Nakhid named assistant to coach St Clair

Former Trinidad and Tobago football captain David Nakhid has agreed to join the national senior team as assistant coach to Bertille St Clair with immediate effect. This was announced following talks between the technical committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and St Clair following Saturday’s meeting among several of this country’s football officials and coaches at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. St Clair made the request for Nakhid’s services and the TTFF readily agreed to have the former Greece-based professional come on board. Specific senior team roles for technical director Lincoln Phillips and Alvin Corneal are yet to be finalised.

Nakhid, who is expected to  arrive in the country to take up duties on the weekend from Lebanon, expressed enthusiasm about his new role. “It is always an honour to serve one’s country and I am very pleased that Bertille has asked me to come on board,” Nakhid said yesterday. “ I played under him for several years  and we have a deep respect for each other. I have been doing a lot of coaching recently and I know that  I can make a contribution to the Technical Staff. I am really looking forward to the challenge.” St Clair, currently preparing the local team for tomorrow’s opening Digicel Cup fixture against Puerto Rico, said Nakhid’s addition to the staff is a welcomed one and he expects his involvement to be inspiring. St Clair added that he has been forced to make some changes to the squad from the Digicel Cup due some players suffering for niggling injuries.

Among those out include Scottish-based midfielder Brent Rahim, Angus Eve, Jerren Nixon, Kerry Baptiste, Errol McFarlane, Marlon Rojas and Silvio Spann. Among the new additions include US-based College player Stephen Cruikshank and A-League-based pro Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick with striker Nigel Pierre and Kerwyn Jemmot being given another try.

T&T squad for Digicel Cup: Durance Williams, Jan- Michael Williams, Keyeno Thomas, Derek King, Anton Pierre, Derek Philips, Avery John, Densil Theobald, Kerwyn Jemmott, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Nigel Pierre, Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Michael Celestine, Cornell Glen, Conrad Smith, Odelle Armstrong, and Stephen Cruickshank