The Charleston Battery's Leland Archer, Forward Madison FC's Josiah Trimmingham and Indy Eleven's Neveal Hackshaw are among the selections to the Trinidad & Tobago National Team to face the United States on Sunday night.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – 2020 USL Championship All-League selections Neveal Hackshaw of Indy Eleven and Leland Archer of the Charleston Battery highlighted the squad announced on Wednesday by Trinidad & Tobago that will face the United States Men’s National Team in an international exhibition on Sunday night at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
Joining the defensive duo in the squad are North Carolina FC’s Dre Fortune and Memphis 901 FC’s Duane Muckette, while Forward Madison FC’s Josiah Trimmingham, Atlanta United 2’s Ajani Fortune and Rio Grande Valley FC’s Jonathan Jimenez were also selected.
“Going into Orlando we’ll obviously try to prepare as best as possible under the circumstances while we are there a couple days before the match,” said T&T Manager Terry Fenwick. “We’ve had some sessions here on the ground and it’s a case of putting everything together for a good showing. I have to mention the efforts of the Ministry of National Security, Health, the TTFA and everyone who’s put in the efforts to ensure we can get into our first international match of the year.”
Hackshaw earned his second consecutive Championship All-League selection for Indy in 2020 and brings extensive experience to the Soca Warriors squad. The 25-year-old has made 116 regular season appearances in the league over the past five seasons, logging more than 9,000 minutes of action, spending his first three campaigns with the Charleston Battery before joining Indy prior to the 2019 season.
Archer is coming off his strongest season yet in the Battery’s colors, meanwhile, which saw the 25-year-old earn his first All-League selection last fall. This offseason, Archer spent time training with at the Scottish Premiership’s Hibernian FC through the Battery’s new partnership with the historic club and could now make his senior debut on Sunday night.
“It’s an honor to represent your country at the highest level,” Archer said. “I’m definitely excited, but also honored to be chosen. The U.S. is obviously a tough Concacaf game, but it’s definitely more exciting than daunting because it’s one of the better teams to be playing against at this level.”
Trimmingham could make his second senior appearance for his country after featuring prominently for Madison in the 2020 League One season, where he made 13 starts for the Flamingos. Re-signed this offseason to return to Madison for the upcoming campaign, the 24-year-old is grateful for the support he’s received both at home and within the club.
“It’s great to have the support of everybody in both my country at home and at my team in Madison,” Trimmingham said. “Forward Madison has had a big role in this because playing for them helped me get selected.”
In addition to the current Championship and League One players named in the squad, former players including current Real Salt Lake defender Noah Powder – who claimed the 2019 USL Championship Final with Real Monarchs SLC – and former OKC Energy FC and Monarchs defender Alvin Jones were also named in the squad. Also selected is defender Michael DeShields, who was signed by League One side the New England Revolution II before being selected with the No. 5 pick of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United last week.
Trinidad & Tobago National Team Squad
Goalkeepers (2): Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Marvin Phillip (Neroca)
Defenders (10): Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Noah Powder (Real Salt Lake), Michael DeShields (D.C. United), Leland Archer (Charleston Battery), Josiah Trimmingham (Forward Madison FC), Alvin Jones (Unattached), Federico Pena (Valour FC), Justin Garcia (Defense Force), Jesse Williams (Coleraine FC), Jamal Jack (Sacachispas).
Midfielders (7): Dre Fortune (North Carolina FC), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901 FC), Jonathan Jimenez (Rio Grande Valley FC), Matthew Woo Ling (AC Port of Spain), Michel Poon Angeron (Banfield), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United 2), Hashim Arcia (Defense Force)
Forwards (5): Jabari Mitchell (Police Force), Gary Griffith III (Coleraine FC), Ryan Telfer (York United FC), Brent Sam (Defense Force), Sean Bonval (Central FC)