U-20 Men push on with preparations
U-20 Men push on with preparations
With the Concacaf U-20 Men’s Qualifiers in Costa Rica drawing closer, Trinidad and Tobago U-20 Head Coach Marvin Gordon says preparations are progressing strongly as Trinidad and Tobago’s young footballers continue their build-up with purpose and intensity.
Gordon expressed pride at being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team at this critical stage.
“I’m honored to be given this opportunity to lead our national team. I’ve been in the trenches for a while now, working as an assistant coach at Under-17 and Under-20 level, and I welcome this opportunity to lead,” he told TTFA Media on Tuesday.
A former national player himself, Gordon’s journey reflects deep roots in the red, white and black. From representing Trinidad and Tobago at youth levels all the way to the senior national team, his transition into coaching has been built on experience, education and mentorship.
“My journey started as a player from Under-14, Under-17, Under-21 and then the senior national team. I made my senior debut straight from school under Bertille St Clair and Hannibal Najjar, and I played alongside players like Stern John, David Nakhid, Anthony Rougier, Jerren Nixon, Arnold Dwarika, Stokely Mason, Shaka Hislop, Shurland David Ansil Elcock and even Ross Russell,” he recalled.
That same Ross Russell would later play a pivotal role in Gordon’s coaching pathway.
“My coaching journey started in 2009 when Ross Russell gave me the opportunity to be his assistant at Defence Force. From there I kept moving forward, doing my B Licence, A Licence, Concacaf Licence, and here I am today.”
Turning attention to the current U-20 squad, Gordon is encouraged by both the talent and commitment on display in camp.
“The responsibility of trying to get Trinidad and Tobago to our next youth World Cup falls on this group. Over the last few weeks, things have been fantastic. This is a fantastic group of players. They’re working hard, buying into what we want to do, and we’re focusing heavily on preparing them physically and mentally for the tasks ahead.”
The U-20 pool currently features 32 players training locally, with additional overseas-based players expected to strengthen competition for places.
“Over the Christmas period we had about 42 players. We had some foreign-based players in camp and we’re expecting some English-based players to join us later this month so we can see how they fit into the puzzle.”
Gordon emphasized that selection will be challenging due to the depth available.
“It’s going to be very difficult when we have to pick the final team because everyone is honestly fighting for a place.”
Preparations have been holistic, with a clear emphasis on physical conditioning, mental strength and tactical awareness, supported by an experienced technical staff.
“We’re working on physical, mental and tactical aspects. I surrounded myself with a lot of experience — Ross Russell, Devon Jorsling, Gilbert Bateau, Dexter Thomas because international football demands experience.”
Several players from recent youth campaigns are also part of the current setup, including members of the previous U-17 and U-20 squads.
“We have Dominic Joseph, Caprietta, Adam Pierre, Derrel ‘Zum Zum’ Garcia, Ochoa, Lashaun Morris — all quality players. I don’t want to go ahead of myself, but this team has a real chance to take Trinidad and Tobago to a World Cup.”
The team has been testing itself through competitive local fixtures and is eager for international match exposure.
“We’ve been playing games against top local clubs like Defence Force, Club Sando and Port of Spain. But international games are always better, and these upcoming matches will really show us where we’re at. I honestly expect us to do well.”
As preparations continue, confidence is growing that this U-20 group has both the talent and mentality to compete strongly on the Concacaf stage and keep Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup ambitions alive.
The tournament will take place from Feb. 23 to March 4, 2026, across three venues in Central America and the Caribbean.
The 32 participating men’s U-20 teams were split into two groups of six and four groups of five. T&T face hosts Costa Rica, Bermuda, Barbados and Sint Maarten.
After round-robin play, the first-place team from each group will advance to the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, joining the six top-ranked nations that are pre-qualified directly to the tournament.
