Latapy pleased with Under-15 team’s progress

Adrian Bradshaw opened the scoring with a free kick strike to put Republic Bank XI 1-0 ahead before TT drew level through a goal by midfielder Josiah Edwards.

The quick-fire start by both teams didn’t last for much longer than midway through the first half as the tempo dropped as the interval approached. Latapy introduced eight new players at the start of the second half as he intended to rotate the squad.

The TT team would go on to seal a 3-1 victory with goals coming from Jean-Heim McFee and late penalty from Tyrese Pierre.

“It was the right kind of game for the boys at this stage of the preparations,” Latapy said after the match, which was also used to mark the opening of the Republic Bank National Youth League as TTFA (TT Football Association) president David John-Williams and Republic Bank’s General Manager — General Risk Management — Anthony Subero met the teams before the start of the encounter “It was their first game wearing a national shirt and having them out there walk out before the spectators and lining up for the national anthem and these sort of things is important for them to experience at this time in their careers. There is still work to be done. I remember when I had my first outing for the national team, what a special moment it was and my career grew from there.

Hopefully it can be the same for these youngsters,” Latapy added.

TT will participate at the CONCACAF Boys Under-15 Championship in Orlando, Florida, United States in August and Latapy is also hoping to lead the U-15 team at an international tournament in the Cayman Islands in early May.

“I think a trip like this for the young boys will be invaluable experience.

It will be a good chance for the players and for the coaching staff to measure up against international opponents to see where we stand. It is also a chance for us to mould the team together and to see what is required looking ahead to further international competitions later down the road,” the former TT men’s team captain and coach said.