Friday, July 4 2008

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Under-17 captain, Yannick Ottley believes that his team will successfully defend their Sir Garfield Sobers School Boys Under-19 title in Barbados next month.

The team finished their training camp at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva, yesterday with the players keen to start the tournament.

“The team is confident with everyone backing each other, currently the confidence level is very high and with the new guys in the team giving extra effort” said Ottley.

Trinidad and Tobago has retained two players from the championship winning side —Darron Beekah and Marcelle Jones while most of the squad has graduated to the national under-19 team.

“The chance of us winning the tournament is very good, everyone will be looking to put their best foot forward. There is no doubt that we have the talent and I am sure we can bring the title back to Trinidad and Tobago” said Ottley.

However the national under-17 captain admitted that there was a bit of pressure on the squad to win the tournament after the convincing performance of last year’s team, but noted that all the players have been performing in practice and will return home victorious.

He added that the burden of captaincy has been going very well due to the support he has been receiving from the coach, manager and teammates.

“The captaincy is going very well and I am setting a proper example and I know that the guys will work hard and follow suit. Captaincy has not been tough because the coach and manager have been guiding me and my teammates have been very supportive. Our preparation has been very good even though we have only been together for one month but we will be going to Barbados as a team and the guys are excited and they want to play cricket and do the country proud” said Ottley.

The St Mary’s College student explained that the team has gelled during their training camp and are a close group and is one of the advantages they will hold at the tournament.

“I think our strong point is the support shown by every teammate. We will be moving to Barbados as one unit because the guys are very close. Everyone has played against or with each other at zonal or school level and we will be going to do our country proud and bring back the title from Barbados” said Ottley.