TT footballers ready for Thailand

TRINIDAD and Tobago footballers watched host Thailand play to a 0-0 draw with Jordan, at the Supacharasai Stadium, Bangkok, yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s friendly international. But The Trinidadians will be without two of their top players in Wrexham lanky defender Dennis “Tallest” `Lawrence and Birmingham City striker Stern John, who were both refused permission for the two-match tour by their English clubs. Their absence reduce the squad to a bare 16 players with Dundee defender Brent Sancho forced to withdraw following a knee injury. Following the team’s arrival, coach Bertille St Clair put his players through  an intense two-hour workout under sweltering heat at the Thai Japanese Cultural Stadium. And St Clair said despite what he saw of the Thai team he was taking no chances, especially as they were beaten 2-0 by Bahrain in a previous match.

He said he was glad to have a look at the opposition to have an idea of what to expect, and noted Thailand had the better of the exchanges and should have won except for some poor finishing. Trinidad and Tobago will play Thailand on Saturday before travelling to Seoul to take on South Korea on Wednesday, then they meet arch-rivals Jamaica, the Reggae Boyz in Miami on August 11. These games are part of the national squad’s preparation for the forthcoming CONCACAF zone World Cup 2006 qualifying series in which Trinidad and Tobago tangle with St Vincent first in Kingstown.

Arnold Dwarika and Gary Glasgow, who are contracted in China, only joined the team yesterday. Commenting on the absence of Lawrence and John yesterday, an official of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation said: “We are disappointed with the attitude of some professional clubs, particularly those in England, and we feel it is a case of disrespect to small countries.” He said requests were made within the two-week FIFA stipulated time  in advance of this Asian tour, “but what is most distressing this time was the level of dishonesty in which the issue was handled.”