National defender, Seon Powers says his decision to part ways with bmobile Joe Public and join Ma Pau ahead of the 2010 Digicel Pro League seasons is because he is looking for a new challenge. Speaking via telephone yesterday, Powers who enjoyed eight straight seasons with the "Eastern Lions," said as of February 1, he will officially be a Ma Pau player on a two-year contract. "My time at Joe Public has brought me a lot of success locally and abroad but at this point in my career I feel the need for a new challenge which I know will be reached by Ma Pau.
"Ma Pau is a young club which has set its sights very high and having known coach Michael Mc Comie during my time at Joe Public the decision to make the switch was not a hard one. "With Ma Pau things are going to be happening for me behind the scenes as well because the management team has also expressed some interest in sending me out on a few overseas trials in the very near future. Powers was quick to note that leaving Joe Public for Ma Pau has not fuelled any bad blood between him and his former employers or coach Derek King. "I also had a good relationship at Joe Public with Derek as we were always friends as team-mates before he ventured into coaching.
Being a defender like myself King was one of the guys who inspired me as a young player so I must credit some of my success to him." Hard-tackling Powers also praised the Joe Public management for assisting him during the time of his broken leg in 2008 even though the injury was not sustained while representing the club. "When I broke my leg in 2008, Joe Public stepped in and paid for my medical bills which I was very grateful for and in the end I sacrificed and repaid the club through my salary deductions." During his time at Joe Public, Powers won both the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy, T&T Pro League and Super League titles twice each along with the Super League Knockout, Toyota Cup (twice), Digicel Pro Bowl, First Citizens Cup and Lucozade Big Six.
