Saintfiet to make changes for rematch

On Tuesday, Nicaragua registered their first-ever victory over Trinidad and Tobago, by a 2-1 margin, with Luis Peralta and Daniel Cadena scoring for the home team, while Hashim Arcia replied for the 78th ranked-Trinidad and Tobago. Nicaragua are ranked 124th in the latest FIFA world rankings.

Tom Saintfiet, coach of the TT team, will be using this match to making a final assessment of his squad, ahead of the Caribbean Cup fifth place and CONCACAF Gold Cup playoffs against Suriname and Haiti, from January 4-8, which will be staged at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Defensive midfielder Kevan George and winger Aikim Andrews, who were both absent from Tuesday’s match, will be available for selection today but there are some doubts over wingback Aubrey David, who missed yesterday’s training session with an ankle injury.

According to Saintfiet, “it could be that there (could) be some changes in the squad and there could be some tactical changes because Kevan George is now in and Aikim Andrews also arrived from Trinidad (on Wednesday night). The aim is still to prepare the team for Suriname and Haiti and then later Panama and Mexico (in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers).

“The main target is not a result but a good preparation as we have to qualify for Gold Cup and World Cup,” Saintfiet continued.

“But it would be nice that for our players, for the hard work that they have put in, the discipline and commitment they have, will get a good result (today). I really hope this for the boys because they have done everything for the country. Until now I think the players who played on Tuesday and the others will do everything to be ready,” he added.

Veteran forward Cornell Glen, recalled to the team after a threeyear- long absence, is hoping to inspire the team to victory, once selected.

“I felt good being back, it’s a young team with a lot of new faces, a new coach with different tactics but all in all it was good for me being back and playing with the boys again,” he said.

“I kept playing and I stayed positive over the years. Hopefully (today) I can get some more playing time and I show the coach what I can still offer. (Saintfiet) is a very disciplined coach and there is not a lot of room for improvisation.

Being experienced, it’s rather easy for me to fit in and adapt to his system.

“We have to stay focused and confident that we can still achieve and realise our ambitions of Gold Cup and World Cup qualification.

We have a lot of players to come in still and I think once we can gel and fit in with the coach’s tactics then we can definitely be successful again,” Glen stressed.