Warriors captain urging fans to come on board

Jones was speaking on Saturday as he looked ahead to the start of a live-in training camp yesterday with the Trinidad and Tobago 24-man squad ahead of Friday’s encounter which kicks off at 7.06 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Both he and coach Stephen Hart issued rallying calls as the “Soca Warriors” attempts to secure its passage through the CONCACAF hexagonal stage which commences in November.

“Don’t wait ’till we qualify.

The team has been doing well for the past three and a half years, making steady progress and I believe we been giving a product for the nation to be proud of.

“This is a big game just like those of ’89 and the 2006 games,” Jones said on I95.5 FM on Saturday night.

“The ticket cost is less than that of a boat ride so there is no excuse for fans not to fill the stadium.” The current Central FC player who has played for teams such as Stoke City, Sunderland, Southampton and Cardiff City, made it clear that his TT troops know very well what their mission is.

“I’ve already had that conversation with (the players) so they know what they rewards can be.

We know that we have a lot of work to do and a long way to go still before we qualify (for the World Cup). Even though we have done so well in the group, no game is an easy game and we expect to always have a fight on our hands. I think the team is well prepared to go through the all the ups and downs as a team. We have matured over some time as a unit and I am quite confident in my group,” Jones said.

And Guatemala will be no exception when it comes to feeling the wrath of the “Warriors” particularly on home turf.

“We also have some fire in our bellies. In some way we have a recompense for Guatemala ...for the way we were treated in Guatemala. Yes we know it’s all part of football but we are fired up for Friday,” Jones stated.

For the first time since 2004 when he joined Southampton from W Connection, Jones is not joining the national team camp for a World Cup qualifier following an overseas trip.

His loan deal with Central FC meant that the big forward did not have to undergo long hours of flying from Europe.

“Of course there is going to be a difference but at the same time I haven’t been training with the national team so this week is still very important in terms of us coming together as a team again.

“I am fit but who knows, you don’t know what a game will call for. I have the advantage of not travelling long hours any- more to come to play but there is still the preparation to be done before the match.

“The fact that I am still here and playing is the most satisfying aspect of my career.
Sometimes even though you still have the age and form, be- cause of the direction of a team, things change and I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to be here still and given the opportunity to lead the team and hopefully that can continue,” Jones added when asked about his most satisfying aspect of his career to date.

Hart will begin his sessions today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium while Guatemala will undergo their sessions at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima before their one-hour session at the match venue on Thursday.