|
 Striker Anthony Wolfe and American MLS-based defender Osei Telesford will make their return to international duty after being included in the final 18-man Trinidad and Tobago National Senior team for next weekend’s friendly against Puerto Rico.
Wolfe, a member of the 2006 World Cup squad and Telesford, back from injury following his first season with Chicago Fire, made the cut as assistant coach Anton Corneal announced the team on Sunday following a training session at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Trent Noel, who skippered the national outfit in its last outing, a 0-0 draw away to El Salvador, is also in the team which faces the Puerto Ricans on Saturday.
Click for Video of Training.
Getting their first call ups for an international encounter are Jabloteh duo Khaleem Hyland and Lester Peltier while Andre Toussaint, of American A-League club Charleston Battery is also in the squad.
With none of the overseas pros called up to face Guadeloupe on February 6 in Port of Spain, in the touring party to Puerto Rico, there are some regular faces campaigning in the T&T Pro League who were in recent national teams. They include Joe Public midfielder Kerry Baptiste, his brother Christian Baptiste, goalkeepers Marvin Phillip and Cleon John, Jason Marcano, Kern Cupid and Keston Williams, who both made their international debuts against El Salvador and Joe Public defender Seon Power.
“We look forward to the game especially with it being the first one for the year and we will use it as a pre-game to the Guadeloupe game next month,” Corneal told TTFF Media.
“It is important because of the fact that Francisco Maturana will get an opportunity to see some of the local-based players. We have selected a couple new faces and there are some of the regular ones in there as well,” Corneal added.
“This selection doesn’t mean that players who didn’t make it will be not be considered again for upcoming games. We will try to maintain a base and then there will be further invitations as we see necessary throughout the year.”
Telesford, back in the team for the first time since the game against Costa Rica in February 2007, is already setting his sights on keeping his place in the national team for all of 2008.
“It’s been tough not being able to play for almost a year now which meant that I hard to work really hard to get back into the team but I guess the double sessions per day paid off,” Telesford said
“It’s always a privilege to represent the country and I’m happy to be in the mix again. I’ve been working double time and this selections shows that it has paid off a bit and I’m hoping to have a good year both for country and club this year. My aim is to be in the team for as many games in 2008.
“This squad going to Puerto Rico is definitely a younger team than the one in the Digicel Cup last year but it’s definitely a good one and it shows the kind of depth that we have here with newer players coming in. And when you combine those guys with the talent that we have overseas I think we should definitely have a solid team for the qualifiers coming up,” Telesford added.
Recently appointed interim head coach Francisco Maturana will travel to meet with the T&T contingent in San Juan. (January 21, 2007)
The squad for Puerto Rico
Marvin Phillip (W Connection), Cleon John (Jabloteh), Osei Telesford (Chicago Fire), Keston Williams (Defence Force), Kern Cupid (W Connection), Seon Power (Joe Public), Aklie Edwards (Defence Force), Trent Noel (Jabloteh), Khaleem Hyland (Jabloteh), Christon Baptiste (Defence Force), Kerry Baptiste (Joe Public), Jason Marcano (Jabloteh), Conrod Smith (Caledonia AIA), Andre Toussaint (Charleston Battery), Anthony Wolfe (Atlanta Silverbacks), Nickelson Thomas (W Connection), Lester Peltier (Jabloteh) and Stephan David (Caledonia AIA).
|
