FORMER TRINIDAD and Tobago football team captain Densill Theobald is expected to make his return to the Caledonia AIA team today when they face Seattle Sounders in their CONCACAF Champions League Group Four encounter at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 8 pm.
Theobald, who returned to Caledonia as a free agent, after a year-long stint with Dempo SC in India, is expected to replace fellow midfielder Keyon Edwards who will miss the game due to suspension.
Thus far, in Group Four, Seattle are atop the three-team group with three points from their lone game — a 3-1 result against AIA on August 2 at the CenturyLink Field while Caledonia, at the bottom of the standings, gained their lone point following a goalless draw against Marathon of Honduras on August 22. Only the winner of this group will advance to the quarter final phase.
In the August 2 meeting, Seattle got first-half goals from striker Sammy Ochoa (19th minute), Colombian striker Fredy Montero (30th) and midfielder Andy Rose (43rd), with Kareem Joseph pulling one back with a penalty in the 50th. Caledonia coach Jamaal Shabazz, in a recent interview, noted, “it’s always a pleasure to work with Densill, he so much of a role model and good example to the team and the youths of Morvant/Laventille.
“His work ethic is second to none and he’s already made a positive impact on the squad, especially with the younger players,” added Shabazz.
“We cannot coach experience and he brings lots of experience and enthusiasm at a most critical time for us in this campaign,” stated Shabazz.
But the Caledonia tactician is not fazed by the pressure of meeting the top MLS club, which was only established in November 2007.
“Certainly we have got to dig deep and pull out a performance that will give us the result we need against Seattle. Actually we relish the challenge not only for ourselves but for Trinidad and Tobago as well,” stated Shabazz.
“Going into this game we want our will to win to be greater than any fear of losing,” he ended.
Seattle, will be featuring Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 striker Cordell Cato, as well as midfielder Brad Evans, forward Eddie Johnson, and captain and midfielder and captain Mauro Rosales (from Argentina).