Rougier beefs up TT for N/Ireland clash in Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago will have England-based utility player Anthony Rougier for Sunday’s football friendly international against Northern Ireland at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago. Rougier is among 12 overseas-based professionals selected by coach Bertille St Clair for the match which is being used as a warm-up for both teams ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Rougier, who plays for Bristol City was unavailable for TT’s two recent matches against Iraq and Scotland in the United Kingdom due to commitments with his club.
 
His club was narrowly beaten by Brighton 1-0 in the play-offs for English First Division promotion on Sunday. Retaining their places in the team are Birmingham City striker Stern John; Rangers defender Marvin Andrews; defenders Ian Cox and Brent Sancho; Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Clayton Ince; US-based striker Cornell Glen; Wrexham midfielder Carlos Edwards; Southampton’s Kenwyne Jones; and English-born midfielder Andre Boucaud of Peterborough. Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence was not considered due to a groin strain while Jerren Nixon, Arnold Dwarika and Kerwyn Jemmot were not picked. St Clair has also called up former Naparima College midfielder Joel Bailey who is now attached to New Montreal Impact of the American A-League and another American-based player, Daryll Roberts of Liberty University.

Skipper Angus Eve heads the list of local-based pros with Stokely Mason, Derek King, Marlon Rojas, Kerry Baptiste, Densil Theobald, Keyeno Thomas and Duarance Williams also included. St Clair, who is likely to have Dwight Yorke join the team for training in the sister isle, said he will continue to look at different players available to play for TT but at the same time is intent on having rapid progress. “I have been in the job for about four months and I said at the very start that this campaign is not going to be a tea party. I also said that we wanted players with talent but who also had character and a tough mental attitude. I want to see what talent is available to us whether it is in England, TT, China or the US. This will take time but I intend to build the team brick by brick, step by step,” St Clair said yesterday.

He referred to the 4-1 loss to Scotland as one which gave him an idea of what is still required to get the team up to standard. Meantime, Rougier’s Bristol City teammate, midfielder Tommy Doherty is out of his country’s match against TT after receiving a knock against Brighton. Sunderland player Jeff Whitley flew in on the weekend to join the team after missing the 1-1 draw against Barbados. Ireland coach Lawrie Sanchez is optimistic of is side’s chances against St Clair’s men. Northern Ireland face St Kitts/Nevis today in what will make them the first European national team to play the Kittitians.

TT squad: Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra), Duarance Williams (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Marlon Rojas, Brent Sancho (Dundee FC), Keyeno Thomas (Jabloteh), Derek King (Joe Public), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Carlos Edwards (Wrexham), Andre Boucaud (Peterborough), Angus Eve (Jabloteh), Stokely Mason (Jabloteh), Kerry Baptiste (Jabloteh), Desil Theobald (Arima Morvant Fire), Anthony Rougier (Bristol City), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Stern John (Birmingham City), Cornell Glen (NY/New Jersey Metrostars), Joel Bailey (Montreal Impact) and Daryll Roberts (Liberty University).