T&T Olympic (Under-23) footballers, Juma Jamal Clarence, left, and Jerrel Britto go through a shuttle exercise at Tuesday’s practice session at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar. Photo: Anthony Harris.

Leston Paul will lead the T&T Under-23 (Olympic) football team which leaves T&T tomorrow on a 7.15 am flight via Miami for a three-match tour of Bermuda. A 19-man sqaud was announced by Yugoslav-born T&T coach Zoran Vranes after a friendly 2-0 win over a Combined Team at the University of the West Indies Ground, St Augustine on Wednesday night. However, that team was subject to change as Vranes and his technical staff were uncertain about a required US visa for defender Aubrey David. Should David fail to get the visa, then only 18 players will make the trip to Hamilton.

For the Under-23’s, Paul, who was captain of the T&T Under-17 and Under-20 at both Fifa Tournaments, and Curtis Gonzales scored a goal each. In Bermuda, the 55-year-old Vranes who helped the Under-20’s secure a historic first ever point at a Fifa finals after a 0-0 draw in their final group match with Paraguay, will use the matches as part of the locals players preparations for three tournaments. These tournaments include the Central American and Caribbean Games (Under-21), Pan American Games (Under-22) and 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers. In addition to Paul, the Under-23 team includes 11 players who were part of the national Under-20 team at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup held in Egypt in September.

These players include Glenroy Samuel, Andre Marchan, Jean-Luc Rochford, Juma Jamal Clarence, Akeem Adams, Sheldon Bateau, Marcus Joseph, Curtis Gonzales, Mekeil Williams, Daniel Cyrus and David. Also named in the squad are W Connection left back, Joevin Jones, the son of former Strike Squad player Kelvin Jones and teenage striker Jerrel Britto of Clico San Juan Jabloteh. During the three-match tour, T&T will play the Bermuda Under-23’s in two matches for the Bermuda Football Association Cup on December 28 and January 1 while the young Soca Warriors also face top Bermudan club Devonshire Cougars on December 30.

T&T U-23s squad

Glenroy Samuel, Andre Marchan, Nicholas Walker, Aubrey David, Sheldon Bateau, Jevon Morris, Stephen Campbell, Marcus Joseph, Trent Lougheed, Jerrel Britto, Curtis Gonzales, Mikeil Williams, Micah Lewis, Akeem Adams, Jean-Luc Rochford, Daniel Cyrus, Jamal Juma Clarence, Leston Paul, Joevin Jones.

Technical staff: Zoran Vranes (coach), Hutson Charles (assist coach), Cheryl Abrams (manager), Michael Williams (equipment manager), Ashton Mills (physiotherapist), Gilbert Bateau (trainer).