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Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s football team winger, England-born Rio Cardines, says he is ready for the tough 2026/2027 Concacaf Nations League A Group A schedule, which kicks off Thursday (September 24).
T&T, which is coached by Derek King, will face Haiti at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, with an 8.20 pm kickoff (7:20 pm TT time), before hosting the Dominican Republic on Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain.
The two-week international period came about after FIFA scrapped the late October international window, stretching the early-season break to almost three weeks with extra fixtures in late September.
According to FIFA officials, the change is intended to reduce shuttling between clubs and national teams.
Commenting on the matches, Cardines, speaking from the team camp in Kingston, said he was really excited about the situation.
He said, “I just love playing football, especially to have four games in one camp, which is really great, a bit tough, but nothing we have ever seen. I’m really excited, and it’s good to be back with the team. It’s been a while since our last camp, so I’m really looking forward to playing.”
Cardines, who last featured for T&T against Uzbekistan in the FIFA Series earlier this year against Venezuela and Gabon, said his desire to represent the national team really comes from his family and knowing he can represent his country.
Asked about the off-field distractions that surrounded T&T’s participation in the CNL with regard to unpaid salaries and the potential players’ boycott of the team, Cardines said, “Everything is in shape; everything is where it needs to be right now to encourage us for these games, so I feel we’re in a good position, and we just need to really work hard and take these games.”
With respect to the Haitians, the T&T winger said, “Haiti is a very strong opponent; we know them. We played them in the Gold Cup (Concacaf) over a year ago. We know they’re strong, physical, quick, and direct, so we just look to match them, play our game, and hope to get the win.”
Reflecting on his loan switch to England Championship Division side Bristol City from Barclays Premiership club Crystal Palace, the 20-year-old Cardines, who has tallied six assists in eight matches, said it has been an amazing past three to four months.
“It’s been a lot, my Premier League debut, lifting a European trophy, going on to Bristol City, and topping the league with assists and chances created. It’s just been really, really high,” he explained.
Cardines added, “It’s always exciting for a new adventure, and the game time is obviously the main thing you want in football, so if that is to move away and search minutes, then that’s what it is. But I’ve really enjoyed my time at Bristol City, and I think it’s been a very good opportunity for me to play a lot of senior football and in a great league as well, the Championship. I would say I’ve been very lucky just to be at every team I’ve been at, and at Bristol City it’s a great group, like everyone’s really welcoming and warm, and everyone wants to win, so I think I’ve just done well.”
English (US) ·