TT footballers play historic match in Kenya

NAIROBI: Trinidad and Tobago national team head coach Stuart Charles Fervier has played down the absence of striker Dwight Yorke ahead of today’s international friendly match against Kenya at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani. The match is also of historical significance to the coach in that it will be the Caribbean nation’s first encounter against an African side. Fervier said the players he has are good enough for the job. “All my players are stars in their own right and the absence of Yorke does not take that away,” he said at a press conference yesterday. Fervier, a St Lucian, said he does not want to focus on Yorke’s absence “since I prefer using what I have at hand.” Yorke, who formerly turned out for English Premier League champions, Manchester United, is not on the Kenyan trip having declared his intention not to turn out for the national team two years ago. He is currently at Blackburn Rovers.

The visiting team is reinforced for today’s friendly by five Europe-based professionals, mid-fielder Carlos Edwards and striker Hector Sam (both of English Second Division club Wrexham); goalkeeper Clayton Ince (English First Division side Crewe Alexandra), striker Colin Samuels (Scottish First Division club Falkirk) and defender Avery John (Longford Town, Ireland). For Stars, building up for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania in Nairobi next week, this will be the second international friendly in as many weeks after drawing 1-1 with Sudan in Khartoum last weekend. Stars boast the presence of five foreign-based players in John Muiruri and Robert Mambo (Belgium); Dennis Oliech (Qatar), Ramadhan Balala (Oman) and Francis Chinjili (St.George’s, Ethiopia). Francis Onyiso is expected to start in goal with Issa Kassim and Daniel Agina manning the flanks. George Waweru and Mohammed Masoud will complete the defence. Coach Jacob Mulee is spoilt for choice in the mid-field, the team’s main strength where he could easily pick a winning combination from Edward Karanja, Walter Odede, Titus Mulama, Robert Mambo and John Muiruri. The striking force also has firepower with the presence of teenager Oliech and towering Chinjili. The match is from 9 am (TT time).

T&T starting eleven: Clayton Ince, Reynold Carrington, Brent Sancho, Keyeno Thomas, Dale Saunders, Silvio Spann, Carlos Edwards. Avery John, Hector Sam, Collin Samuels, Jason Scotland. Subs: Peter Ramon Fortune, Jan Michael Williams, Nigel Pierre, Nigel Daniel,  Travis Mulraine, Derek King, Kerwyn Jemmot, Conrod Smith and Anton  Pierre. (Note: All nine reserves will be on the  bench)