TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Under-14 boys’ football team is expected to go into a residential training camp in Couva next week before shifting base to Tobago ahead of its opening Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U14 Challenge Series tournament tie against Aruba on August 17, at Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The hosts are grouped alongside Jamaica, Martinique and St Kitts/Nevis as 24 Caribbean nations chase CFU U14 glory.
A TT Football Association (TTFA) statement on July 27 said former 2006 World Cup midfielder Densill Theobald has been overseeing the team’s preparations as head coach, with the squad coming out of the TTFA High Performance programme.
Theobald expressed gratitude to work with and lead the young team into regional competition on home soil.
“I think we have a good group of players. These are young players who have a desire to learn and develop and they are always eager for every opportunity. The opportunity for them to play in an international tournament at home is a massive experience they are all looking forward to,” he said.
Theobald, 42, said the boys have been training for quite some time using the High Performance programme and are eager to put themselves to the test in their first major competition.
“The boys are relishing the chance to test themselves against players from other countries. We’ve got a good group that will be competitive. They have all sacrificed a lot along with their families to get to this point,” the former TT captain added.
Like the boys, Theobald said, he is also in a developmental phase as head coach. He believes this tournament will be a good gauge for the team to see how they’ve progressed over the past few months.
“We always want better as coaches and staff and therefore I will tell you that we have to continue working and developing but this tournament will provide a proper measuring stick for us.
“We will see where we need to improve as a team and where the players themselves also need to keep working on areas of their game that need improvement.”
Theobald also applauded the association’s High Performance programme for providing a platform for a young, aspiring coach to continue to grow and develop.
“More importantly it is allowing me that opportunity to pass on my knowledge and experience and to play a part in nurturing the next generation of international players here.”
The tourney kicks off from August 16-25. Full details on the tournament including groups and fixtures will be announced in due course by CFU.
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