Three-time Pro League winner and two-time Caribbean Club champion medal winner Leston Paul is eager to suit up for new club Deportivo Pasaquina of El Salvador.
The 27-year-old ex-Central FC combative midfielder said he put pen to paper to a one year deal last Tuesday, agreeing to his first overseas contract with the Salvadorian Primera Divisón outfit—cutting short his stint at North East Stars after just five games.
“I think this move can open doors to a bigger club or even a bigger league; which is my main goal,” the Mayaro-born former Trinidad and Tobago FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup captain told ttproleague.com.
“A move [outside of Trinidad] was on the cards for some for some time, not necessarily here (at Pasaquina). [But] I think it’s good for me personally to test myself in another league and continue improving as a player.”
Paul, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography out of University of South Florida, won three consecutive Pro League titles including back-to-back Caribbean crowns between 2014 and 2017 with Central FC, but switched to the Stars were he enjoyed an unbeaten run of four consecutive wins and a draw.
C.D. Pasaquina meanwhile, have transferred their miserable form of last season into the 2017/18 Salvadoran Primera Divisón, losing their opening match last weekend against Isidro Metapán 3-0—for their fifth straight loss spanning back to last season.
Paul, who has team up with Trinidadian defender Dwayne James at Pasaquina, is hoping to transfer his winning touch to a club still attempting to root themselves in the Salvadoran top flight.
Head coach Omar Sevilla added Brazilian forward Jackson de Oliveira and Paul to improve his side’s offence, but must do without the Trinidad and Tobago international when Pasaquina host CD Audaz on Saturday due to pending international transfer certificate (ITC).
“Pasaquina are one of the smaller clubs in El Salvador and they are trying to improve the team every season to have better results,” explained Paul, who hopes to have his transfer completed ahead of Pasaquina’s trip to Municipal Limeño on August 12.
“The ambition of the club is to make the playoffs [which fields the top four teams at the end of the regular season] and from there anything is possible, hence the reason they signed De Oliveira and myself for the season.”
Despite turning to a new chapter and location in his professional career, Paul said his commitment to the Trinidad and Tobago team and the final phase of the CONCACAF Hex in FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying is unchanged.
“My commitment to the national team is the same as it was since I ever started playing international football,” asserted the Manzanilla-born footballer. “I am one hundred percent committed to the goal of the national team. The (only) changes over the past few days are my new team and location.”