Superstar Rangers suffer another harsh blow to their 2007 season less than a week apart since the axing of midfielder Kerwyn Jemmott last Wednesday because of a breach in contract.
Rangers have announced this week that leading goalscorer and inspirational skipper Errol Mc Farlane will leave his homeland on Wednesday to join Lebanese First Division club Al Mabarah FC for their 20072008 season.
Mc Farlane who had played with Al Nejneh in the Lebanese First Division League for five years before re-joining his longtime club Superstar Rangers last season is no stranger to the Middle East and would now team up with former T&T international Peter Prosper.
Prosper a former United Petrotrin and San Juan Jabloteh player joined the Lebanese club during their pre-season this year.
Mc Farlane a Trinidad and Tobago international explained that it wasn’t an easy decision to leave his present club Superstar Rangers.
He told ‘ttproleague.com’, “I have a lot to play for here in the Pro League with Rangers. I am giving up my chance at the ‘Golden Boot’. It was also a hard decision knowing that my team really needs me but it was good that understood that this is my chance at furthering my career.” said Mc Farlane.
Superstar Rangers Manager Richard Piper who confirmed Mc Farlene’s move, said that Peter Prosper may have had some influence in the deal.
It is also understood that Ahmad Fadallah President of Al Mabarah FC had contacted both Errol Mc Farlane and Superstar Rangers with interest over the last week.
Piper told ‘ttproleague.com’, “Errol is going to join Al Mabarah FC on a one year loan deal. He would then return to us when their 07/08 season ends in July.
Errol Mc Falane’s contract with Superstar Rangers runs till December 2008.
Mc Farlane had his final session with the sixth positioned Pro League club on Tuesday which was followed by a brief farewell for the stocky built forward.
“It was an emotional period for us today,” said Piper. “We had a small farewell arrangement for him after his last training session this morning.”
Rangers coach Anthony Streete had similar sentiments.
“Errol told me after the session that he appreciated all that I have done for him as coach and that he would be taking his lessons with him.”
“We thanked Errol for his leadership qualities. It was emotional for me and some of the players knowing that Errol has always put out his best for our club.”
Mc Farlane is currently joint top scorer on the TT Pro League standings with 14 goals together with San Juan Jabloteh’s Peter Byers.
“I made sure and told him that he is leaving here as number one and to give the same type of performance in Lebanon,” said the Superstar Rangers coach.
Streete went to add that his team has suffered a ‘big blow’ with the loss of his captain and ace forward.
“We had a leading goalscorer at our club and with just a couple of months to go this season he is leaving us and that’s a big blow,” Streete said.
But the disappointed coach further explained that Mc Farlane expressed delight over his move.
Streete now explains that he has to rethink his tactical game plan. He said, “My team was built around Errol this season and although we are not high up on the table we were getting results tactically. With Errol, we were able to play with one striker but now I will have to change that system,” he concluded.