18- year-old Gary Griffith III was included in the 24-man Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s squad selected by head coach Terry Fenwick to face the United States in an international friendly at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Sunday January 31st.
Fenwick has included seven home-based players and 17 overseas-based players for T&T’s first International match of 2021.
Joining Griffith III in the list of debutants will be Michael Deshields (Us-born defender) who was recently selected by D.C. United in the Major League Soccer draft last Thursday. Also, in-line to make his first appearance is Canadian-based utility player Federico Pena of Canadian Premier League club Valour FC. Another US-born player, Jonathan Jimenez who plays with USL club Rio Grande Valley FC Toros was included while Noah Powder and Ajani Fortune will suit up for the senior team after playing for the national youth teams.
Fenwick told the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association media, “It’s a great opportunity and experience for so many young players in Trinidad and Tobago who have not played competitive football for over a year. It’s a chance for them to make a name for themselves in a shop window. It’s a great opportunity for everybody involved.”
The Englishman continued, “Going into Orlando we’ll obviously try to prepare as best as possible under the circumstances while we are there a couple days before the match. We’ve had some sessions here on the ground and it’s a case of putting everything together for a good showing. I have to mention the efforts of the Ministry of National Security, Health, the TTFA and everyone who’s put in the efforts to ensure we can get into our first international match of the year,”
The team departs at 9:00am on Thursday and will be based in a bubble at the Omni Champions Gate Hotel. Following the match on January 31st, the team will stay a further two days at Omni before returning home on February 3rd and entering quarantine at the Home of Football in Couva.
T&T will begin the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers at home against Guyana (25th March), away to Puerto Rico (28th March), away to the Bahamas (5th June) then home to St Kitts and Nevis (8th June). Whereas, the US will contest the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in June, the Gold Cup in July and the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, which kicks off in September for the hosts.
T&T Squad
Goalkeepers
Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Marvin Phillip (Neroca),
Defenders Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Noah Powder (Real Salt Lake), Michael Deshields (DC United), leland Archer (Charleston Battery), Josiah Trimmingham
(Forward Madison FC), Alvin Jones (Unattached), Federico Pena (Valour FC), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Jesse Williams (Coleraine FC), Jamal Jack (Sacachispas)
Midfielders
Andre Fortune (North Carolina FC), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901), Jonathan Jimenez (Rgv Toros), Matthew Woo Ling (AC Port of Spain), Michel Poon Angeron (Banfield), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United II), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force)
Strikers
Jabari Mitchell (Police FC), Gary Griffith III (Coleraine FC), Ryan Telfer (York United FC), Brent Sam (Defence Force), Sean Bonval (Central FC)
Staff
Terry Fenwick – Head Coach, Derek King – Assistant Coach, Adrian Romain – Manager, Basil Thompson – Logistics/Safety and Compliance Manager, Dr Mario John – Team Chief Medical Officer, Dr Akash Dhanai – Team Doctor, Cassius Humphrey – Fitness Coach, Sion Cane – Massage Therapist/Physiotherapist, Michael Williams – Kit Manager, Shaun Fuentes – Head of Media/Communications
