Whitley for New Year trial in England

NATIONAL midfield supremo Aurtis Whitley will be heading off to England at the end of this month to partake in a trial with English Premiership club Portsmouth FC. The 28-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh star, coming off a series of excellent  performances for the Soca Warriors in their successful 2006 World Cup qualifying quest, could end up spending up to two weeks at the club of which his national teammate goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is a member. And it’s all being arranged by former Jabloteh coach Ricky Hill who is also arranging for another of Whitley’s teammates, defender Cyd Gray to head off to the UK for trials later this month. Whitley was originally scheduled for a trial with Southampton but after manager Harry Redknapp made the switch to Portsmouth, Whitley was informed that he will also have to make the change over.

Redknapp is understood to be very keen on seeing what the explosive midfielder has to offer under English conditions. “My intentions are to give it my best shot because these opportunities don’t come by on any normal day,” Whitley said yesterday. “This kind of opportunity is something I have been aiming for and now it is here I am to take advantage of it. “I think once I can maintain my focus and stay fit then definitely I will be able to give a good account of myself. If not, I’m pretty sure something else would come my way,” he added. Whitley said, English Championship Division club Luton Town remains interested in him but his first stop will be at  Fratton Park. Whitley spoke of his desire to line up against TT’s Group B opponents England, Sweden and Paraguay in next year’s World Cup Finals in Germany.

“I can’t wait to play England. The draw for us players is a dream come true because it gives us a chance to play against some great players and teams that we grew up following. “I know we have a lot of players who have adapted well in England and have also changed their style of play. But I want to show them how I play and to give them a taste of our style. “It’s going to be a hard task but we won’t back down. To tell you the truth, I love it and I can’t wait to be in Germany,” Whitley said. Another player likely to wing out to the UK is Caledonia AIA/Fire midfielder Densill Theobald. Scottish Premier League club Falkirk, through national star Russell Latapy, are trying to sort out a work permit for Theobald. “Right now they are trying to get through the paperwork and hopefully things will be settled and I should be over there (Scotland) soon. “Russell has been working on it and he has been in touch with me on a day to day basis,” Theobald said.