Courtesy: Sun Weekend


T&T drawn in tough Futsal group but ready for challenge

Saturday April 26 2008

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad & Tobago are bracing for a tough challenge at the CONCACAF Futsal final round qualifiers in Guatemala in June.

Following the draw on Monday, T&T found themselves grouped with host Guatemala, Mexico and Cuba in Group A at the eight-team, five-a-side Championship which runs from 3-8 June.

Defending CONCACAF champions USA are in Group B with Costa Rica, Panama and Haiti.

“From the start I had always said that based on the teams in the draw, both groups were going to be tough,” T&T coach Clayton Morris said.

“But I must say I’m feeling much more comfortable in playing the teams in our group because we have faced some of them in the past and know what to expect in terms of style.”

He continued: “We have played the Mexicans before and have a fairly good average of what to expect from them now.

“Whereas the Cubans, who have reached the last three FIFA Finals, had invited us for a series of friendlies after we won the CFU title last month but we declined the offer because we wanted to wait and see what the groupings would be like. Now we see that we made the right choice.”

T&T will meet Guatemala in their Group A opener on 3 June, followed by matches against, Cuba and Mexico on 4 and 5 June respectively.

Only the group winners and second placed teams will advance to the semi-finals carded for 7 June, while the third placed match and final will be played a day later.

The eight-team CONCACAF tournament will qualify three teams to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil from 30 Sept., to 19 Oct.

In preparation for the tournament, Morris said that the technical staff had put a programme.

“We are keeping the players match fit, but going to different communities with indoor facilities and playing warm-up matches against select teams,” he noted.

“We started last week in Central and had a 10-1 win and tomorrow (Saturday) we will be in Pleasantville.

“Our staff has also planned matches for Tobago, Point Fortin, Port of Spain and then at Maloney before heading to Brazil for a one-week camp on 25 May.

“During the camp in Brazil we hope to play at least three matches before going directly to Guatemala at the end of the month.”

This is the first time since 1996 that the CONCACAF tournament will be held in Guatemala.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com