Arima Morvant Fire ban their leading striker.
By Joel Villafana.
2-Jul-2004 - Ashford 'Leggy Leggerton has been handed a one month ban by his club Arima Fire. Leggerton is Fire's most experienced striker and will now miss all matches scheduled for the month of July.
According to head coach at Fire Jamal Shabbazz, Leggerton was extremely disrespectful to members of the team and the technical staff in the dressing room at the half time interval in Fire's round 11 game with San Juan Jabloteh.
Fire was down 2-0 at the half and Shabbazz said "Leggerton crossed the line and went overboard."
"We have set very high standards at the club with regard to discipline and we will be failing in our duty as a professional club to let such an incident pass without any action being taken," said the Fire Coach.
Mr. Shabbazz said he personally recommended the one month ban, which the board at the club upheld. Shabbazz insists that this decision is final and the club will not be influenced to reduce the ban-even with the knockout tournament starting this month-he believes they have suitable replacements and commented on how well there under 20 striker Abiola Sandy fitted in to the line up.
Leggerton was said to have apologized to the team and the technical staff, however, the talented striker was not in total agreement with the length of the ban, as he expressed his desire to get back into the squad as soon as possible.
As regards Fire's fifth place position in the league standings-Coach Shabbazz is not too concerned saying, the way he sees it, is the leaders are just 2 losses away from his squad. He added with each round of football the leaders in the league has changed, and the best of gamblers would not dare predict who will win the league this year. "This has given my players the enthusiasm to go out and challenge for points," says the coach.
Arima Morvant Fire upset
champs.
By Ian Prescott.
07-May-2004 - Arima Morvant Fire sprung the first major upset of the
2004 T&T Pro League season when they edged 2002 and 2003 champions
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on
Wednesday night.
For the early part of this season, Fire have threatened to beat
somebody without actually achieving the feat. And once again Arima
Morvant Fire-formed via the merger of the Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA
teams-set about making the running.
Fire got early reward for their good work when Denzil Theobald swept a
rebound into the Jabloteh net from the centre of the penalty area to
give his team a morale-boosting win.
Goalkeeper Daurance Williams was taken out of the play when trying to
defend the initial Romauld Aguillera shot which skidded low from atop
the penalty and past his frantic dive. The ball rebounded off
Jabloteh's right upright and fell to Theobald who hit into the
unguarded net.
A collision between Jabloteh defender Ancil Elcock and his keeper
almost gave Fire a second goal in the 32nd minute as both men went to
cut out a crossball. The ball ended up striking Elcock awkwardly and
almost got into the net.
Jabloteh never produced the flowing football which won them the title
last season and were reduced to counter-attacking the Arima Morvant
Fire goal.
But towards the end of the half, Jabloteh had their best moments when
striker Otis Seaton hit a powerful shot overbar from the right side of
the Fire penalty area. And soon after, Fire keeper Michael Woods was
forced out of goal to cut off a through ball from Seaton.
Jabloteh emerged an aggressive bunch at the start of the second
session in which they piled on the pressure on the Fire goal.
Angus Eve was the first to threaten in the 48th minute when he met a
crossball with a powerful header which was cleared off the goal line.
The Fire defence, which had conceded seven goals in three previous
matches, refused to break, even when stretched by the Jabloteh
pressure.
Goalkeeper Michael Wood and Botswana stopper Mgogi Gabonamong were
especially good. Woods had an excellent game in goal for Fire and
produced a good, low block to stop a powerful drive from Kerry
Baptiste. The introduction of Josh Johnson on the right in the 64th
minute gave Jabloteh added potency in attack and he was further able
to stretch Fire with some telling crosses. But Woods was at the top of
his game and his timely interceptions foiled everything Jabloteh threw
at Fire.
At the other end, Randy Ramcharan caused a few flutters with his
counter-attack up the Jabloteh left. And when he crossed into the
penalty area in the 70th minute, substitute Conrad Smith should have
done better than head straight to keeper Williams. It didn't really
matter though.
Jabloteh’s coach Anthony Street, who is deputising for Englishman
Ricky Hill said that the “Fire” win was due to stout defending and
good goalkeeping by Woods. “We threw everything at them and they
defended stubbonly,” he noted. Street believed that Jabloteh has to
play top class football to retain the league title “as the standard
of all the teams has improved.” Jamal Shabaaz, coach of Arima
Morvant Fire, praised Theobald for his goal and a solid performance.
Shabazz felt that his players worked hard for the win.
'Army' tame Arima Morvant Fire.
By: Ian Prescott.
22-Apr-2004 - Odelle Armstrong made an impressive debut as the Defence
Force opened their 2004 T&T Pro League season with a comfortable
3-0 victory over Arima-Morvant Fire yesterday at the Hasely Crawford
Stadium.
The striker, one of five new recruits in the Defence Force starting
line-up, scored a brace (35th and 85th), while national under-23
forward Kevon Carter got the other in the 39th minute.
Running out for the first time in the Defence Force colours were Rawle
Fletcher (formerly W Connection), Addison Belfon (formerly W
Connection), Anton Joseph (formerly W Connection) and Christon
Bapiste.
The Army also acquired Caledonia AIA's Armstrong-a workman-like
striker in the mould of Jason Scotland-and he began the destruction of
his former team-mates by scoring the Defence Force's opening goal in
the 35th minute.
Arima Morvant Fire, formed by the merger of Caledonia AIA and Arima
Fire, had slightly the better of the first half hour but Fire found
themselves behind when Armstrong headed the Army ahead.
The goal resulted from a powerful run from Carter, who delivered a
pin-point cross onto Armstrong's head.
Having struggled to get their attacks going earlier, the Defence Force
were soon two goals ahead in the 39th minute when Carter used his
blistering pace to outrun the Arima-Morvant Fire defence, before
scooping the ball over Botswana keeper Kagiso Tshelametse.
Fire almost replied immediately from the re-start when lazy defending
by Belfon allowed Arima Morvant Fire's Nathaniel Charles to find Alvis
Favre, whose shot struck a Defence Force upright.
Fire's Romauld Aguillera later headed wide after beating Army
custodian Selwyn George to a bouncing ball and later, the striker hit
over from inside the penalty area.
Even then, the Defence Force may have been flattered by the scoreline
as they struggled to get going in the middle.
The unlucky Arima-Morvant Fire team laid siege to the Defence Force
goal in the second half. But despite striking the crossbar from Ryan
Stewart's powerful swerving drive, they fell further behind in the
85th when Armstrong collected a floated cross from Anton Pierre and
pushed the ball past Tshelametse.
Botswana duo stay with Morvant
Arima Fire.
T&T Express Reports.
09-Apr-2004 - Botswana duo Kagiso Tshelameste and Mogogi Gabonamong
have remained in Trinidad and Tobago with the new Arima Morvant Fire
Pro League team.
The African footballers were discovered last year by national women's
team coach Jamaal Shabazz, during Trinidad and Tobago's tour of
Africa.
Having taken up the position as technical director of the new
aggregation, Shabazz has taken the two Africans to Arima-Morvant Fire,
which was formed by the combining of Pro League strugglers Arima Fire
and Caledonia AIA.
Tshelameste, the 23 year-old Bowswana national goalkeeper, came to the
fore last season with several superb saves for AIA. Both he and
stopper Gabonamong will have important roles with the new squad.
The merger of the two Pro League line-ups is expected to create a
strong unit and Arima Morvant Fire officials are very confident of
being one of the better teams this season. Other AIA memers expected
to figure prominently in the new squad are
midfielders Denzil Theobald and Conrad Smith, who were by far
Caledonia's best players last season. Both have been called to
national duty in recent times by national coach Bertille St Clair.
And Fire provide the Tobagonian trio of free-scoring Ashford Legerton,
equally-prolific Hanswell Manswell and defender Uz Taylor, along with
Alvis Faure Diaz, keeper Peter Ramon Fortune and Romauld Aguillera.
Despite the loss of striker Ellis Dyette, who has moved to Vibe CT 105
W Connection, Fire assistant coach Ronald Alexis is expecting a good
season.
"We have the best of Caledonia and the best of Fire. All that is
left now is to get the games now. I think we will have a very good
season and give a good account of ourselves." Fire face their
first test on Sunday against North East Stars from 4 p.m. at the Larry
Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.
Caledonia AIA join Arima Fire.
By Ian Prescott.
24-Mar-2004 - The 2004 T&T Pro League has been further reduced to
eight teams after Arima Fire and Caledonia AIA, the clubs which share
the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, joined forces to form Arima-Morvant
Fire.
Last year, Fire finished eighth in the Pro League, while AIA were one
place ahead of them in seventh out of the ten teams which competed.
The merger comes after cash-strapped Caledonia AIA were in danger of
not bringing out a team for the new season and so sought an
accommodation where they will play under the Fire banner.
Last year's ten-team competition was first reduced after the pullout
of Joe Public Football Club, who will now compete in the rival Super
League.
The Express has also learned that Caledonia have been directly
affected by Joe Public's absence since they at times received
assistance from the Eastern Lions, who are owned by FIFA
vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF)
adviser Jack Warner.
And recently, struggling newcomers SouthWest Institute of Football
(SWIF) joined with non-league Point Fortin Civic Centre to form the
South West Drillers.
The 2004 T&T Pro League will now consist of champions CL Financial
San Juan Jabloteh, Vibe CT 105 W. Connection, North East Stars,
Arima-Morvant Fire, South West Drillers, Tobago United, Starworld
Strikers and Defence Force.
The new entity, Arima-Morvant Fire, will see AIA coach Jamaal Shabazz
installed as technical director.
However, day-to-day coaching of the team will be done by Fire coaches
Ronald Alexis and Gary Kerr. Caledonia assistant Jerry Moe will also
have a role with the club.
Arima-Morvant Fire are expected to field a formidable squad with the
likes of Denzil Theobald (AIA), Conrad Smith (AIA), Ashford Legerton
(Fire), Hanswell Manswell (Fire) and Uz Taylor (Fire). The team will
have two overseas players as well.
To promote the new line-up, members of both AIA and Fire have been
marketing their team through coaching programmes in both Morvant and
Arima, respectively.
Clyde Ramsaroop, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, told the Express
yesterday that he expected Arima-Morvant Fire to be a formidable
opponent.
"I think we will have a much better team this year," said
Ramsaroop. "We will be more knowledgeable in the coaching
department. I think we lost a lot of games last year because of
tactics.
"While the method of coaching was good, I think that tactically
we were weak and with Shabazz with us, I think we will improve in that
area."
The Pro League also expect to have a better showing when the 2004
season kicks off on April 4.
This comes after the Trinidad and Tobago Government earlier this year
announced a $2 million grant to fund the local professional league for
the next four years.
At a news conference to launch the new season at the Hilton Trinidad
in January, Roger Boynes, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs,
announced that the Pro League will also receive an additional $750,000
to market its programmes. Competition begins on April 4 and ends in
December.
Caledonia AIA advance in FCB
cup.
By Ian Prescott.
12-Jun-2003 - An improved second-half performance led Caledonia AIA to
their first victory of the season yesterday and a place in the First
Citizens Bank Cup competition, scheduled to begin next Wednesday.
The Caledonia team beat Arima Fire 3-1 in a preliminary playoff at the
Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya to book eighth position in the Cup
competition.
Goals by Nigel Hart (49th), Abdullah Phillip (63rd) and Ronald St Louis
(74th) cancelled out Uz Taylor’s 57th minute strike for Arima Fire.
After being held 0-0 after 45 minutes, Caledonia AIA improved on an
unimpressive first half performance to dominate the rest of their game
with Fire.
Few would have expected the final outcome, as the Firemen kept the
Morvant-based team pinned in their half for much of the first session.
But from the kick-off of the second half, AIA were a different bunch.
Launching into attack, they were rewarded just four minutes into the
half.
Nigel Hart would have been disappointed with an earlier effort when he
headed poorly to goal and allowed Dane Charles to clear the danger for
Fire. But a minute later, Hart atoned for his mistake in emphatic
fashion by drilling a powerful shot across Fire goalie
Perry Martin and into the far corner of the
Arima Fire goal.
After Ellis Dyette failed twice to push AIA further ahead, Fire were
able to find an equaliser through Uz Taylor, who latched onto a floated
cross, before scooping the ball over goalkeeper Anthony Marshall.
Caledonia continued to attack and were back in front in the 63rd minute
through a flicked header from Abdullah Phillips from a corner-kick.
Eventually, Caledonia put the game out of reach in the 74th minute when
substitute Ronald St Louis converted from the penalty spot. Referee
Ramesh Ramdhan had pointed to the spot after Fire’s Darryl James had
handled the ball when AIA midfielder Ryan Stewart attempted to flick it
past him.
For the victory, Caledonia have been rewarded with a quarter-final
meeting with T&T Pro League leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh
next Wednesday, while Defence Force have drawn Vibe CT 105 W.
Connection, who they beat in the 2002 final.
Arima Fire wants $15,000 for
midfielder Legerton.
By Nigel Simon.
10-May-2003 - Chances of national midfielder, and Arima Fire’s
Ashford Legerton joining the Peter Granville-coached Tobago United for
the 2003/2004 T&T Pro-League season have hit a snag becuase of the
price tag.
Contacted yesterday, ex-national Under-20 football coach, Granville
said he would like very much to have the Tobago-born Legerton lineup
for his Tobago club, but Fire’s asking price of $15,000 was way out
of his team’s reach.
Mervyn Layne, assistant manager, while not giving the actual figure
asked for by Fire management’s team confirmed that Tobago United had
made inquiries about Legerton, but they have not recieved any replies,
so at the moment he is still an Arima Fire player.
While Legerton’s future is not certain with the Firemen, the Fire
have snapped up Tobagonians Sean Christmas and Kayode Legall, in
addition to discarded national winger Adrian Narine.
Another player expected to join the Tobagonians is former VIBE CT 105
W Connection goalkeeper Brian James.
However, his move to the sister-isle is also not a guarantee, as his
agent and officials of the Tobago United are yet to finalise a
transfer deal.
The 27-year-old James said his manager Emree Henry had already held
talks with Tobago United, and everything was in place for him to make
an easy switch within the next week.
Tobago United are also awaiting international clearance for its three
players from St Kitts/Nevis Ian Lake, Floyd Hodge and Allister Warner,
all whom are between the ages of 18 and 21.
Arima Fire humbled.
By Lasana Liburd.
2-Dec-2002 - It was the easiest $50,000 that David J Williams ever
made and the Vibe CT 105 W Connection club president allowed himself a
jig on to the Centre of Excellence field at the final whistle.
For the majority of the Connection faithful, the celebrations began
much earlier as the “Savonetta Boys” ran out comfortable 5-1
winners over Arima Fire in yesterday’s Trinidad and Tobago Football
Federation (T&TFF) FA Trophy competition.
It was an unkind end for Fire who had progressed to the final, motored
along by a potent mixture of hard running and tactical discipline.
Team manager Clyde Ramsaroop was also encouraged by a decent record
against Connection so far this season as the teams had split their
meetings two wins apiece.
But the Firemen froze on the big occasion and Connection did not need
to be asked twice.
For extended periods, Fire captain and custodian Peter Fortune looked
like a ripe mango during the school vacation, besieged by eager school
boys.
Three minutes from time, Fortune was beaten by the goal of the match
as Silvio Spann caught him off his goalline and responded with a
superb lob from just inside the centre circle.
It is a wonder that Fortune did not vacate his area earlier in marked
protest at the sheer volume of his workload.
The view was not much better ahead of the goalie with five
Firemen—him included—collecting cautions while substitute Darryl
Toussaint was ejected for violent conduct.
It was poor fare really for their supporters who stood out for size
and sound in a crowd of near 2,000 spectators.
Their rhythm section in full flow, Fire started well but were soon on
the backfoot as the Connection three pronged attack pushed forward
ably supported by intelligent flank midfielders.
Arnold Dwarika, who was an FA winner last season with Joe Public, was
the first to benefit, executing a neat sidefooted volley from a deep
right side Ronaldo Viana cross in the 20th minute.
Jose Maria Manoel bundled home the second nine minutes later, after a
similarly deep diagonal cross—this time from left flanker Jose
Seabra—found him criminally unmarked at the far post.
The scent of blood was in the air and the dejected looks on the red
shirted Firemen left no doubt about the identity of the prey.
Fire needed an immediate response after the break and lively
midfielder Dillon Walker was sent on in the 46th minute.
He was barely on for a full minute before the situation became more
desperate.
Again, Fire’s inability to hold on to the ball cost them dearly and
Ralston James got on the scorecard following good approach work from
Brazilian playmaker Gefferson Goulart and his compatriot, Seabra.
Even the Fire supporters, by then, had been mesmerised.
“Geezan, yuh ent see that ball,” said one fan respectfully at
Goulart’s outside of foot pass.
Still, Fire managed a response in the 60th minute when Anthony Haynes
sidefooted past opposing goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from a Handell
Manswell corner.
But Fire’s sole accomplishment on the day was quickly sullied by the
lack of composure that blotted by their first Pro League final
appearance.
Figueroa blocked an opposing player from gathering the ball straight
away from the back of his net—not an unheard of practice—and the
Firemen went beserk.
At the end of a melee that featured all 22 players, three officials
and several swung fists, a disgraced Toussaint was on his way back to
the tunnel after just 11 minutes on the field.
Neither team was quite the same thereafter and Connection coach Stuart
Charles wisely took the precaution of substituting Dwarika who will
play a key role in their CONCACAF Champions Cup next week.
There was still time for two late classy goals though with “super
sub” Titus Elva rounding off the scoring in stoppage time by
gracefully rounding Haynes then Fortune before tapping home.
But Spann enjoyed the most memorable moment with his delightful long
range effort that caught out Fortune and showed up the lack of
goalkeeping ability by defender Dave Charles who went after the ball
with both hands.
It was Connection who had seized the opportunity though, and Spann
celebrated with an impromptu dance.
Williams followed suit as Connection waltzed away with the last major
title of the 2002 football season.
W Connection:
Alejandro Figueora, Charles Polard (Francis Lastic 52nd), Jose Luiz
Seabra, Ronald Viana, Reynold Carrington (capt), Silvio Spann,
Gefferson Goulart, Jose Maria Manoel (Titus Elva 49th), Arnold Dwarika
(Jonathan McVane 70th), David Atiba Charles, Rolston James.
Arima Fire:
Peter Fortune (capt), Dave Charles, Romauld Aguillera (Dillon Walker
46th), Handel Manswell, Uz Taylor, Ashford Legerton, Dale Simon,
Elliot James, Daryll James (Ronald Clarke 58th), Anthony Harris,
Dwayne Ellis (Darryl Toussaint 50th).
REFEREE: Noel Bynoe.
Arima Fire burn Defence Force
3-0.
By George Baptiste.
22-Oct-2002 - Arima Fire recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over
Defence Force in their Round 26 match in the 2002 TT Pro League
football season.
Played in front of a sparse crowd at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar,
Arima on Sunday night, Dale Simon sent the firemen into the lead in
the 16th minute, while Handel Manswell put the game out of the reach
of Defence Force with a 63rd minute goal.
And the misery of the Army-Coast Guard combination was complete when
Ronald Clarke netted the third item in second-half stoppage time.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh are atop the eight-team standings with
62 points, four ahead of W Connection with two more rounds of matches
remaining.
Angus Eve snuffs out fire.
By Kwame Laurence.
30-Sept-2002 - CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh substitute Angus Eve
banged home in the 85th minute to ensure full points for his team,
snuffing out Arima Fire’s challenge for a share of the points in
yesterday’s Pro League Round 23 showdown at the Hasely Crawford
Stadium. Jabloteh triumphed 2-0 to maintain their four-point cushion
at the top of the standings.
The first 45 minutes of football at the Hasely Crawford Stadium failed
to produce a goal. But 11 minutes into the second half, the
Kerrys—Baptiste and Noray—combined to give Jabloteh the lead.
Noray found his teammate with a low left-side cross. Baptiste obliged,
settling himself before calmly slotting the ball past Fire goalkeeper
Peter Fortune.
Within three minutes of the Baptiste strike, Fire’s Handel Manswell
rifled a shot from 20 metes out. The powerful effort brought the best
out of Kelvin Jack, forcing a fine save—low to his left—from the
Jabloteh custodian.
After 60 minutes, Wesley Webb replaced Gary Glasgow in the Jabloteh
line-up. Glasgow had created problems for the Fire defence, his deft
touches often creating openings. However, his absence in the final 30
minutes of the game did not interrupt Jabloteh’s momentum.
In the 71st minute, Fire’s Daryll James shouldered Cornell Glenn to
the ground, conceding a penalty. However, Fortune kept out Travis
Mulraine’s weak spot-kick.
A couple minutes later, Alvris Faure Diaz muffed a golden opportunity
to make Mulraine pay for his feeble effort. The Fire player just
managed to stay on-side, but instead of blasting the ball goalwards,
he made a square pass ... a pass that failed to find a red shirt. The
sprinkling of Jabloteh supporters breathed a collective sigh of
relief.
And then, five minutes from the end of regulation time, Mulraine made
amends. The Jabloteh midfielder slipped a pass through to Eve, who
crashed the ball past Fortune, from the right side of Fire’s
18-metre box, giving the keeper absolutely no chance of repeating his
heroics.
Defence Force slip pass Arima
Fire.
By Ian Prescott.
26-Aug-2002 - Defence Force continued their
late season improvement by edging in-form Arima Fire 2-1. Former
Portugal-based striker Akudo Goodridge gave the Army/Coast Guard team
a 1-0 half-time lead before the Sherman “Ants” Phillip continued
his hot streak by scoring a second for the Teteron boys.
At Malabar, the Army-Coast Guard combination took a long while to
settle down against a frenetic Fire squad. But when they did, they
made the firemen pay for their inconsistent play in the 31st minute.
Jason Scotland dispossed Fire midfielder Dale Simon and passed to
Curte Fermin who fed Kwesi Smith on the left flank. Smith's centre
found an unmarked Sherman "Ants" Phillip who buried home
from five metres out.
Fire had a chance to equalise seconds before the halftime interval
when Alvris Faure Diaz was left unmarked on the edge of the penalty
area but his right-footed blast smashed the uprights with Defence
Force goalkeeper Marlon Sylvester unmoved. But Diaz made amends in the
63rd, meeting an Elliot James' centre and heading past Sylvester.
Diaz and fellow striker Ashford Legerton missed golden opportunities
to net the winner against their weary opponents and were left to rue
those misses in second half stoppage time when Claude Adams found
Scotland whose centre was neatly tapped home by substitute Akudu
Goodridge.
Midfielder Jose Luis Seabra and ex-Jabloteh forward Rolston James were
the goalscorers for Connection against a determined AIA outfit,
competition in the League is expected to take a short break for the
President’s Cup, which is expected to begin on Wednesday.
Darril Toussaint scores
hattrick.
T&T Guardian Reporting.
3-June-2002 - Darril Toussaint of Arima Fire scored the second
hattrick in the T&T Pro Football League on Friday, banging in
three first-half goals past goalkeeper Trevor Nottingham. He set up
a 4-1 win for Arima Fire against newcomers North-East Stars at Larry
Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
In the opening match of the double-header, Caledonia AIA and South
Starworld Strikers battled to a 0-0 draw. And yesterday's match
between Defence Force and Joe Public at Hasely Crawford Stadium had
to be postponed because the ground was unmarked.
Arima Fire set up its victory with all four goals coming in the
first session. Toussaint opened the scoring in the 11th minute. He
added a second five minutes later. He scored again in the 42nd
minute, after Handel Manswell had made it 3-0.
In yesterday's lone Under-19 Division match, Vibe CT 105 W
Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh played to a 1-1 draw
at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.