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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve made a late change to his 23-man squad for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, as he replaced midfielder Daniel Phillips today with central defender Luke Singh.
Phillips, 22, was ruled out with a “grade 1 quadricep injury”, according to the TTFA Media, which he suffered in the second half of Trinidad and Tobago’s scrimmage with Haiti on Tuesday. The injury is expected to keep the Scotland Premier League player sidelined for two to three weeks.
(via TTFA Media)
Phillips’ departure leaves the Soca Warriors with just three available combative midfielders in Neveal Hackshaw, Andre Rampersad and 19-year-old Molik Khan.
Eve declined the opportunity to summon either of the AC Port of Spain midfield pair of Michel Poon-Angeron or Duane Muckette, but instead turned to the 22-year-old Singh, who only returned from a calf injury himself on 17 June.
Singh, who is on loan from Toronto FC to Canadian Premier League team Atlético Ottawa, is uncapped at national senior level although he represented Trinidad and Tobago at under-17 and under-20 level. The Ontario-born defender trained with the Canada senior team two years ago but did not represent them in an official match.
In the process, Singh was promoted ahead of TT Premier Football League defenders like Justin Garcia (Defence Force) and Josiah Trimmingham (Defence Force)—although the six foot two defender would have likely been in Eve’s original squad but his own calf injury.
The Soca Warriors play their first 2023 Gold Cup group stage match against Saint Kitts and Nevis from 3.30pm on Sunday 25 June at the Drv Pnk Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Both Caribbean nations are also grouped with Jamaica and the United States in Group A.
The TTFA also belatedly announced a two-year partnership with Capelli Sport, who will now serve as “the official and exclusive supplier of sports apparel and equipment for all categories of the TTFA, including the national teams as they compete in Concacaf and Fifa events”.
The Warriors have noticeably sported Capelli gear for the past two weeks, during their pre-tournament camp in Florida.
It is the second time around for TTFA and Capelli Sport, after late former president David John-Williams brought the New York City-based company on board at the cusp of the 2019 Gold Cup.
(via TTFA Media)
“We are really pleased to be able to partner with Capelli Sport,” said Fifa-appointed Normalisation Committee chairman Robert Hadad. “They have stepped forward, having stood out from the proposals we received, and provided the TTFA with a great opportunity as we continue to rebuild the Association.
“Continuing to capture the essence of Trinidad and Tobago in what we wear is key, and we believe that a partnership with Capelli Sport will allow us to showcase these aspects and the best that Trinidad and Tobago has to offer.”
Both parties will “will work together to launch a custom kit design in the coming months”.
“Capelli Sport is happy to help the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association write the next chapter in their storied history,” said Capelli Sport president and CEO George Altirs. “From grassroots development to senior international competition, we intend on being a valuable partner to the TTFA, and playing an integral role in their future success.”
Trinidad and Tobago players (Tabulated as club; age; caps/ goals scored)
Goalkeepers: Denzil Smith (W Connection; 23; 1/0), Nicklas Frenderup (Ranheim IL—Norway; 30; 10/0), Marvin Phillip (AC Port of Spain; 38; 91/0);
(via TTFA Media)
Defenders: Alvin Jones (Club Sando; 28; 43/2), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA; 26; 8/0), Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic—USA; 28; 25/0), Kareem Moses (FF Jaro—Finland; 33; 16/0), Leland Archer (Charleston Battery—USA; 27; 3/0), Sheldon Bateau (SK Beveren—Belgium; 32; 50/4), Aubrey David (SD Aucas—Ecuador; 32; 72/1), Luke Singh (Atlético Ottawa—Canada; 22; 0/0);
Midfielders: Molik Khan (Minnesota United 2—USA; 19; 4/0), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada; 28; 2/0), Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots SC—USA; 27; 32/2), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United—USA; 20; 4/0), Joevin Jones (Police FC; 31; 82/12);
Attackers: Kaïlé Auvray (Sporting KC Academy—USA; 19; 5/0), Levi Garcia (AEK Athens FC—Greece; 25; 38/8), Kadeem Corbin (TLH Rangers; 27; 3/0), Real Gill (Club Sando; 20; 0/0), Ryan Telfer (Miami FC—USA; 29; 21/8), Kevin Molino (Columbus Crew—USA; 32; 56/22), Malcolm Shaw (Atlético Ottawa—Canada; 27; 0/0).
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Does Angus watch the CPL? Singh is slower than molasses going up a hill in winter. He started up decent for a couple of TFC games in the MLS but it is obvious he is not up to scratch. And why replace a midfielder with a defender when our midfield needs shoring up.