He has long been criticised for not living up to expectations but midfielder Ataullah Guerra may have finally settled into his own stride that could see him hold on to a national team shirt for some time to come.
Hailing from East Dry River, Laventille, the skilful and talented midfielder who turned 25 in November, scored his second international goal in a 1-0 win over Cuba that same month and went on to score the winning penalty in T&T’s win over Martinique in the Caribbean Cup semifinal in Antigua a couple weeks ago.
He appeared in eight of T&T’s games during the Caribbean Cup campaign including the last five games in Antigua. The Caledonia AIA player now has two goals in 19 appearances for T&T.
“This has been a very good period for me. I am believing in myself and the entire team has given me a chance to shine and that’s the good thing about this present team where we all support each other as best as we can. I love when my teammates can encourage me rather than try to bring me down and that is like the same way for a regular person in everyday life,” Guerra said.
“I just want the opportunity to play football and achieve something. Coming from a place like East Dry River, not a lot of great things are expected from you as an individual and I wanted to try and change that feeling that people have.
When I read about the father that bit the baby in East Dry River while we were in Antigua I was saddened because we don’t like living like that as a people. I hope that persons like me and others around me can continue to do good things and stay away from evil and crime,” Guerra said.
“We have to make a positive change. That is my wish for the new year, to see positive change in our football and in the communities and streets of my country,” Guerra concluded.