Columbus Crew midfielder Kevan George joined the rest of the Trinidad and Tobago Under 23 squad in their live-in training camp in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. George is expected to get his first piece of action against Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a training game today at the home team's Complex at 4pm.
Tobago-born George has been signed by Columbus ahead of the upcoming American Major League season. And with less than two weeks to go before T&T's opening CONCACAF Olympic qualifier against Mexico in California, coach Angus Eve has drafted in another MLS-based player in 19-year-old Seattle Sounders forward Cordell Cato.
The former T&T Under 20 striker who is in preseason training with Seattle has been released and is expected to join the team later this week. There was some uncertainty over W Connection striker Shahdon Winchester as well as Polish-based defender Mekeil Williams and Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino.
"We are delighted to have Kevan George and Cordell Cato but we are having problems with Shahdon, Mekeil Williams and Molino," Eve said. Eve noted that preparations were going fine. "We have all the local-based players in the camp but there is the problem with Shahdon. He was supposed to travel with the team to Jamaica but the management of his club said he had to go off to Norway on business... to sign a contract and obviously we are not going to stop a young player with an opportunity like that," Eve added.
Williams is yet to obtain his US Visa despite efforts in Poland to secure it through the TTFF's assistance. However, Williams has been in Turkey with his club and ongoing efforts are taking place in Poland to ensure he travels to Fort Lauderdale by Saturday. Molino and De Silva are scheduled to join the team on Saturday. T&T will also face Canada's Under 23 team at the Holiday Inn Soccer Complex from 3:30 pm on Friday.