A Trinidad and Tobago Select Under 21 team will fly out to Tampa, United States on Sunday for a training camp which includes matches against two Major League Soccer Teams and one against the US National Under 17 team.
According to TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips, the camp has been arranged in accordance with the Federation’s player development program.
“This type of international exposure against top quality teams will help to prepare our Under 21 players for the upcoming CAC Qualifiers,” Phillips told TTFF Media on Tuesday.
An interim staff will travel with the squad and it includes Ron La Forest (head coach), Michael McComie (assistant coach), Peter Rampersad (General Manager), Rudy Roberts (assistant manager), Phillip Dore (physio/goalkeeper coach) and Calvin Hughes (equipment manager).
Twenty-two players including thirteen locally-based and nine United States-based players will engage in the camp. The team will play four training matches, two against the senior teams of MLS outfits Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards and one each against the University of South Florida and the US National Under 17 team.
Phillips will also travel with the team which will be based at the Edge which is located at the University of South Florida. A study hall will also be set up for the players to undergo studies relating to their College work during the camp and other training on proper well being and professionalism will also take place.
“This is also in keeping with the overall development of our players also off the field as well,” Phillips added.
Among the players selected who are based in the US include striker Kevon Neaves who was part of the squad which trained under Leo Beenhakker in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend. The other US-based players are Yohance Marshall (University of South Florida), Kareem Smith (University of South Florida), former T&T Under 20 skipper Makan Hislop (University of South Carolina), Ancil Farria (Southern Connecticut University), Abiola Sandy (Bowling Green University), Kevin Crooks (Clayton State University), Randi Patterson (University of Greensboro) and Colin Kirk.
Among those on the list of home-based players includes former National Under 17 striker Gorean Highley, Under 20 goalie Thorne Holder, Tobago-born goalkeeper Shean Warner, defender Carlon Murray, Superstar Rangers’ Josimar Belgrave, Hayden Tinto of Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA Fire, Shane Calderon of W Connection, Kendall Jagdeosingh of National Quarries North East Stars, Kezi Lara of Princes Town Senior Comprehensive, Kareem Freitas (St Anthony’s College), Akilie Edwards (Defence Force), Kahleem Hyland and Dion Peters.
Following this camp which runs from February 12-22, the National Under 21 team will be announced to partake in the Caribbean Football Union Central American and Caribbean (CAC) preliminaries. The locals play Dominica on March 31, 2006 and then Haiti on April 4 in Trinidad.
Schedule of matches in Tampa
T&T Select vs ChicagoFire, February 13, 3pm
T&T Select vs University of South Florida, February 16, 7pm
T&T Select vs Kansas City Wizards, February 19, 4pm
T&T Selection vs US U17s, February 22, 4pm