What about Marcus Marshall, he does play for Toronto FC also, or use to. He is Trini.
Playing for City helps dream of pros
MIKE DAVIES
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sports - Marcus Marshall's dream to play pro soccer started in Trinidad and Tobago and has brought him to Peterborough.
The 23-year-old Trinidad native scored a pair of goals to lift Peterborough Rayco City men's side to a 4-0 win over Homenetmen in OSL Central East Regional play at Eastgate Memorial Park last night. After playing college soccer in his homeland, Marshall came to Canada five years ago to pursue a pro soccer career. He was in his second year with the CPSL's Durham Storm when a detour was thrown into his path.
Financial troubles consumed the team and Marshall said he left when he stopped getting paid. He believed it was the end of his dream.
He currently lives in Toronto where he works as a soccer specialist rep for Nike. He says his soccer dream was reinvigorated when he met City head coach Matt Thomas at a soccer academy. Thomas convinced Marshall to try out in Peterborough and get himself back pursuing his dream.
"Coach Matt's style of coaching and what he's looking for inspired me," Marshall said, "because after the situation in Durham, I was really discouraged as far as professional soccer went. It really put me down a bit and put me off playing professionally or competitively again. I think coach Matt and coach Claude (Bolton) were really inspirational in reviving me."
Marshall expects to spend the entire season with City and hopes his play will attract some pro opportunities. He says Thomas and Bolton are trying to use connections in the soccer world to open some doors for him.
"I'm still young and I'm looking on to bigger and better things as far as soccer goes," he said.
Marshall says he doesn't mind the sacrifice of commuting to practices and games because he likes the City program.
"The setup in Peterborough, the management, the facilities, everything is so professional," he said. "It's really what I'm used to as a professional player."
Marshall, like the City team, had been in a bit of a slump in recent weeks so he was glad to break out with a couple of goals. It was City's first win in four league games, improving their record to three wins, four losses and one tie.
Marshall entered the game with three goals and although Homenetmen are tied for last with an 0-7 record, he said it boosted his confidence to score.
"I might have a good game and do everything coach Matt or coach Claude might want me to do but a striker's role, as I know it, is to score goals and create chances and I haven't done that in about four games now. It's definitely a big confidence booster for me," he said.
It was the first game he's felt 100 per cent after injuring his calf four games earlier.
"It's been kind of affecting my performances," he said. "I haven't been at full strength but I've been pushing it wanting to go out there and support my teammates in any way I can. I'm not making any excuses but that's definitely been a factor. The week off we got definitely helped. I was able to get some rest in and therapy."
Mark Van Beek and Matt Penello also scored for City. Keeper Navi Sidhu picked up his league leading third shutout.
City's next game is Friday in Toronto against Olympic Flame. Next home game is 8:30 p.m. July 27 against USC Karpaty
