Aubrey joins FC Dallas in MLS; Caleb De Souza joins TTFA coaching pool

Editor Friday 1 July 2016 Global Football, Local Football, Volley 11 Comments

Trinidad and Tobago full back Aubrey David has joined a growing “Soca Warriors” contingent in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS), as he completed a six-month loan deal to FC Dallas earlier this week.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Aubrey David (centre) tries to wriggle his way past two Nicaragua opponents during an international friendly fixture on 13 October 2013 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. The "Soca Warriors" and Nicaragua played to a goalless draw. (Courtesy TTFA Media) — Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Aubrey David (centre) tries to wriggle his way past two Nicaragua opponents during an international friendly fixture on 13 October 2013 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
The “Soca Warriors” and Nicaragua played to a goalless draw.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

David, a former 2007 Under-17 and 2009 Under-20 World Cup player, is employed by Costa Rican powerhouse, Deportivo Saprissa. However, the Central American club is in its off-season and the versatile Trinidad and Tobago defender has opted to stay busy.

David started in the last five successive international matches for his international team and is a key player for head coach Stephen Hart, as the Warriors prepare for their closing semifinal group matches at home to Guatemala and away to the United States on 2 and 5 September respectively.

At present, Trinidad and Tobago internationals Kevin Molino, Mekeil Williams, Joevin Jones and Cordell Cato all play professionally in the MLS while Ataulla Guerra and Neveal Hackshaw ply their trade in the US second tier and and Trevin Caesar plays in what is effectively the third division.

“I am happy about the move to Dallas, I thank God for this opportunity,” David told the TTFA Media. “It’s another opportunity to showcase my talent on the MLS level similar to what many players from Trinidad and Tobago have done already.

“I’m more excited about playing in the same league as my fellow teammates like Joevin, Molino, Cato and Mekeil. They have all been doing well and I hope I can follow their success and achieve something on a similar scale. They have been doing well, and I hope I can do as well as them also.”

Photo: Orlando City and Trinidad and Tobago playmaker Kevin Molino. (Courtesy OrlandoSC) — Photo: Orlando City and Trinidad and Tobago playmaker Kevin Molino.
(Courtesy OrlandoSC)

David’s Dallas is set to face Molino’s Orlando City on 4 July.

The two players—and their other compatriots in North America—are following the footsteps of former national stand-outs like Stern John, Evans Wise, Ansil Elcock, David Nakhid, Avery John, Cornell Glen, Evans Wise, Shaka Hislop and the late Mickey Trotman who competed in the MLS.

In other local news, former St Mary’s College midfielder Caleb De Souza has joined a pool of coaches in the Players Elite Development Programme under Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) technical director Muhammad Isa.

De Souza, a former head of broadband marketing at TSTT, holds a TTFA/KNVB National ‘C’ License along with several youth coaching certificates.

“I would like to be a catalyst to improve the coaching education and player development locally,” said De Souza, who is the technical director of the Football IQ Academy. “I have been exposed to several different international coaching courses. Therefore my involvement is centred on not only improving the curriculum and content of the existing courses but also to initiate the development of new advanced courses.

“I have started discussions with my foreign instructors to determine the feasibility of conducting some of their courses locally in collaboration with the TTFA.”

Photo: UWI head coach Caleb De Souza. (Courtesy TTFA Media) — Photo: UWI head coach Caleb De Souza.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

De Souza, who is always the UWI Men’s Team head coach, is looking forward to working with the TTFA.

“I feel very positive about the progress of local football and believe that the current administration is focused on the key areas,” De Souza told the TTFA Media, “which are coaching education, grassroots and youth player development.

“However, I believe the football coaching community, both past and present, needs to come together and collaborate more effectively with a shared objective to holistically improve football in Trinidad and Tobago.”