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The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) yesterday revealed the current local-based longlist of Men’s National Under-17 Team head coach Shawn Cooper, with a remarkable 28 from his 35 member provisional squad coming from just four schools.
Fatima College, the beaten Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big 4 finalists, account for just over a third of Cooper’s squad with a dozen of their players deemed good enough to survive the culls so far.
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The Fatima players in the current National Under-17 Team training squad are: Jaden Ottley, Michiah Leach, Kade Collier, Jaheam Bailey, Logan Maingot, Jaden Williams, Michael Chaves, Luke Correia, Thomas Decle, Seth Hadeed, Yohance Atherton and Darius Jordan.
Incidentally, only Atherton and Williams are regular starters for Fatima coach Hutson Charles’ Premier Division outfit, while Jordan, Collier, Chaves, Correia and Maingot usually contribute from off the substitutes’ bench.
The other five national inclusions play almost exclusively with the Fatima Under-16 Team.
Fellow North Zone school, Queen’s Royal College, and Big 4 champions St Benedict’s College have six picks each on the National Under-17 longlist while Presentation College (San Fernando) have four spots.
Three Tobago players are in the mix, who are the Scarborough Secondary duo of Selezde Duke and Machiah Taylor as well as Goodwood Secondary midfielder Justin Clarke.
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QPCC FC now appear to be the dominant source of national youth talent with 14 picks, including 10 Fatima players: Ottley, Leach, Jordan, Collier, Maingot, Williams, Chaves, Correia, Hadeed and Atherton.
The “Parkites” also account for the QRC duo of Cristiano Austin and Micah Nelson, St Mary’s College flanker Josiah Connell, and Trimont College right back David Hospedales.
Point Fortin Academy have the second most call-ups with five: Jeremiah Niles, Josiah Ochoa, Lyshaun Morris (all St Benedict’s College), Isaiah Jacob (Presentation College, San F’do), McKale Thomas (Vessigny Secondary).
San Juan Jabloteh and Pro Series Events have three players each on Cooper’s longlist while Cox Football Academy and Brother Ry’s Academy (Tobago) have two each.
Niles, a Point Fortin Academy player, is on the longlist for the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 Team.
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TTFA High Performance Programme coordinator and Men’s National Futsal Team head coach Paul Decle is head of the Pro Series team.
The Men’s National Under-17 Team is preparing for the 2023 Concacaf Championship, which kicks off in Guatemala next February. The junior Soca Warriors are grouped with the United States, Canada and Barbados.
The top three teams will advance to the Round of 16, which is a knockout stage, while the four Concacaf semifinalists qualify automatically for the Peru 2023 Under-17 World Cup.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/ Wired868)
At present, Cooper is also evaluating North America-based talent as the TTFA revealed that Nahi Morrison (Alexandria Soccer Association), Isaiah Dove (Maryland Bobcats Academy), Tyrell Moore (Nashville SC), Jeremiah Cateau (Concorde Fire), Damien Maraj (Coral Glades High School), Ailan Panton (Darlington Soccer Academy), Luka Hislop (Valeo FC), Jayden Gomez, Noah Hudson, Jaden Chan Tack (all South Florida Football) were also screened.
Elijah Hicks, Ezra Hicks (both FC Cincinnati), Brandon Dhanoolal (World Class), Armani Rowe (Cedar Star) and Joshua Palmer (Plantation FC) are also invited to join the current training squad over the next month.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Luka Hislop, a forward, is the son of iconic former Trinidad and Tobago international goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who represented the twin island republic at the Germany 2006 World Cup. And Tyrell Moore is the son of former Trinidad and Tobago forward Wendell Moore and younger brother of current US international Shaq Moore.
Tyrell also caught the eye of then Men’s National Under-20 Team coach Angus Eve, earlier this year, but failed to break into his final Concacaf squad.
Within the local-based training squad, Paul Decle’s son, Thomas, is also a member of Cooper’s longlist.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 local-based training squad:
Goalkeepers: Jaden Ottley (Fatima College/ QPCC), Jayeim Blake (El Dorado East/ Ginga FC), Cristiano Austin (QRC/ QPCC), Thane Devenish (St Benedict’s College/ San Juan Jabloteh), Machiah Taylor (Scarborough Secondary/ Brother Ry’s Academy);
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Defenders: David Hospedales (Trimont College/ QPCC), Joachim Callender (St Anthony’s College/ San Juan Jabloteh), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College/ Pt Fortin Academy), Mahkaya Mahon (St Anthony’s College/ T&T Maestros), Michiah Leach (Fatima College/ QPCC), Jaden Williams (Fatima College/ QPCC), Joshua Figaro (Trinity College East/ Trendsetter Hawks), Kyron Joseph (Naparima College/ Club Sando FC), Yohance Atherton (Fatima College/ QPCC), Darius Jordan (Fatima College/ QPCC), Selezde Duke (Scarborough Secondary/ Roxborough), McKale Thomas (Vessigny Secondary/ Point Fortin Academy), Josiah Connell (St Mary’s College/ QPCC);
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Midfielders: Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College/ Pt Fortin Academy), Darrel Garcia (St Benedict’s College/ Cox FA), Malachi Webb (St Benedict’s College/ Premier FC), Mackeil Edwards (Presentation College, San F’do/ Crown Trace FC), Isaiah Jacob (Presentation College, San F’do/ Pt Fortin Academy), Vaughn Clement (Presentation College, San F’do/ Cox FA), Raul Perreira (Presentation College/ M12 Academy), Kade Collier (Fatima College/ QPCC), Jeremiah Niles (St Benedict’s College/ Point Fortin Academy), Logan Maingot (Fatima College/ QPCC), Nathan Quashie (QRC/ W Connection), Aydon Caruth (QRC/ Police FC), Tau Lamsee (QRC/ Pro Series), Zion Aberdeen (QRC), Thomas Decle (Fatima College/ Pro Series), Micah Nelson (QRC/ QPCC), Seth Hadeed (Fatima College/ QPCC), Lindell Sween (San Juan North Secondary);
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Forwards: Jaheam Bailey (Fatima College/ Pro Series), Luke Correia (Fatima College/ QPCC), Michael Chaves (Fatima College/ QPCC), Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College/ Trendsetter Hawks), Justin Clarke (Goodwood Secondary/ Brother Ry’s Academy), Jordan Ferdinand (St Augustine Secondary/ San Juan Jabloteh).
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Can’t help but to be in concert with Coach Cooper. I trust his views on what he knows are important to bring him immediate success but also his those that are developmentally “in-the-making” . Best to you Shawn. Stay to the things that are of pure heart and clean hands. T&T has made a great choice in reenrolling you.
While I am sure those players, their parents and schools are ecstatic, it is not a good sign for Trinidad and Tobago football ! Those in charge of Sports (government ) and football administrators should be taking note and be willing to take a proactive approach to getting football back to the glory we once enjoyed.
Is there a primary school league or tournament in T and T, we must start grooming our kids from a Young age. Football could be lucrative for them, their clubs and country.
Its good to see the level of coaching in the SSFL however this is not enough! How many of those picked are from Toco, Sande Grande, Deep South etc?
Wake up and get off your Fat Asses those of you in a position to do something! Do it now!!
Well if that’s case FATIMA should win every SSFL competition in Trinidad and Tobago, because all their players are exceptional.
If not, then the national team which is going to represent the country is in for some trouble then.
Only in TNT
Not only is Paul Delce is the owner of Pro Series but he have been on the coaching staff of Fatima Junior Team for quite some time. And is now a TTFA Staff member.
Let’s see how this turns out because I don’t believe only one club of team has all the talent in TNT