Trinidad and Tobago's Jake Thomson recounts his experience with the National Team in Egypt and his debut at the senior international level. He talks about his ambitions to play at the highest level with the "Soca Warriors" and his dream of playing in the English Premiership.
Jake how would you describe the experience of Egypt 2009 as a member of the Trinidad and Tobago team?
It was an amazing experience. We were treated like professional stars getting police escorted everywhere and seeing it advertised all over the Television. All the players made me feel really welcome and I felt part of the team almost as soon as I got there so that made it extra special for me!
You’ve played before some decent size crowds before with Southampton but what was the feeling like being out there in the first game of a World Cup tournament, the fans, the atmosphere at the Egyptian Army Stadium.
That was the best experience of my career so far. We knew that it would be a massive game but I didn’t think it would be that big. Everybody was excited for the match and I will never forget the experience! Playing in front of 80,000 fans whether they support you or not is out of this world and I was so proud that the team performed how they did even though we lost!
Would you give anything again to go through the whole experience with the T&T Under 20 team?
No I wouldn’t. I really enjoyed the trip and it’s an experience I will never forget playing with the team and having all the technical staff around us was brilliant but I believe we can go onto bigger and better things so I’m more looking forward to what we can achieve rather than go back to what we have already done!
What was your top memorable moment in Egypt 2009?
There are a number of memorable moments for me…when I got presented with my passport which officially made it possible for me to play for T&T. Also lining up for the opening game of the World Cup and it was my debut for T&T at the same time! But for me it was when we scored against Egypt to make it 1-1. I have never heard a crowd go so silent. It was incredible!
How do you think this experience, the matches, the training camps, the place and history of Egypt as a country, would contribute in general to the development of the current crop of players from this Under 20 team?
This experience will prove itself vital for the development of the current crop of players because we now understand what it will take to play in a World Cup and we played in one of the biggest games in the tournament and we performed very well so as a team we know if we are put in that position again we will cope and thrive on it!
Jake, how would you look back at the campaign from an individual standpoint.
I feel personally it was a good start to my international career. I feel I played my best in the opening game and I felt that was really important because nobody had seen me play before and I had a lot to prove, plus I was one of the only players to have played in front of a big crowd so with my experience I had to try and help my team too and I enjoyed that responsibility! So I would say the first match was a key experience.
What was it like working with the Senior Team and working under Russell Latapy as a coach? And How did it feel to make your debut for the Senior Team, playing vs Costa Rica and Mexico.
Yeah the senior team was brilliant I really enjoyed myself. All the players were so nice to me and made me feel part of the team straight away but it also helped that a couple players from the U20s were there and also Kenwyne being there too! But in my very first training session the coach (Latapy) put the ball between my legs that made me feel pretty silly but it was good fun! I thought I did well in the matches considering I was playing out of position because I don’t actually play right back! But I felt very proud and privileged to make my debut for the senior team and hope that in the future I get the chance to play again!
How was it like being alongside the likes of Kenwyne and Carlos, who are now established names in the English Leagues.
Well I had played with Kenwyne already so that was nice to be given the chance to play with him again because of his ability and I watched Carlos play on TV over in England and to get to play with him was brilliant because he is a top player. So they helped me a lot and I look forward to hopefully playing many more international matches along side them in the years to come!
What has been the reactions from your teammates and coaches in England since you began playing for Trinidad?
They have been very supportive. I keep getting asked to tell stories and people want to know how we did. It feels like most of Southampton watched the first match because I keep getting stopped saying how well the team did and we were very unlucky to lose the game! But it still seems strange that I am a full international footballer but my little brother seems more excited about that than I do telling all his friends! But everybody has been really positive and wishing that they had to chance to do what we did!
Finally, what are your immediate ambitions at the moment?
At the moment I just want to play as much football as I can and try and force my way to the Premier League! I have gone out on loan at the moment and I am doing very well! So I suppose just keep playing well and try and get to the Premiership!
Note: Jake did a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “The Way you make me feel” along with dance for his Senior Team orientation/initiation (perform and also make sure and be first to the bus, to the dinner table and help the equipment man) after dinner prior to the team’s departure for Costa Rica. Among the newcomers Jake earned the biggest cheers and laughs from the players and staff members.