This country's junior water polo athletes will go after the gold medals when they compete in the Carifta Under-16 and 19 & Under boys' competitions in Willemstad, Curacao from today until Sunday.
The teams have been preparing for their engagement since February under the watchful eye of coach Alan Too-a-Foo and his assistant Daniel Alvarez, himself a current national senior men's player and both men believe that there is enough talent in both squads to do well in Willemstad.
For Too-a-Foo, it is all or nothing and his training regimen reflects this as the teams train both morning and evening at the Marlins Swimming Pool, Morne Coco Road, Westmoorings and were conditioned with only victory in mind.
In Curacao, T&T will do battle with Bahamas, Barbados and host Curacao.
Since the inception of the carifta competition, T&T has emerged as a powerhouse in regional age-group water polo and have played at a world level.
Two years ago, T&T was represented by our 18 and Under team at the FINA World Championship held in Perth, Australia and this year's 19 & Under team will comprise six members of that team competed back then in Johann Callender, Kieron Emmanuel, Sebastian van Reeken, Jonathan Gillette Adrian Hinds and Justin Bodden.
Those accomplishments were built on the back of that great 2008 Carifta campaign and Too-a-Foo and Alvarez who were coach and player then, will sit side by side in Curacao pushing the teams on, doing it all over again.
T&T Carifta water polo teams:
U-16 Boys:
Goalkeepers: Kiev Alleyne, Jafar Howe
Outfielders: Leon Daniel, Krystien Sharpe, Joseph Herrera, Kegan Forde Massimiliano Di Cola, Kyle Simmons, Daniel West, Liam Howell, Jamali Lewis, Liam Smith, Ethan Elliot.
Technical staff: Alan Too-A-Foo (coach), Daniel Alvarez (assistant coach), Hugh Smith (manager)
19 & Under Boys:
Goalkeepers: Sebastien Van Reeken
Outfielders: Johann Callender, Justin Bodden, Adrian Hinds, Nabeel Hosein, Jonathan Gillette, Kyle Ferreira, Aaron Sheppard, Kieron Emmanuel.
Technical staff: Alan Too-A-Foo (coach), Daniel Alvarez (assistant coach), Sheldon Bhawanie (manager)
Head of Delegation: Sheldon Bhawanie
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