Under-21 footballers off to US camp

TRINIDAD and Tobago Under-21 footballers leave for Tampa, Florida, United States on Sunday for a training camp. This 10-day camp which runs from February 12 to 22, will have the national Under-21s playing matches against two Major League Soccer teams and one against the US Under-17s. According to TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips, the camp has been arranged in accordance with the federation’s player development programme. “This type of international exposure against top quality teams will help to prepare our Under-21 players for the forthcoming Central American and Caribbean Games qualifiers,” Phillips said yesterday.

They play in the preliminary round in Dominica on March 31, and later move on to  Haiti on April 4. Ron La Forest will coach the team with Michael McComie as his assistant.  Peter Rampersad is manager with Rudy Roberts as assistant manager, Phillip Dore is the physio/goalkeeper coach and Calvin Hughes the equipment manager. The national Under-21s will comprise 22 players including 13 locals and nine playing in the United States. During the camp, the national under-21s will play four practice matches, two against MLS teams Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards and one each against University of South Florida and US Under-17s. Phillips will also travel with the team which will be based at The Edge,  University of South Florida.

Players selected for the camp: Kevon Neaves,  Yohance Marshall, Kareem Smith, Makan Hislop, Ancil Farrier,  Abiola Sandy, Kevin Crooks, Randi Patterson, Colin Kirk, Gorean Highley, Thorne Holder, Shean Warner, Karlon Murray, Josimar Belgrave, Hayden Tinto, Shane Calderon, Kendall Jagdeosingh, Kezi Lara, Kareem Freitas, Akile Edwards, Khaleem Hyland, Dion Peters.
Schedule of Tampa matches:
Monday—  TT Select vs Chicago Fire, 3 pm
February 16—  TT Select vs University of South Florida, 7 pm.
February 19—  TT Select vs Kansas City Wizards, 4 pm.
February 22—  TT Selection vs US Under-17s,  4 pm.