TT footballers get warning

Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers have been warned that they will have to turn on the heat in tomorrow’s semi-final round of a 2006 World Cup qualifier against St Vincent and the Grenadines. Following the recent rise of local soca artist Kevin Lyttle with his  track “Turn me On,” the Vincentians are now calling themselves the “Soca Boys” and have promised to give TT skipper Angus Eve and his teammates known as the “Soca Warriors” a hard time at Arnos Vale when the match kicks off at 4 pm. The TT team, minus only of Dundee defender Brent Sancho, who was scheduled in late yesterday, arrived in St Vincent and checked in smoothly at the New Montrose Hotel. The visitors got a few heckles from some at the airport who were confident that the hosts could cause what would be an upset in tomorrow’s fixture. The team is strengthened with the inclusion of Birmingham City striker Stern John, Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Wrexham’s Dennis Lawrence, Falkirk playmaker Brent Rahim and Southampton defender Kenwyne Jones.

And they are not expected to be overawed by the keenness of the hosts. “We know they will be up for it because playing against Trinidad and Tobago is obviously a big match for them. But we are here on serious business and we won’t be taking them lightly. This is World Cup football and we have a task to accomplish,” John said yesterday. His strike partners include Wake Forest University’s Scott Sealy and Errol McFarlane, just back from Lebanon. Team management have been in contact with New York/New Jersey Metrostars striker Cornell Glenn and he may be a possible late addition to the squad. Glen injured his ankle against Guatemala last Wednesday and was said to be out for at least three weeks. However he recovered to play a half for his club on Sunday and has since indicated his availability for tomorrow’s crucial match. “Right now it’s all about getting the team ready for this stage.

We topped our group last time around with Mexico in it as well and while this time we have two Caribbean teams to face, we know it will not be any easier and we are up for the fight,” said Eve who has recovered from a niggling knee injury. The only other hiccup to the squad is the unavailability of goalkeeper Kelvin Jack who recently signed with Scottish club Dundee. The TT Football federation had requested his services but received a letter from the Dundee administration late on Friday stating that Jack was injured and could not leave for international duty. Jack was however in the Dundee squad which defeated Dundee United 2-1 in Scotland on Sunday. Aside from that, there was an early understanding that Portsmouth goalie Shaka Hislop and Crewe Alexandra’s Clayton Ince were not available for the qualifier at Arnos Vale and as such their releases were not requested.

Coach St Clair said he will not let any of the recent developments affect the team’s preparations for the SVG clash “Injuries have hit us very hard this week. But that is the nature of the game. On top of that, some of the clubs are being difficult in releasing players although it is a FIFA event. I told the players from the very first day that the World Cup is not a tea party and once they concentrate on the game and give  a hundred percent we will be successful, St Clair told TTFF Media. St Vincent are just back from a training camp in Brazil and have included English-based Oldham Athletic striker Rodney Jack in its team for the TT match. Jack scored in Oldham’s 5-3 win over Walsall on the weekend. TT’s group which will be played on a home and away basis over two rounds also includes St Kitts/Nevis and Mexico.

TT squad: Duarance Williams (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Jan Michael Williams (Vibe CT 105 W Connection), Derek King (Joe Public), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Brent Sancho (Dundee FC), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Keyeno Thomas (Jabloteh), Marlon Rojas (Superstar Rangers), Angus Eve (Jabloteh), Arnold Dwarika (China-based), Brent Rahim (Falkirk FC), Anthony Rougier (unattached), Silvio Spann (W Connection), Michael Celestine (Jabloteh), Scott Sealy (Wake Forest University), Stern John (Birmingham City), Errol McFarlane.