T&T youth striker goes on trial at Arsenal.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
National Youth team striker Lester Peltier has joined English Premier League giants Arsenal on trial. The CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh player, who left these shores with teammate Jason Marcano last month for trials at English League One team Milwall FC, is said to have impressed during his stint at that club and was spotted in a training match against Queen’s Park Rangers. According to Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwick, Peltier also netted a hattrick for the club’s reserve team in a scrimmage with their first team last week.
Fenwick who traveled with the duo over the Carnival week to ensure that they were settled in well at the club, said the 18-year-old Peltier will train in front the Arsenal coaches, most likely with the Reserves at first for another week or so.
“They saw him in the training match and they were impressed. The Arsenal coaches told Milwall they wanted to have a look at him and off he went,” an excited Fenwick told TTFF Media on Friday. “It’s great exposure for the young lad because I think he has an abundance of talent and the experience out there will do him a world of good. We don’t know what the situation with be with both of them, whether they will be signed or not but definitely the football they are experiencing could and should make them better lads.”
Marcano reportedly sustained a groin strain but is still on trial at Milwall.
Meantime, Fenwick added that through his connection, Liam Brady, Arsenal’s youth development director is carded to come out to T&T later this year when the Pro League season gets going to have a look around. Arsenal has one of the world’s best rated youth programs. Brady is in his ninth season in charge of the Arsenal academy and is a former Celtic and Brighton manager. The ex-midfielder played for Sampdoria, Juventus, Arsenal, Ascoli and West Ham and has 72 caps for Republic of Ireland.
Fenwick also relayed that plans are in place for the staging of a mini-tournament in Tobago in a few weeks time involving Jabloteh and teams from Ajax Amsterdam and Milwall comprising of Reserve and youth team players. This series is expected to take place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium prior to the start of the Pro League season and could include a couple other teams yet to be confirmed.
“This will be an ideal opportunity to better our links with these overseas teams because they love the conditions here for preparations and it could be an attraction for our football. We have the facilities so it makes sense using them in this way as well,” Fenwick said. “It’s going to be a good chance to give some exposure to the guys back at home and at the same time there are going to be coaching looking on. Someone’s always watching the game these days and it could be to our benefit when we hold these kind of events,” added the ex-England and Tottenham Hotspur player.
Cardiff the first to make offer for Peltier.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
National Under 20 striker Lester Peltier, who made headlines on the week for earning a call for trial at English giants Arsenal, has gone to Cardiff City on trial and played his first closed doors match for the club yesterday.
Terry Fenwick, coach of CL Financial San Jabloteh, the man responsible for sending Peltier and Jason Marcano to Millwal on trials, said Cardiff also had a look at Peltier and decided they wanted him there.
And they seem the most willing to offer Peltier a deal and have also started negotiations on a move.
"They want him and it will be fair play to say that we couldn't hold the lad from going there because Cardiff are the first to already start negotiations with Jabloteh," Fenwick admitted to TTFF Media on Sunday evening.
But Marcano who is suffering from a groin strain is with Peltier at Cardiff only as company as he is unable to train. And Peltier is still carded to go to Arsenal by mid-week.
"Arsenal is a big club and even though there is already a chance of a deal at Cardiff, Jabloteh have decided that the lad will still go to Arsenal because we already said to Liam Brady that they will have the player for a few days." Cardiff are currently eighth on the Championship Division table.
Bluebirds run rule over a trio of trialists.
By: South Wales Echo.[/size]
Cardiff City are scouring the world for new talent, writes Terry Phillips.
They have brought in players from Poland plus Trinidad and Tobago on trial. Centre-forward Jakob Cubrala, 17, is training with the Bluebirds for a second week, having linked up with Cardiff from Polish club Swit. Cubrala is a 6ft 3ins forward who is out of contract with his club later this month.
The Bluebirds have also brought in Jason Marcano and teenager Lester Peltier - who has a trial with Arsenal on Thursday - for a few days.
Both are from San Juan Jabloteh FC in Trinidad and Tobago and have also spent time with Millwall.
Former England, Queens Park Rangers and Spurs defender Terry Fenwick has accompanied Marcano and Peltier from T & T, while they are represented by Cardiff-based agent Paul Mohammed.
"They are two of the biggest talents in Trinidad and Tobago," said Fenwick, who works within the T&T Pro League.
"They have both had a fantastic season with Jabloteh and I'm sure that they will soon be knocking on the door of the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
'This is now a wonderful opportunity for these guys to go out and experience professional football outside of Trinidad and Tobago."
Both players have been playing for Jabloteh in the T&T Pro League and Marcano, 23, said: 'It is part of my dream to play in English football and I have been waiting for something like this.It's going to be hard with the change of weather, but these trials could make a big impact on my life,' said Marcano, voted the Most Improved Player in 2006 by Jabloteh.
Peltier, 18, has broken into the Jabloteh first team. He said: 'It's really cold in Britain, but I am ready for that.'
Peltier reaches Arsenal
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago striker Lester Peltier arrived At Arsenal on Thursday for his trial.
The 18-year-old, who has already spent time with Millwall and Cardiff since arriving in England, began training with The Gunners' academy . Cardiff liked what they saw from the young San Juan Jabloteh striker during his first trial and have invited him back for a second look next week.
However, should Peltier impress Arsenal the Championship high-flyers might not get a second bite of the cherry to secure his signature.
Work permit issues are unlikely to hold back Peltier as he may qualify for an EU passport through his Dutch grandmother.
Peltier's agent Paul Mohamed told skysports.com: "I spoke to Liam Brady (Arsenal's head of youth development), but it's too early to assess things.
"He trained with the academy on Thursday and that's what he's going to do on Friday.
"He was due to go back to Trinidad on Saturday, but Cardiff want a closer look at him next week and the club have consented to that. Arsenal may have other views.
"He wants to earn a contract in England. That's the plan. He's been at Millwall for two weeks. Then Cardiff expressed an interest.
"I think it's every footballers' dream in Trinidad to follow in the footsteps of Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards.
"We're now waiting to hear from Arsenal. I know Cardiff are interested in offering a contract."
Meanwhile, another Cardiff City trialist Jason Marcano, who also plays for CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, will return home after failing to earn a deal.
"He's going back to Trinidad tomorrow," Mohamed continued. "He's 23, so I think his age has counted against him."
Brady meantime is expected to come out to Trinidad in a few weeks to look at some of the talent available. This was confirmed by Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwick who added that defender Cyd Gray is scheduled to head out to Gillingham for a few days training ahead of the Pro League season.
