National Team defender Dennis Lawrence, the first of the overseas-based professions to return home to prepare for Wednesday’s all important 2010 World Cup Qualifying clash with El Salvador says its absolutely necessary that the home team plays with maximum pride and passion.
The former Wrexham player was speaking following Friday morning’s training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training pitch which was the first of a double session scheduled by head coach Russell Latapy. The “Little Magician” is expected to have his full quota of players by Sunday but is yet to make his list of players public.
Lawrence added that whichever players wear the eleven T&T shirts come 7pm on Wednesday must realize the importance of the affair.
“It’s important that we know to ourselves how important this game is and that we must go out and there and play the football to get us three points,” Lawrence told TTFF Media.
“We’ve been working really hard over the last couple of days. The session this morning was really intense and this is what we will try our best to take this into the game. It’s important that we go into the game with a positive frame of mind and try and keep the intensity as high as possible
“We all know how important a win will be at this stage. If we don’t get the victory this time then that mountain becomes even more difficult to climb. It’s important that we try and take advantage of the home situation as well.”
Asked for his thoughts on the composition of the team at the moment, Lawrence added : “The gaffer has obviously been going around looking at the local League so he’s had time to see which players can be involved and then when the others guys come in from abroad then hopefully we can have a good mixture.”
The former Defence Force man said he was also putting country first at this time.
“There are a couple things that have been going on and I’m trying to do what is best for me. I’m focusing on this game at the moment and then I’ll take things from there and see what is the best option with regards to my club career.”
Among the players coming home on Sunday will be Sunderland duo Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones who are among a host of Sunderland players on international duty next week among them being Hungary ’s Marton Fulop , Finland ’s Teemu Tainio , Paraguay skipper Paulo Da Silva and Northern Ireland duo George McCartney and David Healy.
View Lawrence interview