Former National youth player Jason Devenish still has ambitions of representing Trinidad and Tobago at the international level and wants to ensure that his exploits don’t go unnoticed by the T&T Football Federation as it looks towards qualification for future World tournaments.
Devenish, a former Queen’s Royal College player, who once got an invitation to play for the Canada Youth team, representing them at the Under 17 level, is among several players from T&T who have campaigned or continue to do so in the US Leagues and cannot afford to go unnoticed.
He was called back to the T&T Under 21 team in 2005 but has not returned to the national set up since. The 19-year-old midfielder is still hoping to make it big on the club stage, having been a member of the University of South Florida team . He teamed up with countrymen Kevon Neaves, Yohance Marshall and Kareem Smith at the Florida unit.
Not only are these players important members of South Florida's team, they are starters who dominate on the field and lead off the field, according to head coach George Kiefer.
"They are key players to the group," Kiefer says. "Yohance is a captain as a sophomore and right when he got here, you could tell he was a leader. He is a real vocal guy. Then, Kevon, for me, is one of the best left-sided players in the country. He is very dynamic and he can beat you off the dribble. Kareem is having his best year this year.
"And then you have Jason who we stumbled upon late last year. All four guys play good minutes. They are all key players."
At what age you took a real interest in the sport? Tell us a bit abut your past
I started out playing for the Dion La Foucade Soccer School at around age 6 and that is when I began the whole football obsession. I played there for the entire time until I attended Queen’s Royal College where I played from Form One until I made the first eleven team when I was in form 4 at age 15. I had a very successful year in Form Five where we won the North Zone title for the first time in a while for QRC. Following that I was invited to play with the National U20 team when I was only 16. I ended up breaking my foot in a practice game with them and not being able to play.
Who are some of the persons that inspired you, whether it be international personalities, countrymen or teammates?
Russell Latapy always inspired me. I followed him from when he fist went away until he was with Glasgow Rangers and then Falkirk. I always watched him with the national team and always looked up to him and tried to emulate him. I got a chance to meet him when I was younger too which was a huge deal for me. Internationally David Beckham was always my idol. He was someone who really displayed hard work and perfectionism which I admired a lot and I of course wanted to be as famous as him one day. Another big inspiration was Coach Dion La Foucade. He coached me since I was really young and I owe so much of what I know to him. He always told me to keep my feet on the ground and be humble which up to this day I still try to do.
What has the contact been like with the TTFF. Are you still interested in playing for Trinidad? What are the possibilities. Did you support T&T at the 2006 World Cup?
The contact with the TTFF has been sporadic. The last time I had any affiliation with them was last may when I was invited to come back to Trinidad to play against Haiti and Dominican Republic.. I played in only one half of one game and didn't perform too well and since then haven't really heard from them. I supported Trinidad and Tobago 100percent in the World Cup and was very proud of how they represented us and how they performed. To represent Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup is my ultimate goal and I am very determined to still play for the country and I definitely hope that one day I can be a part of the team again.
What has the experience been like in the US College system?
My college experience has been an up and down one. The coaching is a lot different for me and you have to be able to adjust and learn to play different positions and different ways to suit teams. You also have to become a lot stronger mentally to survive here and to succeed. It has been a huge learning experience for me and I feel as though I have become a better played mentally and physically as a result.
What are you short term and long term ambitions?
Short term - I hope to improve and become a bigger influence with my current team and hopefully before I graduate win a national title and graduate with my degree. Long term, my goal in life has always been to play professionally and I am sticking to my goal. Hopefully I will be able to fulfill my goal and play for a huge European team in the Champions’ League.