Skeene happy with local picks for WC.
By: Nigel Simon (Guardian).[/size]
Dexter Skeene, chief executive of the T&T Professional Football League, is happy that five locally-based players are among the 24 named (from which 23 will finally be listed by May 15) for the World Cup Finals in Germany by coach Leo Beenhakker. The five are CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh trio, Aurtis Whitley, Cyd Gray and Anthony Wolfe, utility player Anthony Rougier of United Petrotrin, and defender David Atiba Charles, of VIBE CT 105 W Connection.
Commenting on the five locals players named by Beenhakker on Wednesday, Skeene, a former national midfielder said: “I believe it’s every players’ dream from the time they start to play the game seriously to play in a World Cup Finals and for those guys to be actually selected in the team and getting a chance to play on the biggest football stage, it’s a fulfillment of a life long dream. The five local selections and those of the others who all began their professional careers in the PFL, is a testament to the importance the league has in the development of local football.
“The PFL has a rightful place in T&T football and we need to work together to ensure that the league continues to grow and be a viable product.
“I also believe that the PFL has a very critical role to play if future national teams are to continue to qualify for future World Cup tournaments,” ended Skeene.
John-Williams: Squad product of PFL
David John-Williams, owner of VIBE CT 105 W Connection, the club of defender David Atiba Charles, was also pleased to see five local players making the provisional squad of 24. He says they are the product of the PFL.
“It’s nice to see that the local guys were given an opportunity to show their worth on the biggest stage.
“At the same time it’s a great boost for the player’s morale and also helps to give his club some international recognition.
Having five local players in the team,said John-Williams, puts us on par with par with Mexico, in that they have a good part of their team as home-grown talent and this augurs well for the future of the league.
John-Williams boasted that the PFl should not only be proud of the five players currently campaigning in the league, but also in the likes of Collin Samuel, Carlos Edwards, Jason Scotland, Dennis Lawrence, Densil Theobald, Kenwyne Jones, Silvio Spann, Kelvin Jack and the goalkeeping duo of Kelvin Jack and Clayton Ince, who all began their careers in the local league.
Morris surprised at Rougier’s inclusion
Clayton Morris, a former national captain, said he was surprised by the inclusion of Anthony Rougier in the provisional World Cup squad announced by the national coach.
“I’m very happy to see that coach Beenhakker has decided to stick with most of the guys who were in the team from the initial stages of the campaign.
“I really respect him (Beenhakker) for looking out for those players. But at the same time I’m wondering why he decided to name his team so early and why he included Rougier.
“I believe there are a lot of guys in the local league who may have felt they still had a chance to make an impression on the coach. But by him selecting his team so early it may have put a damper on their hopes. With respect to Rougier, I was very surprised. But in the same breath it seems that he considered the player for his effort and experience in the past.
“He (Rougier) has played a great part in helping the team reach this far and once he is fit I know he can contribute in a positive way.”
Among some of the players Morris felt could have been selected in the list of reserves were defenders Anthony Noreiga and Anton Pierre and W Connection striker Kendall Davis.
Terry Fenwick delighted
Terry Fenwick, coach of the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh was overwhelmed with the selection of three of his players. English-born Fenwick, a member of the England 1986 Mexico World Cup team said: “We at Jabloteh are very delighted with the guys. It’s an excellent once in a lifetime opportunity for the guys.
“With regards to the selection of Aurtis Whitley, Cyd Gray and Anthony Wolfe in the provisional squad, we are happy that we have two almost sure selections in the team in Whitley and Gray and are hoping that Wolfe gets a good opportunity to show what he is worth in the three friendly games that takes place over the next month.”.
