TT face dangerous BVI

Trinidad and Tobago’s footballers will aim to establish a dominant lead today in the first leg of their second round Digicel Cup encounter with British Virgin Islands at the AO Shirley Recreation Ground from 4pm. The Soca Warriors  under coach Bertille St Clair arrived on Friday evening and settled in, trained and relaxed in the evening ahead of the encounter. St Clair noted that this was yet another match for some of the lesser experienced players to get a chance on the pitch.

“Any match is a vital one and though some people may think that British Virgin Islands are not that great of a team, we will use this as another way of trying to see what some of the players have to offer. The aim will be for us to get a sizeable advantage because obviously we want to move on in the tournament because it takes you straight into the Gold Cup,” St Clair said. Midfielder Angus Eve, the captain of the team, echoed similar sentiments, saying that his team would not take the opposition for granted.

“We know very little about them so that means we will not go into the match with any bit complacency. But at the same time we will want to try and dominate if the chance is there. The team has some locally-based players that have been stepping up to the call and have looked quite well in training so they will be looking to make a favourable impression on the day,” Eve said. BVI stunned  Bermuda 2-0 to advance to this stage . It is the first time that BVI are advancing in a major regional competition after playing hosts St Vincent to a 1-1 tie last Wednesday, followed by a 1-0 loss to the Cayman Islands.

Striker Venton James scored both first half goals in the 25th and 36th minute for the victory, atoning for a foul three minutes before the end of regulation in the opener that gave the BVI a 1-1 tie with hosts St Vincent. Goalkeeper coach Dowling Daley described the victory as a “great, great, match today.” “We went out there with the urge to play and that is what we did. We pressed and we attacked,” Daley explained. “This is a great success for the coaching staff and the players. It’s a big improvement for the BVI because it’s the first time we’ve ever advanced to the second round.” Ben Davis, the newly appointed BVI Football Association’s Technical Director, said the main strategy was to put James up front to use his technique and strength to turn the Bermuda defenders and try and get as many shots on goal as they could.

“He was there to set players up and knock the ball to the oncoming midfield players and that was the main strategy we worked on as far as attacking is concerned,” explained Davis. “As for defending strategy, it was important that we maintained our shape and had at least nine players back behind the ball. We actually acted as a block and then we counter attacked as much as we could, especially down the flanks and the middle.” The TT side in the BVI  includes prolific goalscorer Cornell Glen of MLS side New York/New Jersey Metrostars, Avery John of New England Revolution, Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick of A-League side Atlanta Silverbacks.  

TT team: Duarance Williams, Angus Eve, Michael Celestine, Keyeno Thomas, Nigel Pierre, Kerry Baptiste (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Anton Pierre (Defence Force),  Atiba Charles, Silvio Spann, Jan Michael Williams (Vibe CT 105 W Connection), Conrad Smith, Densil Theobald (Arima/Morvant Fire), Derek King (Joe Public), Cornell Glen (NY/New Jersey Metrostars)Avery John (New England Revolution), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Atlanta Silverbacks), Stephen Cruikshank Kerwyn Jemmot (Unattached).