Hot weather hampering Gold Cup ‘prep’

THE INCESSANT heat is proving to be a bugbear as the Trinidad and Tobago football team continues their preparations for next week’s CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers in Martinique.

Making this disclosure was interim team coach Zoran Vranes at the team’s base, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna yesterday. “Sometimes, with the hard field due to the dry season, it is difficult to work on (the outfield at the recently named Marvin Lee Stadium),” noted the Yugoslav-born Vranes. But he was grateful to the management of the Joe Public Football Club for allowing the team to have their daily practice sessions at their venue.

Concerning the readiness of the team ahead of the three-team playoff, involving Honduras and hosts Martinique, Vranes said, “We’re training on mornings and evenings to make them physically and mentally ready, and I’m pleased to say that things are going okay.” “The players are doing well except for a few (niggling) injuries sustained from training on the hard field. But I’m glad that they are doing their best,” he said. San Juan Jabloteh defender Ian Gray twisted an ankle during Wednesday’s 3-1 victory in the team’s warm up clash against Arima Fire at the Marvin Lee Stadium, but Vranes expects the burly defender to be available for selection in the final 18. The squad will be named following today’s practice encounter against Starworld Strikers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 6 pm.