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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team caretaker coach Derek King declared confidence in his first selection as the Soca Warriors prepare to travel to Honduras for Concacaf Nations League A action on Friday 6 September.
The Warriors play twice in this match window, as the two-island republic will host French Guiana at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet on Tuesday 10 September.
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King, who was promoted from assistant to head coach after the sacking of Angus Eve last month, oversaw a further three changes to the team’s staff with Walt Noriega (assistant coach), Ross Russell (goalkeeper coach) and Joseph Rooplal (massage therapist) replacing Reynold Carrington (assistant coach), Clayton Ince (goalkeeper coach) and Roger Ryan (physiotherapist) respectively.
At present, he has just one assistant coach while his predecessor had two.
There were a few changes with the player personnel too as defender Josiah Trimmingham and forward Malcolm Shaw miss out—after both featuring in Eve’s starting team for their 7-1 rout of The Bahamas in June.
Midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron, who played for roughly half an hour against the Bahamas, was also excluded.
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Instead, King opted for Charleston Battery (USA) defender Leland Archer, Cavaliers FC (Jamaica) winger Kaïlé Auvray and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers forward Isaiah Lee.
Lee was not named in Eve’s 39-member shortlist for Trinidad and Tobago’s opening World Cup qualifiers against Grenada and the Bahamas. Archer and Auvray were in the frame but failed to make the final travelling squad at the time.
King believes all three players can contribute for this match window.
One notable absentee from his 23-man squad, though, is AEK Athens FC (Greece) attacker Levi Garcia who, according to the TTFA Media, “requested time off” and ruled himself out of both games.
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The TTFA also declared Atlanta United (USA) midfielder Ajani Fortune to be unavailable.
There was no call-up for Toronto FC (MLS) flanker Tyrese Spicer either. Spicer has recently returned from injury and is available, but King might have had doubts about his match sharpness.
The new head coach suggested that the chemistry of his players was a consideration in his final selection.
“The team we’ve selected is one that has shown great potential and cohesion over the past few months,” King told TTFA Media. “As we begin our group stage campaign, the selected players are fit, focused and ready to perform at their best.
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“[…] While it is never easy to narrow down the squad, I believe the players chosen are the ones who will help us navigate these two important fixtures successfully.”
At present, Honduras are ranked 79th in the world by Fifa while Trinidad and Tobago are 100th.
Los Catrachos won 4-0 the last time they hosted the Soca Warriors in the Nations League on 17 November 2019, under then coach Dennis Lawrence. However, King believes Trinidad and Tobago can get a result with the right mindset.
“I have been in discussion with each player about their expectations and responsibilities,” said King. “We need to be professional and disciplined in our approach and recognise the challenge of playing away from home in our opening match.
“It will be important that we maintain a high level of professionalism and remain focused throughout.”
(Trinidad and Tobago squad)
Goalkeepers: Denzil Smith (AC Port of Spain), Aaron Enill (Montego Bay Utd—Jamaica), Christopher Biggette (Defence Force);
Photo: TTFA Media
Defenders: Leland Archer (Charleston Battery—USA), Aubrey David (CS Deportivo Municipal—Guatemala), Alvin Jones (Police FC), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA), Andre Raymond (St Johnstone FC—Scotland), Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic—USA);
Midfielders: Duane Muckette (AC Port of Spain), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada), Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), Dantaye Gilbert (Jong PSV—Netherlands), Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC—Canada), Daniel Phillips (Stevenage FC—England);
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
Attackers: Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant FC—Jamaica), Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), Reon Moore (Pacific FC—Canada), Kevon Woodley (Police FC), Ryan Telfer (HFX Wanderers—Canada), Kaïlé Auvray (Cavaliers FC—Jamaica), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers).
Staff: Derek King (interim head coach), Walt Noriega (assistant coach), Ross Russell (goalkeeper coach), Adarryl John (athletic trainer), Saron Joseph (strength and conditioning coach), Joseph Rooplal (massage therapist), Michael Williams (equipment manager), Dr Akash Dhanai (team doctor), Shaun Fuentes (media officer), and Richard Piper (manager).
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