Marvin Waldrop: U20s ready to battle at Concacaf Champs

TRINIDAD and Tobago Under-20 defender Marvin Waldrop said the team is prepared to battle for their country at the Concacaf Under-20 Men’s Championships in Honduras.

TT are in Group F alongside Mexico, Haiti and Suriname. TT will open their campaign against Haiti on Sunday from 6 pm.

TT will leave San Jose, Costa Rica on Friday morning following a training camp.

Defender Waldrop, speaking about the camaraderie in the camp, said, “Really a great group of fellas. (It is an) amazing experience playing against such great teams. We have everything - we have good pitches, we have good gyms, we have good trainers. It is just for us to deliver and work hard together.”

Waldrop said the players are ready to give their all.

“The boys willing to give their blood, sweat and tears for the country. We determined, we have the grit and we hoping to make everybody at home proud.”

Midfielder Josiah Wilson said, “Playing under coach Angus (Eve) and working with him is a great feeling because he is such a good coach and he motivates us to do better every training session.”

He said the camp in Costa Rica was rewarding. “I would describe this training camp in Costa Rica as tough because we are all working towards the first game and it is a very competitive team and we all have to work hard to earn a spot on the team.”

Wilson is anticipating the challenge of playing in the tournament. The top four teams in the 20-team tournament will qualify for the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia. The finalists will also earn a spot at the 2024 Summer Olympics.