No Egypt joyride for f/ballers

TRINIDAD and Tobago footballers will get a clearer picture of their readiness for a successful campaign to qualify for the 2006 World Cup when they play Egypt in a friendly international match tomorrow in Cairo. The match is part of national coach Bertille St Clair’s plan to expose his players to top class international competition on a regular basis to gauge their fitness, skill and technique. The TT senior footballers were scheduled to arrive in Cairo around mid-morning yesterday (TT time) ahead of tomorrow’s match. The full contingent came together on Sunday night at the Thistle Hotel, London, England after a flight from Piarco in Trinidad. Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop and the rest of the overseas-based pros arrived from their respective bases in the United Kingdom.

Birmingham City striker Stern John, Wrexham trio Dennis Lawrence, Hector Sam and Carlos Edwards along with Scottish-based trio Marvin Andrews, Brent Rahim and Brent Sancho also joined the entourage. Also traveling as part of the team is Anthony Rougier who signed a new contract with Bristol City last week and will be making a return to the national team after playing his last match during the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign. Also meeting up with the TT party in London was former English-born midfielder Ronnie Mauge, who is now working as a football agent and he brought with him a player who may well be featuring in Bertille St Clair’s team in the near future. Promising 20-year-old midfielder from Walsall, Andre Boucaud met the TT players and has expressed a keen interest on joining the team and is likely to begin training when they return to London in May for their Goodwill Tour friendly international against Iraq.

St Clair has limited time to get accustomed to the conditions in Egypt but will have a chance to see his team take a run out in a training match with a club team in Cairo today. Nevertheless, St Clair is optimistic ahead of the Egypt encounter and is impressed with the attitude on the current trip which he said was just part of a long journey on the way to Germany 2006. “The players are settling nicely and it’s good to see the English players coming into the fray and in good spirits. We had a light session earlier today and also took in the action in the Manchester United versus Arsenal match,” said St Clair yesterday.

“We discussed several points based on what we saw in what I thought was a high quality match that we can learn a few things from,” the Tobagonian said. “The quality of ball control and continuous movement off the ball was excellent and we are aiming to produce a similar style in our football. During a meeting this evening, all the guys were reminded that we are here to work hard and this is no joy ride. This journey will be getting more intense as time goes on and we must be prepared to make the sacrifice and commitment necessary to succeed at this level.” St Clair said.

FIFA Vice-President Jack Warner and Special Adviser to the Football Federation will be in the company of other officials from Egypt at the match tomorrow. Conditions in Cairo are expected to be humid and much interest is being generated over the match, particularly after the Egypt FA named Italian Marco Tardelli as their new head coach last week. And while it has been some time since a well-mixed team of overseas and local-based pros came together for an international in TT colours, both John and Edwards believe that the outing will serve the players well. “The last time I played together with Shaka was during the Gold Cup in 2002 and the other guys are developing at a decent rate in Scotland and other parts of the UK and when you combine that with the local talent we have, I think it augers well for the team,” John said.

“We are all not just pleased to be together but to get on the field and put our efforts together is what we are really here for,” he said. “Think of that alone and it makes us all want too go out on the pitch and be successful and bring some respect back into the national team.” Like John, Edwards was high in anticipation. “I made my debut under Bertille St Clair along with Hector  (Sam) a few years ago against South Africa and it was a privilege because the team was really playing well at this stage just before the Gold Cup when we got to the semi-final stage. I am hoping now that we have reunited, that we can fall back into that kind of momentum,” said the Wrexham star.