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World Cup 2006 ace Cornell Glen is disappointed to miss out on Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Cup finals squad but wished the squad well on its mission and insisted that he remains available for national selection.
The 32-year-old Glen leads the Digicel Pro League’s scorers this season with eight goals from nine games for North East Stars while his international tally reads 23 goals from 40 starts and 21 substitute appearances.
No other active Trinidad and Tobago player has been as prolific in the red, black and white kit while he is fifth among the country’s all-time goal scorers behind Stern John, Angus Eve, Russell Latapy and Arnold Dwarika.
(Courtesy www.bbc.co.uk)
It was not enough to get him on this morning’s flight to Antigua and Barbuda with the “Soca Warriors” though as the technical staff kept faith with the incumbent quartet of Jamal Gay, Richard Roy, Willis Plaza and Devorn Jorsling.
But Glen told Wired868 that he has no intention of quitting and aims to be a national player again soon. His disappointment will not stop him from supporting his teammates either.
“I wish them good luck and I wish they do well as always,” Glen told Wired868. “I have a lot of friends on the team and hopefully they will make it to the next round. Hopefully I can get into the team next year instead.”
Glen is one of 13 World Cup 2006 players locked in legal action with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) over unpaid bonuses and he lamented the fact that local players are still without a functioning union. He expressed concern that the Warriors are playing for less than a quarter of the match fees than they did five years ago.
“The players will play for the same match fee of US$250 per game in the finals as they did in the earlier rounds,” said Glen. “I feel it is unjust to be playing for the same thing from the first round to the final round. And that is a far cry from what I am used to.
“I feel the players need to stand up for their rights and we definitely need a players association.”
For now, Glen will turn his attentions to 2012 Toyota Classic Cup final, which pits Defence Force against North East Stars from 8 pm on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
(Courtesy Photos868)
Glen has scored eight of Stars’ 18 goals this season and coach Angus Eve would be thrilled to have his services.
“I am looking forward to the final on Friday,” said Glen. “It is a long time since North East Stars has won something and we want to change that. We started off good (this season) and then maybe guys started to get a bit overconfident.
“I think we are starting to put everything together now. It is a long season and, once we defend better I think we will do alright.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s Top Six All-Time Scorers
(Source: www.rsssf.com)
Stern John 70 goals
Angus Eve 34 goals
Russell Latapy 29 goals
Arnold Dwarika 28 goals
Cornell Glen 23 goals
Nigel Pierre 22 goals
Editor’s Note: How do you think a players’ union will impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s football?
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
