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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve selected a 24-man squad today comprised of local top-flight players and primarily lower league or unattached overseas-based players.
The Soca Warriors will play two friendlies away to Jamaica on 11 and 14 March respectively. As the games fall outside the Fifa match window, both nations will rely on the same combination of domestic players and semi-professional or reserve overseas players.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/ Wired868)
The Soca Warriors roster includes El Salvador-based playmaker Jomal Williams, although he is the only active overseas-based professional in Eve’s squad.
Former MLS players Joevin Jones and Noah Powder, who were both listed as unattached, will also travel to Jamaica.
Eve will not have the services of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers players, as they are in St Lucia now on a pre-arranged tour. And Point Fortin Civic refused to release their own players—clubs are not obligated to send players for national duty outside of the relevant match window.
Civic, who are preparing for Friday’s kickoff of the TT Premier Football League, have midfielders Nathaniel Garcia and Luke Phillip, forward Shackiel Henry, defenders Weslie John and Isaiah Garcia, and goalkeeper Jabari Gray within their ranks.
Former national forward Dexter Cyrus coaches Civic, although iconic ex-national striker Steve David sets club policy. And David told Wired868 that he is unwilling to lose key players for a match outside the Fifa window, when they face Tiger Tanks Club Sando in their first league fixture on Friday at Mahaica Oval.
Garcia will represent Point Fortin Civic in the 2023 TTPFL competition.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
The TTPFL has not made a policy on postponing matches while the Soca Warriors are playing, but will instead listen to requests by clubs on a case-by-case basis. Since clubs can choose whether to release players outside Fifa match windows, David made the call himself.
“My whole back four was called up for the national team (Ronell Paul, Andre Etienne, John, and Garcia [I]) and it means they will miss a game or two when we need to start well [in the TTPFL],” said David. “It is not a Fifa window and I just think it is the wrong time. So we took all of that into consideration.”
David said Civic have their own obligations to supporters and sponsors. He took the opportunity to make a vow to Point Fortin fanbase.
“We are going to win—that is what they can expect,” said David. “We are going all out to win this league and we are very serious about it. If we don’t win and qualify for the CFU by finishing first or second, I will be very disappointed.”
Eve has his own job to do, as he prepares his team for crucial Concacaf Nations League matches against The Bahamas and Nicaragua on 24 and 27 March respectively.
(via TTFA Media)
He promised to take a young squad to Jamaica but his final squad had just three players who are 21-years-old or younger.
Eighteen-year-old Saint Martin flanker Kailé Auvray is set for his debut for the two-island republic while another teenager, W Connection starlet Nathaniel James, is also in the squad.
Auvray shone for Saint Martin in a friendly earlier this year and qualifies to represent Trinidad and Tobago through his mother. The move from Saint Martin to the Warriors is a straightforward one since the French colony is not a full Fifa member.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Unattached utility player Jesse Williams, 21, also got a call-up.
Eve also summoned 22-year-old left back Andre Raymond, who plays in the Portuguese fourth division, 24-year-old former Florida International University (FIU) defender Kareem “Enzo” Riley and, intriguingly, journeyman 28-year-old forward Quesi Weston who plays in the US amateur leagues for Louisiana Krewe FC at present.
AC Port of Spain have six players in Eve’s travelling squad including veteran goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, which is the most of any local team.
Defence Force have four players, including flanker Reon Moore, while W Connection and Club Sando have two picks each.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
(Team)
Goalkeepers: Marvin Phillip (AC Port of Spain), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Denzil Smith (W Connection),
Defenders: Alvin Jones (unattached), Kareem Riley, Josiah Trimmingham (both Club Sando), Justin Garcia, Jelani Felix (both Defence Force), Jameel Neptune (AC Port of Spain), Andre Raymond (Dumiense FC—Portugal),
(via TTFA Media)
Midfielders: Matthew Woo Ling, Michel Poon-Angeron (both AC Port of Spain), Noah Powder, Jesse Williams (both unattached), Justin Sadoo (Defence Force),
Attackers: Jomal Williams (Once Deportivo—El Salvador), Joevin Jones (unattached), Kailé Auvray (Sporting Kansas City—US), Kadeem Corbin (Central FC), Reon Moore (Defence Force), John-Paul Rochford, Jomoul Francois (both AC Port of Spain), Nathaniel James (W Connection), Quesi Weston (Louisiana Krewe FC—US).
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