Former UK-based player Anthony Rougier has vowed to give head coach Leo Beenhakker his all over the next few days as the Dutch-man spends the period assessing some potential players for the National Team at the training camp in Fort Lauderdale.
Rougier was among ten players who traveled from Trinidad and arrived at the Sunrise Hilton on Wednesday in time for a one hour training session at the hotel’s training field in the evening period. Five other US-based players also arrived including recent Kansas City Wizards addition Anthony Noreiga, Osei Telesford and Daryl Roberts, Kevon Neaves and Julius James. The home-based players on the trip include Atiba Charles, Cyd Gray, Jan Michael Williams, Silvio Spann, Kerry Baptiste, Nigel Henry, Errol McFarlane, Aurtis Whitley and Anthony Wolfe.
Rougier, a former national captain, last appeared for T&T in the 2-1 loss to the United States last February and has since taken up a move with local Pro League side United Petrotin. But the former Hibernian winger revealed that Beenhakker helped him turn down a trial with English Premiership club West Ham United in order to vie for selection on the National Team. The trial would have started tomorrow (Thursday) had Rougier taken up the offer,
“An opportunity came for me to have a trial and that was meant to commenced from tomorrow. I spoke to Mr Beenhakker and he advised that I should come here and get myself fit and rightly so at the end of the day it has to be right decision for myself and family. It was a touchy situation but I thought I didn’t want to miss the chance to be there but being with my country is also the best thing at this time,” Rougier told TTFF Media prior to the evening session at the Sunrise.
Rougier said he was easily convinced that Beenhakker would be a the perfect man for him to work under in his attempt to make a comeback in time for T&T’s opening World Cup match against Sweden on June 10.
“One of the major things he (Beenhakker) was saying to me is that he’s very much committed to the job. He’s going to give his two hundred percent and if he is, one of the thing he asks is that we give two hundred percent as well One of the things he’s saying is because of my history he doesn’t see it being a problem but at the end of the day he cannot guarantee anything and that’s important to me knowing that he is not going to put players who he doesn’t think need to be there. He’s making it clear that you have to play for your position and earn your pick. He has proven himself and he is the best man for the job and what an opportunity this is for us players now,” Rougier added.
As to how he’s now anticipating this challenge ahead of the February 28 friendly international against Iceland, the former Port Vale man said: “I think it’s something I’m definitely looking forward to – the challenges of trying to achieve things when you get older is what keeps you. It’s a chance to find a purpose in my football career again and do whatever it takes to be one of the 23 players going to the World Cup. The squad of players who qualified deserved full credit and now it’s on to another level. You tend to put the pains of the past behind you and look forward to the hard work of what’s to come. From a tender age I know what struggles T&T football has had over the years and I’m
praying to God that we can get an opportunity to make a difference through football. We have an opportunity to change lives I saw the youth looking forward to the future
and I saw us realize that dream of making the World Cup and now we can keep this momentum going and keep in making a difference.”
Beenhakker’s squad will play two training matches on the weekend against Florida International University and a local Honduran-based team.