TT footballers ready for Scots

Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers were warmly received on arriving in Scotland for tomorrow’s friendly international against coach Berti Vogts’ men at Easter Road. Skipper Angus Eve and company arrived at the Marriot Hotel, Edinburgh following a six-hour bus drive from Telford and were immediately recognised by Scottish followers on stopping at a Welcome break centre near the border. Newly-signed Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews was the first pick for autographs and photos by a group of youngsters on Thursday and one by one, reporters from the various Scottish newspapers including the Sunday Herald, Times, Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday stopped by at the hotel.

There they interviewed coach Bertille St Clair, Brent Sancho, former Scottish-based striker Jerren Nixon and others. The TT team arrived in warm weather  and received the odd greeting of “You boys have brought some Caribbean sunshine with you” from some of the Scots who are accustomed to the nippy weather. With Scotland playing Estonia in a friendly on Thursday night, there has been a fair amount of interest in tomorrow’s friendly here against the Caribbean champions. This is  particularly so as most Scotland international matches are played in Glasgow and the fans in Edinburgh will be hoping to make full use of the chance to see their team in action on what is also a Bank of Holiday weekend.

Sancho and Andrews have already lined up supporters from their respective clubs to turn up for the match. Andrews, who has tied up a two-year deal with Rangers, said it’s a dream come true for him to actually be facing the country where he plies his professional trade but has warned his teammates that the encounter will be a testing one. “I have been here five years and actually living today and knowing that on Sunday I am going to be representing my country against the country where I started my overseas profession and still playing in is really a dream come true,” he said. “Guys like Tony Rougier and Jerren Nixon who came here in the early days and opened the door for us has really paid off and now we can show the people here that we have a national team that can perform as a unit just like the other guys like Russell (Latapy) who have made a name for themselves,” Andrews said on Thursday.

“The Scottish people realise that Trinidad and Tobago have a load of talent and they are all looking forward to the match. I expect there will be a fantastic atmosphere but it is going to be a really tough match because Scotland are coming all out for a win,” Andrews said. “They play a rough type of game and for me, it’s a situation where I want to see the team keep on improving and to see how well we can cope with the pressure on Sunday. Our main focus is really to get prepared for the World Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic (June 13) and beyond. The team is still shaping and we are raring to go out there and give our best,” said Andrews.

Sancho on the other hand is one of few national players to have the privilege of playing against two countries where he has played professionally, the other being Finland. But last year, he remembers being at the head of a protest action by some of his teammates wanting better conditions for national players, mere hours before a friendly against Finland. This time around however, he can afford to place all emphasis on having a go at the Scots. While TT goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is out because of a slight injury and Anthony Rougier is also missing due to commitment with Bristol City, Scotland have also been hampered by some injuries.

They will not have the services of Celtic defender Jackie McNamara as his wife is expecting a baby. Striker Stevie Crawford has a groin problem and skipper Christian Dailly is out due to commitments with West Ham United as they are in the First Division play-offs. The Scots trained this week at a sports centre in Livingston, venue for TT’s training match against Edinburgh-based club Spartans today. The Portsmouth duo of Nigel Quashie and Richard Hughes were included in Vogts’ starting team to face Estonia , as is Livingston defender David McNamee. Paul Gallacher started in goal, while Kenny Miller and James McFadden were the men up front.