Lawrence steps up preparations for friendly, W/Cup qualifiers

This is according to a trio of home-based players who are currently in the squad to face Jamaica on Thursday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 8 pm.

Lawrence will finalise his roster to face Honduras next week, but in the meantime he is balancing his squad between home-based and overseas- based players heading into the Jamaica clash.

And Cordell Cato, Mekeil Wiliams and Aubrey David are all expected to be in the mix for Thursday’s encounter.

“At the moment the head coach is putting the puzzle together and working with the right approach to get the best possible team ready for the qualifiers coming up against Honduras and Panama,” W Connection midfielder Hughtun Hector told TT FA Media yesterday.

“We know how important preparation is and having the Jamaica game is a major boost for us to really put our work into practice before the qualifier.

It is important that we put our heads down and implement the things he (coach Lawrence) is asking of us in training on the actual playing field on game day.

It is a process we are working on and hopefully getting it right in time for the matches,” Hector added.

San Juan Jabloteh winger Nathan Lewis is also looking forward to his first international against the Reggae Boyz.

“This will be my first encounter with Jamaica so yes I am pretty excited because I know it’s a big rivalry and players live for these kind of clashes. I think they will come hard but we will also have to show what we are made of. The intensity of the game I think should make it a really good preparation game for us against Honduras,” Lewis said.

“The Ecuador game was a good in more ways than one even though we lost it 3-1, but he (Lawrence) would have seen what he needed to do. Now it is down to him to pick the best team to take us forward and hopefully get the results we need in the next two qualifiers,” Lewis added.

Experienced goalkeeper Marvin Phillip has had to contest for the number one spot over the past few years and has worked under several past head coaches. But the challenge is never one that overrides his drive to protect the TT goal at all costs “ Lawrence has a similar style both when he was a player and now as a coach he is trying to instil that into the players. I think he has a drive that really pushes us,” Phillip said.

The team continues training this weekend at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Meanwhile, tickets for the game against Jamaica are available at all NLCB Lotto Locations at $100 (covered) and $50 (uncovered).

Early bird ticket purchases for the TT vs Honduras World Cup qualifier will access the Jamaica friendly free of charge.

Those tickets cost $300 (covered) and $150 (uncovered) up until August 24.