W Connection FC is making full use of the video to market its footballers and explore the possibilities of exporting players to foreign leagues.
Club President David John Williams shared some insight into the club’s video library which stores tapes and DVDs of almost every match played by the club’s teams from 1999.
Specific player highlight videos have been created which has led to the club sending several players on trials. Several videos are uploaded on Youtube which allows foreign scouts and agents to access highlights.
One of the club’s youth stars Neil Benjamin has been on trial with Dallas FC and has attracted interest from Houston Dynamo and two Italian clubs after being seen by scouts who did not travel to Trinidad.
“We have recorded every game at the youth and senior level and we try to use the video, not just for our tactical preparations, but also for marketing players.
“As a result, we have helped players secure moves outside as well as numerous trials. Nothing is cast in stone but this is just to keep the foreign contacts aware and keep them interested.
“We have pretty much developed our club through the video medium and I would like to encourage other clubs to use this medium as well.
It benefits the clubs and the players,” John Williams said, adding that some 14 agents had received video highlights of Connection’s matches last week in the space of 45 minutes.
Overseas clubs and scouts have been able to keep abreast on the progress of players such as Shahdon Winchester, Hughtun Hector, Jan Michael Williams and Joevin Jones among others.
“We have been fortunate to benefit from the transfers of a couple players but the club has invested a lot in terms of player development and a lot more effort is made on a daily and even nightly basis to market players.
Sometimes all 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning I am up skyping or on the telephone with agents in Asia and Europe,” Williams stated. “I honestly don’t expect Shahdon to be with W Connection in January as well as two other players.
The challenge we may face will be keeping this young squad together which is a positive sign regarding the exporting of our players and helping them to develop.”
Williams added that two officials from an English Premiership club will be guests of the club in October and another from Italy in November.
Woo Ling embraced by W Connection
Young Matthew Woo Ling fell in love with the set up at W Connection in his first training session under Stuart Charles Fevrier during the summer vacation and decided that he wanted to join the club on a full time basis.
The Fatima College student spent the entire preseason campaign with the club and made his debut two Friday’s ago in the club’s 4-1 demolition of DirecTV North East Stars in the First Citizen’s Cup fixture at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Having turned 15 on September 15, the little midfield wizard has been tipped for a bright future by Connection owner David John Williams. Actually, Woo Ling’s arrival at Connection came through another coincidence, according to Williams.
“Matthew’s father worked alongside Stuart Charles Fevrier at a recent TTFF/Dutch coaching course and was impressed with what he saw.
Then after viewing a training session he was pleased with the level of professionalism and asked Stuart if his son could join the training. Fortunately it was the August vacation and Stuart invited the youngster. “We saw his ability and the rest was history.
He trained with us for two months and he made up his mind that this is what he wanted to do and W Connection was the club he wanted to be with. That’s how it all started,” Williams recalled. “We’re not afraid to put a player out there if he’s 10 or 12.
We go by a philosophy that nothing is guaranteed in football and it’s good opportunity for the youngster to develop and showcase his talent. He came in at a good time because the average age of our team now is 20.”
Woo Ling is not allowed to sign a contract at age 15 but is a registered member of the club and already Williams is in contact with European clubs and academies regarding the possibility of a move over. He trained at Sunderland in 2010 after being selected as one of the standouts from the Digicel clinics.
Williams said the support of the player’s parents has played a pivotal role. “His parents have been great. They’ve been with him throughout and we have seen this first hand.
Matthew’s parents are waiting for him after school at 2.30 pm and accompany him to every training session. He also has two sisters who are on football scholarships and I would love to see more parents behind their youngsters.
The players at W Connection have all embraced Matthew. He trains very hard on his own as well. We will continue to work with him to ensure he gets the opportunity to continue developing,” Williams said.