U-23 footballers tackle Martinique tonight

Coach Stuart Charles Fevrier will get a first look at Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-23 footballers  when the National Olympic team faces Martinique in a friendly match at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 6 pm today. With the qualifying tournament for the 2004 Athens Games kicking off in September, Fevrier is keen to have his team step up preparations and welcomes the chance to face the Martiniquans who are through to next month’s  2003 Concacaf Gold Cup. They are here on a short training camp ahead of the finals. Included in Charles-Fevrier’s 20 man squad are four TT senior team players just back from the tour of southern Africa. Among them are Vibe CT 105 W Connection duo Silvio Spann and  goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams; Caledonia AIA’s Conrad Smith and Nigel Daniel of CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh feature high on Charles-Fevrier’s list. “We do not have much time before the first match in September against Bahamas and as such we will be intensifying  the preparations quite soon.  This match against Martinique suits us fine because this level of opposition provides me with the chance to judge my players against a team that has qualified for the Gold Cup,” he added.

Meanwhile, the TT Senior team resumes training on Friday for the July 3 friendly international against Venezuela at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Charles-Fevrier will have in his squad overseas-based players Stern John, Hector Sam, Carlos Edwards and Brent Rahim for this encounter. All four players are expected to attend training on Friday with only Scottish-based defender Marvin Andrews, currently home, missing out because of a thigh injury. The Venezuelans arrive here on Tuesday for the second leg of the friendly tie. They won the first encounter 3-0 in San Cristobal in April.

TT Under 23 Squad: (Jabloteh) Daurance Williams, Devon Mitchell, Ronald Primus, Nigel Daniel, Josh Johnson, Michael Celestine, Kerry Baptiste; (Caledonia) Serghino Sandy, Conrad Smith, Ryan Stewart; (Defence Force) Corey Rivers; (SWIF)  Lyndon Diaz, Kevon Clement; (Joe Public) Andre Toussaint, Hollis Brown, Denzil Theobold; (W Connection) Kendall Davis, Jan Michael Williams, Silvio Spann, Kenwyne Jones.