Trinidad and Tobago has come across yet two other players, this time from Nigeria and Holland who could force their way into National Teams.
Dutch striker Diego Biseswar is of Trinidadian nationality and was a member of Holland’s National Team at the FIFA Under 17 World Championship in Peru last year and while he may just below the age and maturity that head coach Leo Beenhakker may be looking for in time for Germany 2006, the youngster is not being counted out, at least not for future tournaments.
Born March 8, 1988, Biseswar is also attached to Dutch club Feyenoord and Beenhakker and his assistants will continue to monitor his progress.
The Nigerian, midfielder Oliver Abuk Sunday has been in contact with the TTFF, stating this his father is Tobago-born. Sunday has played with Nigerian clubs NNPC FC Kanduna State, Bantata FC, BIU United, El Kenemi FC and is now attached to Petroleum Maketers FC. Sunday has expressed interest in coming to Port of Spain to try out for Beenhakker’s team.
Meantime, Scottish-based striker Collin Samuel has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at Dundee United until May 2007. The 24-year-old former Falkirk star was signed by former manager Ian McCall in July 2003 from Falkirk for £100,000. Samuel has scored five times in all competitions for the Tannadice club this season. He was one of the players in the T&T team meeting in London on the weekend and is pressing for a place in T&T’s team for upcoming friendly matches ahead of the World Cup. The Dutch-born coach has also seen Swindon Town utility player Ricky Shakes and is reportedly impressed by him and local fans may just see the youngster’s name popping up in the selections for upcoming matches which begin on February 28 against Iceland.
In the meantime, Lincoln Phillips, technical director of the T&TFF has also requested that the trio of former St Anthony’s College players Julius James, Kevon Neaves and Yohance Marshall, all based at US-Colleges train with the national team in addition to national Under-20 goalkeeper Thorne Holder. James is attached to the University of Connecticut, while Neaves attends the University of South Florida.