Ailan Andrew Panton, the son of former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliams, is among national coach Shawn Cooper’s 41-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 championship scheduled for Guatemala next month.
Sixteen-year-old Panton, is also the son of former Jamaican senator David Panton, who was Fitzwilliam’s ex-husband.
Cooper has been overseeing preparations of the squad for the past few months and is now focusing on the final leg of the build-up and is expected to name his final team in early February.
In a release yesterday, Cooper said: “We’re coming to that phase of the preparations where precision matters and whatever we do is based on getting the best possible group of players in the final squad for the tournament.”
“Of course, there have been some minor challenges but this is not unexpected and we’ve worked around this so far. The next couple of weeks will be critical because we are also awaiting further information on the availability of some of the overseas-based players due to commitments with their teams outside. But the group in training now has been committed, disciplined and driven towards not just making the final cut but also competing when we get to Guatemala. I think the effort given by all the players and staff needs to be commended so far but of course, this is just the build-up towards the real thing in a few weeks so have to be switched on throughout,” he added.
T&T will open its campaign against Canada in Group F on February 11, before facing the USA on February 13 and Barbados two days later. After the Group stage, the top three nations in each group will advance to the knockout stage, joining the four 2022 CONCACAF U-17 Men’s Qualifiers (CU17Q) group winners: Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico.
The Round of 16 matches will take place February 18 and 19, at both venues, followed by the quarterfinals (February 21 and 22), semifinals (February 24) and Final (February 26) in Guatemala City.
All knock-out stage matches will be played in a single-match direct elimination format and the four semifinalists will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2023.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Ailan Panton (Darlington School), Jaden Ottley (Fatima College), Thane Devenish (St Benedict’s College)
DEFENDERS
David Hospedales (Trimont College), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s), Jaden Williams (Fatima), Joshua Figaro (Trinity College East), Josiah Connell (CIC), Kyron Joseph (Naparima), Yohance Atherton (Fatima), Darius Jordan (Fatima), Samuel Duncan (Charlotte FC), Jaden Chan Tack (South Plantation)
MIDFIELDERS
Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s), Derrell Garcia (St Benedict’s), Isaiah Jacob (St Benedict’s), Raul Perriera (Presentation College), Kade Collier (Fatima), Jeremiah Niles (St Benedict’s), Logan Maingot (Fatima), Nathan Quashie (QRC), Aydon Caruth (QRC), Tau Lamsee (QRC), Seth Hadeed (Fatima), Lindell Sween (San Juan), Jeremiah Cateau (HillGrove High School), Elijah Hicks (Home School), Armani Rowe (St Benedict’s Prep), Rio Cardines (Crystal Palace), Anayo Etumnu Jr (Northwood School), Dominic Wilson (Cumberland Valley HS), Kai-ReeceAdam-Collman (Crystal Palace),
FORWARDS
Malachai Webb (St Benedict’s), Vaughn Clement (Presentation College), Michael Chaves (Fatima), Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College), Jordan Ferdinand (St Augustine Secondary), Tyrell Moore (Mc Eachern High School), Brandon Dhanoolal (Irvington High School), Luka Hislop, Quinton Wilson (Toronto FC)