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The Trinidad and Tobago Boys National Under-15 Team finally departed yesterday for the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championship in Aruba—two days late and a player short.
The young Soca Warriors were due in Aruba by Saturday 2 August while their first game was scheduled against Barbados at 9am on Monday 4 August at the CD Jose Wever Stadium in Oranjestad.
Trinidad and Tobago went on to win the match 3-1.
Photo: TTFA Media.
However, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s failure to book early flights put their participation in jeopardy. At least twice, over the last five days, staff understood that the trip was off while parents waited anxiously for feedback.
In the end, though, the TTFA managed bookings that saw the boys travel to Aruba via Guyana and Colombia—with a four to nine hour layover at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, and a seven hour stop at the El Dorado International Airport in Bogota.
After departing in two batches on Sunday afternoon and night, the players and staff are due to land at the Reina Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad at 4.05pm today.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Concacaf had already altered Trinidad and Tobago’s kick off time against Barbados from 9am to 4pm today. However, the TTFA’s final booking prompted another change with the prescheduled opener now moved to Thursday 7 August—on what was initially due to be a rest day for all teams.
As a result, coach Densill Theobald’s team will play four games in four days.
The local football body, in a press statement, described the chaotic travel arrangements for its young players as “several days of travel logistics challenges and delays” and noted that president Kieron Edwards “expressed appreciation for the outcome and praised the resilience shown by his team of officials and players”.
The TTFA also extended “sincere gratitude to Concacaf for its understanding, flexibility, and support during this process”.
“We are relieved and pleased that our young players will now have the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage,” said Edwards, via the TTFA Media. “While the travel delays were unfortunate, the patience and professionalism shown by our staff, players, and their families must be commended.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“We are grateful to Concacaf for working with us to make this possible and for their continued support of football development in the region.”
However, even as the TTFA president suggested that the crisis was belatedly handled, at least one player might beg to differ.
Right back Kyen Anderson, a Signal Hill Secondary student and Ball Blasters Youth Academy player, was left behind at the Home of Football in Couva.
Photo: Dirk Allahar/ BCreative Designs/ Wired868.
Wired868 understands that the 15-year-old defender was “bumped off” his flight on Sunday night and unable to travel with the rest of his team. So, the teenaged Tobagonian had to remain in Trinidad as the local football body again goes into crisis management mode.
There was no mention of Anderson in the TTFA press statement.
Theobald, who spoke to the TTFA Media before his team’s departure, said he was relieved that they got to travel at all.
Photo: TTPFL.
“Honestly, it’s a big relief,” said Theobald. “The past few days have been tough with the back-and-forth, but I have to give credit to the boys and the staff for staying ready through it all. We didn’t let the delay break our spirit.
“Now that we’re finally getting to go, it’s about resetting quickly and making the most of every game and every moment. These boys have worked hard, and we owe it to them—and the people back home—to give a good account of ourselves.”
From the 26 Caribbean nations involved in the Concacaf Under-15 Championship, at least two teams—and four at the most—failed to sort out their travel in a timely manner. One other game, between Cuba and Guyana, was also delayed and will be played on the rest day on 7 August.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Trinidad and Tobago is in League B of the Concacaf Under-15 Championship, which is the second tier of the competition with nations ranked between 10 and 26 at under-17 level in the confederation. The young Soca Warriors are ranked 15th.
League A comprises (in order of ranking): Mexico, USA, Canada, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicarigua, with Saudi Arabia competing as a guest team.
The League B 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’s group stage schedule reads:
- T&T vs Antigua and Barbuda, 9am, Tuesday 5 August;
- T&T vs Bermuda, 11am, Wednesday 6 August;
- T&T vs Barbados, 11am, Thursday 7 August.
“It is surely going to be a big test for the boys and the staff,” said Theobald. “How we manage them during and after the travel will be crucial for us—but it’s a big part of the learning process for these young boys as they embark on their journeys as footballers.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“So, while it [has] not been an ideal situation in terms of us arriving ahead of schedule and getting time to settle down, we intend to use all the different aspects of this trip as something that can benefit us in the long term.”
Anderson’s own mental fortitude and patience has been tested more than most, as he chases his international Concacaf debut.
Wired868 understands that the TTFA expect to secure a flight for the young right back today, so as to ensure that he is available for his country’s opening match against Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow morning.
Kyen Anderson is second from right in the back row.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Anderson represented Trinidad and Tobago at the CFU Boys Under-14 Series in 2024.
The TTFA, in its media release, insisted to supporters and stakeholders that the local football body “remains committed to youth development and will continue working to ensure national teams are positioned to thrive both regionally and internationally”.
(Trinidad and Tobago Boys National Under-15 team)
Goalkeepers: Christian Telfer (City FC), Levi Williams (Inter Miami—USA);
Defenders: Kyen Anderson (Ball Blasters Youth Academy), Aden Montano (Union Hall United), Oshea Watson (Point Fortin Youth Football Academy; on loan from Jaric Titans), Jaylon Roberts (Cardinals Football Academy), JaiMarley John (Maloney Real Footballers Academy), Antoni James (Austin Town Fitch—USA);
Photo: TTFA Media.
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.
