T&T Under-20 team captain Leston Paul
leads his team-mates onto the football
field for a training session in
Lanarca yesterday. Photo:
Courtesy TTFF Media

T&T national Under-20 footballers will go into back-to-back warm up international matches against Australia and United States on Thursday and Friday in Lanarca, Cyprus.Head coach Zoran Vranes is also expected to have English-born Southampton midfielder Jake Thomson on his team on Tuesday. The former England Under 17 international is expected to finalise his T&T passport documents in London at the T&T High Commission on Monday, prior to his flight to Cyprus.

Yesterday, Vranes conducted an 80-minute training session under relatively dry conditions at a training pitch close to the Olympic Lagoon Resort, where the T&T team will be based for the next week.
Skipper Leston Paul and his team-mates pushed themselves throughout the session and there were no signs of a relaxed approach by any player following Vranes’ announcement of the 22-man squad that will head to Egypt for the FIFA Under-20 World Championship next week. There was a downside to the intensity level during the session as three players, Paul, Jamal Clarence and Robert Primus had to be sidelined for precautionary treatment. All three players are expected to be fine in time for today’s practice session.

“So far the preparations have been going well. We’ve had a few really good games and we’ve only lost one in England so the record has been good and doing well for the confidence too,” Paul said. “Jamal and Khaleem have also given the team a boost and the guys from before have had that bond so we’re just looking to build on this before we get to Egypt. “The guys are focused and just thinking about September 24 - the opening game against Egypt. We are looking forward to the two games here. We obviously want to get two wins but as long as get good preparation out of the games then we will be happy with that,” said Paul.

Paul noted that players will be mindful of injury possibilities as days countdown to the opening game in Alexandria. “Most of the players are mindful of it (injuries). We have been preparing for this a year plus now and everybody wants to be there when it starts in Egypt. Coach has doing a lot of mental work with us as well. He (Vranes) is not just a coach to us…but he’s like a father as well, always giving us pointers on different things on and off the field,” Paul said.