In a rare turn of events, three teams were crowned double champions of the 2013 bpTT Mayaro Football League, capturing league and knock-out titles at the prize distribution function held at the Mayaro Indoor Sport Facility on December 7.
Limers Young Lions, Biche United and Maguaya United captured both league and knock-out titles in the Senior, Under-17 and Under-15 divisions, respectively. The most dominant were Maguaya who made a clean sweep of team and individual awards in the Under-15 division.
Grand Lagoon-based Limers received the Razack Jan Memorial Trophy and $5,000 for winning the senior league championship. For good measure, Limers also walked away with the senior MVP award through top striker Kendis Garcia.
Now in its 14th year, the Mayaro Football League is sponsored by energy company BP Trinidad and Tobago. It has been organised for the past three years by Illusions International Sports Club.
Matthew Pierre, community liaison officer, bpTT, told the prize distribution function that the company was proud to sponsor the Mayaro football league for the past 14 years and was committed to the development of football and other sports in the community.
Acknowledging that “amateur sport” was very difficult to organise, Pierre appealed to officials, the clubs and the various communities to support the league as a means of building community spirit and stopping crime, delinquency and deviant behaviour. “When you contribute to amateur sport, you must look at the benefits to the community and the young people and not just the money,” he said.
Kyron James, councillor for Mayaro/Guayaguayare, said although the Mayaro community suffered from lack of proper facilities, its football players still shone. He thanked bpTT for “staying the course” and spearheading the development of football in the south-east region and commended Illusions International for taking up the mantle to organise and manage the league.
Andy Thomas, president of Illusions International, said the 2013 season posed several challenges but the club was able to overcome them and attract teams from a diverse range of communities. He said the club would hold a post-mortem with the sponsor, club representatives and officials to plan for an improved season in 2014. He also thanked bpTT for placing confidence in Illusions for the organisation of the league.
Results of the major competitions of the 2013 bpTT Mayaro Football League:
Senior Division
League: Champions – Limers Young Lions; 2nd – Maguaya United; 3rd – Terminal All Stars
Knock-Out: Champions – Limers Young Lions; 2nd – Terminal All Stars
Most Valuable Player: Kendis Garcia (Limers)
Most Disciplined Team: Comfort Zone.
Most Promising Team: Caution United.
Most Goals: Limers Young Lions (team); Jody Allsop, Terminal Strikers (individual).
Most Outstanding Players: Goalkeeper – Daniel Hagley (Maguaya United). Defender – Marcus Sylvan (Caution). Midfielder: - Ryan Stewart (Terminal Strikers). Striker – Kendis Garcia. Youth player scoring most goals – Randy Hughes.
Under-17
League: Champions – Biche United; 2nd – Maguaya United; 3rd – Manzanilla United
Knock-Out: Champions – Biche United; 2nd – Maguaya United
Most Valuable Player: Shawn Nancoo (Biche United)
Most Disciplined Team: Maguaya.
Most Promising Team – Biche.
Most Goals – Biche (team); Andre Delpino, Biche (individual)
Most Outstanding Players: Goalkeeper – Ronaldo Guerra (Mayaro Spurs). Defender – Chad Danglad (Mayaro Spurs). Midfielder – Kendall Rivers (Manzanilla). Striker – Andre Delpino (Biche).
Under-15
League: Champions – Maguaya United; 2nd – St. Ann’s United; 3rd – Manzanilla United
Knock-Out: Champions – Maguaya United; 2nd – St. Ann’s United
Most Valuable Player: Brandon Roberts (Maguaya)
Most Disciplined Team: St. Ann’s.
Most Promising Team – Manzanilla.
Most Goals – Maguaya (team); Brandon Roberts, Maguaya (individual)
Most Outstanding Players: Goalkeeper – Leanard Robertson (Maguaya). Defender -Decklan Marcelle (Maguaya). Midfielder – Kodel Frontin (Maguaya). Striker – Brandon Roberts (Maguaya).