Wed Jul 01, 2015 6:28 am
Kenwyne Joness off again on International Duty, at least it will get him fit ready for the new season ahead.
Jones says ‘Warriors’ upbeat for Gold Cup
Wednesday, July 1 2015
TRINIDAD AND Tobago’s football team will leave today, from 12.30 pm, for Fort Lauderdale in Florida, United States for a six-day training camp before their opening CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Guatemala on July 9.
Coach Stephen Hart and captain Kenwyne Jones will lead the group of players who had been engaged in a residential training camp over the past few days in Port of Spain. Joining the departing contingent today will be Kadeem Corbin and Rundell Winchester who were both with the Men’s Under-23 team in Puerto Rico for Olympic qualifiers.
Joining the squad in the US will be Slovakia-based winger Lester Peltier, Iceland-based forward Jonathan Glenn as well as US-based trip Kevan George of Columbus Crew, Joevin Jones of Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes’ Cordell Cato.
Skipper Jones summed up the training camp, saying it brought benefits to the team which had previously been together in 2015 for three other international friendlies against Jordan, Curacao and Panama.
“We came together and worked hard,” said Jones. “We had some tough days but it’s something that we needed. After the last two games, we needed that as a wake up call within ourselves. After the difficulties, we had to come together and dig deep as a unit, management staff and players, to try and get the best preparation possible.”
The Cardiff City player will be appearing in his third Gold Cup, first appearing under Leo Beenhakker in the 2005 edition with a squad that went on to qualify from the CONCACAF qualifiers that year for the 2006 World Cup Finals.
He then helped the team to the quarter final phase in 2013, TT’s second best finish at the tournament behind the semi-final appearance in 2000 when TT lost 1-0 to Canada with a team that included the likes of Russell Latapy, Dwight Yorke, David Nakhid, Angus Eve, deceased Mickey Trotman, Clayton Ince, Anthony Rougier, Arnold Dwarika and Marvin Andrews.
TT will begin their Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign at the semi-final phase in November and Jones says the players have reasons to be motivated at this point.
“We have to be very motivated. It’s going to be my third Gold Cup and for quite a few players it will be their first Gold Cup. They have a chance to show what they have and be on a world stage where they can better themselves professionally.
“Apart from the World Cup and World Cup qualifiers I don’t think there are any more tournaments that should need more motivation than this one. As a unit, especially after the last three results we had, I think we are trying to put the team work right first and then go forward into the tournament because we had a pretty decent tournament last time,” Jones stated.
The former Stoke City man said the team was also in mourning with coach Hart following the death of his mother Monica whose funeral took place yesterday.
“As a team we feel for him. We send our condolences out to him and his family. We had to rally around him. Of course when he steps onto the field he will be at his best. We will support him all the way and hopefully he can come through this strongly,” Jones said.
The national team will be based at the Sawgrass Grand Hotel in Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale for the next few days.
Trinidad and Tobago team (clubs in brackets) -
GOALKEEPERS – Adrian Foncette (Police FC); Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic); Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC).
DEFENDERS – Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge/Denmark); Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen/Belgium); Daneil Cyrus (Ha Noi T&T/Vietnam); Aubrey David (Shakhter Karagandy /Kazakhstan); Yohance Marshall (Juventud Independiente/El Salvador); Mekeil Williams (W Connection).
MIDFIELDERS – Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge/England); Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes/USA); Keron Cummings (North East Stars); Kevan George (Columbus Crew/USA); Khaleem Hyland (Westerlo/Belgium); Ataullah Guerra (Central FC); Dwane James (North East Stars); Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire/USA); Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava/Slovakia).
FORWARDS – Kadeem Corbin (St Ann Rangers); Jonathan Glenn (IBV/Iceland); Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City/Wales); Willis Plaza (Central FC); Rundell Winchester (Portland Timbers 2/USA).
Staff – Stephen Hart (coach); Hutson Charles, Derek King (assistant coaches); Michael Maurice (goalkeeper coach); Dave Isaac (physio); Tobias Ottley (trainer); Terence Babwah (doctor), Saron Joseph (trainer/masseur); William Wallace (manager); Peter Rampersad (assistant manager).