They came into the Pro League last season as a fairly new entity, and after taking a while to settle down, finished the season impressively winning the ‘Lucozade Big Six’ tournament.
This year United Petrotrin are aiming high—Voted ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2005, Brian Williams feels this year the sky is the limit.
“After having to rush in order to get ready for the season last year, this year as a technical staff we are very satisfied with our pre-season work—we started on the February 4th and the boys have worked hard and are fit and ready, all the players we have on board were eager to be part of the programme from very early,” said Williams.
Petrotrin had a string of practice matches against local opposition and also had a training camp in Tobago, where they finalized their plans for the new season.
Coach Brian Williams, a former National defender is no stranger to dealing with pressure and there will be a certain degree of pressure on his shoulders, when he guides the ‘Oilmen’ into the new season, having surprisingly achieved silverware in the their first season at the top level.
Williams has made it clear however, his main objective this year is to see the team improve—“I am fully aware that we are not one of the big names, so we will be setting some realistic goals. Last year despite winning the ‘Big Six’ title, we finished 6th out of 7 teams in the League, so we want to improve our standing, this year we are aiming for a top five(5) finish, of course, while everyone wants to win the League—but we have to be realistic, as we are just a year old. The good thing is our players are all young professionals and they have been improving by leaps and bounds in all aspects of the game.”
While the bulk of the team is young and inexperienced—Brian Williams is looking forward to the likes of Anthony Rougier and Felix Seales to lead by example.
Rougier finished the 2005 season with Petrotrin and has committed to the club in 2006—Williams says, “Rougier still has a lot to offer on the field of play and he is a fine exemplar to all our young players and we are really privileged to have him on board.”
However, coach Williams is also very excited about some of the young players he has in his ranks—young striker Sylvester Tesedale, who is the nephew of former National striker Philbert Jones, has come into the team from North East Stars as well as midfielder Simeon Augustus.
There is also the likes of last season’s top goal scorer at the club Jerol Forbes, Tobago United striker Ijana Mark comes into the fray, W Connection’s Romauld Aguillera and Caledonia’s Anthony Haynes have all joined Petrotrin.
According to Williams, the bunch of young players all have a hunger for the game and they have shown good discipline and he is looking forward to them making a statement in 2006.