Soca Warriors back in training

The TT team, who defeated Bermuda 2-0 in their return-leg Round Two match on Sunday, in Bermuda, for a 3-2 aggregate victory, will join Cuba, United States and Guatemala in Group “A”, in a round-robin, home-and- away format from August 20-November 19.

Trinidad and Tobago will play their opening match in Cuba on August 20 and Corneal noted, “preparation will start from next week on what we will do to get ourselves ready for this campaign.

“We are thankful for the faith the country had for the team to pull this one off,” he added. Corneal was speaking at a brief welcome ceremony for the players, and the technical staff, at the VIP Lounge of the Piarco International Airport on Monday.

The team returned home at about 11.30 pm, in a flight which was delayed by almost an hour, and were met by Sports Minister Gary Hunt and Information Minister Neil Parsanlal.

National captain Aurtis Whitley stated, “it’s one hurdle down and many more to go. We’ll try to see where we can reach in this World Cup campaign.”

Hunt said Government will make every effort to support and assist the team, and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), in any way possible.

“The Government is committed to assisting the TTFF and the players with their preparations in the next round of qualification,” said Hunt. “I would also like to take this opportunity to sound appreciation to Mr Jack Warner for his efforts and we look forward to great things in the future.”

Hunt has been embroiled in a war-of-words with Warner over the use of the five football stadia for international football matches, as well as the Government’s financial support (or lack thereof) towards the TTFF.

TTFF vice-president Raymond Tim Kee said the team performed with grit and resolve on Sunday, and added that the team is improving steadily.

“The curve is moving in an upward direction,” he said. “We’ve seen improvement in our players.

“We’ve seen more cohesion and more teamwork in our players,” Tim Kee continued. “We believe that things will only get better.”