“This is the best team that we have available with the majority being home-based players.” - Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach, Francisco Maturana

Monday, December 1 - Kingston, Jamaica:  Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach, Francisco Maturana, has made one new call-up to the National Senior Team to contest the upcoming Digicel Caribbean Championships in Jamaica next week.

St Ann’s Rangers striker Errol McFarlane, who has been on loan to Lebanese club Al Mabarrah, has been included in the 20-man squad which leaves for Kingston, Jamaica on Monday December 1 ahead of its opening Group A fixture against Grenada on Wednesday at the National Stadium.

McFarlane, formerly of Defence Force and Iceland club Breidablik FC is one of three strikers in the squad with the others being W Connection’s Andre Toussaint and Clico San Juan Jabloteh’s Cornell Glen.

Maturana is said to have presented McFarlane the opportunity in the upcoming tournament as he is impressed with the player’s physical presence and goal scoring ability. McFarlane netted Trinidad and Tobago’s goal in his last appearance in national colours in a 1-1 draw with Guatemala at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The 31-year old striker has four goals in eleven appearances for Trinidad & Tobago with three of those goals coming in the semi-final round of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Maturana, who will on Tuesday have his first session with the Trinidad & Tobago team since the 3-0 win over Cuba due to the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League schedule of matches, is optimistic and sees the importance of copping the regional title: “The Digicel Caribbean Championships is the most important football tournament in the region and as a regional powerhouse our goal is to reach the final and to win it.

“We know it’s going to be difficult because the big teams like Cuba and Jamaica who are not going to the World Cup will put together all their efforts and resources to try and win it. They will have a point to prove and we expect them to make it very difficult for the other teams including Trinidad & Tobago. And as hosts Jamaica will want to take the prize.

“This is the best team that we have available with the majority being home-based players. This is also a good experience and an opportunity for these players to prove that they are an alternative for the final round of the World Cup qualification next year.”

The only other overseas-based players in the team include Toronto FC defender Julius James and Miami FC’s Avery John who are both in off season and Hungary-based goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams who returned home last week as his club Ferencvárosi TC  is on a winter break. Puerto Rico Islanders’ defender Osei Telesford is also in off season while Khaleem Hyland is the other player attached to Belgium club SV Zulte Waregem

Maturana has kept faith in others who were part of the team for the DCC Stage 2 including Arnold Dwarika, Carlon Murray, Marvin Phillip, Clyde Leon, Seon Power, Makan Hislop, Cyd Gray, Keon Daniel and Aklie Edwards.

Following its opening Group A match against Grenada for, Trinidad &Tobago then travels to Montego Bay to face Barbados on December 5 and Jamaica on December 7. The semi finals and final action switches back to Kingston on December 11 and 14. Group B consists of defending champions Haiti, Cuba, Antigua & Barbuda and Guadeloupe.

Trinidad &Tobago’s 20-man Squad FOR DCC

1. MARVIN PHILLIP

2. JAN MICHAEL WILLIAMS

3. SEON POWER

4. CYD GRAY

5. MAKAN HISLOP

6. KARLON MURRAY

7, JULIUS JAMES

8. KEYENO THOMAS

9. AKLIE EDWARDS

10. AVERY JOHN

1I. AURTIS WHITLEY

12. CLYDE LEON

13. OSEI TALESFORD

14. KHALEEM HYLAND

15. ARNOLD DWARIKA

16. KEON DANIEL

17. ANTHONY WOLFE

18. ANDRE TOUSSAINT

19. CORNELL GLEN

20. ERROL MCFARLANE

For Digicel Championships match pictures and further information visit www.digicelfootball.com