Caymanian national footballer Trey Ebanks has signed with OSC Bremerhaven – a German semi-professional fifth-tier team in the Bremen-Liga.
For Ebanks, the move represents another step closer to attaining his dream of playing at a higher level and thus far, he has settled in easily with his new squad.
“They made me feel comfortable right away and that helped me with my performance in the first training,” Ebanks told the Compass.
OSC Bremerhaven is the third professional team that Ebanks has played for; he will be obligated to play with the club until the season ends on 31 May.
Once the club halts league action, Ebanks said he hopes to land on the national team sheet for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in June, alongside his biggest inspirations – his brother Jonah, and Elijah Seymour.
“My brother is basically the reason I’m even playing football today … I would more than love to return to the national team if they consider me,” Ebanks said, noting the historic run the Cayman men have been on recently.
“There’s way more to do and achieve, so we all have to hold ourselves accountable for the work we put in whilst preparing for our World Cup qualification and League B games this year.”
‘Always want to win’
When ask what advice he would give to the up-and-coming generation of Caymanian footballers, Ebanks said, “Keep God first. You will not go as far as you would like without him in the centre of your life.”
Adding that sacrifice is a major factor in one’s success, he said, “Especially in today’s world, [where there are] way too many distractions, and this correlates with ‘You have to know what you want.’
“All the partying, drinking, smoking has to stop because you will get the time to enjoy yourself, trust me, and I’m a prime example of this.”
Ebanks also stressed that players must challenge themselves.
“Get uncomfortable, do extras, be the best in every training, always want to win, dominate and always talk to yourself positively. Enjoy the process, be happy doing what you love, this is what’s really important and … surround yourself with people that have the same goals as you, people that will push you and give you healthy criticism.”
