The Technical Department of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation continues to oversee the preparations of Under 21 players for selection for this year’s CAC Qualifying tournament.
Screening sessions, following the recent training camp which consisted mainly of overseas-based Under 21 players, have resumed locally with technical director Lincoln Phillips and his cadre of coaches working with home-based players, several being past members of the National Under 20 team.
This Saturday another double session will take place at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Centre of Excellence. This follows screening sessions which took place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in which twenty-one players from the sister-isle showed up.
Phillips revealed that plans are being made for a training camp in Florida, United States from February 12-22 with twelve home-based players meeting up with a further twelve based in the US for the camp. The final 18-man squad will then be selected for the duration of the CAC first round qualifying phase from March 29-April 6. Camp from March 29-April 6 in preparation for the CAC Qualifiers. T&T will host one of the groups in the Caribbean Football Union opening group phase. The locals play Dominica on March 31, 2006 and then Haiti on April 4. The winner of the group will progress to the second stage of CFU qualifying for the CAC games.
The former National goalkeeper added that already confirmed for the US camp are matches against A teams of MLS clubs Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards.
There will also be Under 16 screening sessions for which the nucleus will come from the last National Under 15 team. The pool of 20 players will engage as many U-16 zonal teams as possible in search of gems who have fallen through the cracks.
”This must all work as a spin off effect of our historic achievement of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. And we must ensure that a solid foundation is put in place to ensure ongoing success in all spheres of international competition,” Phillips told TTFF Media. “It is also our intentions to ensure that Leo Beenhakker is fully aware of what is happening and his input will definitely be an asset to us.”
”Not every youth player has the financial resources to travel to participate in national screening. We must, therefore, take the national team opportunities out to all corners of T&T,” Phillips added. The same process will take place for the selection of the National Under 18 team.
Players selection for Under 21 screening sessions this Saturday:
Goalkeepers:
Hasely Holder, Kerwin Beckles, Rondell Beckles, Adrial Foncette
Defenders:
Sean Bateau, Joel James, Karlon Murray, Corneal Thomas, Akilie Edwards
Midfielders:
Kezi Lara, Richard Roy, Akil De Freitas, Hayden Tinto, Dion Peters, Josimari Belgrave, Atilla Guerra, Kwesi Thomas, Javed Mohommed
Forwards:
Christopher Sam, Shane Calderon, Judah Hernandez, Kareem De Freitas, Simeon Agustas, Kendall Jagdeosingh.