SOS for T&T World Cup stars.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
 
Two-time Colombia World Cup coach Francisco Maturana suffered the indignity of a mass interrogation from his Trinidad and Tobago Pro League counterparts as the T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) pressed the panic button on Wednesday afternoon.
The "Soca Warriors" scraped into the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifying second round with a 3-2 aggregate win against Bermuda over two legs. Bermuda are ranked 52 places below Trinidad and Tobago at 139th in the world.
T&TFF special adviser and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has publicly pronounced his confidence in the squad, but it was a different story in the aftermath of Sunday's nervy win in Hamilton.
Warner chaired a discussion between the national technical staff and the local club coaches in the CONCACAF Centre of Excellence's Nelson Mandela Room at midday on Wednesday.
The Colombian remained in charge at the end of the meeting but his authority, according to a source, was significantly undermined.
On June 1, Maturana reluctantly bowed to Warner's demand to allow Sunderland midfielder and 2006 World Cup captain Dwight Yorke into his squad for the country's centennial match against England. The Colombian might as well leave the team's door open now.
He is likely to be pressured into selecting more than half-dozen players before the next qualifying round, including the World Cup quartet of midfielders Chris Birchall (Coventry) and Densill Theobald (Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA) and defenders Brent Sancho (unattached) and Cyd Gray (CLICO San Juan Jabloteh).
Ma Pau striker Cornell Glen and Miami FC left back Avery John, both also World Cup players, were also mentioned, along with Wrexham midfielder Silvio Spann and W. Connection utility player Clyde Leon.
Maturana's tactics and his perceived reliance on assistant coach Anton Corneal to identify national prospects also drew negative comments from the floor. Corneal allegedly stressed that he was not a decision maker within the technical staff and merely followed orders.
Maturana, a qualified dentist and one of South America's more respected coaches, pointed to his South American Copa Libertadores title and two World Cup appearances to defend his football knowledge and suggested that the cohesion within his squad was breached with the introduction of the country's foreign-based stars.
He singled out one of the more senior Warriors for creating a difficult atmosphere for the younger players to work in. For the most part, the Pro League coaches argued that the T&TFF still lacked a proper structure to identify and develop players at youth level.
It would not have been music to the ears of technical director Lincoln Phillips, who did not attend, although it may add credence to early criticisms from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
Warner was said to have acknowledged the need to improve the long-term structure of the organisation, but seemed more interested in saving the present campaign. It could mean a shock recall for Birchall and Sancho, who apparently suffered more than their teammates for their role in the World Cup players' legal action against the Federation.
Maturana supposedly pointed to the lack of playing time for both players in the 2007/08 English club season. However, a Pro League coach pointed out that teenage midfielder Khaleem Hyland was also not playing competitive domestic football.
It was suggested, too, that Sancho could return to the Pro League to ensure he is match fit for the next qualifying round. The T&TFF hope to schedule as many as five friendly matches before their opening semifinal round group match away to Cuba on August 20.
South American neighbours Venezuela are touted as possible opponents, along with Honduras, El Salvador and Suriname. Maturana should still be on the bench-unless the Colombian opts to fall on his own sword. But the squad that struggled to out-do Bermuda is likely to undergo major surgery over the coming three months.

News from the 21st of June 2008

T&T footballers meet Bermuda in crucial clash.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
 
"The Pressure won’t get to us.” That was the indication coming from the Trinidad and Tobago camp at the Grotto Bay Hotel in Bermuda on Saturday after the “Soca Warriors” completed their final training session before Sunday’s crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier second round encounter against Bermuda at the National Sports Center. Head coach Francisco Maturana and his team got use of the match ground for one hour and used it to fine tune their approach for the match which T&T has to aim for a win by at least two goal margin.
The possibilities based on the home and away rules are that if T&T are to win by a 2-0 margin then they will progress to the semi-final stage. If T&T wins even by a 3-2 margin they will also progress based on scoring more goals away from home. If the score reads 2-1 in favour of T&T after regulation time then there will be thirty minutes of extra time (no golden goal) and penalty kicks if necessary. A 1-0 win for T&T or a draw will see Bermuda advance and T&T out. Maturana remained in good spirits over his team’s capabilities after observing his front men work on their finishing during the latter half of the session.
“I think we are ready for the game. You can see that the preparation has been serious and each players knows what is necessary at this stage. We are very focused at the moment and when the match comes then it becomes time for us to change the result around in our favour. We must not allow Bermuda to play the game at the pace which they like but we must do it in relation to what we have to achieve on the day and there is only one game for us to do this,” Maturana told TTFF Media.
Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards said his feeling was obvious among all the players as to what the reaction would be should T&T fail to advance.
“We would be devastated and it would be a nightmare if we were to get knocked out at this stage. It would be absolutely devastating for myself, the players, the federation and the country especially after all the hard work that has been put in since 2006. Hopefully we can live to fight another day and continue the journey after tomorrow (Sunday), ’Edwards added.
“But at the moment it’s in our hands and it makes no sense dwelling on the past. The guys are upbeat at the moment and everyone is bubbling in anticipation of the game. The vibes is second to none. We need to be ready at least a day before and I think that’s where we are right now. There’s always pressure to deliver but I relish the challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”
T&T will play in white in front of a sold out stadium where some 5,200 fans are expected to be on hand. FIFA Vice President Jack Warner along with TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden, Vice Presidents Rudy Thomas, Lennox Watson and Raymond Tim Kee all stopped by the team camp on Saturday to extend best wishes to the team.
“All I can ask is that you play the game to the best of your ability. Each player knows what he has to do and we remain confident in the ability of the team,” Warner said.
Dating back to 2001, T&T played Bermuda in a friendly at the same venue for Sunday’s match, coming away 5-0 winners with John netting a double and Dwight Yorke also among the scorers. In 2005, T&T won 1-0 and drew 2-2 in two other friendlies. When both teams met in Trinidad in 2005, T&T came out 1-0 and 4-0 winners.
Bermuda, the oldest and most populous remaining British overseas territory with a population of just over 66,000 was buzzing with activity on Saturday morning as hundreds of persons lined up near the Bermudan FA offices to grab the last set tickets on sale. Bermuda has the world's highest acreage of golf courses as a percentage of its total landmass with its two most popular footballers being Shaun Goater and Clyde Best. Now current team captain Omar Shakir said his side was highly motivated to hold off the visitors and improve its popularity as a footballing nation.
"They have put extra pressure on themselves by not giving us any respect before the first leg and then not giving us any credit afterwards," said Shakir.
"They expected to sweep us aside. I believe they did underestimate us, but they won't make the same mistake again, so we are in for a much more difficult game.
"It would be very humbling for them to be beaten by lowly Bermuda given what they think about us at this point. They won't want to go back to Trinidad with their tails between their legs."
The game will be aired live in local radio stations 105FM, Power 102 FM and I95.5FM. Kick off time is 6:30 pm T&T Time/7:30pm Bermudan time.

T&T 18-man squad: Marvin Phillip, Jan Michael Williams, Dennis Lawrence, Makan Hislop, Keyeno Thomas, Michael Edwards, Osei Telesford, Kern Cupid, Aurtis Whitley (captain), Carlos Edwards, Stephan David, Khaleem Hyland, Keon Daniel, Kevon Carter, Jerol Forbes, Jason Scotland, Stern John, Darryl Roberts. Standby – Kareem Smith.

Video: Soca Warriors in Bermuda.

Two players added to Warriors outfit.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Two Defence Force players have been included on the T&T team for the do-or-die World Cup qualifying clash with Bermuda on Sunday in Hamilton, Bermuda. Michael Edwards and forward Kevon Carter will be replacing Ancil Farrier and Hayden Tinto respectively from the team that fell to a disappointing 1-2 defeat to the Bermudians on Sunday at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
Edwards and Carter, along with the remaining players, went through their paces yesterday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, trying to get their act together again ahead of Sunday’s match. T&T coach Francisco Maturana will also conduct a session at the Malabar venue today prior to the team’s departure for Bermuda tomorrow at 7 am.
Midfielder Carlos Edwards admitted that T&T had only themselves to blame for Sunday’s defeat but maintains that his “Warriors” will bounce back, needing to win by two clear goals to advance to the semi-final round of the campaign.
“Of course we are disappointed. We have put ourselves in a hole with this loss and it means while the situation might be a desperate one now we have no right to be going to Bermuda needing to win by two goals. But that’s the script and we have to forget everything and go out there and do what we have to do—that is to win convincingly if we are to keep our dreams alive,” Edwards said.
Team captain Aurtis Whitley may have more than work in the middle to do as his leadership qualities will have to show up some more now to ensure his troops are mentally ready for Sunday’s game.
“We have to really dig deep and we know that. It’s going to be a lot more than just the 90 minutes on the pitch on Sunday. Now isn’t the time to blame anyone but we must come together and make this happen. We expect they will be full of confidence after the win and that means they will try to make it very difficult for us. We must be ready for this,” Whitley said.

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