‘JB’, ‘Bound to Score’, ‘Marvellous’ and ‘The Little Magician’: My all-time T&T football XI

Britain-based author Richard Blackett, who, at present, is working on A History of Football in Trinidad and Tobago, 1908-2006, made an interesting challenge to me:

Who would I pick on my all-time Trinidad and Tobago XI?

Of course, such selections are highly prejudiced by their very nature. But it did get me thinking of the players I’ve seen in red, black and white strip and how I’d rate them.

I decided to share my picks with Wired868. This list is bound to create disagreement but hopefully we can have fun too as you pick your squad to match!

First, the parameters. I would want to pick based on the players I’ve seen myself, rather than rely on stories and stats—especially as we have done such a horrible job in documenting our former legends that there is insufficient footage available before the turn of the millennium.

Hell, our young men and women probably know more about Jude Bellingham—there are giant Lucozade billboards of him in Trinidad—than Kevin Molino. And don’t even bother asking them who Arnold Dwarika, Kerwyn Jemmott or Jason Scotland is.

Also I’m not picking my XI based on raw talent alone. I’m going for players who not only impressed me, but who, in my opinion, made a significant impact on the national team as well.

My formation is 4-3-3:

Goalkeeper: Shaka Hislop.

Hislop was 29-years-old when he made his senior debut for Trinidad and Tobago, due to a long-standoff with the then TTFF after the football body had him suspended by Fifa for refusing to ditch his English employers, Reading, for an international friendly. (The suspension was overturned due to his British passport.)

Hislop was a Concacaf All-Star player at the 2001 Concacaf Gold Cup tournament. But for me, he gets the nod for his superb performances on the biggest stage—the Germany 2006 World Cup. His clean sheet in a goalless draw against Sweden in Dortmund is hard to top.

Right back: Carlos Edwards.

Edwards played primarily as a right wing back in England where he utilised his astounding stamina and clever one-on-one skills on the ball and as a defender. Again, against Sweden in Dortmund, Edwards was peerless when asked to fill in at right back. It was not his usual role for the Soca Warriors, but I’m picking the side here.

Central defender: Clayton ‘JB’ Morris.

As a ball-playing centre back, Morris was ahead of his team in the 1980s and early 1990s. He marshalled the Strike Squad team with his exceptional reading of the game while his composure on the ball was contagious in Gally Cummings’ outfit, who were a pleasure to watch.

Central defender: Marvin ‘Dog’ Andrews.

Andrews, bothered by a knee injury, was an unused substitute at the Germany 2006 World Cup and history might remember Dennis Lawrence more fondly for his historic World Cup qualifying goal away to Bahrain.

Andrews was certainly not a ball handler. However, he was virtually unbeatable in the air, a formidable man marker and the type of soldier who you would pick first for any battle.

Left back: ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Faustin.

Faustin was so versatile that he probably drove the team bus to games too. He could pass, dribble, shoot, tackle, score overhead kicks… It was not a case of if you picked the Strike Star standout, only where you’d play him.

Central midfielder: Dwight Yorke.

Yorke is world famous for his exploits in the opposing penalty area, particularly while at Manchester United. For me, he was never as valuable for Trinidad and Tobago as in that 2006 World Cup campaign when he convinced coach Leo Beenhakker that he could play in a deeper role.

Yorke was so good as a midfield anchor, where he used his technique, strength and game IQ to great effect, that, despite being 34 and in marooned in Australia, Sunderland promptly signed him to play that very role in the England Premier Division.

Central midfielder: David Nakhid.

Nakhid also arguably joined Trinidad and Tobago after his peak years, at 28, for non-footballing reasons related to an on-again, off-again relationship with the TTFF. But watching Nakhid manage a midfield, with just one or two touches on the ball at a time, was worth the price of admission.

Central midfielder: Russell “The Little Magician” Latapy.

It is impossible to describe Latapy. You had to have seen him play: the dribbling, the passing, the poise… It didn’t matter how problematic an opposing defence was—Latapy had the key.

Yes, Dwight Yorke was the best—but Russell Latapy was better.

Right winger: Angus Eve.

Eve was workman-like, compared to the likes of Latapy and Nakhid, but he was tricky, fast, street-smart and efficient—able to exploit weaknesses in opposing defences too.

Call him “Mr Dependable”.

Left winger: Leonson Lewis.

It is on the mysteries of the game why Lewis’ career ended in his late 20s, even as he was still a top flight player in Portugal at the time. Fast, strong, skillful and a good finisher, Lewis was one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most thrilling players and his reliability gives him the edge, for me, over some truly gifted wingers for the two-island republic in the past four decades.

Forward: Stern John.

He was still a schoolboy at El Dorado Senior Comprehensive (now El Dorado East) when he first got the moniker “Bound To Score” and his 70 senior international goals—36 more than Trinidad and Tobago’s next best scorer, Angus Eve—will probably never be matched.

John was not fast or particularly tricky on the ball, but he could turn on a dime and had a cannon with either foot. If you had to choose one player to shoot for your life in the box, it would be John.

John’s five goals in Trinidad and Tobago’s last four matches of the Hex in our 2006 World Cup campaign (two each against Guatemala and Mexico and one away to Panama) were crucial to the Soca Warriors’ appearance in Germany.

Special mention:

Kelvin Jack (goalkeeper): That late save away to Bahrain in a tense, historic World Cup qualifier might be the best piece of goalkeeping ever by a Trinbagonian.

Brian Williams (right back): Before Ruud Gullit, he was our first dreadlocked soldier—the epitome of cool on the ball, and as fierce as they came when it was time to win it back.

Dennis Lawrence (central defender): His header against Bahrain had the entire country “vibesing it up”. But his organisational skills at the back complimented Marvin Andrews’ robust defending perfectly.

Khaleem Hyland (central midfielder): Versatile and dependable. Whether you needed a crucial tackle, a deft pass or a vital goal, you could generally count on Hyland.

Kevin Molino (central midfielder): Arguably Trinidad and Tobago’s last football genius. Technically impressive and a great finisher.

Aurtis Whitley (central midfielder): Aurtis Whitley, aka Otis Seaton… He was so good they named him twice. Passing, tackling, dribbling, shooting… Whitley had it all.

Evans Wise (winger): Simply the best dribbler I have ever seen. Does he meet my criteria? Maybe not… But nobody restrains Evans!

Cornell Glen (forward): Strong, fast, could dribble, could shoot… Glen’s career was hampered by injuries. But he was one of our best.

By the way, here are some of the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League players who I’d look forward to driving around the country to see on an otherwise dreary Saturday afternoon.

All represented Trinidad and Tobago and, although they didn’t make my all-star team, man did I appreciate watching them play when they graced the local fields:

Andre Toussaint (forward), Kerwyn ‘Hardest’ Jemmott (midfielder), Hutson ‘Baba’ Charles (midfielder/defender), Jan-Michael Willliams (goalkeeper), Marvin Oliver (midfielder), Lyndon Andrews (midfielder), Dale Saunders (midfielder), Hashim Arcia (forward), Joevin Jones (midfielder), Nigel ‘Pistol’ Pierre (forward), Sheldon Bateau (defender), Arnold Dwarika (midfielder), Derek King (defender), Ryan ‘Fry’ Stewart (midfielder), Densill ‘Bleeder’ Theobald (midfielder), Reynold Carrington (defender/ midfielder), Conrad Smith (midfielder), Trent Noel (midfielder), Jerren Nixon (forward), Ricardo Aleong (midfielder), Devorn Jorsling (forward), Hughton Hector (midfielder), Leston Paul (midfielder), Keron ‘Ballpest’ Cummings (midfielder), Levi Garcia (winger), Shahdon Winchester (forward), Darin ‘Speng’ Lewis (forward).

Editor’s Note: So, who would be your favourite Trinidad and Tobago team in a 4-3-3 line-up? Write below and let us know.