Houses for World Cup heroes.

By: Jovan Ravello (Guardian).
23-Feb-2006 - Yesterday CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh celebrated the members of its Professional Football League outfit who were part of the Soca Warriors historic journey to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany at a function hosted at the Lawrence Duprey Stand, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.
Senior national midfielder Aurits Whitley and right back Cyd Gray were presented with the keys to their two bedroom townhouses. Both houses have a combined market value of $1,300,000.
Their national team mates Kelvin Jack (nine matches) and Cornell Glen (five matches), former Jabloteh players, and Jabloteh’s Kerry Baptiste (three matches), Angus Eve (11 matches), Keyeno Thomas (two matches) and Daurance Williams (five matches) received Executive Insurace Policies from Clico.
Clico’s executive chairman Lawrence Duprey maintained that his company’s financial contribution to the club over the last decade was not solely a corporate decision “but about a sponsors unshakable faith in human potential.
“It was not just about donating funds,” Duprey continued “but about supporting young, hopeful minds from underprivileged areas who otherwise may never have had a chance in life, much less to make to make it to the Fifa World Cup carrying the hopes of a nation and a region with them.
The houses are located within Home Construction Limited’s Crossings Development, Santa Rosa, Arima on approximately 1,200 square feet.
Duprey also revealed that CL Financial will introduce a National Mentoring Programme themed “Nation Builders” which will focus on the development of the individual both on and off the field.
The company has also taken on the sponsorship of the “Total Football” television programme aired on CNC 3.
Jabloteh director Jerry Hospedales charted T&T’s 18 match, 17 month campaign from June 13, 2004 in the Dominican Republic to November 16, 2005 in Bahrain and noted that the team’s journey was aided by quite a few locally based professionals eight of which came out of Jabloteh’s system.
Of these eight Baptiste, Eve, a former national captain, Thomas and Williams were presented with $50,000 Executive Insurance Policy while Jack, who plies his trade with Scotland’s Dundee, and Glen of the MLS’ Colorado Rapids received $25,000 policies.
The ceremony was permeated by performances by Chris Garcia who sang his “Deutschland”, a tribute to the Soca Warriors and Neil Baptiste whose extempore was well received by the audience which included players, Clico executives and T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) Special Advisor Austin Jack Warner.

Aurtis Whitley gets New Year trial in England.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
21-Dec-2005 - National midfield wizard Aurtis Whitley will be heading off to England at the end of this month to partake in a trial with English Premiership club Portsmouth FC.
The 28-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh star, coming off a series of hit performances for the “Soca Warriors” in its successful 2006 World Cup qualifying quest, could end up spending up to two weeks at the club of which goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is a former member. And it’s being arranged by former Jabloteh coach Ricky Hill who is also arranging for defender Cyd Gray to head off to the UK for trials later this month.
Whitley was originally carded to go on trial with Southampton FC but after manager Harry Redknapp made the switch to Portsmouth, Whitley was informed that he will also have to make the change over to Redknapp’s current location.
Redknapp is reportedly keen on seeing what the explosive midfielder has to offer in the English conditions which the player himself is looking forward to with great interest.
“My intentions are to give it my best shot because these opportunities don’t come by on any normal day,” Whitley told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
“Throughout the recent months playing for the national team, this kind of opportunity is also something I have been aiming for and now it is here for me to take advantage of. I think once I can maintain my focus and stay fit then definitely I will be able to give a good account this time. If not, I’m pretty sure something else could come my way.”
He added that English Championship club Luton Town remains interested in him but the first stop will be at  Fratton Park. Also going on trial Panathinaikos Polish striker Emmanuel Olisadebe.
Whitley also spoke of his desire to line up against T&T’s Group B opponents England, Sweden and Paraguay.
“I particularly can’t wait to play England. The draw for us players is a dream come true because it gives us a chance to play against some great players and teams that we grew up following. I know we have a lot of players who have adapted well in England and have also changed their style of play. But I want to show them how I play and to give them a taste of our style. It’s going to be a hard task but we won’t back down. To tell you the truth, I love it and I can’t wait to be in Germany,” Whitley added.

Aurtis Whitley linked to Luton.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
23-Nov-2005 - Explosive midfielder Aurtis Whitley has attracted the interest of English Championship Division club Luton Town. The man who turned on the heat in the last quarter of the T&T’s “Journey to Germany” drive is likely to head out to the club for trial, prior to the January transfer window and could form a new partnership with fellow countryman Carlos Edwards.
Whitley was also named on the FOX Friday “Team of the Week” along with heroic goalscorer Dennis Lawrence. On that team was Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme and Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, while Chris Birchall also got mentioned on a viewer’s All Star team.
Whitley, attached to CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh club, was in a buoyant mood like the rest of his team-mates after the win over Bahrain.
“I think this is the surely the best time of my life,” Whitley said. “There’s nothing that can come close to how we feel as players now, to see the joy on so many people and things can only get better for all of us from here.” There is also word that Jabloteh and former Joe Public defender Cyd Gray is being linked with a move at an overseas club.
In related news, Luton management has expressed dissatisfaction with Edwards’ late return to the club following T&T’s success last week.
“It’s not Carlos’ fault. He was told to go back to Trinidad and meet the President,” Luton manager Paul Newell said. “We will complain to the TTFF, the English FA and anyone else we can think of complaining to. I was not happy that Carlos was taken away for a game and then for a party. He should have flown straight back here from Bahrain.”

Ghetto Fabulous.

By: Lasana Liburd.
26-Oct-2005 - Otis Seaton was hired by Don Leo Beenhakker as the muscle. The Trinidad and Tobago national football team coach needed a player with the energy and courage to protect his back four and the street smarts to link up with his more valued front-runners like Stern John, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and Carlos Edwards.
Seaton took the assignment. But he always felt he could bring more to the red, white and black family.
He knew that if he proved himself trustworthy and if he combined dedication and patience to his own offensive talent; then his chance would come.
Anyone fortunate enough to have been at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, on October 12, 2005 or who witnessed it on live television will remember when Seaton became a "made man".
Mexico were leading 1-0 when Signor Latapy drifted inside from the left flank. Seaton was not slow to spot an opportunity and sprinted in the vacant area to receive the ball.
"I took a chance and made a run," Seaton told Express Sport. "And I told myself: 'you see me I going and do my thing'. Then I saw the opening and I just hit."
"Say hello to my lit-tle friend!"
Ever saw "Scarface"? It is Al Pacino's signature movie and depicts a penniless but ruthless Cuban refugee who rises from obscurity in the Miami slums to become a gangster kingpin. Seaton has his own copy of the flick.
It is not the drugs and violence that appeal to Seaton, although he saw enough of both evils while growing up in Malick. Rather, it is the tale of the underdog who beats an unsympathetic and uncaring establishment.
Mexico, ranked fifth in the world, do not expect to lose matches to Trinidad and Tobago. But they did not cater for Seaton's stinging 25-yard shot that ricocheted off the upright and dropped obligingly for John to complete the kill in the 43rd minute.
Eighteen minutes later, T&T completed the reversal against their clearly rattled guests with another John strike, again instigated by Seaton. Those two goals ensured that the tiny twin island republic remain in the hunt for a place in the 2006 World Cup tournament in Germany.
On November 12 and 16, Trinidad and Tobago must repeat the trick in a two-legged Play-Off against Asian outfit, Bahrain.
But first, let us make peace with the gangster flick aficionado who helped take us there.
Express Sport cornered Otis Seaton last Saturday. Or was it Aurtis Whitley?
Fittingly, our man of mystery has two names and even more stories about his rise from the streets of Malick to the sinking of Mexico.
Seaton joined his CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh teammates for Saturday's "Death March" through Port of Spain in protest of the growing crime and murder rate and was unwinding at Tony Roma's Restaurant in Newtown when I spoke to him.
His cap was pulled tightly over his short dreadlocks while he sported a gold chain and ID band. He wore short pants and button-up tee shirt.
Aesthetically, Seaton fits the stereotype of the streets that gave birth to him. His taste in music-he loves 50 Cent-and movies are the trimmings.
Only Seaton is not and never has been a thug. There is not so much as a traffic violation on his record and the only gang colour he wears is the national red, black and white strip.
Confused? Well, maybe your understanding of "ghetto culture" is not as sharp as you think.
But do not expect Seaton to change for your benefit. The 28-year-old is doing things his own way and the country may be better off if more youths followed his example. The key, according to Seaton, is dedication to craft, the capacity for hard work, respect for your counterparts and an eye for opportunity.
And, of course, finding the right trade.
Seaton can quote Pacino's Tony Montana character, but he prefers to meditate on the calm authority of French midfield star Zinedine Zidane. Zidane will retire a legend. Montana suffered a brutal death while still a young man.
The national star advised youngsters to choose life over death.
"It have certain bad boys who will encourage the boys (to do the wrong thing)," said Seaton, "and what the young boys fail to realise is you have a gun on you now but you won't have a gun on you all the time. So what happen when you meet someone you did something and you don't have it on you? And, even if you do, it is no life to live to be looking behind your back all the time.
"You don't have to join a gang or do the wrong thing to eat. You can be positive and eat too."
Seaton chose wisely.
Twenty years ago, his father, Clyde Seaton, migrated to the United States where he found work as a tiler.
The eight-year-old Aurtis Otis Whitley was the first of three children by Seaton and his common-law wife Cheryl Ann Whitley, while Aurtis also a younger sister from a different union.
The elder Seaton remains close with his family who often travel to visit him in New York while he telephoned daily and provided regular assistance. Years later, he offered to help his firstborn get US citizenship and they reasoned that it might be easier if they shared the same surname.
That was when Aurtis Whitley chose to become Otis Seaton. One snag though. The "footballer otherwise known as Aurtis Whitley" has to wait for his passport to expire before he can make the transformation complete.
"When that happens," he explains, "I can change my name to Aurtis Otis Seaton-Whitley if I still want to."
As a young boy in Malick, though, he was a "nobody" in a tough neighbourhood. His first lesson was to conquer fear.
"My father brought me up (teaching me) not to fear anybody," said Seaton. "I am not a rebel but I am not a stupidee either... In Malick, fellas would advantage and disrespect you if they can get away with it.
"The only way to get your respect is to stamp on that one time because if they disrespect you now and you allow it they will want to disrespect you all the time."
Seaton wore his fearlessness like a badge of honour. Apart from his fists, he discovered that he was handy with a football too.
He learned the rudiments of the game in his backyard from uncle, Russell Seaton, and always dreamed of playing for his country. But it was Malick Senior Comprehensive who gave him the chance to showcase his talent.
At 17, he lined up in a dominant Malick squad that included Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow and Stokely Mason who were already national youth stars. If they felt Seaton would be happy to merely play alongside them, they were mistaken.
"I felt that I could do those same things (they were doing) and that I could match up to them," said Seaton. "So I wanted to reach to their level or further because I like to set myself goals."
It started a theme throughout Seaton's career. The higher the bar, the more determined he was to succeed. But he never compromised his principles.
There were two major disappointments.
In 1997, he signed for Portugal Division One club, Vitoria Setubal, after his first and only overseas trials. He stayed for six months but it was a bittersweet experience, which ended in his departure that winter.
"It was really tough because my agent (Toze Francisco) just dropped me at an apartment and disappeared," he said. "And there was no one around who spoke English. So I would just go to training and then head home. I never went out at all.
"At the end of it, there was a disagreement with the management... Each player had an apartment and my heat broke down but I couldn't speak the language so I told the club (through a translator) and asked them to send someone to fix it.
"Out there was very cold and two weeks passed and nobody still came to fix it. I said 'if is all this have to go on is better you all let me go back to where I come from'.
"I not leaving my homeland to go in a next country and be treated like that."
He was hurt too when ex-national coach Bertille St Clair dropped him during his first stint at the helm. St Clair recalled Seaton on several occasions, but the player refused the invitation.
"(St Clair) is only the coach who never gave me the inspiration to play football," said Seaton. "He never told me anything, he just didn't pick me. I got called many times after when he was the coach, but I never went."
Seaton's career flourished regardless from Malick to Nestle's, Superstar Rangers, Young Hearts and Jabloteh. He still hopes to play abroad, but he won't let his current status stop his growth.
As with Malick, Seaton does not bat an eyelid when he turns out for national training and finds himself competing with players like Yorke and Latapy.
It is friendly battle, of course. Seaton insisted he has never before felt the camaraderie that exists within the present squad.
But he will not sell himself short.
"I had to earn my respect on this team," he said. "These fellas are good players and the majority of them are overseas players and I am a local player. Even now, I think there will be even more pressure because they will be expecting me to have an even better game.
"They will be watching now and saying 'alright, they know I can do that and that' and they will expect to see it."
Seaton savours the challenge.
"I know what I am capable of doing and I work real hard in training," he said. "So I am not going to just lie down. I am ready for it." Beenhakker may have found a new hitman.

Aurtis Whitley: It’s always special.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
12-Oct-2005 - Despite being left out of the starting team in Saturday’s win over Panama, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Aurtis Whitley says he’s not dropping his shoulders once he’s wearing the red, white and black.
The former Malick SC player has been starting since the introduction of Leo Beenhakker as head coach, but was asked to sit on the bench, with Densill Theobald taking his place in the starting team.
“It’s not something that got me disappointed because I know the coach is making the call for the good of the team. I was grateful for getting a chance to play in the second half and the most important thing is we got the result.
“ I believe we can do it again on Wednesday against Mexico and whether I’m on the pitch or on the bench it will still be the same special feeling,” Whitley said.

Whitley's change of heart.

By Ian Prescott (Express).
14-Aug-2005 - A prominent national team manager once gave a strong testimony to the level of talent he thinks Aurtis Whitley has as a footballer.
"That guy can walk into the national team whenever he wants. He just has to want too." Back then, it was perceived that Whitley was uninterested in playing football for Trinidad and Tobago, and there were reports that he had rejected every invitation offered for him to join the Warriors. Few have heard what Whitley has to say on the matter. Until now.
Whitley confesses that he is guilty of not heeding the call to national duty. Whether, true or not, he perceives that he would have had a problem with former national coach Bertille St Clair had he joined the national team before the coming of Dutchman Leo Beenhakker.
"They call me a few times," he confesses. "But back then there was a problem with the coach and a couple of some players concerning hair. Them fellas had the same cane-row style of hairstyle as me. I can't see what hairstyle have to do with football. So, I decide that I not going to national team training if the coach more interested in my hair style than how I play."
Whitley further explains that he does not believe that he would have been given fair consideration and so abandoned any attempt to join the national team altogether.
"Some of them fellas (names called) cut their hair and look, they still get drop." Now, Whitley believes that he has another chance under Beenhakker and is giving his all for T&T and the new national coach. "I am focused. I want to play my best and give a hundred per cent every time I play for my country."
At age 28, the Malick resident thinks he still hasn't reached his peak and would relish a chance to match his skill against the best players in the world at the 2006 World Cup. He says it doesn't matter where he plays on the team.
"Everyone in the country know me as an attacking player. But, whether I am comfortable or not, I am willing to play anywhere the coach thinks I can best make a contribution to the team. As a good footballer, one has to adapt to whatever situation one is in. I am willing to do that."
Whitley also spoke of a name change that sometimes puzzles fans and football folk alike. Originally Otis Seaton before joining the national team, Whitley declares: "That Otis Seaton thing over, I am Aurtis Whitley now."
He has fully adopted the name on his passport when playing for his country and for his club CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, where after eight years, he is their longest-serving player. Whitley explains that because his family planned to migrate when he was younger, he had changed his surname to that of his father, Price Seaton, who is an American citizen. He has now simply adopted his original name.
By whatever named he is called, many know Whitley as one of the most talented players still based in Trinidad and Tobago. However, some may not have known that in the early 1990's when Malick Senior Comprehensive dominated the Secondary Schools Football League, Whitley was part of the team. He joined Malick in 1991, playing his first season in 1992 on the left-wing, and has played with such players as Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow, Irasto Knights, Chesley Walters and Justin Latapy.
After his school days, Whitley joined East Zone clubs Young Hearts and Nestles, before moving to Superstar Rangers and finally Jabloteh. However, after eight years with Jabloteh, he wouldn't mind the challenge of playing overseas. But if he never gets a contract, Whitley is satisfied to play out his career as a local pro.
"The level of football in the pro league is one level, " Whitley says. "To see if my skills match up, I will have to go outside. If I can reach out there, that will be fine. But if not, I'll just play out the rest of my career at home."
Whitley thinks that qualification for the World Cup is an excellent way to ensure he gets an overseas contact. He thinks he still has a lot of football in him, and once fit, estimates that he should be able to play well into his thirties. "My long term goal in the sport is to reach as far as I could, for as long as I can."

Whitley happy to be part of the Warriors once more.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
16-May-2005 - Among the players working under Beenhakker is CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Aurtis Whitley who last played for the “Warriors” in a friendly against Bermuda last February. He previously made his senior debut in a 1-0 win over Panama in a 2002 World Cup qualifier. Whitley explained that he is up for the current challenge and is going all out to earn a final team pick.
“I know a lot of people were raising questions as to why I stayed away from the National Team over the past few months even though my name was appearing on the list  but there were a few reasons and a lot of it had to do with me not feeling too comfortable with the last set up and maybe there were some problems with myself and the past coach but I have put that behind me now. The chance is here for me again to make a big impression and I think I am up for it. I’m injury free and I’m ready to give it my all under the new coach and I am hoping that I can do something good for the team,” Whitley said. I’m also hoping to do well with my club this season and I think once I stick to my game, then you can expect to see good things on the field,” the 28-year-old Whitley said

Otis Seaton is Jabloteh MVP.

15-Dec-2001 - National midfielder Otis Seaton was named "Most Valuable Player" of CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at a function on Thursday night at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann's.
Seaton, one of the most senior players in the club, played a leading role in Jabloteh's performance during the 2001 season of the Professional Football League in which the team finished fifth.
Josh Johnson, a member of the National Under-20 squad, was chosen young "Professional of the Year".
Johnson's Under-20 national colleague Nigel Daniel, who was recently called to the national senior team, was voted the "Most Improved Player".
Goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, the skipper, was named most disciplined player, while Rolston James won the prize for scoring the most goals.
"Otis is probably the most talented footballer in Trinidad and Tobago at the moment," said coach Terry Fenwick, a former English international who was brought in to replace Ron la Forest to put in place a structure of professionalism which was lacking at the club.
Fenwick said that Seaton has wonderful skills but "he hasn't been treating the game professionally."
Johnson, he said, is going to be a big star for T&T.
"His blistering speed is a great asset and this is what is needed in the game at international level," he noted.
Jabloteh is the oldest club in the Eastern Football Association having been formed in 1974.
In the early years, the club concentrated its efforts on creating an enviroment in which the young people of the San Juan area and its environs could benefit from a disciplined and structured framework for football organisation.
After 16 years, the club established a netball arm and today it has six football teams playing in several competitions and three netball teams playing in the Port-of-Spain Netball League (POSNL).
Jabloteh's senior netball team will be participating in the Pearl Francis Premier Division of the POSNL next season, after wining the "AI" Division.
At present Jabloteh has eight players who played for the national Under-20 team earlier this year and four of its experienced players on the senior side.

 

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