Trinidad and Tobago Futsal Squad Primed for Concacaf Championship

AC Port of Spain and Defence Force Players Lead Charge as National Team Sets Sights on FIFA Futsal World Cup Qualification

For the upcoming Concacaf Futsal Championship in Managua, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago’s Futsal team, under the guidance of Head Coach Paul Decle, is gearing up with a robust selection of 14 players. This tournament, set for April 13-20, is  a crucial stepping stone towards the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year in Uzbekistan.

Main picture: Che Benny – source of the image: SportsMax

Among the standout selections is midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron from AC Port of Spain, a team that has become a nurturing ground for top-tier talent in the Trinidad and Tobago football scene. Poon-Angeron, at 22, already boasts over ten appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago senior national team, the Soca Warriors, including pivotal games during their impressive quarterfinal streak in the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League A. Despite his burgeoning career, he faced disappointment in not making the cut for the Copa America play-in match against Canada following a friendly against Jamaica.

Joining Poon-Angeron from AC Port of Spain are teammates Sedale McLean, a dynamic playmaker; Che Benny, known for his creative midfield prowess; and Jameel Neptune, a versatile flanker making a strong return following a leg fracture sustained in a match against 1976 FC Phoenix last December in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL).

The squad is further bolstered by a quartet from the Defence Force, the reigning champions of the TTPFL’s tier one. This includes Jelani Felix, Dylon King, Darius Ollivierra, and Matthew Woo Ling, all of whom have earned their spots under Decle’s strategic eye and the assistantship of Clayton Morris. Veteran player Jerwyn Balthazar, at 41 and a former captain for Defence Force, adds invaluable experience to the team roster.

The Trinidad and Tobago squad is placed in Group C, alongside formidable teams from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and the United States. The tournament format will see the top two teams from each of the three groups, plus the two best third-placed teams, advance to the quarterfinals, keeping the competition fierce and the stakes high.

The Concacaf Futsal Championship is not only a prestigious event in its own right but also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The semi-finalists from this championship will book their tickets to Uzbekistan, aiming for global glory from September 14 to October 6, 2024. This adds an extra layer of ambition for all participating teams, Trinidad and Tobago included, who are eager to make their mark on the world stage.

Looking back at the 2021 edition of the Concacaf Futsal Championship, it was Costa Rica who emerged victorious, clinching their fourth title by defeating the United States in a gripping final. Guatemala secured the third spot, edging out Panama. As Trinidad and Tobago prepare to depart for Managua this Thursday, anticipation and hopes are high for a successful campaign that could pave their way to Uzbekistan.

Trinidad and Tobago Futsal Squad for the Concacaf Championship includes goalkeepers Kelvin Henry and Andre Marchan; field players Jerwyn Balthazar, Che Benny, Jelani Felix, Shane Hospedales, Dylon King, Sedale McLean, Jameel Neptune, Darius Ollivierra, Kareem Perry, Michel Poon-Angeron, Adrian Welch, and Matthew Woo Ling. With this lineup, the team looks to blend experience with youthful dynamism, aiming for a memorable performance in Nicaragua.

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