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Trinidad and Tobago suffered its first defeat to Curaçao in 68 years yesterday as the “Soca Warriors”, who were staffed primarily with Pro League players, lost 1-0 to the Dutch islanders at Sentro Deportivo Korsou in Willemstad, Curaçao.
(Copyright Getty Images/AFP/ Mike Zarrilli)
It was Trinidad and Tobago’s first loss to Curaçao since a 3-0 defeat away to the Dutchmen in 1947. The result was Warriors coach Stephen Hart’s fourth successive outing without a win—the worst run of his two-year spell in charge—after a Caribbean Cup group draw with Cuba and successes losses to Jamaica, Panama and now Curaçao.
In mitigation, the Warriors lost on penalties to Jamaica in the Caribbean Cup final on hostile territory while their past two defeats were by solitary goals and with largely experimental local squads.
Curaçao, who were coached by former Netherlands and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert, had four Eredivisie players in their squad and were stuffed with Europe-based players.
Kluivert, whose mother was born in Curaçao, is unbeaten in four games since he took over in March.
His men face a do-or-die two legged 2018 World Cup qualifying clash with Cuba later this month.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
“The days for Trinidad and Tobago just showing up in CONCACAF or the Caribbean and expecting the result to go in its favour because of history or name are over,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “We need to play with a desire and a will to dominate, control the tempo of the game, defend intelligently and win.
“Having said that, we had three days together and as I said, this game will serve as a lesson as to what each international game demands of us as individuals and as a unit.”
Hart, who was without injured Central FC playmaker Ataulla Guerra, gave Central fullback Kaydion Gabriel and Police FC defender Elijah Belgrave their international debuts last night while North East Stars playmaker Keron Cummings made his first appearance in five years and W Connection attacker Shahdon Winchester got his second start under the current coach.
Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling came on in the second half for his first appearance under Hart while St Ann’s Rangers attacker Kadeem Corbin also made his international senior debut off the bench.
But the night belonged to Curaçao substitute Charlton Vicento, an Eredivisie player with Willem II, who came off the bench to bag the winner in the 85th minute.
(Courtesy Curacao Chronicle)
Kluivert will hope their morale boosting win over the Warriors serves them well when they kick off against Cuba on Monday.
While Hart will decide which players to retain to his first team squad as he welcomes back his full overseas-based contingent for an international friendly away to Jordan on June 6.
“This game will serve us well,” said Hart. “We had some good moments but concentration needs to be better defensively, especially in the midfield, over ninety minutes.
“Curacao deserve credit. They played the game with a passion and desire worthy of a World Cup qualifier which they play on Wednesday against Cuba.”
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 6. Daneil Cyrus, 17.Mekeil Williams, 18.Elijah Belgrave (2.Shannon Gomez 83), 23.Kaydion Gabriel, 8.Khaleem Hyland (5.Leston Paul 60), 14.Andre Boucaud (15.Dwane James 60), 20.Keron Cummings, 12.Willis Plaza, 13.Shahdon Winchester (19.Kadeem Corbin 64) 9.Kenwyne Jones (captain) (16.Devorn Jorsling 64).
Unused substitutes: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK), 7.Sean De Silva, 11.Ataulla Guerra.
Coach: Stephen Hart
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Dion Sosa that team have real dutch internationals and real full professionals eh, and only beat our make shift national team 1 – 0 eh,no wonder that they cannot and will never win any World Cup steeuuppss Them really good yes.
Kester Lendor while I agree with most or your comments, players from Super League teams are never selected for National teams
Earl Jean, I surprised that you would ask those questions because you will know that the answer lies right smack dab in your and all the other club hands. Pro league clubs more so. You have removed the responsibility of the clubs for developing players and placed it in the hands of National teams. What then becomes the real purpose of club youth programs. Pro league must accept some (actually most) responsibility for the morass we find ourselves in presently. We simply have not been good enough, we have not produced good enough players which will in turn make make up good team. And that my friend is across the board, all levels. The Pro-league is what 11 or 12 years old now, so if 12 years ago the pro-league clubs started with 8 – 10 year old kids we would have a graduating class of 20 – 22 year olds that are technically and tactically superior players.This also applies to Super League clubs. National team coaches have the players for a fraction of the time that they spend with their clubs and I know of a few NT coached that have said that they have to spend too much time teaching technique with the players that are selected. Our youth teams of the recent past have been beaten because of mostly technical deficiencies. The technical reports from the U20 outing spoke to this.
For those who may not know but dutch internationals are now able 2 represent curacao so most if not all those players play in the erevedesie they are full professionals not the jokers we have here at the pfl level its difficult 2 ask them guys 2 step up 2 intl when all they do is play a slow methodical brand of football week by week
Wtf nah
When it comes to the Dutch, I’m very shallow William. They have some great footballers who played for Arsenal
Who?.
Savitri ah never knew you were so shallow
I must admit when I heard that Kluivert was on board and foreign based players, I didn’t think they were going to be a pushover. Didn’t see the game, can’t comment beyond that, will listen to wiser heads as to the future of T&T football.
I blame Rowley and d PNM, sorry Lasana just couldn’t help it!
Well said Earl Jean
im still signed on…painfull but signed on!
Gabre Cummings and Earl Jean alyuh preaching really good . Them really good yes.
As we focus on the senior teams…do we have the best coaches at the youth levels to educate and prepare our young ones for the senior team and the future….or we just have them doing fitness sessions through the days and months to say that they are working hard. ..smh…lets get real!!! Get the guys educated tactical about the game about life, about the game help them become young men ….put the finance where it is important. ..any video sessions for them to analyze themselves. …we are a long way off give the senior coaches some help educate and its not just about fighting and brut force to win at the caribbean level…its about the world my friends….place the future in good hands and only then will our senior coaches have what they want and senior level….but its about building for now….
Interesting the amount of foreign based players CURACAO had for this game.
Last few months that’s the trend now for these 2018 qualifiers, the team CFU team that incorporates the most foreign based players of high quality will be in the best position to possibly get into the HEX and a dream world cup place.
Jamaica were only team in HEX last time and although the qualification process before that stage its slightly different this time around – its hard to see another CFU getting in.
T&T might have to start looking at their overseas players option in time for novemeber more aggressively, if the pro league players don’t step up strongly in these friendlies.
In any sphere or discipline if you want to improve you have to be around those at a higher level than you are. That’s why (IMO) why have had and may still have more naturally talented players than the US but they continue to play against higher grade teams.
Uh-Huh!
Since we lost to Guyana, I signed off mentally
The days that T & T could show up and expect victory against CONCACAF competition are over (according to Hart in this article) because all the wrong people are involved and making the decisions in Trinidad football as usual. Where are those who created the Trinidadian football legacy, history and name that Steven Hart is talking about?
Ok. I know that they approach football much more seriously than we might think
Smh Savitri lol
Yes Peter, was about to say the same as Marvin how many more wake up calls do we need. Btw, i was rooting for Curacao because of Kluivert
Wait…a straight sport story?
Not really…you work hard and you get the result…play shit and u get trashed
Smh
I am sure Gabriel and Cyrus were the two starting full backs but I am not sure who played on which side. I would probably ask the coach when the team returns next week.
I didn’t travel to Curacao for the game. There were too many complications to make that trip on short notice.
My guess is they played a 4-4-1-1 with Winchester and Cummings as the two attacking midfielders and Plaza just behind Jones and then Jorsling.
What formation they used Lasana ? And who played left back ?
Michael Daly, Wired868 did not attend the match. You would have definitely gotten that analysis if I was in Curacao.
I agree Stephen.
Where did Gabriel play Lasana ?
Curacao stun me and all
The USA vs Netherlands was practice too. In hear you eh but we need practice against tougher teams.
Stephen we played Curacao and lost not sure it matters at this particular stage if it was France … its about games.
Is a practice match boys …easy ….all about match practice and assessing what you got to work with.
Nigel I now going say the same thing. That’s why we are behind. Jamaica played France some months ago and we playing Curacao. Steups.
Keep in mind that Curaçao no longer fields a totally ” local” team. A lot of their players are mainland Dutch with curaçao parents and play for top league teams a la Kenwayne Jones. That adds a little more balance to the equation.
And we will continue loosing until the corrupted TTFA is cleaned up the same like the corrupted FIFA steeuuppss Them really good yes.
While USA beating …holland ..we losing to one of it islands…wow !!
I guess Some comfort should lie in the fact that it wasn’t a full string team and that Hart is still experimenting with players who is not accustomed to international pace. We will get there…
In reality,ths $ the PM gave to the Soca Warriors was in reality their money which was being returned after being intermingled with their development Money.
I would have liked if you coulf have given a deeper analysis on how the players performed
It in times like these that you ponder on where we could have been had the development Money been properly allocated to its real purpose rather than to fund parties,dinners and slipped into the pockets and stomachs of others.Tim Kee and all the others have not as yet understood this.Has Tim Kee resigned as yet??????
Marvin McClean I hear you bro. Its true eh but in this case our football game and this result makes it even more imperative that we take stock.
Peter Harris, how much more wake up call we need bro? The entire country needs a wake up call.
Man This Crew of jokers called TTFA ….smfh
I like this quote from Mr Hart “We need to play with a desire and a will to dominate, control the tempo of the game, defend intelligently and win.”
That is not a bad thing. It should serve as a wake up call and shake the team up to reality. Having said that, Curacao has former Dutch standout Patrick Kluivert at the helm and a lot of dutch based players in the team.
Party done T&T exposed!
Oh boy….how much more downs before the ups? Sigh
Sigh