Forbes wants to follow Jones' leap.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).New Trinidad and Tobago Senior Team call up Jerol Forbes says the exploits of Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones and other players who have gone on to wear the Senior Team uniform is the motivating factor behind his run of form for United Petrotrin and now he’s aiming to carry it over to the international stage.
Forbes has impressed T&T head coach Francisco Maturana in the early rounds of the T&T Pro League, earning him a place in the 25-man squad preparing for Sunday’s friendly international against Grenada at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Forbes, was the scorer of T&T’s lone goal in a 6-1 defeat to Brazil at the FIFA Under 17 World Championship in 2001 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and subsequently went on trial at Manchester United with Jones. But he hasn’t not pushed on as Jones, remaining in Trinidad and looking on at other teammates such as Marvin Phillip, Julius James and Jan Michael Williams go on to represent the country at the senior international level. Now he wants to prove his worth again.
“It feels good to be back training with the national team again. I’ve been away for a while because I didn’t really make a national team since the youth level,” Forbes told TTFF Media. “But now being here with the guys again is a plus. I think I have a great chance of getting back out there (overseas stage) because I’m feeling upbeat about the game again and I really want to give back, especially for the fans who have stood by me through the hard times.
“I think I was missing motivation because of having not been given the opportunity after the Under 17 (Championship). I think I was out of favour. Coach Brian Williams has pushed me a lot as well and I want to thank him for that.”
Forbes, formerly of Naparima College, wants to become reacquainted with Jones who is now in line for the Sunderland “Player of the Year” award.
“Kenwyne is an exceptional player and I won’t mind playing alongside him again (and) getting some hints from him. I just want to take it one day at a time and keep on improving my game” About Petrotrin’s four-match winning run so far, Forbes isn’t getting carried away.
“We have had a good start so far but we need to take it one game at a time. The season is a long one. We will not allow ourselves to become too confident because the other teams will be coming back strong as the season goes on so we have to stay focused and keep the results positive,” Forbes added.
Some of the other new faces taking part in Monday’s training session at the Marvin Lee included Jerrel Britto and Michael Edwards with the recalled Anton Pierre of Defence Force, Devon Jorsling, Kevon Carter, Clico San Juan Jabloteh duo Lester Peltier and Ataullah Guerra also present. Joe Public’s Kerry Baptiste, Silas Spann and Keyeno Thomas, Akile Edwards of Defence Force, W Connection’s Akeem Adams, Makan Hislop, Jamaal Gay, Daneil Cyrus, Keon Daniel of United Petrotrin and skipper Aurtis Whitley among others also involved.
Meantime, Grenada are likely to have its star player and Caribbean “Player of the Year” for 2007 Shalrie Joseph in its line up for Sunday’s game at the Marvin Lee. The New England Revolution announced that it will release Joseph on Friday following its MLS fixture with Dallas FC the previous day. "There is a buzz about how far [Grenada] has gotten," Joseph said. "But we have a real challenge playing Costa Rica, which is the second or third best team in CONCACAF."
Grenada booked a second round clash with Costa Rica in the 2010 World Cup qualifying phase in June after trouncing US Virgin Islands 10-0 in its first round qualifier last month. Grenada, under coach Norris Wilson, will arrive here on Friday while another Caribbean national team, St Vincent and the Grenadines are in the country for pre-World Cup training camp. They face Joe Public in a training match at the Marvin Lee Stadium from 4pm on Tuesday.
VideosView Video of Monday's training session.View Jerol Forbes Interview/Photo video.Photos
Jerol Forbes.
Keon Daniel holds Jamal Gay during training on Monday morning.
