From Piccadilly to Allianz Field
Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Jomal Williams is banking on the right combination of youth, experience and strong team chemistry to push the national team through at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Williams, a 25-year-old W Connection player from Piccadilly Street in Port of Spain is currently in Minnesota with the Senior Team preparing for Tuesday’s opener against Panama at the Allianz Field.
The former Mexican-based midfielder scored two first half goals to pace T&T to a 7-0 win over local club team Minnesota Eclipse in a training match at the Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Thursday evening. T&T’s other goals were scored by Levi Garcia, a penalty by Kevin Molino, Nathan Lewis and one each from Cordell Cato and Shahdon Winchester.
“We are coming together nicely at the moment,” Williams told TTFA Media. “You could never really do enough or think that you have done enough because in your mind there’s always more to be done but at this time I think we are putting in the work and should be ready in time for Panama,” he added.
“It’s a challenging assignment but we came to do something at this Gold Cup. We’ve been working for a long time for this.
“To some extent we know that we are outsiders because all the talk is about USA and Mexico and well Panama has been to the last World Cup and Jamaica were in the last two finals. But we use that as motivation to prove them otherwise. We know it’s going to be difficult but we have shown that we can compete once we put out heads together and play to our best,” Williams added.
Williams wants to represent his home community and the only way he knows is by putting his best out on the pitch.
“It hasn’t been easy coming from Piccadilly street. There are a lot of distractions and if you don’t have a strong head it can break you. People don’t really class where I come from as a good place to live but as I see it as one of my obstacles that I need to cross in my life and it just motivates be to go on do better. I grow with these people so I understand them and I just try to live in love with everyone,” he said.
“It’s most important to represent my people, my community and my country. I feel very happy to be able to show not just Trinidad and Tobago by also the world that coming from Piccadilly street, coming from Laventille, there are good things coming from them and it’s a happy feeling to be able to represent where I am from. This keeps motivated and keeps me going because I know there are a lot of young kids looking up at me and I have a responsibility that i need to keep moving forward to show them that aye look, we can still become something regardless of where we come from,” Williams said.
And the Gold Cup stage will be the main stage for him over the next two weeks.
“It is something I’ve always wanted to achieve… playing in a Gold Cup with the national team. What has motivated me the most is the gaffer (Dennis Lawrence). He has always showed belief in me and I’m just working hard everyday to make it.”
“Playing with Hyland and Molino and the rest of the guys is an honour. They motivate me a lot on the training pitch. Playing with these guys gives you no choice but to want to play football. The difference in the squad when it comes to the competitiveness to earn spots is who wants it more and then it’s up to the gaffer to select who he wants on the field,” Williams continued.