W Connection duo finally off to Belgium
Sunday, 18 February 2007
By Randy Bando... www.ttproleague.comVibe CT 105 W Connection’s Matthew Bartholomew and Aaron Downing have left Trinidad on a three-year contract with Royal White Star Woluwe FC of Belgium’s third division League.
According to assistant Coach of the ‘Savonnetta Boys’, Ben Davies, the youngsters are officially contracted with English Premiership Club Sheffield United and have been placed on loan to the Belgium Club who the English Club have interests with, so that they can later earn their European passports and be able to play in England.
Both Trinidad and Tobago under-20 players, Matthew Bartholomew and Aaron Downing are products of the W Connection youth system and the both players also represented W Connection’s senior team in the Pro League in 2006 and are now in very high spirits on their three-year European contact.
Although not knowing much about the Belgium Club, White Star Woluwe FC, both players are already committed and are looking forward to a brighter future.
Speaking with ‘ttproleague.com’ moments before their departure Bartholomew said, “I have worked hard for something like this and now it’s time for me to go and do my best. I don’t know much about the Belgium Club but I know that they are in the third division and it would be great to help them win the League and get promoted, so this would be part of my plans with the Club,” said the 2006 under-18 Pro League Youth Player of the Year.
Bartholomew now 18 years old hopes to be playing in England with one of the Premiership Clubs before his three years is up at White Star Woluwe FC.
Meanwhile 19-year-old Aaron Downing is now looking to erase the memories of 2005 when he broke his leg on a trial with Scottish Club Falkirk FC forcing him back home.
“I have been waiting a while now on an opportunity like this to come again after my failure to earn a contract with Falkirk FC in 2005 when I broke my leg on trial.”
“I have earned this contract now and I am looking forward to making the best of it. In Belgium I would like to help White Star Woluwe FC get promoted to the second division, and I also want to continue to grow as a player,” said Downing who is also eying the Premiership before his three year contract ends.
“This is a platform for me and I am going to do my best to go on and play with Sheffield in the Premiership,” ended the W Connection player.
Assistant coach Ben Davies of Vibe CT 105 W Connection who will accompany the players on the trip told ‘ttproleague.com’, “This is a great opportunity for both Matthew and Aaron and knowing what it’s like to leave your country I am traveling with them to make sure they settle in and the transition runs smoothly,” said the Manchester born W Connection assistant coach.
“We were able to secure these contracts through our contacts at Sheffield United who also have interests in Belgium and in Europe.”
Davies also explained the reason why both players where chosen, “Matthew and Aaron have been the leading young players at W Connection and in Trinidad and Tobago football. Matthew has been the top goal scorer at youth levels with W Connection and we see the talent of both players who have been playing with our team for about five years now. I hope that they make a name for themselves in Europe and open doors for more of our players and Trinidad and Tobago footballers in general,” added Davies.
Davies is expected to return to Trinidad on the 24th before leaving for Mexico to meet up with the W Connection senior team under head coach Stuart Charles Fervier as they get ready to take on Mexican champions Chivas in the second leg of the CONCACAF Club Championship quarterfinal round.
W Connection will go into the return leg in Mexico leading 2:1 on aggregate after defeating the Mexican Club 2-1 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in the first leg of the home and away tie.