Belgian based Nicholas Dillon has been named in the 24-man squad announced by headcoach Dennis Lawrence yesterday for the April 17 friendly international versus Panama at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Dillon joined the national team in training on Wednesday and was a welcome edition.
“The team is shaping up nicely and with the addition of Dillon it gives us another huge option in the attack,” Lawrence told TTFA Media. “We did not expect many foreign based players to be available for this match as it fall outside the FIFA window, so when we got information on his availability it was an easy decision to have him join the training squad,” the coach added.
Dillon will have some familiar faces around him with several of his teammates from his days with the National U20 team also making it to the senior ranks. Justin Sadoo, Taryk Sampson and Kathon St. Hillaire all campaigned with Dillon at the 2017 Concacaf Championship in Costa Rica.
The biggest boost to the team will arguably be the additions of Daneil Cyrus and Cordell Cato who also indicated their availability for the match and will be arriving to join the squad today. Cyrus with 71 caps will be the most experienced player in the line-up just ahead of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip with 65. The versatile defender who plays for Juticalpa F.C. of Honduras will be aiming to play his part in maintaining T&T’s international “clean sheet streak” which now stands at four matches. Cato at the other end of the pitch will be eagerly seeking to add to his international goal count while giving the team some pace and trickery in the midfield.
With such an enticing line-up of youth and experience it will interesting to see the starting XI on match day but the aim of Lawrence is clear. He said, “A good team performance, will bring the result. That’s what I am looking for, a good all-round team performance. We have individuals with a lot of talent, even young Judah Garcia has been impressive in training but against an organised opponent like Panama, team is key.”
T&T will face Panama on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 7:30pm. Gates open at 5:30pm and tickets will be sold at the venue at a cost of $40.00 for Adults and Children Under 16 $20.00.
