Stern John issues rallying call to Warriors team

“I think the team has to continue playing the way they have been,” said John, during an interview on the TTFA (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) website.

“The last couple of matches we saw them really gelling and playing well together as a team and I think once they do that then we can get a fantastic result against Guatemala.” He continued, “I think after the World Cup in 2006, we raised the bar and then went back down a bit but I think over the last couple of years the football has changed a lot and the team has been doing really well. I think coach (Stephen) Hart has been doing a fantastic job with the players we have.

“We have to gel a bit more, play a bit more football but we are putting down the ball and you can see the guys are gelling. Definitely I still get goosebumps (for a game like this) and sometimes you wish you can still be playing but you can’t,” John added.

The former Birmingham City and Sunderland striker said the time has come for TT to make the Hasely Crawford Stadium its fortress for competitive games of this nature.

“I think the guys will be up for it.

It will be massive game for us. We are on top of the table but I think the time has come for us to make our home a fortress for any teams that are coming to Trinidad, we need to show them that we cannot be beaten at home,” John stated.

John notched a late double to push TT to a come from behind 3-2 win over Guatemala at the aforementioned venue in 2005, in a match where TT needed a win to keep their Germany 2006 qualifying hopes alive.

“It was a memorable game for me and the entire nation. We left it late but Guatemala made it difficult for us which means they will not come here and lie down. We have to be clinical and not make any unnecessary errors and take our chances on goal when they come I think it’s going to be a competitive match but I’m expecting our boys to come out on top and go through to the hex which is where anything can happen. Once we are in the final round, our chances of qualifying for Russia are good as any,” John concluded.

Hart will announce his squad for the encounter against Guatemala tomorrow. The team will go into a live-in training camp next week.

Tickets for the match, which will kick off at 7.06 pm, are currently available at Lotto Locations nationwide.