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Dillon, Cato in T&T squad for Panama friendly.
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Belgian based Nicholas Dillon has been named on the 24-man squad selected by Head Coach Dennis Lawrence for the April 17 friendly international versus Panama at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Dillon joined the national team in training on Wednesday and was a welcome edition.

“The team is shaping up nicely and with the addition of Dillon it gives us another huge option in the attack” Lawrence told TTFA Media. “We did not expect many foreign based players to be available for this match as it fall outside the FIFA window, so when we got information on his availability it was an easy decision to have him join the training squad” the coach added.

Dillon will have some familiar faces around him with several his team mates from his days with the National U20 team also making it to the senior ranks. Justin Sadoo, Taryk Sampson and Kathon St. Hillaire all campaigned with Dillon at the 2017 Concacaf Championship in Costa Rica.

The biggest boost to the team will arguably be the additions of Daneil Cyrus and Cordell Cato who also indicated their availability for the match and will be arriving on Sunday. Cyrus with 71 caps will be the most experienced player in the line-up just ahead of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip with 65.

The versatile defender who plays for Juticalpa F.C. of Honduras will be aiming to play his part in maintaining T&T’s international “clean sheet streak” which now stands at four matches. Cato at the other end of the pitch will be eagerly seeking to add to his international goal count while giving the team some pace and trickery in the midfield.

With such an enticing line-up of youth and experience it will interesting to see the starting XI on match day but the aim of the Head Coach is clear, “A good team performance, will bring the result. That’s what I am looking for, a good all-round team performance. We have individuals with a lot of talent, even young Judah Garcia has been impressive in training but against an organised opponent like Panama, team is key” Lawrence concluded.

Trinidad and Tobago will face Panama on Tuesday 17 April at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 7:30pm. Gates open at 5:30pm and tickets will be sold at the venue at a cost of $40.00 for Adults and Children Under 16 $20.00.

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Cyrus, Cato and Dillon join T&T squad for Panama friendly; Judah set to feature.
Wired868.com.


Versatile defender Daneil Cyrus, speedy flanker Cordell Cato and towering forward Nicholas Dillon will be the only overseas-based players in the Trinidad and Tobago squad on Tuesday evening when the Soca Warriors tackle Panama in friendly action from 7:30pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Neither team will be at full strength since the match falls outside the FIFA international match calendar and clubs are not obliged to release players to take part.

Cyrus is in his second season with Honduras First Division club Juticalpa while Cato is employed with second-tier USA club Charlotte Independence and the 21-year-old Dillon represents Patro Eisden Maasmechelen in the Belgium Amateur Division.

Dillon, a former National Under-20 player, is uncapped at senior international level.

“The team is shaping up nicely and, with the addition of Dillon, it gives us another huge option in the attack,” head coach Dennis Lawrence told the TTFA Media. “We did not expect many foreign-based players to be available for this match as it falls outside the FIFA window, so when we got information on his availability, it was an easy decision to have him join the training squad.”

The Panama clash is likely to present an opportunity for some of the younger players to get a senior run-out and Lawrence hinted that Shiva Boys Hindu College playmaker Judah Garcia had played himself into contention.

However, the former World Cup 2006 player is hoping for a solid collective showing.

“A good team performance, will bring the result [and] that’s what I am looking for,” said Lawrence. “[…] We have individuals with a lot of talent—even young Judah Garcia has been impressive in training—but against an organised opponent like Panama, team is key.”

T&T Squad

Goalkeepers:

Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Andre Marchan (Defence Force), Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic).

Defenders:

Alvin Jones (W Connection), Maurice Forde (W Connection), Triston Hodge (W Connection), Daneil Cyrus (Juticalpa FC—Honduras), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Taryk Sampson (Central FC), Jameel Neptune (Central FC).

Midfielders:

Nathaniel Garcia (Point Fortin Civic), Justin Sadoo (Point Fortin Civic), Rhondel Gibson (Central FC), Judah Garcia (Shiva Boys Hindu College), Kevon Goddard (W Connection), Jared London (Club Sando), Cordell Cato (Charlotte Independence—USA), Reon Moore (Defence Force), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force), Isaiah Hudson (W Connection), Kathon St Hillaire (St Ann’s Rangers).

Forwards:

Marcus Joseph (W Connection), Akeem Roach (Unattached), Nicholas Dillon (Patro Eisden Maasmechelen—Belgium).