Caledonia AIA forward Jamal Gay is the latest Pro League player to complete a move abroad after the lanky 25-year-old attacker completed a loan move to Finland Premier League club, Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS), during the week.
Gay, who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the US 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and Egypt 2009 Under-20 World Cup, will be loaned to RoPS until October after impressing the Finnish club during a two-week trial.
Gay, who spent a season with German lower league team Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in 2009/10, replaces compatriot and former Caledonia teammate, Ataullah Guerra, on the club’s roster as the latter player opted to return to the Pro League with Central FC.
“I’m really excited about this move back to Europe,” Gay told the TTFA Media. “With prayer and petition anything is possible. I am very thankful for the opportunity given to me to be back in Europe. I worked very hard to get my career back on right path…
“I wish want to thank my family, friends and the Caledonia AIA coaching staff and players for their support and everyone around the national team who helped me along the way.”
Two more Caledonia players, full back Aubrey David and midfielder Akim Armstrong, are also in Finland at Premier League club FF Jaro, which also employs W Connection striker Shahdon Winchester on loan.
David, who played alongside Gay at the Gold Cup and represented Trinidad and Tobago at two World Youth Cup tournaments, will spend the season at Jaro while Armstrong is still on trial.
In moves elsewhere in the Pro League, San Juan Jabloteh and former national under-23 forward Bradley Welch has moved to Australian Second Division team, FC Dapto Dandaloo, after what he described as a brief and enjoyable stay with the “San Juan Kings.”
North East Stars defender and former Trinidad and Tobago national under-23 player, Kareem Moses, has already settled down to live with Canada-based US A’ League club, FC Edmonton, while another Stars employee and ex-Jamaica national youth midfielder Keithy Simpson has moved on loan to another Finland Premier League club, Vaasan Palloseuraan.
Simpson plays alongside St Vincent and the Grenadines international and ex-Caledonia winger Cornelius Stewart.
Trinidad and Tobago 2013 Gold Cup defender Radanfah Abu Bakr was also on the move as the former Caledonia player swapped Kazakhstan Premier League team, Vostok, for Lithuanian top flight outfit FK Kruoja Pakruojis. Abu Bakr has another ex-Caledonia player and Guyana international Trayon Bobb for company at Pakruojis.