Latapy laces boots for St Kitts match

Latapy took a run out in the 3-3 draw with TT’s Under 20s on Thursday and said he will be in the squad for the friendly against the “Sugarboys”.

Not making the trip with the travelling squad was defender Makan Hislop after United Petrotrin refused to release the player. It is understood the club’s management asked Hislop not to travel at the last minute, citing that the match was not being played on a FIFA international date.

All other players selected are currently in Basseterre including Joe Public trio Keyeno Thomas, Kerry Baptiste and Tinto following Public’s Pro League encounter with Superstar Rangers on Friday.

They were on the first flight out of Piarco yesterday and arrived in St Kitts just before midday, in time for an evening training session at the match venue.

Under-20 captain Leston Paul is not with the squad after missing his flight due to a passport issue.

“It’s time for us to get focused again as a team with the World Cup qualifier coming up against El Salvador next month,” Latapy said yesterday.

“We haven’t played as a team since the Mexico match and even though the players have been back with their clubs, it’s a chance for us to use this match on Sunday as a start of our preparations for next month’s qualifying game.

“As such our approach will be in relation to getting ready for the next game (vs El Salvador ) and I expect nothing less of the players who are available to us at the moment,” Latapy said.

When TT last played St Kitts at the Basseterre venue, the hosts gave Bertille St Clair’s team a run for its money, taking a first half lead before goals by Errol McFarlane and a last minute winner by Stern John gave the Soca Warriors a 2-1 win in the 2006 semi-final round qualifier.

There are no surviving members from that match in the squad today but it’s a chance for some of the youngsters to impress Latapy.

And Devon Jorsling, who made a second half appearance against Mexico , is keen to make an impression. He was one of the scorers in TT’s 3-1 win over St Kitts last November in a Digicel Caribbean Championships qualifier.

Caledonia AIA’s Radanfah Abu Bakr also feels that all the current squad members need to seize every opportunity given to them when it comes to making an impression and vying for selection on the World Cup squad.

Some of the regulars in the team for today’s match with prior World Cup qualifying experience are Akle Edwards, goalkeepers Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Philip, Trent Noel, Andre Toussaint and Clyde Leon.

Midfielder Atulla Guerra, Hughton Hector and defender Kern Cupid as well as youngsters Trent Lougheed and Akeem Adams will also be hoping to show their worth. Noel is expected to wear the captain’s armband today.