Caledonia AIA Fire.  
"Stallions"


  Possible Starters: 
Michael Woods - GK Howard Lowe - D S.Emmanuel - D McKenzie Cadette - D
Charles Pollard - D Hayden Tinto - M Stephan David - M Densill Theoblad - M
Kendall Velox - M Conrad Smith - F Nigel Codrington - F

CLUB NEWS: 
25-May-2008 Caledonia beat Army to win Pro Bowl.
17-May-2008 Caledonia boot Petrotrin out Pro Bowl.
05-May-2008 Jabloteh overcome Caledonia hurdle.
01-May-2008 Caledonia fume at Jabloteh 'poachers'.
10-Apr-2008 Ten-man Caledonia edge Connection.
04-Mar-2008 Smith, Tinto look to Earthquakes.
20-Feb-2008 Oliver’s move to Jabloteh finalized.
25-Jan-2008 AIA demand transfer fee for Oliver.
24-Jan-2008 AIA warn Jabloteh over Oliver approach.
23-Jan-2008 Jabloteh sign Marvin Oliver.
13-Dec-2007 Lions slip AIA to capture 2007 FA cup title. 
25-Nov-2007 Army beat Cali in Big-6 opener.
15-Nov-2007 Caledonia defiant.
01-Nov-2007 AIA chairman talks about club's ambitions.
25-Oct-2007 Caledonia hit back W Connection.
06-Oct-2007 Connection beat Cali to claim FCB title.
04-Oct-2007 Cali's dreadlocked genius confuses Wim.
04-Oct-2007 McComie muzzles Caledonia.
30-Sept-2007 Caledonia spank Petrotrin.
22-Sept-2007 Cali booth out Tobago from Citizens Cup.
16-Sept-2007 Stallions gallop past D/Force 2-1.
27-Aug-2007 Caledonia stutter in Sangre Grande.
15-Aug-2007 Sheldon stunner as Caledonia hold Jabloteh.
12-Aug-2007 Caledonia survive Tobago scare.
01-Aug-2007 Caledonia tame Lions.
22-Jul-2007 Caledonia maintain Pro League charge.
08-Jul-2007 Jabloteh sink Caledonia AIA.
22-Jun-2007 AIA introduces Ultimate Football Experience.
05-May-2007 Caledonia overthrow Defence Force.
02-May-2007 Caledonia beat Joe Public.
17-Apr-2007 Jerome salvages point for 'Grande Stars'
15-Apr-2007 Caledonia beat S.Juan Kings in opener.
15-Mar-2007 Nigel Pierre returns to Macoya.
06-Mar-2007 Striker Kerry Noray joins Caledonia.
22-Feb-2007 Marvin Oliver joins Caledonia.
29-Nov-2006 Public close in on title with win over AIA.
26-Nov-2006 Peter Prosper double sinks ‘Cali’
23-Nov-2006 F.A. Cup round-up reports.
19-Nov-2006 Terrific Tinto as Caledonia clips Stars.
12-Nov-2006 Connection survives a Caledonia scare.
28-Oct-2006 Forbes double sends AIA packing.
21-Oct-2006 Under-dogs prevail in Toyota Classic.
20-Sept-2006 Caledonia outlast United for 3-2 win.
13-Sept-2006 Caledonia AIA edge Rangers.
10-Sept-2006 Connection beat AIA to close gap.
02-Sept-2006 Theobald back with Caledonia.
26-Aug-2006 Fire burn Grande Stars.
23-Aug-2006 Joe Public finally gets one pass AIA.
09-Aug-2006 Caledonia burn youthful Jabloteh.
17-Jun-2006 Abu Bakr goal not enough as AIA fall.
12-Jun-2006 Caledonia run past ‘Eastern Lions’.
08-Jun-2006 Caledonia beat Army again.
14-May-2006 Caledonia knock Public out Pro-Bowl.
17-Apr-2006 Caledonia AIA win East derby.
10-Apr-2006 Caledonia close out the Army.
25-Mar-2006 Caledonia AIA in transition mode.


01-Feb-2006 - Professional football league club Caledonia AIA Fire will be known as Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA for the 2006 season. ... More.


14-Jan-2006 - Come next season, Caledonia AIA Fire Coach Jamal Shabbazz will have some big shoes to fill, as he has lost his inspirational midfielder Densill Theobald. ... More.


Caledonia AIA Fire coming to blaze in 2005.

By: Joel Villafana.
19-Mar-2005 - Arima Morvant Fire will be known as Caledonia AIA Fire in 2005—the club has made a name change to assist in rallying the support of the Caledonia community where they once enjoyed vibrant support.
The Caledonia based outfit finished 6th out of an 8 team table last season, and showed glimpses of greatness at times reaching the Pro Bowl Knockout semi-final, but the camp is expecting to improve on that this year—a lack of consistency from game to game was the main problem in 2004, this according to assistant coach Jerry Moe.
Mr. Moe told ‘ttproleague.com’ that this year it’s going to be different—as they have been working hard during the pre-season on maintaining a level of consistency throughout the season.
Mr. Moe described Fire’s preparation ahead of the 2005 season as fairly successful, “I believe we are about 80% ready—but come the 2nd of April when the season starts we will be right where we want to be.”
There are a few new faces in the team this year—W Connection’s Titus Elva has made a switch, Jabloteh’s Stokely Mason and Kerwyn ‘hardest’ Jemmott also joins the fray at Fire. There is also a young national under 20 striker by the name of Kordell Samuel—and a St. Lucian import known as Vernus Abbott who comes into the squad as a defensive midfielder.
Assistant coach Jerry Moe believes that the new players will definitely add something positive to the team, as some of them are coming from championship teams—and they know what it takes to win, and most of them have played at the highest level and have some experience that they will bring to the table.
Moe added that Fire’s strength this season will be their defence—“we have been working hard on that part of our game, to try and ensure we don’t give up easy goals.”
As far as Caledonia AIA Fire’s ambitions this season—Assistant Coach Jerry Moe told us, “while we will like to win the league, we have set ourselves the target to be up there in the top three when the curtains come down on the 2005 season.”

Caledonia AIA Fire Team Profile:

Head Coach—Jamal Shabazz.

Assistant Coach—Jerry Moe.

2004 Achievements—Placed 6th in the league competition,
They reached the semi-finals of the Pro Bowl Knockout Competition.

Last season’s top goal scorer—Ashford ‘leggy’ Leggerton-7 goals.

New Players—Titus Elva, Stokely Mason, Kerwyn Jemmott, Vernus Abbott and Kordell Samuel.

Registered squad of players:

Captain-Anthony Haynes.

Goalkeepers—Michael Woods and Martin Perry.

Defenders—Michael Bubb-Cadore, Nathaniel Charles, Marlon Grant, Anthony Haynes, Daryl James, Shawn Jack, Mark Small.

Midfielders—Kevin Baptiste, Abede Fernandez, Akeil Guevara, Elliot James, Kerwyn Jemmott, Stokely Mason, Randy Ramcharan, Dale Simon, Uz Taylor and Densill Theobald.

Forwards—Abdullah Phillips, Titus Elva, Alvris Dias Fauria, Ashford Leggerton, Handel Manswell, Devon Modeste and Kordell Samuel.

Name change for 'Fire'

T&T Express.
16-Feb-2005 - In an attempt to bring back the vibrant community support enjoyed in the Caledonia, Morvant and Laventille areas, the Arima-Morvant Fire Pro League team have now changed their name to Caledonia AIA Fire.
The professional team was formed by the 2004 merger between Caledonia AIA and Arima Fire and finished sixth in the T&T Pro League last season.
Jamaal Shabazz, head coach of the combined unit, said: "It is important for us to play our part in developing the communities in Morvant and Laventille and produce more Conrad Smiths and Denzil Theobalds, who have both come from Caledonia and gone on to represent Trinidad and Tobago at international level."

Arima Morvant Fire wins ASCFL title in Antigua.

8-Jul-2004 - T&T’s (CMC) Arima Morvant Fire survived the sending off of a player to beat defending champions Bassa of host country Antigua & Barbuda 2-0 in Monday night’s final of the fourth annual All Saints Community Football League (ASCFL) Invitational football tournament.
Second-half goals by Anthony Haynes and Randy Ramcharan inspired the visitors to their victory at the Mack Pond Playing Field in All Saints. Haynes scored from a melee inside the area after the Bassa defence failed to clear a corner.
Then Ramcharan clinched Fire’s second hold on the trophy when he converted from eight yards. The Trinidadians had won the inaugural tournament in 2001.
Antiguan Premier champions Bassa, who played with a man advantage for most the game, also lost the services of their national team player, Ranjae Christian who was red-carded for an off the ball incident. In their other matches, Fire defeated Cologne of Antigua 2-0 with both goals from Alvis Faure.
Ryan Stewart and Brent Antoine netted in their team's 2-0 win over the ASCFL All Stars of Antigua. Stewart netted his second goal of the tournament against Hoppers while Handel Manswell scored twice in a 3-1 victory over the Antiguan side.
Also taking part in this year’s tournament were the Under-20 teams of Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis, who used the tournament as preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. When both sides met in the competition, they drew 0-0 last Sunday.
Fire's coach Jamaal Shabazz is conducting a clinic for boys and girls 15 years and younger from Wednesday at the Mack Pond Playing Field in All Saints. (CMC)

Arima Morvant Fire Results:

Hoppers 1 v Arima Morvant Fire 3 (Ryan Stewart, Handel Manswell 2).

ASCFL All Stars 0 v Arima Morvant Fire 2 (Ryan Stewart, Brent Antoine).

Cologne 0 v Arima Morvant Fire 2 (Alvis Faure 2).

Bassa 0 v Arima Morvant Fire 2 (Anthony Haynes, Randy Ramcharan).

  Partner Clubs.

Atletico Paranaense.
FC Dallas.

Manager:
Ayinde Abu Bakr.

Head Coach:
Floyd Windsor.
Jamaal Shabazz - TD/Coach.
Ricarda Nelson - Administrator.


Assistants:
Jerry Moe.
Ronald Alexis.
Rodney Stokes.


Goalkeepers:
Dwayne Sandy
- St Vincent.
Glenroy Samuel.
Michael Woods.


Defenders:
Charles Pollard - Guyana.
Howard Lowe - Guyana.

Judah Alexander.
Leslie Holligan (RIP) - Guyana.
Marcus Ambrose.
McKenzie Cadette.
Radanfah Abu Bakr.
Sheldon Emmanuel - capt - St Lucia.


Midfielders:
Abdallah Phillips.

Conrad Smith.
Densill Theobald.
Hayden Barithwaite.
Hayden Tinto.
Kareem Joseph.
Kerwin Jemmott.
Konata Mannings
- Guyana.
Kendall Velox - St Vincent.
Stephan David.
Walter Moore - Guyana.


Forwards:
Jameel Perry.
Kordell Samuel.
Nigel Codrington - Guyana.


Based:
East  - Trinidad.


Team Photos:
Arima Fire In Action Photo 1.
Arima Fire In Action Photo 2.
Arima Fire In Action Photo 3.


PFL Teams Standings & Scorers:
Click Here.


Last PFL/Big Six Game Played:
02-Jul- 08 - Caledonia AIA  3  0  Tobago United.


 
Home Field:
Larry Gomes Stadium - 
East Trinidad/ Seating: 10,000.

This is a multi-purpose facility opened in 2001 and named after former top West Indies and Trinidad  cricketer Larry Gomes. Situated on the outskirts of Arima, this stadium lies just 40km east of the capital city of Port of Spain, within easy access of all points of Trinidad. This thriving community is rich in history and boasts its own unique culture and traditions, including the largest population of the country's Amerindian descendants.


Caledonia (black) v W Connection (green).


SOME TOP ARIMA FIRE GAMES:


1.  2001- Sweet Lime NFA:
Arima Fire 2 vs 1 Superstar Rangers.
Arima Fire Scorers:
Junior Spencer, Nathaniel Charles.


2.   2001 - L - Sportos Cup:
Arima Fire 7 vs 0 Biche United.
17th-Oct-2001.


3.   PFL League Game:
18th-Aug, 2002:

Arima Fire 3  vs  1  W Connection.
Arima Fire Goal Scorers:
Romauld Aguillera 35th, 89th, Alvis Diaz 43rd.


4.   Independence Bowl Competition:
Arima Fire 1 v 0 Joe Public.
28th-Aug-2002.
Arima Fire Scorer:
Daryl Toussaint.


5.   PFL League Game:
Arima Fire 2 v 1 W Connection.
13th-Oct-2002.
Larry Gomes Stadium.


6. PFL League Game:
Arima Fire 3 v 0 Defence Force. 
20th-Oct-2002.
Arima Fire Scorers:
Dale Simon 16th, Handel Manswell 63rd, Ronald Clarke 90th.


7. FA Cup Semis - 27-Nov-2002:
Arima Fire 5 v 4 Jabloteh.


8. PFL Game - 25-Aug-2006:
Larry Gomes Stadium.
Caledonia AIA Fire 1 v 0 North East Stars.


9. PFL Game - 14-Apr-2007:
Larry Gomes Stadium.
Caledonia AIA Fire 3 v 0 San Juan Jabloteh.
Caledonia AIA Fire Goal Scorers:
Nigel Codrington 4th, Dwight Peters 16th, Stephen David 36th.


10. PFL Game - 01-May-2007:
Marvin Lee Stadium.
Caledonia AIA Fire 1 v 0 Joe Public FC.
Caledonia AIA Fire Goal Scorer:
Marvin Oliver 90.


11. PFL Game - 31-Jul-2007:
Larry Gomes Stadium
Caledonia AIA Fire 1 v 0 Joe Public FC.
Caledonia AIA Fire Goal Scorer:
Anthony Abrams 51st.


Arima Morvant Fire ban their leading striker.

By Joel Villafana.
2-Jul-2004 - Ashford 'Leggy Leggerton has been handed a one month ban by his club Arima Fire. Leggerton is Fire's most experienced striker and will now miss all matches scheduled for the month of July.
According to head coach at Fire Jamal Shabbazz, Leggerton was extremely disrespectful to members of the team and the technical staff in the dressing room at the half time interval in Fire's round 11 game with San Juan Jabloteh.
Fire was down 2-0 at the half and Shabbazz said "Leggerton crossed the line and went overboard."
"We have set very high standards at the club with regard to discipline and we will be failing in our duty as a professional club to let such an incident pass without any action being taken," said the Fire Coach.
Mr. Shabbazz said he personally recommended the one month ban, which the board at the club upheld. Shabbazz insists that this decision is final and the club will not be influenced to reduce the ban-even with the knockout tournament starting this month-he believes they have suitable replacements and commented on how well there under 20 striker Abiola Sandy fitted in to the line up.
Leggerton was said to have apologized to the team and the technical staff, however, the talented striker was not in total agreement with the length of the ban, as he expressed his desire to get back into the squad as soon as possible.
As regards Fire's fifth place position in the league standings-Coach Shabbazz is not too concerned saying, the way he sees it, is the leaders are just 2 losses away from his squad. He added with each round of football the leaders in the league has changed, and the best of gamblers would not dare predict who will win the league this year. "This has given my players the enthusiasm to go out and challenge for points," says the coach.

Arima Morvant Fire upset champs.

By Ian Prescott.
07-May-2004 - Arima Morvant Fire sprung the first major upset of the 2004 T&T Pro League season when they edged 2002 and 2003 champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday night.
For the early part of this season, Fire have threatened to beat somebody without actually achieving the feat. And once again Arima Morvant Fire-formed via the merger of the Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA teams-set about making the running.
Fire got early reward for their good work when Denzil Theobald swept a rebound into the Jabloteh net from the centre of the penalty area to give his team a morale-boosting win.
Goalkeeper Daurance Williams was taken out of the play when trying to defend the initial Romauld Aguillera shot which skidded low from atop the penalty and past his frantic dive. The ball rebounded off Jabloteh's right upright and fell to Theobald who hit into the unguarded net.
A collision between Jabloteh defender Ancil Elcock and his keeper almost gave Fire a second goal in the 32nd minute as both men went to cut out a crossball. The ball ended up striking Elcock awkwardly and almost got into the net.
Jabloteh never produced the flowing football which won them the title last season and were reduced to counter-attacking the Arima Morvant Fire goal.
But towards the end of the half, Jabloteh had their best moments when striker Otis Seaton hit a powerful shot overbar from the right side of the Fire penalty area. And soon after, Fire keeper Michael Woods was forced out of goal to cut off a through ball from Seaton.
Jabloteh emerged an aggressive bunch at the start of the second session in which they piled on the pressure on the Fire goal.
Angus Eve was the first to threaten in the 48th minute when he met a crossball with a powerful header which was cleared off the goal line. The Fire defence, which had conceded seven goals in three previous matches, refused to break, even when stretched by the Jabloteh pressure.
Goalkeeper Michael Wood and Botswana stopper Mgogi Gabonamong were especially good. Woods had an excellent game in goal for Fire and produced a good, low block to stop a powerful drive from Kerry Baptiste. The introduction of Josh Johnson on the right in the 64th minute gave Jabloteh added potency in attack and he was further able to stretch Fire with some telling crosses. But Woods was at the top of his game and his timely interceptions foiled everything Jabloteh threw at Fire.
At the other end, Randy Ramcharan caused a few flutters with his counter-attack up the Jabloteh left. And when he crossed into the penalty area in the 70th minute, substitute Conrad Smith should have done better than head straight to keeper Williams. It didn't really matter though.
Jabloteh’s coach Anthony Street, who is deputising for Englishman Ricky Hill said that the “Fire” win was due to stout defending and good goalkeeping by Woods. “We threw everything at them and they defended stubbonly,” he noted. Street believed that Jabloteh has to play top class football to retain the league title “as the standard of all the teams has improved.” Jamal Shabaaz, coach of Arima Morvant Fire, praised Theobald for his goal and a solid performance. Shabazz felt that his players worked hard for the win.

'Army' tame Arima Morvant Fire.

By: Ian Prescott.
22-Apr-2004 - Odelle Armstrong made an impressive debut as the Defence Force opened their 2004 T&T Pro League season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Arima-Morvant Fire yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The striker, one of five new recruits in the Defence Force starting line-up, scored a brace (35th and 85th), while national under-23 forward Kevon Carter got the other in the 39th minute.
Running out for the first time in the Defence Force colours were Rawle Fletcher (formerly W Connection), Addison Belfon (formerly W Connection), Anton Joseph (formerly W Connection) and Christon Bapiste.
The Army also acquired Caledonia AIA's Armstrong-a workman-like striker in the mould of Jason Scotland-and he began the destruction of his former team-mates by scoring the Defence Force's opening goal in the 35th minute.
Arima Morvant Fire, formed by the merger of Caledonia AIA and Arima Fire, had slightly the better of the first half hour but Fire found themselves behind when Armstrong headed the Army ahead.
The goal resulted from a powerful run from Carter, who delivered a pin-point cross onto Armstrong's head.
Having struggled to get their attacks going earlier, the Defence Force were soon two goals ahead in the 39th minute when Carter used his blistering pace to outrun the Arima-Morvant Fire defence, before scooping the ball over Botswana keeper Kagiso Tshelametse.
Fire almost replied immediately from the re-start when lazy defending by Belfon allowed Arima Morvant Fire's Nathaniel Charles to find Alvis Favre, whose shot struck a Defence Force upright.
Fire's Romauld Aguillera later headed wide after beating Army custodian Selwyn George to a bouncing ball and later, the striker hit over from inside the penalty area.
Even then, the Defence Force may have been flattered by the scoreline as they struggled to get going in the middle.
The unlucky Arima-Morvant Fire team laid siege to the Defence Force goal in the second half. But despite striking the crossbar from Ryan Stewart's powerful swerving drive, they fell further behind in the 85th when Armstrong collected a floated cross from Anton Pierre and pushed the ball past Tshelametse.

Botswana duo stay with Morvant Arima Fire.

T&T Express Reports.
09-Apr-2004 - Botswana duo Kagiso Tshelameste and Mogogi Gabonamong have remained in Trinidad and Tobago with the new Arima Morvant Fire Pro League team.
The African footballers were discovered last year by national women's team coach Jamaal Shabazz, during Trinidad and Tobago's tour of Africa.
Having taken up the position as technical director of the new aggregation, Shabazz has taken the two Africans to Arima-Morvant Fire, which was formed by the combining of Pro League strugglers Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA.
Tshelameste, the 23 year-old Bowswana national goalkeeper, came to the fore last season with several superb saves for AIA. Both he and stopper Gabonamong will have important roles with the new squad.
The merger of the two Pro League line-ups is expected to create a strong unit and Arima Morvant Fire officials are very confident of being one of the better teams this season. Other AIA memers expected to figure prominently in the new squad are
midfielders Denzil Theobald and Conrad Smith, who were by far Caledonia's best players last season. Both have been called to national duty in recent times by national coach Bertille St Clair.
And Fire provide the Tobagonian trio of free-scoring Ashford Legerton, equally-prolific Hanswell Manswell and defender Uz Taylor, along with Alvis Faure Diaz, keeper Peter Ramon Fortune and Romauld Aguillera.
Despite the loss of striker Ellis Dyette, who has moved to Vibe CT 105 W Connection, Fire assistant coach Ronald Alexis is expecting a good season.
"We have the best of Caledonia and the best of Fire. All that is left now is to get the games now. I think we will have a very good season and give a good account of ourselves." Fire face their first test on Sunday against North East Stars from 4 p.m. at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.

Caledonia AIA join Arima Fire.

By Ian Prescott.
24-Mar-2004 - The 2004 T&T Pro League has been further reduced to eight teams after Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA, the clubs which share the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, joined forces to form Arima-Morvant Fire.
Last year, Fire finished eighth in the Pro League, while AIA were one place ahead of them in seventh out of the ten teams which competed.
The merger comes after cash-strapped Caledonia AIA were in danger of not bringing out a team for the new season and so sought an accommodation where they will play under the Fire banner.
Last year's ten-team competition was first reduced after the pullout of Joe Public Football Club, who will now compete in the rival Super League.
The Express has also learned that Caledonia have been directly affected by Joe Public's absence since they at times received assistance from the Eastern Lions, who are owned by FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) adviser Jack Warner.
And recently, struggling newcomers SouthWest Institute of Football (SWIF) joined with non-league Point Fortin Civic Centre to form the South West Drillers.
The 2004 T&T Pro League will now consist of champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, Vibe CT 105 W. Connection, North East Stars, Arima-Morvant Fire, South West Drillers, Tobago United, Starworld Strikers and Defence Force.
The new entity, Arima-Morvant Fire, will see AIA coach Jamaal Shabazz installed as technical director.
However, day-to-day coaching of the team will be done by Fire coaches Ronald Alexis and Gary Kerr. Caledonia assistant Jerry Moe will also have a role with the club.
Arima-Morvant Fire are expected to field a formidable squad with the likes of Denzil Theobald (AIA), Conrad Smith (AIA), Ashford Legerton (Fire), Hanswell Manswell (Fire) and Uz Taylor (Fire). The team will have two overseas players as well.
To promote the new line-up, members of both AIA and Fire have been marketing their team through coaching programmes in both Morvant and Arima, respectively.
Clyde Ramsaroop, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, told the Express yesterday that he expected Arima-Morvant Fire to be a formidable opponent.
"I think we will have a much better team this year," said Ramsaroop. "We will be more knowledgeable in the coaching department. I think we lost a lot of games last year because of tactics.
"While the method of coaching was good, I think that tactically we were weak and with Shabazz with us, I think we will improve in that area."
The Pro League also expect to have a better showing when the 2004 season kicks off on April 4.
This comes after the Trinidad and Tobago Government earlier this year announced a $2 million grant to fund the local professional league for the next four years.
At a news conference to launch the new season at the Hilton Trinidad in January, Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, announced that the Pro League will also receive an additional $750,000 to market its programmes. Competition begins on April 4 and ends in December.

Caledonia AIA advance in FCB cup.

By Ian Prescott.
12-Jun-2003 - An improved second-half performance led Caledonia AIA to their first victory of the season yesterday and a place in the First Citizens Bank Cup competition, scheduled to begin next Wednesday.
The Caledonia team beat Arima Fire 3-1 in a preliminary playoff at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya to book eighth position in the Cup competition.
Goals by Nigel Hart (49th), Abdullah Phillip (63rd) and Ronald St Louis (74th) cancelled out Uz Taylor’s 57th minute strike for Arima Fire.
After being held 0-0 after 45 minutes, Caledonia AIA improved on an unimpressive first half performance to dominate the rest of their game with Fire.
Few would have expected the final outcome, as the Firemen kept the Morvant-based team pinned in their half for much of the first session.
But from the kick-off of the second half, AIA were a different bunch. Launching into attack, they were rewarded just four minutes into the half.
Nigel Hart would have been disappointed with an earlier effort when he headed poorly to goal and allowed Dane Charles to clear the danger for Fire. But a minute later, Hart atoned for his mistake in emphatic fashion by drilling a powerful shot across Fire goalie Perry Martin and into the far corner of the Arima Fire goal.
After Ellis Dyette failed twice to push AIA further ahead, Fire were able to find an equaliser through Uz Taylor, who latched onto a floated cross, before scooping the ball over goalkeeper Anthony Marshall.
Caledonia continued to attack and were back in front in the 63rd minute through a flicked header from Abdullah Phillips from a corner-kick.
Eventually, Caledonia put the game out of reach in the 74th minute when substitute Ronald St Louis converted from the penalty spot. Referee Ramesh Ramdhan had pointed to the spot after Fire’s Darryl James had handled the ball when AIA midfielder Ryan Stewart attempted to flick it past him.
For the victory, Caledonia have been rewarded with a quarter-final meeting with T&T Pro League leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh next Wednesday, while Defence Force have drawn Vibe CT 105 W. Connection, who they beat in the 2002 final.

Arima Fire wants $15,000 for midfielder Legerton.

By Nigel Simon.
10-May-2003 - Chances of national midfielder, and Arima Fire’s Ashford Legerton joining the Peter Granville-coached Tobago United for the 2003/2004 T&T Pro-League season have hit a snag becuase of the price tag.
Contacted yesterday, ex-national Under-20 football coach, Granville said he would like very much to have the Tobago-born Legerton lineup for his Tobago club, but Fire’s asking price of $15,000 was way out of his team’s reach.
Mervyn Layne, assistant manager, while not giving the actual figure asked for by Fire management’s team confirmed that Tobago United had made inquiries about Legerton, but they have not recieved any replies, so at the moment he is still an Arima Fire player.
While Legerton’s future is not certain with the Firemen, the Fire have snapped up Tobagonians Sean Christmas and Kayode Legall, in addition to discarded national winger Adrian Narine.
Another player expected to join the Tobagonians is former VIBE CT 105 W Connection goalkeeper Brian James.
However, his move to the sister-isle is also not a guarantee, as his agent and officials of the Tobago United are yet to finalise a transfer deal.
The 27-year-old James said his manager Emree Henry had already held talks with Tobago United, and everything was in place for him to make an easy switch within the next week.
Tobago United are also awaiting international clearance for its three players from St Kitts/Nevis Ian Lake, Floyd Hodge and Allister Warner, all whom are between the ages of 18 and 21.

Arima Fire humbled.

By Lasana Liburd.
2-Dec-2002 - It was the easiest $50,000 that David J Williams ever made and the Vibe CT 105 W Connection club president allowed himself a jig on to the Centre of Excellence field at the final whistle.
For the majority of the Connection faithful, the celebrations began much earlier as the “Savonetta Boys” ran out comfortable 5-1 winners over Arima Fire in yesterday’s Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) FA Trophy competition.
It was an unkind end for Fire who had progressed to the final, motored along by a potent mixture of hard running and tactical discipline.
Team manager Clyde Ramsaroop was also encouraged by a decent record against Connection so far this season as the teams had split their meetings two wins apiece.
But the Firemen froze on the big occasion and Connection did not need to be asked twice.
For extended periods, Fire captain and custodian Peter Fortune looked like a ripe mango during the school vacation, besieged by eager school boys.
Three minutes from time, Fortune was beaten by the goal of the match as Silvio Spann caught him off his goalline and responded with a superb lob from just inside the centre circle.
It is a wonder that Fortune did not vacate his area earlier in marked protest at the sheer volume of his workload.
The view was not much better ahead of the goalie with five Firemen—him included—collecting cautions while substitute Darryl Toussaint was ejected for violent conduct.
It was poor fare really for their supporters who stood out for size and sound in a crowd of near 2,000 spectators.
Their rhythm section in full flow, Fire started well but were soon on the backfoot as the Connection three pronged attack pushed forward ably supported by intelligent flank midfielders.
Arnold Dwarika, who was an FA winner last season with Joe Public, was the first to benefit, executing a neat sidefooted volley from a deep right side Ronaldo Viana cross in the 20th minute.
Jose Maria Manoel bundled home the second nine minutes later, after a similarly deep diagonal cross—this time from left flanker Jose Seabra—found him criminally unmarked at the far post.
The scent of blood was in the air and the dejected looks on the red shirted Firemen left no doubt about the identity of the prey.
Fire needed an immediate response after the break and lively midfielder Dillon Walker was sent on in the 46th minute.
He was barely on for a full minute before the situation became more desperate.
Again, Fire’s inability to hold on to the ball cost them dearly and Ralston James got on the scorecard following good approach work from Brazilian playmaker Gefferson Goulart and his compatriot, Seabra.
Even the Fire supporters, by then, had been mesmerised.
“Geezan, yuh ent see that ball,” said one fan respectfully at Goulart’s outside of foot pass.
Still, Fire managed a response in the 60th minute when Anthony Haynes sidefooted past opposing goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from a Handell Manswell corner.
But Fire’s sole accomplishment on the day was quickly sullied by the lack of composure that blotted by their first Pro League final appearance.
Figueroa blocked an opposing player from gathering the ball straight away from the back of his net—not an unheard of practice—and the Firemen went beserk.
At the end of a melee that featured all 22 players, three officials and several swung fists, a disgraced Toussaint was on his way back to the tunnel after just 11 minutes on the field.
Neither team was quite the same thereafter and Connection coach Stuart Charles wisely took the precaution of substituting Dwarika who will play a key role in their CONCACAF Champions Cup next week.
There was still time for two late classy goals though with “super sub” Titus Elva rounding off the scoring in stoppage time by gracefully rounding Haynes then Fortune before tapping home.
But Spann enjoyed the most memorable moment with his delightful long range effort that caught out Fortune and showed up the lack of goalkeeping ability by defender Dave Charles who went after the ball with both hands.
It was Connection who had seized the opportunity though, and Spann celebrated with an impromptu dance.
Williams followed suit as Connection waltzed away with the last major title of the 2002 football season.

W Connection:
Alejandro Figueora, Charles Polard (Francis Lastic 52nd), Jose Luiz Seabra, Ronald Viana, Reynold Carrington (capt), Silvio Spann, Gefferson Goulart, Jose Maria Manoel (Titus Elva 49th), Arnold Dwarika (Jonathan McVane 70th), David Atiba Charles, Rolston James.

Arima Fire:
Peter Fortune (capt), Dave Charles, Romauld Aguillera (Dillon Walker 46th), Handel Manswell, Uz Taylor, Ashford Legerton, Dale Simon, Elliot James, Daryll James (Ronald Clarke 58th), Anthony Harris, Dwayne Ellis (Darryl Toussaint 50th).

REFEREE: Noel Bynoe.

Arima Fire burn Defence Force 3-0.

By George Baptiste.
22-Oct-2002 - Arima Fire recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over Defence Force in their Round 26 match in the 2002 TT Pro League football season.
Played in front of a sparse crowd at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima on Sunday night, Dale Simon sent the firemen into the lead in the 16th minute, while Handel Manswell put the game out of the reach of Defence Force with a 63rd minute goal.
And the misery of the Army-Coast Guard combination was complete when Ronald Clarke netted the third item in second-half stoppage time.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh are atop the eight-team standings with 62 points, four ahead of W Connection with two more rounds of matches remaining.

Angus Eve snuffs out fire.

By Kwame Laurence.
30-Sept-2002 - CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh substitute Angus Eve banged home in the 85th minute to ensure full points for his team, snuffing out Arima Fire’s challenge for a share of the points in yesterday’s Pro League Round 23 showdown at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Jabloteh triumphed 2-0 to maintain their four-point cushion at the top of the standings.
The first 45 minutes of football at the Hasely Crawford Stadium failed to produce a goal. But 11 minutes into the second half, the Kerrys—Baptiste and Noray—combined to give Jabloteh the lead. Noray found his teammate with a low left-side cross. Baptiste obliged, settling himself before calmly slotting the ball past Fire goalkeeper Peter Fortune.
Within three minutes of the Baptiste strike, Fire’s Handel Manswell rifled a shot from 20 metes out. The powerful effort brought the best out of Kelvin Jack, forcing a fine save—low to his left—from the Jabloteh custodian.
After 60 minutes, Wesley Webb replaced Gary Glasgow in the Jabloteh line-up. Glasgow had created problems for the Fire defence, his deft touches often creating openings. However, his absence in the final 30 minutes of the game did not interrupt Jabloteh’s momentum.
In the 71st minute, Fire’s Daryll James shouldered Cornell Glenn to the ground, conceding a penalty. However, Fortune kept out Travis Mulraine’s weak spot-kick.
A couple minutes later, Alvris Faure Diaz muffed a golden opportunity to make Mulraine pay for his feeble effort. The Fire player just managed to stay on-side, but instead of blasting the ball goalwards, he made a square pass ... a pass that failed to find a red shirt. The sprinkling of Jabloteh supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief.
And then, five minutes from the end of regulation time, Mulraine made amends. The Jabloteh midfielder slipped a pass through to Eve, who crashed the ball past Fortune, from the right side of Fire’s 18-metre box, giving the keeper absolutely no chance of repeating his heroics.

Defence Force slip pass Arima Fire.

By Ian Prescott.
26-Aug-2002 - Defence Force continued their late season improvement by edging in-form Arima Fire 2-1. Former Portugal-based striker Akudo Goodridge gave the Army/Coast Guard team a 1-0 half-time lead before the Sherman “Ants” Phillip continued his hot streak by scoring a second for the Teteron boys.
At Malabar, the Army-Coast Guard combination took a long while to settle down against a frenetic Fire squad. But when they did, they made the firemen pay for their inconsistent play in the 31st minute. Jason Scotland dispossed Fire midfielder Dale Simon and passed to Curte Fermin who fed Kwesi Smith on the left flank. Smith's centre found an unmarked Sherman "Ants" Phillip who buried home from five metres out.
Fire had a chance to equalise seconds before the halftime interval when Alvris Faure Diaz was left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area but his right-footed blast smashed the uprights with Defence Force goalkeeper Marlon Sylvester unmoved. But Diaz made amends in the 63rd, meeting an Elliot James' centre and heading past Sylvester.
Diaz and fellow striker Ashford Legerton missed golden opportunities to net the winner against their weary opponents and were left to rue those misses in second half stoppage time when Claude Adams found Scotland whose centre was neatly tapped home by substitute Akudu Goodridge.
Midfielder Jose Luis Seabra and ex-Jabloteh forward Rolston James were the goalscorers for Connection against a determined AIA outfit, competition in the League is expected to take a short break for the President’s Cup, which is expected to begin on Wednesday.

Darril Toussaint scores hattrick.

T&T Guardian Reporting.
3-June-2002 - Darril Toussaint of Arima Fire scored the second hattrick in the T&T Pro Football League on Friday, banging in three first-half goals past goalkeeper Trevor Nottingham. He set up a 4-1 win for Arima Fire against newcomers North-East Stars at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
In the opening match of the double-header, Caledonia AIA and South Starworld Strikers battled to a 0-0 draw. And yesterday's match between Defence Force and Joe Public at Hasely Crawford Stadium had to be postponed because the ground was unmarked.
Arima Fire set up its victory with all four goals coming in the first session. Toussaint opened the scoring in the 11th minute. He added a second five minutes later. He scored again in the 42nd minute, after Handel Manswell had made it 3-0.
In yesterday's lone Under-19 Division match, Vibe CT 105 W Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh played to a 1-1 draw at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.


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