U-23 footballers for Olympic qualifiers

TT will begin their quest against Guyana from 7 pm on Friday at the Dr Ir Franklin Essed Stadium.

They then take on Netherlands Antilles in their second game on August 2 at 4.30 pm and hosts Suriname two days later, from 7 pm at the same venue.

Coach Jan Van Deinsen returned to help the team prepare for the championship earlier this month. He had been with the Under-17 footballers who were beaten in all their matches of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup currently entering its second round in South Korea.

He also worked with the young “Soca Warriors” during their preparation in Holland, along with Michael Mc Comie.

The team comprises a base of players from the TT Pro League — some who have already represented TT at international level.

They are Caledonia AIA midfielder Hayden Tinto, United Petrotrin’s Keon Daniel and striker Kendall Jagdeosingh of North East Stars.

Radanfah Abu Bakr, a former national Under-20 captain is also in the squad as well as Devon Leacock — who also represented this country at the Under-17 level back in 2001.

Twenty-two Caribbean nations will contest the championship in six regional territories.

The territories are Aruba, Bahamas, Cuba, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & The Grenadines and Suriname between August 31 and September 13.

The six group winners will advance to the CFU second round that will comprise two groups of three teams each and will be played in October.

And the winners of the groups will advance to the 2008 CONCACAF U-23 Final Round Tournament.

The TT team: Corneal Thomas, Stefon St Louis, Larry Bacchus, Simeon Augustus, Devon Drayton, Keon Daniel, Devin Leacock, Marcus Ambrose, Caryle Mitchell, Hayden Tinto, Radanfah Abu Baka, Marcelle Francois, Kevin Mussio, Shane Calderon, Kadeem Gray, Christopher Sam, Kendell Jagdeosingh.