Soca Warriors aim to dominate

Trinidad and Tobago’s footballers aim to give a dominating performance today against St Kitts/Nevis at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium from 3.30 pm in their 2006 World Cup football qualifying match. That’s what skipper Angus Eve says his team intends to do, adding that the Soca Warriors will be wary of the fact that their game is not “as compact and flowing” as they would like it to be. “Once again we are going into a match with some players who were not in the last match but we know that this is an experienced bunch and this can only auger well for what we are trying to establish for the future,” the captain said yesterday. “It is difficult for the coach to get the team playing at its best but he’s really using these matches  in the semi-final round as a platform for the final stage.

While these matches are also important, meaning that we need positive results, at the same time we are still experimenting and trying to get the right formula,” Eve said. “Going up against St Kitts on a good field at home, we are obviously aiming to play good football and be dominant. We have tend to take these teams for granted in the past and we definitely would like to take charge this time,” he said. “Playing in their stadium was not easy and people need to understand that it isn’t easy out there. The Americans are also  complaining that their team has not been playing well away from home. Maybe if we play badly at home then we could be in for some stick but we intend to ensure this doesn’t happen,” Eve added. The skipper also commended Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop for what he has brought to the team over the past few days.

Coach Bertille St Clair had one late entry into the team, utility player Anthony Rougier who arrived from China via London on Friday and had his first session at the match venue yesterday. The players also spent some time with some youngsters from the southland, sharing their knowledge and experience of the game. St Clair is likely to start Coventry City striker Stern John alongside New York/New Jersey Metrostars’ Cornell Glen. Also expected in the line-up are Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Dundee’s Brent Sancho, Gillingham’s Ian Cox,  Joe Public’s Marlon Rojas, Kenwyne Jones, and Falkirk midfielder Brent Rahim and Rougier. St Kitts coach Lenny Lake maintained that his team will be coming all out to upset the home side and will be looking to score early and put the pressure on Eve and his teammates.

Full TT team: Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers)  Brent Rahim (Falkirk) Andre Boucaud (Peterborough) , Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Anthony Rougier (Nanjing FC), Cornell Glen (New York.New Jersey Metrostars), Errol McFarlane (Al Nejmeh), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham)  Stern John (Coventry City), Marlon Rojas (Joe Public) , Derek King (Joe Public), Silvio Spann (Vibe CT 105 W Connection), Densil Theobald (Arima/Morvant Fire), Angus Eve (Jabloteh), Duarance Williams (Jabloteh), Keyeno Thomas (Jabloteh), Jerren Nixon (North East Stars)