Former TT Pro League/Toyota Player of the Year Trent Noel has been retained by Police FC for the 2012-2013 season.
The 36 year old former Trinidad and Tobago international and five-time Pro League winner is one of fifteen remaining senior players of last season.
Goalkeepers Adisa Alleyne and Jamaal Francois, Kareem Young, Emmanuel Nurse, Todd Ryan, Brendon Christopher, Ricardo Peltier, Errol Charles, Kyle Andrews, Weslie John, Anton Hutchinson, Akiba Peters, Dexter Alleyne and Jevon Morris have also been resigned after the 2011-2012 season.
Under 21 midfielder Vernell Ramirez who featured for the ‘blues’ last season is again named in the roster along with U21 players Rodney Young and returning Reshad Wint.
New Head Coach Richard Hood also revealed that now former San Juan Jabloteh two-time League winging defender Karlon Murray, a former teammate of Noel, has been added to the squad along with midfielders Kareem Perry, Joshua Bachan, Ashim Pierre, Keith Weekes, former Caledonia and North East Stars player Jameel Perry, Kwasi Tommy and Dillon Lewis.
“We have a number of young exciting players coming in. They aren’t names that are very familiar, but there is some talent,” Hood told ttproleague.com.
The 47 year old former T&T Women’s U-17 and U-23 coach has taken over from head coach Kelvin Jones and is excited rather than nervous.
“I felt that after I’ve been working in the women’s football for the past few years, I was actually looking for a different challenge and this came my way and I snapped at it,” he explained.
“I don’t think I have any reason to be nervous. I’m accustomed to being a head coach. I’ve been a head coach at international level so no nervousness at all. I am very confident in what I do and my abilities. As to the players we are working with at the moment, we have a nice bunch that could produce some entertaining football.”
Last season Police FC finished sixth on the Digicel Pro League standings, the best ever finish in the four seasons (2007, 2009, 2010-2011, 2011-2012) played at the TT Pro League.
Hood believes that the previous teams lacked discipline and proper organization. Now the former Police FC player expects change under his charge.
“I think we lacked [a certain level of discipline and organization] in the last few years. Police always had talent but there were always problems within the team. But within the new approach I expect to see some difference in that regard.”
Police FC kicks off their campaign on Saturday 14 September, however the ‘blues’ are behind on preparations.
“We are a bit behind in our preparation,” admitted Hood. “I’ve only done three or four sessions with the players so far. It’s a new approach to try and get over things to them, so it’s a retraining process.
We’ve played two practice games and although the results may not be great, I saw some attempt to implement some of the things we have been doing and I was pleased with that.
I told the guys following a practice game this week that I am fairly pleased given the work that we have done so far,” concluded the Police Head Coach.