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Debutants Club Sando are one of ten clubs that will take to the field on Sunday 15 March in the divisions of Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 when the 2015 Youth Pro League kicks off.



Despite some setbacks at the Under-13 level, Club Sando youth teams’ coordinator and head coach of the Under-17 team, Gerald Elliot, says the ambition is to compete at all levels and not just make up numbers.

“We were able to compete at the Super League level and now we are ready just as our senior counterparts to take the next step [to compete in the Pro League],” said the 50-year-old Elliot.

“Our Under-13s are lacking in numbers and preparation due to the fact that kids in that age category are preparing for SEA (Secondary Entrance Assessment) exam,” continued Elliot, a former coach at his alma mater St. Benedicts College.

“But we are still confident of being competitive at all divisions. We started preparations at the start of the year and so far we are doing pretty ok. The players are pretty much excited and we are ready to compete as much as possible.”

Club Sando will have their first test against former champions at all levels W Connection in the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 divisions in Round One Match Day One on Sunday at Gilbert Park in Couva.

Coaches Wayne Ceasar and Kevon Drayton are in charge of the Club Sando Under-13s while coaches Kyle Small and Corey Browne are with the Under-15 division, and like Elliot, are up against highly rated W Connection youth coaches such as former Trinidad and Tobago internationals Leonson Lewis and Brian Williams.

Last season Connection won the Under-16 division and finished third in the Under-14 and Under-18/Reserve divisions. San Juan Jabloteh won the Under-18/Reserve division while Point Fortin Civic finished second. At the Under-14 division North East Stars edged Jabloteh for the title by one goal after both teams finished with 40 points, six points ahead of Connection.

“Winning is not that important at this level; for me it’s all about making sure the kids understand football basics and the DNA of how DIRECTV W Connection plays,” said W Connection Under-13 coach Lewis, who played 36 times for the Trinidad and Tobago and scored 22 goals between 1988-1996.

The former Portugal based forward added: “When people or our club President (David John-Williams) observes the Under-13's play it should remind them of the senior team and at the end of the season my ultimate goal is to see how much players we can get on the national team, because every season we normally have about three or four players who make the step up.”

Under-17 head coach Brian Williams, who led the Under-16 league winning team on a historic tour to Italy, where they faced the youth teams of AC Milan, Inter Milan, Udinese and Hellas Verona, stated that alongside teaching his charges the Connection way, he is confident of another title.

“We are confident of winning the title again this year,” said the former “Strike Squad” defender. “This season there will be much more consultation with senior team coach Stuart Charles Fever because soon [our Under-17 players] could be ready move on to that stage.”



Also on Sunday in the 2015 Youth Pro League, which runs from March 15 - July 17, Defence Force will host North East Stars at Trinity College East; Caledonia AIA will host Point Fortin Civic at the Maracas Recreation Ground; Jabloteh will hosts Police FC at San Juan North Secondary School; and Central FC are hosts against St. Ann’s Rangers at the New Settlement Ground in Chaguanas.



Youth Pro League 2015 - Round One Match Day One

Sunday 15 March 2015

UNDER-13 DIVISION

Trinity College East, Trincity

Defence Force vs North East Stars—10 am


Maracas Recreation Ground, St. Joseph
Caledonia AIA vs Point Fortin Civic—10 am

Gilbert Park, Couva
W Connection vs Club Sando—10 am

San Juan North Secondary School Ground, San Juan
San Juan Jabloteh vs Police FC—10 am

New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas
Central FC vs St. Ann’s Rangers—10 am

UNDER-15 DIVISION

Trinity College East, Trincity

Defence Force vs North East Stars—2 pm

Maracas Recreation Ground, St. Joseph
Caledonia AIA vs Point Fortin Civic—2 pm

Gilbert Park, Couva
W Connection vs Club Sando—2 pm

San Juan North Secondary School Ground, San Juan

San Juan Jabloteh vs Police FC—2 pm

New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas
Central FC vs St. Ann’s Rangers—2 pm

UNDER-17 DIVISION

Trinity College East, Trincity
Defence Force vs North East Stars—4 pm

Maracas Recreation Ground, St. Joseph
Caledonia AIA vs Point Fortin Civic—4 pm

Gilbert Park, Couva
W Connection vs Club Sando—4 pm

San Juan North Secondary School Ground, San Juan
San Juan Jabloteh vs Police FC—4 pm

New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas
Central FC vs St. Ann’s Rangers—4 pm