T&T outclassed in 3-0 loss to Bolivia; King: We saw some positives

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team interim head coach Derek King started his second stint at the helm with a 3-0 defeat away to Bolivia this afternoon, in a friendly international at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium in Santa Cruz.

Both teams were under-strength as the game fell outside the Fifa international match window.

Bolivia are preparing for their Fifa inter-confederation play-off contest against Suriname on 26 March, and today’s outing allowed coach Oscar Villegas the chance to work with the local-based core of his team.

King suggested the outing was partly a rebuilding exercise for the Soca Warriors, and also a chance “to build on the foundation that (recently departed coach) Dwight (Yorke) left”.

Trinidad and Tobago were thoroughly outplayed, though, and the match looked to be a damage limitation exercise from kick off.

It is easy to see why King opted for pragmatism in Bolivia. Trinidad and Tobago lost 5-0 there, two years ago, under coach Angus Eve—albeit at altitude then, unlike today.

Bolivia are ranked 76^th in the world by Fifa. Trinidad and Tobago are 21 places lower, and it seems a fairly safe bet that King had barely seen four of his 20 outfield players before.

Unattached forward Addae Paponette played the first half, while United States-born defender Elijah Cordner got on the pitch for the final 15 minutes. Wales-born defender James Lester and Jamaica-based forward Kaieem Lewis never got off the substitutes’ bench.

In Lester’s case, particularly, it seemed to be a damning assessment of what he has to offer the Warriors at the moment. He is just 19. But King started with six defenders and introduced two more off the bench. Still, he did not figure.

In conjunction with the stream of overseas-born players who screened but were overlooked for selection on the Men’s National Under-17 and Under-20 Teams earlier this year, it is clear that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) needs far more than legislation to boost the quality of their squads.

And there is little to suggest that the TTFA’s head of overseas recruitment, Brent Sancho, is delivering the goods.

Roughly half of Bolivia’s starting team today were aged 21 and younger. Right back Lucas Macazaga and defender Marcelo Torrez are both 19. The average age of their outfield squad was 24.

In contrast, five of Trinidad and Tobago’s 10 outfield players were over 30 years old: Joevin Jones (34), Ross Russell Jr (34), Alvin Jones (31), Ryan Telfer (31) and captain Andre Rampersad (31). The average age of King’s starters was 28.

Yes, there is exciting young talent playing abroad, like Tyrese Spicer and Dantaye Gilbert, but surely there ought to be an inquiry into the development pathways in place for our youth nationals, who are not pushing on to the next level.

Something far more insightful and data-driven than president Kieron Edwards’ off-the-cuff, contradictory comments is needed.

From the 21-man National Under-20 Team of 2024, hailed by then technical director Anton Corneal as one of the best player pools in a decade, only one member, overseas-born and based Rio Cardines, has gone on to command a spot at senior level.

Back to Santa Cruz. King started with six defenders against Bolivia, with one, Shervohnez Hamilton, asked to partner Rampersad in midfield—in what was basically a 5-2-1-2 formation.

Bolivia used one forward and two wingers, who occupied five Trinidad and Tobago defenders. It meant that the South Americans outnumbered the Warriors 3-2 in midfield with their four defenders “pressured” by three opposing forwards.

And the hosts exploited their numerical advantage in those two-thirds of the field to dominate the ball from beginning to end, while frequently slicing straight through the T&T defence with passes for runners.

Poor Rampersad and Hamilton, in particular, were run ragged.

Bolivia might have gone ahead inside the opening two minutes, as Trinidad and Tobago defender Jesse Williams survived a penalty appeal for handled ball, while goalkeeper Jabari Brice and defender Darnell Hospedales combined to keep out a goal-bound stab by forward Juan Godoy.

Brice, who made his senior international debut today, produced a brilliant close-range reflex save from Bolivia captain Luis Haquin in the 19^th minute, while Williams executed a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny 21-year-old flanker Fernando Nava.

But a Bolivian goal was always a matter of when, not if—and it duly arrived in the 22^nd minute, off a close-range Haquin header.

Godoy doubled Bolivia’s lead in the 42^nd minute, after passes from Carlos Melgar and Moises Villaroel undressed the Trinidad and Tobago defence.

The Warriors nearly pulled a goal back against the run of play, as Telfer forced a desperate recovering tackle from Haquin, after the forward comprehensively dribbled past Torrez on a counter-attack.

And, from the resulting corner kick, Russell Jr was inches away from his first international goal with a snap shot.

That was as good as it got for Trinidad and Tobago.

Nava got another point-blank range item in the 50^th minute, as Bolivia continued to make light of Trinidad and Tobago’s defensive efforts.

By then, Jones (A) had limped off the field—his heavy strapping suggested an existing hamstring strain—and was replaced by teenaged defender Adam “Toka” Pierre.

Lindell Sween and Jaheim Faustin, both former national youth players, also came off the bench, along with Daniel “Fingers” David, Kathon St Hillaire and, finally, Cordner.

None had any real impact on the game. But then Trinidad and Tobago could not get the ball off Bolivia.

King might be relieved not to face a more lopsided score at the final whistle. But this game was a no-contest.

The interim coach suggested that Trinidad and Tobago did not do enough on the ball. He did not specify whether he was referring to his own tactics or a perceived unwillingness by his players to do so.

“We were a bit naïve in the sense that we didn’t put down the football and play,” said King, in the post-game press conference. “As I told the guys, Bolivia at home will always be difficult—a team that is preparing for [the Fifa inter-confederation playoffs].

“The first 20 minutes I told them we have to stay in the game, and I think we allowed a soft goal in the 22^nd minute. But all in all, I think the guys did well.”

King shifted the focus away from the five players over the age of 30 in his starting line-up, to the three teenagers, Lindell Sween, Pierre and Cordner, who came off the bench.

Fellow substitute Jaheim Faustin is 21 while Daniel David is 23. Based on their cameos, King declared his outfit to actually be “a very young team”—despite the contrast with the clearly younger Bolivians.

“It is a very young team we brought here,” said King, based on those second half cameos rather than his starting unit. “You want to win all your games—but this is a very young team. Five players made their debuts today as well.

“We saw some positives in the game, coming out with the younger players.”

He credited captain Rampersad’s efforts and said that Pierre was “decent”, while he suggested that his halftime instructions for his players to be more expressive on the ball led to them creating “one or two chances”.

“It was a good game to expose young players to the demands of international football,” said King.

The interim coach should have all his weapons available later this month, when Trinidad and Tobago travel to Uzbekistan to face Venezuela (27 March) and Gabon (30 March) in the 2026 Fifa Series.

He would hope for a more encouraging show then, before the TTFA executive meet to decide on their head coach for the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League A competition, which kicks off in September.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (5-2-1-2): 1.Jabari Brice (GK); 14.Isaiah Garcia, 4.Jesse Williams, 16.Alvin Jones (6.Adam Pierre 45), 2.Darnell Hospedales (5.Elijah Cordner 75), 17.Ross Russell Jr; 19.Shervohnez Hamilton (10.Daniel David 62), 18.Andre Rampersad (captain); 3.Joevin Jones (15.Lindell Sween 62); 9.Addae Paponette (11.Kathon St Hillaire 46), 7.Ryan Telfer (23.Jaheim Faustin 75).

Unused substitutes: 21.Teshorne Ragoo (GK), 8.Kaieem Lewis, 12.Jaydon Caprietta, 13.James Lester, 20.Derrel Garcia.

Injured: 22.Jabari St Hillaire (GK).

Coach: Derek King.

Bolivia (4-2-3-1): 23.Guillermo Viscarra (GK) (12.Geronimo Govea GK 74); 17.Lucas Macazaga (5.Richet Gomez 76), 4.Luis Haquin (captain), 2.Marcelo Torrez, 16.Ervin Vaca (7.Victor Abrego 61); 6.Hector Cuellar, 8.Moises Villaroel; 20.Carlos Melgar, 14.Robson Matheus, 11.Fernando Nava (10.Jesus Maraude 74); 18.Juan Godoy (13.Guilmar Centella 76).

Unused substitutes: 1.Carlos Lampe (GK), 3.Ian Rodriguez, 19.Nabil Nacif, 21.Carlos Collazo.

Coach: Oscar Villegas.

Friendly international

(15 March 2026)

Bolivia 3 (Luis Haquin 23, Huan Godoy 38, Fernando Nava 50), Trinidad and Tobago 0 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.