Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker expressed little satisfaction with the performance of the Soca Warriors against South American side Peru at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday night.
By Shaun FuentesThe match ended 1-1 with Peru drawing first blood through Gustavo Enrique Vasallo in the 32nd minute, while a brilliant free-kick from Kenwyne Jones in the second half spared the blushes for the home side.
Speaking afterwards, the former Real Madrid boss said the team did not play up to standard in the opening half, but gave a better showing after the interval. He felt they showed too much similarity to the team which played during the first few weeks since he took over the reign as national team coach. And as such he wants them to pick themselves back up sooner than later.
?The first part was not good, the second part was better,? said Beenhakker.
?In the first half, we recognized that there were some problems in that we saw 11 players on the field, but there was no organisation or discipline.?
However, Beenhakker was relieved that the players got their acts together following the break, resulting in the near-capacity crowd having something to cheer about.
It was also the last game on home soil for star player Russell Latapy, who plans to hang up his international boots after the World Cup.
?The second part was much better? at least it was at that moment that it was our game. Most of the time we had ball possession."
While it is a trend to point fingers at the Soca Warriors? defenders, Beenhakker said they were not the culprits on that occasion. ?The problem was not the defence. In the first half, the problem was that we had no discipline and organisation in the midfield. I think with the same defence, we played the second half without any problems.?
Regarding the hamstring injury to Cornell Glenn, Beenhakker said it is a ?difficult situation? to assess at the moment.
The coach said the medical staff members have been continuously examining the striker, who has had to undergo MRI scans.
?It will be a process of about three weeks. I talked with him yesterday night (Tuesday) and I will give him the said three weeks to recover and, at the same time, I will travel with 24 players to England.
Beenhakker also lauded Jones, whose strike brought the crowd to their feet.
He reiterated that the youngster was responsible for helping the Soca Warriors qualify for the play-off spot against Bahrain in the CONCAFAF/AFC showdown.
?Kenwyne is a very important guy for the team, which is why he was selected for the qualification matches. But I think it is not the right moment to say that Kenwyne will start the match against Sweden,? Beenhakker added.
The T&T team will next play Wales in Graz on May 27 before facing Slovenia there on May 31, Czech Republic in Prague on June 3 and then a final training match sponsored by eBay against German side FC St Pauli in Hamburg on June 5.
The ex-Ajax boss spent the better half of Thursday touring Tobago with the team as they completed the first leg of the nationwide roadshow. The day included a well attended rally at the Dwight Yorke Stadium and then a reception hosted by THA Chairman Orville London at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel. FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was also special guest at both events.
Yorke, speaking at the rally said it was an emotional period for him.
?I hope and pray that the Soca Warriors encourage you all in whatever endeavour that you set out to achieve in your lives,? Yorke told the gathering which included several school students. ?It?s all about hard work and that?s what I was brought up on. I want to thank everyone for being here with us through the good times and the bad times.
?This is a very emotional time for me because to come back in front of my own people especially Tobago which has been a very special place to me, I have so many fine memories being here and to stand in the stadium that is named after me gives me a feeling that I can?t even express to you guys. I hope that one day that my achievement will encourage the people of Tobago to continue to (strive) for success. On behalf of the Soca Warriors, members of the staff, the coaching staff, the Secretary, Jack Austin Warner, we want to thank you all for your support,? Yorke ended.
Tobago-born defender Cyd Gray also got loud applause as he and Russell Latapy presented gifts to the Tobago House of Assembly and London singled out Gray saying that very soon the Cyd Gray Stadium will be opened to the public.
With the likes of BBC, Sky Sports, ITV and Japanese Fuji TV on hand, the culture of the island was also on display with steelpan, folk dance and speech dance presentations were part of the programme.
Security later had to escort several of the players as they were heavily mobbed by fans as they made their way to the bus before departing the Yorke Stadium on their way to the Tobago Hilton.
