While one of his long time idols was enjoying his much publicized arrival in Sydney to kick off a new club tenure, young wingback Glenton Wolfe was still soaking in the feeling of breaking into a National Team for a training camp in Ft Lauderdale before heading off to Miami on Monday for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
T&T skipper Dwight Yorke was the man of the moment in Sydney on Thursday as he met with several distinguished guests, club mates and mediamen. On the other side of the Globe, for Wolfe, it has been a week of intense double session days under head coach Leo Beenhakker, the man he is trying to convince that he is worthy of a pick on the National team. Safe to say so far, Beenhakker has seen something in this member of National Quarries North East Stars team to still have him in the set up.
Wolfe was born December 31, 1981 and grew up in North Manzanilla, same area as Scottish-based striker Collin Samuel who was a teammate of his at the Manzanilla Government School before both had to part ways because the former was unable to afford to attend Secondary School while Samuel went on to Mayaro Composite before joining the professional ranks. Wolfe also grew up playing with his younger brother Anthony who is also a member of North East Stars and has also been a training member of the National team.
But Glenton’s story has been an up and down one, having come from an extremely humble family background where having to spend time in the garden and selling on the roadside was a way of making ends meet before he got the break to play for North East. Before that, at age 16 after missing out on a chance to attend Mayaro Composite to play in the SSFL due to lack of funds, Wolfe had stints with Manzanilla United and East West FC in Five Rivers. Then the chance to try out for Stars came after a recommendation from friend Keston De La Rosa. Since then, he has been one of the key members of Jimmy McLean’s Stars outfit, helping them to the 2003 FA Cup title and 2004 Pro League title.
When asked who is his most admired coach, Wolfe replied: “Leo Beenhakker because he’s shown faith in me and he’s willing to give me the chance to make that breakthrough. But Jimmy has also been the one sticking behind me all the time before that.”
With his favourite players being Samuel, because of having him seen him move up the ranks from “Manzan” to Dundee, as well as Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, Wolfe is determined to keep riding the waves after making his debut on May 25 in the 4-1 win over Bermuda and also traveling with the team for the recent match against Mexico.
“I’ve grown up eating saltfish and dumpling, planting in the garden and running ball on the beach. And now to get a chance to do something and be recognized for it is a real amazing feeling. I’m here in Miami now with a chance to play for Trinidad and Tobago and make something good happen,” Wolfe told TTFF Media at the Hilton in Fort Lauderdale. “I have done the hard things, playing with North East and not getting paid because we didn’t have a sponsor during that season when we won the FA and the Pro League and then to finally get something for all the hard work. The club is now in a better position and I want to thank everyone there for working to make something good happen”
Wolfe also had the chance to meet Harvey Borris, Consulate General of T&T in Miami at the Hilton on Thursday as he paid a courtesy visit to the team, wishing the players well and offering any support necessary during their stay in Miami for the first stage of the Gold Cup.
“You guys are making us very proud with what you are doing on the football pitch. Tears came out my eyes when I looked at the game against Mexico and saw how well you all played and were able to hold them down. It showed just how capable we are of achieving success and we have all belief that once you can keep this up, we can definitely get to the World Cup stage,” Borris addressed the players.
Beenhakker, after an early morning training session on Thursday, allowed Wolfe and company the evening off before taking the pitch once again at 9am for another double session day leading up to the weekend.
Q&A with Glenton Wolfe
1. What’s your most memorable moment or match, whether for country or Club?
FA knockout final in 2003 and when NE Stars played practice game vs National Team
2. Name two persons, whether relative or not who have been an inspiration to you.
Bigger brother Fitzroy and mother Angela- off and on worker in hospital.
3. Any favourite player or team?
Collin Samuel, Ronaldinho and Brazil.
4. What would be your preferred other profession?
To be an electrician. I'm hoping to complete a course in that field.
5. What do you hope to accomplish either in next 5 years or end of playing career?
To be a player and playing in an overseas Pro league
6. Who’s been among your most admired coaches and why?
Leo Beenhakker, he is giving me a good break.
7. What do you think of T&T’s chances of making it to the 2006 World Cup?
We stand a very good chance at this point and I;m very excited to be part of it.
8. Any instances or plays that you always reflect on?
Winning the FA Cup. Playing without payments for four months with NE Stars. It was a lot of sacrifice. We had no sponsor at the time but now we have one and we are getting better payment on time. Even through the 2004 season, we weren’t being paid on time.
9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Jimmy McLean always telling me I can do it.
10. What do you do to relax away from the game?
Hang out with friends on the beach which is walking distance from home. Run on the beach. I grew up playing on the beach.
11. What’s your favorite dish?
Salt Fish and Dumpling, home cook style
12. Favourite drink?
Grapefruit Juice
13. Favorite time of year?
My Birthday-nice little home lime.
14. Most comfortable football boot?
Adidas
15. Any advice to young ones?
Never give up. Keep believing you can achieve something in life.