Antigua international forward Peter Byers is one of two new signings made by new Central FC Head Coach Terry Fenwick this week.
Byers, 28, alongside his Antigua and Barbuda national teammate and captain defender Troy Dublin, 22, arrived in Trinidad on Monday night to take up contracts with Central FC.
The duo was at the Ato Boldon Stadium training field by Tuesday morning for Fenwick’s third session since taking over the club last week.
Byers, who played under Fenwick at San Juan Jabloteh for a season and a half between 2007 and 2008, said his signature was sort after by another Pro League club and former rivals, W Connection, but opted to join his former coach at Central.
Connection President David John Williams confirmed that the club contacted Byers, and said, “At the time we contacted Byers, he said that a MLS club was interested in him.”
The ox-built forward made a name for himself in 2007 top scoring in the TT Pro League and helping Jabloteh win the (Digicel) Pro League Championship on his debut. In August of 2008 season Byers was already leading as the club’s top scorer before joining Montreal Impact in the USL First Division.
Since then Byers have moved around with Parham in the Antigua and Barbuda Premier Division and USL Professional Division clubs Antigua Barracuda and Los Angeles Blues.
“It’s always a joy to be in Trinidad, a place I love so much,” Byers told ttproleague.com on his return. “It’s a wonderful place and it’s a pleasure to be here with Terry Fenwick again. It’s a joy for me right now.
He added, “I’ve put my mind to it, coming back to Trinidad and doing what I did before which is scoring a lot of goals and helping my team be victorious.”
“We've brought in Peter Byers and the Antiguan National Team captain and defender Troy Dublin,” Fenwick said. “Troy is a top player and I liked him for a long while. He is a young fellah and I think he would add a lot of experience and quality at the back.
“Byers meantime is really talented, possibly the best centre forward in the Caribbean. [He is] powerful, quick, has great feet and good in the air …everything you want a centre forward to be.
“He has done the rounds and now he is back. I sent him to Montreal Impact from Jabloteh and he has played for several other clubs. He is a quality centre forward, scores goals, experienced, brings people into the game and he is probably what Central need at this time.”
To justify his signings, Fenwick explained, “We have some great talent but I think they need a little more time to show their best. So I'm really just short cutting to where we need to be.
The better players that I bring in, is to better positions. It’s about identifying where your deficiencies are. They idea is, can they give you what you want?
If yes, then they play; if no, then you’ve got to replace them. And that's what I'm doing. I'm finding out about my players. Seeing what we need and where we need extra players and quality players I'm bringing them in.
“Fairly play to the management staff, Brent Sancho (Managing Director) and Kevin Harrison(Operations Manager). They are backing me up with what I want.”
Fenwick’s arrival at Central was quickly followed by former Jabloteh staff members Adrian Romain and Oswin Birchwood from St. Ann’s Rangers. Romain fills the post of Technical Manager while Birchwood in his usual Pysiotherapist position.
“We've got a really good technical staff,” continued Fenwick.
“I'm really excited with what we’ve got. (Assistant coach) Travis Mulraine is assisting me on the field, and calming me down which is a bit of change. Adrian Romain and Oswin Birchwood from my Jabloteh days have joined me. Both guys are good at what they do. They are good positive souls.
I don't like anybody around that's negative. I like to surround myself with positive people and that's what I've done.”