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We have 25 guests online| PAUL OPTS FOR 4-YEAR US SCHOL |
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 One of this country’s more promising young footballers and captain of the country’s two prior Youth World Cup teams has opted to take up a four-year football scholarship at the University of South Florida. Leston Paul, two time T&T Football Federation Youth “Player of the Year” in 2007 and 2008, left these shores earlier this month to begin his tenure at the University. He has already started preseason training with the football team there where he joins fellow Trinidadian Javed Mohammed, formerly of Naparima College. Paul, who was on a training stint with Sunderland FC courtesy of the Digicel Kickstart clinic a couple years ago, has had interest from local Pro League and a couple overseas clubs but chose to expand his knowledge in the classroom and also the playing field. USF serves more than 39,000 students and offers 228 degree programs. They are part of the Big East Athletic Conference and rated among the top soccer universities there. The 19-year-old Mayaro-born midfielder admitted that it was a tough decision to make after USF expressed interest in him even prior to his appearance at the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Egypt last October. “I had to think hard about my decision to take up the scholarship because it was either between that where I could further my education and play football or just go full time professional,” Paul told TTFF Media. “But the opportunity to go to college where I will also pursue a major in business administration and also get to play football was a very good one for me and I decided to go that way. I don’t think I should have any regrets because I’m determined to come through it.” Paul added that one of the agreements or understandings between him and the USF administration was that he be given the necessary time off to represent the country once called for international duty. “They have said it will be okay for me to go on and play for my country when the time comes and that’s important for me as well. I don’t want to turn my back in any way because I know we have quite a few more competitions coming up especially the Olympics in 2012 and then the World Cup qualifiers for 2014 which is definitely something I would like to be part of,” added the ex-St Mary’s College player. “At the moment I’m training with the team and settling in quite well and then next month we should be playing against some MLS teams before the season starts.” National Under 20/Under 23 coach Zoran Vranes meantime has continued preparations of the T&T Olympic team with two sessions per week at the Larry Gomes Stadium as the country looks ahead to the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in Puerto Rico in July. “We have training two times per week now and there are a few new players in the squad now who I’m looking at and trying to give the opportunity for them to excel. We have to keep the program going. Since we came back from Bermuda I have had a chance to see a few new players and we are trying to see how they fit in,” he said. Vranes also commented on Paul’s move to USF, saying “Well he’s gone yes and he will do the best he can I’m sure. We spoke and he knows very well that he is an important part of the team and I think they understand that he has to be available to us as well and he said to me that he wants to keep on playing at every opportunity so that’s something good and we will try to make sure everything goes well,” Vranes concluded. (Jan 26,2010) |
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