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“Coming home with gold is most important for us,” said Defence Force FC captain Corey Rivers on Tuesday morning following his team’s final practice session at the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment Headquarters in Chaguaramas before departing on Wednesday morning for the 5th CISM Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is grouped with the Defence Forces of Germany, Cameroon and Egypt. The group winner and best overall second positioned finisher will advance into the Semi-Final Round.

Defence Force FC will first meet the Germans on Friday 15 July followed by Cameroon on Sunday 17 July and Egypt in their final group match on Tuesday 19 July.

Rivers who captained the club to the 2010-2011 Digicel Pro League Championship said that his team will be on the watch-list having played well against the hosts in the Final of the Armed Forces Continental Football Championship which qualified both Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago into the Military World Games.

Defence Force FC went under to the Brazilians 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw.

“It’s a really proud moment for us being in the Military World Games. In the qualifiers (Armed Forces Continental Football Championship) we went in as under dogs because they didn’t expect Trinidad and Tobago to do well. But we gave a good showing they would be looking at Trinidad and Tobago in Brazil. So we are aware that teams would be looking at us in this tournament.

“Especially Brazil,” he exclaimed. “We played against them in the Final [of the Armed Forces Continental Football Championship] and outplayed them but lost on penalties.”

Rivers went on to add, “We’re all focused. It’s a place we everyone wants to go and play football. We are all in high spirits at the moment. Going to the World Military Games is like going to an Olympics for us and coming back with gold will do us real proud to start the new (TT Pro League) season.”

Assistant Defence Force FC coach Marvin Gordon shared similar emotions saying, “It’s a great feeling because this is like an Olympics for us. And it’s also a great feeling going to Brazil, the home of football. A lot of us dream about going to Brazil and now we have the opportunity to showcase ourselves in Brazil.

“I think the spirit in the camp is high. We want to go and win the tournament. In a tournament like this, we are representing Trinidad and Tobago, so we want to put our best foot forward and bring back the gold medal for Trinidad and Tobago.”

He believes that his side has prepared well for the tournament adding, “We didn’t have much rest [coming off last season and the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship]. Maybe a week off and then back to the training pitch to prepare for this tournament. But mentally I believe the players are ready for this challenge. Our preparation ahead of Brazil is where we want it. We played a practice match on Saturday against Caledonia AIA, which is one of the better teams in Trinidad and Tobago and we came off 3-1 winners.

“So I think going to Brazil, we are ready for the tournament,” ended Gordon.

Head Coach Ross Russell leads the management team which includes Gordon, Captain Keston Charles (Manager), Mark Lewis (Trainer), David Cumberbatch (Physiotherapist) and Corporal Michael Smith (Media Representative).

While the 20-man travelling squad includes Corey Rivers(team captain), goalkeepers Kevin Graham and Dillon Prince, Rawyle Fletcher, Aklie Edwards, Keston Williams, Kerry Joseph, Anton Joseph, Jerywn Balthazar, Dexter Pacheco, Sean Narcis, Javon Neptune, Jemel Seabro, Balondemu Julius, Richard Roy, Michael Edwards, Albert Dexter Thornhill, Rondell Elcock and Devin Jordan.

The T&T Defence Force departed Piarco Airport on Wednesday morning on charter via Suriname for Rio de Janeiro.

The Military World Games, which appears every four years, is organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM). The Military World Games began in 1995 and hosted in Rome, Italy. Zagreb, Croatia hosted the Games in 1999, Catania, Italy in 2003 and Hyderabad, India in 2007. Mungyeong, South Korea have already been chosen 2015 hosts.

This year the Military World Games will comprise twenty-four(24) sports, some of them appearing for the first time in military world games, such as beach volleyball.

Major Malcolm Nedd heads the T&T Defence Force delegation of 68 members. T&T will also be represented in shooting, basketball, boxing and track and field.