Angus Eve throws in the towel

Angus Eve has announced his retirement from international football. Eve is a former T&T national team captain, and is the country’s most capped player, with 118 international appearances.

Eve, who currently plays for and once coached San Juan Jabloteh FC in Trinidad, was instrumental in the Soca Warriors’ World Cup qualification.

The 33-year-old scored the two winning goals in a crucial match against St. Vincent & the Grenadines back in 2004. The midfielder had come on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, when the Warriors were down 1-0. Eve quickly equalised, and netted the free-kick winner outside the 18 yard box in the 89th minute. The Warriors’ win gave them a place amongst the six CONCACAF teams that would vie for the three-and-a-half places in Germany.

Ironically, Eve has decided to retire because he has been excluded from Beenhakker’s World Cup 2006 plans. In an interview with ttproleague.com, Eve lamented Beenhakker’s complete lack of interest in what he has to offer the national squad: “Guys like Tony Rougier are older than I am and they have been given the opportunity to be on the National team and when I look back my last few games for the National team, I think I have had some very good, strong performances and I still think I can make a strong contribution, unfortunately for me Mr. Beenhakker came into the picture and has not seen it that way and he has not looked in my direction.”

Nevertheless, Eve says that “he has no grievances against anybody,” and wants simply to focus on his career at Jabloteh. Eve, who has also played for Joe Public in Trinidad and Chester City in England, also said that he would relish the opportunity to one day coach the T&T national team.