Trinidad and Tobago National Under 17 men’s captain Brendon Creed is eager to make a good first impression in front of local football fans when he leads this country into action against British Virgin Islands on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 7pm.
The Shawn Cooper-coached team will have a final training session tomorrow (Monday) before taking the field in the opening Caribbean Football Union Under 17 World Cup qualifier. Suriname and Guyana will meet from 5pm in the first game of the double header.
Skipper Creed, shy at first, sounded more relaxed and certain of his team’s capabilities as continued giving his take on the team’s readiness.
“Of course I am confident in all of my teammates. We want to finish on top and we have worked really hard so far. We are very anxious to get out there and Tuesday and start the first match. This is what we have been working for… to win matches,” Creed told TTFF Media prior to the team shifting its camp base to Ambassador Hotel.
“Overall the preparations have been good. Every player has worked really hard and over the next couple of days we will focus on some of areas that we think needs brushing up on before the first game.
Maybe some players will be a bit nervous because it’s the first match for a lot of the guys but we are determined to do well for the country. We want to make the fans delighted so I’m hoping they can come out and give us the support at the games,” added the SKHY FC midfielder.
W Connection midfielder Matthew Woo Ling who made his professional debut at age 15 for the club earlier this year is hoping to the host nation can grab all three points on Tuesday.
“Winning our first game will be very important despite whichever team we are facing. I think all the players have done well and right now we are working on building team chemistry both on and off the playing field. For me personally, I am hoping I can play a part and contribute to the team.
All the players are trying to help each other in terms of improving their game and I think this can be plus for us when we take on the other teams in the matches.”
British Virgin Islands which once had Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas as its technical director in 2000, have reportedly drafted in some US-based players into their squad for the upcoming tournament.
BVI coach Vincent Samuel, speaking ahead of his team’s arrival in Port of Spain on Sunday, said his team was well prepared.
“The guys have been playing not only in the school league but also have equipped themselves well in friendly games against senior sides.
They are a young team, the average age being 15, but we are travelling with confidence.” BVI will be based at Cascadia Hotel for the tournament.
Tickets, priced at $10 will be sold on matchday at the stadium.