|
Theobald
could make Falkirk debut on Saturday
Midfielder
Densill Theobald could make his debut for Scottish Premier
League club Falkirk on Saturday against Inverness Caledonian
Thistle, if he gets his international clearance in time.
Theobald got an 18-month deal after receiving his work permit,
following an appeal in which T&T coach Leo Beenhakker,
team captain Dwight Yorke and goalie Shaka Hislop assisted
by submitting letters.
Falkirk’s assistant coach, Russell Latapy, said he was
grateful to the trio for their input in helping the young
Theobald who lives on Nelson Street in the centre of the city
of Port-of-Spain.
Theobald, who arrived at the club on Monday and has been likened
to Dwight Yorke by Falkirk manager, John Hughes, was expected
to be involved in a scrimmage behind closed doors yesterday.
“I
am delighted that Densill is now here and it is now a matter
of getting him acclimatised.
“He
has done a lot of travelling to get here. He will play in
a bounce game for us tomorrow and will be there, or thereabouts,
for Saturday’s game against Inverness.
“He
was as fit as a fiddle when he first arrived for a trial a
few months ago and has worked to keep himself really fit since
then,” said Hughes.
Theobald, a former Malick Senior Comprehensive and Caledonia
AIA Fire playmaker said:
“It
really is a big step for me. It’s not just about playing
away now, but I hope I can keep spreading the positive vibes
about T&T.
“Reaching
the World Cup has been the biggest achievement for us, but
it appears that some people want to put a dark spot on this
by talking and writing all kind of things about ticket corruptions
and we don’t want the world to see us that way.”
“Something
as simple as me doing well can make a difference, just like
Russell and the other guys have done.
”
I want to develop more as a T&T person as well”
Yorke may move to Europe
National team captain Dwight Yorke has revealed that he could
move to a club in Europe, to either train or play on loan
when the Australian A-League season ends before the start
of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Yorke, earlier linked with Scottish club Falkirk for which
Russell Latapy plays, could not reveal which club his representatives
had been negotiating with, according to a report this week
in the Daily Telegraph.
“There’s
a lot happening and there are a few options on the table,”
Yorke said. “It would be wrong to reveal too much at
the moment, because these things have to be done through all
the right channels."
Yorke confirmed he will be returning to Australia to fulfill
the second year of his contract with Sydney.
“I’m
obligated by the contract and unless I’m told otherwise
I’ll be back,” added the ex-Manchester United Star.
Meantime, Sydney FC manager, Pierre Littbarski said that he
would keep Yorke in the midfield despite the pressure of insufficient
fire power up front for the club.
Speaking prior to a match against Central Coast on the weekend,
Littbarski said: “That is where Dwight plays for (T&T)
and he played well for us in Japan (at the Club World Championship).
That’s where he’s staying.”
Littbarski admitted that things were different up front now
that Japan legend, Kazu, had finished his guest stint, but
Sydney just had to get on with it.
Samuel hoping to press Leo
Scottish-based striker Collin Samuel is determine to make
life a bit hard for Leo Beenhakker when it comes to selecting
his strikers for preparation matches ahead of T&T’s
2006 World Cup participation.
Samuel hopes to do this by keeping his form and hitting the
target for Dundee in the Premier League.
He feels he could be in with a good chance of earning one
of the team spots, after looking on at the Soca Warriors following
his selection for last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.
He also feels that the move of countryman Jason Scotland to
St Johnstone has given him a new lease on life at Dundee,
for which he recently signed an extension to his contract.
“My
countryman Jason Scotland had to leave and while that was
sad, in many ways it gave me a second chance. Things happen
for a reason and I really wanted to stay—and now I have
this new deal.
“I
have been working very hard to improve and feel that has shown
in my form,” Samuel said.
“My
confidence is growing with every goal I score. I feel much
more a part of things now and I am absolutely delighted to
be signing a further year’s extension to my contract.
“My
next goal is to keep on playing well enough to earn a place
in my national squad for the World Cup finals in Germany.
“I
think I can definitely make a strong claim for a pick from
the coach, if I can keep injury free and keep on top of my
game.”
Samuel played all 90 minutes in Dundee’s 2-1 win over
Falkirk on Sunday, a game which also saw Russell Latapy on
the field for 87 minutes for Falkirk.
Dundee willing to let Jack go
Scottish club Dundee United may just cash in on a transfer
for goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, if the right deal comes knocking
on the club’s door.
This was stated by club manager Alan Kernghan last week.
It appears Dundee realise that Jack’s stakes have gone
up following his recent performances for T&T and the fact
that he could be a World Cup player come June and be facing
the likes of England, Sweden and Paraguay.
Jack is contracted to the club until the end of the current
season in May.
Kernaghan, though, went on to say that he was looking to reshape
his squad, as Jack is currently the second choice to Scott
Murray.
“I’m
open to offers for almost everyone, apart from the kids. I
actually think Kelvin has been doing really well, but Scott
Murray has the jersey now and Derek Soutar is not far away
from coming back,” Kernaghan said.
Jack is understood to be attracting interest from a well-known
European Champions’ League club.
Charles eyes Greece pick
Defender Atiba Charles could be heading out soon again on
trial in Greece.
The Vibe CT 105 W Connection player returned home this month
from trial at South Korean top club Busan Park and is likely
to head over to an unnamed club in Greece.
Charles has also received a contract offer from a Singapore
club, but the possibility of better offers has the Point Fortin-born
player weighing his options.
“The
trial at Busan went pretty well, but the club may want me
back in April and I will have to decide whether I wait until
then, or whether I head off to another trial in Greece.
“There’s
the club in Singapore which has already put the offer on the
table for me,” Charles said last Thursday, as he regrouped
with some of his T&T team-mates at a reception launch
hosted by Carib at the 51 Degrees on Cipriani Boulevard.
“It’s
the same club of our former coach, Ian Porterfield, and everything
there is really first class. But time will tell where I end
up, hopefully before the World Cup.
“My
aim is to also keep my game in order, because the chance to
make the World Cup team is watching me in my face at the moment,”
added Charles, who also said that Englishman Terry Fenwick
is the man behind his next stint in Europe.
Meantime, MLS-based players Cornell Glen (Colorado Rapids),
Avery John (New England Revolution) and Scott Sealy (Kansas
City Wizards) will return to their respective clubs within
the next two weeks for training before the new season.
Midfielder Brent Rahim is also back in town and will be heading
off to Dallas FC, with intentions of signing a new deal.
Hard
times for Villa’s Jlloyd Samuel
Mark
Delaney believes fellow Aston Villa defender, Jlloyd Samuel,
is being unfairly treated by a section of the club’s
supporters.
Samuel, whose bid to represent T&T has been stalled by
a Fifa ruling last month because he played for England at
the Under-18 and Under-21 level, has had more than 130 Premiership
appearances for Villa.
He has suffered a loss of form during the last 12 months and
has been the target of the Villa boo-boys.
The former England Under-21 player has lost his place to summer
signing Wilfred Bouma and, when the Dutch international was
injured, Gareth
Barry was preferred to Samuel at left-back, after switching
from midfield.
Samuel was given a rare outing against West Ham on Saturday—when
Barry was suspended—and the response of supporters was
again mixed, although he set up Villa’s goal for Lee
Hendrie.
The transfer-seeking Delaney fully respects the right of the
Villa fans to air their opinions, but feels picking on Samuel
will not aid his confidence.
The Wales international said:
“The
fans are still treating Jlloyd a bit unfairly in my eyes.
It is their own decision. Jlloyd is a player I admire, who
has done well for the club.
“It
is not easy for him coming in and out and getting booed. I
feel strongly for him, but he is a strong character and he
set up the goal against West Ham.
“He
did go on from strength to strength in the first half, although
the whole team in the second half didn’t perform.
“The
fans have their own thoughts and their own minds. I’m
just saying that from the players’ point of view and
Jlloyd’s point of view, it is not helping him really.”
Samuel, 24, has already made it clear that he sees his long-term
future away from Villa and said:
“I
want to play football and if that means going somewhere else,
then so be it.
“Everybody
knows that it has got to the stage where it’s only a
matter of time before something happens, I want football week
in and week out.”
Shaun
Fuentes is the media officer for CFU/TTFF. shaunfuentes@yahoo.com
|
