After enjoying a successful collegiate career at Virginia’s Liberty University, Trinidad and Tobago international forward Darryl Roberts wasted no time when deciding where to play professional soccer. He traveled to Europe to audition for several clubs eventually signing with Sparta Rotterdam. He was determined to start his professional soccer career on the continent. He wasn’t the first college player and he certainly won’t be the last to show little interest in playing for a Major League Soccer franchise.

“I just wanted to give one-hundred percent effort and show the qualities that I posses,” Roberts remarked via email last spring as he finished up his contract at Sparta Rotterdam. He played two seasons in the Netherlands with the club. He wasted little time making an impression in the country’s top league, the Eredivisie. The 25-year-old forward’s debut with Sparta was a thrilling success. “I remember the head coach giving me the opportunity to enter the game at half-time,” he recalled. Two minutes into the second half he scored.

Originally drafted in the 2007 Major League Soccer’s Supplemental Draft by Toronto FC, Roberts decided that the MLS wasn’t an option. But he did not discount his entire stay in the United States. “Playing in college definitely helped me in terms of keeping a strong mind. I learnt by being patient and focusing on all of the tests that good things will happen both on and off the field of play.”

Since leaving the United States to pursue his professional dreams, Roberts has found success at both club and country. He completed his contract with Sparta, but management felt he was surplus to the requirements of the club and decided against resigning the attacking player. Still, he holds no animosity to the club that gave him his break. “I enjoyed every moment playing for Sparta.”

He joined Denizlispor this past summer. The club, which plays in Turkey’s Turkcell Süper Lig, is getting the most out of Roberts as the player scored six goals in his first thirteen matches. A rate of almost one goal every two games.

Internationally, Roberts has appeared for Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors on more than ten occasions. The island nationbecame the smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2006. With Roberts’ goal-scoring touch, another World Cup appearance is possible.

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