Three key members of T&T football team to face Guatemala today in a World Cup qualifying match, Cyd Gray, Dwight Yorke and Dennis Lawrence (l to r) caught doing stretching exercises yesterday. Photo: Anthony Harris

BY GREGORY TRUJILLO

T&T’s most celebrated footballer, Dwight Yorke, will return to the “Soca Warriors” for the important World Cup qualification clash with Guatemala today at Hasely Crawford Stadium, from 5.30 pm.

Despite having to shrug off a niggling groin problem over the past couple days, the 36-year-old midfielder has expressed a feeling of excitement on his return to competitive international football against the Guatemalans.

Following yesterday’s final training session, Yorke said:

“I feel good about making a return and trying to help T&T again. Being here for the game against England brought back a bit of that desire again.

“Obviously, I thought about it, had a talk with Warner about it and here I am to representing my country again in an attempt to get to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.”

While Yorke passed his fitness test, Guatemala will be without one of its regular starters, Dwight Pezzarossi, who has been ruled out by injury.

Head Coach, Ramon Maradiaga has included teenaged striker Jonny Brown and overseas-based striker, Toronto FC’s deadly striker Carlos Ruiz, Chicago Fire’s Marco Pappa and Veracruz’s Fredy Thompson in his side.

The visitors arrived in TT on Thursday, following training sessions at Guatemala’s FIFA Goal Project Center, and in Fort Lauderdale, since the slim 1-0 defeat to the USA on August 20.

National coach, Francisco Maturana will have at his disposal a mixture of foreign professionals and locals.

Apart from Yorke, other surviving members of the 2006 World Cup squad in the T&T team include Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence, Avery John and Densill Theobald.

Young defender Julius James, who plays for Toronto FC, is likely to earn his first cap for the senior team, being the only player with the knowledge of the capabilities of Guatemala’s danger man Ruiz.

James has maintained a fixed spot in the Toronto’s team with a series of solid performances and is keen to do the same for T&T.

Coming off the loss to USA, means that the Guatemalans are in a must-win situation to stay alive. This puts pressure on them, especially playing away from home.

The Chapines’ finish let them down against USA and defender Carlos Bocanegra made them pay with a goal in the 68th minute.

For T&T, the match will be an important one to secure another three points, if it is to advance to second round early next year.

The “Soca Warriors” got a perfect start against Cuba with Petrotrin’s Keon Daniel netting a double and Cornell Glen scoring the other.

The match will not only be witnessed by a sellout local crowd, but also by several top world figures, who are here for the T&T Football Federation’s Centinnial Celebrations.

Heading the list is Brazilian Pele, who is still regarded by many as the greatest player to grace the football field.

Also here are FIFA president Sepp Blatter, former FIFA president Dr Joao Havelange, UEFA president Michel Platini and English FA chairman Lord David Triesman.

Today’s teams

T&T: Marvin Phillip (W Connection), Jan Michael Williams (Ferencvaros), Akile Edwards (Defence Force), Avery John (Miami), Keyeno Thomas (Joe PUblic), Makan Hislop (Petrotrin), Julius James (Toronto), Dennis Lawrence (Swansea), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland), Cyd Gray (Jabloteh), Keon Daniel (Petrotrin), Andre Toussaint (W Connection), Jason Scotland (Swansea), Cornell Glen (unattached), Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars), Dwight Yorke (Sunderland), Densill Theobald (Caledonia), Clyde Leon (Petrotrin).

Guatemala: Goalkeepers: Ricardo Trigueño (Petapa), Luis P. Molina (Jalapa)

Defenders: Gustavo Cabrera (AZ, Dinamarca), Luis Rodríguez (Xelajú M.C.), Yoni Flores (Marquense), Carlos Gallardo (Cremas), Carlos Castrillo (Cremas), Cristian Noriega (Municipal), Jaime Vides (Municipal).

Midfielders: Fredy Thompson, Guillermo Ramírez (Municipal),

José M. Contreras (Arsenal, ARG), Fredy García (Municipal),

Mynor Morales (Xelajú M.C.), Jean Márquez (Jalapa), Gonzalo Romero (Municipal), Abner Trigueros (Cremas)

Forwards: Mario Rodríguez (Municipal), Carlos Ruiz (Toronto F.C., CAN), Marco Pappa (Fire, USA), Johnny Brown (Heredia).