SOME of this country’s national senior team footballers paid a visit to the Youth Training Centre in Arouca on Friday last to engage in talks with 35 inmates as the “Heart of a Warrior” week campaign continued in the build up to Tuesday’s Friendly International against New Zealand at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams, English-based duo Andre Boucaud and Justin Hoyte and Columbus Crew defender Kevan George were accompanied by TTFA Director of Communications Shaun Fuentes who introduced the players to the inmates before the players took turns addressing the inmates for close to an hour.
Equipment manager Michael Williams was also part of the group. Williams told inmates that it was not a pleasure for him to be present among them as he believed they were all supposed to be fulfilling their dreams and living as free individuals in society. He explained to them however that they were paying the price for making the wrong choices.
“Everybody sitting here made wrong choices or one wrong choice. Life is all about choices. The great thing about life is we have the opportunity to make any choice in life. Everybody has to take the responsibility for their mistakes but we can learn from our own mistakes and those of others. We all have decisions to make. Life is only worthwhile when you make the right choice,” Williams told the inmates.
“There were days when I woke up and I thought things are not working out and I didn’t even want to get up and go to school. But you have to be stronger than that and keep on fighting to make things happen no matter how low you may be, it has to start from a positive thought and there is always a way out.”
Meanwhile national coach Stephen Hart had 20 of his 22 players at training yesterday at the Larry Gomes Stadium with only MLS-based duo Cordell Cato and Carlyle Mitchell still to arrive. Both players are expected in today after completing duties with their clubs ahead of the international break.
Midfielder Andre Boucaud, scorer of T&T’s third goal in the 3-1 win over Saudi Arabia last month, was upbeat ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, eager to play again in front of the T&T fans. Boucaud has appeared in national colours only once before at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Mexico.