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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team coach Brian Haynes named his first squad for international action today, with southern Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) giants St Benedict’s College and Presentation College (San Fernando) accounting for one third of the squad.
The young Soca Warriors face their Jamaica counterparts from 4pm at the UTT Campus in O’Meara on Thursday 25 January. It will be the first of two outings between the two nations, who will also clash at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar from 4pm on Thursday 1 February.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Nine of the 23 players selected are graduates from the team which got to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Concacaf Under-17 Championship under coach Shawn Cooper.
Those players are: defenders Jaden Williams, Joshua Figaro and Lyshaun Morris, midfielders Tau Lamsee and Josiah Ochoa, and attackers Michael Chaves, Lindell Sween, Jeremiah Niles and Malachi Webb.
Niles, Webb, Ochoa and Morris are all St Benedict’s College schoolboys. The only other school with that many picks are National Intercol champions Presentation College (San Fernando) who contributed defender Duhrell Young, midfielders Levi Jones and Abayomi George, and 15-year-old goalkeeper Makaya Taylor to Haynes’ squad.
Taylor represented Speyside High in the SSFL Premier Division last term but transferred to the “Pres Lions” earlier this month.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
A potential fifth Presentation student, defender Cody Cooper, is ineligible for tomorrow’s match due to illness.
Haynes selected one overseas-based player in his maiden team as England-born attacker Aidan Ward also got the nod.
The full Trinidad and Tobago team for tomorrow’s friendly contest is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Tor Fletcher (Gateway Athletics), Tyrese Romain (Naparima College), Makaya Taylor (Presentation College, San F’do);
Defenders: Jordan Ferdinand (Malick Secondary), Joshua Figaro (Trinity College East), Russel Francois (St Anthony’s College), Akil Henry (Arima North Secondary), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College), Jaden Williams (Fatima College), Duhrell Young (Presentation College, San F’do);
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Midfielders: Aidan De Gannes (Fatima College), Abayomi George, Levi Jones (both Presentation College), Tau Lamsee (QRC), Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College), Nathan Quashie (San Juan North);
Attackers: Michael Chaves (Fatima College), Jabari Forbes (Naparima College), Jlon Matthews (Malick Secondary), Jeremiah Niles, Malachi Webb (both St Benedict’s College), Lindell Sween (San Juan North), Aidan Ward (Welling—England).
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I count 5 players including Cody Cooper from Pres, The article said 6 players. Is a name missing from the list?
You’re right. I must have had one of the other Pres boys on the list and forgot to adjust when I removed him. The other Pres players in the current training pool are Adah Barclay and Vaughn Clement.