Inspite of T&T being placed under a tropical storm warning in anticipation of Hurricane Ivan, this country?s national senior footballers and those from Mexico are all set for battle today in a CONCACAF Group ?C? World Cup qualifying match at Hasely Crawford Stadium, from 6 pm.
By Gregory TrujilloBoth teams could not train yesterday as had been planned because the stadium was closed.
Also, because of the closure of Piarco Airport, top T&T utility player Anthony Rougier, who just signed to play for a top club in China, joining Arnold Dwarika and Gary Glasgow, was stranded in London.
Rougier was still trying to get on a flight to return this morning but that seemed unlikely up to late yesterday evening.
T&T?s team is expected to show only one change from Saturday against St Kitts/Nevis with skipper Angus Eve coming in, having been forced to miss Saturday?s match because of suspension.
The rest of the team will be spearheaded by Birmingham City?s Stern John, who scored in the last minute to give the ?Soca Warriors? a 2-1 victory against St Kitts/Nevis.
Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Dundee defender Brent Sancho, Wrexham?s Dennis Lawrence, Falkirk midfielder Brent Rahim, Peterborough midfielder Andre Boucaud, China-based playmaker Arnold Dwarika and Southampton defender Kenwyne Jones are some of the other key players expected to be selected by coach Bertille St Clair to start the 90-minute encounter.
Mexican coach Ricardo La Volpe, who arrived with his team on Monday night aboard a special charter flight arranged by their government, has included prolific scorers Jared Borgetti and Jaime Lorzano, who both bagged four goals in their previous tie with Dominica, in-form striker Adolfo Bautista, scorer of a hattrick against the Dominicans, Daniel Osorno, midfielders Pavel Pardo of Club America and Jose de Jesus Arellano.
Coach St Clair has instilled in his players that there is no need to be afraid of the Mexicans, who are ranked eighth in the world.
?Although they are ranked eight in the world, it is 11 players against 11 when the whistle blows,? said St Clair.
The last time T&T met Mexico here was four years ago at Queen?s Park Oval when they teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the 2000 World Cup final qualifying round.
Prior to that, in a similar World Cup fixture as today, the home team recorded a 1-0 victory with the goal coming from then captain Russell Latapy.
After that win, the ?Soca Warriors? collapsed and were soundly beaten 7-0 in the away game by the Mexicans.
The teams:
T&T (from): Kelvin Jack, Angus Eve (capt), Marlon Rojas, Marvin Andrews, Brent Sancho, Andre Boucaud, Cornell Glen, Arnold Dwarika, Brent Rahim, Stern John, Errol McFarlane, Densil Theobald, Dennis Lawrence, Kenwyne Jones, Anthony Rougier, Clayton Ince, Derek King, Jason Scotland, Silvio Spann
Mexico (from): Mois Munoz, Oswaldo Sanchez , Carlos Salcido, Hugo Sanchez, Javier Rodriguez , Hector Altamirano, Salvador Carmona, Ismael Rodriguez, Gonzalo Pineda, Mario Perez, Pavel Pardo, Israel Lopez, Antonio Naelson, Luis Ernesto Perez , Jose de Jesus Arellano, Adolfo Bautista, Sergio Santana, Jared Borgetti, Daniel Osorno.
