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Trinidad has new look for qualifiers
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) -- Technical director Rene Simoes has called up a new-look Trinidad and Tobago squad for World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica here on Saturday and Mexico on September 5. The 24-member squad is headed by English based West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop and Livingston's Marvin Andrews who will lead the team. Seven other foreign-based players will team up with 15 locally based players. Brazilian Simoes took over the Trinidad and Tobago team in June after Scottish-born coach Ian Porterfield could earn just one point after five matches in the six-team tournament from which three teams will represent the CONCACAF region in next year's finals in Japan and Korea. Almost immediately, his no-nonsense approach saw the country's two most celebrated players, Manchester United's Dwight Yorke and Rangers' Russell Latapy being dropped after they missed training. The pair subsequently retired from international competition. In his one match in charge, Trinidad and Tobago lost 2-1 to Jamaica at home. Simoes said that although Trinidad and Tobago had little chance of reaching next year's finals, he was confident they would surprise many of the leading teams. "We still have four matches to complete our program and during that time, we have nothing to lose. These young players all have something to prove and I think they are going to surprise a lot of people." Simoes said he was not disturbed at the absence of Yorke and Latapy. "At this stage, I think we stand to benefit more from their absence since there is a lot of talent in this squad and since we are thinking of the future, this experience is certain to be of benefit to the country." Squad: Goalkeepers - Shaka Hislop, Michael McComie Defenders - Marvin Andrews, Cyd Gray, Keyeno Thomas, Dennis Lawrence, Avery John, Ansil Elcock, Daurance Williams, Anton Pierre Midfielders - Angus Eve, Mickey Trotman, Brent Rahim, Conrad Smith, Ronald Primus, Arnold Dwarika Strikers - Nigel Pierre, Stern John, Gary Glasgow, Rolston James, Otis Seaton, Nigel Daniel, Addison Belfon, Dale Saunders. Jamaica recalls Hall for Mexico qualifierKINGSTON, Jamaica -- Jamaica recalled forward Paul Hall, who played for the team in the 1998 World Cup, for a World Cup qualifier against Mexico next week. Hall, who plays for Walsall in the English first division, is one of 16 overseas-based professionals called up by technical director Clovis de Oliveira. The match against Mexico, in Kingston, will be Sept. 2. De Oliveira also recalled key midfielder Theodore Whitmore of the English division two team Hull City. Whitmore missed the Jamaicans' last game against Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago. Hall last played for Jamaica last year. Jamaica is fourth in the final round of the CONCACAF zone. The team has eight points from six games, the same as Honduras, which is ahead on goal difference. The Mexicans, who beat Jamaica 4-0 in the teams' first encounter in Mexico City in March, are fifth with seven points. Costa Rica and the United States lead the group, both with 13 points. The top three teams qualify for the 2002 tournament.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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