MAYARO footballers have been given the firm assurance that energy company bpTT will support their initiatives to reach the highest level in the sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Busloads from the Mayaro community followed that team around the country in the 1980s, as it produced the likes of nippy player Cleveland Mendez and the goal-hungry Peter Alfred.
Alfred went on to add new dimensions to the Strike Squad, not only in the area of the strike position but also in terms of a team truly representative of all corners of the nation.
With World Cup qualification secured at last and national team officials apparently opening up the door to all, bpTT's On-Shore Asset Manager, Andre Celestine must have reflected on Mayaro's exciting past when he announced the company's commitment to helping Mayaro develop.
Celestine, a former QRC Intercol star, was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the bpTT Mayaro Football League's 2005 tournament at the Mayaro Resource Centre last Friday.
"I was pleasantly surprised at the high quality of football I saw during some of the matches. Mayaro football is on the right path to reclaiming its past status in the country," he said.
"I want to give you the assurance that bpTT will continue to support the league as the company strives for the proper balance in developing sports, culture and academics in the community," Celestine told officials, players and supporters.
Trophies and cash prizes amounting to $48,000 were awarded for Under-15, Under-17 and Senior League competitions.
Cosmos walked away with the Seniors League trophy and $5,000.
The team's striker, Neil Simpson emerged as the league's top scorer with 13 goals.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the seniors was Andy Hagley, striker for runners-up Mayaro Spurs.
Manzanilla United won the Knockout trophy.
Cosmos captain Ian Jones hailed his team's performance, adding that it was due to a good coaching and managerial staff, discipline and hard work throughout the tournament.
He said the team would go all out to repeat the victory in 2006.
League organiser Razack Jan praised bpTT for its continuing partnership with the Mayaro community in the field of sports, adding that inauguration of the junior leagues would encourage more youths to take an active part in the game with the incentive of reaching the highest levels of achievement.
In the Under-17 competitions, Mayaro Boys were crowned double champions, taking both the league and knockout trophies.
Mayaro Boys also took the title in the Under-15 League, with Mayaro Spurs crowned knockout champions.