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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team interim head coach Derek King named seven teenagers in his 23-man squad to travel to Bolivia this weekend, including Naparima College schoolboy Jaydon Caprietta and National Under-20 Team captain Derrel Garcia.
Garcia is, at least in theory, a fifth form student at St Benedict’s College—although he did not play in the 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) season.
(via TTFA Media.)
The Soca Warriors face Bolivia in an international friendly at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on 15 March. Trinidad and Tobago will follow up that exhibition match with Fifa Series contests against Venezuela and Gabon on 27 and 30 March respectively in Uzbekistan.
King’s other five teenagers are St Benedict’s College student Adam Pierre, San Juan Jabloteh attacker Lindell Sween, and the overseas-based trio of forward Kaieem Lewis (St Elizabeth Technical—Jamaica), defender James Lester (Llanelli Town—Wales), and midfielder Elijah Cordner (Rakow Czestochowa—Poland).
Lester has played regularly for Llanelli Town, which is a semi-professional club in the Welsh top flight. Cordner signed for Rakow Czestochowa earlier this month and is yet to be named to their match day squad.
(via TTFA Media.)
Pierre and Caprietta also represent TTPFL Tier One outfits, Central FC and Club Sando respectively.
Garcia, Pierre and Caprietta all wore national colours at this month’s Concacaf U-20 Qualifying series.
Lewis tried out for the National Under-20 team last month but was not selected by head coach Marvin Gordon. Now, he has the opportunity to break into the National Senior Team instead.
Lester and Cordner, both born abroad, are in the national set-up for the first time, along with Club Sando goalkeeper Teshorne Ragoo.
Forward Addae Paponette, formerly of the Granada CF youth team but unattached at present, has one friendly cap at National Under-20 level in 2024—although he was not selected in then coach Brian Haynes’ final squad.
He was also a surprise inclusion for King’s first team of his second spell as interim coach.
Veteran utility player Joevin Jones, 34, returns to the international setup after falling out of favour under former coach Dwight Yorke, following the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Jones has been in fine form for Defence Force in the Tier One competition.
Club Sando forward Tarik Lee, Jabloteh forward Isaiah “Bongo” Leacock and Defence Force forwards Nicholas Dillon and Phillip Nelson are among the frontmen who were not selected, while 15-year-old Adasa Richardson did not make the final cut.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
King, who stepped into the top post for the second time after Dwight Yorke’s resignation last Thursday, does not have the explicit support of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) beyond this month.
He would hope to make a positive impression over the next three internationals.
The Soca Warriors are not expected to reconvene, after the Fifa Series, until the Concacaf Nations League A kicks off in late September.
Photo: TTFA Media.
The only available Fifa match window between March and September is from 1 to 9 June, although the TTFA can arrange friendlies outside the window—on the understanding that clubs are not obliged to release players for such fixtures.
The Bolivia friendly, for instance, is outside the Fifa window.
King expects to include more overseas-based international players later this month, when he leads the national team to Uzbekistan.
(Team)
Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice (Central FC), Teshorne Ragoo (Club Sando), Jabari St Hillaire (Defence Force),
Defenders: Jaydon Caprietta, Shervohnez Hamilton (both Club Sando), Isaiah Garcia (Defence Force), Darnell Hospedales (Prisons FC), Alvin Jones, Adam Pierre, Ross Russell (all Central FC), James Lester (Llanelli Town—Wales), Jesse Williams (Caledonia AIA),
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Midfielders: Elijah Cordner (Rakow Czestochowa—Poland), Daniel David (Central FC), Joevin Jones (Defence Force), Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers—Canada),
Attackers: Kaieem Lewis (St Elizabeth Technical—Jamaica), Addae Paponette (unattached), Jaheim Faustin, Derrel Garcia, Lindell Sween (all San Juan Jabloteh), Kathon St Hillaire (Defence Force), Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers—Canada).
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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.
