FRANTZ PIERROT has won his first international cap and hit the goal trail for Drogheda United in the past two months — but he is eager for more.
Pierrot will lead the line for the Drogs against Waterford at the RSC tonight as Virgin Media test the water to see if there is an appetite for live League of Ireland football on a Thursday.
For Drogheda, it is a chance to make amends for their collapse against Galway United last week when they conceded two injury-time goals to lose 3-2.
And, while their defending late on might come under most scrutiny, Pierrot reflected on how he could have done better further up the field.
He said: “There are lessons to be learned, definitely. I could start with myself, by being more clinical. I had chances earlier in the game.
“I’d a really easy chance I didn’t put away. It happens, you’re going to miss easy ones and score harder ones sometimes but, overall, we needed to be better in both boxes.”
Pierrot, 25, scored 20 goals to finish as the First Division’s second-highest scorer last year after opting to sign for Athlone Town despite being drafted by Houston Dynamo.
It took him until his ninth appearance for Drogheda to open his account this term.
He now has four goals from his last eight appearances but he said: “I’m not fully pleased.
“I think I should have more and my aim is to be in the top five scorers in the league this year.
“I’ve had to adapt to how the team plays here. In Athlone, I was the focal point with the team playing to my strengths and ability.
“Here, it’s a different style of play but I have found my way to be successful within that.”
And Pierrot is well accustomed to adapting to new surroundings and circumstances.
He moved from Haiti to Massachusetts at the age of 11, with his brothers emigrating before him and their mother afterwards.
He recalled: “It was a new language, new culture, everything new.”
If he settled in the States, he still dreamed of following his older brother Frantzdy Pierrot — third top scorer in the Israeli League this season with Maccabi Haifa — by representing his home country.
That happened two months ago to the day when, in his sibling’s absence, he won his first cap in a friendly against French Guiana.
He said: “It was a dream come true, playing for Haiti is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid. It was a surreal moment.
“I would love to play alongside my brother now, that’s definitely a goal. It would be nice for us, and our family, to have that experience.
“We’ve been playing our whole lives but never shared the field, always playing apart. I think we could make a great duo, too.
“He’s been a big influence on me, he guided me through college and with the draft let me know how it works because he’s been through it all, I don’t know what it looks like.
“To this day, he still helps me even though we’re far apart.”
NOT LIKE IT’S PORTRAYED
His home country is even further away but, although reports depict Haiti as descending into anarchy as gangs vie for control, Pierrot insisted that is not wholly accurate.
He added: “I’ve aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins there, they’re safe because they live in the countryside.
“They might be affected in other ways but they are safe, there is no violence where they are.”
That provides some comfort and allows him to concentrate on his football as Drogs look to avenge a 4-1 defeat to Keith Long’s side in the second game of the season.
He said: “I played them four times last year but they’re not the same team which is reflected by where they are in the table.
“It’s going to be tough. We’ll respect them but no too much.”
Warren Davis (concussion) is out, with Aaron McNally (ankle) a doubt.
Waterford miss Barry Baggley (back) but Kacper Skwierczynski and Ryan Burke are available.
ODDS: Waterford 20-21, Drogheda 13-5, Draw 23-10.
VERDICT: Waterford