Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By: Nigel Simon

T&T Under-23 footballers are expected to leave for Dominica at 6.45 am today where they will compete in their Group B Caribbean Football Union’s Olympic qualifiers from tomorrow. T&T faces the host country, Netherlands Antilles and Grenada from July 19-23 at Windsor Park. The team coached by former national captain Angus Eve, includes eight players who have played at a FIFA Under-17 or Under-20 World Cup headed by US-based midfielder Kevin Molino of Orlando City Lions, who will meet the team on arrival in Dominica. The others are former Under-20 captain Sheldon Bateau, Sean De Silva, Marcus Joseph, Mikheil Williams, Aubrey David, Andre Marchan and Chike Sullivan. The USA-born pair of Cameron Roget and Phillip Borde are also in the squad.

On Saturday, the local squad had a confidence boosting 1-0 win over T&T Pro League club, Caledonia AIA in its final warm-up match at the Brian Lara Recreation Ground, Sam Boucaud, Lower Santa Cruz, with Bateau the player on target. T&T will open its campaign against Grenada on Tuesday night followed by Netherlands Antilles on Thursday and host Dominica on Saturday. From the four-team tournament, only the winner  will advance to the second round group of qualifiers.  

Already Cuba has qualified for the second round four-team CFU Olympic qualifiers after topping its three-team Group C series with wins over Aruba (6-0) and Guyana (1-0) last month. The two other first round groups will see Suriname hosting Group A with Jamaica, St Vincent & The Grenadines and Cayman Islands from August 3 to 7, while St Kitts & Nevis entertains Group D with Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda and St Lucia, from July 21-25.  From the second round tournament two will qualify for the eight-team Concacaf finals next year in the USA towards qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.

T&T Under-23 squad

Goalkeepers: Andre Marchan, Shane Coker

Defenders: Aquil Selby, Joel Russell, Mikheil Williams, Aubrey David, Kareem Moses.

Midfielders: Sheldon Bateau, Chike Sullivan, Jeromie Williams, Jayson Joseph, Sean De Silva, Phillip Borde (Philadelphia Union), Kevin Molino (Orland City Lions).

Forwards: Kaydion Gabriel, Marcus Joseph, Trevin Ceasar, Cameron Roget.

Technical staff: Angus Eve (coach), Clint Marcelle (assistant coach), Derek King (assistant coach), Norris Ferguson (manager), Frank Rodriguez (assistant manager), Earl Joseph (physiotherapist), Gilbert Bateau (trainer), James Mathlin (equipment manager).

Tournament fixture:

Venue: Windsor Park, Dominica:

Tomorrow:

T&T vs Grenada, 5 pm.

Dominica vs Netherlands Antilles, 7 pm.

Thursday:

T&T vs Netherlands Antilles, 5 pm.

Dominica vs Grenada, 7 pm.

Saturday:

Netherlands Antilles vs Grenada, 5 pm.

T&T vs Dominica, 7 pm.