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The following report was posted on the Trinidad Express Newspaper Website
There will be a strong local-based flavor in the Trinidad and Tobago national football team for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday national head coach and two-time Colombia World Cup coach Francisco Maturana selected 16 home-based players-14 from the local Pro League-in a 26-man squad for the June 1 centennial match against England and, almost certainly, the country's opening 2010 qualifier against Bermuda on June 15.
Eighteen of these players will make up the final squad that goes into camp on May 27 to prepare for the friendly against the European nation.
Trinidad and Tobago's more famous exports like Southampton's Stern John, Swansea's Dennis Lawrence and the Sunderland pair of Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards were included among the 10 overseas-based players. But they will rub shoulders with a fresh crop of local stars that could include two schoolboys, Presentation College left back Akeem Adams and El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive striker Jamal Gay.
There is still doubt about whether former national captains and icons Dwight Yorke (36) and Russell Latapy (39) will play any part in the much vaunted fixture against England, though.
Yorke, who played 21 times for England Premiership club Sunderland this season, accepted an invitation from FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) special advisor Jack Warner to participate as a "guest player" against England. It is uncertain whether Latapy, who appeared 34 times for Falkirk this term, is also interested. Assistant coach Anton Corneal told the Trinidad Express that the technical staff knew little about either player's involvement apart from what they read in the press. He said there were "many little issues" regarding their role against England but said the team's direction was up to the head coach.
"The same way you have heard about it, we have heard about it," said Corneal. "There is no confirmed word yet that we know of (Everything) was done from the Federation level "Coach Maturana will have to make a decision," he said.
The exclusion of Swansea striker Jason Scotland, England League One's top scorer and an all star player and MVP for Swansea, was more straightforward.
"(Scotland) is in a more competitive position than all the other players," said Corneal. "It is not about ability."
Corneal pointed out that there was dissent during former coach Leo Beenhakker's reign because of his repeated exclusion of local-based talent. There were just four Pro League players in the Dutchman's 2006 World Cup squad.
"People have argued that the local players are not getting a chance," said Corneal. "Now we (have) put in some and we hear that the foreign players are not getting a chance
"Maturana is getting results and we are being fairly consistent. You do not throw the towel in on young blood."
T&T 26-man shortlist
Goalkeepers: Clayton Ince (Walsall/England), Jan-Michael Williams (Sheffield United/England), Marvin Phillip (W. Connection);
Defenders: Kareem Smith (Petrotrin), Kern Cupid (W. Connection), Dennis Lawrence (Swansea/England), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Makan Hislop (Petrotrin), Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public), Osei Telesford (Puerto Rico Islanders/US), Akeem Adams (Presentation College), Aklie Edwards (Defence Force), Ancil Farrier (Univ of Southern Connecticut/US);
Midfielders: Carlos Edwards (Sunderland/England), Kevon Carter (Defence Force), Stephan David (Caledonia), Khaleem Hyland (Unattached), Aurtis Whitley (W. Connection), Ataullah Guerra (Jabloteh), Keon Daniel (Petrotrin), Kevaughn Connell (L'Entente SSG/France);
Forwards: Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland/England), Stern John (Southampton/England), Darryl Roberts (Unattached), Jerol Forbes (Petrotrin), Jamal Gay (El Dorado Comprehensive)
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