National midfield wizard Aurtis Whitley will be heading off to England at the end of this month to partake in a trial with English Premiership club Portsmouth FC.
The 28-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh star, coming off a series of hit performances for the “Soca Warriors” in its successful 2006 World Cup qualifying quest, could end up spending up to two weeks at the club of which goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is a former member. And it’s being arranged by former Jabloteh coach Ricky Hill who is also arranging for defender Cyd Gray to head off to the UK for trials later this month.
Whitley was originally carded to go on trial with Southampton FC but after manager Harry Redknapp made the switch to Portsmouth, Whitley was informed that he will also have to make the change over to Redknapp’s current location.
Redknapp is reportedly keen on seeing what the explosive midfielder has to offer in the English conditions which the player himself is looking forward to with great interest.
“My intentions are to give it my best shot because these opportunities don’t come by on any normal day,” Whitley told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
“Throughout the recent months playing for the national team, this kind of opportunity is also something I have been aiming for and now it is here for me to take advantage of. I think once I can maintain my focus and stay fit then definitely I will be able to give a good account this time. If not, I’m pretty sure something else could come my way.”
He added that English Championship club Luton Town remains interested in him but the first stop will be at Fratton Park Also going on trial Panathinaikos Polish striker Emmanuel Olisadebe.
Whitley also spoke of his desire to line up against T&T’s Group B opponents England, Sweden and Paraguay.
“I particularly can’t wait to play England. The draw for us players is a dream come true because it gives us a chance to play against some great players and teams that we grew up following. I know we have a lot of players who have adapted well in England and have also changed their style of play. But I want to show them how I play and to give them a taste of our style. It’s going to be a hard task but we won’t back down. To tell you the truth, I love it and I can’t wait to be in Germany,” Whitley added.
Another man also getting set to take the plane out of Piarco is Caledonia AIA Fire midfielder Densill Theobald. At the moment, Scottish Premier League club Falkirk, through Russell Latapy, is sorting out Theobald’s work permit and the player is likely to head over to the club sometime over the next two months.
“Right now they are trying to get through the paperwork and hopefully things will be settled and I should be over there soon. Russell has been working on it and he has been in touch with me on a day to day basis,” Theobald said.