FORMER Scotland-based Soca Warrior Collin Samuel may be playing with Pro League aspirants Guaya United, which has also signed former Joe Public and Ma Pau SC head-coach Michael McComie as its new Technical Director.
At the same time Guaya will maintain its community links by maintaining its community coaches for its professional and Super League teams.
President Marvin Durham revealed that Guaya, last year’s winner of the second-tier, semi-professional league, is on track with its ambitions to join the professional league for the 2014-2015 season, and that McComie’s addition is the first major part of the puzzle.
There is also an effort to strengthen Guaya with the addition of Mayaro-born T&T 2006 World Cup winger Samuel. And an effort is also being made to woo former T&T Under-20 World Cup midfielder Leston Paul back to his home team, after his January transfer to Central FC.
Guaya want to maintain the successful community relationship which made it one of the most popular community teams in the Super League last season and will maintain Joseph Weekes as Pro League coach with McComie overseeing the overall programme. Weekes took over the team in the last few weeks of the Super League after the club and former head-coach Ron La Forest parted ways.
“What we did is bring on McComie and make him the technical director,” Durham said. “Our coaches do not yet have the experience that may be required in the Pro League and we are confident that he can pass on his wealth of experience.”
Meanwhile, Durham said talks are also on-going with Samuel and Paul. “We are looking forward to bringing them back in our ranks,” Durham stated. “We have spoken to them and so far it looks positive.” The club had made a proposal to a major sponsor and also submitted an application to join the Pro League.
Talks with both the sponsor and Pro League are on-going as well, but the Guaya president is confident that they will be in the Pro League at the start of the new season.
The “Green Army” won the 2013-14 bmobile National Super League in its first year of participation, and ended the season with a massive motorcade from Valencia Junction and a celebratory function at New Lands Recreation Ground, where they also began preparations for the new season with screening sessions on May 17.