Yorke asked to explain Aubrey’s absence, as T&T seek WCQ result in Costa Rica

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach, Dwight Yorke, was asked to talk about two players at yesterday’s pre-game press conference in San José, Costa Rica, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup qualifier between the two nations.

The first was iconic Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who, at the age of 38, has returned to the national team after retiring in May 2024.

Navas, a three-time European Champions League winner with Real Madrid and arguably Concacaf’s greatest goalkeeper of all time, kept a clean sheet as Costa Rica mauled The Bahamas 8-0 on the weekend.

Yorke hailed the veteran goalkeeper as “amazing”.

“I’m sure not just the fans but the [Costa Rica] players will be uplifted by his return,” said Yorke.

The second is a player who will not take the field in San José today, having been exiled, at least temporarily, by the Soca Warriors coach.

Defender Aubrey David has played professionally for 11 years. He spent seven of those years in Costa Rica’s top flight and, according to a Costa Rican journalist, David is “very famous” there.

How come, he asked, Yorke has not selected him?

It is a question that has trended in local football discussions over the past four months, as Yorke omitted the former team captain from his squads for successive Fifa international match windows and, for good measure, the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Yorke did not offer any details. It was simply his prerogative as coach to pick the players he felt could do the job he wanted.

“Since I have taken the job over the last six or seven months, we have done due diligence in terms of player selection,” said Yorke. “We have looked at 54 players. Not everyone we choose may be the right one, but we feel that of the 54 players, we have 26 players right now [who give us] a good nucleus.”

Thus far, Yorke has used 10 players in central defence, or as part of his back three: Isaiah Garcia, Alvin Jones, Josiah Trimmingham, Darnell Hospedales, Sheldon Bateau, Justin Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Jamal Jack, Jelani Peters and David.

David played for roughly an hour in Yorke’s first international as coach, away to Saudi Arabia last December—a game that Trinidad and Tobago lost 3-1. Jones is the only survivor from Yorke’s back four on that day, but it is unlikely that the friendly result counted against the former World Youth Cup player.

One possible tactical reason for David’s omission is that Yorke wants defenders who are better passers to help his team build an attack. Still, Bateau was snubbed for Yorke’s Gold Cup Preliminary matches against Cuba and returned to win a starting berth against Saint Kitts and Nevis last Friday.

Maybe the 34-year-old David could make a similar comeback—and Yorke did not rule that out.

“The door is not shut [to David],” said Yorke. “The door is open for all the players who can represent Trinidad and Tobago.”

It is worth noting that the buzz around Yorke’s spell as coach is not only felt in the stands. From all reports, Trinidad and Tobago’s 2006 World Cup captain has created a strong team spirit in the dressing room, with players happy with the atmosphere at international meet-ups.

The Warriors have won all three competitive games so far, against Cuba (twice) and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Can they keep that run going against Trinidad and Tobago’s bogey team in Concacaf?

The Warriors have recorded three wins, four draws and 18 losses against Costa Rica. The best result that Trinidad and Tobago ever mustered in Costa Rica is a draw—and that was 40 years ago!

The two-island republic has lost on every trip to Costa Rica since then, including during the Warriors’ famous 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

But Yorke predicted that his troops will give the Los Ticos a proper contest today.

“We expect a very difficult game here,” said Yorke. “[…] The games are relatively tight [between Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago]. I expect it to be exactly the same tomorrow night.”

The Warriors have one foot in the third and final round of the Concacaf World Cup qualifying series. And sloppy fixtures by the governing body mean Yorke will know exactly what result his team needs by kickoff at 9pm (TT time).

Grenada are away to Saint Kitts and Nevis at 3pm today and need a big win to put pressure on Trinidad and Tobago. At present, Grenada have four points with a goal difference of +3 while the Warriors have seven points with a +10 goal difference.

Trinidad and Tobago certainly have an offense capable of troubling the hosts, with an overseas-based front three of Levi Garcia, Dante Sealy and Tyrese Spicer, supported by veteran Defence Force midfielder Kevin Molino.

But the Warriors have been less convincing on the defensive end, particularly when it comes to recovering possession high up the field.

David is not there, but Yorke would expect that his current defensive partnership of Bateau and Trimmingham is more than capable of plugging those holes.

(Trinidad and Tobago team)

Goalkeepers:  Marvin Phillip, Denzil Smith, Jabari St Hillaire,

Defenders: Sheldon Bateau, Isaiah Garcia, Darnell Hospedales, Andre Raymond, Josiah Trimmingham,

Midfielders: Ajani Fortune, Wayne Frederick II, Joevin Jones, Kevin Molino, Daniel Phillips, Noah Powder, Andre Rampersad, Kaihim Thomas, Steffen Yeates,

Attackers: Rio Cardines, Levi Garcia, Real Gill, Nathaniel James, Isaiah Leacock, Isaiah Lee, Dante Sealy, Tyrese Spicer.

More from Wired868

Dear Editor: A full stadium in a half-broken country; what T&T game meant to poor families

“[…] Far less visible [than the upper tier citizens at yesterday’s World Cup qualifying match], was a single, unemployed mother Read more

“A special talent!” Yorke praises Dante but urges Warriors to be more ruthless

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke suggested that the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) might Read more

Sealy gets debut double, as T&T trounce St Kitts and Nevis 6-2 before sell-out crowd

A double from debutante Dante Sealy, a goal on return from Levi Garcia and another from veteran Kevin Molino, and Read more

“This is the new era!” Yorke adds MLS winger, Sealy to 26-man squad, praises Molino’s impact

Twenty-two-year-old CF Montreal flanker Dante Sealy is set to make his senior international debut for Trinidad and Tobago against Saint Read more

Dear Editor: T&T owes it to our talented youth to rebuild our football programme

“[…] As coach Dwight Yorke noted following the Unity Cup, many of our local-based players are not yet ready for Read more

Yorke: ‘We have a new selection of players coming; it will be a shock to the system!’

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team football coach Dwight Yorke assured supporters that the Soca Warriors will be ready Read more

Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.