T&T Under-20 Soca Warriors begin their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-20 Championship final round campaign today, aiming for three points against Puerto Rico at the Waterhouse Stadium, Kingston from 3pm (4pm T&T time).
A 19-man squad under head coach Ross Russell arrived in Jamaica on Saturday and trained twice at the match venue. Team captain Duane Muckette arrived behind schedule after remaining in T&T on Saturday, to sit a SAT Examination.
Muckette joined the the team yesterday and was part of the training session. Coach Ross Russell, who took over from Michael McComie earlier this year, is optimistic of an opening win. "We have a good feel about the venue. It's different from what we are used to playing in back home," Russell said.
"The aim is to qualify for the final round and top this group," said Russell. "We know Puerto Rico's football has been improving, but our boys are very hungry for success and they know it's important to progress and qualify for the World Cup next year."
W Connection midfielder Jomal Williams, who scored two goals in the previous stage will lead T&T's midfield, along with Xavier Rajpau, while Shaquille Holder of Carapichaima East and Shackiel Henry (Presentation San Fernando). The two top strikers in the Secondary Schools Football League are expected to lead the front-line, along with former St Anthony's College striker, Garvin Samaroo.
In the previous round in August, T&T beat St Vincent/Grenadines 3-0 in a must-win match to secure a spot in the qualification round for the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. T&T finished Group Four in second place with six points, same as group winners Suriname who topped the group on goal difference despite losing their final match to Guyana. T&T edged Guyana 2-1 and were beaten 3-0 by Suriname while the latter pipped St Vincent and The Grenadines, 1-0 but lost to Guyana, 2-1.
The other teams in Group A, Haiti and Curacao meet in today's second match from 5pm. The young Soca Warriors will meet Haiti on Wednesday and Curacao on Friday. The top two teams will advance to next year's final Concacaf round in Mexico.
T&T SQUAD
Tevin Dodds, Quesi Weston, Adan Noel, Dwight Quintero, Alvin Jones, Anthony Charles, Damani Richards, Shannon Gomez, Shaquille Nesbitt, Duane Muckette (captain), Xavier Rajpaul, Kerron Bethelmy, Jomal Williams, Marcus Gomez, Akeem Garcia (midfielders); Shackiel Henry, Keane McIvor, Glen Sutton, Shaquille Holder, Garvin Samaroo.
Technical staff: Ross Russell (coach), Reynold Carrington (assistant coach), William Wallace (manager), Richard Piper (assistant manager), Gilbert Bateau (trainer), Devin Elcock (equipment manager), Michael Taylor (physiotherapist)
Concacaf Under-20 Championship
Caribbean Qualifying-Final Round
Today
T&T vs Puerto Rico
Haiti vs Curacao
Tomorrow
Cuba vs Suriname
Jamaica vs Antigua & Barbuda
Wednesday
Puerto Rico vs. Curacao
Haiti vs T&T
Thursday
Antigua & Barbuda vs Cuba
Jamaica vs Suriname
Friday
Curacao vs T&T
Puerto Rico vs. Haiti
Saturday
Suriname vs Antigua & Barbuda
Jamaica vs Cuba