Former Liberty soccer players Darryl Roberts and Osei Telesford have been selected to the 21-member Trinidad and Tobago team which will challenge for the 2007 Digicel Carribean Cup. Trinidad and Tobago will host the tournament in January.
The two former Flames, who completed their Liberty eligibility this past fall, were among 41 players overall who were invited to a camp to select the team in late December. The pair was then named to the team this week.
"This is a great opportunity for Darryl and Osei to cut their teeth at the international level. It is also a great day for Liberty University and our men's soccer program,” stated Liberty Head Coach Jeff Alder. “There is not another university in the country right now which can boast that two of their players from this past season are currently representing their country at the senior national team level. This is just the beginning of a bright future for both of these players.”
Roberts became Liberty’s all-time leading scorer in his final season as a Flame this fall. The forward scored four goals and assisted on three others in 10 contests for 94 career points, eclipsing James Wright’s mark of 89, set from 1992 to 1994. The Trincity, Trinidad native was also selected to his second All-South Atlantic Region team with his selection to the third team. Roberts was named to the second team as freshman in 2002. In addition, he was named to his third Big South All-Conference second team to go along with a first team selection in 2002. In 2002, Roberts was selected a Freshman All-America after scoring a nation-high 17 goals.
Telesford, a defender, finished his senior season this past fall by being named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic Region First Team for the second straight year. In addition, he was named to his fourth successive Big South All-Conference team. His selection this season was his third to the conference’s first team to go along with one second team mention. One of the two captains for the Flames in 2006, the San Juan, Trinidad native was a key member of the Liberty defense which allowed only one goal during a five-game winning streak at season’s end. During the streak, the Flames posted four of the team’s five shutouts. Liberty held opponents scoreless for 347:54 in their last three contests, before Winthrop scored late in a 2-1 OT loss in the Big South Championship semifinals to end the Flames season. This past summer, he was named the Premier Development League’s Defender of the Year.
Host Trinidad and Tobago opens the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup on January 12 against Barbados.