Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation - TTFF

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams is appealing on behalf of the National Senior Men’s team to come out and show their support for  the National Senior Team and an ailing Akeem Adams  at Tuesday’s Friendly International  against Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Williams has played alongside Adams during the 20114 World Cup qualifying matches in 2011 and has a significant connection with Adams’ club Ferencvarosi  having been a member of the club in 2008.

The Central  FC custodian will be part of Stephen Hart’s opening training session tomorrow at Larry Gomes Stadium.

Also joining the session will be Stoke City forward and national team captain Kenwyne Jones who arrived home earlier this week. Kazakhstan-based defender Radanfah Abu Bakr and Slovak-based winger Lester Peltier, Columbus Crew defender Kevan George, Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte, Racing Genk midfielder Khaleem Hyland and Belgium-based defender Sheldon Bateau will also be part of Wednesday’s session alongside the home-based players such as Densill Theobald, Willis Plaza, Hughtun Hector, Kevin Molino, Marvin Phillips, Marcus Joseph, Rundell Winchester among others.

“This is much more than just a football match on Tuesday,” Williams told TTFA Media.

“It’s significant in many ways because we’re all putting our shirts, as players on the field of play and as supporters in the stands in support of one of our brothers who continues to fight for his life.”

Williams, who has captained the T&T team in the past, continued “On behalf of all the players on the national team, I’d like to ask the public to come out and show their support on Tuesday.

“Akeem played with us in World Cup qualifiers, he represented this country at two FIFA youth World Cups and he’s been a terrific guy on and off the field. I remember when I got the news that he signed in Hungary I was encouraged because I spent some time at that same club and I know they would have been impressed by him.”

Regarding the match, Williams said it would be a competitive one.

“We know it’s going to be a competitive game because New Zealand will want have a good showing and a good result before their World Cup playoff. I know our guys are very pumped up for the game because it’s our first game at home for some time and we’re eager to play in front of the home fans,” he added.

New Zealand head coach Ricki Herbert, currently in Los Angeles with the New Zealand team for a one-week training camp, spoke about the upcoming game, adding that he was he would be trying to  iron out as much as he can over the week, including an emphasis on their back three combination.

"It's been proven to be a very, very hard system for countries, no matter, what level to break down. Personnel wise I feel that we've got the players to do that. So currently, at this stage, that's certainly in the forefront of my thinking."

“Everyone's meeting up in LA and we'll get games. And I think the most important thing, we're going to get time with the group...and I think that's going to be more important than anything else. So let's hope we're on the right track."

"The time, the training, four or five days leading into an international fixture against Trinidad is going to be very similar to what we're going to have in November whoever we play against,” he said.

"So time, momentum, just absolutely nailing everything as much as we can while we're away on this trip,” added Herbert who led the New Zealand team during their three-match unbeaten run at the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.