Why I left Falkirk.
…Theobald plots fresh European assault.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
Saturday or ‘match day’ is Densill Theobald’s most difficult day in the week.
The Trinidad and Tobago international footballer is up early and shares breakfast with his computer as he scours the internet. First, Theobald does his rounds of the Britain-based clubs that employ his national teammates.
He visualises Gillingham goalkeeper Kelvin Jack muttering to himself with a mixture of British and local slang, contemplates Kenwyne Jones’ response to his challenges at Southampton and tries to picture Russell Latapy’s threaded passes for Falkirk.
Next, Theobald browses through the results in the other fashionable European leagues including the Dutch Eredivisie. His good relationship with Netherlands-born Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) technical advisor Leo Beenhakker convinced them that he can flourish in Holland.
He might still be on the internet by lunchtime while, in early afternoon, he travels to see his former club, Caledonia AIA, in Pro League action. He still maintains an emotional tie with Caledonia and trains with the club to stay in shape.
Theobald has not played a competitive match since the “Soca Warriors” fell 2-0 to Paraguay in Kaiserslautern on June 20 in its final group match of the 2006 Germany World Cup.
Saturdays used to be about showing his ability with a football. Now, it is about watching what others can do.
“I have a burning desire to be out on the football field playing competitive football,” Theobald told the Trinidad Express Sports Magazine. “Every day, I am behind (my representatives) asking them when they will find me a club to start back playing…
“I am just working hard to stay fit and waiting for the phone to ring.”
Physically, Theobald might still be in Trinidad—he was toasted by his hometown community in south east Port of Spain, last Friday—but his soul is in Europe. He claimed to spend everyday thinking about the path to success there.
While many footballers—including some of his teammates—would not read a newspaper article that did not mention their names, Theobald pours over auto-biographies from the likes of former Manchester United stand-out Roy Keane, ex-England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson and, his icon, retired United States basketball legend Michael Jordan.
“I like to learn about what they had to go through before they became successful,” said Theobald.
His theoretical application may be promising but the extent to which his practical work has slipped is alarming.
In Trinidad and Tobago’s first fixture since the World Cup—a 2-0 defeat away to Japan on August 9—present national coach Wim Rijsbergen opted to omit the 24-year-old midfielder due, in large part, to his present inertia. And with little transfer activity for the Warriors following the prestigious international tournament, there is a fear that Theobald’s decision to divorce himself from Scotland Premier League (SPL) club Falkirk last month was, at best, premature.
Theobald signed for Falkirk last October but never featured in the club’s first team and, in the aftermath of the World Cup, he informed club manager John “Yogi” Hughes that he did not want to return.
With an absence of information from either party regarding the split, some local fans speculated that Theobald was either badly advised or hampered by an inflated notion of his own ability.
For the first time, Theobald told his side to the ESM. He insisted his departure was not a show of disdain for Falkirk but, rather, he had lost faith in Hughes to the extent that he believed they could not have a positive working relationship.
Last May, Theobald was reliably informed that Hughes did not see him as part of his plans for the 2006/07 season. The midfielder initially thought that his move to Falkirk—which was prompted by a recommendation from Latapy—was the stuff of dreams but soon found his national place under threat due to a lack of playing time with the modest club.
Hughes’ dismissal of Theobald’s abilities without even offering him a first team cap hurt. If his pride in representing his inner city community and his country was at the forefront of his World Cup exertions, one cannot discount Theobald’s craving to prove the Falkirk boss wrong as well.
While Hughes offered frowns, Beenhakker showed faith in the young player. An injury to CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh playmaker Aurtis Whitley allowed Theobald to make a successful bid for a starting place for Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup opener—a historic goalless draw against Sweden in Dortmund.
For much of the first half, Theobald, used in his preferred central midfield role, looked nervous and often lost his footing. But he kept his place for the second fixture against England when his superb marking job against England captain and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham almost paced the Warriors to an encore in Nuremberg.
It was only when Eriksson withdrew Beckham to a right back role did the “Spice Boy” managed to conjure up England’s opener although the scorer, Peter Crouch, was lucky the referee did not spot his tug on Trinidad and Tobago defender Brent Sancho.
“Beckham got away from me just twice,” said Theobald, “but both times, he was able to create a goal scoring opportunity. He is a very dangerous player.”
At Kaiserslautern, Theobald brimmed with confidence and was a rare spark for the Warriors in the first half when his dribbles won several free kicks. As Beenhakker gambled with offensive changes, Theobald was asked to drop to left back—his third position from as many matches—and again gave a good showing built around his athleticism, application and quick use of the ball.
Hughes cooed to the Scottish press that Theobald has a bright future at the club. But Theobald was not in a forgiving mood although he did speak to Latapy before making up his mind—he still does not have an agent although he is relying on the representatives of Jack and Chris Birchall, at present, to find him a club.
“I think (Hughes) was being a hypocrite,” he said. “I just felt that it was best for me to explore other clubs.”
Theobald insisted any speculation that he was resting on his laurels—he received nearly a dozen awards after returning from the World Cup as well as a million dollar bonus from the local government—was misplaced.
“I need to play in a competitive league to develop,” he said. “I would love to play in Spain or Holland because I think the technical side to the game there would help me develop more. I would also love to learn a new language.
“But if an offer comes from England, I would accept it with open arms.”
Theobald said that he remains hungry to improve. It is instructive that his favourite sportsmen, Jordan and tennis players Roger Federer and the retired Pete Sampras, are as renowned for their ruthless streaks as their playing talent.
“I have (some of that ruthlessness) inside me,” said Theobald, “I just need the confidence and experience to bring it out. Like Michael Jordan said ‘the cream rises the top when you put forward the effort’.”
On the surface, Theobald is calm and content and never short of an encouraging word. He is particularly fond of the catchphrase, ‘God is the boss’.
He cut a relaxed figure at the Larry Gomes Stadium last Saturday as he absorbed a Pro League double header. He wore a three-quarter jeans and tee-shirt with sneakers—all in earthly tones.
Thus far, Theobald was most impressed with the high tempo style of defending champions, North East Stars. He is also interested to study the progress of younger talents like Caledonia striker Kendall Jagdeosingh and Vibe CT 105 W Connection midfielder Clyde Leon.
But Theobald’s Pro League observations were interrupted by furtive glances at his cellular. He is waiting for the phone call that should transform his Saturdays for the foreseeable future.
