Marshall ready for Canadian Premier League
Published:Saturday | July 25, 2020 | 12:19 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
National striker Alex Marshall is now in Canada preparing to compete in the second season with his new club HFX Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) competition which begins next month.
Marshall, 21 years old, joined the Wanderers on a multi-year deal from Red Stripe Premier League outfit Cavalier earlier this year.
However, Marshall’s clubmate Nicholas Hamilton, an attacking midfielder who signed a multi-year deal with another Canadian side York9 FC, is still in the island awaiting his work permit to join the club.
Cavalier Technical Director Rudolph Speid said this is a good opportunity for the players to showcase their talent overseas. He also said that Marshall, who is now in quarantine in Canada, is anxious about the chance of doing well in the CPL.
“Alex flew out yesterday (Thursday) and he is there now, but of course he is under 14 days quarantine, so he will be training by himself for the next couple of weeks until he is ready to meet up with the rest of the team,” Speid said.
“Why we love the Canadian League more than even the USL (United Soccer League) is that this is going to be the second season of the Canadian League and they have already sold about four players to Europeans clubs.
“This league looks like they want to be known as a selling league. This league is perfect for him and this is something that we want and we like it and that is why we sent two players and we will send more there in the future.
Marshall’s move to the CPL is the culmination of several attempts by the Reggae Boy to play competitively overseas. He has gone on trial twice in Europe for German second division club St Pauli in 2016 and for Greek club Aris Thessaloniki without securing a permanent move.
Speid said that Hamilton is expected to receive his work permit in another two or three weeks.
“He is anxiously awaiting his term because he wants to go and prove himself to everyone about the type of player he is and the talent that he has,” he said.
Speid said that the CPL is scheduled to begin in early next month and will run until the end of September.
“It will be a bubble just like how they are doing with the MLS (Major League Soccer) and I expect them to go there and adapt very quickly and to do their best,” he said.