T&T book Sept friendly against UAE; Lawrence hopes to get second outing too

Editor Tuesday 29 May 2018 Global Football, National Football, Volley 1 Comment

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team will play their next international friendly on 6 September when they travel to Spain to face the United Arab Emirates in Girona.

The UAE, whose only World Cup appearance came in 1990, are 81st in the FIFA rankings at present—11 spots higher than the Soca Warriors—and coached by Italian Alberto Zaccheroni, who led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999.

Lawrence told the TTFA Media that the timing of the contest should suit his players better than their recent outing against Panama, which T&T lost 0-1. He hopes that the local football body will approve a second sparring partner for the Warriors during that FIFA match window as well.

“This is a good test for us at this time,” said Lawrence. “UAE [have] a strong football tradition and we can expect a tough contest. The timing is also ideal because the Pro League will be just about three months into its competition which would have the local players selected in a better ‘match-ready condition’.

“It will be practical to secure another friendly while we are in Europe to maximise our time on the continent. So I am liaising with my contact with the hope of giving the Association some feasible recommendations soon.”

Trinidad and Tobago have played five times since their unsuccessful 2018 World Cup campaign, notching one win over Guadeloupe and draws against Guyana, Grenada and Martinique. Lawrence’s troops lost their last outing 0-1 against Panama on 17 April at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The Warriors last faced the UAE in the 2013 OSN Cup when the Arab nation won on penalties after a 3-3 draw.