T&T national Under-15 men’s football team rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 with defending champions Manchester City 2-2 in their opening match of the 2017 Cayman Airways U-15 Invitational Youth Football Cup at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Cayman Islands on Tuesday night.
The annual Cayman Airways U-15 Invitational Youth Football Cup is brought to you by the West Bay Sports Foundation and will run through May 2-7. Cayman Airways Limited has generously returned as title sponsor, with major support from the Cayman Islands Government through the Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport.
At the end of Friday’s round-robin, the three group winners and the best second placed team will advance to Saturday’s semifinals ahead of Sunday’ final and third place playoff.
Meanwhile, the T&T team also won a trip to Stingray City courtesy of captain Captain Marvin’s Watersports Ltd. wThis after T&T won with a total of 375 likes and 176 shares on Facebook by saying no to bullying.
Following yesterday’s off day, the Russell Latapy-coached T&T team returns to action today against Houston Dynamo Academy from 5pm (6pm TT time today) at the Ed Bush Sports Complex before closing out round-robin group play against another American club, in DC United at Ed Bush Sports Complex, on Friday from 8.30pm (9.30pm TT time).
Houston Dynamo Academy and DC United also drew 2-2 in their opener on Tuesday to leave all four teams level on a point each and same goal-difference heading into the second day of matches.
Speaking ahead of the team’s departure for Cayman Islands on Monday, Latapy who has been conducting training sessions with the players since mid-February said he was anticipating the chance to see his young troops in action away from home.
“This is a very exciting occasion for all of the players in this team,” Latapy said.
“For many of them, it is their first time playing a football match away from home and more importantly, representing their country which is every footballer’s dream. It is going to be a good test for them to see how they relate and respond to everything, from doing the right things on the training field, being away from home and all the conditions related to football on an international level. This is why having them out here is such an important thing and a wonderful opportunity for our young national footballers,” added Latapy, a former T&T captain and standout at top European clubs, FC Porto and Glasgow Rangers.
TUESDAY RESULTS
Houston Dynamo Academy 2 v D.C. United 2
Cavalier S.C.(Jamaica) 4 v IMG Academy (USA) 1
T&T 2 v Manchester City 2
Cuba Federation (Cuba) 8 v Bahamas Tottenham 0
La Cieba F.C. 2 (Honduras)v Harbour View F.C (Jamaica) 0
Remaining fixtures:
Today
5:00pm, T&T v Houston Dynamo, Ed Bush Sports Complex
6:30pm, Manchester City v D.C. United, Ed Bush Sports Complex
8:00pm, Cayman National v Alchemy, Ed Bush Sports Complex
6:30pm, La Ceiba F.C. v Cuba Federation, Cayman Brac Sports Field
8:00pm, Harbour View F.C. v Bahamas Tottenham, Cayman Brac Sports Field
Tomorrow
5:00pm, IMG Academy v Alchemy, Ed Bush Sports Complex
6:30pm, Cayman National v Cavalier S.C., Ed Bush Sports Complex
8:00pm, D.C. United v T&T, Ed Bush Sports Complex
Saturday
Semi-Finals
6:30pm, GROUP A Winner v GROUP C Winner, Ed Bush Sports Complex
8:00pm, GROUP B Winner v BEST 2nd Place Team, Ed Bush Sports Complex
Sunday (Finals)
THE FULL UNDER-15 TEAM
Goalkeepers:
Jaheim Wickham (St Anthony’s College), Kahlil Oliver (Malabar Secondary);
Defenders:
Ephraim Brown (Pleasantville Secondary), Antonio Chee Ting (Trinity College East), Micai Peters (El Dorado West Secondary), Tristan Caesar (Pleasantville Secondary), N’Kosi Corbin (Belmont Boys Secondary), Daniel Lake (Mucurapo West Secondary), Luke Savery (St Mary’s College);
Midfielders: Jarique Williams (St Anthony’s College), Ezekiel Kesar (Naparima College), Jabari Lee (San Fernando East Secondary), Darian Bradshaw (Queen’s Royal College); Matthew De Souza (Trinity College East), Tyrese Pierre (Queen’s Royal College), Josiah Edwards (Brazil High School), Jaiye Sheppard (Scarborough Secondary), Zachary Welch (Fatima College);
Forwards:
Jean-Heim Mc Fee (St James Secondary), Justin Araujo-Wilson (Fatima College).