Yorke to lead ‘new’ WarriorsThursday, August 3 2006
TRINIDAD and Tobago football team captain Dwight Yorke will captain the new-look team for an international friendly against Japan in Tokyo on August 9.
The team includes only seven players who were part of the Soca Warriors which made their debut at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany in June.
Former Manchester United star Yorke, currently in preseason training with Sydney FC made himself available after a request from recently appointed coach Wim Rijsbergen.
The Dutchman will be in charge of the team for the first time for the encounter which according to the Japan FA, will be played in front of a full stadium.
The Japanese team is preparing for the Asian Cup.
The majority of the Soca Warriors are currently committed to their overseas clubs with the start of the English season carded for this weekend and the Scottish season already in progress.
So Rijsbergen, an-ex Holland international will not have a full strength squad for the match but he will take the opportunity to field some emerging talent from the local TT Pro League.
Yorke will join fellow World Cup squad members Avery John, Evans Wise, Cyd Gray, Aurtis Whitley, Anthony Wolfe and Atiba Charles in the squad for next Thursday’s friendly.
Some of new faces, who have played for the national team before, include Starworld Strikers and former Under-17 goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Caledonia AIA’s Stephan David, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh defender Ian Gray, Keyeno Thomas, left-side midfielder Andre Pacheco as well as Clyde Leon and Kendall Jagdeosingh, a former Under-20 player.
Rijsbergen stressed that while it was not the most desirable way for him to begin his tenure as coach, he was looking forward to working with some of the new talent which includes several players he has observed in the Pro League.
“We are using the match to give some of the new local based players a chance at the international level,” Rijsbergen said yesterday. “This will of course be part of the future set of players from which we will build on. This is part of the new generation and it’s a plus as well to have them train and play with some of the experienced ones who were at the World Cup.
“We hopefully will have some international matches and this will assist in us developing the players and we will continue to observe them and compile a list of the younger ones for the Olympic team as well.
“We need to give them that chance because it’s also part of developing the new generation,” he said.
With the presence of Yorke and others who were in Germany, Rijsbergen believes while the match will be a challenge away from home.
He said it will provide a perfect chance for the Soca Warriors to begin the preparations towards the upcoming Digicel Caribbean Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007.
“Dwight will come over from Australia and having him there with the other players who were in Germany will be a boost. Hopefully the selection of this team will send a message to the young ones that we have our eyes on them.
“It’s a tough start because we will play in front of a packed stadium but we will make the most of this experience,” Rijsbergen said.
Along with assistant Van Deinsen, he will conduct a session with the home-based pros at the Larry Gomes Stadium this evening.
TT Squad for Japan —
Marvin Phillip (Starworld Strikers), Jan Michael Williams (W Connection), Keyeno Thomas (Jabloteh), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Ian Gray (Jabloteh), Avery John (New England Revolution), Cyd Gray (Jabloteh), Aurtis Whitley (Jabloteh), Andre Pacheco (W Connection), Trent Noel (Jabloteh), Kendall Jagdeosingh (Caledonia AIA), Stephan David (Caledonia AIA) Clyde Leon (W Connection), Gary Glasgow (Joe Public), Evans Wise (unattached), Anthony Wolfe and Glenton Wolfe (Jabloteh), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC)
