Lawrence starts work with TT players

Lawrence and his technical staff, including assistants Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Stern John and Ross Russell (goalkeeping coach), had an hourlong session under cloudy conditions.

“The players are looking forward to get started,” said Lawrence, moments before his session began.

“I am looking forward to working with the players.” The former TT central defender said that his intention yesterday was “more or less, to make an introduction to myself and to the players, to get an idea of how we want to work (and) how things are going to be done from now on.” Trinidad and Tobago are set to face Suriname in a friendly fixture in Paramaribo on March 10 before a pair of FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round qualifiers at home to Panama (March 24) and Mexico (March 29).

“We’re going to be working,” Lawrence pointed out.

“I think it’s important that, no matter what type of session we’re doing, we need to always work on something. So we’ve got particular things - the staff and myself - that we’re going to be looking for. And hopefully players will enjoy (it).

Lawrence called up 27 players for the training squad but central defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr and Julius James were absent from yesterday’s session.

“They had already arranged prior engagements,” said the TT coach. “Radanfah is away, Julius James is away, but apart from that, everybody else is here.” Asked about the chemistry among the technical staff, Lawrence replied, “they all know each other and I think they all know exactly where we’re at.

We had meetings prior to this session and everybody knows exactly what we expect of them.” Sessions will take place daily until Saturday, and will resume on Ash Wednesday, after the Carnival festivities.

Lawrence said he is not adopting a ‘big stick’ approach towards the players during this Carnival period.

“I can’t put a string on them and say don’t go to a party,” said the TT coach.

“They’re all grown men. They’re professionals so they know exactly what I expect of them. I expect them to carry it out.”