Sam nets hat-trick in Soca Warriors practice match

A SECOND half hat-trick from striker Brent Sam led the Soca Warriors to a 8-0 victory over a Tobago XI at the Police Barracks in St James, on Saturday.

TT are preparing for its first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Guyana in Dominican Republic, on March 25.

Marcus Joseph opened the scoring for TT with a penalty, before Alvin Jones doubled the advantage with a free-kick. Duane Muckette and Hashim Arcia also got their names on the scoresheet in the first half as TT had a comfortable 4-0 advantage at the break.

It was the Brent Sam show in the second half. He first converted from the penalty spot to make it 5-0, before Reon Moore made it 6-0. Sam netted two more goals to complete the scoring for TT.

TT have been targeting friendly matches against regional neighbours such as Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, but those matches have not materialised. Despite the final result, TT head coach Terry Fenwick said the Tobago XI had some positive moments.

"They've rallied, they've come across, they are part of TT and they have come across here with a very competitive side," said the TT coach. "They have done some good things in the game (and I am) delighted for them and we need to reciprocate and go back over there."

Fenwick added, "We've lined up so many friendly games that have gone under the bus. We've got to play somebody. We've got a World Cup qualifier coming up on the 25th. This is our preparation leading into it...we are speaking to the normalisation committee on a regular basis. They've got our schedules with teams that have confirmed (to play us) and we are waiting feedback from them."

Fenwick said he saw two or three players on the Tobago XI that had a lot of potential. He added he would like the Tobago players to start training with him.