Whitley, Connection happy
By Ian Prescott (Trinidad Express)
"Obviously, I still consider Aurtis Whitley one of the better midfielders in Trinidad and Tobago. We have lost some of our players and I believe that he can set up and score goals for our team.
"I believe we can rekindle the passion for the game which he says was lacking under Terry Fenwick."
Those are the words of David John Williams, whose team, W Connection, signed Whitley on Tuesday, after the footballer was sacked earlier in the week by CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh.
Whitley, 30, had played for Jabloteh for 11 years since joining the club from Superstar Rangers.
"A lot of people are saying that Aurtis Whitley is a troubled player," John Williams told the Express, "but I prefer to judge people on their performance.
"They said that Arnold Dwarika was a troubled player and we never had any trouble with him at W Connection.
"They said that Kerwin Jemmott was trouble and we had no problem with him. They said the same of Stokely Mason, and we had no problem with him."
Whitley may see action with his new team this weekend. Connection take on Police on Saturday from 4 p.m., at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
"He has been training with the club for two days. Whether he plays or not is the coach's decision.
"Obviously, I don't pick the team, but I still think he has enough quality to play some part in our next encounter."
Whitley, who played for Trinidad and Tobago at the World Cup Finals in Germany last year, said he is very comfortable at W Connection.
"It's only my second day with the team but so far everything is going well.
"Everyone knows me. It's a little bit disappointing (to leave Jabloteh), but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
"I think moving away from Jabloteh is better for me because if me and the coach (Terry Fenwick) don't get along, it's best that I go somewhere else."
Whitley's most memorable moment during T&T's World Cup qualifying campaign came when he cut in from the left and struck a low, right- footer which rebounded off the foot of the Mexican goal, handing Stern John an equaliser.
John later scored again to give T&T a crucial 2-1 victory over Mexico in their final CONCACAF qualifier.
With the move to W Connection, Whitley has hopes of reviving his international career.
"I don't think it went the way I wanted it to go, but I still have a little time, and hopefully things will work out here, and I will be back in the national team."
