On the verge of an overseas career with American club Orlando City, national striker Devon Jorsling has revealed Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones is on his list of admired footballers and he's hoping to achieve similar success to the former Sunderland man.Jorsling said last week he felt Jones was deserving of the T&T Federation's Player of the Year award for his exploits in the English Premier League. Jorsling was overlooked despite his impressive showing which included five goals at the Digicel Caribbean Cup group phase and his good run of form for Defence Force.
"I have no ill feeling about Kenwyne winning the award because even though I felt I had a good year, I believe he (Jones) is a playing at a lever much higher than I am and the Premiership is way above the Pro League and for him to score some nine goals, it has to be a great achievement."I didn't feel badly about not taking the award despite what people may have thought," Jorsling said.
"Kenwyne is like a role model for players like myself. I played with him on the Under-20 and to be watching him in the Premiership now on television is a big deal. He motivates a lot of us."I don't think players like himself, Stern John and Carlos and others really realise how important they are to us back home in terms of motivating us to become better players," the ex-Malick Senior Comprehensive player said.
Jorsling will join Orland on February 15 for preseason training ahead of the start of the USL season."It's a great opportunity because I'm seeing it as a start to bigger things. If I do well then maybe I can get into the MLS and push on from there," Jorsling added.
Hyland trains in Spain
Midfielder Khaleem Hyland is currently in Spain with his Belgium club Zulte Waregem for winter training.The club is preparing for the second half of the season and Hyland who continues to draw interest from a couple of other clubs, says he's focused on trying to help Zulte finish in the top five.
"The training has been good. It gives us a chance to regroup for the second part of the season. We have some very important games coming up and if we can prepare well, there's a great chance we can get some positive results and move into a higher position.
"I'd definitely like to see the club qualify for European competition next season," Hyland said.Regarding the transfer rumours with Anderlecht keeping eyes on him, he added: "I've only heard about the rumours but I cannot think about right now. I love the Spanish League and it's my dream to play here some day but the interest from Anderlecht will not throw me off. My first love is Zulte Waregem at the moment."
Man U defender relievedwith holding off Jones
He may not have scored but Kenwyne Jones was a definite threat to Manchester United going into their Premier League clash last week which the "Red Devils" won 2-1.United defender Chris Smalling revealed Jones was one of the expected dangermen for Stoke City and was targeted by the United defence to ensure he didn't trouble them.
"We looked at the footage beforehand and Stoke are a real handful physically, especially Kenwyne Jones," the defender told Manchester United TV. "He's been tormenting centre halves this season. I knew it was going to be a really difficult battle but I really enjoyed it out there."He's got a great standing jump so you really have to get about him and really tussle with him."Stoke City will face Bolton Wanderers in more Premier league action on Saturday.
Haiti's women winFifa Fair Play Award
Haiti's Under-17 women's team which competed in the Concacaf championship less than two months after an earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 in their homeland received the Fifa Fair Play Award Monday at the international federation's annual gala.
The Haitian side was training when the 7.0 magnitude quake struck at 4.53 pm January 12, 2010, but arrived in Costa Rica for their opening game of the Concacaf Under-17 Women's Championship against the United States on March 10, when it lost 9-0. The Haitian women went on to lose its remaining two group games, falling to Costa Rica 2-0 and fellow Caribbean qualifier Cayman Islands 1-0.
Captain Hayana Jean-Francois, who scored four goals in Haiti's qualifying campaign for the Concacaf championship, was on hand at the Fifa Gala to accept the award on behalf of her mates.
Bateau eager forSporting chance
National Under-20 captain Sheldon Bateau is waiting with bated breath for the opportunity to show coaches at Sporting Kansas what he's capable of doing when he visits the club for trial alongside T&T teammate Daniel Cyrus later this month.Both players were spotted by Sporting head coach Peter Vermes at a combine hosted by 1st Santa Rosa FC last month and have been invited to take part in another trial.
"It's something I've been looking forward to and I think it's a great opportunity for me to go out there and hopefully perform well and earn a contract."The level will be quite good and it will definitely allow me to raise my game. One of the main things I'm focusing now is trying to lead the Under-20 team to another World Cup this year but of course if the chance is there for me to move on to a higher league then I'm going to give it my all," said Bateau.
The ex-Fatima College and San Juan Jabloteh player also appeared for T&T at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in 2007 and the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and has also lined up for the T&T Olympic team.Vermes noted: "We had about 50 players over five days and the talent was good."We have two younger guys and possibly a third. One of the players is Cyrus and he's played for the full team and he looks to be a good player. There's another player by the name of (Sheldon) Bateau and he plays in midfield. He's 19 and has also played for the national youth teams and he's also on the verge of the full team."
Shaun Fuentes is the mediaofficer for Soca Warriors/TTFF.