Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation - TTFF

Portmore United's midfielder Andrew Vanzie is the only newcomer to the Reggae Boyz squad as preparation for their upcoming international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago resumed with a five-day training camp on Wednesday at the Player’s Residence in Kingston.

 

Vanzie is a member of the Jamaican Under 21 CAC Games squad, has earned his first call up by head coach Theodore Whitmore.

Vanzie, 20, was part of the Under-21 CAC Games squad a few months aback and has earned his first senior call up by head coach Theodore Whitmore.

Prior to their departure for Port of Spain on Monday, the Reggae Boyz will play a training match on Saturday against a Portland Select Team.

The local chapter of the Reggae Boyz has been playing a series of practice games against local parish teams and on Sunday they defeated a Trelawny aggregation 3-1.

Some five overseas players are expected to join the current squad which Whitmore will trim before coming to Trinidad. They include New York Red Bulls player Dane Richards, San Jose Earthquakes’ Ryan Johnson, Rodolph Austin of Norwegian Premier League side SK Brann and Eric Vernan, currently on loan to Nybergsund IL, in Norway and LA Galaxy goalkeeper Donovon Ricketts.

T&T head coach Russell Latapy will resume training at 4pm on Monday at the Marvin Lee Stadium. Several of his players are unavailable this week due to club commitments with Joe Public and Jabloteh FC in the Concacaf Champions League. They include Joe Public’s Kerry Baptiste, Marvin Phillip,Makan Hislop, Trent Noel, Hayden Tinto and Jabloteh’s Jason Marcano, Ataulla Guerra, Robert Primus.

Caledonia AIA midfielder Densill Theobald is geared up for the encounter, remembering the impact of the 2-2 draw when the two teams met in Kingston in 2008 when the “Soca Warriors” came from two goals down to earn a last minute draw.

“We had a lot of challenges in that game as we went in with 15 players because of injuries but we played a really fantastic game to earn the draw. That game was a real battle between the two top sides in the Caribbean and I think on Wednesday the match will be another hardfought one,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Wednesday.

“ It’s definitely going to give us a fair indication as to how the team is shaping up  for the Digicel Cup and the coach has stressed that he wants to  focus on the local players for the tournament so it will be an excellent opportunity for us to come out and perform well. We are in a rebuilding stage as well after the last World Cup campaign and I think all the players know how important it is for us to do well in the Digicel Cup and qualify for the Gold Cup and also do well there. For us, the preparations must be at a decent level from now which means that must do well in this friendly on Wednesday,” he ended.

Wednesday’s match kicks off at 6pm at the Marvin  Lee Stadium and ticket will be on sale on matchday at the venue. (August 4,2010)

Jamaica training squad: Kenardo Forbes (Waterhouse); Jermaine Taylor, Romeo Parkes and Randall Huie (St Georges SC); Adrian Reid, Ricardo Cousins, Andrew Vanzie and Mario Swaby (Portmore United); Oneil Fisher, Richard Edwards, Kavin Bryan and Dicoy Williams (Harbour View); Troy Smith, Dino Williams and Oliver Trail (Village United); Devon Hodges (Rivoli United); Peter Harrison, Navian Boyd and Keammar Daley (Tivoli Gardens); Orion Dennis (Catherine Hall FC); Devon Williams (Real Mona); Rafe Wolfe (Ferencvaros) and Dennis Taylor (Reno FC).