U-17

No training camp but...

“It is the first time in my six or seven years preparing national teams that we didn’t have a camp before a tournament,” national Under-17 men’s head coach Shawn Cooper declared yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Raymond Tim Kee yesterday said he was “disappointed” that T&T’s Under-17 footballers were unable to qualify for the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

T&T Under-17 head coach Shawn Cooper is currently overseeing preparation of the his team’s participation at next month’s start of the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) leg of Fifa Under-17 World Cup qualification.

T&T has the necessary ingredients to succeed within the Concacaf level and compete with the rest of the world but there must be more sustainability in its programmes and preparations for competitions.

In the past not many American-born players ever got the opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago on the football field. However, one of T&T's latest imports Andre Fortune, feels fortunate to have been given the chance to play for a country he so dearly admires and loves.

In a riveting encounter at the Estadio Agustin "Muquita" Sanchez on Saturday, host Panama booked its place at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, posting a 4-2 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship quarterfinal victory over Trinidad & Tobago.

Soca Warriors Online (SWO) recently caught up with Houston-born and current Dynamo Academy goalkeeper Johan Welch and managed to shoot a few questions at the shot-stopper.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 17 footballers will try to repeat the feat accomplished by ex-national captain Leston Paul and his teammates in 2007 when they face off with Panama from 6pm on Saturday knowing that a win will see them qualify for the 2013 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.