Young footballers off to Tobago

The momentum is gathering as this country’s football authorities focus on the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

As part of this preparation to the world’s show-piece, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be among twenty countries that will participate in the Caribbean Football Union’s U-15 Invitational tournament in Trinidad and Tobago August 4-16. {{more}}

The tournament involves most of the CFU countries, and will see the teams spread into four groups, with the top finishers and the two best runners up advancing to the elimination phase.

The young footballers will pit their skills at the Centre of Excellence.

The local outfit includes, goalkeepers: Casey De Freitas and Ronnel Hunte.

The defenders are Jemuel Hutchins, Gemel Wiseman, Chad Balcombe, Dwight Clifton, Jeron DeRoche, Ezra Alleyne and Ronaldo Roberts.

Michael Collis, Ransil Badnock, Jua Charles, and Akeeno Hazelwood will carry the team’s workload in the midfield.

The striking power has been vested in Myron Samuel, Jim Ollivierre, Justin Stapleton, Odano Frederick and Imari Joseph.

Head Coach Zoran Vranes who had about one month to put the team together, said that the Trinidad and Tobago trip will be part of his “development process to 2010.”

The Yugoslavian-born Vranes although not expressing optimism of the team’s chances, remarked that the tournament would provide him with insight into the young talent available.

He hinted that his charges should also form the core of this country’s U-17 team to the World Cup qualifiers next year.

Apart from Vranes, the team’s management includes assistant coach Ralph Stowe and manager Rohan Thomas.

The team left for the twin-island republic last Wednesday.