Senior Soca Warriors captain Aubrey David says their friendly contest against Saudi Arabia represents a crucial opportunity for players to stake their claim as Trinidad and Tobago look ahead to the Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary playoffs against Cuba in March 2025 and the resumption of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.
In other words, David made the message clear—every player has to prove themselves again as they start a clean slate under recently appointed Head coach Dwight Yorke.
Tuesday’s friendly in Riyadh will be Yorke’s first assignment in charge, and David has reminded members of the 23-man squad what is at stake.
“I think everyone has to apply themselves. It's a new coach. Everyone is starting from zero, and everyone has to prove themselves. You have to show your worth and express yourself on the football field,” David said in an interview with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) media.
David also highlighted the importance of focus and consistency as he encouraged his teammates to seize the moment.
“I think it's important for everyone to stay focused so we can continue to lift the bar. As each and every one of us comes back with more quality, it augurs well for the team and it augurs well for the country as well,” he noted.
With Yorke aiming to implement his philosophy and strategies on the team, David believes these early matches are vital to building cohesion under the new leadership.
“(These types of games) only augur well for the group and the players. We gain experience, and we get to learn under the new coach and in a friendly environment where he can implement his ideas and we can learn as the time goes by,” David said.
“When March comes around and we play our first game against Cuba, we're going to know what we're about, and we're going to be a good group,” he added.
Though the friendly comes at an exciting time for Saudi Arabia, who were recently announced as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup, David is more focused on his squad with hopes that players will make the most of the opportunity to showcase their talent on a global stage.
“It will do the world of good for us to play against a team going to host a World Cup. It is for us to apply ourselves because you never know who's watching the games. I think everybody just needs to go and showcase what they can do,” he ended.