TT without Edwards vs Honduras

Coach Leo Beenhakker said the Luton Town signee has not fully recovered from a thigh strain sustained during training in Ft Lauderdale last week. But Edwards who is receiving ultrasound treatment for his injury, is expected to be ready for the second match of the group phase. There was better news in the camp about young striker Kenwyne Jones who missed two training sessions with and injury including the last at the Orange Bowl Stadium on Monday.

Jones was back in training with the rest of the "Warriors" yesterday, however, and is available for action tonight.

Beenakker called off a training session scheduled for today and instead had his squad doing a short walk around their Intercontinental Hotel grounds.

The Dutch-born Beenhakker, despite having to do without Edwards, remained very positive entering the opening fixture which will kick off at 9 pm at the Orange Bowl.

This game follows the series opener between Panama and Colombia.

Beenhakker said: "We have prepared well over the last week and there is nothing to worry over because of a little problem.

"The boys all know how to play football and as a team we know what is necessary to play the game and to play this tournament in general."

He added: "We always play for a winning result and it will be no different this time."

Honduras assistant coach Richardson Smith said they will be hoping to make a good start to the tournament which has been good to them in the past. When the teams last met in a 2002 World Cup qualifier, the "Warriors" won by a lone Stern John goal.

And in their last Gold Cup meeting in 1998, John and Jerren Nixon shared the goals in a 3-1 TT victory.

CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner said his organisation struck a partnership with UNICEF to assist in a wide variety of areas, including the development of the youth.

He said, the Gold Cup must be successfully staged since it is now a yardstick for the region on the world football map.

"Hopes and expectations are higher and therefore, we must maintain our standard and perhaps even improve on it.

"Our organisation, our teams and our players are vital in this aspect. The good work of the Gold Cup must be continued, as we have shown a higher level of play," Warner said, referring to Mexico’s performance in reaching the semi-finals of the recent Confederation’s Cup in Germany, and the USA getting to the quarter-finals at the World Youth Championship in Holland.