Warriors face Guatemala tonight

TRINIDAD and Tobago football coach Bertille St Clair remains “quietly confident” his team can get the result over Guatemala at the Mateo Flores Stadium, Guatemala City in their CONCACAF zone World Cup 2006 qualifying match. It is scheduled to kick off from 10 pm TT time tonight. Coach St Clair said his Warriors need to get into the norm of picking up points, especially with eight more matches to go after this one.

He noted the pressure could really mount for Trinidad and Tobago if they do not collect points, with their next outing at home to Costa Rica on Wednesday. The 18-man TT squad arrived in Guatemala at 7.30 pm on Thursday night and were quickly escorted to the Grand Tikal Hotel after a few fans grabbed the opportunity to get their shirts signed and pictures taken notably, with Dwight Yorke being most popular. After an early breakfast, most of the morning was spent with the coach and players reviewing video tapes of the Guatemalans, followed by discussions.

It is felt the Guatemalans would be under pressure not to lose any points after  having drawn their previous qualifier with Panama. Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who is expected to be given the captain’s armband, said it is important the Warriors settle down quickly and take the game to the Guatemalans. “I am positive about us giving a good showing considering too that this is our first match of the round away from home,” Hislop said. Meanwhile, the Guatemalans’ MLS striker Carlos Ruiz is their biggest threat and coach Ramon Maradiaga expects his team will get the job done.
American referee Kevin Stott will be in  charge of the match. Trinidadian CONCACAF president Jack Warner arrived in Guatemala last night to watch the match.