Molino, Jones, Ranjitsingh eye return to MLS outdoor training

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T&T senior men’s international USA-based Major League Soccer trio Kevin Molino, Joevin Jones and Greg Ranjitsingh can begin to use outdoor team training fields for individual workouts, in compliance with detailed health and safety protocols that were created in consultation with medical and infectious disease experts due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Midfielder Molino and goalkeeper Ranjitsingh are attached to Minnesota United while Jones is a member of reigning champions, Seattle Sounders.

The Carenage-born Molino joined Minnesota United in January 2017, in a trade with Orlando City SC and made his debut on March 3, at Portland Timbers, has so far netted two goals in two matches this season and Scarborough, Ontario, Canada-born Ranjitsing is a back-up goalkeeper at the club, while Jones, who was also born in Carenage and returned to the Sounders in May 2019, to help the team to a second MLS title has competed in both the club’s matches before the lockdown.

The decision to allow players and their clubs to conduct outdoor team workout s was announced by Major League Soccer on Friday.

However, it was noted that all individual workouts are voluntary and may not be in conflict with local public health official or government policies.

By allowing players, voluntarily, to utilise team-operated fields for individual workouts, MLS clubs will be able to provide a controlled environment that ensures adherence to safety protocols and social distancing measures for players and staff.

The individual player workout protocol prohibits access to club facilities including but not limited to locker rooms, team gyms, and team training rooms. Team gyms and training rooms may still only be accessed by players receiving post-operative and rehabilitation treatment, as directed by the club’s Chief Medical Officer.

Before initiating any individual player workouts, every team must submit to MLS a club-specific plan that outlines how the team will implement health and safety protocols.

The release noted that each club will also be responsible for confirming communication of these protocols to players and team staff, and the league-wide moratorium on small group and full team training will remain in place through May 15.

Other USA-based T&T players who will be keeping an eye on the protocols being used by the MLS clubs include those attached to United Soccer League clubs: Alvin Jones (Real Monarchs), Andre Fortune (North Carolina), Leston Paul (Memphis 901 FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic), Triston Hodge (Memphis 901 FC), Cordelle Cato (OKC Energy), Kevan George (Charlotte Independence), Noah Powder (Real Monarchs), and Leland Archer (Charleston Battery), all in the United Soccer League Championship Division; Josiah Trimmingham (Forward Madison) and Luke Singh (Toronto FC) of USL League One; and the NPSL trio of Darren Toby (Rochester Lancers), Julius James (FC Motown) and Dwight Ceballo (FC Motown).

Further north, the list of T&T players features Canada-based Premier trio Akeem Garcia and Andre Rampersad, both of HFX Wanderers; Kareem Moses (Edmonton FC) along with those closer to home, in Central America inclusive of El Salvador-based Premier Division trio of Jomal Williams (Isidro Metapan), Jamoul Francois (Independiente) and Jamal Jack (Jocoro) as well as Mekeil Williams of Guatemala’s Municipal of Liga Nacional; and Aubrey David of Costa Rican powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa.

For national defender Sheldon Bateau his KV Mechelen club will have to look towards the 2020/2021 season whenever it starts after the Belgium Football Federation cancelled the remainder of the Belgian First Division A 2019/2020 campaign.

Last month, the Belgian top division was the first major league in Europe to end its 2019-20 season early due to Covid-19, with the current leaders named winners.

At the time of the league being halted, KV Mechelen was seventh on the 16-team table with 44 points from 29 matches, level with Genk and 26 behind Club Brugge.

Elsewhere, national team captain Kahleem Hyland and his Al Faisaly club is yet to get any word on when the Saudia Arabian League will resume while Lester Peltier is on the books of Division One outfit, Al Mojzel and.

In Slovakia defender, Keston Julien’s Trencin club is also awaiting the all-clear from their national league federation while former national midfielder Keon Daniel is attached to Polish I-League club, Tychy 71.

Over in Norway, goalkeeper Nicklas Frenderup’s Stjordals-Blink is awaiting the start of the 1.D; and in Malta, Rundell Winchester’s Gudja United of the Premier League had his season interrupted while Matthew Woo Ling and his St Andrews club had their second-half of the First Division postponed thus far.

In Iceland, the trio of Jonathan Glenn (IBV), Akil De Freitas (Volsungur) and Sean De Silva (Haukar) is yet to begin the 2020 season.

Midfielder Weslie John is awaiting the go-ahead for return to action in the Uzbekistan Super League with Andijan while in Wales, Luke Gullick, formerly of San Juan Jabloteh is attached to Pontypridd Town AFC.