PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Football authorities here are expected shortly to appoint national Under-20 World Cup coach Zoran Vranes to lead the country’s Under-23 Olympic team.

This was confirmed by an official of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation who requested not to be named.

The 55-year-old Yugoslav is scheduled to arrive here over the weekend and will begin work next week with the Under-23 squad, which comprises the core of the Under-20 World Cup team.

Under Vranes, T&T earned their first-ever point in a FIFA competition, after a nil-all draw with Paraguay in group play at the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt last September.

He already boasts a deep knowledge of the Trinidadian football landscape, having served as senior team coach and more recently as assistant senior team coach to Russell Latapy.

Former national players Anton Corneal and Hutson Charles, who served with the Under-20 side in Egypt, are both expected to join Vranes on the technical staff as his assistants.