CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh’s Angus Eve has called time on his international career.
Eve, a former National captain announced he has decided to retire from international duty because it now seems clear he is not part of National Coach Leo Beenhakker’s plans for the 2006 World Cup.
The 33 year old Eve, told ttproleague.com, “This has been a long time in coming, I have realized because of the new coach’s selection process, I don’t think I will be able to make the National team and I have decided its probably time to give the younger players a chance.”
“It was an extremely difficult decision to make because no one wants to give up something they have been doing their whole life, but at the end of the day that’s the decision that I came too and I think it’s the best decision at this time for me,” said the Former National midfielder.
Despite his retirement, Angus Eve still believes he has what it takes to compete at the international level.
“Guys like Tony Rougier are older than I am and they have been given the opportunity to be on the National team and when I look back my last few games for the National team, I think I have had some very good, strong performances and I still think I can make a strong contribution, unfortunately for me Mr. Beenhakker came into the picture and has not seen it that way and he has not looked in my direction, Eve lamented.”
Eve however, made it clear—“I have no grievances against anybody, the coach picks the players he wants to pick and not having the opportunity to play at the World Cup in June, I think now is the right time for me to call it a day.”
Angus Eve made his senior international debut for Trinidad and Tobago back in 1994, but was on the Trinidad and Tobago Youth team that went to Portugal for the Fifa Youth World Cup in 1991 under coach Bertille St. Clair.
He finished his career with 131 National senior caps and scored 48 goals, which included 12 World Cup qualifying goals—he is 3rd on the all time national list only behind Stern John and Steve David.
Eve started the ‘Journey to Germany’ as captain of the National team under Coach Bertille St. Clair in the ‘Soca Warriors’ first match against the Dominican Republic back in 2004—his last match for Trinidad and Tobago was in the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup against Colombia.
Looking back at his career, he said there were a few highlights—one being when he qualified as part of the National Youth team under Bertille St.
Clair to the Fifa Youth World Cup, he also said his stint with Chester City in 1998 was a memorable experience and most recently, acquiring his International Coaching License.
Looking ahead, the San Juan Jabloteh Captain says he now wants to focus on giving back.
“I am still fit and I hope to play with Jabloteh for at least the next two seasons, I want to focus now on imparting the knowledge I have gained over the years to the younger players, football has been good to me and I want to give back—looking further ahead, I would love the opportunity to possibly coach my country one day—and I am looking forward to coaching at Jabloteh and developing my coaching career.”