Trinidad and Tobago and Starworld Strikers goalkeeper Marvin Phillip has joined Economy North East Stars on a one year deal, this was confirmed by Darryl Mahabir the Owner/Manager of the Pro League Club.
Mahabir told ‘ttproleague.com’, “We needed help in our goal keeping department and Marvin is the man for the job. He was a free player at the time and that made it even easier for us to negotiate with him. He has signed with us on a one year contract and that’s good news for us,” confirmed a delighted Mahabir.
“He is a great addition to our team and I believe he would make a great impact on our performance this season,” he added.
With Marvin now in the saddle for North East Stars the club owner believes he has no reasons to keep his second choice goal keeper Jamaican Shane Mattis.
“We will now only keep goal keeper Curtis Granger together with Marvin. We see no need to keep Shane Mattis with us any longer,” explained Mahabir.
The 24 year old Marvin Phillip had played all his Pro League football with the southern based Starworld Strikers since joining them on inception back in 2002.
'Currently Marvin is with the national senior team as they prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and is expected to be in the line-up against Guadeloupe and El Salvador in two upcoming friendly internationals within a few weeks.
Coach James Mc Lean of the Sangre Grande Club believes that Marvin has great talent, but he doesn’t like stigma attached to the player.
Speaking with ‘ttproleague.com’ Mc Lean said, “Marvin is a great player and has a great personality, overall he is a good gentleman. I have no complaints about him and I really don’t like the bad reputation attached to the player.”
“Whatever happened in the past, I believe he has paid his dues and that reputation shouldn’t be following him around,” added the Guyanese Coach.
Mc Lean went on to say, “I have had him for a short while now and he shows me great respect and he is also very cooperative. So in return I am going to make sure his great performance this season wipes out the reputation attached to him and for people to see him in a different light,” ended the North East Stars Coach.
Meanwhile another Starworld Strikers player has opted to join the Sangre Grande based Club. Defender Dexter Franklyn joined North East Stars on a one year contract and ttproleague.com understands that a couple other Starworld players is expected to join the Club.
Franklyn explained briefly to ‘ttproleague.com’ that he had other offers, but believes he is too experienced to go on a trial locally, “It was either North East Stars or one other Club who had interest in me, but the other Club wanted me to first go on trial. I was not willing to do that, I have played all season in the Pro League and I’m sure my performance would have said enough. I have the experience and the skill to play with any Club and now I’m with North East Stars,” ended Franklyn.