Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King announced 11 changes to his squad, inclusive of three first-time call-ups, for Saturday’s friendly international assignment against South Korea in Utah.
The match will be South Korea’s penultimate warm-up before the 2026 World Cup, with the Asian powerhouse team also due to face El Salvador next Wednesday.
South Korea are grouped with co-hosts Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa in Group A of the 48-nation competition.
Trinidad and Tobago will follow up the weekend fixture with a trip to Russia on 9 June to face the host nation at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
At present, King said he has an eye on expanding his player pool.
“At the same time, this match presents an opportunity for us to continue evaluating and exposing new players to the international level,” King told the TTFA Media, “[…] as we continue expanding the player pool and building healthy competition within the squad.”
This meant maiden picks for Ali Kazim Nakhid, who the TTFA listed as an Al Ittifaq FC (UAE) player, Jacob Greene (Lexington Sporting Club—USA) player, and Kieran Ngwenya (Dunfermline FC—Scotland).
Nakhid, 26, is a defensive midfielder or ball-playing central defender, who is the son of Senator David Nakhid, a former Soca Warriors captain and, at present, a minister in the Ministry of Sport. The younger Nakhid was born in Lebanon.
Jacob Greene, 23, plays at left back in the US second tier, while Scotland-born central defender Kieran Ngwenya has one cap for Malawi, who he represented when he was just 18.
Ngwenya’s mother, Annette, is a Trinbagonian who moved to Scotland to study medicine.
(via Dunfermline FC.)
Among the recalls for King were 25-year-old Greece-based midfielder Judah Garcia, 22-year-old Slovakia-based midfielder Molik Khan and the US-based duo of 25-year-old midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron and 28-year-old defender Anthony Herbert.
Khan raised eyebrows with a composed showing in his first international start in a 2026 World Cup qualifier away to Curaçao, under then coach Dwight Yorke. However, injuries have ruled him out of action for his country ever since.
Poon-Angeron featured in Yorke’s first three matches, all friendlies, with his last outing coming away to Jamaica on 9 February 2025. He has a total 19 international caps combined with one goal.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Herbert’s sole national cap thus far was as a late substitute away to Thailand under former coach Angus Eve on 25 September 2022. He is a former St Benedict’s College stand-out.
Incidentally, Garcia’s last game for the Warriors came three days before Herbert, when he started—and scored—in a 2-1 loss away to Tajikistan. He is the younger brother of current national captain Levi Garcia, who was “excused” from this weekend’s outing.
King said midfielder Ajani Fortune and defender Rio Cardines were also excused, with the latter hoping to feature for Crystal Palace tomorrow in the Uefa Conference League final against Spanish team Rayo Vallecano.
(via TTFA Media.)
Midfielder Dantaye Gilbert (FK Dukla Prague—Czech Republic) and attacker Nathaniel James (North Texas SC—USA), according to the TTFA Media, were “also unavailable as both their clubs are in end of season playoffs”.
The other omissions from the Soca Warriors squad that faced Venezuela and Gabon in the March Fifa Series include: goalkeeper Denzil Smith, defenders Justin Garcia and Adam Pierre, midfielders Jerrin Jackie, Duane Muckette and Andre Rampersad, and attackers Reon Moore, Real Gill and Ryan Telfer.
“Unfortunately, we will be without a few important players,” said King. “Levi and Fortune have been excused from the squad, while [Tyrese] Spicer, Luke [Singh] and [Wayne] Frederick II are unavailable due to injuries.
Photo: TTFA Media.
“We wish them all a speedy recovery and look forward to having them back involved soon.”
Luke Singh, who plays as a central defender for Inter Toronto FC in the Canadian Premier League, got two caps under Eve at the 2023 Gold Cup but has not represented his country since then.
King, who is without a positive result in his three international outings since returning to the helm, acknowledged that Trinidad and Tobago are in for another stiff challenge on Saturday.
Photo: Getty Images.
South Korea are ranked 25th in the world by Fifa—77 places higher than the Soca Warriors—and can feature the likes of ex-Spurs star Son Heung-Min, Wolves attacker Hwang Hee-Chan and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-Jae in their squad.
“As we prepare for this important international match against South Korea, we understand the quality and experience of the opposition,” King said.
“They are a World Cup-level team with strong organisation, discipline and technical ability, so this will be a very good test for our players and for the direction we are building as a national team.
(via TTFA Media.)
“[…] Our focus remains on building a team with discipline, character and pride in representing Trinidad and Tobago. Every camp and every international game is an important step in the process as we continue working towards making Trinidad and Tobago football competitive again at the highest level in Concacaf.
“We ask the nation to continue supporting the players and staff as we move forward together.”
(Trinidad and Tobago team)
Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice (Central FC), Teshorne Ragoo (Club Sando);
Defenders: Deron Payne (FC Volendham—Netherlands), Kobi Henry (Real Salt Lake II—USA), Jaylen Yearwood (Orlando City B—USA), Noah Powder (Westchester SC—USA), Jacob Greene (Lexington Sporting Club—USA), Kieran Ngwenya (Dunfermline FC—Scotland), Anthony Herbert (Indy Eleven—USA);
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Midfielders: Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Daniel David (Central FC), Michel Poon-Angeron (Portland Heart of Pine—USA), Judah Garcia (PAE GS Ilioupoli—Greece), Ali Kazim Nakhid (Al Ittifaq FC—UAE), Kaihim Thomas (Corpus Christi FC—USA), Daniel Phillips (Stevenage FC—England), Molik Khan (AS Trenčín—Slovakia),
Attackers: John-Paul Rochford (Al-Khaboura SC—Oman), Roald Mitchell (New York Red Bulls—USA), Jaheim Faustin (San Juan Jabloteh), Isaiah Lee (Central FC), Dante Sealy (Colorado Rapids—USA).
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) today announced a surprise international friendly for its Men’s National Senior Team with Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team ended their jet-packing global exhibition forays today with a 3-0 loss away Read more
Senator David Nakhid, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, described the non-payment of match fees for Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King will travel to Russia without squad captain Levi Garcia Read more
On 17 April 2026, the day of their must-win Brazil 2027 World Cup qualifier against El Salvador at the Hasely Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team endured a humbling night in Utah yesterday as they were trounced 5-0 Read more
