National senior men's football team interim coach Derek King will make a few changes to his starting team for Tuesday’s CONCACAF Nations League clash with French Guiana at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, from 7 pm.
King, who was appointed after the T&TFA and head coach Angus Eve parted ways in July, told the media Monday (September 9) that he will make a change in his system of play after the Soca Warriors went down to a heavy 4-0 defeat to Honduras on Friday (September 6) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The changes are expected to provide the public with entertaining football, which King said the country needs right now.
T&T last played against French Guiana in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualifier at the DRV PNK Stadium in July 2021 and prevailed 8-7 from the penalty spot, a result that followed a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time.
Speaking before the team’s final training session before the team took the pitch, King said his team had done its homework and is ready for the contest. “We analysed our last game; we did some good stuff with the team. We did video sessions, and the players are eager; they’ve learnt from their mistakes, and I think, come tomorrow, the team will be ready to go,” King said.
He said, “We did some video sessions, and the players saw for themselves that they made some simple errors, and at international football, you don’t get away with some of the mistakes that you would make. I think the guys will learn from their mistakes; they are eager to grow, and they know how important the three points are tomorrow.”
King has been attempting to reverse the defensive style of football T&T played by his predecessor, which has not gone down too well with the local public. He told the media that though the game is won or lost on the day, he wants to satisfy the fans with attractive football.
“Knowing my philosophy, it’s important that we get a victory. We want to play entertaining football because I think T&T deserves a victory, so come tomorrow (tonight), the guys know the importance of the three points for us to have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals. The game is won on the day; we’re not underestimating any team, and I think it’s on the day you have to go out there and earn your three points, taking no team for granted,” King explained.
It will be only the second time in two years that the Soca Warriors will be playing at the Dwight Yorke Stadium. The last game on March 27 last year (2023) saw them being held 1-1 with Nicaragua, a result that enabled the Nicaraguans to top the group.
