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The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team will play three friendly international matches against Jamaica starting from Thursday 25 January, as coach Brian Haynes ramps up preparation for the preliminary phase of the Concacaf U-20 World Cup qualifying series.
The young Soca Warriors will face Jamaica, who are already in a residential camp in Trinidad, on 25 and 28 January as well as on 1 February. The TTFA Media said the venues and start times will be released tomorrow.
(Copyright Miguel Gutierrez/ Straffon Images via TTFA Media)
At present, Haynes has about 30 mostly local-based players in training while he is expected to invite selected overseas-based players to join them later this month. He hopes to set the right tone against Jamaica, which is to play well—and to win.
“It’s going to be games against a team from the Caribbean first of all with the kind of play that we’re accustomed to,” Haynes told the TTFA Media. “But at the same time, it’s quality games and we are going to have to come with our best effort to show these guys that we can play—not only play, but to win.
“Because as far as I’m concerned that’s what is going to bring the crowds to the stadium. We are going to work hard and try to win games.
“I expect these matches to be well contested so that it serves its purpose in this phase of our preparations.”
The National Under-20s defeated NLCL U19 Community Cup outfit, Athletic International Academy (AIA), 3-1 yesterday in a training match at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Haynes was away for roughly three weeks, between Christmas and the middle of January. However, the team continued to train under National Under-18 head coach Shawn Cooper and TTFA technical director Anton Corneal.
He told the TTFA Media that he saw signs, against AIA, that his charges are starting to gel.
“I’m at a point where I can start to see what the team is going to look like,” said Haynes. “Everybody is not here as yet but all the players who are here at the moment in Trinidad and Tobago are doing what they are supposed to do.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
“I’ve seen improvements in the defending, into the midfield and when we go forward and as far as I’m concerned all those are things that we still need to sharpen up.
“We haven’t been good on finishing… We need to improve in getting more goals.”
Trinidad and Tobago host St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Canada in Group D, which will be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium between 23 and 28 February.
(Copyright Miguel Gutierrez/ Straffon Images via TTFA Media)
Jamaica are in Group F with Bermuda, Grenada and Martinique. Their games will be staged at the SKNFA Technical Centre in St Kitts.
Only the group winners will advance to the Concacaf Under-20 Championship.
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