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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team got its first taste of international action yesterday evening as they fell 0-2 to Costa Rica in the Guadeloupe Six-Nation Invitational tournament at the Stade René Serge Nabajoth, Les Abymes.
Costa Rica scored on either side of the half through a deflected Ronaldo Araya free kick and a Yecxy Ramos Jarquim shot from distance. The game was played on a wet outfield after a heavy downpour before kick-off and during the match.
(Copyright Felix Kherel/Ligue Guadelopéenne of Football)
National Under-20 coach Russell Latapy, who travelled without several players who are sitting exams, commended the effort from his squad.
“It was a keenly contested match and a good all-round performance by our boys,” Latapy told the TTFA Media. “Considering also that this was our first international match as a group—and knowing too that we had a few new faces with some of the more regular players being left at home because of exams—I was pleased to see the way we executed certain things on the field and the way we carried ourselves out there against a good Costa Rican team.”
Latapy suggested that inexperience and poor finishing undid the efforts of the young Soca Warriors.
“We conceded the first goal on virtually the final kick of the half and that was due to a lack of experience and composure, which will only get better with matches like these,” said Latapy. “I thought we were solid and we limited Costa Rica’s attacks in our half. In the second half, I would say we had the better of the exchanges for the first fifteen to twenty minutes with a couple of good chances to get on the scoresheet but we didn’t take them.
“Their second goal came on a quick break up the park and, from a resulting corner, the player had a really good hit from about 25 yards out. Overall, I
was satisfied with some aspects of our play and we will be looking to better some areas and have a go at it again in our second match.”
(Copyright Felix Kherel/Ligue Guadeloupéenne of Football)
Trinidad and Tobago play again this evening when they face Martinique from 6pm.
In other tournament results, Guadeloupe and Haiti drew goalless on Saturday while, on Friday, Costa Rica whipped Martinique 3-0 and French Guiana and Guadeloupe played to a 1-1 draw.
Trinidad and Tobago U-20 Team (starting line-up): Denzil Smith (GK); Darnell Hospedales, Kerdell Sween, Jabari Graham, Derron John; Anthony Samuel, Judah Garcia; Shaqkeem Joseph, Jordan Riley, Kishon Hackshaw; Jaydon Prowell (captain).
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“[…] We saw an array of talent across the board and not with just 20 players. I’ve said it before Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team head coach Brian Haynes admitted that his players were not fully prepared for Read more
A shellshocked Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated from the Concacaf Under-20 Qualifying series at home tonight, after a 3-0 loss Read more
Trinidad and Tobago look likely to be without the services of talented 16-year-old defender Adam ‘Toka’ Pierre for their 2025 Read more
Outgoing Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve had another 17 months left on his contract Read more
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Trinidad football and especially the administrators have to get out the box. Other top countries have in place a true format of selecting as well as developing except the US as well however that is a separate topic. Trinidad need to look towards collaborating with coaches of clubs out here and around the world so as to give the players the experience and more so but to listen for a change to ones who are hands on and involved for the game has changed since the days we played yet the process remains the same…. we accept defeat with the usual hard luck stories.
I have said time and again that Latas is not Coach Material.
I love latapy, but his track record is not inspiring. I can’t speak of the technical aspects, but failure to advance will require a change in a new direction.
Not a bad result provided the team lacked key players, has had no international matches, has not been training regularly and has demotivated staff still doing their duties.
Nothing new
Credits team all round performance… ok!
Hard luck guys better luck in the next game .Where is Junior Assoon he not on this team?
He isn’t. Might be too old as it is essentially an under-19 team. Or maybe he is taking exams.
Ok.bro but he is on of the best in the colleagues league i have seen in years
He has talent and I hope that he pushes on. But time to see him against adults now.
But i was now told he 17 i guess he did not impress to get a call but i wish him all the best in his future endeavours if we seriously want to make the next world cup. these are the guys we need to have on board from now if not it would be the same old story
Colin Rocke ask around a little more
Colin if he was 17 he would have been eligible to play in the last under-17 team too. I can’t believe he is that young. Let someone contact me at lasana@wired868.com and if he is really that young, I’d lead the campaign for him to get a shot myself.
He was born in 1998.
Thanks South Man. That sounds about right.