by Shaun Fuentes

Trinidad and Tobago MLS defender Julius James as described his call up to the National Team for Saturday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier against Guatemala as a dream come true.

The former National Under 17 and St Anthony’s College College player had actually been invited in the past since Francisco Maturana took over the reigns but never made the trip home because of injury. He also joined the National Team for a training camp under Leo Beenhakker during the previous campaign but never made the final cut.

Now however James has maintained a fixed spot in the Toronto FC team with a series of solid performances and is keen to do the same for T&T.

“It's really great for me and a very special thing to get a call-up for my country," James told Toronto’s official website.

"There are a lot of international players that belong to Trinidad and Tobago so it's a big honour. It's an amazing feeling right now. Before the World Cup they called me down to Florida to train. I was still in college then and I didn't feel I was ready,” he confessed.

James is likely to also be in the squad for the September 10 encounter against United States in Chicago.

"To be going with the team for a World Cup Qualifier is something that I have dreamed about, and hopefully it will be the first of many," said James who could encounter an interesting face off with prolific Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz who is his teammate at Toronto.

"I've made a few strides forward in the league this season. I wish I had been able to play more games, but I got injured in pre-season and the coach didn't think I was ready. Recently I've been playing pretty well, and this is a nice reward."

James is one of nine Toronto FC players going away on international duty following Toronto’s  game at Chivas USA on Saturday. That list include Greg Sutton and Jim Brennan (Canada), Amado Guevara (Honduras), Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala), Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica), Carl Robinson (Wales), Marvell Wynne (USA), Jarrod Smith (New Zealand).

Meantime the T&T team resumes training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium tomorrow (Monday). Team manager David Muhammad and Technical consultant Keith Look Loy also made the journey over to Chicago this weekend to handle pre-camp arrangements for the Team which arrives there on September 7 for the World Cup qualifier three days later.

“Basically we are in Chicago to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place for the team’s visit ahead of the qualifying match against the United States. This includes everything from hotel accommodation and meals, team pick up at the airport and transportation for the duration of the stay, training and medical facilities and other related matters,” Muhammad told TTFF Media.

Meantime Guatemala head coach Ramon Maradiaga announced his 21-man squad on Friday for the T&T clash. He his included teenaged strike Jonny Brown and overseas-based striker Ruiz, Chicago Fire’s Marco Pappa and Veracruz’s  Fredy Thompson. One of their regular starters Dwight Pezzarossi has been ruled out by injury.

Their squad has been in training at Guatemala’s FIFA Goal Project Center and will travel to Fort Lauderdale on Monday for another training camp prior to their arrival in Port of Spain on Thursday.

Also this week, The TTFF and its Centennial Committee is also preparing for the arrival of several top football dignitaries for Friday’s Centennial Dinner at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, headed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Brazilian legend Pele.