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Bankers Insurance Central FC playmaker Ataulla Guerra will get another chance to stake his claim to Trinidad and Tobago’s “number 10” role, after the elegant midfielder was recalled by coach Stephen Hart for his 23-man squad to face Haiti in the 2016 Copa America play off on 8 January 2016 in Panama City.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Daniel Garcia)
The 28-year-old Guerra is one of just three additions to the “Soca Warriors”, as Hart managed to retain most of his players although the Haiti match falls outside the FIFA international calendar.
Police FC goalkeeper Adrian Foncette and DIRECTV W Connection attacker Jomal Williams were the other call-ups while national captain Kenwyne Jones was predictably ruled out by his England Championship Division employer, Cardiff City. Russia top flight defender Sheldon Bateau, who represents FC Krylia Samara, was also not released for the play off fixture.
Jones, who is the Warriors’ highest scorer in 2015 with four goals and two assists from 10 appearances, leaves a big hole to fill upfront while Bateau has been in good form at both ends of the field, after scoring twice at the Gold Cup.
But Hart was without both players on September 4 when the Warriors lead Mexico 2-0 at one point before settling for a 3-3 draw in Salt Lake City.
Iceland-based striker Jonathan Glenn, who scored and assisted against Mexico, will be favoured to inherit Jones’ place upfront while Mexico-based defender Yohance Marshall and Republic of Korea-based defender Carlyle Mitchell will hope to play alongside Radanfah Abu Bakr in central defence.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
North East Stars midfielder Keron “Ball Pest” was a revelation for the Warriors at the Gold Cup but his form has dipped this season and Hart used a more hard-nosed midfield triangle of Kevan George, Khaleem Hyland and Andre Boucaud for his last international, which was a goalless draw against the United States.
Guerra, who has not represented the “Soca Warriors” since the July 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, will increase competition for the advanced midfield role. The gifted maverick made his international debut in a 2-0 win over Grenada in 2008 under Colombian coach Francisco Maturana. But his Trinidad and Tobago career has been full of false starts and, seven years later, Guerra has just 39 caps with six goals.
In contrast, Joevin Jones, who is four years younger, has made 50 international appearances.
Williams, who played once for Hart in the March 27 friendly loss to Panama, offers another option as an attacking midfielder and is benefitting from a storming start to his 2015/16 Pro League season with Connection.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
The former Mucurapo schoolboy has struggled to adapt to international football thus far and lost his starting place on the National Under-20 and Under-23 Teams after being tipped as the player to watch on both occasions.
However, Hart could not ignore Williams’ domestic form, as he scored a league high 10 goals in all competitions and was MVP of the First Citizens Bank and Toyota Classic Cup tournaments.
His namesake and Central custodian, Jan-Michael Williams, is expected to wear the captain’s armband against Haiti, if he wins the nod over Morvant Caledonia United goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
At stake for Trinidad and Tobago is the chance to compete against South America’s best teams from June 3 to 26.
Hart said he was grateful to the new TTFA executive committee for resolving a match fees issue with the Warriors, which led to a threat of boycott from the players.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
The coach believes that qualification for the Copa America tournament would be priceless for the development of his team.
“The game against Haiti is simply a stepping stone,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “The staff and myself have strived for consistency and the player selection is an indication of this. The challenge now for the players selected, is to perform in camp and compete for their starting positions.
“The importance of the game speaks for itself, however, the importance of actually playing in the Copa America cannot be measured. The experience of playing in such a prestigious tournament, against the best teams in South America and the CONCACAF, is not something that can be taught.
“All aspects of a player’s and team’s footballing ability will tested for over 90 minutes.”
Jan-Michael Williams, who was one of the players’ representatives during the negotiations with the football body, said the Warriors are trying to turn their attentions to the Copa play off with Haiti.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
“Obviously the entire situation over the past couple weeks would have some kind of effect on the players,” said Jan-Michael, “but when you look at the composition of the squad and quality that’s there along with the mentality we’ve possessed over the past three years, we are definitely going to get ourselves back to focusing on football. And we’ll be going there to win the game without question.
“It is extremely important for us to win the match against Haiti and qualify for the Copa. The will be an enormous achievement not just for the national team but for the country at large.
“Our performances have been very good this year and we will be looking to continue that momentum and take it right into the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March and hopefully the Copa America in June.”
Fourteen of the 16 nations have already been decided for the special centennial tournament.
Brazil, Argentina, CONCACAF champions Mexico and hosts United States will all be seeded while South American champions, Chile, will be drawn into either of the four groups along with Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
Caribbean champions, Jamaica, Costa Rica and either Panama or Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago or Haiti will complete the list of participants.
The Haitian squad will have a new boss to face the Warriors, as journeyman French coach Patrice Neveu was hired this month and replaces Martinique-born coach Marc Collat.
Collat lead Haiti to the 2015 Gold Cup quarterfinal round, after group wins over Panama and Honduras. But Haiti were eliminated by Jamaica and went on to lose both Russia 2018 World Cup semifinal round qualifiers away to Costa Rica and then home to Jamaica.
The 61-year-old Neveu, an unheralded former Mauritius coach, faces a baptism of fire with Trinidad and Tobago on January 8 and decisive World Cup qualifiers against Panama on March 25 and 29 respectively.
(Courtesy MexSport/CONCACAF)
The Haitian outfit will have as many as 11 Europe-based professionals in their ranks, which rarely includes more than three players from Haiti’s domestic competition.
Jan-Michael said the Warriors would be careful not to get ahead of themselves and will not take the Haitian threat lightly.
“To be able to compete against the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and these teams will be massive for us,” said Jan-Michael. “But we know that Haiti is no push over.
“We lost to them in the Gold Cup two years ago and we will have to ensure we are physically and mentally ready for the match.”
From left are Sheldon Bateau, Daneil Cyrus, Joevin Jones, Kevan George, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Mekeil Williams.
(Copyright AFP 2015/Johan Ordonez)
The full Trinidad and Tobago training squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Adrian Foncette (Police FC);
Defenders: Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Justin Hoyte (Dagenham & Redbridge—England), Carlyle Mitchell (Seoul E-Land—South Korea), Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge—Denmark), Yohance Marshall (Murcielagos FC—Mexico), Mekeil Williams (Antigua GFC—Guatemala), Aubrey David (Shakhter Karagandy—Kazakhstan);
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Midfielders: Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge—England), Khaleem Hyland (KV Westerlo—Belgium), Kevan George (Unattached), Neveal Hackshaw (North East Stars);
Attacking Midfielders: Trevin Caesar (Austin Aztex—USA), Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes—USA), Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava—Slovakia), Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire—USA), Jomal Williams (W Connection), Keron Cummings (North East Stars), Ataulla Guerra (Central FC);
(Copyright Jewel Samad/AFP 2015)
Forwards: Willis Plaza (Central FC), Jonathan Glenn (Breioablik—Iceland).
Staff: Stephen Hart, Hutson Charles, Derek King, Michael Maurice (goalkeeper coach), David Muhammad (manager), Peter Rampersad (manager), Dr Terrence Babwah (doctor), Dave Isaac (therapist), Tobias Ottley (fitness trainer), Saron Joseph (trainer), Michael Williams (equipment manager), Shaun Fuentes (press officer).
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Small well-wish to the team during this special and holy season. May they dwell in the peace of God and focus on all the trophies of their lives.
Guerra do your thing family
Carlyle’s move to Korea seemed to move him down the pecking order. He will have to put his best foot forward for this training camp.
Yeah. I still think Ataulla is our most gifted player. No matter who is available. This hasn’t been a good season for him due to injuries and so on either.
But I pray he comes back with a bang.
Nice team…glad to see guerra back in the team…hopefully he takes this chance….still quietly confident lobo cud get back in d mix
Lobo would have to greatly raise his game to get back into contention
He can….he has it within himself
the position he’s playing isn’t really helping him though
It isn’t but then again what is his best position?
Lobo doesn’t really want to play for Trinidad. He just says so. If he really wanted to, he would put the effort into it and do what coach(es) ask of him.
Just like Keron Cummings did.
True it’s entirely up to him ofc…and his ideal position is just off the striker
But you have to play where you can help the team most. And that isn’t behind the striker but as a winger. I don’t think he is even the best “number 10” at Central let alone the national team. But he can be a cracking winger.
Yup i totally agree…but I’m glad we doing things right for this upcoming game at least….and wow @ guerra only having 39 caps
And the coaches he has had: Maturana, Latapy, Hutson, Shabazz/Hutson, Hart… He almost always played a few games and then disappeared
Team seems decent. Glenn proved he is good backup for Kenwyne in the Mexico friendly. Bateau is a big miss but I think Marshall and Mitchell were first choice for most of the time Hart has been in charge, until the Gold Cup, so not expecting a big difference in performance at the back.
Thought the English based players like Hoyte and Boucaud would be absent due to club commitments , pleasantly surprised
Or. Had me worried there for a minute. Thought you were going to say Haiti is soft opposition, lol. Respect
Lol na na I think we all learnt to never underestimate anyone in CFU after that disastrous 2014 campaign
Why were you expecting a weaker squad Cheyenne ? Who would you leave out and replace them with ?
much stronger squad selection than I expected. Let’s get the job done lads…huge 90 minutes with massive rewards
Thanks Sheldon. I guess they will need to call a replacement then.
It is either they leave squad as is with Trevin shifting to back-up striker.
Or the possible replacements would be Shahdon Winchester, Rundell Winchester or Jamal Gay.
I’d take the second option
I’d go with Shahdon
AA we actually agree JoMo
JoMo normally gets it right
I think he’s playing with greater desire now knowing that his talent alone will not get him into the national setup.
Bear in mind Shahdon’s skill isn’t what had been questioned before. But his mentality and work rate.
Hope so. I was big fan of his when he first broke into the Connection first team.
Lasana Liburd jamal who???smh
Lol. Those are our best replacements in that role now. Which one you go for is up to you.
Is R Winchester at Portland Timbers Lasana Liburd ?
Rundell was at the Portland second team.
Plaza had a partially dislocated shoulder, he is out for 3 weeks. Happy Guerra is back.
Haven’t seen Alvin over the last two or so games for Connection. I think he has a knock. But I’m not sure what Alvin’s best position is anymore.
He was struggling in centre midfield late last season. Then he started this year in central defence and looked good. Then he was back in midfield where he is a little more comfortable but not international level yet.
I don’t know where Alvin is going to play in the future.
OK
Right Back, but I think that is where we have the most depth. Hoytes, Cyrus, David can play there also..
But I think he always preferred central defence to right back.
What about Alvin Jones ??? Lasana Liburd
Neveal Hackshaw is a rarity in that he got a national call-up while on the bench at his Pro League club. Never a good sign for the player, so I hope he gets himself in gear at North East Stars.
I’m a little surprised that Aikim Andrews didn’t get a look back in. I have to assume he didn’t show enough during training the last time.
Shannon Gomez is being made to work to get back in the squad too. But nothing wrong with that.
I think Aikim was just overtaken by his in-form Connection teammate.
Glad to c Ataulla back he would show up and prove this time around…. and on form jomol earn his spot let’s c if he would bring that form to the National team
Tweak in formation for this game again ?
You mean to 4-3-3? We have been hearing about that change for the last six months. Somehow I doubt he would take such a chance with so much riding on these 90 minutes.
To anything, doesn’t have to be 4-3-3. Just curious to see what he’ll try. It could be as simple as Glenn in for Kenwyne and everything else remains the same. Or he goes with 3 forwards Joevin, Plaza, Cato…or something of the like
The biggest change I ever saw from Hart is two centre forwards against Panama in the friendly. Otherwise, it was just the 4-3-3 he tried to implement with the two wingers higher up the field and a midfield triangle.
He ent the Tinkerman.
What about Hector ?
He can’t be match fit. But I thought he might have made the 23. Will have to probe about him some more.
Hector hasn’t played in ages
Status of his injury is what I was inquiring about
He is training for about the last three weeks Kirwin. So he should definitely be ready for March qualifiers against St Vincent.
sad to say our striker options are at it’s dryest, i have ever seen in years. will need everyone pitching in, if we are to beat haiti.
Willis Plaza had a shoulder injury on the weekend. So I guess it wasn’t serious.
Either that or we are really, really short of strikers.
hmmmm hope n praying tulla grabs this opportunity n never lets go
I see a very tough match, especially with what’s at stake.
I’m hoping the technical staff change backfires for Haiti. And they try to do too much too fast.
Big player… Tula Guerra
Well, we want a big performance then! 😉