Trinidad and Tobago striker Devorn Jorsling has returned to the Defence Force Football Club and more so the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment.
The 28 year old joined the soldiers earlier this month for 2012-2013 pre-season training following a 6-month stint with his home-town club Caledonia AIA or Morvant-Laventille where he enjoyed unquestionable success.
In 2010 after guiding Defence Force to lift the Digicel Pro League Championship, Jorsling, one of the Army’s most prolific strikers, was granted two years in which to pursue a professional football career outside Trinidad and Tobago, on the request of the player.
And in January of 2011 he signed a one-year agreement with USL Pro division club Orlando City teaming up with fellow Trinidadian and former San Juan Jabloteh and Ma Pau SC player Kevin Molino to help the Lions win the League.
However Jorsling’s contract wasn’t renewed by Orlando City in 2011 and January opted to join the Jamaal Shabazz coached Caledonia, the club he represented in 2001 before joining Defence Force in 2002.
Jorsling said, “Things didn't work out how I wanted in the US so I returned home and took that opportunity to represent my home (town) club Caledonia AIA.”
He enjoyed huge success in his short 6-month stint helping the club add the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield, FA Trophy, a third place finish in the Digicel Pro League two points shy of winner W Connection, the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship and berth into the CONCACAF Champions’ League which were both club history-making accomplishments to a season which included the First Citizens Cup.
“It was a great feeling, a great achievement for me because some of the guys at Caledonia are guys I played with at primary school level. So to go back and play with them at a professional level and win trophies was a great feeling for me. It was something I always wanted to do as a player and I achieved that,” shared Jorsling over his accomplishments at Caledonia.
“Devorn Jorsling made a huge contribution to Caledonia when he came in for half a season,” said Shabazz.
“We really appreciate that. It’s something that he gave back not just to Caledonia as a team, but to Morvant-Laventille as a community.
“He had to go back to the army, because when you look at the long term, its better a decision for him to go back because of the benefits he has accrued as a soldier.
“We are happy for him but it’s going to be challenging [for us without Jorsling] because the team has grown accustomed to him and dependant on him in a lot of ways.
“He is a player that has a goal in him. And playing in the CONCACAF Champions’ League, we need a player like that but there are also a lot of young players ready to step in such as Trevin Caesar who has been on the bench while Jorsling was a starter.
We have Sheldon Holder and our own home grown veteran Conrad Smith. So we have guys that are going to step in, but I think Devorn is a player that’s going to be missed, but we wish him all the best going back into the Defence Force,” Shabazz closed.
“I think you have to look at life after football and that was one of the main reasons in me returning to the Defence Force.,” enlightened Jorsling.
“You can only play football for some years and Defence Force gives you the opportunity to have a life after football. So that was one of the main reasons returning to Defence Force.”
He went further to add, “Obviously [I would have regrets] as player because I want to play in the CONCACAF Champions' League, but in saying that, I have a wife (Kesi) and two kids (11 year old Desire and 4 year old Destiny).
“It was a hard decision, but it isn't for me personally. It’s for my wife and kids by returning to the Defence Force. But I believe next year I would get the opportunity with the Defence Force to play in the Champions' League. It was a tough decision but I know I made the right decision to return to the Defence Force,” ended Jorsling.