Warriors win scrimmage 1-0

The roster is composed of the country’s players who are not playing abroad and members of the Under-23 and Under-21 squads.

Coach Leo Beenhakker declined interviews after a 1-0 victory over Florida International University in a scrimmage on Friday.

Anthony Wolfe scored in the 75th minute for the Soca Warriors, who also play another scrimmage tomorrow against a South Florida semipro Honduran team.

University of Connecticut defender Julius James, who previously played for Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-17 team, is among the US-based players seeking to catch Beenhakker’s attention.

"The mere fact that our coach can consider a few of us to come here and to be on the senior team, it shows that he has confidence in the youth of the country," James said. "I can’t say that I should but I am very satisfied to be here to get an opportunity."

James, 21, recognises the changes with moving to the country’s top-tier team.

"It is a big adjustment," James said. "The higher you go the faster you have to play, the less time you have to react. You have to be mentally adjusted to the rapid changes."

As he adapts to the higher level, James also finds gratification in being part of a storied period in Trinidad and Tobago’s football history.

"As a youth growing up, everyone’s goal is to play on the senior team because that is the highest you can reach," James said.

Trinidad don’t meet a national team until an exhibition match against Iceland in London on February 28. At the World Cup, they are grouped with England, Paraguay and Sweden.