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Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team captain Kenwyne Jones will spend the rest of the 2015/16 season in the United Arab Emirates, after the 31-year-old forward sealed a loan move today from England Championship League club, Cardiff City, to Al Jazira in the Arabian Gulf League.
(Courtesy Kenwyne Jones PR)
Jones, who represented the “Soca Warriors” at the Germany 2006 World Cup, said his decision was “based on the opportunities presented to me.”
The loan deal is scheduled to expire in the “summer of 2016.”
Jones’ move is believed to be at least partly motivated by wages, as Cardiff was keen to be free of the Trinidadian’s wage while Al Jazira supposedly offered the former St Anthony’s College student a raise. Cardiff, according to the player’s representative, did not offer Jones a new contract.
“I am really appreciative of the opportunity to have worked with a great team at Cardiff and to play in front of some of the most passionate fans in Wales,” said Jones, in a press statement. “This decision was made based on the opportunities presented to me. I would like to say thank you the Bluebird staff and players. I wish them all success in their future endeavours.
“I also extend a special thank you to the amazing Bluebird supporters. It has really been my absolute pleasure and I will never forget you.”
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Jones’ impending move to the Abu Dhabi-based club meant he was already considered unavailable to represent the Warriors in Friday’s 2016 Copa America Centenario play off against Haiti in Panama City.
And there will be a lot more air miles involved when next he travels home to represent Trinidad and Tobago.
Thus far, Warriors coach Stephen Hart has been reluctant to use players from far flung corners of the globe, unless he is guaranteed to have them in camp with enough time to acclimatise.
As such, Korea Republic-based defender Carlyle Mitchell and Vietnam-based playmaker Hughtun Hector have been used sparingly while defender Seon Power has not represented his country since his move to Thailand after the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
However, former national captain Dwight Yorke was at Sydney FC when he helped the Warriors to qualify for the 2006 World Cup and Hart is unlikely to rule out a forward who scored 15 times in 27 appearances during his tenure.
(Copyright AFP 2015)
Jones is Trinidad and Tobago’s last export to compete in the England Premier League, which he did for Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke City and Cardiff between 2004 and 2014.
Trinidad and Tobago’s list of Premier League players includes: Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Sunderland), Shaka Hislop (Newcastle, West Ham and Portsmouth), Clint Marcelle (Barnsley), Stern John (Birmingham City and Sunderland), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland), Jason Scotland (Wigan Athletic) and Anthony Warner (Fulham).
Ian Cox (Crystal Palace), Jlloyd Samuel (Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers), Justin Hoyte (Arsenal, Sunderland and Middlesbrough) and his brother Gavin Hoyte (Arsenal) have also played in the England top flight although none were Trinidad and Tobago internationals at the time.
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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.
Nerisha, adding links to existing threads are better than having multiple threads on the same story:
https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153795668530610/
Sorry…thanks
He has a big decision to make next summer. Hopefully there is a good offer from the MLS.
Lol…
Congratulations to Kenwyne Jones… feeling proud to read about a T & T Player on the International Football stage…if only we can get more youths to follow in his footstep!!
Mls next eh
Congrats…. He needs to secure future for him and his family…. This is great deal
Timing is everything….
Brilliant move.
#Cashout
..Good business. Nothing to do with football..
. Play yuh football, make yuh money and go home…. doh go in de people place and try a Chris Gayle …. dem like to plannahs and chop off body parts on the regular… :)….
A word to the wise…
Make yuh paper family
He won’t ever have to work again if he smart with his money
Kenwyne is what , about 30. Time is not in his side, he has to secure his financial future, as sportsmen have very short life cycles . I think the traveling and availability may work against him re: representation for the national team , but as I said earlier , time is against him and he needs to secure his financial future.
I am glad for him. Go Kenwyne Jones! Who knows if this may open doors on that side of the globe for other TT athletes…
Bad move? Nah. Great move. He needs to take care of himself first. Besides that league is better than the Scottish league. Lol
Make yuh money Captain
Bad move, the lower level of competition he’ll be facing over there would cause his skills to diminish.
He will though be well compensated.
Nothing wrong-we do not reward ppl who represent our country -unless it’s Brian Lara-and you can’t take a pat on the back to the grocery or to get a mortgage in the bank. Sportsmen and women would be wise to do what’s prudent for themselves in the future. Let’s put it this way-less work, more pay lol.
Subsidized celebrity! LOL
Nutten wrong!
Bad move, the lower level of competition he’ll be facing over there would cause his skills to diminish.
Being in that league didn’t seem to diminish any of Asamoah Gyan’s skills.
It is surely a lower level than the championship. But if he is motivated he can do okay. And it is only for six months.
So he should put a shift and rise to the challenge of being a marquee player there. And then weigh his options.
Once he doesn’t treat it like a six month holiday then he should be okay.
CEPEP soccer.
Nigel Myers I loved seeing Asamoah Gyan in the Premier League :'(
Wishing him all the best
Wishing him all the best
Good move!
It is confirmed Joey and Vernal.
Good luck to him.
Lol
Make dat bank yes.
Championship level footy…
Prem level paycheque.
win-win move bruh…well played…well played…