Rahim arrives for Gold Cup

Trinidad and Tobago’s England-based midfielder Brent Rahim was the first of the overseas professionals to return home for the Gold Cup football qualifiers starting on March 26.

Rahim, of English Second Division club Northampton Town, arrived on Sunday night and had his first session with the national team at St Mary’s College Ground, Port-of-Spain on Tuesday. On the same day, coach Hannibal Najjar received the news of the final draw for the Gold Cup finals in July. Rahim hopes to add something to the Soca Warriors. “I’m obviously anxious to be back with the team. We have a  lot of expectations to do well in spite of what people may think. “I for one will be looking to do well. I’m anxious to get back out there, and I think as a team we are all eager to get back out on the field and it’s just a matter of us using these sessions to get more accustomed to each other,” Rahim said. “My form now is good, there’s no question about that. “I’m feeling strong and fit and I’ve prepared my mind to do well so it’s just a matter of playing the football,” he said.

Najjar also welcomed strikers Jason Scotland and Nigel Pierre back to training. Both men had been away on overseas trials. Pierre returned from Scotland last week while the Defence Force player Scotland came from China. Najjar said Rahim did well in his first session with the national team. “I obviously like what I’ve seen in him and definitely he has something to bring into the team with his experience,” said Najjar. The other overseas pros, Avery John, Evans Wise, Stern John, Dennis Lawrence, Colin Samuel, Carlos Edwards, Marvin Andrews and Dwayne Demmin will arrive later this month. Rochester Rhinos defender Craig Demmin will not make the trip. Training continues at the Defence Force Training Ground, Chagua-ramas from 8-11am today.