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TRINIDAD and Tobago’s national football technical director Hannibal Najjar has wasted little time in displaying his willingness to court controversy.


Last week, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh attacker Otis Seaton, Caledonia AIA midfielder Conrad Smith and Vibe CT 105 W Connection midfielder Lyndon “Chubby” Andrews were among players omitted from his training squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup first round qualifying stage.

Add talented Connection striker Arnold Dwarika, who has managed 15 goals in 44 international appearances since 1997, and Joe Public attacker Nigel Pierre, 15 goals from 34 caps, to that blacklist.

Najjar explained yesterday that Dwarika had been too infrequent in his appearances at the national sessions while Pierre was not quite up to match fitness.

The Jabloteh pair of flanker Josh Johnson and striker Errol McFarlane jnr as well as Connection custodian Brian James were also cut while Jabloteh defenders Cyd Gray and Ansil Elcock were ruled out through injury.

And Najjar’s new-look national team had their first run out yesterday afternoon as they edged a weakened Connection outfit 1-0 at Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

A Gary Glasgow penalty, two minutes before the interval, was the difference between both teams, but Najjar claimed to be encouraged by the communication and defensive organisation of his squad.

In his first outing, Najjar dumped the regularly used, yet often maligned, 3-5-2 formation for a 4-3-3 system using retractable winged attackers and two holding central midfielders.

Glasgow, who was used as an attacking midfielder just behind Jabloteh teammate Kerry Noray, seemed more than content with the formation and his role.

The game was just 19 minutes old when the former United States Major League Soccer (MLS) player had Connection goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa diving to his left to turn a snap shot around his upright.

There were many more threatening attacking bursts from Glasgow who was a constant threat to the Connection defence and could have easily drawn two penalty decisions from his nimble dance steps.

Still, the “Soca Warriors” were hardly the dominant team for much of the first 60 minutes when Connection looked more fluent although not unduly troubling national goalkeeper Kelvin Jack.

Versatile Jabloteh defender Ian Gray offered muscle and purpose at left wing back and was one of the afternoon’s brighter prospects.

Stand-in captain Travis Mulraine also put in a honest day’s work in centre midfield where he teamed up with Colorado Rapids defender Rick Titus to capably shield the back four.

There was little ventured or gained on either side of industrious lone forward Noray, though, as Cornell Glen put in a subdued performance while young Silvio Spann failed to impress his coach and was substituted after just 25 minutes.

Spann’s replacement, Nigel Daniel, made a remarkable miss in the 32nd minute from an incisive Glen squared pass.

Little else would have peaked the interest of the small crowd save a late appearance from ex-Joe Public playmaker Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott.

Hailed as the country’s most promising player as a teenager, the 24-year-old Jemmott has run afoul of the disciplinary requirements of several respected coaches and, at present, is not attached to any recognised club.

Jemmott’s selection has not been universally accepted by the local football fraternity but Najjar is trusting his own instincts.

The former US NAIA coach was more concerned with the state of the Centre of Excellence field, though, which he believes could offer an advantage to their opponents—St Kitts and St Lucia—due to its poor drainage.

Najjar told the Sunday Express his players had also asked to play at any of the five stadia used during the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

“I think the Centre of Excellence is more compatible to what they know on their home grounds,” said Najjar. “It may play into their hands a little especially if it rains.”

The Gold Cup qualifiers begin on Wednesday when St Lucia meet St Kitts while the host team play St Kitts on Friday and St Lucia on Sunday.

Najjar hopes to have the services of injured Connection captain and utility player, Reynold Carrington, by that time and will delay naming his squad until the experienced player undergoes a medical examination tomorrow.

Squad: Kelvin Jack, Marlon Sylvester, Kevin Graham, Brian James; Colin Roberts, Keyeno Thomas, Brent Sancho, Ian Gray, Uz Taylor, Anton Pierre, Reynold Carrington, Wesley Webb, Jeremy Delpino; Rick Titus, Travis Mulraine, Trent Noel, Densil Theobold; Nigel Daniel, Silvio Spann, Kerwyn Jemmott, Cornell Glen, Gary Glasgow, Ashford Leggerton, Jason Scotland, Kerry Noray.