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Densill Theobald is a quick thinker on his feet but, on this occasion, he was momentarily stumped.


The 24-year-old Trinidad and Tobago national football team captain was trying to remember the last time he held a team trophy.

"Phew that is a tough one," Theobald told the Express, "It would have to be back in school for Malick and that was just at under-16 level.

"I did win the CPSL (Canadian Professional Soccer League) with Toronto Olympians but I was just 17 and didn't play much so I don't really count it."

It might almost be worth the wait if Theobald can help Trinidad and Tobago to a record ninth regional crown tonight when the hosts meet Haiti in the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup final from 7.15 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The "Soca Warriors" made light of their opposition, thus far, with a strike return of 12 goals scored against four conceded. Joe Public striker Gary Glasgow managed exactly half of Trinidad and Tobago's items and is a strong contender for the Player of the Tournament award. But Theobald's clever contributions from a deep lying midfield role often set a reliable foundation for his more offensive teammates to build on. After an opening 1-1 draw with Barbados, national coach Wim Rijsbergen credited Theobald's improved performance for their subsequent 5-1 thrashing of Martinique, which flooded confidence into his inexperienced team.

"Densill was 100 per cent captain today," said Rijsbergen, after the Martinique result. "He was the leader of the pack and I hope he continues doing that."

Theobald should be doubly pleased. Rijsbergen, like his former boss and Dutch compatriot Leo Beenhakker, is slow to publicly single out players. But Trinidad and Tobago's coach also made an exception last year when, in one of his first public statements, he criticised Theobald for his choosing to join Scotland Premier League club, Falkirk, only to see his career stagnate with six months on the sidelines.

Rijsbergen was already four months and three matches into the job before he selected Theobald for the first time and, even then, the Caledonia AIA midfielder was used off the substitutes' bench.

Theobald's present status might owe much to the absence of Britain-based players as well as CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh's withdrawal from the competition, which meant that midfield rivals like Dwight Yorke, Chris Birchall and Aurtis Whitley were unavailable. But it is a tribute to his mental strength that he is poised to capitalise on such opportunities. An injury to Carlos Edwards gave Theobald his first international start in the Warriors' second leg World Cup preliminary qualifying round fixture against the Dominican Republic and the sprightly midfielder scored in a 4-0 rout.

His second half performance in a 2-1 defeat to the United States, also under coach Bertille St Clair, also set tongues wagging and caught the attention of his more experienced counterparts.

Beenhakker was impressed, too. Whitley was expected to be a surprise weapon at the Germany 2006 World Cup but, as the Jabloteh player struggled to recover from injury, Theobald got the nod for the Warriors' historic debut against Sweden-which ended in a goalless draw-and held his place for the remainder of the competition.

Yorke, Edwards, Russell Latapy and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop were deserved heroes of the World Cup. But it is unfair to overlook Theobald's gutsy performance in a controversial 2-0 loss to England when he covered David Beckham so competently that the former England captain and Manchester United and Real Madrid star was moved to right back for breathing space.

It is Theobald's mental strength and sound judgment which sets him apart from his East Dry River neighbour and national teammate Kerwin "Hardest" Jemmott, who is four years older and a more natural playmaker. Jemmott sauntered into the national team as an 18-year-old thanks to his educated left foot but struggled to maintain focus. Theobald worked his way into the squad at 21 and simply refused to be budged.

The two players, who are good friends, now share duties in central midfield and even room together.

"He is like a brother to me," said Theobald. "We always played together on the streets and we went through the same things because we are from the same poor environment. I was always a big fan of his and thought we could make it together. We had numerous conversations about that.

"He knows I am a bit disappointed that he fell off (the international scene) for a while but he is doing his best to make up for that now."

Jemmott and the 30-year-old Glasgow are also former Malick students. Clearly, Rijsbergen and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) owe Malick coach Ken Franco a glass of bubbly.

But, while Glasgow and Jemmott walked away from trophy-laden Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) seasons to instant yet ultimately intermittent senior success, Theobald is reaping the benefits of doing things the hard way.

If he keeps his feet on the ground, big things are in the offing.

"He can be a key player for many teams," said Rijsbergen, who represented Holland at two World Cups during their famous "total football" era in the 1970s. "He is a player who gives balance to the team. He has a good future and hopefully he can be captain for many, many years to come."

Players are ultimately judged by the extent of their trophy cabinets and Theobald is desperate to make his first major deposit.

"It means a great deal for me (to be Caribbean champion)," said Theobald. "I had three chances to win trophies with Caledonia (last season) but we always faltered at the semi-final stage

"To win the Caribbean Cup and to know we were able to do it with me as captain would feel extra special."

Haiti, according to Theobald, were the host nation's toughest opponents in the regional tournament so far and the Warriors will not saunter off with the trophy tonight. But it is there for the taking all the same.

And Theobald is not the kind to let such an opportunity pass without a fight.