Former England youth captain cleared to play for T&T
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC): FORMER ENGLAND under-17 captain John Bostock has been cleared to represent Trinidad and Tobago as they begin preparations for Friday’s opening game of the CONCACAF World Cup final round of qualifiers.
Bostock, who represented England up to under-19 level, is now eligible to play for the Soca Warriors based on official clearance received by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) from FIFA on Monday.
London-born Bostock, 24, cannot play for any other country from now on based on FIFA rules for players switching nationality.
“It’s good news for us,” T&T head coach Stephen Hart, said while thanking the TTFA for securing the necessary documentation for Bostock.
“Obviously, it’s been a long time for this to come through, going back to March, and I would like to thank the FA for taking all the necessary steps and seeing it through to the end.”
Since leaving England, Bostock has enjoyed success in Belgium and has helped OH Leuven gain promotion and is now seeking to lead RC Lens back to top-flight football in France.
Bostock, whose father is Trinidad and Tobago-born, was in line to make his T&T debut during the semi-final rounds of the qualifiers but was delayed due to problems with his paperwork.
He was among several players absent on Monday when the squad started its preparations for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica but is expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday.
T&T follow up their Costa Rica fixture by clashing with Honduras in a difficult away trip to the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula on November 15.