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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve announced his 23-man squad to face Canada in next weekend’s Copa America Play-Off, with in-form AEK Athens attacker Levi Garcia returning to national duty.
Trinidad and Tobago and Canada face each other at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas from 4pm on Saturday 23 March. The winner qualifies for Group A in the Copa America and will kick off the tournament with a high-profile fixture against defending South America and World Cup champions, Argentina.
Unfortunately, Garcia’s effort hit the heel of the upright.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Garcia missed much of Trinidad and Tobago’s Concacaf Nations League campaign due to injury but, as the nation’s only representative in a recognizable European league, he would be a welcome addition to Eve’s line-up.
In fact, Eve’s entire roster of creative and attacking players ply their trade overseas. His only picks from the TTPFL competition were defensive midfielder Kevon Goddard, along with four defenders and all three goalkeepers.
Eve would point out that Real Gill (who swapped Club Sando for USA second-tier outfit Northern Colorado Hailstorm) and Reon Moore (who moved from Defence Force to Canada’s Pacific FC) were classified as local players just a few weeks ago.
AC Port of Spain playmaker Duane Muckette, midfield organizer Michel-Poon Angeron and flanker John-Paul Rochford miss out though.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
Winger Kaïlé Auvray is also included despite very limited playing time for Mount Pleasant in the Jamaica domestic competition. At 19, Auvray already has 14 national senior caps although he is still waiting for his first goal.
Eve is without US-based flanker Ryan Telfer through injury while forward Malcolm Shaw, formerly a Canada professional, was not considered as he is unattached at present.
Canada announced their own roster earlier this week, which includes Bayern Munich full back Alphonso Davies.
Editor’s Note: Wired868 will do accompanying report on Eve’s Copa America play-off plans later today.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
(Trinidad and Tobago team)
Goalkeepers: 1.Christopher Biggette (Defence Force), 21.Adrian Foncette (Police FC), 23.Denzil Smith (Club Sando FC),
Defenders: 2.Aubrey David (CS Cartagines—Costa Rica), 3.Ross Russell Jr (La Horquetta Rangers), 4.Jesse Williams (Chattanooga FC—USA), 5.Robert Primus, 16.Alvin Jones (both Police FC), 6.Andre Raymond (GD Vilar De Perdizes—Portugal), 14.Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA), 17.Justin Garcia (Defence Force);
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Midfielders: 7.Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), 8.Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone FC—Scotland), 12.Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), 15.Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots—USA), 18.Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada);
Attackers: 9.Nathaniel James, 20.Kaïlé Auvray (both Mount Pleasant—Jamaica), 10.Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), 11.Levi Garcia, 23.Judah Garcia (both AEK Athens—Greece), 13.Reon Moore (Pacific FC—Canada), 19.Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United—USA).
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Eve must have something against Muckette, rarely picks him and hardly plays him when selected, he is the most creative midfielder we got, and i dont know who is going to make a penetrative pass in that squad, terrrible omission.
Agree 100% with Uncle Bart. Same thing they did with Atualla Guerra in his prime. Apparently, T&T needs a past midfielder as head coach.