Wednesday, September 3 2008

VETERAN Trinidad and Tobago central defender Dennis “Tallest” Lawrence is glad to be back with the squad as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Semi-Final Round qualifier against Guatemala at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

There were 12 of the 20 Soca Warriors called up by national coach Francisco Maturana in attendance at Monday’s training session at the Mucurapo venue, and the 34-year-old Lawrence stated, “it’s good to be back home.

“It’s good to see the boys again and (we have) to start preparing for a very important game on Saturday,” he added.

The six-foot-seven-inch tall Lawrence, who plays for Swansea City in the English Championship, noted that, as far as his season is concerned, “it’s still very early.

“We’re now adjusting to life in the new division,” he continued. “We’re now trying to find our feet and, hopefully, between now and the end of the season, everything will be alright.”

Regarding the atmosphere within the TT squad, following the August 20 victory in Cuba by a 3-1 margin, Lawrence said, “everybody has been together for a while now. Everybody knows (one another). We all understand the importance of the game on Saturday.”

But Lawrence affirmed that the TT team will be setting their sights strictly on their duel against the Guatemalans.

“All we’ll be doing is focussing on our game on Saturday,” he said. “The rest of the results, I think, can take care of (themselves).

“But it’s important that we focus on our game,” he added. “By no means, Guatemala is not going to come here and give three points to us.”

The other players at Monday’s session were goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, defenders Akile Edwards, Makan Hislop, Cyd Gray; midfielders Akeil Guevara, Densil Theobald, Anthony Wolfe and Clyde Leon; and the strike trio of Jason Scotland, Cornell Glen and Andre Toussaint.