Andre Jesse Rampersad (born 2 February 1995) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Canadian club HFX Wanderers, where he serves as captain, and the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Andre Rampersad
Andre Rampersad with the captain armband
Rampersad with HFX Wanderers in 2021
Personal information
Full name Andre Jesse Rampersad
Date of birth (1995-02-02) 2 February 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
HFX Wanderers
Number 18
Youth career
FC Santa Rosa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 FC Santa Rosa
2019– HFX Wanderers 106 (1)
International career
2023– Trinidad and Tobago 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 2, 2023

Early life edit

Rampersad grew up in the La Horquetta neighbourhood of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.[1][2] In his youth, he mainly played cricket, before switching primarily to football at age 12,[3] where he joined the academy of local club FC Santa Rosa.[4][5] In 2012, he was named Most Promising Player of the Super League U17 division.[6]

Club career edit

He began playing at the senior level with FC Santa Rosa, in the second tier TT Super League, when he was 18.[7] He won the 2018 TT Super League title with the team.[8] While playing with Santa Rosa, he was scouted by future coach and fellow Trinidadian Stephen Hart in 2018.[9]

In January 2019, he signed with Canadian Premier League club HFX Wanderers.[10][11] On 28 April 2019, Rampersad made his professional debut as a starter in the Wanderers' inaugural match.[12] On 20 June 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss to Cavalry FC.[13] Following the season, he re-signed with the club for the 2020 season.[14][15][16] Ahead of the 2020 season, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[17] he was named team captain[18][19] (he had also been given the armband for the team's final match of the 2019 season).[20] At the end of the 2020 season, he was named to the CPL Best XI.[21] During the 2021 season, he became the team's most capped player.[22][23] After the 2021 season, he was ranked as the #38 best player in the history of the CPL.[24] On 5 September 2022, he played his 100th match, across all competitions (including friendlies), for the Wanderers.[25] He was regularly named to the CPL Team of the Week in 2022.[26][27][28][29] In December 2022, he signed a multi-year extension with the club.[30][31] On 22 April 2023, Rampersad became Halifax's first player to ever make 100 competitive appearances for the club, having featured in a 1–1 league draw against Forge FC.[32][33] As of the 2023 season, he is the all-time appearance leader for the club.[34]

International career edit

In May 2021, Rampersad was invited to a Trinidad and Tobago training camp, but due to travel restrictions in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to join the squad.[35][36]

In March 2023, Rampersad received another call-up to Trinidad ahead of CONCACAF Nations League matches against the Bahamas and Nicaragua.[37][38][39] This marked his first time with the national team at any level.[40][41] On March 24, he made his international debut as a starter against the Bahamas.[42] In June 2023, he was named to the final squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[43] In Trinidad and Tobago's second group-stage match against Jamaica, Rampersad scored his first goal for his country, in a 4–1 defeat.[44]

Career statistics edit

As of 6 October 2023[45]
Club statistics
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santa Rosa 2013–14 National Super League ? 1 ? ? ? 1
2014–15 National Super League ? 2 ? ? ? 2
2018 TT Super League 18 3 ? ? 18 3
Total 18+ 6+ 0 0 0 0 18+ 6+
HFX Wanderers 2019 Canadian Premier League 25 1 5 0 30 1
2020 10 0 1 0 11 0
2021 27 0 2 0 29 0
2022 25 0 2 0 27 0
2023 19 0 0 0 1 0 20 0
Total 106 1 1 0 10 0 117 1
Career total 124 7 1 0 10 0 135 7

References edit

  1. ^ Bailey, Joel (15 April 2019). "Rampersad excited over Halifax opportunity". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Andre Rampersad "Timing is right to represent Trinidad & Tobago"". FIFA. April 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Lawrence, Dylan (November 27, 2020). "Andre Rampersad finds a second home in Halifax". HFX Wanderers.
  4. ^ Griffiths, Gary (May 29, 2022). "Interview: Andre Rampersad". From Aways.
  5. ^ Sunich, Kevin (July 26, 2010). "Rampersad leads goal spree with hat-trick". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
  6. ^ Fuentes, Shaun (6 June 2012). "Joe Public's Bourne is Super League 'MVP'". Soca Warriors.
  7. ^ MacDonald, Glenn (February 13, 2021). "Raised on cricket, Wanderers captain Rampersad has become soccer standout". SaltWire Network.
  8. ^ Bailey, Joel (January 10, 2019). "TT quartet joins Hart at Canada club". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019.
  9. ^ Okello, Marvin (February 25, 2022). "Q&A with Wanderers Captain Andre Rampersad". HFX Wanderers FC.
  10. ^ Griffiths, Gary (January 15, 2019). "The Trinidad 4: Jan-Michael Williams, Elton John, Akeen Garcia & Andre Rampersad". From Aways.
  11. ^ Hampshire, Gareth (January 10, 2019). "Wanderers announce first ever international player signings as Trinidad and Tobago quartet". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019.
  12. ^ Bailey, Mitchell (May 13, 2022). "How 2 international players for HFX Wanderers have found a soccer home in Halifax". Global News.
  13. ^ Prescott, Ian (June 21, 2019). "Rampersad nets in 2-1 Halifax loss". Trinidad Express Newspapers.
  14. ^ Hamshire, Gareth (November 14, 2019). "Wanderers midfield dynamo Andre Rampersad coming back to Halifax". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019.
  15. ^ Molinaro, John (November 14, 2019). "Wanderers midfielder Andre Rampersad coming back in 2020". Canadian Premier League.
  16. ^ Jacques, John (November 14, 2019). "Wanderers Re-Sign Andre Rampersad For 2020". Northern Tribune.
  17. ^ Vohra, Ameeta (August 12, 2020). "HFX Wanderers FC seek to inspire their city from afar - midfielder Andre Rampersad looks forward to fans' support during an unusual soccer season". Halifax Magazine. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021.
  18. ^ Hampshire, Gareth (August 10, 2020). "Wanderers name Rampersad, De Carolis and Schaale as captains". HFX Wanderers.
  19. ^ "Former Santa Rosa player is coach Hart's on-field captain". Trinidad Express Newspapers. August 11, 2020.
  20. ^ Briggins, Jonathan (August 28, 2020). "Wanderers captain ramps-up: Andre Rampersad leads way as key Halifax Island Games performer". HFX Wanderers FC.
  21. ^ "T&T's Garcia, Rampersad in CPL best XI". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. September 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Rampersad most capped player for Wanderers". Trinidad Express Newspapers. December 31, 2021.
  23. ^ "'I needed to come home and clear my mind': Wanderers captain refreshed after long awaited trip home". HFX Wanderers FC. February 28, 2023.
  24. ^ O'Connor-Clarker, Charlie (December 10, 2021). "CPL50 – 38. Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  25. ^ Ramphal, Vidia (September 7, 2022). "Rampersad plays 100th game for HFX Wanderers". Loop News.
  26. ^ "Wanderers' Rampersad named to CPL Team of the Week". HFX Wanderers FC. April 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "Wanderers captain Rampersad named to CPL Team of the Week". HFX Wanderers FC. May 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Three Wanderers named to CPL Team of the Week for Week 9". June 6, 2022.
  29. ^ "Wanderers Rampersad, Campagna named to CPL Team of the Week". HFX Wanderers FC. September 7, 2022.
  30. ^ Jacques, John (December 7, 2022). "Wanderers Sign Captain Rampersad, Two Others To Multi-Year Deals". Northern Tribune.
  31. ^ "Wanderers sign Rampersad, Fernandez and Timoteo to multi-year contract extensions". HFX Wanderers FC. December 7, 2022.
  32. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (22 April 2023). "Match Analysis: Halifax agonizingly close to first victory of 2023, but Pacius rescues Forge late". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  33. ^ Healey, Josh (April 23, 2023). "'Oh Captain, My Captain!': HFX Wanderers draw even with Forge FC in Rampersad's 100th match". Wanderers Notebook.
  34. ^ Jacques, John (November 15, 2023). "Rampersad Ready For 'Biggest Game Of His Life' Against USA". Northern Tribune.
  35. ^ Lawrence, Dylan (May 31, 2021). "Garcia and Rampersad invited to Trinidad and Tobago's training camp for the WCQs". HFX Wanderers FC.
  36. ^ Lawrence, Dylan (June 1, 2021). "Travel restrictions halt Garcia and Rampersad". Trinidad Express Newspapers.
  37. ^ Jacques, John (March 20, 2023). "Wanderers Captain Rampersad Gets Trinidad And Tobago Call-Up". Northern Tribune.
  38. ^ MacDonald, Glenn (March 21, 2023). "HFX Wanderers captain Rampersad called up to Trinidad and Tobago national team". SaltWire Network.
  39. ^ Alibey, Walter (March 20, 2023). "Eve calls up Winchester, Rampersad for Bahamas, Nicaragua". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
  40. ^ "Rampersad champing at the bit". Trinidad Express Newspapers. March 22, 2023.
  41. ^ Rhodes, Bendict (March 20, 2023). "'Being around these guys will raise my level': Rampersad ready for long-awaited Trinidad and Tobago call-up". Canadian Premier League.
  42. ^ MacDonald, Glenn (March 31, 2023). "HFX Wanderers captain Rampersad recharged after overdue trip home to Trinidad, national team debut". SaltWire Network.
  43. ^ "Andre Rampersad selected by Trinidad and Tobago for Gold Cup". HFX Wanderers. June 14, 2023.
  44. ^ "Andre Rampersad called up by Trinidad and Tobago for matches vs. U.S.A". HFX Wanderers FC. November 11, 2023.
  45. ^ Andre Rampersad at Soccerway

External links edit