Former national football captain Dwight Yorke voiced his support towards the national women's team prior to their December 2 final World Cup qualifier against Ecuador. A victory, he said, would have propelled the women's game but with the result now history, Yorke has another message for Maylee Attin-Johnson and her teammates.
Yorke was a teenager on November 19, 1989 when T&T suffered a 1-0 loss to the United States, a defeat that saw the Strike Squad falter at the final hurdle. Shattering as it was, T&T continued to chase that qualification dream and eventually accomplished it in 2005/2006.
"It's heartbreaking and it's something that never leaves you," Yorke said. "This is a memory you will take with you for the rest of your lives but it makes you a stronger person and you take the lessons from it. I had the same experience as a youngster in 1989 but I didn't let it keep me down. Instead I used it to my advantage and I pushed myself to do better, to chase more dreams and to achieve things.
"This is what these young women have to do now. They've set a good platform for women's football and now they have got to believe more than ever before that they can go on to achieve other things. There will be more tournaments and more World Cups to come. Hopefully now the people and I mean the association, the stakeholders, the Government and the players can realise how important it is to give it their all both for the women and the men's football back home."
Foncette thrilled with national team experience
National goalkeeper Adrian Foncette did not appear in any of this country's Caribbean Cup matches in Jamaica but his journey over the past seven years has been quite a remarkable one. As such, the second placed medal he collected following T&T's 4-3 loss on penalty kicks to Jamaica in final on November 18, felt like a winner's prize in many regards.
Foncette suffered a near career ending injury in 2007 when his hand was badly damaged in a car accident on a return home from a gym session. He underwent six surgeries and rehab for just over four months and defied the odds to eventually return to playing. The injury sustained, it was said, usually leads to amputation.
He underwent physical therapy with Lisa Niles three times a week and occupational therapy with Leslie Garcia every other day in order to have any chance of playing again.
That paid off as Foncette was off to the University of Albany on a football scholarship where he eventually graduated with a major in economics and a minor in business administration. He had previously appeared for the T&T Under-20 team and was in training with the U-23 team before the accident occurred.
He returned to Trinidad, joining North East Stars before moving to Police in order to get more playing time in the local professional league. His solid performances between the sticks earned him a call up to the senior team where he has been the number three behind Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip.
"It's a great experience just being included in the team. This is something I was working towards when I came back home after the accident in 2012," the 26-year-old custodian said.
"It's been a whole new experience playing and preparing at this level. Even though I didn't play in any of the matches, just being in the locker room before and after matches and hearing and seeing everything going on at half time was an eye opener and something that will serve me well for the future.
"The team spirit was quite good and the squad has a good bond which I was glad to be part of. I can see us growing stronger and hopefully I can continue to improve my game get the opportunity again and someday get the chance to make my debut for the national team."
David eyes return to Europe
National defender Aubrey David is expected to undergo trials in Europe in February as his stint with Finnish club FF Jaro has ended.
David had a relatively strong showing for T&T at the 2014 Caribbean Cup Finals and is hoping to secure another move to Europe.
"The deal has ended with Jaro and at the moment I'm home awaiting the new transfer window. There are a couple clubs that have expressed interest and I'm likely to go on trial early next year," David said. "The club is from Ukraine and they've invited me to join them for a camp in Turkey in February. So hopefully I'll be back out there in 2015."
David said he was looking forward to 2015 calendar.
"Next year is another huge year for the national team with the Gold Cup coming up and of course we're getting closer to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. I think we ended 2014 in a good position by coming second in the Caribbean Cup. We have a lot of work to do still but we could look back and be pleased with some of the things we have accomplished in 2014."
Belgrave gets US honours
T&T women's player Rhea Belgrave of the West Texas A&M women's football team was honoured last week as a member of the 2014 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division II All-South Central Region Team. Belgrave was distinguished on the All-Region Third-Team after earning Second-Team honours in 2013.
Belgrave was a 2014 First-Team Lone Star Conference All-Conference selection and LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She picked up LSC First-Team honours last season as well and was named 2013 LSC Defensive Player of the Year. This fall, Belgrave added three goals to WT's total, including two game-winners and one from PK, while playing in and starting 13 total matches.
�2Shaun Fuentes is the director of communications for the TTFA. shaunfuentes@yahoo.com