T&T for Gold Cup camp in Florida

 PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago's national football team were leaving for a training camp in Florida yesterday ahead of the start of their campaign in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which kicks off this weekend in the United States (US).

T&T Football Association's (TTFA) technical director, Sheldon Phillips, says the camp will involve warm-up matches against teams which will be named today.

The players were rested over the weekend after an intense period of training under new head coach Stephen Hart, former Canada national coach.

"It's been good thus far. I look forward to working with him. I think everyone's enjoyed working with him (Hart), and his style of training," said England-born T&T international Justin Hoyte, who plays for Middlesbrough.

"I plan on giving 110 per cent and working with the players and staff. It's not going to be easy (however). We'll take it game by game and work on whatever weaknesses we may have."

Hoyte is part of a 23-man squad representing the Soca Warriors in the July 7 to 28 tournament in cities across the US.

Only five players remain from the squad that represented T&T at the Gold Cup in 2007 - captain Densill Theobald, Darryl Roberts, Seon Power, Jan-Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip.

T&T open their account against El Salvador next Monday at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, before playing Haiti in Florida and Honduras in Texas.