Tuesday, August 17 2010

TRINIDAD AND Tobago Under-17 team will begin their quest for a spot in the 2011 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Mexico tomorrow, in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Final Round Qualifiers.

Trinidad and Tobago will play St Kitts/Nevis from 11 am at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya while Cuba and Bermuda will oppose each other in the opening game at 9 am.

Ross Russell will take up the coaching duties for this CFU qualifiers as the team’s coach Shawn Cooper is attending a coaching course, along with Hutson Charles, in the Netherlands, under the auspices of the Netherlands Football Association.

“We have to try and win all our matches and we will take nothing for granted against St Kitts,” said Russell yesterday, following a training session at Macoya.

“Generally, the team is a well-composed one, despite the fact that none of the players have played at this competitive level before,” he added. “But, overall, we are solid in the midfield and attack.

“Defensively, we have been working extra-time to ensure we are solid enough in that aspect of our game.”

The team, which will be released by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) today (Tuesday), will include two American-born players — Isaiah Noreiga from Houston Dynamo and Tanner Ferreira from Toronto FC.

“We have had (a) large squad of players who were vying for final selection ad the majority of the guys went right down until the end before we made the cut,” Russell said. “The boys are very hungry to get onto the pitch and represent the country.

“We will be aiming to take care of things against these other teams and move on (to) the final stage,” Russell ended.