THERE is no limit to the amount of work that Scott Sealy is willing to do on a football field.
A relative rookie to national football, Sealy shows the typical hunger of a young striker who is eager to prove himself.
That thirst for goals has made Sealy the top rookie at his club, the Kansas City Wizards and also has him running a 'hot streak' during which he has scored five goals in the last five games he has played for his club.
Most experienced coaches know the value of a striker on a 'hot streak' and it was this thirst for goals that caught the eye of coach Leo Beenhakker. Looking to beef up his attack, Beenhakker travelled to the United States last weekend to see Sealy in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match against the New England Revolution.
Guess what? He scored.
And after having his first look at the player, Beenhakker made the brave move to select the 24 year-old former Petit Valley resident ahead of ex-Dundee United striker Jason Scotland, and also Colombus Crew striker Cornell Glen, who seemed a certain candidate for the spot after the way he had panicked the Americans when the teams met on February 9 in the first leg of the qualifying tie in Port of Spain. Sealy too feels that it is his goals, more than anything, that has got him onto the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
"I guess it has to be the goals more than anything else," he said. "Because the coach (Beenhakker) never saw me play previously. In such a situation, the fact that am producing for my club is the main thing that I can see earning me a call up to the national team. I also think my work rate as a footballer is something that is not too common In Trinidad football," he said."
After a slow start to the MLS season, Sealy has moved up rapidly and his recent five strikes have taken his tally to seven for the season. He is also jointly tied as the leading scorer for his club with well-regarded players such as Sasha Victorine and Chris Kline.
"It feels good, because I started off slowly, but for the past month and a half, I have started to show some really good form."
However, scoring goals is nothing new to Sealy, who earned a football scholarship to Wake Forest after scoring goals in bunches for St Mary College in the Secondary Schools Football League. He also excelled at the American College where he made All Conference and All-American First teams and also left as the second highest goalscore in Wake Forest history.
Sealy says his goal had always to be a professional football, but he feels that it was important to go to school.
"I always wanted to get my education first, because nothing is certain. I think that I am lucky in that I am one of those who can do both. But one day, I hope to play at a higher level, maybe in England or in the Bundesliga."
He has been a professional for just a short time and has had even less time as a senior national football. Former national coach Bertille St Clair, had used him a couple of times off the bench, but Beenhakker has never had a chance to see what the young striker can do. And after seeing what Beenhakker can do, Sealy is convinced that Trinidad and Tobago can do well against the United States tomorrow.
"I like what I have seen of the coach. He has us attacking, but he also has us defending and cutting out the ball. He definitely has a plan, " says Sealy, who is hoping that Beenhakker also has him in his plans for tomorrow's match.