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Trinidad and Tobago will get to Aruba two days late for the Concacaf Under-15 Championship. But, crucially, they will be in time for kick off in their opening Group E encounter against Barbados in League B.
And perhaps the most important thing is they will get there at all.
Photo: TTFA Media.
After more than a week of uncertainty as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) tried to book flights for the squad, Wired868 understands that a breakthrough came this morning.
The local football body, according to a source, managed to get individual tickets for players and staff on different flights.
Concacaf mandated that all teams get to their hotel by today, when the competition gets going with clashes between El Salvador and Nicaragua and Panama and Honduras respectively in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
However, the TTFA appeared to get special permission for a late arrival, due to administrative issues.
Wired868 understands that the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 squad will begin their departure from the Piarco International Airport at 4pm on Saturday and arrive at the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad at 6am on Monday.
Some players were allegedly booked to travel business class as those were the only available seats.
The young Soca Warriors were initially scheduled to play Barbados from 9am on Monday at the Stadion CD Jose Wever in Oranjestad. However, Concacaf allegedly assured the TTFA that kick off will be moved to 4pm to facilitate their late arrival.
The ticketing issue came from a late attempt to book tickets for the squad, which is led by head coach Densill Theobald and manager Nigel Roberts.
Photo: TTFA Media.
League B of the Concacaf Under-15 Championship comprises nations ranked between 10 and 26 at under-17 level in the confederation. Trinidad and Tobago are ranked 15th.
The teams are grouped as follows:
- Group C: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guyana, Cayman Islands;
- Group D: Jamaica, Curaçao, Aruba, Belize;
- Group E: Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda;
- Group F: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Photo: TTFA Media.
The four group winners advance to the semifinal stage while the remaining teams have one additional match to determine their final position in the competition.
Trinidad and Tobago finished 11th in the 2023 Concacaf Under-15 Championship after securing their first ever wins in the tournament. The team, led by Shawn Cooper, closed with triumphs over Costa Rica and Qatar.
The 2025 Concacaf seeding denies Theobald’s outfit the chance to test themselves against the best nations in the confederation.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Of course, the Trinidad and Tobago team would be relieved to see any action at all.
Theobald travels with 18 players to the competition, which includes the overseas-based duo of goalkeeper Levi Williams and left back Antoni James. Both have been in Trinidad for the last two weeks, training with the squad.
James played for Theobald at the CFU Boys Under-14 Series in Tobago last August while Williams, an Inter Miami CF player, was the first-choice goalkeeper for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2025 Concacaf Under-17 Championship earlier this year.
Williams is set for his second Concacaf tournament in this calendar year as he lines up with coach Densill Theobald’s under-15 squad.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Naparima College and Cox Coaching School forward Adasa Richardson, a key fixture in the current Under-15 team, also represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2025 Concacaf Under-17 Championship.
The TTFA is yet to confirm the national team for the Concacaf tournament. But Wired868 understands that the squad is:
Goalkeepers: Christian Telfer (City FC), Levi Williams (Inter Miami—USA);
Photo: TTFA Media.
Defenders: Kyen Anderson (Ball Blasters Youth Academy), Aden Montano (Union Hall United), Oshea Watson (Point Fortin Youth Football Academy), Jaylon Roberts (Cardinals Football Academy), JaiMarley John (Maloney Real Footballers Academy), Antoni James (Austin Town Fitch—USA);
Midfielders: Deron Blackman (Cardinals Football Academy), Ackim Duncan (Ball Blasters Youth Academy), Sebastian James (Cox Football Academy), Aaden Jones (Creek SCC), Samuel Balfour (Union Hall United), Matthew Lee Young (City FC);
Attackers: Adasa Richardson (Cox Football Academy), Jeremai Nanton, Reagan Rowe (both City FC), Kevez Quintero (Santa Cruz United).
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
