Head coach Leo Beenhakker will take the lead responsibility of a part of the football job that is difficult for many, particular the players who are involved – the part of the game where players are informed whether they will be part of or left out of the segment they’ve been aspiring towards.
In this case, it’s selection on the Trinidad and Tobago squad to play in its first international match since qualifying for Germany 2006 – a match against Iceland on February 28 in London.
The players, even the regulars based overseas know that there’s six warm up matches left before T&T’s opening 2006 World Cup match against Sweden on June 10 and every opportunity to play in one of those will determine their chances of wearing the national colours on the world’s biggest stage.
But for the likes of US-College based youngsters Osei Telesford, Julius James, Darryl Roberts, Anthony Noreiga and Kevon Neaves, while the sudden opportunity of training under Beenhakker before the World Cup has been a dream come true, they are prepared to overlook any disappointments when he names his squad.
“This was a very professional camp – all well prepared and well done,” Neaves told TTFF Media.
“The chance to play with a lot of these players, several of them we looked up to before and admired especially seeing them in the matches during the qualifiers. We didn’t want to come here and step on any toes and create any uncomfortable situations. It was just about working hard with the rest of the players and trying our best to do as the coach said. It was just a really good experience for all of us.
“Of course it’s a stepping stone and we understand this. If it is that we don’t get another opportunity during this campaign we know we have to continue working hard and look for the things to come in the campaigns to follow,” added Neaves who is a former Secondary Schools Football League “Player of the Year” and has developed further since joining University of South Florida.
Telesford of Liberty University felt the same way.
“I was honoured when I got the call to come and train with the guys like Rougier, Spann, and Aurtis – those who were actually involved in the match against Bahrain. The coach was very professional and he welcomed us with open arms,” said Telesford.
Neaves intervened while in the company of Telesford to add “He (Beenhakker) makes you relaxed. He wants you to play your football but at the same time he wants you to know this is something serious. He just wants you to clear you head and get on with training and playing.”
From the batch of the newcomers, Noreiga is one who moves on to the professional ranks now having been drafted by MLS side Kansas City Wizards.
“Once I can get chances like these I think I am up for it. There are always ups and downs but we are all becoming more professional about it. I always knew this sort of opportunity was in the making but I didn’t think it would come this soon and it’s just a matter of taking it in good stride,” said the former Princes Town Senior Comprehensive captain.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Kerry Baptiste and Nigel Henry who both played a couple games in the earlier stages if the campaign are also working hard to make the cut.
“I think it was an excellent camp for some of us who were recalled. We worked hard, the coach dealt with us in the right way and we came away with two wins. Most importantly the coach spoke to us and he explained what the whole process is about and he will decide now how to take things from here. We couldn’t ask for anything better at this point,” Baptiste said.
The likes of Aurtis Whitley, Cyd Gray, Anthony Wolfe, Anthony Rougier, Errol McFarlane, goalie Jan Michael Williams, Silvio Spann and Atiba Charles did their share during the camp in Fort Lauderdale, all performing to some degree of satisfaction in the 1-0 win over Florida International University and 2-1 over Honduras 5-Stars and like the others, they will await Beenhakker’s call. From Fort Lauderdale, the T&T contingent is schedule home on Monday night. The team will reassemble in London on February 26 with the T&T contingent departing Piarco the previous day.