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The Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team won their first warm-up match in Georgetown this afternoon. But it was against Guyanese club team, Alpha United, rather than the Guyana National Team, as initially suggested by a Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) release.
W Connection midfielder Jabari Mitchell and Moses Jaikeran scored the goals as the young Soca Warriors pulled off a 2-1 win against an Alpha team that had not played a competitive match in at least two months. Guyana national player, Daniel Wilson, scored for Alpha.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
And, despite the rust, Alpha are likely to be the most match-ready opponents that the young Warriors face in Guyana, as their second affair on Sunday comes against an “Elite All Stars” team from the Guyanese league, which is in its off-season.
“We were happy for the trip [from] the Trinidad team, [as] it gives the Guyana team an opportunity to kickstart its local-based national [squad],” Shabazz told Wired868. “We let them play Alpha first as [they are] the team that is most ready now and they have nine national players.
“Then it will be Elite All Star team, which is really local-based players [for the Guyana Senior National Team]. [The Guyana FA’s decision to not call it a national team] is really just to protect the integrity of the national team.”
Arguably, the National Under-20 Team could have gotten stiffer competition right in Trinidad, as the current Caribbean champions, Central FC, and runners-up, W Connection, are both active in the CONCACAF Champions League while Defence Force played its first outing of the new Pro League season last week.
National coach Brian Williams has just 18 players to choose from after Shiva Boys Hindu College standouts Tyrel “Pappy” Emmanuel and Quinn Rodney failed to catch their flight and were playing against San Juan North in Bourg Mulatresse when the Warriors checked in at the Piarco International Airport.
(Courtesy Kerlon Orr/Wired868)
So far, neither the TTFA nor representatives of the players have made a public statement on their absence.
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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.
Rawle, the jury is out on if that U-20 team can even get past Caribbean stage
With a little more effort yeah…. They seemed lazy at some parts of the game… Not enough effort in the middle and their central defence needs to focus a bit
K thanks
Good bunch of players, but honestly, the Elite League team were just too good for them. the scoreline doesnt reflect how the game was played; could’ve been a larger margin of victory if the home team didnt throw away so many goals.
Anybody know if Payne got any game time?
Thanks! Any qualitative analysis on game?
They went down 1-0 Vurlon Mills (former Caledonia player) scored.
Any updates on second national u20 practice game in Guyana?
Your boy score Kirwin lol
Hmmm.
You and Lasana does doubt my eye for talent. If it’s who I think it is…the young boy bitter eh.
Wam to Nicholas Dillion ?
i heard Dillon and Jabari did well. Our central defence was apparently shaky. Still.
lol you really bite that bait Kirwin
Don’t know how Joshua Marshall or Jesse Joseph have not gotten a look in with this squad.
Roneil, I believe Joshua Marshall was invited some time ago and did not show up.
hmm interesting
..Caribbean football will increasingly become a back water of CONCACAF. Sorry. Them’s the facts..
Why do you say that? Organization?
Yes. And nobody to set it right. I desperately hope I am proven wrong..
Today, in Guyana, the acting General Secretary and the Finance Director resigned.
Wow. Ok
yup .. i mean, i have a bunch of off the record information and it would be improper to report it, so, i want something that i could quote. I have all the details but nothing that i could actually publish.
Lasana, look at it, outside of Jamaica (to an extent), Caribbean football is embroiled in some form of controversy with administrators thinking they are above the game and the people who put them in power.
Even Jamaica has problems, maybe not as severe as in other nations, but especially after the failure of not progressing in 2018 WCQs, the admin in turmoil
but at least the game is being played Santokie, that’s my point.
The sad thing with Guyana is, all this nonsense with Elite League clubs and GFF is hindering the chances of Guyana making the Gold Cup.
You think sponsors will want to throw their money in that? at least not the people i worked for who, because of me, was a sponsor of the league during the inaugural season.
Jamaica have problems. They have just given up on fixing them. I think they are waiting for the Captain to pop his clogs as they say.
the GFF President promised a one-on-one next week, with all that is unfolding in the GFF and Guyana’s football, it will be interesting.
That should be fire! Expecting you to fire the big questions as always bro
‘Unfolding?’….I thought you guys have a new Gen Sec and thought things were in order. Didn’t know
Even the Guyana journalists are saying that the trip serves no purpose.
Always second best for us…….well done ttfa
They went for ah sweat lol
Lol. We leave the top teams in the Caribbean who actually are active to go play against lesser teams in their off-season.
Brilliant!
I guess the camp is most important
They can get a camp in Trinidad. And the young fellahs won’t have to miss that much school.
I’ve been to Georgetown. The facilities are not better. And I’m being kind.
Yeah the game on Sunday i.e against the ”all-star Elite League” team will essentially be young local players from different clubs rather than the best players from the Guyanese Elite League.
Not sure what the benefit is for either the Under-20s or the Guyanese teams in this situation.
That’s what the TTFA told us Santokie. It appears that Guyana football fans didn’t like that match up too much and maybe thought it was disrespectful to the Golden Jaguars.
It seems that the second match is against a Guyana XI. But it doesn’t sound like a very organised team.
It’s not. It’s against the locally based players who Jamaal is trying to see; those trying to find a place in the CFU team. But, for 3 months plus, those players were were inactive.
If you ask me, the TT U20 team was better off playing Pro-League clubs #wasteofmoney
That’s what I’m thinking Rawle. Hope they get to see the sights at least!
Rawle Toney Same thing i was thinking especially as pro league begins soon
it is not yet known when the league will restart in Guyana with issues ranging from financing, challenge to expansion, clubs threatening to pull out to the GFF having their own administrative woes hampering the start.
Lasana, there’s nothing to see unless you go to the interior or somewhere out of the capital. It’s just money wasted to me.
Sad!!!
Lol. You best go play tour guide and find something interesting for them Rawle! Hahaha.
how are these sort of trips funded? Would TTFA fund it all or would GFF cover the accomodation/food costs in Guyana?
Well the GFF would have to be crazy to fund a trip when it doesn’t even involve their own national teams. So I’m pretty sure our genius TTFA president is footing the bill.
with Guyana/GFF being cash-strap, that will be interesting to know.
Lasana Liburd call me crazy but i sensed sarcasm in the genius part of that statement haha
Hahaha. Your spidey sense is working!
so had it been agreed beforehand between GFF and TTFA that the U-20s would play a Guyana Senior team?
lol .. i mean, given the fact i was told what i was told out of confidence, i really cant say it lol
This not looking good …..
No. I don’t think so either.