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New Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence will begin his reign on home soil, after the TTFA announced a change in international sparring partners today.
And, instead of travelling to Paramaribo, the Soca Warriors will now host Barbados on Friday 10 March at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Tickets for the friendly match are priced at TT$50 (adults) and TT$20 (children).
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
The outing will mark Lawrence’s debut as a head coach at any competitive level and he will be joined by assistant coach Sol Campbell, who flies in from England on 9 March. Campbell, who has no coaching experience, is a former England and Arsenal stand-out. The pair will be flanked by Lawrence’s other assistant coaches, Stern John and Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
At present, the Warriors head coach has roughly 30 players in a non-residential training camp. His squad was beefed up with this week with the inclusions of National Under-20 Team goalkeeper Montel Joseph, defender Taryk Sampson and winger Kathon St Hillaire.
Barbados are deputising for Suriname who, according to the TTFA, pulled out of their initial promise to host Trinidad and Tobago on the same day.
Barbados are ranked 156th in the world by FIFA while Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname are 84th and 129th respectively.
The match will serve as a warm-up for the Warriors’ World Cup qualifiers against Panama (ranked 53rd) and Mexico (ranked 17th) on 24 and 28 March respectively.
Peru won 4-0.
(Copyright Ernesto Benavides/AFP 2016)
Central FC midfielder Sean De Silva and W Connection defender Alvin Jones both told the TTFA Media that they have enjoyed the intensity of the sessions under Lawrence so far.
“So far the training sessions have been fantastic,” said De Silva. “The intensity has been really good every day and it’s been good getting to know some of the new faces around the team and working under Dennis. Everything we do right now has been geared towards the two upcoming games.
“Coach Dennis has made it clear that the only thing that should be on our minds right now is that Panama game and then Mexico to follow.”
(Trinidad and Tobago training squad)
Goalkeepers: Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Glenroy Samuel (Ma Pau Stars), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Andre Marchan (Defence Force), Montel Joseph (Boreham Wood FC—England);
(Courtesy Mysanantonio.com)
Defenders: Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Julius James (Central FC), Carlyle Mitchell, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Daniel Cyrus (all unattached), Taryk Sampson (Ma Pau Stars), Jelani Peters, Jesus Perez, Triston Hodge, Alvin Jones (all W Connection);
Midfielders: Leston Paul, Sean De Silva, Darren Mitchell (all Central FC), Akeem Humphrey, Jared London (both Club Sando), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Tyrone Charles, Nathan Lewis (both San Juan Jabloteh), Kathon St Hillaire, Jomoul Francois (both St Ann’s Rangers);
Forwards: Keron Cummings (Central FC), Jamille Boatswain, Hashim Arcia (both Defence Force), Akeem Roach (Club Sando), Jameel Perry (Police FC).
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Any game is worthwhile as we get set for those two end-of-March WC Qualifying games. This young, predominantly local team needs some kind of litmus testing – good enough for me and a win, which should be a given, must be kept in perspective. As for Stuarty’s interview, measured and supporting – good short, non-specific 2-plus minutes contribution.
What a waste, Central FC would beat Barbados
Let us get real, what coaching do you have to do to beat Barbados, this is a gimic, 4 maybe 5 pro teams will beat Barbados.
This is what we reach to.
Is a good thing Lasana don’t like cursing, so I will leave that right there
I agree that Central would beat Barbados. But then T&T vs Central FC wouldn’t be an international fixture and wouldn’t pull a crowd.
If Barbados are decent, I’d be fine with it. But it is a gamble.
Would have been better to play a Jamaica local based squad. But captain Burrell doesn’t like to put the name “Jamaica” on a team if he doesn’t have a strong squad.
We could play a Pro League 11 and get a better match, because they would want to impress to get a chance on the National Team.
Who want to see Barbados???
Not me
Mentally the players might enjoy facing another country more though. I still take your point.
hahahahaha I once was told that the reason why the TTFA likes to play against the weak Caribbean teams is that our players will beat them up so that they can get plenty confidence eh, but when the Soca Worries gets beat up by the real professional countries abroad is always ah set ah licks like peas eh steeuuppss hence the reason why if Alyuh remember when a youth team went to a youth World Cup tournament , the young player when for the first time he experienced the real professional football from the real upcoming young stars of tomorrow, he returned to our sweet country and was interviewed by one of the newspapers sports reporter and he said that he and his other players were all fooled by their bootleg Coaches in our sweet country eh in thinking that they was really all that good and better than their opponents eh and this story was in the newspapers eh well I started bussing out ah set ah laughing eh, Them really good yes Simone Ghirlanda hahahahahaha
They better win
????
Barbados doesn’t even have a proper league. And they would not have been preparing for this game. They have no tournament coming up.
So you’re talking about getting an amateur team ready to play in less than two weeks.
I just hope they don’t waste our time and they give us a little push at least.
My views exactly…which is why anything less than chrome unacceptable
Not a fan of this friendly …this isn’t the level we looking for to guage our progress …cmon tallest …do better…
Teams just aren’t available at the last minute like that. It won’t be Dennis’ fault.
The administration is responsible for games not the coach.
I did make up my mind not to comment u know but this Gino McKoy talks so much shit and not censored i forced to tell you stop be an ass!!
Take your blinders off nah, or your dunce cap off, then you will begin to understand the corruption going on…
The ttfa have not announced how much they have received from the govt to date and the dictator like that…
He also like people like yourself who asleep constantly
Big ass go find out the amount it has d public information act, then find out how much to run football then stop being a big jacka** trying to sound smart!! Fed up of u numb skulls talking shit!!!
My intelligence intimidates you my friend, TBH the public information act to my knowledge has not listed the amount as I have searched and inquired many times..
Instead of debating the topic you resorted to insults initially, so don’t act thin skin now that I hung you out dry with your foolish response that has no weight…
Mister man when u come with d amount and budget i will engage u!! Bc i know the amount and budget and it will take a long time and lots of initiatives for the TTFA to even run a break even budget but fools like u stay at the sidelines and throws stones without a clue at what it takes!! U know what is dumb talking about things u know nothing about!! Come with facts!!
So list the amount and budget allocated by the govt for 2017? Enlighten me Gordon
U defend ur comment!! All i will tell you its no where near what is needed to run football!
List the amount? I’ve already stated I haven’t been able to get that amount, I have the amounts for 2016 and 2015, not the fiscal year for 2017 …
So enlighten us Gordon? Hiding info now? Say the amount and I’ll tell you if that’s adequate since I know details about actually running football and have researched it..
Full of hot air Gordon lol list the damn amount, how am I suppose to defend my position when that amount has alluded even journalists in TT? You’re a joker…
Gordon Pierre your name calling comment was deleted. It’s against the group’s guidelines to address others in that manner.
I’m waiting for your response Gordon on how much money was allocated to the ttfa? Why are you hiding the amount? Since it’s public info and since you claim be so above board?
Mister when u making allegations u must be able to prove it!! U talk about corruption and such quote ur figures to support let me expose u with ur nonsense!!
Mel Lissa i wonder if Gino McKoy name calling deleted to?!? Bc duncy cap and stuff is compliments bunch of jokers!! Sad lot!!
Knowing someone is siphoning money ? and hearing the process doesn’t mean you know the actual amount allocated from the govt… you’re being illogical and using deflections to keep hidden the amount actually allocated to the ttfa
You can’t catch me with that nonsense Gordon.
Stating to take off your dunce cap, is not calling you a name, I’m simply stating facts about what you are wearing on top of your head lol
She said “take off your dunce cap.” That not the same as name calling
Keep good ppl i should not even be commenting i know d agenda of this group so!! I will expose it soon!!
Expose the allocation amount first please? Since you claim to be exposing the truth, unless you are hiding the truth for the govt and ttfa.. hypocrisy
???
The agenda of the group is independent thought and civil exchange of ideas.
It isn’t for everyone. ?
Courcian Elcock we dey?
That done
Trinidad & Tobago is really not serious about worldcup qualifying again. Really sad.
That’s rubbish, why not Venezuela ?? instead
No football nation with pedigree is available within two weeks’ notice I’m afraid.
I agree but this should have happened before in advance
Yeah. We have a relationship in place with our two governments. That should include football friendlies! Lol.
Hear the heights of the corruption brother Lasana Liburd the dictator pockets most of the govt allocation and gets piss poor friendlies for us that he doesn’t have to put out a cent or basically chicken feed for… that’s the name of the game
I don’t believe there is any gov’t allocation going to the TTFA at present.
Gordon Pierre has said he knows the amount of the allocation from the govt to the ttfa supposedly , so I’m waiting for that amount
Or, to rephrase, I don’t know that the gov’t is directly funding international matches apart from use of stadia and so on.
Now he is playing games and refusing to disclose the amount, coming up with excuses about I need to defend my opinion, yet he won’t list the amount lol
These men down home corrupt oui