Newcomer in the Trinidad and Tobago team, Jelani Peters, is having the time of his football career upon his recent call up for the two World Cup qualifying games against Costa Rica and Honduras. The W Connection player has had one previous opportunity to train with the National Under 23 team but was ruled out because of injury.
Peters relayed some of the inspiring factors in his life so far with his deceased mom at the top of his list. Vanessa Peters passed away on December 22, 2014.
“My entire family, my mom especially, have been big inspirations in my life. She passed away two years ago. I'm doing it for her. She had a mass that was blocking her eyesight in her right eye. She was away on vacation by my sister in the US. Then they did a surgery on the Dec 4, 2014. The operation wasn't successful. She passed on Dec 22, 2014,” Peters explained.
“But now I am thankful that through football I have been able to move on and this is my focus in life.
“I started off with a small community team by the name of Metro Stars. I played for my school Tranquillity Government and St Ann’s Rangers Under 18s, Jabloteh reserve then back to Rangers. Now I am at W Connection,” Peters added. His football idols are David Alaba and teammate Sheldon Bateau.
Peters will be hoping to make his debut for T&T in today’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at 7pm.