Densill Theobald, the captain of the current national  team, even if he feels deep down that the upcoming slate of games will be an uphill task, still managed to put on a brave face with a broad smile.

He was speaking as the team arrived in San Pedro Sula for Saturdays friendly international against Honduras as both teams warm up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

“I think everyone is expecting us to come away second in these games. Playing in Honduras is never easy and for sure the crowd will be a big one and it will be a new kind of atmosphere for almost all the guys here. It will be tough and we can’t get away from that but we have to play football like we know it,” Theobald told TTFF Media. “You think it’s easy hearing everyone here asking for Dwight and the other guys they know about. Think about how the other players here are feeling. It could be easy to feel inferior for want of a better word.

"But I think it could bring out something different too in that the boys could be pumped up to try and achieve something good. Deep down we know it’s not the best team but we still want to work hard and get the best result. And we also still want to see the best team representing in the future so by playing well here maybe these guys will improve and also be part of the best team at some point,” Theobald went on.

Meantime, Honduras’ head coach Reynaldo Rueda expressed hope that his team leaves for the Gold Cup with a win after losing their previous friendly 2-1 to Venezuela. They did beat T&T’s Gold Cup opponents El Salvador 2-0 back in March though.

“We will take this as an important exercise because it is the first game with our whole team,” he told reporters. “It will allow us to see where we at right now and hopefully we can get a good result.”

Defender Sergio Mendoza suffered a thigh strain and his doubtful for the match while Carlos Pavon was also recovering from an injury and his presence in the match is unsure. Striker David Suazo also backed out of the team at last minute but Rueda refused to see it as a setback.

“We wish him all the best but we will not cry about it. The team has worked well and we will do our best in this game and in the Gold Cup.” (S Fuentes in San Pedro Sula, June 1, 2007)