Two of this country's players, based in Asia, who have not worn the national colours since the Caribbean Cup campaign in 2012 are gearing up to rejoin the Soca Warriors for next month's friendly internationals against Romania and Estonia.
Seon Power, now based with Thailand Premier League club Chainat FC, and Hughtun Hector of Vietnam club Song Lan Nghai will be joining the team in London next week before journeying to Bucharest for the first friendly on June 4.
The 29-year-old Power, T&T's 'MVP' at the Caribbean Cup Finals in Antigua in December, particularly wants to make a good impression ahead of the Concacaf Gold Cup in July.
"I'm very anxious to join the boys again. I've missed playing for the national team as I haven't done so since the Caribbean Cup last year. The experience in Thailand has been pretty good so far. I've been playing regularly and the standard of the football is relatively good. I think I've definitely benefited from the experience so far," said Power.
"The focus, obviously now, is trying to get myself back into the rhythm with the national team and giving my best in these two games and take into the Gold Cup."
Hector is also looking ahead with high anticipation
"Vietnam has been quite good so far but I've missed a lot of things about Trinidad and Tobago so when I team up with the squad at the end of the month, it will feel a lot like if I'm actually back home even though we'll still be far from it," Hector said.
"For me personally, it's a great opportunity to settle back into the team and, hopefully, I can make a good enough impression and help the team to produce a good display as we get ready for the big one which is the Gold Cup. I'd really love to see us put on a good show and get positive results at the Gold Cup," Hector added.
T&T also plays Estonia on June 7th in Tallinn before returning home to continue training ahead of their Gold Cup opener against El Salvador in New Jersey on July 8th.
Samuel enjoys title success in Iran
T&T defender Jlloyd Samuel proudly held the national flag in front of the cameras as he made his way to the podium to collect his winning medal as Esteghlal celebrated their success in the Iranian Professional League earlier this month.
Samuel, formerly of Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, was an integral member of the club that booked its place in next year's Asian Champions League by winning the Iran League with a 1-0 win over fourth-placed Foola in its penultimate game of the season.
Samuel's team then defeated Al Shabab 4-2 in the first leg of the current Asian Champions League knockout stage last Wednesday with the player netting in the 55th minute to level the scores at 1-1.
Samuel and Bolivia's Vicente Arze are two current internationals in the Tehran-based team. In 1970, Esteghlal became the first Iranian football club to win the Asian Cup. Tehran-based Esteghlal is one of the highest supported teams in Iranian football with an estimated count of more than 30 million fans.
Yorke: Sir Alex kept United door open for me
Dwight Yorke, in the midst of the news of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as manager of Manchester United, revealed this week that the Scotsman assured him that the club would always leave its doors open to him.
Today, Yorke is an ambassador for the Old Trafford club and represents them in exhibition Legend games throughout the globe.
Recalling the moment when he was told he could leave United in 2002, Yorke said: "I remember him calling me into the office and telling me that he felt it was best for the football club that I moved on.
"Obviously, I was devastated. But then he said to me: 'This club will never forget what you have done for it and the door here will always be open to you'."
Yorke went on to join Blackburn Rovers after scoring 48 goals in 96 matches for the "Red Devils." He recalled also the dressing room celebrations after United beat Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final, describing Ferguson's reactions as a fond memory.
"It was incredible in that dressing room, he was like a kid. He was running around, jumping on people, drinking champagne. He doesn't let his guard down often but that night was something different. For him he had achieved the ultimate–the treble–and got us that European Cup. It was like a mixture of joy, satisfaction and relief all coming out in one. To see him like that will always stay in my mind."
Yorke said Ferguson was Manchester United's main motivator.
"He just gave you so much belief and confidence. The closer we got to winning the treble, the more he made us realise what we were on the brink of doing. That we could make history, that we should not let this opportunity pass. He made us give our all every time we went out on the football pitch. I remember at half-time in the Nou Camp when things were not going well. He told us that if we didn't grasp this opportunity we would be walking past that famous trophy and not be able to touch it. It was the drive and belief he gave us that made sure it didn't."
Peltier delighted with Slovak Cup success
Lester Peltier joined the list of Trinbagonians celebrating domestic titles this month when he scored to help Slovan Bratislava defeat MSK Zilina 2-0 in the Slovakian FA Cup final.
Peltier put his team 2-0 ahead in the 49th minute after Igor Zofcak put the current league leaders ahead in the 27th.
The win meant Slovan was lifting the Cup for the sixth time since 1993.
"It's a great feeling to score in the final and help Slovan to the Cup title," said Peltier.
"We've worked hard all season and personally for me it felt wonderful to be able to help the club realise its ambitions of winning the Cup. It's been a difficult season but we've done pretty well. We are top of the league table and now to win the Cup is great achievement," Peltier added.
Peltier joins Khaleem Hyland (Racing Genk), Jlloyd Samuel (Esteghlal, Iran League) and assistant coach Dennis Lawrence (Wigan Athletic, England) on the list of those winning titles outside of T&T this season.
n Shaun Fuentes is the media officer for the Soca Warriors/TTFF–shaunfuentes@yahoo.com
