sport

2 days ago

FOR the second time in 19 months, the TT men’s soccer team enters Bacolet Stadium, Dwight Yorke, Tobago needing a win to secure a spot in the Concacaf Nations League A.

In March 2023, then in Group C of the Nations League B, the second-placed Soca Warriors drew 1-1 against Nicaragua in the final game of this Nations League B cycle in Bacolet. TT appeared to remain in Nations League B, but a decisive Concacaf ruling in June 2023 resulted in Soca Warriors being promoted to Nations League A and the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup as Nicaragua was penalized for fielding an ineligible player .

Over a year and a half later, when the Soca Warriors play their last game of the 2024/25 Nations League A against Cuba on October 14th from 9 p.m., interim coach Derek King needs a win for his team to avoid relegation from League B.

After three games in the current season, the Soca Warriors are in fifth place in the six-team table with just two points – reaching the quarter-finals in the last Nations League cycle is now a distant memory. The top two teams in the Nations League A groups reach the quarter-finals, but Soca Warriors are firmly focused on survival as the bottom two teams are relegated.

With fourth-place Cuba also in danger with three points, it is effectively a winner for the teams, who played a 2-2 draw in Santiago on October 10.

“Three points are very important for us to stay in the (Concacaf Nations) League A. I think the boys know how important the game is. We’re going to tweak our system a little bit,” King said during a pre-match press conference at Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort on Oct. 13.

Reflecting on the draw in Cuba, King said his team should have postponed the game. However, he expects they will do the deal this time.

“I think once we defend well, create chances and take advantage of our chances, I think we will be victorious.”

King turned heads with his squad selection for the two games against Cuba, as experienced players such as Sheldon Bateau, Joevin Jones and Kevin Molino were named to a 23-man squad, including former defensive line star Reon Moore, who was sidelined.

Bateau and Jones scored in the first game against Cuba, while the 34-year-old Molino, who retired from national service last September, made a cameo late in the second half.

Meanwhile, Moore scored a brace for Pacific FC in a 2-1 comeback win over York United in the Canadian Premier League on October 10. And with Toronto FC’s Tyrese Spicer out of the first squad due to injury, the opportunity to name a striker presented itself. However, Spicer’s place in the squad goes to 1976 FC Phoenix midfielder Adriel George, who impressed with his creative play in the 2023/24 TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) season as his Tobago-based club finished sixth.

George made his debut for the Soca Warriors five months ago in a friendly against Guyana and King said he has been consistent in the TTPFL.

“I think Adriel deserves a chance to be on the national team.”

All is well with Moore

As for Moore’s omission, the former Pro League-winning coach says it’s nothing personal.

“We have no problems with Reon Moore, he is a first-class player. We left him out just for those two games because we feel like he needs to be a little bit more himself,” King said.

“I also spoke to him and he understands the reason why he wasn’t selected… all the players who are not here in this 23-man squad are still part of the national team. It’s not like we left.” Reon out because there’s something between us. It’s nothing like that.

Play for your place

King said it was important to build a quality squad of local players that could compete on the international stage.

“What we want to build is that every player, whether local or foreign, starts to earn the right to be in the national team. It takes time to build it, but it’s a process,” he said.

“We see the growth in football. It looks good. It’s just a matter of us wasting our chances.”

“In international football, one mistake costs the game. Defensively we weren’t that strong (in the last game). I think the players now know exactly what it takes and what it takes to get the three points.”

Canada-based midfielder Andre Rampersad says TT football cannot afford to take a step back as he wants the team to build on their quarter-final finish in the last Nations League cycle.

“We need to move beyond the mindset of this phase of reconstruction. Last year we had some really good results and a really good run in the Nations League. It’s about sticking with it, maintaining form and making progress every time,” he said.

“I think every opportunity we get now we have to take advantage of. We have to show what we want to achieve for World Cup qualification by 2025,” he said. “We have a real chance of qualifying for the World Cup. These games will show what we’re made of…”

The Halifax Wanderers player said he and his teammates would do “everything in our power to get the result” and urged the 12th man to perform at his best in Bacolet.

The Soca Warriors are yet to win in King’s short tenure, but they need a win against Cuba to stay afloat in Nations League A.