Trinidad to play UAE in OSN Cup opener

Riyadh, Sep 4 (IANS): The Trinidad and Tobago football team will play the United Arab Emirates in the opening match of the OSN Cup here Thursday.

The OSN Cup is an inaugural four-nation tournament bringing together football teams from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, New Zealand and T and T as they vie for the coveted trophy, reports CMC.

The tournament is being organised by Asia’s leading pay-TV network, OSN and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

“I’m really excited about rejoining the national team,” said Trinidad and Tobago’s Finnish-based professional Ataullah Guerra who missed out on T and T’s Concacaf Gold Cup campaign in July due to visa issues.

“When I received the news that I was invited I was thrilled because I was unable to be at the Gold Cup and that was something I was looking forward to”.

Guerra will have his first chance to work under head coach Stephen Hart in Riyadh and is eager to make an early impression.

He will be hoping to bring a bit of flair and creativity to the T and T midfield which includes Racing Genk’s Khaleem Hyland and Orlando City’s Kevin Molino who were both in the Gold Cup squad.

“Hopefully we can continue getting better and have a good performance in Saudi Arabia also,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to doing my best for the national team again.”

More than 65,000 spectators are expected to watch the two-day tournament.

Two semi final matches will take place Thursday, followed by two matches Monday, where the winners will be announced.