Trinidad game 'biggest of my career' – Khano
By Stephen Wright
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Team Bermuda: Players from the national squad gathered outside City Hall for an official send-off prior to this Sunday's first leg World Cup qualifier against Trinidad. They flew out yesterday.
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Photo Glenn Tucker
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Khano Smith has hailed Bermuda's World Cup qualifying clash against Trinidad and Tobago as potentially the most consequential of his international career.
The flying winger has experienced the heartache and pain of two MLS Cup final defeats with New England Revolution and countless crucial encounters with the Gombey Warriors.
But Sunday's match at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya will top them all – especially should Bermuda achieve the unthinkable and pull off a shock result in the Soca Warriors' 'own back yard'.
"If we can beat Trinidad the world of football would sit up and take notice of us – that has to be our motivation," said Smith.
"People all over the world will be taking an interest in this game considering Trinidad competed at the last World Cup in Germany.
"I'm viewing this match as the biggest game in Bermuda's history. If we can progress past Trinidad, a whole new avenue opens up for us and we will get the opportunity to face other big footballing nations such as USA, Jamaica and Cuba."
Kenny Thompson's hopefuls arrived in the Caribbean on the crest of wave yesterday following back-to-wins over Barbados at the National Sports Centre, and Smith believes the team's preparations could not have gone any better.
"There's definitely been a lot momentum building up going into the Trinidad game and we couldn't have had better preparations following our two wins over Barbados. The squad is in good spirits and we're definitely going down there looking to get a good result.
"Winning breeds optimism and we're on a pretty good run at the moment.
"I think our victory over Colorado Rapids a few months ago was a real turning point for us and I can't remember the last time we lost."
Thompson's defensive-looking squad suggests Bermuda will adopt a cautious approach to the first leg with even a narrow defeat representing an encouraging outcome. And Smith concedes mistakes will have to be at a premium if they have any chance of coming away with a positive result.
"I wouldn't say we're going down to the Caribbean looking to be overly cautious but we know we can't afford to make mistakes because a team with the quality of Trinidad will punish you," he said.
"We have to concentrate on what we need to do, but obviously they will have a lot of good players who we will have to pay close attention to.
"They have Premier League players but if we eliminate our errors and stick to our game plan we should come out of the game with something.
"It's going to be a red-hot atmosphere down there but I've played in a lot of pressure matches before so hopefully I'll be able to calm a few of the other boys down.
"If we can get a good result in Trinidad I know our supporters will flock to the National Sports Centre and create the same sort of atmosphere we had against El Salvador four years ago."
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Name: Timmy Figureido
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Bermuda Hogges and Somerset Trojans
* * * *
Name: Jason Williams
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Bermuda Hogges and North Village
* * * *
Name: Kofi Dill
Position: Defender
Club: Bermuda Hogges and North Village
* * * *
Name: Omar Shakir
Position: Defender
Club: Bermuda Hogges and PHC
* * * *
Name: Kevin Richards
Position: Defender
Club: Bermuda Hogges and PHC
* * * *
Name: Marquel Waldron
Position: Defender
Club: PHC
* * * *
Name: Kris Frick
Position: Defender
Club: Somerset Trojans
* * * *
Name: Antonio Lowe
Position: Defender
Club: Dandy Town
* * * *
Name: Damon Ming
Position: Midfielder
Club: Bermuda Hogges
* * * *
Name: Reggie Lambe
Position: Midfielder
Club: Ipswich Town
* * * *
Name: Meshach Wade
Position: Midfielder
Club: Hamilton Parish
* * * *
Name: Kwame Steede
Position: Midfielder
Club: Bermuda Hogges and Devonshire Cougars
* * * *
Name: Jemeiko Jennings
Position: Midfield
Club: North Village
* * * *
Name: Khano Smith
Position: Forward
Club: New England Revolution
* * * *
Name: Keishen Bean
Position: Forward
Club: Bermuda Hogges and North Village
* * * *
Name: Ralph Bean
Position: Forward
Club: Bermuda Hogges and North Village
* * * *
Name: John Barry Nusum
Position: Forward
Club: Bermuda Hogges and Philadelphia Kixx
* * * *
Name: Domico Coddington
Position: Forward
Club: Bermuda Hogges and Devonshire Cougars
