Defence Force coach Densill Theobald is optimistic that the quality being displayed in Tier 1 of the T&T Premier Football League will lead to improved results at the Concacaf Caribbean Cup level starting from the end of this season.
Theobald’s team lead the 12-team standings with 18 points from six matches, courtesy of a solid, attractive, and attacking style of play backed up with a tenacious defensive that has captivated the hearts of many. However, he believes the ultimate aim is the Concacaf Caribbean Cup and the World Cup Qualifiers.
Quizzed on whether the country can see the top local clubs moving on in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, Theobald said, “Yes, most definitely; we have been knocking on the door.
“If you look at the last two seasons of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, we had AC Port of Spain, we had Defence Force for the first edition, and both of them failed to qualify out of the group stages.
“And then we went on to the second year, where we had Police and AC Port-of-Spain, and both of them failed to come out of the group stage again.
“I think with the experience gained to date, those top three clubs now could go a step further in terms of coming out of the group stage, taking it one step at a time.”
Theobald said he is satisfied with the brand of football his charges are playing at the moment, but there is always room to improve.
“My philosophy and idea of football are always attacking, front-foot football. Always attacking and dominating possession and just being able to bring across the idea to the players over the pre-season period we had together, and now being able to see it being executed at the match level, it just augers well for what we can become and where we can go,” Theobald, who took over from Lloyd Andrews in a total staff shake-up, told Guardian Media Sports.
“Of course, we have a lot of work to be done, a lot of improvement to take place, but I am really happy with where we are at presently, and not in terms of results, but in terms of the players’ understanding my philosophy and idea and how we want to play in all forms of the game, which we have practiced assiduously on the pitch,” Theobald added.
Since he entered into the TTPFL as a coach, Theobald has pointed to the improved quality of football being exhibited by all teams, particularly his team, AC Port of Spain, MIC Central FC Reboot, and Caledonia AIA, among others.
“The football that is being displayed is good, and you would want to take into consideration the fields we play on are sometimes not conducive for football, but yet still, you’re able to see good football. At the same time, you have good coaches at clubs that are really making eye-opening impacts.”
“You look at Marvin Gordon at Jabloteh, doing a fantastic job with that bunch of players; you look at Jason Spence with the work he is doing at Central FC, and you watch Walt Noriega at AC Port of Spain, who continues to be a threat, and the attacking football that his players play tells you that the league is competitive,” Theobald noted further.
“You have Angus Eve at Club Sando. They didn’t get the best start, but you know Angus always has some tricks up his sleeve, and you know he’s going to bounce back and be a force to be reckoned with. You also have police always knocking on the door. They’re in a transition period, so they’re a bit inconsistent, but all of us as coaches and the bunch of players at our disposal, once we continue to work together and continue to make the league as competitive as it is presently, it will augur well for the league and the football heading into a World Cup qualification year with a lot of football internationally to be played.”