Newcomer in the Trinidad and Tobago team, Jelani Peters, is having the time of his football career upon his recent call up for the two World Cup qualifying games against Costa Rica and Honduras.The W Connection player has had one previous opportunity to train with the National Under 23 team but was ruled out because of injury.
Peters relayed some of the inspiring factors in his life so far with his deceased mom at the top of his list. Vanessa Peters passed away on December 22, 2014.
"My entire family, my mom especially, have been big inspirations in my life. She passed away two years ago. I'm doing it for her. She had a mass that was blocking her eyesight in her right eye. She was away on vacation by my sister in the US. Then they did a surgery on the Dec 4, 2014. The operation wasn't successful. She passed on Dec 22, 2014," Peters explained.
"But now I am thankful that through football I have been able to move on and this is my focus in life.
"I started off with a small community team by the name of Metro Stars. I played for my school Tranquillity Government and St Ann's Rangers Under 18s, Jabloteh reserve then back to Rangers. Now I am at W Connection," Peters added. His football idols are David Alaba and teammate Sheldon Bateau.
Peters will be hoping to make his debut for T&T in today's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at 7pm.
Jomal eager to impress for Hart's team
Mexican-based midfielder Jomal Williams says that the big stage of the CONCACAF Final Round will not get to him.Williams, formerly of W Connection, has played in a CONCACAF Final round before but at the Under 17 level. This is his highest level of play for the senior team.
"Of course it's a great feeling to be playing for my country in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. It's a grand stage but I am staying focused. I am one of the younger players in the team but I am happy about my state of mind and my composure. I will play my role in whatever way and I will be ready to grab my chance when the coach calls on me," said Williams who plays for Murcielagos FC along with T&T teammates Yohance Marshall and Shahdon Winchester.
"For me personally, playing in Mexico has been a great thing for me and it has helped in preparing for me for this level and for the expectations. Of course my friends and teammates in Mexico know that we will have to play them twice in this round and they have been telling me how difficult it will be but I am confident in my team and I think once we continue to build as a team we will reach our destination,"Williams added.
Birchall backing T&Tin qualifiers
Former national midfielder Chris Birchall is backing the current team to return to the glory of World Cup qualification. The former Port Vale and LA Galaxy player was a member of the historic T&T side which qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.
Birchall joined the T&T side for its fourth qualifying game in the final round, against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Now retired from international football, Birchall is throwing his support behind the T&T team.
"I speak to Kenwyne and ask how they're doing," Birchall said. "He says this is the only squad he's been confident in since the 2006 World Cup. After that tournament, we lost all our experienced players: Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and Shaka Hislop."
"Now it's been a rebuilding process, the players have come through, the funding's been there and hopefully now they can show CONCACAF that they are one of the big teams in that region and hopefully go on. They've had some great results, drawing against USA at home, beating Guatemala away and drawing with them at home. Even in the Gold Cup the year before, drawing with Mexico, these are things that even in 2006 would have been unbelievable. Now this young group of players are all coming together."
�2 Shaun Fuentes is press officer for the TTFA.
