Jemmott, Pierre in football squad against Guyana

THE MERCURIAL pair of Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott and Nigel “Croc” Pierre are included in a 16-member national football team who will oppose the Guyana senior outfit at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna today from 4.30 pm. The TT team features Under-23 and senior members as the technical staff, led by coach Bertille St Clair, offer them a chance to press home a case for selection to the senior line-up. And there is no better chance against a squad who were thrashed 5-0 by Grenada, at the Grenada National Stadium on Saturday, in their first leg 2006 World Cup Qualifying First Round Caribbean Zone over the weekend.

The Guyana-Grenada return match is scheduled for March 14 at the Blairmont Ground, Berbice with the aggregate winner expected to oppose the USA in the Semi-final Group “A.” The TT players will be familiar with five Guyanese members who ply their trade in the T&T Pro League. They are striker Randolph Jerome, midfielders Carey Harris and Kayode McKinnon and defender Abassy McPherson (all of FA champs North East Stars) and Caledonia AIA defender Howard Lowe. Jemmott, the W Connection midfielder, and Pierre, a solidly-built striker from national champs CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, have each had a chequered career, at both the national and domestic level. But their talents are unquestionable and St Clair will be certain to give them an extended run in the middle to prove their worth.

The central defensive trio of David Atiba Charles (W Connection), Larry McDonald (SWIF) and Derek King (Joe Public), who were sparingly used during the previous three matches against Bermuda and the “Brazil All Star” teams, as well as Jabloteh’s playmaker Trent Noel are the other senior players included in the 16-member team. National Under-23 captain Silvio Spann is unavailable for today’s match since he is undergoing a trial stint in England but the goalkeeping pair of un-related Williams — Daurance and Jan-Michael, left-back Nigel Daniel, defender Kenwyne Jones, midfielders Kerry Baptiste, Michael Celestine and Clyde Leon, as well as striker Devon Mitchell will feature in this afternoon’s encounter.
 
Teams
Trinidad and Tobago — Daurance Williams, Jan-Michael Williams (goalkeepers); Corey Rivers, Nigel Daniel, Kenwyne Jones, David Atiba Charles, Larry McDonald, Derek King (defenders); Kerry Baptiste, Michael Celestine, Trent Noel, Clyde Leon, Kerwyn Jemmott (midfielders), Kevon Carter, Devon Mitchell, Nigel Pierre (strikers).

Guyana — Marlon Hendricks, Andrew Durant, Orville Bobb, Orlando Gilgeous, Howard Lowe, Walter Moore, Dirk Archer, Shawn Beveney, Neil Hernandez, Kayode McKinnon, Gregory Richardson, Randolph Jerome, Travis Waterton, Abassy McPherson, Jerome Richardson, Troy Prescod, Carey Harris, Anthony Abrams; Neider Dos Santos (coach), Wayne Dover (assistant coach), Lennox Graham (manager), Robin Phillips (trainer), Roy Ridley (goalkeeping coach).