TT aim to turn tables in Mexico

Trinidad and Tobago footballers will be aiming to turn the tables on their Mexican counterparts today in the return leg of their semi-final round 2006 World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Cauhtemoc in Puebla from 8.30 pm (9.30 pm TT time). Team captain Angus Eve and his teammates arrived in Mexico City just after 4 pm on Monday and were greeted by a host of Mexican television cameras and reporters who swamped the players after passing through the Immigration Department.

Coach Bertille St Clair could have been seen on several local television stations later that night as he spoke about his teams 5-1 victory over St Kitts/Nevis on Sunday  and his team’s chances in today’s qualifier against the hosts. Both teams are virtually through to the final stage, but the match still generates much hype as the Mexicans want to follow up on their 3-1 win in Port-of-Spain last month. The Soca Warriors checked in at the Fietamericana Hotel in Puebla which is a two-hour drive from Mexico City and spent most of the day relaxing before an evening training session at the stadium which has a capacity of 45,000.

The venue is expected to be a near sell-out according to officials here. Reporters and cameramen from TV Azeteca, Gol TV Galavision among others even spent most of yesterday at the hotel as they grabbed every chance possible to get interviews and other video footage of the TT contingent. St Clair and company which included FIFA Vice President Jack Warner and TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden among other officials as well as members of the Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz Steel Orchestra also are at the team hotel. News yesterday emerged that Mexico striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco and midfielder Israel Lopez will miss today’s match through injury. Blanco, who made his international comeback after a 20-month absence in last week’s 7-0 thrashing of St Vincent and Grenadines, has a thigh strain in his right leg.

Lopez took a knock on his left knee during Sunday’s return against St Vincent in Kingstown, which Mexico won by a modest 1-0.  The hosts will also be without Rafael Marquez after agreeing to let him return to Spanish club Barcelona to prepare for a derby with Espanyol this weekend. But topscorers Jared Borgetti and Jesus Arellano are in the squad. Coach St Clair is expecting a fighting performance from his team which is the strongest to ever play a competitive match in Mexico. Among the players in Puebla are Stern John, Marvin Andrews, Brent Sancho Cornell Glen, Brent Rahim, Ian Cox and Errol McFarlane who will be making their first appearance on Mexican soil in TT colours. The visitors will however be without utility player Anthony Rougier who picked up his second yellow card in the last outing while defender Marlon Rojas is nursing an ankle injury. The City of Puebla is described here as a beautiful colonial one also known as the “City of Angels” and the match venue is way closer to sea level as compared to the Azteca. El Salvador’s Rodolfo Sibrian blows the opening whistle to kick off proceedings.

TT TEAM: Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Brent Rahim (Falkirk), Andre Boucaud (Peterborough), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Brent Sancho (Dundee), 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).