Nation needs to believe, says Lawrence

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence has urged the country to start believing in the national team, despite the huge task they face in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
T&T lie one from bottom of the six-team CONCACAF final round on three points, needing a strong surge to get into the top three in order to earn automatic qualification.
Finishing fourth would put them in a playoff and Lawrence called on the country to throw their full support behind the squad.
“We have to start believing as a nation that it can be done. Of course it is very difficult but it can be done,” the former national defender said of the qualifying campaign.
“We just need to get away from the idea that when it looks like it’s going to happen, then we get on board. Let’s get behind the boys now, let’s give them every single thing to try and get us there.”
The campaign appeared in crisis when T&T lost their two opening matches last November, going down 2-0 at home to Costa Rica and 3-1 away to Honduras.
Stephen Hart subsequently lost his job as head coach as a result and his successor, Belgiant Tom Saintfiet, lasted five weeks in the job before abruptly resigning last January.
Lawrence, a member of the historic side, which qualified for the 2006 World Cup, was handed the reins and in his first full international in charge, oversaw a 1-0 victory over Panama in T&T’s third qualifier last Friday.
The former Swansea City and Wrexham professional praised the fans for their part in that victory.
“I want to thank them for their efforts because they came and gave us everything,” Lawrence noted.
“They stuck with us and hopefully with the result, it can bring a couple more and we can continue to grow.”
Trinidad is preparing to meet confederation giants Mexico in their fourth qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday night.