Defender Uriah Bentick has his sights on earning a call-up to the national senior men's team this year and will be hoping his exploits with his new club Central FC can strengthen his chances of catching the eye of Stephen Hart.
Bentick played in in the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt where he lined up against the likes of Kevin Molino, Jamal Gay, Khaleem Hyland, Aubrey David and Sheldon Bateau.
Bentick said his ambition to play for the senior team was one of the main reasons behind him returning home to join the professional ranks.
"I am back in Trinidad to play because I have a strong desire to represent the national senior team. I think being in Trinidad for this period will allow me to play in front of the national team staff more regularly and hopefully better my chances for my first call up to the senior team. Secondly, I like the direction coach Vranes and Mr (Brent) Sancho are heading with Central FC, especially pertaining to the Concacaf champions league qualification," Bentick said.
He added that his time in the United States was a definite highlight in his career thus far. He played for Liberty University between 2009 to 2012 and then joined pro teams Wilminghton Hammerheads and Carolina RailHawks.
"My experience in the US was quite good. I was exposed to a high level of football and coaching after finishing college. During my two years in North Carolina I learnt a lot from my US and European coaches, personally I believe I improved on the mental part of my game the most during my time there."
Bentick is expected to be an integral part of Central's push for a place in the Concacaf Champions League this season.
Phillips among guest speakers at US High School
Former national goalkeeper and technical director Lincoln Phillips was among members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) who took part in a fitness course as guest speakers at the Students Building 21 Ferguson High School last Friday
In between facilitating meetings, conducting trainings and networking, Phillips and members of the BSCC spent time visiting with all 140 ninth-grade students.
During an assembly that featured some of the soccer industry's most regarded people of colour, Phillips was accompanied by Kim Crabbe and Rob Smith.
Crabbe, the "Jackie Robinson" of United States women's football, is the first African-American female to compete for the country on an international level.
Phillips, who founded the BSCC in 1996, is a former Howard University men's coach. In 1974, Phillips guided the team to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship after being stripped of a title his team won in 1971, his first year of coaching. Phillips' vision for the BSCC was based on his desire to serve as an advocate for coaches of colour within the football community, and promote the awareness of issues and opportunities for improving the participation of people of colour in the game of football.
MLS star tips Molino to shine
Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer believes Kevin Molino will be able to transfer his heroics for Orlando City in the USL to American Major League Soccer (MLS) this season.
A league-record 20 goals, the assist title, All-League First Team, and USL PRO "Most Valuable Player". By all standards, it was a season that put the Lions' first Major League Soccer signing on the map heading into Orlando City's MLS debut in March.
"I think he's going to be a star as soon as he comes to MLS," Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer said back at the MLS All-Star Game this summer.
"Not just because he's a good friend of mine, but he has unbelievable talent. I wish I had feet like him. When he wants it and when he's motivated, he's unstoppable. I can't wait for people to see that... He's going to get his chance next year and I believe he's going to take it with two hands and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in this game next year."
An article on otowns11.com stated "The key to most of Molino's success in 2014, through the words of Adrian Heath, was moving Molino to a more central position in the midfield of Heath's 4-2-3-1 formation. That let Molino to spent more time in and around the penalty area, and put him into better positions to get the ball and slip it into the net. The more he scored, the more his confidence built, and the more dangerous became as the season went on.
"He was also able to play the distributor when needed, passing it up to the lone striker, or to one of the in coming wingers. "This season, however, Molino projects to play primarily on the right wing with Kaka playing that central role. It'll be important for Molino to not get trapped out on the wing, and still be able to get into the box where he can get feeds from Kaka and others around. Watching Molino a lot last year, teams that were able to force him wide for most of a match had a much better chance of keeping him off of the score sheet, and it would force him to be more of the creator."
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Hoyte aims to bounce back at Millwall
T&T defender Justin Hoyte has confessed that his career at Millwall has been frustrating over the past few months but he is determined to work his way back into first team football in England this year.
Hoyte maintained his place in the T&T senior team last year, lining up at the 2014 Caribbean Cup Finals and being in the squad for international friendlies against the likes of Argentina and Iran.
"Millwall at the moment for me is really hard going as I've not been part of the First team for a really long time now and not been given a true chance at the club when I know I should be playing and being part of the team," Hoyte said.
"But for someone reason I'm not but I guess the manager and staff have their reasons. So for me it's been tough knowing that I'm not gonna play for the team and not even train with team but I just go in work hard and keep focused on my future away from Millwall now.
Family and close friends have been there for him throughout.
"It's been a tough year at Millwall for me but this made me mentally tough and made me even stronger as a player. I have my girlfriend Lisa and my little daughter Alana and close family and friends to keep me going.
"For 2015 I'm in process at looking to get away from Millwall so I can get my career back on track and get back to playing week in week out away from Millwall and as a stronger person mentally and physically," Hoyte said.
Shaun Fuentes is the director of communications for the TTFA–shaunfuentes@yahoo.com