Anton Pierre left out TT squad

DEFENCE FORCE full back Anton Pierre was a surprise omission when Dutch national coach Leo Beenhakker cut his training squad to 17 from the previous 25 which entered a one-week training camp. Beenhakker is preparing the national team for their CONCACAF Zone 2006 World Cup qualifying match against Panama. This match is scheduled for June  4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Beenhakker and assistants Theo De Jong and Wim Rijsbergen decided to whittle down the squad to 17 for the next live-in camp at Le Sportel, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna.

Before entering the camp, however, the 17 players will undergo a training session tomorrow at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Following this, the Trinidad and Tobago team will play a practice match against Pro League champions North/East Stars at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday from 5.30 pm. Among others cut from the squad are Andre Toussaint, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Karlon Murray, the injured Jan-Michael Williams, Kendall Davis, Derek Phillip, Kevin Graham and Keon Daniel. After announcing the new squad, Beenhakker said: “We have narrowed the squad down a bit because obviously we have to get as close as possible to the players who will be involved in the matches.

“I will keep my eyes opened and then we have the other players coming in this month who we need to have a look at as well. “We are working quickly but we are also ensuring that everything is settled so that we know exactly what we have and how we need to work over the next few weeks.”  Beenhakker in an interview published on the FIFAWorldCup.com official site said: “I have been coaching for a long time now in many different circumstances. “I have been with Holland, Ajax, Real Madrid and many other teams, and these experiences give you a lot to work with.

“The situation is different here in Trinidad, but it is still a matter of getting the best out of your players. Though it may be a different culture, it’s still football. It’s always the same wherever you are. You need to know the game and know how to deal with people.”

The 17-man squad is: Densil Theobold (Caledonia/Fire), Gary Glasgow (unattached), Thorne Hasely Holder (unattached), Dwayne Jack (Tobago United), Arnold Dwarika, Atiba Charles (W Connection), Keyeno Thomas, Nigel Daniel, Angus Eve, Duarance Williams, Kerry Baptiste, Trent Noel, Aurtis Whitley, Michael Celestine, Nigel Pierre (Jabloteh), Derek King (Joe Public), Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars).