Lawrence demands full points

Lawrence spoke to the media briefly before yesterday evening’s training session at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

And the TT coach made it clear that full points will be of utmost importance.

“We know the importance of the game on Friday and we know how vital it is to get three points,” said Lawrence.

Trinidad and Tobago are at the bottom of the six-team standings with three points (from six games), and victory is crucial in keeping the team’s hopes of at least a fourth-placed finish (and a playoff against the fifth-placed team from the Asian Zone) alive.

Lawrence was also pleased with the response he has gotten from his players, since they entered into a residential camp on Monday.

“The boys have been working hard and they have gelled well,” said the TT coach. “They’re all keen to do their best and ensure that we get the victory.” Trinidad and Tobago’s last meeting against Honduras, which took place in November 2016 at San Pedro Sula, resulted in a 3-1 victory for the hosts. That defeat saw the end of Stephen Hart’s reign as TT coach.

This time, a defeat against the Hondurans may be the end of TT ’s quest for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

But Lawrence is hopeful that the fans turn up in their numbers to spur on the hosts.

“We expect the fans to give us that extra boost on Friday,” he said. “We want to have an atmosphere that is intimidating to the Honduras team.” Expecting the encounter to be a gripping one is Honduras-based TT goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams.

Both he and defender Daneil Cyrus are attached to Juticalpa FC and have started their season coming up against some of the Honduran national players in the league including Olimpia striker Carlo Costly who has been recalled to the side for today’s match.

“The Hondurans are extremely passionate about football and about this game and we have to ensure we match them with passion and aggression on Friday and be even better than them,” Williams said yesterday while at the team base at Cara Suites Hotel in San Fernando.

“We used the time to look around and observe everything about Honduras football. The league is very competitive and physical and that will transfer into the game on Friday,” he said.

“Preparations have gone very well and we have had in the back of our minds for the last two games how important this game is. Trinidadians are people that tend to operate when their backs against the wall. Culturally this is one of our strength and weakness.

I think it is sad where we have had to come to a situation where we are desperately in need of points but on Friday we will use that situation to work in our favour where we need the points to stay alive in the qualification bid,” Williams added.