By: Nigel Simon
T&T’s Under-23 (Olympic) footballers will hope to take another step towards qualifying for next year’s London Olympics when they meet Netherlands Antilles in their second match of Group B of the Caribbean Football Union Olympic qualifiers today. The clash between the Angus Eve-coached young Soca Warriors and Netherlands Antilles takes place at Windsor Park Stadium, Roseau, Dominica, from 5 pm today. In the night’s second match two hours later, Grenada faces Dominica. However, all eyes will be on the opener as both T&T and Netherlands Antilles go into the clash level on three points each after Tuesday’s opening round victories, and a win today will surely make either team favourites to seal the lone qualifying spot to the second round tournament. On Tuesday, T&T got a 23rd minute item from Jayson Joseph to edge past Grenada 1-0 while Netherlands Antilles needed a late brace from substitute Mirco Colina to blank hosts Dominica. Colina, who replaced Daymon Lodovica in the 55th minute, netted in the 86th and 90th minute.
In Tuesday’s encounter, T&T was without Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino who missed his flight and a decision was taken by team management to leave him out of this round of competition, according to team manger Norris Ferguson. On Saturday, Molino featured for his US club in a 3-1 friendly loss to Barclays Premiership club, Bolton Wanderers. Under-23 midfielder Chike Sullivan was also injured and was replaced by Uriah Bentick. Speaking on the win over Grenada, which dumped T&T out of qualification for the Beijing, China Olympics four years ago, Ferguson said it was a good win to start off the tournament.
“We know this was going to be an important match for us and now it’s onto taking care of the next two matches in this round,” added Ferguson. Coach Eve was also satisfied with the team’s display despite a few players making their national team debut. “They did well. They put the ball down and passed it around well from the early parts and I honestly think the end result is not a true reflection of how the game went because we should have scored at least six,” Eve said. Eve was also high in praise for team captain, Sheldon Bateau saying he was the right man for the job.
“Sheldon has been with this group for a long time and he has been given the armband before. Daneil Cyrus had to go off to Kansas and we wish him well there, so in light of that, Sheldon was the other one with that level of maturity and he has a good head on his shoulders. He has showed that he’s a leader out there on the field,” Eve added. T&T Under-23s: 1. Andre Marchan (GK), 2. Aubrey David, 3. Mekeil Williams, 4. Sheldon Bateau (capt), 5. Aquil Selby, 6. Leslie Russell, 11. Sean De Silva (15. Kareem Moses 88th), 14. Marcus Joseph, 12.Jayson Joseph, 13.Jeromie Williams (17. Kaydion Gabriel 63rd), 9. Trevin Caesar (16. Cameron Roget 86th).
Unused Subs: 7. Phillip Borde, 8. Uriah Bentick, 18. Zane Coker.
Coach: Angus Eve.
Grenada Under-23s: Shemel Louison, Raymond Alleyne, David Cyrus, Nicko Williams (Yellow 88), Rohan George, Rimmel Daniel, Moron Phillip (Kevin Edwards 70th), Rickel Augustine, Davier Walcott (Denron Daniel 24th - Alec Jones 84th), Clive Murray, Elliott Charles.
Unused Subs: Jason Belfon, Irvine Smith, Aswald Phillips, Carl Raeburn.
Coach: Alister De Bellotte.
Remaining Fixture:
Today (July 21):
T&T vs Netherlands Antilles, 5 pm
Dominica vs Grenada, 7 pm
Saturday (July 23):
Netherlands Antilles vs Grenada, 5 pm
T&T vs Dominica, 7 pm.
Current CFU Group B standings
P W D L F A Pts
Curaçao 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
T&T 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Grenada 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
Dominica 1 0 0 1 0 2 0