DANTAYE GILBERT ON CALL UP

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The Windies might have their World Cup campaign already in gear.  However the National football team will begin theirs on Wednesday when they face Grenada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.  Among those looking to make their senior debut is PSV Einhoven talent Dantaye Gilbert.  The 19 year old national youth midfielder who has scored 5 goals in 18 appearances this season is excited to be home again and to show his skills in front of home fans.

Transcript

00:00 It's the dream of any young player to get the call to represent your nation, more so

00:05 for World Cup qualifiers.

00:07 At the age of 19, one of TNT's most promising talents, Dante Gilbert, would get the opportunity

00:12 to fulfil his dream after making the final cut on the 25-man World Cup roster.

00:17 It's always an honour to represent my country.

00:21 When the coach first reached out to me and I was on the professional list, I was really

00:25 excited about possibly being a part of the final 25-man squad.

00:31 I'm really happy to be here and I can't wait to come and play.

00:34 The former Presentation College and San Juan Jablati standout impressed scouts at Dutch

00:38 Giants PSV, earning a professional contract playing in their youth system.

00:43 And after scoring three goals in 18 appearances for the Eindhoven club, he also impressed

00:48 coach Angus Eve and is already fitting in well.

00:51 It's not my first time with coach Angus, but being here with the players, as soon as I

00:56 came here, everyone welcomed me with open arms.

00:59 I knew a lot of the guys from before being around and so far it's been really good, I

01:03 must say.

01:04 They really treat you like you're the prize.

01:07 They make it known that they're there for you, anything you need, anything you want,

01:11 anything they can assess to make you perform at the highest level, they're always there

01:14 and willing to help.

01:15 I mean, this really helps you mentally as a player to know that you have support behind

01:19 you, it gives you the type of courage to want to go out there and work hard for the badge.

01:24 And Gilbert will find a close friend in the camp as he will reconnect with another young

01:28 talent in Nathaniel James.

01:30 Me and Nathaniel have been good friends since youth development, under 13.

01:35 I mean, the last time we played together, under 15, we ended this tournament joint top

01:39 scorer.

01:40 So being here with him again is really truly just a blessing and to have such a good friend

01:45 in the camp with me, first time coming in, is really a good feeling.

01:49 As for his experience playing abroad as a professional, Gilbert admits it wasn't easy

01:54 at the start, but explain how he managed to adjust.

01:57 As you said, it's not easy at the start.

01:59 I just had to keep focused.

02:01 I mean, I had close people around me, believing in God was a serious thing for me.

02:05 And yeah, we see what it can do when you're really confident and you go after what you

02:09 really want.

02:10 But does he feel the same way as he gets ready to represent TNT?

02:13 Yeah, I mean, for sure.

02:16 I'm really confident and eager to be performing for my country.

02:20 It's been a long time waiting and can't wait for this moment.

02:23 Terence Clark, TV6 Sport.

02:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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