Trinidad & Tobago midfielder Densill Theobald is set to arrive in Goa in the coming days after he signed an eight month contract with Dempo SC.
The long-time Trinidad & Tobago international, who captained his national side in an international friendly against India on August 21, had impressed interim India coach Armando Colaco, who also happens to be Dempo’s club secretary and a deal was struck.
29 year old Densill Theobald is an experienced footballer, who has played in Scotland (Falkirk), Hungary (Újpest FC) besides playing in the local T&T Pro League for Joe Public and until recently Caledonia AIA.
Through my friend Shaun Fuentes, the T&T Football Federation Media Officer, I was able to do an interview with Densill before he left Port of Spain and arrives in Goa.
You are heading off to India, to a new chapter in your career. Tell us a little bit more about it.
It is a new challenge for me. I spoke to Cricketers Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo plus Cyd Gray (a footballer formerly with Pune FC) and they had only good things to say about Indian culture and its people. So it is something I am looking forward to!
Did you know anything about Indian football before the international friendly?
Honestly, not really.
You played last month against India at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. What are your observations from the game? What did you think about Team India?
Their football was decent, it was challenging and they gave us a good game, but our football is much stronger or rather I should say our national team is much stronger. But club football and national football is different, then when one brings international players into the league, it raises the level and that is something they seem to be doing in India.
So now you can be one of the ambassadors of Indian football back in the Caribbean?
Off course! Then I also see it as a business adventure and it’s also about creating links between the Caribbean and India in football.
You have played in Scotland, Hungary and at home in the T&T Pro League; is this a challenge that you want at this stage of your career?
Most definitely! I wanted a new scenery, a new training atmosphere, new vibes and stuff like that. I just wanted to accept this challenge after talking to the people at Dempo’s. This is a challenge that I am looking forward to with great confidence and I hope everything works out fine. Hopefully it is successful and I can open doors for other players from my country to come and play in India.
Regarding your national team, the Soca Warriors. The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign is still on. Will you come back once the call is made?
Yeah, most definitely! I see it as an honour to represent my country. I made it clear to the club, if I do get a call from the national team it shouldn’t be a problem for them to release me. It was agreed that national team comes first!
What did you learn about India and its football before signing for Dempo?
I did some research through the Internet. I have learned that they (Dempo) are one of the top teams in India. Have had success, played in the Asian Champions League and the AFC Cup. It’s a well travelled team, a well known team in India and they have a good profile of the club, which augurs well for me.
What do you expect from your stint in India?
(laughs) Like I said before, I see it as a chance to be successful, make a name for myself and open doors for other players to come and play in the Indian league! Plus also help the club (Dempo) be successful during the season and win trophies.
I wish you all the best with Dempo’s!
Thanks man!