TT name 25 for Gold Cup preparations

FRESH from their creditable performance against CONCACAF giants Mexico in Wednesday’s  World Cup qualifier, which Mexico won 2-0, the preliminary list for the Trinidad and Tobago football squad, to compete in the forthcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup, was announced on Thursday. The Gold Cup will be held from July 6-24, at seven venues across the United States. In keeping with CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament Rules and Regulations, all 12 teams submitted to the CONCACAF General Secretariat their respective preliminary list of players.

The final 23-player rostered for the Gold Cup tournament will be announced 15 days prior to each of the team’s respective first tournament match. As expected, Trinidad and Tobago have named most of the 23-man squad which are currently participating in the World Cup qualifying campaign. Only veteran midfielder Angus Eve and Dundee United striker Jason Scotland are the only members of the 25 that have not been used to-date by new coach Leo Beenhakker. Jamaica will compete in Group C along with South Africa, Guatemala and Mexico while Trinidad do battle in Group A with Honduras, Panama and Colombia.

Group B will comprise Costa Rica, United States, Canada and Cuba. The top two teams from each group, along with the best two third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals. Two quarter-final matches will take place on July 16 in the Foxboro Stadium with the remaining two matches being played the following day in Houston. The semi-finals and final is scheduled for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 21 and 24 respectively.

TT TEAM ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexendra), Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Daurance Williams (San Juan Jabloteh).
Defenders: Marvin ‘Dog’ Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), David Atiba Charles (W Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Marlon Rojas (Real Salt Lake), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Glenton Wolffe (North East Stars).
Midfielders: Christopher Birchall (Port Vale), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Angus Eve (San Juan Jabloteh), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Real Salt Lake), Brent Rahim (unattached), Densil Theobald (Caledonia AIA/Fire), Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC).
Strikers: Gary Glasgow (unattached), Cornell Glen (Columbus Crew), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Stoke), Hector Sam (Wrexham), Jason Scotland (Dundee United).