Trinidad and Tobago could end up having the services of two English-based Premiership players in the near future. And one of them is hoping to earn selection in the squad for the upcoming 2006 World Cup playoff with Bahrain on November 12 and 16.
Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel is expected to be seen in action by national head coach Leo Beenhakker this coming week and is hoping that he will do enough to earn a call from the Dutchman, while West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora told the English Press that he is willing to play for T&T. Both players were earlier on holding on to their hopes of making the England team. Samuel did in fact earn a call from Sven Erikkson for a friendly 1-0 win over Sweden in March, 2004 at the Nya Ullevi Stadion, Göteborg
Samuel, a former England Under 21 and Under 18 international made his intentions clear during recent communication with the T&T management team and English-based associate Mike Berry and after missing recent action due to a shoulder injury, he decided to take an injection and play against Wigan Athletic on Saturday in order to improve his chances of making the T&T team to face Bahrain. It was either that or surgery which would have put him out for some time. The left sided player was on the field for 90 minutes in Villa’s eventual 2-0 loss on Saturday.
“It’s definitely a huge honour for me to play for Trinidad and Tobago,” Samuel told TTFF Media on Saturday. “My family is from there, San Fernando to be exact, and obvious my heart is there too even though I haven’t played for them before. Obviously it’s going to be a chance to better my experience and also a chance for me to give what I could to try and help Trinidad get to the World Cup. I think this will be a great thing for the country and I want to be part of it.”
The 24-year-old Samuel, who broke into the Villa first team under Graham Taylor, said he was delighted on hearing of T&T’s recent progress in the qualifying campaign.
“It’s been really good to hear the news because my family from back there has been keeping me updated and hopefully I can now be part of this experience. Definitely the chance to play with Dwight who has been through it all and the other guys who have made a name for themselves in the UK will be a big deal for me.
“I’m going to be seen by the coach (Leo Beenhakker) in one of the games coming up next week. Part of the reason for me taking the injection and playing today (Saturday) rather than having surgery was so that I could get back on the pitch and hopefully I’ll be good enough for him to select me to represent the country. I felt good out there today (against Wigan) and things should get better from here on.”
When asked if it was fair to say that he has now given a firm commitment to T&T, the former Gillingham player replied “Certainly it is. I have taken this decision to commit myself to Trinidad and Tobago.”
A report on Soccernet.com stated “The Trinidadian player (Samuel) was one of the best left-backs in the Premiership in 2003/04, picking up his first full England cap in the friendly with Sweden in March.His driving style and willingness to get forward is very similar to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge although he remains behind them in the England pecking order.
The 24-year-old Zamora on the other hand, told the Sun newspaper on Saturday, “If I got the call to play against Bahrain or at the finals I'd certainly consider it. Every player dreams of playing in the World Cup and I'm no different. The Trinidad coach hasn't been in touch, but their keeper Shaka Hislop is at West Ham and I've spoken to him so we'll have to wait and see."
Zamora, another ex-England Under 21 player, also cleared the air on the reason behind him turning down the T&T call in August.
“The timing wasn't right then as I would have missed pre-season. It wasn't a snub to Trinidad and I never said I wouldn't ever want to play for them in the future. I felt it was more important at the time to stay at West Ham, to get fit and try to impress the gaffer," he said.