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Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart has kept faith in his regular “Soca Warriors”, despite an outburst after their 3-0 friendly loss to Jordan on June 16.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
After the match, Hart declared that several of his players “didn’t deserve to wear a national shirt today. They showed no fight, no desire, no passion and it makes me think what the selection should be for the Gold Cup.”
For the time being, there was no sign of radical surgery though as his entire starting team against Jordan was named in his 23-man squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Warriors open their campaign against Guatemala on July 9 in Chicago.
Notably, Hart does have the option of changing his roster up until the eve of the competition.
Pro League top scorer Devorn Jorsling failed to earn a pick on the final team while North East Stars custodian Cleon John was again overlooked.
At the other end, Iceland-based attacker Jonathan Glenn made a surprise return after being used for just 23 minutes for the entire 2014 Caribbean Cup tournament while St Ann’s Rangers teenager Kadeem Corbin and North East Stars playmaker Keron Cummings also forced their way into the squad.
He was booked for the gesture by Bahamian official Randolph Harris.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Central defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr and Yohance Marshall, who are based in Denmark and El Salvador respectively, also regained their squad places while the Hoyte brothers, Justin and Gavin, opted to remain in England to look after their club careers.
The Warriors are in a live-in camp at the Normandie Hotel at present. They leave for another pre-tournament camp in Fort Lauderdale on June 28 and will play their final warm-up match on July 3 against Haiti in Chicago.
The Warriors have failed to win or score in any of their five international matches. They are grouped with Mexico, Cuba and Guatemala in the Gold Cup.
Hart steered the Warriors into the quarterfinal round of the 2013 Gold Cup, where they were edged 1-0 by Mexico.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
(Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup Team)
Goalkeepers: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), 1.Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic), 22.Adrian Foncette (Police FC);
Defenders: 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge—Denmark), 18.Yohance Marshall (Juventud Independiente—El Salvador), 4.Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen, Belgium), 17.Mekeil Williams (W Connection), 5.Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), 2.Aubrey David (Shakhter Karagandy—Kazakhstan), 3.Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire—USA);
Midfielders: 14.Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge—UK), 8.Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo—Belgium), 15.Dwane James (North East Stars), 19.Kevan George (Columbus Crew—USA), 11.Ataulla Guerra (Central FC), 20.Keron Cummings (North East Stars);
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Forwards: 9.Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City—UK), 13.Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes—USA), 23.Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava—Slovakia), 10.Willis Plaza (Central FC), 16.Rundell Winchester (Portland Timbers 2—USA), 7.Jonathan Glenn (IBV—Iceland), 12.Kadeem Corbin (St Ann’s Rangers).
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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.
If you want a constant look for change, Earl i agree this squad knows they have the favor of the coach and are complacent, in the words of the Mighty Kitchener ” give the youths a chance let them dance let them prance .
Excellent news on the inclusion of Yohance Marshall! He did a number on Messi before the World Cup and glad to see he’ll get an opportunity to shine.
Lol
I did notice that there was no real change in the status quo
Am.sorry but I do like lots of the young players in the country. ..
Like Dwight Quintero, jomal william, leston Paul, de silva, and a few more but like coaches always say everyone has their own opinions…so I have one …this team needs some of our younger players and start building again…what they said they were not getting players playing with pride and so on….so why not a change to make people realize what time it is….but then again people are afraid I guess to make the tough decisions
Iam not taking anything from the younger talent but for you displace and experience quality player like shahdon …then you have to be exceptional…and doing the job week in week out at the professional level….you have to pay your dues and players must understand that ….u dont bypass players inline unless there are very good reason to….and iam sure thats why some dont go on to bigger things…we sometimes throw them in before they stand the test to learn the trade and be patient. …
We have many players that can play both the center forward position and wide and there comes the versatility in the modern player and in tournaments if u have to choose when you analyze the differences in the players who do u select.???..and experience young player who gives you the two or a young up an coming say at 17,18, 0r 19 year old
I always thought of Shahdon as a centre forward. Do you think his main position now is as a wide forward?
Maximize. ..they havent given the guy a chance …they have shown no confidence in the player….if there is a level of man management at that level …..Lasana,how do you give confidence to get the best out of your players….just saying. .
Lasana but shahdon plays out wide…and thats the position he played for his club in Finland. ..and plays the position excellently. …he is definitely getting a hard time. ..something is not right…
I think Corbin will be used as a winger rather than a striker though. That makes Shahdon’s competition Kenwyne, Plaza and Jonathan Glenn.
I have always been a fan of Shahdon’s ability. But he is one I feel hasn’t maximized his abilities yet.
Lasana …
Shahdon ….definitely think someone is playing games with the boy’s international future. …played at all youth levels with national team and am coming straight if little corbin is a better and most experienced international than shahdon welll well….shahdon is about 22 years….leston paul, shane de silva ….young talented players ….well I guess the coach and his staff picked their team so hope for the best….still think there are quality players and game changers in the country still and Devon jorsling is out ….so where are the goals coming from…if kenwyne dont score well help us
Khaleem Hyland plays for K.R.C Genk
Not anymore
Well I searched it online on the club’s official website and didn’t find him on the team roster for team mentioned previously. However he still shows he is with Genk.
He has changed club Pablo Esco Godson. The relevant teams must be slow in updating their websites.
Oh Lord Kenwhyne Jones and Kareem Hyland again eh, and they left out the most prolific stricker in the pro league Devon Jorsling. I won’t be watching or supporting this cinderella team in the Gold Cup nah I will be sticking to my Americans. Them really good yes. steeuuppss
He was in Finland and doing well.
Rundell is going to come to the party!
Hope he gets another chance some time soon and he grabs it with both hands.
Yes very talented indeed been a good one since SS football. He went Scotland didn’t he? Is he still playing there?
Jamaica and Mexico just recently competed at the Copa America While USA played and defeated Holland and World Champions Germany in their backyards ! Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama have been playing against Worthy opponents. Meanwhile T&T Plays and lose against Curacao and Jordan. Hope against hope that we can compete !!
Shahdon is a tricky one. Very talented young player but he hasn’t really performed as we feel he can. Hart used him in last two games. Guess he felt he didn’t do enough.
I wish them al the luck in the world. It’ll be a very tough lesson unless our Soca Warriors buckle down and play as we all know they can there is talent in this squad. IMHO must play as though top European scouts are waiting to hand them contracts or better yet play for Kevin Molino and all of T&T.
We gonna have visas nah?
Lasana Liburd Shahdon Winchester out of favour?
That squad doesn’t inspire confidence. No quality preparation either. We just have to hope against hope that they can advance past the group stage.