Shakes adapting to atmosphere

ENGLISH-born footballer Ricky Shakes is slowly adapting to the heat and cultural style of Trinidad and Tobago, as he seeks to stake his claim for inclusion in both the national senior and Under-20 teams. The senior outfit is preparing for the CONCACAF World Cup Final Round campaign while the Under-20s are fine-tuning their skills ahead of the CONCACAF Final Round qualifiers next month. The Bolton Wanderers’ utility player admitted that the players on both clubs showed no malevolence towards him since he arrived in Trinidad Friday last. “I think they’ve accepted me quite well really, considering that I’m a foreigner,” said the 19-year-old on Tuesday, during an Under-20 training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. “They made me feel welcomed, both teams - the seniors and the Under-20s, they made me feel welcomed coming here.”

Shakes, who also received his Trinidad and Tobago passport on Tuesday, noted that both coaches - Bertille St Clair (seniors) and Anton Corneal (Under-20s) are trying to see which position(s) he can fit into the respective sides. “In the seniors, the coach played me in a game. They knew I played striker so that’s why they (TT coaching staff) put me there,” acknowledged Shakes. “In the Under-20s, I played striker (on Monday) and (Tuesday) they wanted so see how I played right-wing and centre midfield because they heard I can play all-round.” He also added that English-based strikers Dwight Yorke and Stern John were instrumental in his decision to train with the local squad.

“When I was in England, I played against Dwight Yorke in the reserve (leagues) and I had a talk with him,” confessed Shakes. “My (mom) is a Trinidadian and I said ‘I want to play for them’. So he said ‘yeah they’re looking for some young (players) and you should just go ahead and try out’. Shakes continued, “So my mom (Leonora) contacted Stern John and told him about (me) and he got on to the (Trinidad and Tobago Football) Federation and said ‘look at this player’. Concerning the contrasting climatic conditions, from the cold in England to the warmth in the Caribbean, the utility player noted, “it’s hot up here, I’m trying to adapt to it. It’s quite hard for me really.” He is yet to play a Premier League game for his club and is looking to get a loan to play in a club, preferably at the lower divisions. Shakes trained with the senior squad yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium before returning home last night.