TT men’s football team start US training camp

The 17-man squad arrived in Colorado on Tuesday night along with the technical staff and was joined by English-born midfielder Andre Boucaud.

On Sunday, TT will play the first of two practice games against Colorado Rapids at the Rapids Training Field, located mere metres away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the venue for the World Cup qualifier against the United States on June 8.

The US national team will also start training at the Training Field next week.

Lawrence noted, “it’s obviously good for us to get there and we’ll take the first day to allow the players to get a feel of the environment and the conditions. The reason we are out here is to get down to work immediately with the 18 players available to us now with a few more expected over the next couple of days.” Boucaud, however, is anticipating the training camp, describing Lawrence’s decision to head to the US a couple weeks before the match as critical.

“When I got the news that I’d have to fly over directly to Denver on the 23rd, I thought well this is exactly what we need and, with my season (in England) ending, it was perfect timing for me to meet up with the group,” Boucaud stated.

“The next few days are extremely important for us in terms of preparing well and acclimatising for the match,” he continued. “We have a lot of belief and good reasons to think that we can get something from this match but the work has to be put in and I’m happy that the coach has been able to get the camp off with the help of the (TT Football) Association.

“Once the full compliment of players are here and coach gets to work with his final squad from the early part of June, then it’s down to us to go everything necessary to take us into the game fully ready,” Boucaud ended.