Edwards turns 28 today
By Ian Prescott (Trinidad Express)
CARLOS EDWARDS turns 28 on today's Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. Happy birthday Carlos!
While today is Edwards special day, and also that of Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney, at least four other Soca Warriors have or are soon to become a year older.
Dwight Yorke, the captain and "old man" of the Trinidad and Tobago team which played in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany, turns 35 on November 3, two Fridays from today. Remember when, as a 17-year-old, Yorke bent the ball around Grenada's wall to give Trinidad and Tobago a 2-1 victory in the Shell Caribbean Cup Final. That was 18 years ago.
And striker Stern John is set to leave his 20s behind. John, Trinidad and Tobago's all-time top-scorer with 67 goals in 100 appearances, turns 30 on October 30.
Also, two of the strikers who may chase John's record in the future celebrated a birthday.
Kenwyne Jones, the Southampton striker, became a 22-year-old on October 5, while talented but injury-prone Cornell Glen turned 26 on the Divali holiday, October 21.
And defender Atiba Charles was 29 on September 29 and striker Anthony Wolfe will be 23 on December 23.
One would imagine that Edwards, the Luton Town midfielder, would be enjoying an easy English afternoon with his family on his birthday. But, in the world of professional football, everyday is a work day. Not that Edwards minds too much.
"Carlos Edwards will be spending the day playing Everton in the Carling Cup," he said proudly to the Express yesterday by telephone. "My day will be spent doing the thing I love -playing football."
The Soca Warriors wingman is coming off a wonderful performance on Saturday, when he scored two goals for his club and tormented Leeds United as Luton thrashed them by a 5-1 margin. Edwards' part in the victory was well documented in the English press.
One report read: "After ten minutes, Luton were in front. Westlake slipped over on the left flank and allowed Vine to nick the ball off him, and play the ball through to Carlos Edwards on the Luton right. Goalkeeper Sullivan came racing off his line, but pulled out of the challenge for fear of pulling Edwards down. He might have thought he was safe to let Edwards run past, as he had forced the winger to shoot from a narrow angle, but the Luton man managed to fire the ball into the far corner and put the home side in front."
And Edwards continued to tournament Leeds United on the flank, setting up another goal for his team.
"Edwards was set free down the right and the winger skipped past two players on his way into the box, before crossing to a queue of Luton forwards on the other side of the box. Vine made a complete hash of his shot, but it didn't matter as Bell was also unmarked and had plenty of time to hammer the ball over the line."
Today, Edwards, who had a good World Cup for Trinidad and Tobago, is looking to give another impressive showing against Premier League highflyers Everton and prove what many are preaching-that he should be playing in the Premiership.
"It is a big game. We are the underdogs because Everton are a Premiership club, but we are coming off a high, beating Leeds by 5-1 on the weekend, and we will be looking to go out there and give of out best. I certainly want to do well," Edwards told the Express.
Although recognising that he is getting on in age, he nevertheless feels no different today than when he was a 20-year-old. He said that getting older does not at this stage affect how he plays on the field. Edwards is also thinking of the future and looking down the road to South Africa in 2010 when he hopes Trinidad and Tobago will qualify for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup.
"Do you think you will still be playing in the next World Cup team?" he was asked
"I think so...once I keep free from injury," he replied. "I think I will be around. I will be one of the more experienced players and I think that I should be able to lend my experience to the team and the younger players who will be coming into the squad as well."