T&T’s men's beach soccer team is currently in Paraguay for a two-week training camp ahead of the 2021 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship at the Sports Complex Fedefutbol-Plycem in Costa Rica between May 17-23.
A 17-man squad arrived in Asuncion on Saturday and are staying at the Olympic Hotel. The team under head coach Ramiro Amarelle played its first practice match against the Paraguayan beach soccer team on Tuesday and went down to a heavy 7-2 defeat at the Estadio Mundialista Los Pynandi, the venue for the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
T&T's goals came from Omni Baird and Dominic McDougall, while the host secured the win from a hat-trick from Carlos Valentín Benítez and a brace by Carlos Carballo. Sergio González and Yoao Rolón were the scorers of the other goals.
Amarelle described the first encounter as challenging but valuable to the team’s preparations.
“The first match was good for us in terms of experience. It was the first international game for some of our younger players who never played at this level before,” Amarelle said.
He added: “Obviously Paraguay is of a higher level than us which is okay because these are the teams we want to play and it helps immensely in getting our team to be prepared for the harder challenges. They were World Cup host and some of their players have the experience of playing in a World Cup. The gap is not too big but obviously, they have more quality and are better at making decisions and executing. We are working on these aspects of our game.
“We made some mistakes which we will work on in training and continue growing and improving on our performances in the next five matches here in Paraguay,” Amarelle added.
Both teams were scheduled to meet in a second match on Thursday and will square off in other friendlies on Saturday, as well as May 10, 11 and 13.
Amarelle said their stay in the South American nation will go a long way in preparing his team for the CONCACAF Championship. T&T will begin their quest against Costa Rica on May 17 in Alajuela. They will follow up with matches against the United States on May 18 and the Turks and Caicos Islands a day later.
According to Amarelle: “This is a great opportunity for us to be in a camp situation in foreign territory before the competition. There are lots of aspects of a training camp that are needed and it is good that we will get to experience the environment of a venue that hosted the 2019 World Cup. It’s a big opportunity for the players.”
Amarelle was joined in Paraguay by fellow assistant coach Jaime Paz of Spain.
“The games are also very important for us as it gives us a chance to measure ourselves against an international opponent and to play these games before the competition is absolutely necessary, and will boost our preparations. To everyone who played a part in getting this training camp arranged we say a huge thank you,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Beach Soccer Association of T&T (BSATT) has come in for praises for its role in securing the training camp in Paraguay, as well as covering other expenses such as travel and accommodation.
The BSATT, it is understood, also provided resources to ensure Amarelle and his staff were well taken care of while in T&T.
Teams
T&T (2): Jabari Gray; Shallun Bobb, Omri Baird, Shane Hospedales Dominic Mc Dougall, Ryan Augustine, Jesse Bailey, Zane Coker, Levi Fernández, Immanuel Russell, Joash Baird y Tevin Gill.
Head coach: Ramiro Amarelle. Assistant: Jaime Paz.
Paraguay (7): Yoao Rolón; Gustavo Benítez, Carlos Carballo (C); Carlos Valentín Benítez, Gustavo Benítez y Sergio González. Saúl González, Sixto Cantero, Luis Ojeda, Pedro Moran, Milciades Medina, Rodrigo Escobar, Pablo Benítez y Néstor Medina.
Head coach: Gustavo Zloccowik Assistant: Joaquín Molas.