The T&T Football Association (T&TFA) has secured another international friendly for this country’s Soca Warriors next month.
Having announced a friendly with current world number 9 ranked Uruguay for May 27, T&TFA President David John-Williams disclosed today that the “Soca Warriors” will travel to Lima to face Peru on May 23.
In what can be dubbed T&T’s “Copa America” campaign, as the team continues to prepare for their 2018 World Cup qualifying bid in September, Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart welcomed another high-end international friendly for the National Team.
“We now have two games against quality opposition who will be in the final stages of preparation for their Copa America Centenario.” Hart told TTFA Media on Wednesday.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, with all that playing away from home entails. Football is physically and psychologically demanding, and these are the type of games that demand complete concentration to maximise both individual and collective performances. One cannot ask for much more.” Hart stated.
In March 2013, T&T lost to Peru 3-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Nacional in Lima, conceding two goals in the closing seven minutes. Members of the current squad who were involved in that game include Kenwyne Jones, Aubrey David, Daneil Cyrus, goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Carlyle Mitchell and Joevin Jones. T&T also lost 2-0 to Peru in February 2013 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Peru, who is currently ranked at 46th on the FIFA table, has won the Copa America twice and qualified for the FIFA World Cup Finals four times. Captained by former Bayern Munich forward Claudio Pizarro, they finished third at the 2015 Copa America. Peru is preparing for Copa America Centenario matches against Brazil, Ecuador and Haiti. Following the May 23 game, the Soca Warriors will journey to Montevideo to face Uruguay on May 27.
The “Warriors” next 2018 World Cup qualifier will be at home against Guatemala on September 2nd at the Hasely Crawford Stadium before leaving for Jacksonville, Florida to face the USA on September 6 in the closing fixture of the CONCACAF Semi-Final Round.
The Kenwyne Jones-captained Soca Warriors are top of their four-team CONCACAF Semifinal Pool C qualifiers with ten points from four matches, three more than USA while Guatemala is next with six points, and St Vincent and The Grenadines, bottom of the table without a point.
T&T started off its campaign with a 2-1 win away from home over Guatemala, followed by a 0- draw at home with USA, 3-2 road win over St Vincent and The Grenadines, and then a 6-0 hammering of St Vincent and the Grenadines on March 29.
However, for the warm-up matches against the South Americans it is uncertain which players Hart will have available as some maybe still involved with the respective league campaigns, in Asia, Europe, Central America and North America.