TT footballers ready for Scots

COACH Bertille St Clair rounded off the Trinidad and Tobago footballers preparations for today’s game against Scotland with a one hour session during a drizzle at the Craigwood Sports Centre, yesterday morning. The Trinidadians are quietly confident that they can silence Easter Road, where the game is to be played, and the expected 12,000 fans.  Kick off is 9 am TT time. Undoubtedly, this is the biggest match for Trinidad and Tobago for some time, and Sky Television are expected to carry the action live.

And new Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Birmingham City striker Stern John, Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Clayton Ince and Dundee defender Brent Sancho must be relishing the chance to showcase their talents, St Clair could not have wanted a better match ahead of the first 2004 World Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic on June 13 and 20. “I have been stressing to the guys how important it is for us to realise what this is about. It’s a dream we are going after and that is making it to Germany in 2006.

“Now this game is a perfect one to give us a feel of what it is like to play against a world ranked team and to play under these conditions.” Trinidad and Tobago will, however, be without lanky defender Dennis “Tallest” Lawrence who suffered a groin strain. And goalkeeper Ince will start again in the absence of the injured Shaka Hislop. With the Scots in 63rd spot on the FIFA world rankings, a win for Trinidad and Tobago following their 2-0 result over 44th ranked Iraq will certainly boost their ego going into the official start of the “Road to Germany”