DWIGHT YORKE stays up front and Russell Latapy is set to start on his return to international duty with Trinidad and Tobago.
Today, a big turnout is expected as Trinidad and Tobago's Warriors' play their most important World Cup qualifier to date in the current qualifying campaign when taking on Guatemala from 4.30 p.m. at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Those coming to the game are required to pay $100 for entrance to the uncovered stands and $200 for the covered section.
Even so, a big crowd is expected to witness the return of the "Little Magician," Russell Latapy, one of the finest footballers ever produced by T&T. Latapy, who turned 37 on August 2, has returned to the national team after quitting international football four years ago.
Holder of two league championship medals with Portuguese outfit FC Porto, and also the first Trinidad and Tobago footballer to play in the Champions League, Latapy has been an idol for many young footballers. He has also played with Portuguese side Boavista and Scottish clubs Glasgow Rangers, Hibernian and his current team, Falkirk.
National coach Leo Beenhakker believes that Latapy's return has provided motivation for his players, many of whom grew up seeing the 'Little Magician' work his magic, but have never played alongside him.
"They all respect him. We are still in the process of integration of course, because for him its a big change for him to play here," Beenhakker said on the eve of the match.
"Besides, most of the players of this group did not play with him, apart from Yorke and possibly one or two others. So, both get to know each other a little bit."
However, Beenhakker said Latapy was working well and described the well-balanced midfielder as a "true professional. You can see it in every way, inside the pitch, outside the pitch."
He also spoke of his other star, captain Dwight Yorke, who after the 1-0 loss to the Americans in Connecticut had stated that with Beenhakker's permission, he would have liked to revert to the midfield. However, Beenhakker indicated that Yorke would stay up front for today's match.
"First of all, Dwight is, of course, the captain of the team. He is a great player and you have to understand that we are not only working on the pitch, in the field, when we are together in the camp we also talk a lot about football. So, Dwight is a guy, he is playing where it is best for the team. That is his mentality, and that is the way it has to be." Beenhakker said.
T&T have no injury worries today, although the earlier losses of Kenwyne Jones and Collin Samuel before the training camp has forced Beenhakker to alter his plans a bit. But now, back in Beenhakker's squad is Carlos Edwards, who is fully recovered from knee troubles which kept him out of both the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the last qualifier against the United States.
Edwards' inclusion may help with ball possession, which Beenhakker said would be important to his team today. The "Warriors" will be seeking to control the game and more importantly score goals, the ingredient so painfully lacking in the campaign so far. It is here in the supplying of decent chances for Yorke and the struggling Stern John - that it is hoped that Latapy will have an impact.
The Dutchman noted that next week, both Costa Rica and Guatemala-the Warriors' main rivals for the fourth qualifying spot - will have the advantage of playing at home, so T&T have to take advantage of playing at home this afternoon.
"I know we need points. We knew from the beginning that Mexico and USA were number one and two. It's now a four-team tournament. In this way, we know exactly what we have to do and we are going to try with every thing we have," Beenhakker said.