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Latest News:
27-Jun-2008 $120,000 Sagicor ‘Big Four’ in Super League.
06-May-2008 More $$ for Courts Pro Bowl.
03-May-2008 Pro League goes TV - CNMG.
05-Apr-2008 Oliver named Pro League MVP.
07-Mar-2008 Minor league offenders to feel the full wrath.
15-Feb-2008 Pro League pledges full support to 2010 campaign. 
18-Jan-2008 Stokely Vale, toast of TFA.
31-Dec-2007 WASA offered Pro League spot.
03-Dec-2007 Foreign All-Stars beaten, Local All-Stars defeats Dallas.
01-Dec-2007 FC Dallas edges Foreign All-Stars on penalties.
01-Dec-2007 Local All Stars lose on penalties to Atletico Paranaense.
01-Dec-2007 TT Pro League, FC Dallas forms partnership.
30-Nov-2007 FC Dallas & Atletico Paranaense arrives for Hislop Cup.
24-Nov-2007 Shabazz, Fevrier to coach All Stars.
02-Nov-2007 Tobago Football Association news round-up.
31-Oct-2007 Govt kicks $3.75m in T&T Pro League.
30-Oct-2007 Caribbean Qualification to 2008 Champions’ Cup in T&T.
22-Oct-2007 Skeene: National philosophy soon.
21-Oct-2007 Jabloteh ravage Harlem, WASA, Harvard bite dust.
17-Oct-2007 Tobago Football Association news round-up.
28-Sept-2007 Champions WASA look to Pro League.
27-Sept-2007 FC Dallas coming to T&T for Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup.
13-Sept-2007 La Foucade Clinic gets British American boost.
31-Aug-2007 Warner wants U-17s in Super League.
30-Aug-2007 Pro League bid to end Jabloteh friction.
07-Jul-2007 13 teams for Women's Football League opening.
12-Apr-2007 Toyota Yaris up for grabs in 2007.
12-Apr-2007 Wim Rijsbergen supports the Reserve League.
11-Apr-2007 Super League Champions join Pro League Ranks.
08-Mar-2007 Bridges are Built from Both Banks.
12-Feb-2007 Romany: No good knocking Pro League.
10-Jan-2007 New stars to be born at Digicel Cup - Dexter Skeene.
14-Dec-2006 WASA takes the 2006 FA Trophy.
07-Nov-2006 WASA flow in FA final.
09-Nov-2006 Champs Police end with big win.
07-Nov-2006 Stokely Vale Tobago football kings.
26-Oct-2006 La Brea Football links up with US academy.
21-Oct-2006 Under-dogs prevail in Toyota Classic.
14-Oct-2006 Big-guns move forward in Toyota Classic.
11-Oct-2006 Top two Leagues clash 2006 Toyota Classic.
09-Oct-2006 Phoenix take Super League knockout title.
29-Sept-2006 World to see T&T Pro League.
16-Sept-2006 First Citizens Cup round-up reports.
15-Sept-2006 St Clair’s cruise to Pepsi FA Cup.
12-Sept-2006 English coach instructor connects with La Foucade.
30-Aug-2006 First Citizens Cup now $150,000.
30-Aug-2006 Exclusive Interview with Pro League's Dexter Skeene.
25-Aug-2006 Police FC put Crabs in a barrel.
22-Aug-2006 Pro League player development seminar called success.
11-Aug-2006 WASA upsets leaders Police FC.
04-Aug-2006 Pro League players delighted at National call up.
31-Jul-2006 Crab walks over Harvard, WASA wash Caroni.
22-Jul-2006 TSTT, Police grab 3-2 victories.
14-Jul-2006 TSTT sponsors bmobile Super League.
28-Jun-2006 Foreign intellect needed in local football—Romany.
02-Jun-2006 W Connection whips Petrotrin in Under-18 final.
25-May-2006 W Connection dumps U-18 champ Jabloteh.
06-May-2006 $150,000 for Pro Bowl winners.
15-Apr-2006 St Clair Coaching School wins appeal.
14-Apr-2006 T&T Pro League congratulates Pro League WC stars.
07-Apr-2006 Superstar Rangers, Tobago Utd kick off 2006 season.
29-Mar-2006 Changes in store for 2006 Super League.
25-Mar-2006 Starworld, Superstar Rangers accepted to Pro League.

23-Mar-2006- Three youth coaches from Italian club Inter Milan will be in Trinidad for the Sportworld Inter Milan Easter Football camp which is being held in conjunction with the La Foucade Soccer Clinic from April 18-22 at the St Mary's College ground, St Clair. ... More.


09-Mar-2006 - T&T Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene is calling on T&T Pro League teams to adopt a more professional attitude. The former strike squad player believes that there is significant room for improvement. ... More.


20-Feb-2006 - Dwight Yorke and Kennya Cordner were named as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) "Male and Female Players of the Year" yesterday. The award ceremony was staged at Calypso Lounge, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain. ... More.


06-Feb-2006 - Well-Known sports administrator and businessman Richard Fakoory is considering packing up and leaving his Superstar Rangers Football Club if Prime Minister Patrick Manning continues with his plan to build his residence on President’s Ground, St Ann’s. ... More.


01-Feb-2006 - At least four clubs are expressing interest in competing in this years T&T Pro League. The League’s CEO Dexter Skeene confirmed the defending Super League and Knockout champions Joe Public, Mayaro Spurs, Point Fortin Civic Center and Starworld Strikers have all expressed interest. ... More.


29-Jan-2006 - Vibe CT105 W Connection took the lion's share of awards on Saturday night when the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League held its awards function at the Ambassador Hotel's Mountain View Terrace. ... More.


28-Dec-2005 - Jerry Hospedales, chariman of CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh Sports Club, has made a call for the strenthening of the T&T Pro League to help the urgent development of local footballers. ... More.


16-Dec-2005 - Stokely Vale has officially retained their Super League status for the 2006 season. The club completed its season with a victory against Harvard FC and a loss to Couva FC. ... More.


05-Dec-2005 - Pro league boss: "Let me make it abundantly clear the T&T Pro League remains deeply committed to the best interest of football in Trinidad and Tobago and will continue to cooperate with all the stakeholders be it Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), Soca Warrior Coach Beenhakker,the Super League and TTFF Special advisor Jack Warner. But it must be on the basis of mutual respect and sincerity." ... More.


01-Dec-2005 - Nippy forward Jason Marcano scored a 72nd minute goal to secure a come from behind 2-1 win for San Juan Jabloteh over Defence Force in a keenly fought Simpaul’s Travel Service TTFF FA Trophy at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, yesterday. ... More.


27-Nov-2005 - Anton Pierre of the Defence Force powered home a free-kick from atop the penalty box four minutes from the end of the match to knot up a dull FA Trophy quarter-final at one-all against W Connection on Friday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya. ... More.


25-Nov-2005 - W Connection stayed on course for their fourth trophy of the season when they hammered National Super League team WASA Clean & White by a 6-2 margin in a FA Trophy first round match at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Wednesday night. ... More.


06-Nov-2005 - Brazilian Gefferson Da Silva Goulart boastfully ran towards the opponents' bench after hitting an expertly-taken free kick into the roof of the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh net. The 66th minute stunner proved to be the only goal in a tight Toyota Classic final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Friday night and should have sparked celebrations on the part of the Vive CT105 W Connection faithful. ... More.


30-Oct-2005 - W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh showed how penalty kicks should be taken as they beat Defence Force and Joe Public, respectively, to reach the final of the inaugural Toyota Classic competition. ... More.


28-Oct-2005 - It took about a minute to unravel all the early hard work that Couva Players United had done in their Sportworld National Super League match on Wednesday. ... More.


23-Oct-2005 - Joe Public were on the verge of going out of the Toyota Classic at the first hurdle before staging a remarkable late recovery to see off Caledonia AIA Fire on penalty kicks in their quarterfinal match on Friday night at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar. ... More.


16-Oct-2005 - Defence Force dumped Tobago United out of the Toyota Classic competition Friday night at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. ... More.


05-Oct-2005 - On August 26 Joe Public successfully defended its Sportworld National Super League Knock-Out title, beating WASA Clean and White 3-0 in the final of the competition at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. ... More.


22-Sept-2005 - The Sportworld National Super League’s top two teams Joe Public and Crab Connection recorded similar 4-0 wins on match day 16 of the competition yesterday. Away to Plipdeco Caroni at Gilbert Park, California, Public put on a stellar performance with Jamaican striker Carlington Smith scoring a hat-trick and Roen Nelson adding another. ... More.


18-Sept-2005 - United Petrotrin pulled off the shock result of the First Citizens Bank Cup quarterfinal round, coming from a 2-0 deficit to slip past the fancied Caledonia AIA/Fire 4-2 on penalty-kicks, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on Friday night. ... More.


15-Sept-2005 - Joe Public, looked every bit the defending champion as they defeated M&M Harvard 4-0 in their Sportworld National Super League match at the Marvin Lee Stadium, yesterday. ... More.


08-Sept-2005 - Third placed Wasa Clean and White gave former league leader Crab Connection the shock of its life yesterday, winning their key Sportworld National Super League match day 13 fixture 2-1 at Wasa ground in St Joseph. At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Joe Public took over the lead with a 4-0 drubbing of Couva Players United. ... More.


28-Aug-2005 - Joe Public put on an inspired display against WASA Clean and White in the final of the 2005 Sportworld National Super League knockout competition, at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday night, to go away with a 3-0 victory. ... More.


21-Aug-2005 - In an unusual coincidence, all three teams who advanced to the semifinals of the Sportworld National Super League on Friday emerged victors by 2-0 margins at different venues. ... More.


28-Jul-2005 - Wasa Clean and White overran second placed Police 5-2 in their Sportworld National Super League match at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday. ... More


28-Jul-2005 - Devon Drayton, Keith Williams and Keston Jones were on target for Tobago United, who slipped past VIBE CT 105 W Connection 3-2, in their T&T Professional Football League Under-18 Division match at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Tuesday. ... More


23-Jul-2005 - San Juan Jabloteh continued its march towards the Under-16 and Under-18 Division titles in the T&T Professional Football League with impressive wins at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on Tuesday. ... More


15-Jul-2005 - Qian Grovesnor fired in a hat-trick as CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh’s Under-16 footballers won for the first time from three matches in the T&T Professional Football League’s Under-16 Division. ... More


11-Jul-2005 - The teams that hold the top three positions on the Sportworld Super League table had some difficulty getting points out of their eighth round matches yesterday. ... More


07-Jul-2005 - Angostura 1976 Phoenix handed Sportworld National Super League leaders Superstar Rangers their first defeat of the 2005 competition at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo yesterday. ... More


06-Jul-2005 - Eastern Conference leaders East/West Coaching School recovered from their first defeat, 1-0 to second-placed T&T Coast Guard on Tuesday, and went on a goal-scoring spree to win their round seven Emerald Apartments and Plaza League fixture against Club TSTT 8-3 at Five Rivers on Sunday, plus all Zonal Football round up news. ... More


05-Jul-2005 - Police needed a 84th minute goal from prolific striker Neri Joseph to edge fifth placed Angostura 1976 Phoenix 2-1 and remain in touch with Sportworld National Super Football League leaders Superstar Rangers on Sunday. ... More


21-Jun-2005 - Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix and Superstar Rangers won their matches to top the Sportworld National Super League standings on Sunday. ... More


16-Jun-2005 - M&M Harvard made a strong start to their 2005 Sportworld Super League campaign yesterday when they pipped Wasa Clean and White 1-0 on the first day of the competition. ... More


09-Jun-2005 - The Professional Football League hopes to generate profits of more than $60,000 for the remainder of the 2005 season, after signing a two-year apparel deal with Sports and Games Limited. ... More


02-Jun-2005 - The T&T Pro League presented the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation with a cheque valued at $27,000 to assist in the “Journey to Germany” campaign at the TTFF Headquarters on Dundonald Street, Port of Spain on Thursday. ... More


31-May-2005 - Qian Grovesnor scored his first hat trick of the season as CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh won for the sixth straight match in the Under-16 Division of the T&T Professional Football League. ... More


29-May-2005 - The lure of big money rendered the 2005 T&T Pro Bowl a non-vintage renewal of last year's final despite the presence of Vibe CT105 W Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, the teams that contested such a thriller 12 months ago. ... More


22-May-2005 - T&T Pro League leaders Vibe CT 105 W.Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh earned the right to contest the T&T Pro Bowl final with victories over Defence Force and Tobago United in their semi-final match-ups at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella last Friday. ... More


15-May-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago Pro League leaders Vibe CT105 W Connection made a winning start to their 2005 T&T Pro Bowl campaign with a tidy 2-0 defeat of National Quarries North East Stars in the second game of a triple-header of quarter-finals on Friday night at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. ... More


16-Apr-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker is hoping to have the support of the Pro League and its clubs as he sets out to prepare the best possible team for the remaining 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches and he can expect just that according to League Chief Executive Officer Dexter Skeene. ... More


11-Apr-2005 - Indoor football will soon be introduced to Trinidad and Tobago "and the excitement and impact that it would create would be beyond your imagination." ... More


17-Mar-2005 - Hayden Tinto, a member of the national Under-20 football team was among the goals as Maraval Youth Academy defeated St Clair Coaching School in the T&T Football Federation National Super League play-offs, yesterday. ... More


W Connection takes FCB Cup.

By: Gregory Trujillo - T&T Guardian Newspapers.
03-Oct-2004 - When it’s nice, do it twice.
Vibe CT 105 W Connection regained the First Citizens Bank Cup when they defeated Defence Force 3-2 on Friday at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
“Be decisive with your kicks and make sure they are struck firm,” coach Reynold Carrington appealed to his players, who had experienced a penalty shootout before and had something to draw on, having won the only other final in the T&T Professional Football League earlier in the season against Jabloteh.
Both finalists displayed quality football, with Earl Jean opening the scoring for W Connection in the sixth minute and Defence Force equalising through an own goal in the 39th.
“W” started the second session in the same manner as the first, with an early strike by Silvio Spann from the penalty spot (47th) and climaxed with a second penalty on the opposite end, taken by Kurt Williams in the 62nd.
The atmosphere in the stands, produced by rhythm sections, overflowed on to the field , as the players seemed energised by it all. The vocal support by the fans helped to make the night one to remember with football the winner all the way.
After the match people flowed out of the stadium satisfied that they got their money’s worth.
“For the Pro League to be successful we need the public,” coach Carrington of the winning team, said afterwards.
“Football without spectators don’t motivate the players. The reason why the game was so good is that the players were motivated to play because the public came out in large numbers to support the two teams.”
W Connection’s utility player, Joseph, turned from villain to hero, as he gave away both goals for Defence Force to get back into the match and made up by scoring his crucial third penalty in the shootout.
Level-headed WCFC goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa, whose positioning has been a key asset, must be given full credit as he made two saves to deny Defence Force of repeating their performance of 2002 ( 2-0 win in the final).
Alejandro saved the second kick from Christon Baptiste and the fifth by Ronald St Louis while the third by Jerwyn Balthazar was placed overbar.
Ordelle Armstrong kicked first for Defence Force and scored while Anton Pierre was also successful with his kick.
Spann, Brazilian Jose Luiz Seabra and Joseph were all on target for WCFC in that order. Nicholson “Ice” Thomas the only player to miss.
The first 20 minutes of the match belonged to W Connection, who created three good openings, scoring one from St Lucian Jean.
Jean, positioned on the first post, headed home a Jose Luiz Seabra curling right side corner with his left foot.
Six minutes after the goal, Jean had to leave the field damaging his quadriceps muscle (front thigh). He was replaced by Bevon Lewis, formerly of Starworld Strikers.
Defence Force was lucky to equalise. Trying to defend a cross on the ground from the left Joseph, who was just outside the six-yard box away from the goal-line, spliced the ball with his right foot, the error giving Alejandro no chance.
At the beginning of the second-half, a handled ball inside the area gave W Connection a penalty and Spann made no mistake, shooting to the left of ‘keeper Selwyn George.
Defence Force drew level a second time when Joseph fouled Armstrong in the box and Williams converted a well-struck penalty.
W Connection missed two clear-cut opportunities to seal the game through Kendall Davis and Bevon Lewis while Army missed one good chance by Baptiste.
CEO of the Pro League Dexter Skeene paid tribute to the crowd and the standard of football displayed by the players of both teams.
“In the long run, football was the winner,” said Skeene. “Tribute must be paid to FCB and the fans for supporting the Pro League.”
“The Pro League marketing committee is pleased that our approach to marketing is reaping benefits as patrons came out in their numbers to support the final.
“The committee continues to implement its marketing plan which is focused on giving the sponsors and fans value for money, encouraging them to keep returning.
“A conscious decision was taken to incorporate aspects of T&T culture to enhance the package offered and improve the attractiveness of the event.”

Teams:

Defence Force:
25.Selwyn George, 5.Kelshall Marshall (capt), 6. Michael Edwards, 13.Anton Joseph (24.Shelton Williams 53rd), 14.Anton Pierre, 8.Kurt Williams (23.Claude Adams 83rd), 20.Ronald St Louis, 21.Kwesi Smith, 10.Christon Baptiste, 19.Devon Jorslyn (9.Odelle Armstrong 59th), 15.Jerwyn Belthazar.

Subs Not Used:
11.Kevon Carter.

Staff:
Coach: Kerry Jamerson, assistant coaches: Ross Russell, Dexter Lee, Manager: Lieutenant Henry Charles.

W Connection:
1.Alejandro Figueroa, 2.David Atiba Charles, 5.Ejijah Joseph, 6.Jose Luis Seabra, 4.Kevon Clement, 13.Nicholas Thomas, 17.Silvio Spann, 10.Andre Toussaint, 11.Titus Elva (7.Luciano Viera 61st), 9.Earl Jean (capt - 24.Bevon Lewis 28th), 14.Kendall Davis (22.Jason Cudjoe 82nd).

Subs Not Used:
19.Aaron Black, 21.Jan-Michael Williams, 30.Andre Pacheco, 36.Jerron Johnson.

Staff:
Coach: Reynold Carrington, Manager: Raymong McLean.

Full Results of the 2004 FCB-Cup:

First Round:

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Kurt Williams 7th, 44th) v Defence Force 2 (Trent Noel 54th, 58th)....
Defence Force wins 3-1 on penalties.

North East Stars 8 (Abossi McPherson 34th, 40th, Howard Lowe 44th, Kern Thomas 57th, Jerren Nixon 58th, 90th, Kerwyn Navarro 74th, 92nd) v Tobago United 2 (Ijanar Mark 49th, 81st).

W Connection 2 (Titus Elva 20th, Atiba Charles 47th) v South West Drillers 0.

Starworld Strikers 5 (Randolph Jerome 54th, 56th, Peter Prosper 71st, 85th, Marc Borde 58th) v Arima Morvant Fire 1 (Conrad Smith 88th).

Second Round:

Defence Force 2 (Jerwyn Balthazar 70th, Ordelle Armstrong 91st) v North East Stars 0.

W Connection 2 (Andre Toussaint 15th, Kendall Davis 41st) v Starworld Strikers 1 (Randolph Jerome 88th).

Third Place Playoff:

Starworld Strikers 4 (Lindsie Sherwood 29th, 77th, Andre Charles 31st, Errol Charles 54th), v North East Stars 1 (Jerren Nixon 15th).

Final.

W Connection 2 (Earl Jean 6th, Silvio Spann pen-47th) v Defence Force 2 (Elijah Joseph (own goal-39th, Kurt Williams pen-83rd).
W Connection wins 3-2 on penalty-kicks.

FCB-Cup Prize Structure:

1. W Connection-$35,000.

2. Defence Force-$25,000.

3. Starworld Strikers-$20,000.

4. North East Stars-$16,000.


Jabloteh, Connection share PFL youth titles.

By: Gregory Trujillo - T&T Guardian Sports Writer.
9-Aug-2004 - San Juan Jabloteh’s Under-14 footballers did what their seniors failed to do the night before, beating Vibe CT 105 W Connection to win the Bermudez/Holiday Foods title in the T&T Professional Football League Saturday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.
A goal by top striker Franz Husbands in the 28th minute (his 21st goal in the league so far this season) and another by Micah Lewis in the 36th minute were sufficient for Jabloteh to score a 2-1 victory over WCFC, maintaining their unbeaten run in the competition.
The losers got their goal from Makesi Modeste in the 54th minute. The W Connection youngsters were more fortunate in the Under-16 Division match and winning 3-0 over Jabloteh to retain the crown.
All three goals came from star striker Matthew Bartholomew, who netted in the 15th, 60th and 85th minmutes to take his tally of goals to 15 this season.
The first goal by Bartholomew was a header, the second was a flick on off a cross by Brazilian Ronnie deSilva and the third from an 18-yard free-kick.
In the earlier match, Jabloteh took the lead following a through ball from midfield, which Kevin Molino picked up and attacked the last defender, Jameson James. Both players fell over.
Husbands, in the meantime, was following up and was able top pounce on the ball in the six-yard box and put it away from goalkeeper Mackenson David.
The other goal came following a good build-up from inside the Jabloteh half in which four to five one-two passes were strung together before the ball entered the area for Lewis, who eluded a defender before beating David.
Connection’s goal came from a corner. Their tallest player, defender Modeste came up for a corner and out-jumped everyone to head past ‘keeper Glenroy Samuel, who could only get a hand to the ball.
Before that goal, Samuel and the other Jabloteh custodian Kyle Perez, who saved a penalty when the team op[posed North-East, kept a clean sheet in the league competition.
“We had a very good all round team — talented attacking players, sturdy defenders and two safe goalkeepers, “said coach Gwenwyn Cust, the former nippy Colts and national forward.
Commenting on the match, Cust said: “After the pep-talk at half-time we came out playing with more purpose and control and enjoyed more ball possession. “We achieved what we set out to do and we worked extremely hard,” he pointed out.

Results:

Under-14 Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Franz Husbands 28th, Micah Lewis 36th) v W Connection 1 (Makesi Modeste 54th).

Under-16 Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 0 v W Connection 3 (Matthew Bartholomew 15th, 60th, 85th).

Under-20 Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Rennie Britto 34th, Andre Alexis 42nd) v W Connection 0.

Tobago United 5 (Marvin Phillips 64th, 84, 90th, Marvin Wright 27th, Keon Samuel 90th) v South West Drillers 2 (Samuel Garcia 48th), Darren Alexis 81st).

North East Stars 1 (Kendall Jagdeosingh 54th) v Defence Force 4 (Keston Williams 10th, Sean Narcis 40th, Akil Glasgow 64th, Clevon George 74th).

Arima Morvant Fire 2 (Cordell Samuel 48th, Radanfah Abu Bakr 86th) v Starworld Strikers 0.


UTC give under-14 football $70,000.

T&T Newsday Reports.
23-Jul-2004 - Unit Trust Corporation have injected $70,000 into the championships National Under-14 Football Championships. The tournament will be played between July 27 to August 20. This under-14 tournament is seen by Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation technical director Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips as a return to a programme which gave birth to the now legendary “Strike Squad.” The tournament will involve 600 players from 40 teams in six zones. At the launch yesterday, Phillips said his mission is to see all Trinidad and Tobago football teams qualify for their respective World Cups by the year 2014, and that the Under-14 championships serves this end. The championships keep Under-14 players in active competition and therefore offer a better scouting opportunity, one which Phillips assures he will grab as the TTFF begin to work from the foundation.
According to All Sport Promotions managing director Anthony Harford, the championships promise to be ground-breaking as it will encourage team structure, games will be played at only the best venues throughout Trinidad and Tobago and each player will be insured by the UTC. Harford revealed that in each zone their will be a league competition out of which the eight best teams will advance to the national quarter-finals, semi-finals and then to the grand final to be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The winning team will collect $5,000 in units from the UTC. There is also a Girls Under-14 Division, but to date, there are no entrants. UTC executive director Michael Alexander rolled back the years to his days as an Under-14, eating, sleeping and dreaming football.
He said opportunities have flourished for young footballers with university scholarships and professional football both locally and internationally now increasingly available, and the championships give the youngsters this window. Five teams each in the North, East, Eastern Counties, Central, South and Tobago zones will play 70-minute games in their respective groups beginning on Tuesday advancing to the quarter-finals at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, and Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Registration is $500 per team of no more than 25 or less than 16, and will take place at All Sport Promotion’s offices. For further information please contact Anthony Harford at 624-4577/ 78, or e-mail asp63@hotmail.com.


M&M Insurance gives Harvard $360,000.

T&T Guardian Reports.
14-Jul-2004 - Harvard, one of four clubs newly admitted to the National Super Football League, has received a big boost with a $360,000 sponsorship for the next two years. The “Roxy Roundabout” boys is now being sponsored by M&M Insurance Services Limited of Maraval.
The cheque was handed over to secretary of the club, George Sebro by Isabel Castagne-Hay, a director of M&M, yesterday at a simple ceremony witnessed by the players of the Super League team at the club’s premises in St James.
Ken Martin, coach of the side, said that the M&M sponsorship will “go a long way to making the team a vibrant one.” Roland Graham, a director of M&M, said that his company was attracted to the work done by the club which celebrated its 60th Anniversary last month.
“In line with our mission, we want to promote Harvard’s good work,” said Graham. “We will make sure that your needs are provided.” Harvard’s president Oliver Camps ensured the sponsors that they will get full mileage from the sponsorship. Also representing M&M at the ceremony was Omar Daniel, who is also a director.


Warner Group $$ for East football.

T&T Newsday Reports.
3-Jul-2004 - The Warner Group of Companies, chaired by Jack Warner has agreed to sponsor the Eastern Football Association (EFA) competitions with a contribution of $400,000 over the next three years. This was revealed by Daryll Warner, Chief Executive Officer of the Warner Group at the Emerald Plaza on Thursday. Warner, son of FIFA Vice President Jack Warner said the decision to support the association came because of the group’s desire to assist in the development of local club football, particularly in east Trinidad. Young Warner also challenged other corporate bodies to join the effort by offering their support to other football associations. “When the people hear about the EFA they identify with teams such as L-Sporto Crab Connection, Joe Public or WASA Clean and White and what we are hoping to do now is bridge that gap and allow the smaller teams to get more involved and have more incentive to play for,” Warner said.
Also in attendance at the function were EFA President Lennox Watson, General-Secretary Neville Ferguson and members Carl Nurse and Neil Mollineau. Warner said although the EFA is played on neither a professional or semi-professional basis, the intention is to groom players to a standard which could make them capable of catching the eyes of national team coaches. “Although it’s not part of the pro league, we want to have some kind of professionalism among the teams, the players and the officials. When people come to see football in the Eastern FA competitions, they must be able to easily identify our teams, not only by the talent that is being displayed on the pitch but also off the pitch in how we carry ourselves,” Warner said. “The lesser known teams must not be left back. There is always the hope that a player will be able to force his way into a national team and we intend to provide the guys with the necessary conditions to give their best out there,” Warner said.
Association President Lennox Watson, a vice president of the TTFF, was delighted over the new deal and thanked the Warner Group for coming on board. “The support we will be receiving will have a huge impact on the running of the association and the performances of all involved,” Watson said. “We are most grateful for this and in saying that, the door still remains open for others willing to give their support not only to the Eastern Association but also the other Associations throughout the country. The former top Prison Service officer said. The Warner Group will provide financial rewards for the EFA League, League Cup, FA Trophy and the Emerald Cup (formerly the President’s Cup). The winner of the league will take home $10,000, runners up get $5,000, third place finishers collect $3,000 and fourth placed team will receive $2,000. The winners of the League Cup and Emerald Cup will each take home $3,000 with other rich prizes going out to the other teams.


Petrotrin pumps $100,000 into SFA Super League.

By Mervyn Stewart.
23-Jun-2004 - The 2004 Southern Football Association (SFA) competition has been boosted by $100,000 in sponsorship from Petrotrin.
At the Petrotrin Sports Club, Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, last Thursday, it was announced by Petrotrin's corporate communications manager Anton Corneal that his company will continue to sponsor the Southern Football Super League for the 2004-2005 season.
Corneal also stated that his company was very interested in a youth development programme and long-term investment in players under the age of 13, helping them in developing their football skills.
He also pointed out the need for the upgrading of facilities in the region.
And Petrotrin is looking forward to its three top former national players-Clayton Morris, Dexter Francis and Brian Williams-groom youngsters in the south.
In his address at Thursday's launch, outstanding ex-national goalkeeper and current T&T Football Federation technical director Lincoln "Tiger" Phillips said he had great memories every time he visits the south, adding that he did particularly well between the uprights, but his only blemish was when Bobby Sookram scored five goals on him one afternoon in a North-South Classic.
He also recalled his first national tour to Suriname, when men like Doyle Griffith, Cax Baptiste, Pat Gomez, Pat Small and Clyde Burnett helped him to develop and from then on everything was alright.
Phillips said he also gets help from Dr Alvin Henderson, Rudolph Thomas and Mohammed Isa when he comes to the southland.
He also pointed out there were good youth programmes in place about 20 years ago, set by FIFA vice-president and T&TFF adviser Jack Warner, and there were players like Russell Latapy, Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop and Brian Lara coming out of it.
And most of the players went on to play for the "Strike Squad", who lost out by just one point on the Road to Italy for the 1990 World Cup. Phillips urged Petrotrin to keep investing in the youths from grassroots level throughout every community.


‘Crabs’ get connection with Italians L-Sporto.

By Jovan Ravello.
21-May-2004 - Crab Connection, defen-ding National Super League champions and one of Trinidad and Tobago’s burgeoning soccer teams, have signed a sponsorship contract with international sportswear firm L-Sporto. Connection will sport the new strip at the NSL 2004 season opening on June 4 when they play Maraval Youth Academy at 8.30 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, when they will be known as L-Sporto Connection FC.
Over recent weeks the club’s management have been putting their charges through a rigorous training routine at the Barataria Oval, to ensure the players are in the best physical shape and the San Juan-based outfit is brimming with confidence going into the new season keen on a successful title defence. L-Sporto are apparel suppliers to Ghana’s Olympic national football team, Uruguay’s 2002 World Cup team, the national soccer teams of Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda, Italian Third Division champs AC Theinne and China’s Second Division champions Ximan FC, are planning to add other Trinidad clubs to this list.


La Foucade lads for coaching in Italy.

T&T Newsday Reports.
17-May-2004 - The AC Milan Soccer Camp put on by La Foucade Coaching School was by all indications a success. Sponsors, Unit Trust Corporation were pleased to be associated with the camp and parents were full of praise for the instruction of all coaches and the visiting AC Milan coaches were impressed with their charges. At the camp’s official closing ceremony and distribution of prizes, head coach of La Foucade Coaching School, Dion La Foucade thanked the players and AC Milan youth programme coaches Massimo Pavanel and Lodovico Costacurta for the extra effort they put in during its course. La foucade said it was good to see hard work produce superb results.
Pavanel noted with great delight the high levels of respect, religion and education present in the youths he interacted with during the one-week camp which taught the essentials of the game and sought to better the techniques of the players ranging between the ages of six and 17. La Foucade was described as an individual who dedicated his life to affecting children and is succeeding in his quest both on and off the field. A satisfied parent stated that there are not enough members of society like the coach and that all who were privy to his instruction should aspire to such heights. In the end two young players, Kye West of Bishop Anstey Junior and Tarik La Roche of Briggs Private School, were selected by the coaches to travel to Italy, in the summer, to train in the AC Milan Youth Programme.
Both players were ecstatic with their selection and were eager to make the trip. West and La Roche both stated that their techniques had improved as a result of the direction they received in the camp. They felt that the trip will continue in their development as their selection was under the discretion of Pavanel and Costacurta according to their ability to fit into Milan’s programme. AC Milan are the reigning Serie A champions and boast the talents of mercurial Brazilian starlet Kaka, Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, World Cup winning Brazilian captain Marcos Cafu, and a pool of strikers which includes Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Jon Dahl Thomasson.


Birmingham to form youth camp in T&T.

By Nigel Simon.
14-May-2004 - Birmingham City, the English Premiership club will form a link-up with locally-organised Stern John Skills Award Programme (SJSAP) with the aim of recruiting players to England between the ages of 8-11. This was stated by Stewart John Hall, manager of the Birmingham City Football Academy at the Carib Hospitality Suite, Champs Fleurs yesterday. Hall noted that setting up the link did not mean an automatic find of talented players that will suit his club.
“Since my arrival in T&T I have been asked if I have spotted any new Stern Johns, Dwight Yorkes or a Shaka Hislops. “To be honest I must say no, but at the moment it’s not about that, but about forming links for the future, so in the coming years, you will produce more than one John and Yorke.”
Stewart, who is responsible for the development of five of the clubs’ youngsters currently in the Premiership team added, “My real goal is to identify and help develop young players.
“The programme here is an excellent one and on my return to England I will submit a report to the club.”
Richard Brathwaithe, Concacaf director of development; Oliver Camps, president of the local football federation, Anthony Creed of the Ministry of Education and Charles Branche, of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs also praised the programme.
The first year of the programme which concluded recently catered for 700 children from 70 primary schools from the eight educational districts — North East, St George East, Caroni, Victoria, South East, St Patrick, Port-of-Spain and Tobago — was funded to the sum of $140,000 by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Ministry of Education. The four-year programme will also benefit from a contribution of $140,000 annually for the next three years. As part of the nine-month programme, seminars were held for teachers and coaches in the rudiments of coaching children and teaching of specific skills.
Looking ahead to the second year, chairman Mary Siu Butt said the programme will be expanded to include private schools registered with the Ministry of Education. It will be conducted in two parts, the first for new schools who will undergo the elementary Level I practice which was done this year, and secondly schools continuing into the second year will move onto Level II. The zonal and national prizes will be handed out at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge on Thursday from 10 am.

Award Winners:

Most Skillful Boy: Fidel Diaz (Caparo R.C) — Caroni.

Most Skillful Girl: Jo Marie Lewis (St Martin Girls’ RC) — Port-of-Spain & Environs.

Team competition: 1. Holy Trinity Anglican School; 2. Arima Boys’ RC of St George’s East; 3. Carapichaima RC.

Top Teacher/Coach: Raymond Lee (Holy Trinity).

Top Coach: Kendall Crawford, the top coach award.


AC Milan coaches coming to T&T.

T&T Express Reports.
03-Apr-2004 - Two coaches from renowned Italian club AC Milan will be in Trinidad and Tobago for a Easter Football Camp.
Lodovico Costacurta and Massimo Pavanel will be joined by head coach of La Foucade Soccer Clinic, Dion La Foucade, for the six-day camp that will cater for boys and girls between the ages of 6 to 18 years of age from April 13-18 at St Mary's College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair.
The camp which is being sponsored by Lucozade Sport will offer two lucky young footballers the chance to enhance their football skills further at the AC Milan Academy in Italy later this year. Interested persons can register for the camp at Sports and Games outlets nationwide.


$2 million gift to PFL from Government.

By Gregory Trujillo.
02-Apr-2004 - Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League (TTPFL) received a timely gift of $2M yesterday from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
After collecting the cheque from Minister Roger Boynes at a simple ceremony at the ministry’s offices on Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, Larry Romany, the TT-PFL chirman, said: “Rest assured it will be put to good use.”
The money came a day before the TTPFL’s 2003 awards ceremony and it will cover cash prizes for the 10 teams who participated in the season.
Teams in the league competed for no prize money for the past two seasons and the Government grant came in time for the function at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, from 7.45 tonight.
“The Pro League is a league we should support, “said Minister Boynes. “And we want to ensure that your organisation is taken to a higher level. “Your role is a very important one and we are banking on you all the way,” Boynes added. Also collecting a hefty sum was the National Amateur Athletics Association, who received $193,368 to cover the cost of the national track and field team’s participation at the CARIFTA Games in Bermuda over the Easter weekend.
The money received by the TTPFL and the NAAA is part of $7M Government has set aside towards a development plan.
Also sharing in this money will be all the competitors selected to represent the country in the upcoming Athens Olympics.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh will collect $362,000 at tonight’s TT-PFL function as its prize for winning the league championship.
Runner-up Vibe CT 105 W Connection will receive $282,000, third-placed North-East Stars $242,000 and fourth-placed Starworld Strikers $212,000.
Joe Public, who finished fifth, will get $192,000, Defence Force (sixth) $162,000, Caledonia AIA (seventh) $152,000, Arima Fire (eighth) $142,000, South-West Institute of Football (ninth) $132,000 and cellar-placed Tobago United $122,000.
Romany said the new prize structure will be in effect until the 2006 season. Giving the feature address at tonight’s function will be Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, the newly-appointed Technical Director of Football in the country. At the handing over ceremony, Boynes said: “We at the Ministry of Sport are taking a professional approach to the development of sports in this country and hence we are here to work hand in hand with the sporting associations.” Also attending yesterday’s ceremony were Permanent Secretary Earl Nesbitt and Director of Sport Kent Rennie.
Meanwhile, the T&T Pro League Most Valuable Player award will be determined tonight, when the league host their awards ceremony at the Andre Kamperveen Hall, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna. Also to be presented are the MVP award for the under-20s, Coach of the Year, Most Disciplined Team and Fastest Goal.
T&T Pro League chairman Larry Romany said: “We are excited about the awards and look forward to congratulating the many category winners of the 2003 season.” also, the new 2004 season in the por-league will be reduced to eight teams with the withdrawal of Joe Public and the merging of Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA, is sheduled to kick off on April 11.


Dexter Skeene appointed CEO of T&T Pro League.

T&T Guardian Newspapers.
02-Apr-2004 - Former national player Dexter Skeene was yesterday named chief executive officer of the Trinidad & Tobago Professional Football League. Skeene, a former national senior and Under-19 footballer, is a director of The Skeene/Hyacenth Football Institute (SKHY) and was head coach of the national women’s team from 1996 to 1998.
Skeene is a graduate of Columbia University (1982 – 1985).
He played on the university team earning selection to The Senior Bowl, All-American, All Ivy-League Teams.
Before moving to Columbia University, Skeene was a dashing forward for St Mary’s College from 1975 to 1981 at all age levels. The former Maple player has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Columbia University and a certificate in marketing, public relations and advertising from the University of the West Indies (1986-1981).
He was employed as an assistant manager with Workers Bank (1992 – 1997), trade education manager, World Trade Centre, T&T (1997 – 1998) Equity Specialist at The Ministry of Finance.
Skeene will be responsible for the administration and operational management and execution of board established policies, strategic plans and objectives. An immediate priority for Skeene will be the T&T Pro League’s Community Programme. Skeene’s appointment followed an extensive recruitment and interview process.
According to the Pro League Chairman, Larry Romany, the appointment of a CEO is a crucial phase in the league’s efforts to achieve sustainable success. “Mr Skeene has an extensive football background. The Board is looking forward to working with him,” said Romany.


Football coach La Foucade signs with AC Milan.

T&T Guardian Reports.
28-Jan-2004 - Football coach, Dion La Foucade is expected to leave on Friday to sign a contact with top Italian club AC Milan. The contract will give La Foucade the authority to organise AC Milan camps in the Caribbean and be one of the coaches. He is expected to return home on February 9.
The first AC Milan camp will be held in Tr&T over the Easter period and others are planned for Jamaica, Grenada and St Lucia. “AC Milan are hoping to take up two players to be part of their academy and to widen their fans base,” said La Foucade.
“They are looking for another Dwight Yorke or Russell Latapy to come to Italy instead of England,” he added. La Foucade said AC Milan will also be willing to work with all the youth coaches in T&T free of charge. “They will like to share their ideas with the lcoal coaches and share with them some secrets of their academy,” he said.
La Fourcade, aged 34, has been coaching for the past 15 years. He had been the national Under-17 coach at one point. La Foucade has done numerous coaching courses — English FA, Brazailian Football Academy, the United States Soccer Federation, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America — and is also a member of World Class Coaches based in England.


BIG $$ for Pro League football.

By Ian Prescott.
24-Jan-2004 - The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League is being funded for the next four years by the Government, commencing this year with a grant of $2 million.
This was announced yesterday by Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, at the launch of the 2004 Pro League season at the Hilton Trinidad.
Boynes said his Government had opted to help after recognising that professional football was having teething problems.
The Minister said the Pro League will also receive an additional $750,000 to market its programmes. He said as part of its agreement on funding, the Government had insisted that the Pro League come up with a comprehensive marketing plan.
Boynes pointed out that football in general, not just the Pro League, will benefit from Government assistance in 2004.
Chief beneficiary is the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) which will receive $2 million in assistance to fund its development programmes for the next four years, while the semi-professional league will receive $250,000.
In also announcing a 100 per cent waiver on rental fees for the stadiums where football will be played, Boynes said it was his opinion that the T&T Pro League will become viable by 2007 and will no longer need Government assistance.
"It demonstrates our commitment in Trinidad and Tobago," Boynes said of the assistance package.
The Minister also called on corporate T&T, the media and also the general public to make professional football in Trinidad and Tobago a success.
As an incentive, Boynes announced a 150 per cent tax rebate up to $1,000,000 for any business willing to invest in Pro League football.
At yesterday's launch, Pro League chairman Larry Romany also announced there will be changes in the structure of the 2004 T&T Pro League competition, which has been shortened to a two-round competition to be played on Sundays.
The Pro League-which also unveiled a new logo-will also run Cup matches on Fridays. Competition begins on April 4 and ends in December. Apart from the league, there will also be two knockout tournaments.
Romany said the changes are all made to make Pro League football a more compact and entertaining package.
Plans were announced for half-time entertainment; match-day double-headers; and the League has also launched a web site: www.ttproleague.com.
However, the most profound change may be the shortening of the season, said Romany. "People like to come to an event where there is finality to it," Romany said.
During his presentation, he also revealed that Lotto International, an apparel company, had signed a three-year contract with the Pro League. Nine of ten teams currently playing in the Pro League have registered for the 2004 season.
The exception is Joe Public, who indicated they are dropping out, while the South West Institute of Football (SWIF) and Point Fortin Civic Centre have joined forces to form South West Drillers.


Northampton Town target Trinidad link-up.

The Northampton Chronicle.
29-Nov-2003 - Sixfields could become the European training and playing base for the Trinidad & Tobago national side.
Cobblers chairman David Cardoza and chief executive Peter Miller are jetting off to Dubai this weekend for a meeting with Austin Jack Warner, the FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF.
As well as watching Cobblers youngster Chris Carruthers turn out for England under-20s in their opening match of the World Championships against Japan, Cardoza and Peter Miller will be aiming to secure a lucrative tie-up with the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation.
The talks will centre on proposals to establish a UK training base to assist Trinidad & Tobago's preparations as they bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
A large chunk of their squad are European-based, and Miller said: 'If we can agree a partnership this will give Northampton Town and all football supporters in the area access to top quality international matches.'
'Northampton is an ideal UK base for an international side. The motorway links are second to none, we are within an hour of both London and Birmingham and we have a number of major airports within easy travelling distance.
'With this in mind, we are also talking to a number of other national associations about the possibility of a similar venture.
'The benefits of a potential link up are enormous. Of course, any link up would provide the club with a brand new revenue stream, totally independent from the on-pitch activities of the Cobblers. '
The Trinidad & Tobago squad currently includes the likes of Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, Birmingham City's Stern John and former Cobblers midfielder Brent Rahim.
The Cobblers are also hoping to stage more England international matches in the future.
Last season the under-17s international held at the ground was a massive success, and the club is close to agreeing a deal with the English FA to stage matches at Sixfields at a number of different levels in the new year.
The club hope to be in a position to make formal announcements in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Cobblers' reserve team clash with Southend United at Sixfields yesterday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
The match was supposed to be skipper Paul Reid's comeback outing, but that has now been put on hold.
Boss Colin Calderwood had been hoping Reid would come through the reserves clash unscathed so he would be available for Saturday's Nationwide League Division Three clash with Mansfield. But it is unlikely Calderwood will risk the 21-year-old in the first team squad without any sort of playing action behind him.


South wins John Alleyne Classic 9-8 on penalties.

By Gregory Trujillo.
24-Nov-2003 - South registered the first lien on the John Alleyne Memorial Trophy when it defeated North 9-8 on penalties in a tall-scoring duel in the inaugural match yesterday on a heavy Skinner Park ground in San Fernando. Bringing back memories of the epic battles of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, the match was a see-saw affair right down to the finish, after the two sides closed off regulation time 4-4 before a small crowd of about 300 spectators.
South drew first blood in the 21st minute through Jason Marcano, the youthful striker from Vibe CT 105 W Connection. Just before the goal, North lost the services of Glenton Wolfe, the North East Stars midfielder who complained of pains in his chest.
Wolfe was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was diagnosed as having a muscle pull in the centre of his chest. North struck back in the 34th with the in-form Jerron Nixon beating goalkeeper Damian Walker, who had replaced first-call goalkeeper Curtis Granger within the first 10 minutes. Granger had to leave the field when he got a cut under his chin.
South went ahead again through Andre Charles in the 44th and increased the lead seven minutes later with a Dwayne Jack goal. Now trailing by two goals, North did not give up the fight and was rewarded with goals in quick succession by Conrad Smith in the 57th and Anthony Wolfe, the brother of Glenton, in the 59th and 63rd. North was not allowed to dominate any further, as Marcano notched his double by levelling the score in the 67th.
In the resulting penalty kicks, a nervous Lyndon Bartholomew of Harvard missed after all the other kickers were on spot against goalkeepers Walker (South) and Kevin Graham (North).
The nine successful kickers for South were Larry McDonald, skipper Reynold Carrington, Andre Charles, Keron Phillips, Kyle Cupid, Kevon Clement, Kelvin Hernandez, Dexter Franklyn and Anthony Forgenie.
North kickers to hit the mark were Devon Caseman, Kevin Jeffrey, Sterling O’Brien, Anthony Wolfe, Jerron Nixon, Conrad Smith, Derek King and Randy Ramcharan.

TEAMS:

SOUTH:
Jan Michael Williams, Curtis Granger, Atiba Charles, Rawle Fletcher, Kendall Davis, Lyndon Diaz, Silvio Spann, Andre Charles, Errol Charles, Kester Cornwall, Dexter Frankyn, Akil Belfon, Adrian Paul, Hughton Hector, Anthonie Forgenie, Damian Walker, Myron Douglas, Larry McDonald, Kevon Clement, Kelvin Hernandez, Kien Archie, Jason Marcano, Dwayne Jack.

SOUTH STAFF:
Larry Joseph (manager), Muhammed Isa (technical director), Leroy Spann (head coach), Michael Maurice, Terry Williams (asst coaches). 

NORTH:
Kelvin Jack, Kelvin Graham, Nigel Daniel, Ronald Primus, Keyeno Thomas, Julius James, Anton Pierre, Randy Ramcharan, Derek King, Anthony Wolfe, Glenton Wolfe, Devon Caseman, Sterling O'Brien, Conrad Smith, Trent Noel, Josh Johnson, Jerren Nixon, Kevin Jeffrey, Gorian Highley, Warren Butler, Marlon Warner, Cornell Glenn, Kevon Carter.

NORTH STAFF:
Louis Charles (manager), Joseph Romeo (asst manager), Jamal Shabazz (head coach), Anderson Veronique (asst coach).


Makeover for Skinner Park.

By Carolyn Kisson..South Bureau.
9-Nov-2003 - San Fernando’s Skinner Park is to be transformed into a first-class facility which will dazzle sportsmen and patrons, San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherly announced on Friday.
Atherly added that the refurbished sport arena would be able to accommodate up to 1,200 people and would match any international sports field.
Speaking at a news conference at his council chambers, Atherly said he would rather not divulge any more information at this time.
“It is a surprise for the people of San Fernando and I don’t think I want to say any more on it. You would just have to wait and see,” he said.
The news conference was held by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to mark the launch of the reintroduction of football between North and South Trinidad.
President of TTFF Oliver Camps said the north-south football competition has been dormant for far too long. He stressed that the top footballers from north, central and south would take part in the games.
The competition, which kicks off on Sunday, November 23, at Skinner Park, will be in honour of the legendary sportsman and former president of the TTFF, John Alleyne.
The match will form part of the San Fernando City Week celebrations and will be attended by Atherly, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and other Members of Parliament.
Admission to the covered stands is $20, while open areas cost $10.
Businessmen of San Fernando have donated prizes for the event, including a challenge trophy.


T&T coach opens door to Pro-Leaguers.

By Nigel Simon.
19-Jun-2003 - Fresh from a four-game 22-day tour of Africa, newly appointed Senior team coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier says that all the local players in the Pro-League will be looked at with regards to national team selection.
But the St Lucian-born coach noted that for them to gain selection on the national team, the players must show form in the Pro-League as no one can expect to be selected from past performances with various teams.
“You have to prove yourself locally before you can do it at the international level,” said Charles-Fevrier.
He added, “One of the mistakes of past national team selections, is that the same players were in the team over and over, while we continued to fail.”
“Few changes were made as the players in the League were not given much chances, and the coaches turned a blind eye on some players.”
“But I intend to do things differently, and have open the door to the other guys.”
Asked to give a reason why T&T had failed so much in the past, the ex-VIBE CT 105 W Connection coach stated, “there could be a few reasons, fitness, lack of professionalism, or maybe we were just not good enough.
“When you look at the international players, they are strong, not just in physical presence, but in mind, very fit and firm.
“Looking at our present team, a player that quickly comes to mind is Carlos Edwards, he has that kind of physical presence,” ended Charles-Fevrier.
The national coach also stated, that the Olympic team begins training today in readiness for a match against Martinique on Tuesday, while the Senior players will resume training after the game for the match against Venezuela on July 3.
Charles-Fevrier also hinted that some additions will be made to the national team for the Venezuela match with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh striker Cornell Glen expected to be included in the final team.
He said: “Glenn was part of the team for the tour of Africa, but unfortunately he picked up an injury which caused him to miss the trip.”
On its tour of Africa, the T&T led by W Connection midfielder Reynold Carrington defeated Kenya Olympic squad 2-0; played to draws with Kenya (1-1) and Botswana (0-0) while it suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in its final match last Saturday.


Focus on development.

By Gregory Trujillo.
01-May-2003 - The 2003 season of the Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League will focus on development. In his address yesterday when the season was launched at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, newly-appointed CEO, Larry Romany, said:
“The current focus of Pro League Limited is multi-fold. However, if I had to sum it up in one word it would be development.” Romany pointed out the league would develop an administrative team that would ensure the successful running of not only the 2002/2003 season, but also the future seasons of the Pro League in a highly professional manner.
“This will include involving intellect from the fields of marketing, public relations, event promotion and management as well as the legal and financial sector,” Romany said.
“Skill specialty also will be used as necessary in every area that is available, “ he added.
Romany also mentioned that in order for the Pro League to be a success it must develop into a successful business enterprise that was self-sustaining.
“In order for this to happen, the league needs to take on the face of a professionally-run business that takes care of first of all its customers, the public and finally the shareholders, the clubs,” he said.
He added: “This will involve always keeping the entertainment factor at its highest level for the public attending the games and ensuring each team gets a fair return on its investment annually. It is important to note that success at both of these issues would ensure that the value of each player and consequently their contractual remuneration would increase substantially.”
Romany also explained that Under-15 and Under-17 competitions would be introduced in the coming season, covering the length and breadth of the country.
“It will ensure the continuity of players through all levels of the league into the future. By the inclusion of teams in this age group it will give the league the opportunity to access and interact with the various communities in and around their home bases, through the parents, families and schools of the kids,” he noted.
“We expect to use this conduit to build the much-needed community and spectator support and involvement that has been lacking,” he said.
The league, said Romany, also planned to focus on the development of the coach, utilising various aspects of coach education through seminars.
“We expect to expose coaches, not only to football coaching courses, but also to the science of coaching with emphasis on topics like sport psychology, talent identification, care and injury preventation as well as periodisation and planning in developing training programmes.”
Sponsorship opportunities also would be developed, according to Romany.
“We will develop sponsorship opportunities with sponsors that understand the importance of the value they add, not only to the clubs but also to the communities that the clubs call home.
“It also will be equally important that both the teams and communities ensure that the sponsors are supported in every way by exploring the various opportunities that they can to assist the sponsors in building his brand in their community.”
“Sponsorship is not something where you go out and beg for money. Sponsorship has to be a two-way street.” Romany added that professional football in Trinidad and Tobago was becoming a big industry, employing 1,000 players, with 300 of those earning $1,500 to $5,000 a month.
He said the Pro League also indirectly employs 500 people and supports 1,500 people to the tune of almost $20 million annually. Romany added that government assistance was necessary to get their plans off the ground. But once things were up and running, he claimed, “sponsors will avail themselves of the opportunities to get involved”.


AC Milan to open Trinidad winter training camps.

Yahoo! News Story.
12-Mar-2003 - PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan is planning a series of winter camps and coaching assignments in Trinidad later this year, the sports minister said.
The camps, which will be organized together with Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports, aim to improve skills among the Caribbean country's youth players, Minister Roger Boynes said Friday.
"Milan will bring about 20 of their top coaches to conduct clinics and coaching sessions with about 2,000-3,000 local youths," Boynes said.
Five top Trinidad players will also help coach the AC Milan youth team as part of the exchange, he said.
"Milan is one of the richest and most popular clubs around the world, on par with Real Madrid in Spain and Manchester United in England, and we hope to do a very good job here in Trinidad," said William Giorgini, Milan's youth development officer for the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.
“It has the biggest programme for youth and for kids,” said Georgini. He indicated that the President of AC Milan is also the Prime Minister of Italy, highlighting their hopes for new business opportunities between the nations through this initiative.


‘Aston Villa’ gets T&T partners, Man-Utd blanked.

By Kwame Williams.
18-Nov-2002 - Superstar Rangers, FC Santa Rosa, San Juan Jabloteh, The Northern Football Association and the Youth Training Centre will now act as local partners to English Premiership outfit- Aston Villa.
This was announced on Saturday by club chairman, Richard Fakoory, during Rangers’ annual prize-giving ceremony at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s.
The deal, which originally came about under the guidance of Peter Miller (the Chief Executive Officer of the Football Company of Trinidad and Tobago) and Pro Sports Caribbean, who has had a lengthy relationship with Villa, is intended to give local players the opportunity to be seen by foreign clubs.
As a result, Rangers will be going to England in either March or April of next year, where they will play four to five matches, one of which will be against an Aston Villa Community team at the Aston Villa Academy.
The players will also be the guests of honour when Villa entertains Manchester United in the Premier League. There, they will be introduced to the Villa Park crowd on the pitch at half-time.
As of next season, the Rangers’ Under-16 team, which boasts six national players and triumphs in the T&T Cup earlier this year, the North Zone league and the Knock-Out competition, will play in the Aston Villa kit.
Hannibal Najjar, the technical director of T&T football, was also on hand.
Meanwhile, Top English club, Manchester United, has been blanked from coming to Trinidad and Tobago to play next year.
The “Reds” had expressed interest in playing in Trinidad and Tobago, said FIFA vice-president and TTFF Special Advisor Austin Jack Warner during his address at the closing ceremony of the D’Coal Pot/TTFF 2002 Inter-Regional Association competition at the Garden Sanctuary, Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on Sunday morning.
Warner noted that the “Reds” expressed an interest to play here last year, but he turned down the opportunity because of the rebuilding stage which T&T was going through.
Warner also revealed that T&T has lost a golden opportunity to host the 2005 World Youth Championship.
“Had I gotten a letter from the Government to say they would support it, this country would have hosted another World Championship in 2005. Holland’s bid would have come second.”
He noted that the Point Fortin Stadium will be a dream for the time being.
“FIFA approved US $400,000 to build a football training facility here, through the Goal Project. All they have asked for is a letter (from the Government) to say we have a lease for the facility,” added Warner.
“I want you to understand how difficult it is. The road ahead is not an easy one.”
However, Anil Roberts, advisor with the Ministry of Sports, said the Ministry was unable to give support to the staging of the event, because the TTFF did not fulfill the Ministry’s request for a report on the 2001 FIFA World Under-17 Championship.
He said the Ministry wanted an analysis of why the tournament lost $9 million and a budget for the $30 million that it will cost to stage the 2005 tournament.
“We also wanted to know what the tendering process would be and what were the benefits for T&T.”
He said the TTFF did not do what was necessary to get Government’s support, so the Ministry could not give an assurance blindly and without a budget.
Warner, who arrived from Dubai on Friday night, recognised the senior women’s football team for their courageous display at the 2002 Concacaf Gold Cup in Seattle.
He challenged the T&T senior team and others concerned with the development of the local game to “make the sacrifices”.


TTFF endorses visits of top UK clubs next year.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
19-Oct-2002 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation on Friday fully endorsed the visits of several top professional clubs from the United Kingdom to Trinidad and Tobago next year for end of season camps through the efforts of Pro Sports Caribbean.
At the top of the list is English Premiership club Birmingham City, club of T&T's own Stern John.
Pro Sports Caribbean representatives Terry Fenwick and Peter Miller held discussions with TTFF President Oliver Camps who recognized the importance and benefits of such teams coming to these shores and instantly gave his thumbs up to the venture.
Among the other clubs lined up to play here include Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion. English First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers and Scotland's Dundee will also make the trip to these shores.
“They are all quality teams and through our contacts we are now getting a lot of interest from teams looking to coming out here. It’s not just a football opportunity because we are also going to have supporters of these clubs coming out here as well and as such we are looking to get the local tourism board (TIDCO) involved. The good thing about this is that we are getting written confirmation from the clubs at least six months in advance so that we can plan on facilitating them which includes tours around the island when they are here,” Fenwick told TTFF Media.
The Stadiums in Trinidad as well as the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet will be used for these games.
He also spoke of plans of a possible Caribbean Cup involving local and overseas clubs.
“ We know that in countries like Holland, Spain, Italy and the far east, there are tournaments at the end of seasons and in preseason where clubs are desperate to go and play and now we see the opportunity to possibly have a Caribbean Cup here where these teams will be keen on coming to play against our local clubs and the national team. This is an option we are looking at,” said Fenwick.
Dundee will be the first to arrive in January. Birmingham are carded to be here in May and are expected to partake in coaching clinics and other events with the public along with matches. City, Wolves and Dundee are among the clubs already confirmed to make the trips while the others mentioned will be finalized in coming weeks.
Premiership campaigners West Bromwich Albion should be here in June-July.
Fenwick said so far Dundee, West Bromwich Albion, City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed coming and that negotiations are still taking place with Aston Villa, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspurs.
Pro Sports representative Peter Miller was all excited and highly anticipating the arrival of the teams.
"These visits are going to be a huge venture," said Miller. "Several of these top clubs have stated clearly their interest in coming to T&T because they realize that there is a wide range of talented players and top class facilities available.


FIFA US$.4 million TTFF centre.

Newsday Report.
5-Dec-2001 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) will receive a grant of US $400,000 (TT $2.4 million) from the game's governing body FIFA, as part of its Goal Project.
The donation is part of the overall cost of TT $5 million for the construction on the TTFF National Training Centre at the Petrotrin Forest Reserve compound. And, according to FIFA Development Officer and former national youth team coach Keith Look Loy, the remainder of the funding will be provided by TTFF, the owners of the Centre.
The facility will begin construction in late February and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Look Loy said the project, which is the brainchild of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, entails the governing body spending US $75 million worldwide on football development of the game in financially depressed countries.
According to Look Loy, Trinidad and Tobago were included in the list of CONCACAF countries to receive assistance due to the influence of FIFA vice-president Austin Jack Warner and the success of the FIFA Under-17 World Championship.
"I am very happy to see the details of the plan. I want to say that Trinidad and Tobago was not originally in the programme but because of the direct and personal intervention of Mr Warner, as well as the success of the Under 17 Championship, this is no longer the case," said Look Loy.
TTFF Technical Director Rene Simoes was in high spirits about the establishment of the Centre.
"I think the football in TnT will be recognised before and after the National Training Centre and this will be a plus in our project called Germany 2006 and beyond. This project will be based in this construction. It was a dream when I came here and I heard people say it was impossible. Now this dream is going to become a reality. Thank you again for the assistance of Jack Warner and President Camps for their tenacity and for the vision of FIFA. It is very important that we realize when this National Training Centre is opened, football will move to the next level in this country," he said.
"Football will always be there. Nobody can kill football but at what level do we want our football to be?" Simoes asked. "We want football in TnT to be rated around the world. We have to believe and work for the best. Now we have the facilities and the players to achieve better. What we need is a project and we must implement this project the right way and that is what I am here for. You must sometimes create enemies because there will be people who will oppose us. We have to be very strong in the difficult times. We must believe in what we want to achieve," added Simoes.
Stressing that it was his choice to select the venue, Simoes gave some details on the site. There will be three fields situated in a west to east direction (One international size field and two training fields). Changing rooms, Physiotherapy room, Kitchens, Laundry room, a Dormitory for players and staff including 16 Double room suites and Ten single room suites, Audio Visual Library, Television and Dining room, Canteen, Conference Room, Press Room, Staff accommodation, transit room, gymnasium, tennis court and a swimming pool.
This venue will be used for the preparations of all national teams including live-in camps for National U-13 and U-15 teams on weekends and U-20, U-23 and Senior teams throughout the specified periods. Women teams will be accommodated. The site will also be opened for Coaching and Refereeing courses.


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