T&T’s senior men's footballers will be aiming to start their 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign on a winning note when they face Panama in the first Group D match of a doubleheader at the Allianz Field in Minnesota, USA, on Tuesday evening from 6.30 pm (7.30 pm TT time).
Two hours later, hosts United States will clash with Guyana in the other group match before an estimated 19,000 fans.
T&T’s last Gold Cup outing was a quarter-final against the Panamanians in 2015, where T&T went down 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 scoreline after extra time. T&T then won at home during the 2018 World Cup qualifier 1-0 courtesy a Kevin Molino winner. However, in a return match in Panama City soon after the Warriors were thrashed 3-0.
“At this point in time I don’t think history will play a part,” Hyland said Monday.
“This is a new competition. There are new faces on board, new ambitions, new atmosphere, in a different country, and none of us is home. It’s all up for the grabs so we have to take front before front takes us and hopefully we can get the three points.”
He added, “The mood is great and everyone is jelling and doing the tasks that they have been asked to do by the head coach and staff. In every major tournament, your first game is one of the most important and in these tournaments you have to take it game by game.
"This game we know is going to be a difficult one. We know the strengths of Panama and we know they are a hardworking team but we have to match them throughout the game.”
The Saudi Arabia-based midfielder, formerly of Belgium side Racing Genk, had a brief message for the T&T fans, saying, “I just want the fans to keep faith in us. This is your team. We believe in ourselves and you have to believe in us and it will only happen if we come together as one country, one nation and that’s the only way things will get better… by supporting each other.”
Meanwhile, defender Aubrey David has joined the T&T team for the Gold Cup. Following a lengthy delay, David was granted his US Visa last Friday and linked up with teammates in the US. He comes into the 23-man squad for Charleston Battery defender Leland Archer and will be hoping to be part of coach Dennis Lawrence's team today. Archer, on the other hand, will leave the camp tomorrow.
The Allianz ground in Minnesota is the home of Molino’s Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.