Who's Online

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Under 20 footballers will be afforded the opportunity to play four international warm up matches prior to the  start of the Final CONCACAF Qualification Round for the 2009 FIFA World Youth Cup in Egypt.

The Under 20s, back from a recent tour to Brazil, will spend the upcoming Carnival period in Tobago and will go into action against Honduras’ National Under 20 team on February 24 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium at 3:30pm.

They will face Honduras again on February 26 at the same time and then close off with back to back matches against El Salvador’s National Under 20 team at the same venue and kick off time on February 28 and March 2. Fans will be allowed free entry into the venue for all four matches

El Salvador are also contesting the final round of qualification but are grouped alongside United States and  Jamaica.  Honduras will meet St Vincent/Grenadines in a one match playoff on March 2 at the Marvin Lee Stadium to determine the final spot for Group A alongside El Salvador, USA and Jamaica.

These warm up games were confirmed by TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner only last week when he met with officials of the El Salvador Football Federation and UNCAF while in San Salvador for last Wednesday’s 2010 World Cup Qualifier between the hosts and T&T.

“It was perfect timing for all the teams and we felt if they were already traveling to our country for the competition, it would benefit all involved if they could come a few days earlier and play the matches. We will handle everything else including accommodation and they have agreed to arrive earlier than scheduled in order to play the matches,” Warner told TTFF Media.

T&T Under 20 head coach Zoran Vranes welcomed the news of the matches which he added will fall nicely into his team’s final build up for the competition.

“I am extremely glad that we will get to play these matches against similar opposition to what we will face in the tournament,” Vranes told TTFF Media on Monday.

“We will have the chance to work on our weaknesses in actual playing time and it will give us sufficient time to fine tune our game.  We are working very hard at the moment to get the team to a sufficiently good level just in time for the competition and I believe we will get it right. Our fitness level is good at this time and those matches will serve us well.”

Vranes added that he was looking forward to Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland and new German signing Jamal Gay returning to the team for the competition.

“They will be a boost to our chances. Jamal has been part of our set up and he will fall right back into our plans. I hope they don't forget about us because they will bring some added value to the team,” Vranes said.

T&T opens its final round contest against Canada on March 7 at the Marvin Lee Stadium. They will face Costa Rica on March 9 and Mexico two days later at the same venue. The top two teams from the group will advance to FIFA World Championship in Egypt September 23-October 18, 2009. (Feb 16,2009)

-End-