TORONTO , Canada – Canadian national player Dwayne DeRosario is eagerly looking forward to his upcoming coaching stint in Guyana where he is scheduled to conduct clinics for young footballers in the Upper Demerara region.

DeRosario’s visit to Guyana coincides with the current Chico/Kashif & Shangai Secondary Schools football tournament and has been made possible through the involvement of organisers Kashif Muhamad and Aubrey “Shangai” Major.
Born of Guyanese parents, Tony and Carol-Anne, the 35-year-old attacking mid-fielder has been making a name for himself on the Canadian and International circuits over the years and in an interview with Chronicle Sport spoke of his longing to see his parents’ birth place for the first time.
DeRosario, who will be accompanied by his father and brother Paul, pointed out that he is culturally aware of his roots and is looking forward to fulfil a life-long dream.
An experienced campaigner, DeRosario was expected to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday and is down to conduct clinics in Tobago before leaving for Guyana on December 21 for a three-day visit.
With 77 National caps under his belt, Rosario explained that he enjoys working with youths and have been doing so for several years with youngsters in the Scarborough, Ontario area where he was born and attended school.
Acknowledging that he’s inspired by youths, DeRosario said he’s fully aware of the talent which exists in Guyana and the Caribbean and is eager to exploit some of that and is desirous of making his visit an annual affair.
A prolific Major League Soccer (MLS) player, DeRosario started his career with San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 before moving to Houston Dynamo in 2006 where he spent three seasons. In 2009, he brought his talent to Toronto FC before becoming a part of the New York Red Bulls in 2011 and DC United from 2011 until this year. He is due to return to Houston Dynamo in 2014.
Earning the reputation as a clutch player in the MLS, his career tally includes two game-winning goals in MLS Cup finals, both for which he received MLS Cup MVP, and two game-winning goals in MLS All-Star games against foreign oppositions, including West Ham United.
In June, 2009, he scored a hat-trick to put Toronto FC ahead of the Montreal Impact 3–1. Toronto had to win the game by four goals to win the Canadian Championship and move onto the CONCACAF Champions League, which they did after defeating Montreal 6–1.
The following year, after a horrible first half away at Houston and down 1–0, DeRosario scored two unanswered goals in the second half, both coming from free kicks including one in stoppage time, which kept the team’s 2010 playoff dreams alive.
DeRosario made his Canadian National debut in May 1998 against the Republic of Macedonia at the age of 20 prior to playing for the Uner-20 team in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.
In 1999 he represented Canada at the XIII Pan American Games in Winnipeg and was part of Canada’s Gold Cup squad since the North American team won the tournament in 2000.
In 2007, DeRosario won the male Canadian Player of the Year award for the third consecutive year after scoring five goals in eight games, the most in a year for the Canadian men’s national team since John Catliff in 1993.
De Rosario was picked for his first CONCACAF Gold Cup in four years, after being selected by coach Stephen Hart in May 2011 for the 23-man tournament roster.
After a disappointing 2–0 defeat to United States in the opening game of the group, Canada failed to exit the group with a 1–1–1 record, managing a mere two goals, both from De Rosario at the penalty spot.
De Rosario continued his goal scoring with two goals in the opening stage of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, with one against Saint Lucia and the other against Saint Kitts and Nevis.. His goal against Saint Kitts, was his 19th international goal which tied him as Canadian all-time top goal scorer with Dale Mitchell.
He copped the 2011 Canadian Player of the Year award, receiving 47.7 per cent of the votes, with Simeon Jackson placing second and Josh Simpson finishing in the third spot. The achievement marked the fourth time De Rosario had been so honoured.
In September, 2012 De Rosario scored his 20th goal for Canada in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Panama making him the all-time leading goal scorer for his country.

(By Frederick Halley)