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Three key players of the Under-15 team of St Ann’s Rangers had to opt out of the team’s tour to the United States for the Dallas Cup XXX at the last minute because of visa problems. When the team flew out early this morning for the one-week tournament starting on Sunday, missing from the squad were goalkeepers Ricardo Samuel-James and Jason Sample, as well as defender Rickyl Morris. Both Samuel-James and Morris, the nephew of former national captain Clayton Morris, have been members of the Rangers side since they were six-year-old. Sample is the grandson of one of the club’s founders Frank Sample.

Coach Darryl Rajpaul said yesterday that it is unfortunate that the three players, who are key members of the team, were denied “an opportunity of their lifetime” inspite of several efforts to get visas for them at the eleventh hour. “Tours like these are for players like Samuel-James, Sample and Morris because they have given so much to the club,” said Rajpaul, who revealed that letters were sent to the American Embassy by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs after the trio were not granted visas to travel.

“The whole idea behind going to the Dallas Cup is to expose our youths to international competition, “ Rajpaul pointed out. Rangers have had a history of producing a host of top players who came through the club’s youth system. Among those who have played with the club are national players Clayton Morris, Angus Eve, Marvin Faustin, Dean Pacheco, Travis Mulraine, Lyndon Andrews, Autris Whitley, Trevor Nottingham, Errol Mc Farlane, Anton Pierre, Colin Roberts and deceased Wendell Belgrave.

In an effort to make the tour possible, several parents of the players had an integral part in raising the necessary funds which was close to $400,000. One such parent, Charlotte Bellemare, whose son Etienne is on the team, said: “It hard work but it’s rewarding. We (the parents) didn’t see it as a task but a dream come through for the boys.” In addition to raising funds through two Italian Q’s and a hot-dog stall at the Republic Bank Youth Cup, the Rangers youths had been able get corporate assistance from the Sport Company of T&T (SPORTT), Republic Bank, Royal Bank, Fairchance Racing Service, Waste Disposal and the Financial Group.

The team
Xavier Rajpaul (capt), Kunle Cox, Jonathan Cruickshank, Matthew Lawrence, Dominic Hosang, Osei Griffith, Jason Mendez, Etienne Bellemare, Nicholas de Silva, Odou Hazel, Lemuel Scott, Joshua Perreira, Kiel Carthy, Chad Rocke, Jemel Berot, Triston Hodge, Kelshall Alexander, Arvin Prescod, Kiel Pierre, Jamil Young.