T&T Under-23 (Olympic) footballers will resume their quest for a spot at next year's London Olympic Games when they meet Cuba in the opening match of the Caribbean Football Union Final Round qualifiers today in St Kitts/Nevis from 6 pm.
The match takes place at Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre, and will be followed by the host versus Suriname.T&T advanced after topping the first round series with wins over Grenada (1-0) and Dominica (4-0) and a 1-1 draw with Netherland Antilles which it edged out on goal-difference after both teams ended with seven points.
On the other hand, Cuba, defeated Aruba (7-0) and edged Guyana (1-0) to take Group C with maximum six points.The young Soca Warriors, coached by Angus Eve, will also be brimming with confidence having played unbeaten at the 16th Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico last month to extend its unbeaten run to six matches.
T&T got 1-1 draws with Mexico, Ecuador and Uruguay, and will be favourites for one of the top two spots to qualify for the eight-team Concacaf Final Round tournament in the USA from March 22 to April 2.
Included in the squad led by San Juan Jabloteh defender are five players with senior team experience in Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino, the team's vice captain, W Connection defender Joevin Jones, his clubmate and striker Shahdon Winchester, US-based midfielder Sean De Silva and Caledonia AIA Jamal Gay.
After arriving in St Kitts/Nevis on Tuesday evening, Eve took his players through two training sessions yesterday and said he expects the Cubans to be possibly the strongest of all T&T's opponents.Eve was mindful of the Cubans who also competed at the Pan American Games in Mexico where they drew 0-0 with Brazil and lost 1-0 to Argentina and Costa Rica respectively.
Regarding his opponents, Eve, a former T&T captain said: "Cuba is a very good outfit and a very organised team. They have traditionally given us a lot of problems in the past and we therefore will not be taking them lightly. We saw them at the Pan American Games and they did pretty well and will be seeing themselves as one of the favourites."
T&T squad
Goalkeepers: Andre Marchan (W Connection), Glenroy Samuel (All Saints United/Antigua& Barbuda).
Defenders: Joevin Jones (W Connection), Mekeil Williams (W Connection), Sheldon Bateau (capt) (San Juan Jabloteh), Leslie Russell (San Juan Jabloteh), Kareem Moses (St Ann's Rangers), Aquil Selby (Caledonia AIA), Nuru Muhammad (Caledonia AIA).
Midfielders: Micah Lewis (Caledonia AIA), Jayson Joseph (W Connection), Jeromie Williams (North East Stars), Jean Luc Rochford (FC Santa Rosa), Sean De Silva (College of Charleston/USA), Kevin Molino (Orlando City/USA), Jomal Williams (W Connection).
Forwards: Shahdon Winchester (W Connection), Jamal Gay (Caledonia AIA), Trevin Caesar (Caledonia AIA), Jerrel Britto (W Connection).