Trinidad and Tobago look likely to be without the services of talented 16-year-old defender Adam ‘Toka’ Pierre for their 2025 Fifa Under-17 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Pierre was a key figure for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2023 Concacaf Under-15 Championship. However, Wired868 understands that Pierre has not trained once this year and, despite sending a written indication of interest to the coaching staff, has not turned out to challenge for a place in the National Under-17 Team.
And with just days left before head coach Shawn Cooper must select his squad for a proposed pre-tournament tour, Pierre skipped a national team camp to head to Guyana with his school, St Benedict’s College, who will participate in the KFC Goodwill International tournament.
And St Benedict’s head coach Randolph Boyce is also the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team head coach.
Cooper trimmed his local-based squad over the weekend and had 24 overseas-based players pay their own way to try out for Trinidad and Tobago, even as Pierre jetted out.
The St Benedict’s roster in Guyana also includes Isaiah David, who was part of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2023 National Under-15 squad, and left back Elijah George who was invited to try-out.
Cooper declined comment when asked about the impasse. However, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical director Anton Corneal empathised with the youth coach.
Corneal suggested that allowing the national youth players to participate in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), which means two games a week in the Premier and Championship divisions, effectively made national training impossible for three months.
He was disappointed that, even after that compromise, some schools still seem unwilling to work with the national programme.
“The coaching staff patiently waited until after the Secondary Schools Football League was complete, already compromising what development might have taken place,” Corneal told Wired868. “[…] Representing your country is about more than having the ability to play. It has a lot to do with the commitment of the player and the culture of what national football requires.
“It is going to be challenging for any coach to make a decision on players who are not making themselves available.
“It is the right of the player and the parent to make whatever decision they think best for the player. And the right of the coach is to make a decision he thinks best for the country, based on all the scenarios surrounding the team.
“So, the coach has a decision to make.”
Ironically, Boyce already has the mandate to take over from Cooper when the current National Under-17 players reach to National Under-20 age. And, in an unusual move, Boyce has already started national training sessions—despite the fact that the bulk of his squad is still under Cooper’s care and his first competitive game is in 2026.
The TTFA is yet to formally announce the National Under-20 coaching staff, although Boyce has been assisted at sessions by the Terminix La Horquetta Rangers pair of Dave ‘Hoghead’ Quamina and Leslie Joel Russell.
Wired868 asked Boyce, who is also the Central Football Association (CFA) president, whether his players were disinterested in the national programme, and if he felt any responsibility to inform and/or discuss their availability with the National Under-17 coach.
Boyce did not respond up to the time of publication.
Corneal suggested that Boyce’s decision to travel abroad with potential national youth players might be something worth discussing by the TTFA technical committee, which is headed by president Kieron Edwards.
“As TD, it means we have to have major discussions when it comes to supporting the national programme with anyone working within the system,” said Corneal. “It is clear we have to have these discussions which can be guided by a technical committee—because these are major decisions. What if this happens with a team (school or club) that has six or eight or more national players?
“One can rightfully ask: how is it possible that a national youth coach can be the one who heads up such a [travelling] team—knowing there is an international tournament in six weeks, and that it would not give the youth players the proper chance to represent their country?
“How is that possible? This must be disturbing and disappointing to any technical director or technical committee.”
Corneal said the National Under-17 team hope to participate in a four-nation pre-tournament competition in January, in the build up to the Concacaf competition in February.
Trinidad and Tobago are grouped with Guyana, Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands and hosts Costa Rica in the World Cup qualifying series. The group winner will qualify directly to the Qatar 2025 Fifa Under-17 World Cup.
The young Soca Warriors defeated Costa Rica 2-0 on 9 August 2023 in the Concacaf Under-15 Championship with goals from Jonathan Mason and Jeremiah Daniel.
However, the Trinidad and Tobago players have only had two international friendlies away to Jamaica since then.
Fatima College playmaker Caden Trestrail, Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Nkosi Foncette, Speyside Secondary attacker Riquelme Phillips, Naparima College goalkeeper Mikhail Clement and Arima North Secondary utility player Criston Gomez are among the 2024 Premier Division standouts who featured prominently against Costa Rica in 2023.
Corneal commended the players who answered the call to join the national pool and their parents who made it possible.
“This camp is our first time getting the players together to see their growth within the last four months,” said the technical director, “and we also get the chance to contrast the players we have here with those who are available from abroad, so we can decide on the best players for February.
“That is the reason behind the camp. There is very little time before the tournament in February, so this camp kickstarts our preparation.”
Pierre, a tenacious tackler with a good passing range and devilish long-range shot, offers Trinidad and Tobago a solid option in the defence as well as central midfield.
David, a strong, mobile defender who can operate in central defence or at full back, attended several sessions with the National Under-17 team. But he also choose to represent his school in Guyana, rather than fight for his pick with the national team
It is uncertain that either player will be included when Cooper relays his shortlist for a crucial pre-tournament tour this weekend.
Editor’s Note: Shawn Cooper is due to select his players for an overseas pre-tournament camp by this weekend, and not his Concacaf shortlist, which is required in January.