The introduction of additional dynamics to the preparation of the T&T senior football team by coach Dennis Lawrence is being seen a major boost ahead of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.
Captain Khaleem Hyland, speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Wales on Wednesday in Wrexham, complimented the work done by English fitness and performance specialist Sam Huggins and performance and match-analyst Kaita Hasegawa of Everton FC.
Aside from the use of the GPS viper pods and heart rate monitors, used by the team, Huggins' approach to the physical preparation of the players has been a welcomed addition to the team. Huggins' role includes, but not limited to, warm-ups, mobility, speed sessions, aerobic sessions, anaerobic sessions, conditioning games, cognitive skill development, hypertrophy sessions, strength sessions, velocity based sessions, agility, hydration monitoring, recovery sessions and postgame training. The list can be bigger or smaller depending on the requirements.
Hasegawa is attached to Everton. He focuses on play patterns, identifying the team and opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and elaborating reports with facts and videos, including a qualitative interpretation and recommendations.
He also contributes to the game model development. Hasegawa is a vital source of information and knowledge that allows the team to better prepare their training sessions and matches.
“It’s a big impact for us now because we see the guys are moving off the ball and running better. With the exercises Huggins is giving us, we can add two to three more years to our careers. It’s great for the players and for myself also. The team on a whole is better prepared for our matches,” Hyland said.
“The analyst looks at many different points that some may not look at during games and Dennis sits with him and draws a lot of points that help us improve our game. We see the strengths and weaknesses of teams and also of our own team, which contribute to our overall preparation both on and off the field towards the results we want and deserve. Hopefully, we can deliver success in the Gold Cup," the former Racing Genk player said.
Sheldon Bateau also touched on the introductions, saying “It’s been a good addition to our preparation. Dennis has brought some different aspects to the team and you can see improvements in certain areas of our game. It is something we can continue building on to help improve the team. And it is helping us as players because we are a lot more sure of ourselves heading into games knowing what to expect and being more confident in the work we are putting in under Dennis’ leadership and guidance. I think the staff, in general, is putting in the effort to have the team ready for international football,” Bateau said.
Also weighing in was US-based midfielder Kevan George, who said “We have the access to certain things at our clubs and Dennis, who has been exposed to this, now ensures we get it at the national team. It’s great for the players and hopefully, it pays off in the end, which means we as players have to fully grasp what is coming our way so that the results can come our way.”