TT break losing football streak

NAIROBI: Trinidad and Tobago’s footballers broke their run of four defeats when they played to an enthralling 1-1 draw with Kenya before 28,000 vociferous fans at the  Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi yesterday.

The result was welcomed by the Soca Warriors who had previous lost matches dating back to a fixture against Cuba in March. But in their first official outing in Africa, skipper Reynold Carrington and his teammates proved their capabilities on the pitch. For coach Stuart Charles Fevrier, this day will be memorable, as his first international in charge ended with an ovation from the fans as well as the TT players and officials. The team’s 15-minute journey to the stadium had many onlookers waving their support and the players won thousands of new friends following their performance which was beamed live on Kenyan television as well as other parts of Africa on BBC Africa.

TT got just the start they were hoping for when a left-sided free kick by Avery John was handled by defender John “Mo” Muiruri inside the penalty box and English-based striker Hector Sam calmly slotted the kick home to send the Caribbean side ahead after just seven minutes. Even before that, TT seemed hungry for goals, with Falkirk striker Collin Samuel and Sam being the target of some robust tackles. Despite the early setback, the Kenyans didn’t  let up and a Muiri’s pinpoint right-side cross forced Carrington to head out, inches wide of Clayton Ince’s goal. The Kenyans continued to press, and on 22 minutes, TT got their first scare at the back. After Brent Sancho averted danger, the resulting corner saw Muiri’s powerful header knocked off the line by an alert Dale Saunders. The follow-up play then forced Ince to save Francis Chinjili’s low effort.

Soon after Ince was again brought into action, but it was his former Defence Force teammate who almost silenced the packed audience. A free kick was quickly played short to John on the left and his zipping low cross saw a lunging Scotland narrowly failing to connect on the far post. The Kenyans got their equaliser through some luck as defender Keyeno Thomas, who otherwise had a solid game, headed out an incoming cross. But the ball was played back in his direction and the Joe Public player mis-timed his clearance, allowing Oliech a clear path to goal. The result was firm movement into the box and a low shot past Ince by Oliech to send the home fans into a frenzy. Generally, Carlos Edwards was enjoying a good day on the right flank with good support on the left by Avery John, as well as  Silvio Spann who improved in the second half along with Saunders. The gutsy Carrington, Brent Sancho and Thomas were rock solid at the back.

TT line up: 21. Clayton Ince, 2. Brent Sancho, 3. Reynold Carrington, 4. Keyeno Thomas, 5. Dale Saunders (12. Anton Pierre, 88th), 6. Avery John, 7. Carlos Edwards 14. Nigel Daniel, 80th), 8. Silvio Spann, 9. Jason Scotland (15. Conrad Smith, 78th), 10. Hector Sam ((16. Nigel Pierre, 72nd), 11. Collin Samuel (18. Kerwyn Jemmot, 46th)
Subs not used: 22. Jan Michael Williams, 13. Derek King