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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King will travel to Russia without squad captain Levi Garcia and newly-minted stand-in skipper Kobi Henry, as the issue of player availability for national service continues to rise.
The TTFA Media confirmed that nine players requested to be “excused” from the international friendly, which kicks off at 7pm local time (1pm TT time) at the Kaliningrad Arena next Tuesday.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
However, another eight players who were involved in exhibition matches against either the Republic of Korea or in the Fifa Series contests with Venezuela and Gabon are also not in King’s squad.
The US Major League Soccer (MLS) quartet of Dante Sealy, Tyrese Spicer, Wayne Frederick II and Henry ruled themselves out, along with Orlando City B full back Jaylen Yearwood.
So too did Garcia, who is in Trinidad at present, Crystal Palace wing back Rio Cardines, FC Volendam right back Déron Payne and Dunfermline FC defender Kieran Ngwenya.
Cardines was an unused substitute as Palace edged Spanish club Rayo Vallecano in the final.
(via TTFA Media.)
Garcia plays professionally in Russia with Spartak Moscow, but did not take up a rare opportunity to represent his country in the land of his current employers.
Spicer and Frederick II have not played for the Soca Warriors since King replaced Dwight Yorke at the helm of the national team.
The other players from King’s last two match day squads who have not made the journey to Russia are:
Jacob Greene (Lexington Sporting Club—USA), Roald Mitchell (New York Red Bulls—USA), Adam Pierre (Central FC), Jerrin Jackie (Bahla Club—Oman), Duane Muckette (Sohar FC—Oman), Dantaye Gilbert (FK Dukla Prague—Czech Republic), Lindell Sween (San Juan Jabloteh), Nathaniel James (North Texas SC—USA), and Real Gill (One Knoxville SC—USA).
Wired868 published, earlier this week, that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), led by president Kieron Edwards, owes the Trinidad and Tobago players match fees for seven of their last eight international games, which comprise:
The Soca Warriors are yet to be paid for that fixture.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
- Bermuda (10 October 2025) – US$4,000;
- Curaçao (14 October 2025) – US$3,500;
- Jamaica (13 November 2025) – US$3,500;
- Bolivia (15 March 2026) – US$500;
- Venezuela (27 March 2026) – US$1,000;
- Gabon (30 March 2026) – US$1,000;
- South Korea (30 May 2026) – US$1,000.
However, there is no indication so far that the no-shows are due specifically to the unpaid match fees, aching body parts after a long season (for the Europe-based players), or the change at the helm of the Soca Warriors’ technical staff.
Rather, it seems to be a combination of some or all of the above, with different players offering a variety of reasons for their unavailability, even within a Fifa match window.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“For some of the new players,” a source told Wired868, “they are not accustomed to doing a job and not receiving payment for it—no matter how small the agreed payment might be.”
The TTFA received match fees for all of the exhibition outings played by the Soca Warriors in 2026, although the figures were not (yet) declared to members.
Wired868 understands some players were also not comfortable travelling to a country that is sanctioned by much of the world, due to Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, on the advice of their respective agents—although T&T players have been excusing themselves from national games, intermittently, all year.
Russia’s football team remain suspended from all Fifa, Uefa and IOC competitions since 28 February 2022.
Photo: Reuters/ Didor Sadulloev.
Russia’s last 10 international outings were against: Belarus, Jordan, Qatar, Iran, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Nicaragua, Mali and Egypt respectively. The European outfit are due to play Burkina Faso today, with Trinidad and Tobago and American Samoa to follow.
King put a brave face on his makeshift squad and urged players on the plane to Russia to seize the opportunity created by the absences.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play Russia in Russia,” King told the TTFA Media. “It is another important match in our preparation and development as a national team.
(via TTFA Media.)
“While a few of our senior foreign-based players will not be available for this fixture, it provides an excellent opportunity for us to continue evaluating players and expanding our player pool.”
King has just five defenders to choose from in Russia. And even that is a generous interpretation.
Combative Club Sando midfielder Shervohnez Hamilton represented Trinidad and Tobago as a holding midfielder previously. However, he is now listed in defence.
(via TTFA Media.)
And United States-based defender Anthony Herbert did not see a minute of action against South Korea in Utah last week. But, with the Soca Warriors shorthanded at the back, he will surely feature in Russia.
King suggested that the composition of his travelling party was actually part of the TTFA’s “long-term vision” for squad building.
“We are also excited that several players will have the opportunity to play for the senior team,” he said. “This is part of our long-term vision of building depth, creating competition for places, and identifying players who can contribute to the future success of Trinidad and Tobago football.”
Photo: TTFA Media.
At present, Trinidad and Tobago are ranked 103rd in the world—having slipped five places in 2026. Russia are ranked 36th, despite serving a Fifa suspension that rules them out of international competition and forbids them from playing against European or allied nations.
Without Garcia and Henry, King is expected to hand the captain’s armband to 31-year-old HFX Wanderers midfielder Andre Rampersad.
Finland-based left Andre Raymond returns to the squad at an opportune time for the head coach, as do winger Reon Moore, defender Justin “Shiggy” Garcia and forward Ryan Telfer, who are among the more experienced players in the current group.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
“We will still have experienced players in the squad, including Reon Moore, Andre Rampersad, Daniel Phillips and Denzil Smith, whose leadership and experience will be valuable for the group,” said King.
“We see this match as a positive challenge against quality opposition. It is another step in our journey as we continue to build a strong and competitive national team.”
(Trinidad and Tobago team)
Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice (Central FC), Teshorne Ragoo (Club Sando), Denzil Smith (AV Alta—USA),
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
Defenders: Justin Garcia (Song Lam Nghe—Vietnam), Noah Powder (Westchester SC—USA), Anthony Herbert (Indy Eleven—USA), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Andre Raymond (Tampereen Ilves—Finland),
Midfielders: Andre Rampersad (Halifax Wanderers—Canada), Michel Poon-Angeron (Portland Heart of Pine—USA), Ali Kazim Nakhid (Al Ittifaq FC—UAE), Daniel Phillips (Stevenage FC—England), Molik Khan (AS Trenčín—Slovakia), Daniel David (Central FC),
Attackers: Judah Garcia (PAE GS Ilioupoli—Greece), Kaihim Thomas (Corpus Christi FC—USA), Reon Moore (Song Lam Nghe—Vietnam), Jaheim Faustin (San Juan Jabloteh), Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers—Canada), Isaiah Lee (Central FC), John-Paul Rochford (Al-Khaboura SC—Oman).
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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.
