United States-based midfielder Kevin Molino easily delivered the most significant match winning performance for Trinidad and Tobago in 2011.
His goal in T&T’s 2-1 loss to Bermuda would have easily gone unnoticed as failure to secure at least a point in Hamilton eventually led to this country’s exit from Brazil 2014.
But Molino’s commanding performance in a 9-1 win over Suriname last month kept T&T’s 2012 Olympic hopes alive.
His four goals in that match was just what the doctor ordered. Molino was also outstanding in T&T’s three matches against Ecuador, Mexico and Uruguay at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara. The Carenage-born player is now setting his sights on even greater accomplishments in 2012.
“I want to qualify for a major tournament. Being knocked out of the World Cup has been the biggest disappointment of my short career so far. I never thought that we would be out so early when I came in to the senior team, “ Molino said.
“That by far was the worst experience in 2011 for me but the Olympic team did pretty well. Scoring four goals against Suriname was my best performance for a national team and I think we have a really good chance of qualifying. The group is not an easy one but we have the skill and the experience to do well in the final round next year.
I think once we put down our heads and work together then we can definitely qualify for the Olympics,” he added. “We are out of the World Cup and so the next big event for us is the Olympics and this team has some good players who can carry on for the senior team into the World Cup for 2018.
We have a lot of word ahead of us but I think once we plan well and work hard then we can be successful all the way,” said Molino. T&T will face Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador in the opening group phase of the CONCACAF final round in California, USA in March, 2012.