T&T's senior national football team will be minus several of their key players based in Europe and the United States for the FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches against Guyana and Puerto Rico.
At a press conference at the Media Room of the Ato Boldon Stadium on Wednesday, coach Terry Fenwick lamented the team's difficult position ahead of its opening match against Guyana on March 25 and then in the Dominican Republic three days later (March 28) in Puerto Rico, either due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions or injuries.
"It's a difficult situation," Fenwick described it as, noting that back at home over-lapping defender Alvin Jones will also be unavailable after picking up an injury in Monday's friendly game against Defence Force.
Also, missing is the new Columbus Crew signing Kevin Molino, who has a hamstring injury.
However, Sheldon Bateau, who plays for Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League will provide a key presence in the central defence for the team in the Guayna match, along with the experience of Aubery David, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Neval Hackshaw and Joven Jones.
According to Fenwick, who named a squad of 26 players: “A lot of the European guys will not be able to play in Puerto Rico so obviously that is a big concern, so our administration and technical staff this afternoon will iron out and organise the numbers that we need to travel with in case we have to use more local players for the Puerto Rico game coming up only three days after the game against Guyana across the road.”
It is also understood that midfielders Andre Boucaud and Daniel Phillips, defender Bateau, forward Levi Garcia and goalkeeper Nicholas Frenerup cannot play the Puerto Rico game because the European countries which these players ply their trade face quarantine restrictions to enter United States territory.
However, Fenwick will have steady defensive midfielder, captain Khaleem Hyland in his side, as well as a hard-working squad of players, some of whom got the opportunity to play against the United States in the friendly match on January 31 in Orlando Florida, USA that ended 7-0 in the US favour.
According to Fenwick: "I want to be able to put men out on the pitch. Guys who are prepared to go out there and get a good result for T&T, sticking together and keeping everything at arm's length."
The T&T team will leave on Thursday for the Dominican Republic, still hoping to at least get a friendly match and any opposition. They are in Group F of the qualifiers with Puerto Rico, Bahamas and St Kitts/Nevis, needing to win the group to advance.
After playing the Guyanese on March 25, they face Puerto Rico (March 28) away, Bahamas on June 5 (away), before they face St Kitts/Nevis at home.
T&T WORLD CUP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Adrian Foncette, Marvin Philip, Nicklas Frenderup, Denzil Smith
DEFENDERS
Noah Powder, Leland Archer, Justin Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Sheldon Bateau, Aubrey David, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Robert Primus, Joevin Jones
MIDFIELDERS
Duane Muckette, Michel Poon-Angeron, Andre Boucaud, Daniel Phillips, Judah Garcia, Khaleem Hyland, Marcus Joseph Jr
FORWARDS
Levi Garcia, Ryan Telfer, Willis Plaza, Sean Bonval, Jabari Mitchell, Brent Sam