TTFF NEWS - T&T U20s to face El Salvador in back to back warm ups next week

T&T U20s to face El Salvador in double warm ups next week

 

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, August 28,2008

 

 

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 Team will face El Salvador’s National U20s in two warm-up matches next week at the Marvin Lee Stadium as part of ongoing preparations for the CONCACAF Final Round of qualification here early next year.

 

The Team, coached by ZoranVranes, will face the visitors in the first outing from 6pm on Tuesday and then meet again on Thursday at the same time and venue.

 

The present team has been in constant training, playing matches weekly in the National Super League. The CONCACAF  Final Round begins in Trinidad on January 9 leading towards the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Youth Cup in Egypt.

 

According to team manager Chris de Silva: “The team has been in training over the last six months with an original pool of 43 players which is now down to a list of  28 now. The team trains on Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays and plays in the Super league on Wednesdays and Sundays.The first round has finished and we are currently 5th with five wins, five draws and two losses.

 

“The experience has been tremendous for the boys and they have shown development over the past few months. The current squad consist of new players found in the U20 age group mixed with former Under 17 World Cup  players such as Marcus Joseph, Leston Paul,Akeem Adams, Sean de Silva & Glenroy Samuel,” de Silva told TTFF Media.

Current T&T Senior Team midfielder Khaleem Hyland as well as striker Jamal Gay are also both eligible for the U20s.

 

Extensive screening has been recently concluded through all parts of Trinidad with only Tobago to be completed. This exercise has resulted in about thirteen additional players being currently evaluated.

 

A final 20-man squad will be selected on Saturday to go into a live-in camp for the two upcoming matches.

 

The current coaching staff of the team comprise head coach Zoran Vranes,Hutson Charles-assistant coach,Chris de Silva- manager,Carl Joseph-assistant manager,Irvin Thomas-equipment manager, Otis Hislop physiotherapist and Jefferson George as goalkeeper coach