Trinidad and Tobago forward Abiola Clarence has moved from south based United Petrotrin to northern based club Superstar Rangers this week during the Pro League transfer window.
Both Superstar Rangers and United Petrotrin have been struggling this season at the bottom half of the Pro League standings.
Clarence who had only joined Petrotrin at the beginning of the 2007 season, his first at the Pro League level, failed to make an impression under Coach Brian Williams.
He was sideline for most of his time with the ‘Oilmen’ who are on sixth on the League standings with just 28 points after Round Three Match Day Three.
Rangers’ manager Richard Piper confirmed adding the striker along with a couple new names.
He told ‘ttproleague.com’, “We have now brought in striker Abiola Clarence, attacking midfielder Sayid Freitas of M&M Harvard FC and 27 year old St. Vincentian defender Troy Jeffers on month to month contracts,” stated Piper.
With regards to Clarence, Piper said the move was more of a personal one.
“He(Abiola) is from Diego Martin and he was uncomfortable having to travel to south Trinidad every day for training. He was also unhappy with the amount of playing time he had received while at Petrotrin,” said Piper.
Commenting briefly on the loss of Clarence who was contracted till the end of the season with Petrotrin, Coach Brian Williams said that the player was definitely uncomfortable with the traveling distance and he hopes he becomes comfortable playing closer to home.
Clarence last represented T&T in a friendly match against Guadeloupe which ended 2-2 earlier this year leading up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Piper further noted that Sayid Freitas is a former Superstar Rangers while defender Troy Jeffers had been on trial with the club for the last month.
Jeffers a former member of the St. Vincent Motor System 3 football club was recommended to the Rangers by coach of the Vincentian club, who is also a good friend of Rangers’ Coach Anthony Streete.
While Coach Streete who is still disappointed over the loss of his franchise player Kerwyn Jemmott said, “They are not the best in ability, but they have the best character and that is something that we can work with,” he said.
Rangers play League leaders San Juan Jabloteh on Saturday at the hasely Crawford Stadium and Coach Streete is hoping for the best results.