribbean Cup final.
Looking on is Central FC coach Terry Fenwick.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

There was no place for talented teenagers Shannon Gomez (DIRECTV W Connection) and Neveal Hackshaw (North East Stars), who will remain with the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-23 Team.

“My reasoning is I think it is better for them to play the Olympic qualifying and Pan Am Games,” said Hart, “because they will play every game there whereas if they came with me they will only get spot placement.

“I can always assess them again in time for the World Cup (qualifiers).”

Corbin is the only teenager who will travel to Jordan. Hart explained that the wily, versatile winger impressed in Curaçao and can potentially break into the first team, particularly after Point Fortin forward Marcus Joseph was dropped for disciplinary reasons.

“Corbin has been doing very well, ” said Hart. “He is a little bit on the weak side physically but he did relatively well (against Curaçao). He struggled with some bigger defenders throwing him aside but he showed he can do well as a wide player, as opposed to through the centre where he normally plays.”


Photo: St Ann's Rangers attacker Kadeem Corbin (left) takes on Caledonia AIA captain Kareem "Tiny" Joseph during a previous Pro League contest. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: St Ann’s Rangers attacker Kadeem Corbin (left) takes on Caledonia AIA captain Kareem “Tiny” Joseph during a Pro League contest.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Orlando City playmaker Kevin Molino, Hanoi T&T midfielder Hughtun Hector and Chainat FC defender Seon Power are all unavailable for Gold Cup duty due to injury.

The Warriors will be led by captain and Cardiff City forward Kenwyne Jones and Central FC goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams who are both making their third Gold Cup appearances.

Unusually, Trinidad and Tobago might be best served in central defence where coach Stephen Hart is spoiled for choice.

Seoul E Land’s Carlyle Mitchell might not recover from an ankle injury in time but KV Mechelan’s Sheldon Bateau, former Arsenal youth player Gavin Hoyte and the W Connection pair of Mekeil Williams and Daneil Cyrus provide plenty depth.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Sheldon Bateau (right) tries to wrestle the ball from Panama attacker Rolando Escobar during a friendly international at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Sheldon Bateau (right) tries to wrestle the ball from Panama attacker Rolando Escobar during a friendly international at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Hart’s 34-man provisional Gold Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Cleon John (North East Stars);

Defenders: Kaydion Gabriel (Central FC), Justin Hoyte (Millwall—England), Gavin Hoyte (Barnet FC—England), Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge—Denmark), Yohance Marshall (Juventud Independiente—El Salvador), Elijah Belgrave (Police FC), Carlyle Mitchell (Seoul E Land—Korea Republic), Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen, Belgium), Mekeil Williams (W Connection), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Aubrey David (Shakhter Karagandy—Kazakhstan), Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire—USA);

Midfielders: Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge—UK), Leston Paul (Central FC), Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo—Belgium), Dwane James (North East Stars), Kevan George (Columbus Crew—USA), Ataulla Guerra, Sean De Silva (both Central FC), Keron Cummings (North East Stars);

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (centre) in action against El Salvador in the 2013 Gold Cup. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (centre) in action against El Salvador in the 2013 Gold Cup.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

Forwards: Shahdon Winchester (W Connection), Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City—UK), Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes—USA), Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava—Slovakia), Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force), Willis Plaza (Central FC), Trevin Caesar (San Antonio Scorpions—USA), Jonathan Glenn (IBV—Iceland), Rundell Winchester (Portland Timbers 2—USA), Kadeem Corbin (St Ann’s Rangers).

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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.

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9 comments

  1. Why is jerrel britto after a very good season not getting that chance…
    Don’t like to speak on players. ..just think he is getting a rough time ….he has produce for all national youth teams and he has been in good nic…

  2. Congrats to my player Corbin now to settle down and become great11

  3. I am not saying that the team must pay , but unless there are some serious changes eh, the teams and our coaches will continue paying on the field of play . Them really good yes.

  4. So in your opinion the team must pay for what is out of their control Earl Mango Pierre. Steups!!

  5. The only time others will get behind or national teams is when the present old corrupted TTFA officials have been removed in the upcoming elections and then the right things are been done for our players , the sport, and our sweet country and when finally the politics and sports are separated .Debbie Espinal. Them really good yes.

  6. Wishing the team the best of luck and hope others will get behind them and support rather that detract.

  7. Like I asked in the other blog, the US beat the WC Champions and T&T’s ‘half spot’ is now jailed, who is going to help us now? It would be interesting to see if T&T should play the US and what would be the outcome of the game in the press. I would like to send a big shout out to the powers at be for making a policy to rely heavily so much on foreign based players and only the capacity to have so many practice games away from home. Please keep reminding us that our leagues don’t seem good enough, our resources are not good enough. More so, take the team all over the place before a big game is the norm since Nov 19, 89. Anyway, always remember the cornerstone that the builder rejected.

  8. Lasana Liburd, the former special adviser to the TTFA is on record as stating that he single-handedly took the soca warriors to the 2006 world cup in Germany. In what position would he have been expected play on this 2015 gold cup team? He seems to be as proficient in attack as well as defense, and has shown a lot of potential in the midfield, especially as it relates to setting up plays, and assisting in achievement of goals, for which ne may not have been given any credit (no pun intended). I thing that the key player capable of filling the other 5 positions is already known, but may have been unavoidably omitted because of extenuating circumstances. LMAO

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