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As many as eight newcomers have been included in the Trinidad and Tobago men's football team for their friendly away to Bolivia on March 15. The team was announced today by the TT Football Association (TTFA), and features three players from the TT Under-20 team, which contested the just-concluded Concacaf Qualifiers in Costa Rica.
Eighteen-year-old Jamaican-based schoolboy talent Kaieem Lewis has also been included in the 23-man squad, which also sees Welsh-based defender James Lester, 19, and Polish-based attacking midfielder Elijah Cordner in the mix. Cordner sealed a deal with Rakow Czestochowa just last month. Rakow are in the Polish top-flight, and are also campaigning in the Europa Conference League.
The other players to receive first-time call-ups are Club Sando goalie Teshorne Ragoo, San Juan Jabloteh winger Jaheim Faustin (son of former Strike Squad player Marvin Faustin), attacker Addae Paponette and defenders Jaydon Caprietta and Adam Pierre, both of whom put in respectable performances for TT's under-20 team in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
With the Bolivia friendly being outside of the Fifa international window, interim coach Derek King will be sure to bank on the experience of players such as Ross Russell Jr, the Jones brothers, Alvin and Joevin, and the Halifax Wanderers pair of Andre Rampersad and Ryan Telfer. Joevin leads the current TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) scoring charts with 11 goals, but there was no room in King's final 23 for other in-form TTPFL players such as Teejay Cadiz and Tarik Lee (both ten goals), or the hard-working midfield pair of Rivaldo Coryat and Luke Phillips.
While the game is expected to be a tough exercise as Bolivia work towards their Fifa intercontinental playoff with Suriname on March 26, TT football fans may be eager to see what TT under-20 captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia has to offer on the international stage, to go along with playmakers Daniel David and Lindell Sween.
The TT team is expected to leave for Bolivia tomorrow morning (March 12). After the Bolivia friendly, the TT team will then play Venezuela (March 27) and Gabon (March 30) in the Fifa Series.
TT men's team to face Bolivia:
Goalkeepers - Jabari Brice, Jabari St Hillaire, Teshorne Ragoo.
Defenders - Jaydon Caprietta, Isaiah Garcia, Shervohnez Hamilton, Darnell Hospedales, Alvin Jones, James Lester, Adam Pierre, Ross Russell Jr, Jesse Williams.
Midfielders - Elijah Cordner, Daniel David, Jaheim Faustin, Derrel Garcia, Joevin Jones, Andre Ramerpsad, Lindell Sween.
Forwards - Kaieem Lewis, Addae Paponette, Kathon St Hillaire, Ryan Telfer.
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