Sidebar

29
Fri, Mar

Cyrus, Hector back in W Connection fold; Guerra, Gomez seeking U.S. moves.
Typography

Trinidad and Tobago internationals Daneil Cyrus and Hughtun Hector have returned to W Connection following stints in the United States and Vietnam, respectively.

While the two stars are making their way back into the TT Pro League, Central FC and T&T’s creative midfielder Ataulla Guerra, and 19-year-old W Connection right-back Shannon Gomez, both currently on trials in the U.S., are hoping to secure moves abroad.

The 28-year-old Guerra, who had a stint in Finland with Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) in 2013, is seeking his second overseas move but first in North America with Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League (USL)—the third league on the U.S. soccer pyramid.

“We would surely miss Guerra if he does secure a deal,” said Central FC director of operations, Kevin Harrison. “Because he has always been an integral part of the team and the success we have had. But we are not interested in standing in the way of any of our players moving abroad to better opportunities.”

While Gomez, T&T Under-20 captain and recent senior team call-up, is hoping to impress Arsenal and France legend Patrick Vieira, who serves as head coach of Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit, New York City FC which is co-owned by English Premier League giants Manchester City.

Cyrus was released from another MLS club Chicago Fire last October after his loan contract expired. Fire later traded current T&T international and former W Connection star Joevin Jones the MLS’s Seattle Sounders in January.

It was the third stint abroad for Cyrus, an ex-T&T FIFA Under-17 and Under-20 player, after representing MLS outfit Sporting Kansas City in 2011 and Vietnam League 1 side Ha Noi T&T in 2014.

Cyrus is available for Connection’s clash with Club Sando on Saturday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium from 3:30 pm as the Savonetta Boys attempt to capture their maiden Akeem Adams Trophy by winning Round Two of the Digicel Pro League championship.

Connection have already captured two major titles—the First Citizens Cup and Toyota Classic—this season and are two points ahead of rivals and defending league champions Central FC for the Akeem Adams Trophy, which was part of the Couva Sharks seven-title haul last season.

However, Hector, 31, who spent the last five years in Vietnam with spells at V League 1 sides Song lam Nghe An and Hanoi T&T, will not be a number in Connection’s squad on Sunday as his transfer is still being processed.

W Connection head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier said while he is happy to have Cyrus and Hector join his already “exceptional” squad of youngsters, he believes both players have the quality to return to the international leagues.

Charles-Fevrier also utilised the January/February transfer window to acquire the services defender/midfielder Paolo Santiago De la Guardia Alvarez of Panama.

The 25-year-old De la Guardia last represented SD Panama Oeste in the Panama second division and will help boost the Savonetta Boys roster for the remainder of the season as well as CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) qualifiers.

Connection will launch their quest for a fifth CCL qualification next week, when they host CS Moulien (Guadeloupe), Inter Moengotapoe (Suriname), and Atletico San Cristobal (Dominican Republic) in Group One of the opening round of the 2016 Caribbean Club Championship.

Last season Connection fell 2-1 in the final against rivals Central FC. Central were initially scheduled to travel to Jamaica in February to contest Group Three but CFU has switched the dates to March as a precautionary measure due to general elections safety concerns in Jamaica according to Central FC’s director of operations Kevin Harrison.