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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke will have the services of Spartak Moscow flanker Levi Garcia when he travels to Santiago next week for the first of a two-legged Concacaf Gold Cup qualifying tie against Cuba.
The Soca Warriors face Cuba in Santiago on 21 March with the return leg at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on 25 March. The winner over both legs will advance to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup tournament.
Photo: Allan V Crane/ CA Images/ Wired868.
Trinidad and Tobago have qualified for the last three successive Gold Cup tournaments, since missing out on the 2017 edition. However, in each case, the Soca Warriors were eliminated in the group stage.
For Yorke, the two-legged clash with Cuba are his first competitive matches as an international head coach, and he will take a big squad with him. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) announced a 26-man provisional squad for the affairs, although Yorke can only pick 23 players on match day.
Garcia, who recently swapped Greece outfit AEK Athens for Russia powerhouse Spartak Moscow, is set to make his first appearance with the Soca Warriors since he featured in a 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Grenada in Port of Spain on 5 June 2024.
For 24-year-old Toronto FC winger Tyrese Spicer, the upcoming match window offers the chance of an international debut. Spicer and Garcia are among 17 overseas-based players named in Yorke’s team, which includes the Jamaica-based duo of Montego Bay United defenders Darnell Hospedales and Josiah Trimmingham.
The TTFA Media revealed that a possible 18th foreign-based player, Grimsby Town forward Justin Obikwu, misses out through injury. Defence Force defender Justin Garcia is also ruled out by injury.
SK Beveren (Belgium) defender Sheldon Bateau, Al Khaboora (Oman) midfielder Duane Muckette, North Carolina FC (USA) full back Triston Hodge, Police FC goalkeeper Adrian Foncette, Defence Force attacker Reon Moore, Cavalier SC (Jamaica) winger Kaile Auvray and Westchester SC (USA) midfielder Noah Powder are among the available players overlooked by Yorke.
Bateau, Powder and Hodge all featured in Trinidad and Tobago’s 3-1 Gold Cup qualifying win at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
The following is Yorke’s full Trinidad and Tobago roster to face Cuba:
(via TTFA Media.)
Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip (AC POS), Jabari St Hillaire (Defence Force), Denzil Smith (AV Alta FC—USA),
Defenders: Darnell Hospedales, Josiah Trimmingham (both Montego Bay Utd—Jamaica), Jamal Jack (Central FC), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA), Alvin Jones (Deportivo Real Sociedad—Honduras), Aubrey David (CSD Municipal—Guatemala), Isaiah Garcia (Defence Force), Andre Raymond (St Johnstone FC—Scotland),
Midfielders: Dantaye Gilbert (Jong PSV—Netherlands), Joevin Jones (Police FC), Daniel Phillips (Stevenage FC—England), Kevin Molino (Defence Force), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada), Wayne Frederick II (Colorado Rapids SC—USA), Kaihim Thomas (Defence Force), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta Utd—USA),
Attackers: Steffen Yeates (York Utd—Canada), Nathaniel James (Portland Heart of Pine—USA), Levi Garcia Spartak Moscow—Russia), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers), Tyrese Spicer (Toronto FC—Canada), Real Gill (Huntsville City FC—USA), Brent Sam (Defence Force).
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