Gary Griffith III, son of Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, is one of four uncapped players selected in a 28-man squad by national senior men’s football team coach Terry Fenwick, who left here on Friday morning for T&T’s remaining two Concacaf Group F Qatar World Cup 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
In addition to Griffth III, his Coleraine FC of Ireland club-mate Jessie Williams, former San Juan Jabloteh player Nickel Orr of Cyprus’ PAEEK, and former national youth player, Canada-born Luke Singh are the other players in the 28-man squad who are yet to make their international senior team debut.
T&T faces the Bahamas on June 5 in Nassau, and three days later they meet St Kitts/Nevis in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in two must-win matches as only the group winners will qualify to the next phase of qualifiers of next year’s World Cup.
As it stands, St Kitts/Nevis who meets Guyana on June 4, in their penultimate match leads the table with a maximum of six points from two matches, two ahead of T&T, while Guyana sits third three points followed by Puerto Rico (one) and the pointless Bahamas.
The other members of the team selected by former England international Fenwick, a winning coach at T&T Pro League duo, San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC includes goalkeepers Nicklas Frenderup (Ranheim), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), and Denzil Smith (W Connection);
Defenders Radaanfah Aby Bakr (free agent), Robert Primus (FC Bengaluru), Keston Julien (FC Sheriff), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic) who earns a first-call-up in close to five years, Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen), Aubrey David (Deportiva Saprissa), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven FC), and Noah Powder (Real Salt Lake); midfielders Duane Muckette (free agent), Michael Poon-Angeron (free agent), Andre Fortune II (Memphis FC 901), Daniel Phillips (Watford FC), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force), Judah Garcia (free agent), Khaleem Hyland (Al Batin FC), and Joevin Jones (Inter Miami FC) and forwards Levi Garcia (AEK Athens), Daniel Carr (FC Bengaluru), Ryan Telfer (Atletico Ottawa), and Jomal Williams (Metepan FC).
Among the players who were involved in the team for the opening two matches against Guyana a 3-0 win and the 1-1 draw with Puerto Rico and not called up this time are goalkeeper Marvin Phillip (free agent), defender Leland Archer (Charleston Battery), midfielders: Andre Boucaud (Maidstone United), and Sean Bonval (Central FC) and attackers Brent Sam (Defence Force FC), Willis Plaza (Mohammedan SC), Jabari Mitchell (Police FC), and Marcus Joseph (free agent) while Alvin Jones who has recovered from injury was not selected as well.
Following his team’s first two matches in the five-team qualifying group, Fenwick promised that he will be introducing some new faces to the team for the final two matches.
And over the past few weeks, close to 20 new players were rumoured to be among those being targeted inclusive of US Major League-based duo, Nick de Leon of Toronto FC, the son of former T&T legend, Leroy De Leon as well as FC Dallas’ Dante Stewart, the son of ex-St Mary’s College and national striker, Scott Sealy.
The others players on Fenwick’s wishlist for T&T play for clubs which campaign in the Dutch Eredivise, England Championship Division, France Ligue 1, England Premier League and Scotland's Premier League were Lille’s Kalie Auvray, Christian Phelps Norton (Stoke City), Tristan Albedeen Goodridge (Aston Villa), Tino Quamina (Arsenal), Michael de Shields (DC United), Shaq Moore (CD Tenerife)), Desevio Payne (FC Emmen), Rory Mc Kenzie (Kilmarnock), Danny Imray (Crystal Palace), and Deron Payne (LA Galaxy).
Also, the quintet of Rory Mc Kenzie (Kilmarnock FC) John Bostock (Doncaster Rovers), Ryan Inniss (Charlton Athletic), Kurtis Cumberbatch (Dover Athletic), and Tristan Abrahams (Leyton Orient).
However, no update has been provided on their status or commitment if any to join the T&T team.
The national team was expected to arrive in Miami on Friday afternoon and will overnight before connecting to Nassau on Saturday.
“Looking around the world of the players that are available, that have reached out to me that want to play and represent their national team, it’s been fantastic the response that we’ve had,” said an encouraged Fenwick. “I’m pleased to bring them together.”
He continued, “I’m delighted with the players that I’ve got on the ground in T&T as well. They’ve been brilliant. I love them to death. They have shown lots of professionalism.”
Looking ahead to the first match Fenwick said, “A lot of the training sessions we have had in T&T have been in preparation for when we meet the rest of the guys in the Bahamas so we can fast track to getting everybody on the same page.
“We know what the game plan is, ho we are attacking the game, how we are defending the game and that preparation is told to the players already in T&T to feed out to the guys coming in”, ended Fenwick.
It must be noted that three players were deemed unavailable for selection after each individual returned two consecutive Covid-19 positive results this week. The TTFA wishes them a speedy recovery and will continue to monitor their recovery over the next few weeks.
All other members in the contingent departing on Friday returned negative results. All members of the contingent will undergo PCR tests on arrival in Nassau and the recommended protocols will be continued to be followed through the duration of the trip.
Players and members of staff will be monitored by the medical staff under strict and relevant measures.
Additionally, players Luke Singh, Jomal Williams and Nicklas Frenderup will be available for selection only for St Kitts and Nevis encounter and will join the camp in Santo Domingo.
T&T team for World Cup qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Nicklas Frenderup (Ranheim), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Denzil Smith (W Connection)
Defenders: Radaanfah Aby Bakr (free agent), Robert Primus (FC Bengaluru), Keston Julien (FC Sheriff), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic), Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen), Aubrey David (Deportiva Saprissa), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Jesse Williams (Coleraine FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven FC), Noah Powder (Real Salt Lake), Luke Singh (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Duane Muckette (free agent), Michael Poon-Angeron (free agent), Andre Fortune II (Memphis FC 901), Daniel Phillips (Watford FC), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force), Judah Garcia (free agent), Khaleem Hyland (Al Batin FC), Joevin Jones (Inter Miami FC),
Forwards: Levi Garcia (AEK Athens), Daniel Carr (FC Bengaluru), Gary Griffith (Coleraine FC FC), Ryan Telfer (Atletico Ottawa), Nickel Orr (Paeek FC), Jomal Williams (Metepan FC).
Head Coach: Terence Fenwick :