Careca tells TT — score goals

Moments after walking off the playing pitch at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Tuesday, former Brazilian star Antonio Careca commented that at times he felt at home. This was during the match against Trinidad and Tobago watched by a colourful crowd and punctuated by the drums of the Laventille Rhythm Section and Woodbrook Playboys. While Careca is more accustomed playing in front of partisan crowds, the former Napoli man urged local fans to keep behind the TT side as it embarks on the “Journey to Germany 2006”. “The fans are like extra players on the pitch for your team,” Careca said. “The sounds of the drums and the excitement shown by your people of many races was quite nice and in a way similar to Brazil. It is always important that the supporters come out when the national team is playing because as a player it gives you that extra drive and I can say this because I have lived it throughout my career.

“When you are out there, you are concentrating on your football but for times while you are playing, you get that extra push when you know the fans are there for you,” the Brazilian said. He was critical of TT’s missed goalscoring chances but was impressed by the overall running of coach Bertille St Clair’s team. “The Trinidad and Tobago team is a good one. They passed the ball around well and they had good movement off the ball which is always good. But they need to score their chances which is the most important part of the game,” Careca said via a translator. Careca in closing, described Diego Maradona as a genius. “Diego was simply a special player and will remain one of the best to have ever played the game. I knew him well because I spent five years playing with him and he was exceptional. Up to today, Diego remains special,” said Careca.
 
He also spoke about the Ronaldo and Ronaldinho combination. “These two players are the force of  Brazilian football today. They are a beautiful sight on the field everytime Brazil is on top and wins a World Cup. There is always a partnership that is remarkable and today that partnership is these two players,” he said. Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago team will resume training under coach Bertille St Clair on February 28 at the Larry gomes Stadium in Malabar. St Clair has called a squad of 30 players including Nigel Pierre, Keyeno Thomas and Kelvin Jack who returned from trials in China and England. Players called for training: Durrance Williams, Jan Michael Williams, Kevin Graham, Kelvin Jack, Keyeno Thomas, Cyd Gray, Corey Rivers, Nigel Daniel, Ronald Primus, Larry Mc Donald, Anton Pierre, Derek King, Marlon Rojas, Kenwyne Jones, Angus Eve, Trent Noel, Kerry Baptiste, Silvio Spann, Conrad Smith, Michael Celestine, Travis Mulrane, Kerwyn Jemmott, Stokley Mason, Nigel Pierre, Aurtis Seaton, Cornell Glenn, Ashton Leggerton, Devon Mitchell, Kevon Carter, Ansil Elcock.