In-form teenaged W Connection striker Jerrel Britto is thrilled at going up against his former club Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh for the first time since joining the ‘Savonetta Boys’ in the summer.
“It’s against my former club and while it’s kind of emotionally, I’m really exciting knowing that I’m playing against my former club for the first time,” said the 19 yearold.
Britto, with four goals in four matches this season—netting in every game played, will lead the Connection attack against Jabloteh from 7pm in the Digicel Pro League Championship Round One Match Day Three clash in the second match of a Super Friday double header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium. T&TEC FC hosts St. Ann’s Rangers from 5pm in the earlier contest.
Despite promising a top performance, Britto said that he doesn’t have any malice against the club he represented for six years adding, “My former teammates know me as a friendly guy and even if I score against them I won’t feel like celebrating at all.
Jabloteh is a club that introduced to top football and I’ve always appreciated what the staff and directors did for me. I basically grew up at the club.
But on Friday I would definitely try to play better to show them that I’ve moved on and doing better. I’m now at Connection and I have to do well for my new club and focus on my dreams as a player.”
Britto who aspires to play in Europe credits his new coaching staff and teammates for his current form.
“The coach(Stuart Charles Fevrier) teaches you the game well and gives you the confidence to play,” he said. “He always reminds me that I’m a specialist in front of goal and it’s showing now.
And the players around me always try and put the ball in the right places for me to do my job. So I would have to say my teammates and coaching staff have contributed a lot based on my current form.”
The Portsmouth and Norwich City trialist said that while the senior Connection players are familiar with the rivalry between both clubs for Friday’s match, the younger players are simply eager to give their best.
Britto was surprisingly left out of the T&T U-23 squad that left Trinidad on Monday for Guadalajara, Mexico at the Pan American Games while club teammates Shahdon Winchester, Joevin Jones, Mikeil Williams, goalkeeper Andre Marchan and Jayson Joseph were selected by coach Angus Eve.
“It was a shock to me knowing that I’m in great form, no offence to the other strikers,” said Britto. “Could you imagine I’ve been called to train with the National Senior Team and the coach (Otto Pfister) is saying that he is seeing talent in me.
But here it is I can’t make the U-23 team. I’m in form at the moment so it’s not like I’m not performing.”
However the striker says he is maintaining his focus of someday plying his trade in Europe.
“I’ve been talking to assistant coach Earl Jean, and told him that I really want to play in Europe. I am not letting anything get in my way.
I’m going to continue doing well for my club W Connection, continue pushing myself on the national teams and if not this year, by the end of the season I want to be playing in Europe,” ended Britto.