Warriors regrouping for Bahrain match

DEFENDER Marvin Andrews is expected to arrive home today for the crucial World Cup football qualifying match against Bahrain on November 12. The rugged player will be among a few who will be returning home for the all-important first-leg encounter at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. Sydney FC striker Dwight Yorke returned home yesterday with a number of other players including defender Dennis Lawrence. The other players include midfielder Chris Birchall, Kenwyn Jones, Avery John, Scott Sealy and Columbus Crew striker Cornell Glen who was recalled to the squad after an almost two-month absence. Defender Brent Sancho was the first to return home yesterday while midfielder Russell Latapy will also be among those arriving today.

The Bahrain team are expeced tomorrow and will be based at the Hilton Trinidad. The Warriors will have their first training session tomorrow morning at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and coach Dutchman Leo Beenhakker has requested a closed-door session. The Bahrainis are also expected to train after their arrival, also behind closed doors at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Centre of Excellence, Macoya. The Middle Easterners scrapped a plan to play Jamaica in a warm-up encounter as well as take part in a one-week camp in Kingston before arriving in Trinidad. The Jamaica Football Federation had requested US$350,000 to host the team. Both Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain are attempting to secure a place in the World Cup Finals in Germany next year for the first time.

The Bahrainis are coming off an impressive 5-0 drubbing of Concacaf minnows Panama in a recent warm-up match. Concacaf president and special advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, Jack Warner, has put a number of security measures in place for the match including added police and army officers in and around the stadium. Also parking for members of the public has been banned in and around the venue of  the match. The FIFA vicepresident  has also gone full speed ahead to prevent any controversy concerning the printing and sale of tickets. Warner on Saturday revealed a plan which is expected to ensure that there will be accountability in the sale of  tickets for the match. Trinidad and Tobago will then face the Bahrainis in a return leg match on November 16 in Bahrain to decide who will play in the World Cup Finals next year.