Experienced TT face tough V/zuela

Trinidad and Tobago football team coach, Stuart Charles-Fevrier and his technical staff, including assistants Jamaal Shabazz, Ross Russell and Brian Williams, have selected an experienced lineup to play  Venezuela in a friendly clash today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 6 pm.

Birmingham City striker Stern John and the Wrexham trio of striker Hector Sam, winger Carlos Edwards and defender Dennis Lawrence are among a final 18-man team, under the captaincy of Reynold Carrington, announced late yesterday for the match. Omitted from the 22-member training squad were San Juan Jabloteh winger, Josh Johnson, W Connection midfielder Kenwyne Jones, Starworld Strikers forward Kester Cornwall and Joe Public defender Derek King. Speaking on the eve of last night’s training session at the Stadium, Charles-Fevrier said that he is expecting a short passing game by the Venezuelans but his team will “have to concentrate well, mark well off the ball and our communication with each other must be good.” But the team is inexperienced in the goalkeeping department, with 2001 Under-17 World Cup reserve Jan-Michael Williams, 18 and Jabloteh second-string Daurance Williams 20, jostling for a starting spot between the uprights.

The recently-appointed coach revealed that “though they are young, they are of adult-age and, in world football, most players begin their international careers between 18-21.” He continued, “we definitely have the confidence and, at this point in time, we’re looking to rebuild and try to get more depth into the national team. And we should give our youngsters an opportunity to play at this level.” In their last confrontation, Venezuela whipped the national squad 3-0 at San Christobal on April 30. The South Americans held a 90-minute training session at the stadium yesterday, followed by a similar stint by the national outfit.
 
Squads —
Trinidad and Tobago - Jan-Michael Williams, Daurance Williams (goalkeepers); Reynold Carrington (capt),  Keyeno Thomas, Dennis Lawrence, Ian Gray, Nigel Daniel (defenders); Trent Noel, Carlos Edwards, Dale Saunders, Silvio Spann, Kurt Williams, Anthony Wolfe, Kerry Baptiste (midfielders); Hector Sam, Kendall Davis, Stern John, Nigel Pierre (strikers).
Venezuela — Luis Vera, Gabriel Urdaneta, Luis Vallenilla, Ricardo Paez, Giovanny Perez, Javier Villafraz, Leonel Vielma, Juan Garcia, Leopoldo Jiminez, Daniel Noreiga, Cristan Casseres, Wilfredo Alvarado, Javier Campos, Gilberto Angelucci, Juan Arango, Jorge Rojas, Manuel Sanhouse, Alejandro Chichero.