With less that 48 hours to go before his team faces Guatemala in a must-win CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier, coach Leo Beenhakker got down to serious business with two closed-door sessions yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Faced with the grim fact of having scored only four goals in six matches, the 62-year-old Ducthman focussed both sessions on finding the back of the net, ball possession and crossing.
Not only did the former Ajax and Real Madrid coach have his strikers, team-captain Dwight Yorke, Stern John, Scott Sealy and Jason Scotland, totally involved in the session, but he made it known to all his players that scoring goals was the theme against the Central Americans.
While most of T&T was enjoying Independence celebrations on Wednesday, the Warriors were being drilled in a two-hour session that had members of the technical staff dishing out small bottles of “Blue Water” to members of the team.
Although the T&T side started the session under sunny skies, the heavens opened and produced a drenching shower which cooled things down.
The response brought added life to the training, as the goalkeepers Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack had quite a bit of work to do.
Since rejoining the team, former national captain Russell Latapy has had four sessions. Had it been known before his presence would have had such a positive effect, the Football Federation would certainly have made a greater efforts to bring him back earlier.
One player enjoying the chance to train with the “Little Magician and looking forward to a chance of playing with him is Carlos Edwards.
For Edwards, who plays with Luton Town in the Coca Cola Championship Division, the name “Little Magician” certainly suits Latapy.
“I was in the national team before, but I never got the chance to play alongside him.
“In practice, he has shown that he still has his touches. He might be a little older, but Latapy will always be Latapy.
“His presence has boosted the team’s morale.
“I feel that I have already learnt some stuff from him and even the players who are not in the team should watch how he conducts himself on the field, with confidence.”
With regard to his own fitness, after picking up a slight knock in practice on Wednesday, the former St Anthony’s College and Defence Force winger added: “It was just a minor collision. Everything is fine now.
“We iced it and I was able to train in the afternoon and again today (yesterday).”
Edwards also praised coach Beenhakker’s preparations.
“You can tell that he has been here at this level before, he is very cool-headed.
“We know how important getting a good result is and he also reminds us of what this means for our country.”
Midfielder Christopher Birchall said he was enjoying the sessions and was looking forward to getting a good performance tomorrow.
“We had some shooting drills this morning and everyone is feeling great.
Birchall also said he was hoping for a good turnout by the T&T public.
“We would like the stadium filled and everyone to get behind the team because we really want to win this one.”
Today, the Warriors will have one final practice session from 4.30 at the match venue.
Guatemala, who arrived in T&T yesterday, will also train today from 3pm, ahead of tomorrow’s match.
T&T team in training: Kelvin Jack, Shaka Hislop, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Marvin Andrews, Ian Cox, Avery John, Brent Sancho, Atiba Charles, Anton Pierre, Cyd Gray, Silvio Spann, Christopher Birchall, Aurtis Whitley, Scott Sealy, Glenton Wolfe, Carlos Edwards, Densil Theobald, Jason Scotland, Dennis Lawrence.