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Trinidad and Tobago National Under-15 Team head coach Russell Latapy credited the Cayman Airways Invitational Under 15 Youth Cup for accelerating the development of his young squad, as the young Soca Warriors completed their mini-adventure on Sunday evening in the Grand Cayman.
The Trinidad and Tobago squad played four games in roughly a week with one win, two draws and a loss against club and international opposition.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
The Warriors came from behind to hold Manchester City 2-2 in their opener before falling 3-1 to Houston Dynamo. Latapy’s boys managed another late recovery to hold DC United 1-1 before they signed off with an emphatic 6-0 win over the Cayman Islands.
“We [have] found a group of boys who were learning new things each day, finding ways to solve problems on the field,” Latapy told the TTFA Media, “becoming mentally ready for challenges and actually going into game situations and putting things into motion.”
Trinidad and Tobago stormed to a 3-0 lead within the first 10 minutes on Sunday, as Jean-Heim McFee scored twice while Micai Peters, Josiah Edwards and Ezekiel Kesar contributed one item apiece along with an own goal from the Cayman Islands.
“The manner in which the boys went about the game today, in spite of being eliminated from the tournament, was pleasing,” said Latapy, “and it is the kind of attitude and spirit we are continuously working on with them.
“We played four games in less than a week out here and to see that they were motivated to go out there and put out a commanding performance in order to achieve their first win in international football was good to see…
“I think with each game we saw improvements in different areas which is what playing football matches brings, allowing you to correct mistakes and also identify areas that need to be worked on—some more than others.”
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Next step for the young Warriors is the 2017 CONCACAF Boys Under-15 Championship which will be staged at the IMG campus in Bradenton, Florida from 13-19 August 13-19. All 40 eligible CONCACAF Member Associations are expected to participate.
“We will return home and continue with our training programme and work towards getting ourselves ready as a team for the Concacaf championship in August,” said Latapy, “which is another assignment that everyone is really anticipating.”
Trinidad and Tobago National Under-15 Team:
Goalkeepers: Jaheim Wickham (St Anthony’s College), Kahlil Oliver (Malabar Secondary),
Defenders: Ephraim Brown (Pleasantville Secondary), Antonio Chee Ting (Trinity College East), Micai Peters (El Dorado West Secondary), Tristan Caesar (Pleasantville Secondary), N’Kosi Corbin (Belmont Boys Secondary), Daniel Lake (Mucurapo West Secondary), Luke Savery (St Mary’s College),
Midfielders: Jarique Williams (St Anthony’s College), Ezekiel Kesar (Naparima College), Jabari Lee (San Fernando East Secondary), Darian Bradshaw (Queen’s Royal College), Zachary Welch (Fatima College),
Attacking midfielders: Matthew De Souza (Trinity College East), Tyrese Pierre (Queen’s Royal College), Josiah Edwards (Brazil High School), Jaiye Sheppard (Scarborough Secondary),
Forwards: Jean-Heim Mc Fee (St James Secondary), Justin Araujo-Wilson (Fatima College).
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
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Well there is an elite player interzone tournament starting in September
Interesting. Where are you getting your information? Everything seems so secretive. Would love to learn more..
Why use the word elite player? and not just an interzone competition like we had many years ago?or is it that it sounds exciting to the public ears?Mr TTrevor Bridglalsingh
I giving as I get .
I suppose after they were selected by the scouts they have been going through a rigorous training program .
See attached pic Brian.
Got this at meeting with TTFA Technical Director last Friday
Kurtwyn as far as I know the Coach in charge of the Central program is Atiba Mc Knight .
I was at the meeting kind of by accident .
What elite player screening you can count on 1 hand how many elite young players it have in TNT
Who are these coaches doing the screenings ? I am hearing about an elite player program and that scouts have done screening ,can anyone tell me who are these scours or the persons/coaches doing the screenings .
Yeah like 2625
A work in progress Dion. Hopefully they will get it right soon.
How can They get foreign based players when the clueless ttfa has no database of players locally or internationally
I like the database idea. Could be something they add to the TTFA Web site where potential foreign based players can access and self register. Could also establish a network of volunteer scouts whose job it’ll be to help ID talent in the countries they reside.
Carlos I like your observation about the east players. I’ve said it before, the ‘coaches’ that did the screening in the east (at least one any) were telling good players to find another club to play with and not choose them because of their club affiliation. Seems like the coaches need to be screened before the players.
Tournaments like these are great for the players and coaching staff. Nice variety of competitive teams with limited impact on travel. Great to see the team being prepared years ahead of schedule rather than the usual last minute scramble. Let’s take them to more competitive tournaments across the world – to Europe, South America, the US, etc. Let get the players on the best diet possible and into proper gyms to help improve their muscular development and strength. I’ll also encourage Latas and his coaching staff to scout broadly. I’m surprised that we don’t have more players from the East on the squad. And even more surprised we don’t have any players from outside tnt. Don’t wait until the major competition arrives to start scouting for foreign talent. Let’s get them into the squad now and give them a thorough assessment.
Agreed mostly. I believe there is a competitive tournament in August, so this isn’t years in advance.
That August tournament is not a relevant tournament as far as I know. It’s not a qualification tournament for a youth WC. It’s just tournament for Concacaf teams to play against each other.
BOOM
So lass how come you didn’t put the clubs the players represent instead of their schools. LoL I wonder if we pump that 9 million into school football if we would climb out of the hole we’re in???
Food for thought.
Well, I can’t give information I don’t have Travis. Ask the TTFA why they don’t give us the players’ club information instead.
But I sympathise with the TTFA because the players’ school life is easier to decipher than their club life.
A player will represent SKHY in one TTFA-approved competition and Defence Force in another TTFA-approved competition. Some might have even more teams.
So what is that player’s club?
So is ah set ah club teams the U 15 played against with two draws and one win then beat up the Cayman islands bootleg team 6 to 0 eh. Looked Mr Magician try your best and tell the TTFA president to organize some games against some real football country teams eh. Them really good yes
Always thought latapy was better suited to developmental coaching and be better off growing youth teams….especially since he’s mobile enough to impart elements of proper ball handling technique…….something that has been sorely lacking in these last few generations of players…….now if only football iq/intelligence could be thought as easily as technique because latas have dat in spades
Taught meant taught