TTFF News - U17s start back with strength training

Photos shows team in training on Wednesday.

U17s start back with strength training
Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, May 24, 2007

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 17 footballers resumed training for the first time on Wednesday after its qualification for the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World Championship which starts in Korea in August.

The team, under coach Anton Corneal, booked its place in the World Finals with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in Kingston earlier this month but after returning home was given some time off before regrouping at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

They will go into a strength training programme for the next couple weeks before beginning a slate of training matches both locally and abroad. Corneal said plans for international warm up encounters were still being outlined.

“We will have the players in a strength programme in the first instance before starting the technical preparations again. We are aware of the type of opposition we will face in the group phase and that will no obviously say a lot in terms of how we prepare over the next few weeks leading up to the opening game against Ghana,” Corneal told TTFF Media.

“We will work strictly according to plan because that’s exactly what we did in the build up towards the qualifying round and to come and win two final games is not an easy task to accomplish. We know there’s a difference playing in a World Finals now but we will ensure that we remain discipline in our approach and not get carried away in the process,” he added.

Thursday’s session was based around strength training with the use of medicine balls. Meantime, a couple of the members were also excused due to being engaged in CXC O’Level Examinations.

The team, before taking on any international opposition, is expected to face a Pro League Under 17 All Star team and then also a Tobago Under 20 team.