Club Sando duo defender Jaheim Joseph, 22, and midfielder Daniel David, 23, have been added to the T&T Soca Warriors squad by coach Derek King for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League A Group A matches on Thursday (September 24).
The Soca Warriors, who were due to assemble in Kingston, Jamaica, yesterday, will open their campaign away to 2026 FIFA 2026 World Cup participant, Haiti, at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday, from 8.20 pm (7:20 pm T&T Time).
The Soca Warriors will return home to host the Dominican Republic on Sunday (September 27), at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, from 9 pm. T&T will then meet another World Cup participant, Curacao, on October 1, at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad, Curacao. The return leg is on October 4, in Port-of-Spain, from 6 pm.
Meanwhile, the addition of players Joseph and David, both seeking their first national cap, featured prominently for Club Sando during their successful run into the semifinals of this year’s Concacaf Caribbean Cup semifinals phase, where they will face Jamaican Mount Pleasant Football Academy, the reigning champions.
Joseph and David make it four players from Club Sando called up to the team, joining uncapped Luke Phillip and goalkeeper Jabari Brice, who were named in the original 23-man squad last week.
Joseph and David’s inclusion comes due to the unavailability of USA-based defender Kobi Henry for the first two matches because of his involvement with Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake’s push to qualify for the playoffs, while 23-year-old forward Roald Mitchell, who was loaned to Danish Super Liga’s Viborg FF by Red Bull. New York earlier this year, and Nathaniel James of North Texas SC, the latter two have been considered to have long-term knee injuries.
Speaking on the team’s arrival in Kingston yesterday, King said, “I think it’s really nice, and I think we are very excited to be in Jamaica somewhere we spend a majority of time playing against Jamaica. I think it’s important with this group. We have a really good group here with Levi Garcia, Spicer, (Tyrese), and Fredericks (Wayne).”
With regard to the injuries and withdrawals from the team, James and Mitchell King stated, “As a coach and a staff, you pick a team two weeks before a tournament, and then every weekend you’re watching to make sure that your players play well and there are no injuries. But, unfortunately, we had a few of our players get injured, but we more or less have 90 percent of the guys, and I think the ones who are coming in to do the replacement will do well, and they are excited for this opportunity.”
King also welcomed the addition of former T&T goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and ex-Jamaican assistant coach and assistant manager Merron Gordon to his technical staff.
He said, “Merron and I went way back. Merron had been around the Jamaica national team for quite some time, and we are playing against Haiti in Jamaica, so I think he will add that quality that will start bringing a different eye to the game, and also Jan-Michael (Williams), a former national captain there as well. I think Jan-Michael will bring a difference to the goalkeeping departments and also the defensive set piece.”
In responding to the team’s preparation, King said, “I think we are excited with the bunch. We had a hard conversation with some of the players, so they are eager, and they know the importance of this game, and they know we need a good start, and they know it’s very important. Haiti is a very good team, but as I said, we respect them, but we are not afraid of them.”
King will go into Thursday’s match still in search of his first win as coach, having gone winless in his first six matches since taking charge of the team first on an interim basis and then permanently in May.
He stepped in as interim coach in March and T&T was beaten 3-0 by Bolivia in his opening match before he was officially appointed to the position two months later.
In his next assignments, T&T went under to Venezuela 4-1 in the FIFA Series 2026, and a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat to Gabon following a 2-2 draw, along with 5-0 and 3-0 defeats to Korea Republic and Russia in their last friendly matches in June.
T&T also suffered a 1-0 loss to United Soccer League (USL) Championship outfit Orlando City SC in July, but that match was not deemed a friendly international.
T&T Concacaf Nations League squad
Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice (Club Sando/T&T), Jahiem Wickham (Charlotte FC/USA), Denzil Smith (AV Alta FC/ USA)
Defenders: Deron Payne (FC Volendam/Holland), Kobi Henry (Real Salt Lake/USA), Kieran Ngwenya (Rotherham United FC/England), Josiah Trimmingham (Phoenix Chapelton Maroons FC/Jamaica), Andrew De Gannes (St Louis City FC/USA), Rio Cardines (Bristol City FC/England), Justin Garcia (Defence Force FC/T&T), Noah Powder (Westchester SC/USA), Jajeim Joseph (Club Sando/T&T)
Midfielders/Attackers: Daniel Phillips (Stevenage FC/England), Luke Phillip (Club Sando FC/T&T), Levi Garcia (Panathinaikos FC/Greece), Reon Moore (Defence Force FC/T&T), Tyrese Spicer (Orlando City SC/USA), Wayne Frederick II (Colorado Rapids/USA), Dante Sealy (CF Montréal/Canada), Dantaye Gilbert (FC Baník Ostrava/Czech Republic), Daniel David (Club Sando/T&T), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers FC/Canada), Real Gill (One Knoxville Sporting Club/USA), Molik Khan (Vanspor FK/Turkey), Ryan Telfer (HFX Wanderers FC/Canada)
Haiti names strong squad for CNL
Newly installed Haiti coach David Badia of Spain has named the same 23-man squad which contested Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada under previous coach Sebastien Migne for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches later this month.
At the World Cup, the Haitians, ranked 88th in the world by FIFA was edged out by Scotland 1-0 in their opener before further defeats against Brazil 3-0, and Morocco 4-2.
Haiti which faces T&T on Thursday, drew 1-1 at the Concacaf Gold Cup in the USA on June 19 last year.
Overall, T&T and Haiti have meet in 41 all-time official matches with T&T winning 17, Haiti 16 and eight drawnsults.
Haiti squad
Goalkeepers: Alexandre Pierre, Josue Duverger, Johny Placide
Defenders: Carlens Arcus, Duke Lacroix, Garven Metusala, Hannes Delcroix, Jean-Kevin Duverne, Keeto Thermoncy, Martin Experience, Ricardo Ade, Wilguens Paugain,
Midfielders: Carl Sainte, Danley Jean Jacques, Dominique Simon, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Woodensky Pierre
Forwards: Derrick Etienne, Duckens Nazon, Frantzdy Pierrot, Josue Casimir, Lenny Joseph, Louicius Deedson, Ruben Providence, Wilson Isidor, Yassin Fortune
Coach: David Badia
