Lawrence: Grenada friendly crucial to qualifiers

The 2017 TT Pro League season is slated to begin on May 26 and Lawrence believes this will leave little time for the local-based players to gain match fitness ahead of the crucial qualifiers.

In an interview on the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TT FA) website, TT coach Dennis Lawrence commented, “I think it’s important because when you look at the structure of the (Pro) League at the moment, my concern is that the local-based players are not really going to have much competitive football before we get to the USA on June 8.

“So it’s important to try to use this time now to, every now and again, get them in together as a group and then get a competitive game for them. So I think that’s going to help the boys.” He added, “I think the most important thing now is to try to get the (local-based) boys as much competitive football as possible.

With the League starting on May 26, this is not really ideal.” He added, “I would have preferred if it had (started) earlier but, with it starting on the 26th, I’m going to try and see how much football I can get into them before we get to that game on June 8.” Lawrence’s previous two matches at the helm were at home - a 1-0 win over Panama on March 24 and a 1-0 defeat to Mexico on March 28.

He noted, “We need to build on what we ended against Mexico.

It was disappointing to come out with the defeat but, I think, there were also positives from the two games. We need to try and improve on that.

“We don’t normally pick up points in (the US and Costa Rica) but we need to go out there and need to believe that we have to, somehow or the other, get the results that we need. So it’s to improve on what we did in the last two games.” Lawrence announced his 20- man team who will travel this evening for the friendly clash.

TT Squad - Marvin Phillip, Glenroy Samuel, Jan Michael Williams (goalkeepers); Curtis Gonzales, Triston Hodge, Alvin Jones, Seon Power, Yohance Marshall, Carlos Edwards (defenders); Nathan Lewis, Jared London, Leston Paul, Hughtun Hector, Hashim Arcia, Keron Cummings, Jomal Williams (midfielders); Akeem Roach, Shahdon Winchester, Jerrel Britto, Jamille Boatswain (strikers).