Shakes in training; St Clair wants better

RICKY SHAKES attended his first training session with the national footballers yesterday morning at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, as he attempts to state a claim for inclusion. But the 19-year-old Bolton Wanderers forward, who will return to his homeland in England on Wednesday, will also turn out with the under-20s who are preparing for the CONCACAF qualifying final round in California next month. Shakes and Brazilian-born defender/midfielder Jose Luis Seabra went through their paces with coach Bertille St Clair.

But the duo were not considered for selection ahead of today’s Digicel Caribbean Cup second round second-leg clash against the British Virgin Islands at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna, from 4.30 pm. Trinidad and Tobago hold a 4-0 advantage following last Sunday’s first-leg in Tortola, but St Clair was adamant he will be expecting a greater effort from his team this afternoon.

“I’ve said to the guys that when you do good the first time, then you aim to do better the next time and that is what we will be hoping to do (today),” said the Tobago-born coach. “They have been working hard and I am quite certain they can give a good performance.” Meanwhile,  FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF boss Jack Austin Warner will return tomorrow to attend Tuesday’s funeral of  Peter Stone, a former-executive member of the then Professional Football League. Stone died on Thursday after a two-year battle with cancer. Warner will forego tomorrow’s FIFA End-of-Year gala dinner and presentation in Zurich, Switzerland.

The TT team: Daurance Williams, Jan-Michael Williams (goalkeepers); Keyeno Thomas, Derek King, David Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Anton Pierre, Avery John, Marlon Rojas (defenders); Michael Celestine, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Kerwyn Jemmott, Densil Theobald, Angus Eve (captain), Silvio Spann (midfielders); Cornell Glen, Nigel Pierre, Scott Sealy, Conrad Smith (strikers).