TTFF News - U17 player Maund still opts for T&T over USA

Photo shows Maund in action vs Colombia

Maund still opts for T&T over the USA

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, September 6, 2007

United States-born National Under 17 player Aaron Maund says he would
choose Trinidad and Tobago over the country of birth if he had to make
that selection any time in the future.

And why? Not only because he's now represented T&T at a FIFA Under 17
World Championship but because he prefers the feeling he experiences
when wearing the red, white and black. In other words, he prefers the
vibes of the "Soca Warriors".

Maund, a 16-year old was in the final pool in the US team before being
cut prior to the team's final qualifying campaign in April. His father
being Trinidadian allowed him to play for T&T while another player-
Sheannon Williams, who was once attached to Joe Public FC went on to
play for the US as a defender at the World Championship. Both Maund and
Williams grew up playing in Dorchester. Both players were also part of
the Greater Boston Bolts club which won a US National Under 16 title a
couple years back.

"The results of the U17 World Cup could go far in determining the
futures of its participants. Most of the starting players in this event
are either with professional clubs or destined for them soon. The
emergence of Maund and Williams also symbolizes the progress of local
players, dozens of whom have forged professional careers from Major
League Soccer to Eastern Europe," the Boston Globe newspaper stated.

Maund meantime took everything he could with him from the Korea
experience. He started all three matches against Ghana, Colombia and
Germany and managed two of T&T's better chances on goal against the
Germans.

"It's been a really good experience. Coming from the US meant I didn't
know a lot of the guys here at first. But the team welcomed me into the
family and that helped the transition. My level of play has grown over
the experience and that's been the benefit of it," Maund told TTFF
Media.

He added that he didn't see any major differences between the T&T and US
camps.

"When I first came here I felt the only difference was the accent. It's
a lot of the same. the same stuff in training, the guys are very
similar. Some of the off the field things may be different but it's
really isn't that big of a difference. I think everyone wants to succeed
and work hard at trying to achieve that. We need to do more though."

So which country would he choose tomorrow if the option to represent
either country came up again.

"It's easy! I would be with the Trinidad and Tobago team because I enjoy
playing with this team. the coaching staff and all. it's more of a
family unit as opposed to the US where it's like each player for himself
which is the feeling I got. The (T&T team) staff cares about you and the
players as well and that's the kind of unit I want to be in. I want to
go on trials possibly outside but next year is the Under 20s and I'll be
back for that definitely. I'm working towards playing for the Trinidad
and Tobago Senior team in the future," Maund concluded.