Soca Warriors ready to give good account against China; live on Flow 95

Editor Wednesday 1 June 2016 National Football, Volley 4 Comments

The Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team’s exhibition match against China on Friday June 3 will be broadcast live on Flow Channel 95 from 7.30 am TT time or 7.30 pm in Qin Huang Dao.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Shahdon Winchester (right) tries to escape from Haiti defender Jean Marc Alexandre during the 2016 Copa America play off contest at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium, Panama City on 8 January 2016. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868) — Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Shahdon Winchester (right) tries to escape from Haiti defender Jean Marc Alexandre during the 2016 Copa America play off contest at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium, Panama City on 8 January 2016.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)

The “Soca Warriors” had a break from training today as they visited the Great Wall of China and interacted with locals.

“It was a great opportunity to take the players away from the training field a bit and get them out a bit at what is a great historical site,” head coach Stephen Hart told TTFA Media. “It’s been a long tour but of course the main focus is preparing for the game on Friday. It’s going to be another challenging engagement for us but a great opportunity to test ourselves in these sort of conditions and against a team that is on the up.”

The Warriors, who lost 4-0 and 3-1 to Peru and Uruguay respectively last week, are without stand-in captain Khaleem Hyland and lively teenaged winger Levi Garcia while defenders Triston Hodge and Carlyle Mitchell were forced to withdraw due to injury and club commitments respectively.

However, Hart expects to have Mexico-based central defender Yohance Marshall fit for the first time on this tour while Denmark-based Radanfah Abu Bakr is back from suspension and Hughtun Hector should also be available after suffering a heel contusion against Peru.

The Warriors coach said the players are looking forward to ending their three-game series on a high note at the Qin Huang Dao venue, which has a capacity of 33,572 patrons.

Photo: China football fans get behind their national team. (Copyright SCMP.com) — Photo: China football fans get behind their national team.
(Copyright SCMP.com)

“Generally the mood is quite good in the camp,” said Hart. “The players are still very eager to go into the match and give a good account.

“I’ve gotten a lot from the tour so far in terms of what I had been looking for from players and certain situations that we’ve faced which is in line for our readiness for later down the road as well.”

(Trinidad and Tobago team)

Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Glenroy Samuel (North East Stars);

Defenders: Aubrey David (Saprissa FC—Costa Rica), Alvin Jones, Daneil Cyrus (both W Connection), Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge—Denmark), Yohance Marshall (Murcielagos FC—Mexico), Weslie John (CD Universidad—El Salvador), Andre Ettienne (Central FC);

Midfielders: Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge—England), Leston Paul (Central FC), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force);