National Senior team head coach Leo Beenhakker resumed training with this country’s local-based professionals at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday.
The “Warriors” resumed preparations ahead of the August 17 World Cup qualifier against United States following their exit from the CONCACAF Gold Cup earlier this month.’
Among the players in training include Angus Eve, Daurance Williams, Anton Pierre, Gary Glasgow, Atiba Charles, Aurtis Whitley, Densill Theobald, Glenton Wolfe among others.
Also in the mix was striker Jason Scotland who returned home last week after a one-week visa expired. He is currently awaiting further word on his work permit appeal before knowing whether he can begin a new two-year contract at Dundee United.
Former US-based defender Marlon Rojas is also expected to rejoin the team for training, according to manager Bruce Aanensen.
With the next match less than a month away and the majority of the squad expected to be available a week before the affair, Beenhakker is using the opportunity to sharpen up the local-based pros.
“We have these players who are playing in the League at home so there’s the chance to work on some things with them. And we all know that the other players will be available to us five days before the game. All the players are with their clubs now in training and so we will work with those that are available to us. It’s the same all over,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media. The Dutch-born coach and his assistants Wim Rijsbergen and Theo de Jong will also be monitoring the progress of the local pros at the upcoming Pro League matches as well as keeping tabs on the rest of the overseas contingent.
Meantime, Japanese midfielder Silvio Spann says he’s anticipating a recall to the team for the USA match after making a first appearance under Beenhakker against Panama in the Gold Cup.
“The experience in the Gold Cup for me was good one, especially under Mr. Leo Beenhakker. This was my first Gold Cup and I'm sure I would see more by the grace of God.I see myself being recalled, but in the mean time I will be preparing myself both mentally and physically whether I'm selected or not,” Spann told socawarriors.net.
“Given the fact that some players were just coming off of vacation and so on in the Gold Cup, we also learnt that, at this level a simple mistake could almost be the deciding factor in a game, resulting in a goal. I could also recall the coach saying that we will need to give a little extra, and it's true. But I guess we didn't have it in this particular tournament, but hopefully we will have in the next World Cup Qualifier against the United States . Whoever is on the pitch wearing the red, white and black on that day, it will have to be blood, sweat and tears,” Spann said.