T&T senior men’s football coach Derek King is confident his players will finish the job of getting past Antigua and Barbuda in their second-leg Concacaf Nations League play-in towards qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup. The match kicks off at 8 pm tonight at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.
The Soca Warriors take a 3-2 first-leg victory over Antigua and Barbuda, earned at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St John’s, Antigua, on Thursday, into tonight’s encounter. With the away-goals rule in effect, the Soca Warriors, who snapped a 13-match winless run, inclusive of nine with King at the helm, will be eager to make it two wins on the trot.
The winners of the tie will advance to the March 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup second round play-in qualifiers.
Following his team’s final training session under hot and humid conditions at the match venue yesterday, which was graced by former national midfielder David Nakhid, a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, who had a brief chat with the players, King said he knows the encounter is important and is confident they will get the job done.
A relaxed King said, “We’re at home in our final competitive game, and we spoke to the players. We analysed our last game and took all the positives from our last game, and we continue to work on areas where we have to improve.
“I think come tomorrow (today) you will see a team that is willing to go out there and execute our game plan and win the game.”
Reflecting on his team’s 3-2 first-leg win, King said, “When we analysed our first game, what we saw when we led 3-1 at half-time, and we went out there in the second half, our discipline went and the structure was a bit off.
“So, I think the players know the importance of this game. It’s a good opportunity for us as we have a very young team, and it’s a step towards the Gold Cup, and I think the players’ game know it is important for us to go out there and give a good display of ourselves, for their family and the supporters because I know the supporters will be behind the team.”
Quizzed further on his team’s sloppy second-half display, which allowed Antigua and Barbuda back into the game with a late goal, King said, “We spoke to them concerning that in the second half, because that’s unacceptable at the international level. We have to play for 90-plus, and I think you will see a team that is really eager to go from the first whistle to the final whistle.”
Reflecting on his first win since taking charge of the team in March, following a run of nine international matches and one against US club team Louisville City FC, a relieved King said, “The first win is always important, as I said, I know it was coming, but some of the football we played in the past, unfortunately, it didn’t come before. But to me, as a coach leading this team, I was a bit disappointed, especially with the second half. But we cannot cry in the face of the Lord.
“We went there for a victory, and we came away with a victory and come on Monday, we will see some good football from this young bunch and also qualify for the next round.”
Asked what threat the visitors will pose to his team, King, a former national defender, said, “When we analysed the Antigua and Barbuda team, we saw that on set plays they are very dangerous and also on counterattacks.
“We saw that they scored their first goal from a set piece and the second goal on a counterattack, and I think kudos to my backroom staff as we have been there working day and night to rectify those weaknesses and improve in those areas in our team.”
USA-based goalkeeper Denzil Smith of AV Alta FC will captain the team in the absence of Andre Rampersad, who was excused for the second leg along with clubmate Ryan Telfer due to prior commitments with their club, HFX Wanderers, in Canada. Smith echoed the views of his coach, saying they will not be taking their opponents lightly despite having won the first leg.
He added, “Antigua and Barbuda, I would say, is not a strong opponent, but it’s football, you know and we can’t take nothing for granted; it’s just as important as if we are playing against USA or Jamaica or Curacao.
“And come Monday (today), we’re going to do that because the boys are eager and excited. I think it’s a young bunch and I think the coaches are preparing us for the next World Cup cycle coming up, and everybody is eager and willing, and we just have to go out there and compete.”
With respect to being given the captain’s armband, Smith said, “For me, it’s a lot. At the age of 27, I never knew that I’d be the captain, but the coach gave me the responsibility to do it, and I’m going to make sure the boys go out there and put on a good show for us to get three points and move on to the next round.
“This is very important for us, you know, to go on to qualify for the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is the closest thing for us to the World Cup and it’s important that we be there come next summer.”
The T&T coach also made a plea for supporters to come out and back the national team, saying, “I think we need the support, you know, we need that 12th man behind us, because if you go, if you play football at any other country, you will see they have that 12th man behind them. We really need that, and I promise them we’re going to put on a good show.”
Teams
T&T
Goalkeepers: Teshorne Ragoo, Denzil Smith, Jahiem Wickham.
Defenders: Justin Garcia, Neveal Hackshaw, Shervohnez Hamilton, Jaheim Joseph, Déron Payne, Noah Powder, Andre Raymond, Kaihim Thomas.
Midfielders: Daniel David, Wayne Frederick II, Dantaye Gilbert, Molik Khan, Ali Kazim Nakhid, Luke Phillip, Michel Poon-Angeron, Steffen Yeates.
Attackers: Nicholas Dillon, Levi Garcia, Real Gill, Nathaniel James, Kathon St Hillaire.
Antigua & Barbuda: Shahoi Dorsett (gk), Amir Daley, Kylano Isaac, Sean Tomlinson, Dion Pereira, Thomas James Bramble, Quinton Griffith, Jahzinho O’Garro, Kayonte George, Leroy Graham, D’Andre Bishop, Jayden Martin (gk), Zaieem Scott (gk), Dajari Barthley, Shakore Simon, Tyrik Hughes, Raheem Deterville, Kemoi Walsh, Ashley Nathaniel George, Daryl Massicot, Brandon Satchell, Blavion James, Vaughn Jackson.
