Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Aurtis Whitely, captain of the Trinidad and Tobago senior football team, is very optimistic that his side can beat Jamaica in their friendly international game tomorrow at the National Stadium.

Whitley told The Gleaner in an interview following his team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday that, despite its youthfulness, the players are ready and rearing to go.

"We are very confident at the moment," said Whitely. "We just defeated El Salvador in our last friendly game and so coming into this game we are going to try our best and make sure that when we go out there, we play to the best of our abilities and enjoy the game.

"This team is still a very young team. However, we are going to put our best foot forward and see how best we can win this friendly game."

Hard to beat at home

Whitely also noted that he is aware of the danger the Reggae Boyz possess and that they are very hard to beat at home.

"We know that they are a strong team," Whitely pointed out. "It's going to be hard to beat the Jamaicans at home, but God is great so we are just going out there to play the game and put our faith in the Lord."

In 30 games between the teams so far, the edge belongs to the Reggae Boyz who have won 13 games, with 11 going to the Soca Warriors. Six have ended in draws.

Trinidad and Tobago are yet to win an away game against Jamaica.

Despite this, Whitely said: "Our supporters here can expect a wonderful game from us because we come here to play football and we are not going to lie down and let them beat us."

Meanwhile, two of Trinidad and Tobago's top players, the Sunderland pair of giant forward Kenwyne Jones and midfielder Carlos Edwards, did not arrive with the team and will not take part in the contest.

Word from the team is that Jones is sick and Edwards has a groin injury.