Pro League players delighted at National call up.
By: Joel Villafana.[/size]
A national senior call up is every footballers dream—and for Andre Pacheco, Clyde Leon, Marvin Phillip, Kendall Jagdeosingh and Stephan David it was a special feeling when they all heard they were called up by coach Wim Rijsbergen for Trinidad and Tobago’s friendly international against Japan on August 9, 2006.
Pacheco, Leon, Phillip, Jagdeosingh and David all received a national senior call up for the first time in their careers.
W Connection’s Andre Pacheco admitted to ttproleague.com, "I was thrilled when I heard the news, I am just really excited, I have been working towards this for some time, this is really wonderful—I am hoping to go and impress the coaches and grab this opportunity with both hands."
Pacheco is a hard working left sided midfielder and is just 21 years old.
His teammate at W Connection Clyde Leon is still in shock, "I still can’t believe it, it was a special feeling listening to the news and hearing my name called—I am especially happy that captain Dwight Yorke will be there, I am really proud and looking forward to the experience." Clyde Leon is 22 year old, defensive midfielder.
Starworld Strikers Marvin Phillips is also receiving a first national senior call up, having played at the national under 17 level—the 22 year old goal keeper said, "I was very elated and happy on hearing the news, I have been working extra hard since the start of the season and I feel like I am being rewarded."
The Caledonia duo of Stephan David and Kendall Jagdeosingh are also a happy pair. David, 24 is another hard-working utility player in midfield told ttproleague.com, "This is a wonderful opportunity for me, I am glad for the break and will be going all out to make the best of it."
While young Kendall Jagdeosingh is hoping to be one of this country’s next star strikers, the 20 year old forward says, "This is a dream come true for me, I am going to do my best, and hope it all works out."
Jabloteh & Connection reserves to be tested.
By: Joel Villafana.[/size]
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, Vibe CT 105 W Connection, Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA Fire and Joe Public have been all hit by national selection and will have to dig deep and field some of their reserves this weekend as the T&T Pro League continues.
Jabloteh have been hit the worse, as seven of their players have been called to national duty for Trinidad and Tobago’s friendly international against Japan on August 9, 2006.
Jabloteh will take on United Petrotrin on Saturday in the second game of a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium and will certainly be tested—as they will be without, the likes of Aurtis Whitley, Anthony Wolfe, Cyd Gray, Trent Noel, big defenders Keyeno Thomas and Ian Gray as well as Glenton Wolfe.
The San Juan Kings head coach Terry Fenwick is not too pleased, the former English international confessed, "The absentees are key to our team, but we have been grooming a good crop of youngsters and they will be surely anxious to shine," he said, "its going to be quite difficult, but its something we have to deal with."
Petrotrin will obviously favor themselves too come away with something from this encounter, and the ‘Oilmen’ will be encouraged with their 2-1 victory over North East Stars in the last game and will also reflect on their goalless draw with Jabloteh when they met earlier in the season, but the boys from San Juan will want to ensure they take away maximum points to stay top of the table.
The first game at the Ato Boldon Stadium will see Starworld Strikers challenging the ‘Eastern Lions’ of Joe Public—these two teams have not been hit hard by national call ups, both outfits just losing one player each.
Starworld have lost their number one goalkeeper in young Marvin Phillips, while Public will have to do without the services of the speedy and experienced striker Gary Glasgow.
Starworld continues to have a roller coaster season so far, the Clint Marcelle coached unit are coming off a surprise 3-1 win over Caledonia AIA Fire, but that victory came off the heels of a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Defence Force.
Starworld were also soundly beaten 3-1 by Joe Public when they met in the League—so the 2nd placed ‘Eastern Lions’ will he hoping to triumph here in order to maintain the pressure on Jabloteh.
On Sunday, the feature match will be a clash at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground, where North East Stars will host W Connection.
This is a battle of 3rd and 4th place—with only three points separating the two teams—Connection will be without two of their key midfielders this season in Andre Pacheco and Clyde Leon, as well as their number one goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams and their most experienced defender David Atiba Charles.
The Connection outfit is already a youthful and inexperienced one and will certainly have a challenge to stave off a North East Stars outfit who are aiming to rebound after suffering three consecutive losses—the ‘Stars’ will be at home and will not want to disappoint their adoring fans.
Connection’s technical director Stuart Charles Fervier says, "It will definitely affect us, we will be without four of our starters, and we also have some injuries to some of the other experienced players in the squad, so we will be very thin as a squad, however, we are a team made of character, we did not get to be the most successful club in the league by guess, it had a lot to do with our strength and our character."
The St. Lucian born coach added, "We will pull together as a group and deal with what is before us and I am very optimistic that the young players in the squad will stand up and counted."
Sunday’s action is rounded off with a double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, where Caledonia AIA will face Tobago United in the first match.
Coach Jamal Shabbazz will be without striker Kendall Jagdeosingh and hard working midfielder Stephan David, both players receiving a national senior call for the first time in their careers.
The 2nd match will feature an out and out battle between two of the league’s most rugged teams in Defence Force and Superstar Rangers. The last time these two teams met the Army came away narrow 1-0 winners.
Saturday 5 August, 2006
Starworld Strikers vs Joe Public—Ato Boldon Stadium—5p.m.
Jabloteh vs United Petrotrin—Ato Boldon Stadium—7p.m.
Sunday 6 August, 2006
Caledonia AIA Fire vs Tobago United—Larry Gomes Stadium—4p.m.
Defence Force vs Superstar Rangers—Larry Gomes Stadium—6p.m.
North East Stars vs W Connection—Sangre Grande Rec. Ground—4p.m.
