The T&T futsal squad will continue its training today under the watch of head coach Clayton Morris at the Central Indoor Facility in Chaguanas. Preparations will continue on Wednesday at UWI Spectrum in St Augustine but return to Chaguanas on Friday from 6pm to 10pm. Sunday’s session is from 9am to midday.
The squad is currently preparing for the Caribbean Football Union Futsal Qualifiers which will take place in Cuba from January 22- 26. T&T are in Group A alongside Antigua/Barbuda, Curacao and Guyana. T&T will play its opening game against Antigua on January 22, followed by Guyana (January 23) and Curacao on January 24.
Group B includes St Marteen, Cuba, Guadeloupe and Jamaica. The top two teams from each group will move onto the semi finals with the two finalists advancing to the CONCACAF Finals in Costa Rica in May.
Clayton Morris, a former national captain, who has been at the helm of the team at its two previous regional Futsal qualifying campaigns, described its chances as quite good despite the late start to preparations.
“Preparations are behind what I would like and what the team should be at this stage but having said that I am very much confident we can compete well enough to defend the CFU championship,” Morris said.
“Twenty four of the 28 players have shown up on both days with enthusiasm which emphasized my point that we can go all the way despite the set backs. We expect the tournament will be competitive but we have a strong bunch of players who are very eager to do well and we have our sights firmly set on advancing to the CONCACAF Finals,” Morris added.
The team is vying for qualification for the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup which will be staged in Colombia from September 10- October 1, and will include 24 teams. The CONCACAF Final round from which four teams will qualify for the World Cup, will be held in Costa Rica in May.
T&T were last crowned Caribbean Futsal champions in 2008 when they defeated Haiti 6-3 at the Concacaf Centre of Excellence in Macoya.
Squad
Kevin Graham, Adrian Perthysingh, Colin Joseph, Jerwyn Balthazar, Kerry Joseph, Anthony Small, Cyrano Glenn, Dwayne Calliste, Ako James, Ishmael Daniel, Marvin Lee, Jamel Lewil, Jameel Neptune, Javon Bourne, Ricardo Bennett, Bevon Bass, Ronald St. Louis, Kareem Perry, Nicholas Mullins, Brent Edwards, Anthony Thompson, Renato Ramlochan, Akil Stafford, Christopher Vanterpool, Rushawn Murphy, Tevin Gill, Keston Guy, Keon Figaro
Technical Staff: Manager – Ronald Bereton, Head Coach – Clayton Morris, Trainer/Phsiotherapist – Brent Elder, Doctor – Dr. Kerry Dollaway