Seabra makes TT debut today

BRAZILIAN-born midfielder Jose Luis Seabra will make his Trinidad and Tobago debut today against Azerbaijan at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, from 6 pm. Seabra, who will turn 31 on Tuesday, received his official residential status last week, making him eligible for today’s friendly, as well as Sunday’s fixture against the former Russian republic at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. “It’s a feeling I have never had before because I have never played for a national team,” said Seabra yesterday. “I want to thank the Government and everyone else who have helped me so far.”

While he is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago, the W Connection midfielder is yet to be granted full TT citizenship, which will qualify him for World Cup selection. “It is important for me to perform well because people meet me in the road and say that they are expecting me to do well and now that I have the chance I am hoping I can add value to the team,” Seabra added. TT coach Bertille St Clair also welcomed Seabra into the fold. “We are very happy that Seabra has been given permanent residence,” said St Clair. “Hopefully he will get his application for citizenship approved so he can play in the World Cup (qualifiers). We now need to take it one step further.”

With the final round of the respective CONCACAF World Cup and Gold Cup qualifiers beginning next month, St Clair added: “It’s another chance for us to see the players ahead of the USA match and a chance to implement some of the things we have been working on. “I am sure too that the guys will be coming all out to raise their level of play because the home stretch towards February 9 starts from (today’s) game.” Former TT captain David Nakhid was due to arrive in TT yesterday to take up duties as assistant coach for today’s game. Also expecting a good showing is Azerbaijan’s coach Carlos Alberto Torres.

Torres, captain of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup victorious squad, said: “we’ve come here to give our best, to play a good game, to co-operate with the Trinidad (and Tobago) team because they are in preparation to play against the United States. “Also we are preparing our team to play the qualifying games in Europe next month,” he added. Stating that the atmosphere in TT is “good,” Torres noted that “the weather for us is a little hot because we came from the winter in Azerbaijan. But in the summertime its very hot so it’ll be no excuse. We’re here to play a good game.”

Teams: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Daurance Williams, Jan-Michael Wiiliams (goalkeepers); Marlon Rojas, Derek King, Anton Pierre, David Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Anthony Rougier, Avery John (defenders), Leslie Fitzpatrick, Angus Eve, Jose Luis Seabra, Michael Celestine, Densil Theobald (midfielders); Nigel Pierre, Scott Sealey, Cornell Glen, Gary Glasgow (strikers).

AZERBAIJAN: Rauf Mehdiyev, Mikayil Yusifov, Rafail Amirbeyov, Rail Melikov, Samir Abbasov, Aftandil Hajiyev, Mahir Shukurov, Ilgar Abdulrahmanov, Aslan Karimov, Ismayil Mammadov, Agil Mammadov, Rashad Abdullayev, Vasif Hagverdiyev, Nadir Nabiyev, Vugar Nadirov, Daniel Akhyanov.