Joe Public staying out Pro
League.
By: Ian Prescott - T&T Express
Newspapers.
06-Oct-2004 - South West Drillers and Tobago United may very well stay
in the T&T Pro League by default.
The teams, who will finish in the bottom two at the end of the third
round of the 2004 T&T Pro League, were due to enter a playoff with
the top four finishers in the National Super League to determine which
of them will play in the 2005 Pro League.
However, both 2004 Super League champions Joe Public and runners-up
LSporto Connection may not be taking up the option to enter the
professional ranks.
Yesterday, Joe Public manager Sam Phillip maintained that the Eastern
Lions have not changed the position they adopted when leaving the Pro
League earlier this year to play in the Super League.
"We have just left the Pro League," the former Army man said.
"As far as I am aware, we will still be playing in the Super
League."
And coach Miguel Hackett announced that Super League runners-up LSporto
Connection are taking a wait-and-see approach to their promotion option.
Much of the decision depends on whether they can secure a sponsor who
have the resources to pay professional footballers and also bear the
additional cost associated with pro football.
"Yesterday we had a meeting about it and we decided that we will
wait until the Super League made a decision on the match between us and
WASA.
Also, we have to talk with sponsors to see if they willing to put out
that kind of money.
I personally feel that with the kind of players we have, once we get a
good sponsor we could make it," Hackett said.
Lennox Watson, chairman of the National Super League's Competition and
Tournament Committee, said that although the Super League wanted to
ensure there was the option for its teams to be promoted to the top
flight, he was of the opinion that Super League teams may not yet be
prepared for the responsibility of playing professional football.
"We have given the top teams in the Super League the option to
enter the Pro League, but the ultimate decision is theirs to make."
Watson told the Express.
"The question is whether or not they are ready to move out."
Watson added that should Joe Public and LSporto Connection decline to
enter the Pro League playoffs, the Competition and Tournament Committee
will have to meet to decide whether to give the promotion option to
other Super League teams.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Phillips, technical director of the Trinidad and
Tobago Football Federation, will conduct a training programme for
football coaches and aspiring coaches at the Arima Town Hall, Sorzano
Street today and tomorrow, beginning at 6 p.m. each day.
The programme is being organised under the auspices of the
recently-formed Arima Sports/Games Advisory Committee and all those
interested are invited to attend.
Adrian Narine’s arrest shocks
Jack Warner.
T&T Newsday Newspapers.
09-Jan-2004 - Joe Public boss Jack Austin Warner admitted he was
surprised at the arrest of former national and Joe Public footballer
Adrian Narine for drug possession at the Heathrow Airport, London, last
month. “I was extremely shocked,” said Warner, “because he had the
potential to become a very good footballer.” But he conceded that two
years ago the 27-year-old midfielder “began to show tendencies which
the club found to be unacceptable and we parted company.” Narine was
detained by security officers following arrival at the world-renowned
airport for alleged possession of three kilogrammes of cocaine.
Warner continued: “I’m very sorry for what has happened and where he
is because it’s not something one wishes for anybody. I hope others
will learn from his experience.” Narine, who also had stints with
Caledonia AIA, Arima Fire and American club San Jose Earthquakes in
Major League Soccer (MLS) was due to appear in court in London this
week.
Eastern Lions to pull out Pro
League.
By Joel Bailey - T&T Newsday.
08-Jan-2004 - It’s official! Joe Public Football Club are indeed
playing their final season in the T&T Pro League. According to club
chairman and owner Jack Austin Warner, Joe Public will be out of the
competition at the end of the current season. “Joe Public will be
playing, if accepted, in the Super League,” added the FIFA
vice-president and head of CONCACAF. The club was formed in 1996 by the
Warner family (Jack, wife Maureen as well as sons Daryan and Darryl)
with veteran administrator Harold Taylor as co-chairman. It is based at
the Lever Brothers ground in Tunapuna, which is now the site of the Dr
Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. With a stated aim of “setting the
trend for establishing high standards of professionalism at club
football in the Caribbean” Joe Public won the 1998 Craven A
Semi-Professional Football League and were runners-up in 1997, 1999 and
2001. They also copped the 2001 FA Trophy, after being the beaten
finalists in 1999 and 2000. But the club has been on a downward slide
since and, bedevilled by indiscipline and lack of financial returns,
have suffered to make an impact this season.
“Joe Public, over the last six years, have spent over $21 million and
I don’t think that is value for money. And nothing I’ve seen in the
Pro League seems to suggest that there will be an improvement,” Warner
said. Commenting on the current Pro League, which have lacked an
official sponsor since Warner pulled out of local football after the
2001 General Elections, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
(TTFF) advisor said: “I wish them well if they can improve.”
“I’ve tried to get the two leagues (Pro and Super) to merge, and
therefore use all the expertise that we have in a small country. I did
not succeed. I also tried to see whether they can attract sponsors since
I’ve left. They have not done that. “For me, I could not continue
with the financial haemorrhage that has taken place with my company, my
family and the association,” he said.
The Macoya-based club had a number of coaches during their stint at the
highest level of local football, including Keith Look Loy, Yugoslavian
Zoran Vranes, Jamaal Shabazz, Kenny Joseph, Clayton Morris, and the
incumbent Ron La Forest while Richard Abraham and Joseph Sam Phillip
served as managers of the club. And, among the long list of high-profile
players to wear the Joe Public’s colours were national representatives
Arnold Dwarika, Travis Mulraine, Nigel Pierre, Dale Saunders, Michael
McComie, Lyndon Andrews, Kerwyn Jemmott, Stokely Mason, Keyeno Thomas,
Adaryl John and Angus Eve as well as midfielder Kendall Velox (St
Vincent) and striker McUnisa Conteh (Sierra Leone).
D/Force draw 2-2 vs Joe Public.
TnT Newsday Reports.
05-Dec-2003 - Defence Force were held to a 2-2 draw by “the Eastern
Lions” Joe Public in their rescheduled 26th round fixture in the
T&T Pro League at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.
Following Wednesday night’s match, the Army-Coast Guard combination
remain fourth on the standings with 44 points from 28 matches while the
Macoya-based club are seven points behind in sixth spot. CL Financial
San Juan Jabloteh head the standings with 68 points, seven more than W
Connection. Striker Christian Freitas put the Eastern Lions ahead in the
11th minute but quick goals by Corey Rivers, in the 55th, and Vincent
Garcia three minutes later, put Defence Force in the ascendancy. But
their lead will not last however, as ex-national Under-17 midfielder
Ochieng Abosi found the mark in the 79th. And St Anthony’s College
midfielder Clevon George registered a hat-trick, scoring in the 32nd,
42nd and 76th minutes, as the Army-Coast Guard combination prevailed 3-0
in their Under-20 matchup against the Lions.
Joe Public threaten to walk.
By Ian Prescott.
8-Nov-2003 - Joe Public Football Club have threatened to pull out of
the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League at the end of the 2003/2004 season,
which closes on January 31.
This comes at the same time as the East giants have informed their
players that there will be a reassessment of their financial worth
when the current Pro League season ends.
At Joe Public—which is owned by Trinidad and Tobago Football
Federation adviser and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner—team manager
Sam Phillip confirmed that the Eastern Lions were restructuring their
operations and that such changes could affect players’ salaries. The
club’s footballers have been informed by letter of possible changes
when their contracts end on January 31.
“We are reshaping the club,” explained Phillip. “So we are
looking over everybody’s situation at the end of the season. We will
not be offering new contracts until we look at everybody and do an
assessment of them.”
Larry Romany, chairman of the T&T Pro League, also confirmed that
Joe Public have threatened to leave the Pro League at the end of the
season.
But Romany immediately said that was a decision for the club and would
have no bearing on the functioning of the Pro League.
“They sent a letter indicating that they did not like how the league
was running and they may leave if there were not changes.”
Romany further explained that Joe Public wanted increased marketing
and public relations exposure of the Pro League, which is poorly
attended.
He said the Pro League will soon embark on a marketing campaign and so
would have satisfied one of the grouses sounded by Joe Public.
The Express was also informed that Arima Fire, another East team, were
also considering leaving Pro League Football, but Romany countered
that the Fire issue had already been cleared up amicably.
“The problem with Fire was more administrative,” said Romany.
“That has since been resolved. Fire will be playing next year.”
Romany, who was installed as Pro League chairman last May, pointed to
a rosy future for the teams which will compete in the 2004/2005 season
of the league. He said many tangible benefits will be had, beginning
this year.
Among the benefits, Romany revealed, was that all the teams in the
T&T Pro League will receive prize money from this season.
Romany is banking on a written assurance from the Ministry of Sport
and Youth Affairs that the T&T Pro League would receive financial
assistance for the next four years.
He added that Prime Minister Patrick Manning had also spoken about a
disbursement to the T&T Pro League during a post-Cabinet address
about three months ago.
But Romany did not want to disclose the exact amount which the
government will pump into the T&T Pro League until he had seen the
Cabinet note.
However, Romany added that the disbursment will assist Pro League
teams in covering administrative costs and that, at least, most will
be able to break even at the end of each season.
Jabloteh stretch lead.
By Gregory Trujillo.
20-Oct-2003 - San Juan Jabloteh forged eight points clear at the head
of the standings in the Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football
League with a 4-0 win over Joe Public on Saturday under lights at
Hasely Crawford Stadium.
And, arch-rival Vibe CT 105 W Connection slumped further away from the
defending champion, as it was held 2-2 by North East yesterday at Ato
Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Former Joe Public striker, Nigel Pierre, sidelined for over three
months while awaiting a transfer to Jabloteh, had his old team-mates
bewildered in the 28th minute when he opened the scoring.
After chest-trapping a cross from Nigel Daniel, the national senior
player let fly a bullet past goalkeeper Kevin Graham with the entire
Joe Public defence caught looking at the move.
Ten minutes after coming out from the interval with a 1-0 advantage,
Cornell Glenn increased the lead with his 15th goal of the season.
Devon Mitchell came on as a substitute for Pierre in the 70th and
immediately Jabloteh kicked into another gear with a quick double from
the former Arima Fire player.
Both goals (73rd and 77th) were half chances and Mitchell made them
count with clinical finishing.
Top players Otis Season, Travis Mulraine and Angus Eve were missing
from the line-up but Hill believes that their absence has not affected
the team.
Joe Public held by Starworld
Strikers.
By Mark Pouchet.
13-Oct-2003 - Joe Public and Starworld Strikers played to a 1-1 draw
in their rescheduled round 13 match yesterday when the Trinidad and
Tobago Pro League took advantage of the cancellation of the
T&T/Peru friendly international to update their fixture list.
However, across in the sister isle, the South West Institute of
Football (SWIF) did not manage to make the trek to face Tobago United
at Roxborough Sporting Complex.
At the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, there was play in a game that
featured two teams in mid-table.
A lot of to-ing and fro-ing characterised the match, which never saw
one side dominate over the other.
That despite the fact that the Starworld Strikers’ attacking play
looked more threatening than that of their opponents.
In their Jamaican striker Nicholas Addlery, the South side had a
commanding, strong and skilful force on the ball who also put pressure
on the Public defence with his hard-running.
With both sides finding it difficult to stroke the ball around with
continuity, it was Addlery’s strength that gained his team the
advantage after 41 minutes.
With a ball being played back into the Public 18-metre area, Addlery
pounced on the opportunity, bumping shoulders with Public defender
Seon Power.
That impact sent Power tumbling to the ground and Addlery was given a
free shot at goal that he placed low to the Eastern Lions goalkeeper
Kevin Graham’s right and into the corner of the net.
With both teams before that looking incapable of getting shots on
target, that goal might have been the winner.
But a blunder by keeper Marvin Phillip gave Public the chance to get
back into the game.
Ten minutes after the resumption, what should have proved a routine
collection turned out to be a “butter-fingers” mishandling, a
trickling ball going through Phillip’s hands before Public
midfielder Garvin McKenna ran onto the ball to spank it into the roof
of the open net.
McKenna thumped the crossbar soon after with a thundering drive, while
Strikers’ forward Adrian Nunez dragged one across the face of the
goal from close range.
Graham also pulled off a tremendous save close-up from Nunez, diving
acrobatically to his left to parry to safety. But those were the
precious few times that both teams ever threatened to score.
Yesterday’s T&T Pro-League Results:
Joe Public 1 (Garvin McKenna) vs Starworld Strikers 1 (Nicholas
Addlery).
Joe Public 4 (Terrance Jeffery 2, Ochieng Abosi, Mario Assoon) vs
Starworld Strikers 1 (Kareem Simon).
Joe Public beats Tobago United.
TnT Guardian Reports.
03-Oct-2003 - A second-half goal by Christian Freitas secured a 2-1
win for Joe Public over Tobago United on Wednesday in a Trinidad and
Tobago Premier Football League match at Shaw Park in Tobago.
Former Columbus Crew (MLS) and Tobago United captain Kevin Adams gave
the home side the lead in the third minute when he scored from the
penalty spot after Dwayne Jack was taken down in the area.
Joe Public equalised through Devin Elcock in the 25th minute. Tyronne
Brown, aged 21, had an outstanding match between the uprights for
Tobago United.
“I would rate him as one of the better young keepers in the
country,” said coach Peter Granville after the match.
Granville, a former national coach, also said he would highly
recommend Jack for a trial with the national senior team. “The
average age of my team is 22 and there are signs of improvement,” he
added.
The win was only Joe Public’s fourth in 18 appearances and it was
the Tobagonians 15th loss.
Earlier in the Under-20 fixture, Joe Public came away a 2-0 winner
with its goals coming from Lincoln Brown and Ordelle Armstrong.
Joe Public draw with SWIF.
By Ian Prescott.
21-Jul-2003 - Sunday afternoon football has once again denied Joe
Public a full three points in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League.
Yesterday, the Eastern Lions drew their eighth match in 11 league
outings this season when they were held 1-1 by the South West
Institute of Football (SWIF) at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
The meeting between the two mid-division teams never got out of first
gear. They both seemed content to play casual Sunday afternoon
football until Peter Prosper got two early chances for the southern
footballers. First Prosper headed a free-kick from Nicholas Thomas
just wide of the far post and later he blasted overbar from outside
the six-yard box, after a one-two combination with teammate Bevon
Lewis.
That only seem to spur on Joe Public to take a 32nd minute lead
through a Denzil Theobald corner, which Ochieng Abosi headed past
goalkeeper Andy Dean.
Once they hit the front, Joe Public controlled the rest of the half
and should have doubled their tally when Theobald was uprooted by
goalkeeper Dean and a penalty awarded in the 42nd minute. But stopper
Derek King never looked composed as he took the spot-kick and scooped
the ball over the crossbar.
Joe Public were punished by Peter Prosper, who levelled the score at
1-1, three minutes later. The Lebanon-based striker was played through
the Joe Public left and buried a low shot past Michael McComie. The
SWIF footballers were obviously the more enthusiastic bunch as they
left the field at the half.
Joe Public hardly ever looked likely to score in the second session
and were lucky not to lose all the points. It all looked like the day
would end in defeat for the Eastern Lions when Marlon Minguel rounded
goalie McComie in the 56th. Luckily for Joe Public, Seon Power was on
the line to head away Minguel’s shot.
Through the hard work of central midfielder Thomas and Kelvin
Hernandez on the flank, SWIF stretched the Joe Public defence several
times, but they lacked the decisive finish to win the game. McComie
was often called upon to cut off several dangerous centres as
Hernandez constantly looked to find Prosper in the centre.
Joe Public’s best effort at a goal in the second session came when
Sterlin O’Brien who looked to capatilise on poor marking from SWIF
on the flank. Coming in from the flank, O’Brien cut into the
six-yard box, but hit overbar from close up.
Joe Public held again.
By Ian Prescott.
30-Jun-2003 - There should be little surprise that “Eastern Lions”
Joe Public drew their Trinidad and Tobago Pro League 7th-round encounter
against Caledonia AIA yesterday. But few would have expected the
well-funded team of FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner to lose to
the botton of the table strugglers.
Well, that was almost the case until a last-minute blunder by Caledonia
AIA custodian Anthony Marshall five minutes into injury time, allowed
Joe Public to secure a fortuitous 2-2 stalemate. This was Joe Public’s
sixth draw in their seven league outings this season, while lowly AIA
are still looking for their first victory.
Yesterday’s battle could well have passed for a charity match between
“millionaires” Joe Public and the team which they allow to share
their ground at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
But after holding the favourites for the first half hour of the scrappy
opening session, Caledonia started to have ambitions of their own.
No one would dare say that yesterday’s meeting between the East
neighbours was a pretty affair. But what started as a lacklustre one,
bgan to warm up as the goals started to flow.
Striker Valencius Joseph started the ball rolling when he shot Caledonia
ahead 33rd minutes into the match. Having failed to get much service
from his midfielders earlier, Joseph found himself clear up the left
flank, before beating Joe Public goalie, Michael McComie, with a
straight drive.
After taking the lead, Caledonia started to look more relaxed and were
able to play the ball around the field for the first time. Once behind,
Joe Public needed to advance with a little more urgency and that created
space for their opponents to play.
Four minutes after his team took the lead, Nigel Hart met a deep cross
at the first post, but failed to keep his shot down. Then, a floater
from Hart was met first-time by Ryan Stuart who would have scored had a
defender’s touch not diverted his shot just wide of McComie’s far
post. After a rigid testing, Joe Public survived to finish the half just
a goal down.
It took just 14 minutes for Joe Public to pull level through Alvin
Beharry. The Joe Public striker seemed to have miskicked an attempted
volley, but because goalkeeper Marshall had already committed himself to
saving a more powerful drive, the slightest of touches from Beharry
scooped the ball over his head.
Undaunted, Caledonia AIA took the lead again in the 76th minute when
substitute Abdullah Phillips stroked Randy Ramcharan’s low cross under
McComie’s lunge.
Phillips, and later Hart, both had excellent chances of sewing up the
victory but muffed clear opportunities. Just when it looked like AIA had
survived some late Joe Public pressure, Marshall miscued an attempted
punch and dropped the ball at the feet of Keyeno Thomas. With the very
last action of the match, defender Thomas forced the ball into
Marshall’s net. Charity does indeed begin at home.
W Connection and Joe Public in
two all tie.
Nigel Simon.
02-Jun-2003 - At the Ato Boldon
Stadium in Couva, W Connection had only itself to blame for its slip
up, twice blowing the lead to the youthful Eastern Lions who were
without key players Keyeno Thomas, Nigel Pierre and Derek King, all in
Africa on national duty.
W Connection, which was also without skipper Reynold Carrington,
Silvio Spann, Kerwyn Jemmott and second-string goalkeeper Jan-Michael
Williams, took the lead in the 43rd minute through ex-Joe Public
player Arnold Dwarika for a 1-0 lead at the break.
But two minutes into the second half, Andre Toussaint answered coach
Ron La Forest’s call to rediscover his scoring touch and levelled
the scores.
Kittitian midfielder George Isaac restored W Connection’s one goal
cushion in the 70th minute. However with five minutes left, Devon
Caseman earned the Eastern Lions a deserved share of the points, with
his first goal of the campaign.
Nigel Pierre strike gives
Eastern Lions 1-0 win.
By Nigel Simon.
12-May-2003 - National striker Nigel “Croc” Pierre scored his
second goal in as many games to give Joe Public a 1-0 win over Defence
Force and joint second place in the T&T Professional League Senior
Division.
The 24-year-old Pierre, who netted in the Lions 1-1 draw with champs
Jabloteh, got the decisive strike in the 30th minute beating Defence
Force custodian Selwyn George at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya,
yesterday.
With his back towards goal, the tricky Pierre collected a pass from
Devon Caseman before he wrong-footed his marker, spun on his left foot
and fired a low right footer to the bottom right hand corner of the
goal, past a motionless George.
That was the only goal, as both teams found it difficult to control
the flow of the game on the dry, bouncy surface.
Several chances went abegging.
Andre Toussaint and Devon Caseman of Joe Public and second-half sub
Kevin Carter of the Defence Force all fired wide when it seemed easier
to score.
Toussaint and Caseman had clear-cut chances to extend their team’s
advantage midway in the second half, having been put through on
one-on-one chances with George.
Twice Caseman kicked over the bar from just inside the penalty area
while a hesitant Toussaint dragged his efforts wide.
Lions’ midfielder Denzil Theobald also found himself in a
goal-scoring position, after eluding Marvin Gordon in the penalty
area, but after doing all the hard work he chose to pass the ball.
Within seconds of his ill-advised pass, Theobald was almost made to
pay for his mistake, but Defence Force front-man Carter, missed the
easiest chance of the game.
Carter, a 60th minute replacement for Wendell Salvary was left with an
open goal after Michael McComie ventured out, but hit the right side
of the net instead.
‘Centre of Controversy’
Public defend home ground.
By Lasana Liburd.
9-May-2003 - Rene Simoes avoided it like the plague, Hannibal Najjar
couldn’t stand to look at it, and Ricky Hill won’t have fond
memories of his first trip there.
The controversial Jõao Havelange Centre of Excellence football
ground–renamed the Marvin Lee Stadium–was again the focal point
for debate after last Sunday’s 2003 Pro League kick off.
Defending champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh were the first
guests of hosts, Joe Public, and Jabloteh skipper and custodian Kelvin
Jack was scathing in his criticisms of the field.
“That pitch is an embarrassment!” Jack said yesterday, after his
team were held to a 1-1 draw by Jabloteh. “Football should not be
played there and especially professional football. It is always either
too hard or too soft.
“In the rainy season, it gets too muddy and too slushy and you are
not capable of playing football and when it is too hard (in the dry
season), it is just a nightmare to be on.”
Jack was between the uprights last November for the Trinidad and
Tobago national team when they lost 1-0 to St Lucia in a Concacaf Gold
Cup qualifier.
Then, national technical director Najjar had protested that his
players did not want to play there as they felt the surface was
sub-standard and offered an advantage to their supposedly less
skillful opponents.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) ignored
Najjar’s protests, although his predecessor, Brazilian Simoes, never
played a full international at the Macoya ground in a calendar year at
the helm.
Hill, Jabloteh’s latest English coach, is no fan either.
“It didn’t make for a conducive passing game,” said the ex-Luton
Town star midfielder. “I expected a lot of mistakes because of the
difficulty of pitch...There were bare patches, dust and it was very,
very firm, while the wind was also a factor as it was quite fierce at
times.”
Jack, who led Jabloteh to a 1-0 loss to Public at Macoya last year,
insisted the Centre of Excellence field was also potentially
dangerous.
“It is the sort of pitch that can cause shin splints, ankle injuries
and severe bruising if you fall,” he said. “That pitch is in
shambles and it should be dug up and relaid.
“In my opinion, it is not even fit for pigs to play on it.”
Hogwash, according to Public coach Ron La Forest.
The former Jabloteh, St Anthony’s College and Mucurapo Senior
Comprehensive coach is considered an advocate of the “touch” game
and he was hardly complaining.
“All the grounds in Trinidad and Tobago hard right now,” said La
Forest. “All! A-L-L!...But I did not have any problem playing on it.
“It did not affect my game plan.”
La Forest conceded that the cricket pitch in the centre of the ground
could interrupt the smoothness of play, but he insisted that players
with proper technique would adjust.
His star striker, Nigel Pierre, and key central defender, Derek King,
agreed.
“Plenty teams like Jabloteh and (Vibe CT 105) W Connection don’t
like to play at the Centre of Excellence,” said King, “but that is
to Joe Public’s advantage...We don’t have a problem of playing
possession football on the ground.”
Time will tell exactly how much advantage Public extract from their
home matches.
Hill conceded that players with proper technique should survive, but
insisted that the ground offered more for effort than skill.
And he warned that Public themselves may suffer.
“Looking at their players,” he said, “it might be a disadvantage
because they tried to play around the ball in triangles, but a few
times their play broke down because of the pitch.”
Connection assistant coach and former national midfield standout,
Leroy “Spanner” Spann, suggested that the ground would better suit
teams “who like scruffle football”.
Last season, Public seemed to fare better away to lower placed teams,
like North East Stars and Arima Fire, than when they hosted them at
Macoya.
At the Marvin Lee ground, Hill feels that mistakes are more likely to
decide the outcome of the match than the ability to create chances.
Spann is not looking forward to Connection’s visit.
“It is not fit for professional football,” said Spann, “not when
you have quality stadiums to play football on...I rather play on it
when it is wet so the ball could roll well, but we are prepared to
play on any ground.
“Players who have good technique can adjust to it, but they will
rather a better ground.”
King and Pierre–perhaps predictably–will beg to disagree.
Joe Public in 2-0 loss to
Grenada Under 23s.
By: Shaun Fuentes.
7-Mar-2003 - Joe Public went down 2-0 to Grenada's National Under 23
team in a warm-up encounter on Friday evening.
The "Eastern Lions" who traveled earlier in the day, fell to
goals by Chris Charles in the 9th minute and Kerry Bristow in the 41st
minute.
Despite the loss, coach Ron La Forest wasn't worried as he described
the affair as just the right sort of warm up for his club ahead of the
2003 Professional League season.
St Anthony's College captain and National Under 23 defender Julius
James, Under 23 midfielder Denzil Theobald and former National Under
17 midfielder Ochieng Abosi, who skippered Public on the evening, were
among those in the starting team.
"It's a young team in training and although they were lacking in
penetration, it was a nice team effort," said La Forest.
"The build-up was slow and we allowed them (Grenada) too much
time with the ball. The second half was more fast paced and better
played. The team was a little too laid back and for Sunday's game we
hope to have that urgency and penetrative passes that we had in the
2nd half of today's game," he added.
Joe Public are scheduled to take on club Paris in their second match
on Sunday.
Joe Public Starting Team:
30.Kevin Graham, 22.Devon Caseman (15.Dwight Scott 60th), 17.Donald La
Guerre (12. Raymond Parris), 5.Julius
James, 23. Sterling O'Brien (8.Jamal Hamid 90th), 19. Kevaughn Connell
(13.Anthony Thompson), 9. Joel Marquis (21.Terrance McAllister),
28.Devin Jordan, 10.Lincoln Brown (11.Devin Elcock 65th), 20.Denzil Theobald, 18. Ochieng
Abosi (capt).
Ron La Forest is new Joe Public
coach/TD.
By Gregory Trujillo.
26-Jan-2003 - Two good friends have been given the responsibility to
serve in top positions at Joe Public, and both pledge to take the
club, that will be spending close to $2.7 million in the coming
season, to the top of the ladder of the Trinidad and Tobago
Professional Football League.
Former Defence Force players, Ron La Forest and Sam Phillip were last
week appointed technical director and manager, respectively, of the
Jack Warner-owned club, which is based in Arouca.
La Forest, 48, will be replacing Yugoslavian coach Zoran Vranes, who
served in that position for the past two years.
Phillip, who is three months older than La Forest, retained his
position as manager — a position he has held for two years.
“We want to continue to build on the good work that Vranes has done
at the club, especially with the youths,” said Phillip.
The duo hope to continue 30 years of a fruitful friendship by putting
their “heads” together in an all-local effort.
“Joe Public has gone totally local with our staff and players all
being Trinidadians and Tobagonians,” pointed out Phillip.
Known as the “Eastern Lions”, Joe Public will be relying on a host
of young and talented players to take them through the season, along
with national standouts Nigel Pierre and Keyeno Thomas, the captain.
Among some of the other players contracted to the club are Derek King,
Andre Toussaint, Hollis Brown, Donovan Thomas, Kevin Graham, Devon
Caseman, Devon Jordan, Jamal Hamid, Sterling O’Brien, Terrence
McAllister, Raymond Parris, Joel Marquis-Wharton, Devin Elcock,
Lincoln Brown and Tyronne Brown.
Over the past year, Joe Public lost the services of Arnold Dwarika,
Stokely Mason, Kerwyn Jemmott, Adrian Narine and Joseph Peters.
Both Phillip and La Forest have a wealth of experience, being
certified coaches and having played for the national senior team.
“I will also be able to help the technical director from time to
time with the coaching,” said Phillip.
“It’s a plus for our team. As you know, two heads are better than
one.”
La Forest insisted that once he is working with a team in the PFL all
the others will “have to look at me”.
“Look for very attractive and entertaining football from Joe
Public,” said La Forest, who is also coach of the national Under-17
squad.
“I have the players capable of playing entertaining football.
“I had the privilege to work with the Under-19’s and Pro team last
season, so basically I know what I have.
“As a player, I love competing. It will be no different when I send
out my team.”
Last season, the former Belmont Secondary player steered St
Anthony’s College to a clean sweep the Championship Division of the
Secondary Schools Football League.
Both he and Phillip played for Defence Force from 1976 to 1980.
La Forest, who also played in Hong Kong, started coaching in 1986 with
ECM Motown.
He also had successful stints with Frontline, Mucurapo Senior
Comprehensive and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh.
Joe Public will begin training on Monday, February 3 at its home at
the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
“Our eyes will be opened for any good players to join us, ” Sam
ended.
Meanwhile, T&T national players walked out on a training session
on Monday morning in a protest for better conditions while on national
duty, star stopper Keyeno Thomas paid the ultimate price for his role
in the strike as he was among three players sacked by the club, owned
by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.
Versatile full backs Jeremy Delpino and Hollis Brown were also
dismissed by the “Eastern Lions” with immediate effect via a press
release.
Eastern Lions chew up Jabloteh.
By Ian Prescott.
7-Oct-2002 - Joe Public may have made a significant impact on the
outcome of the 2002 season of the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League
despite having little chance of winning the title themselves.
Yesterday, at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Denzil Theobald
accepted a late gift from CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh goalkeeper
Kelvin Jack to give the Eastern Lions a 1-0 victory.
Before that, Joe Public had done almost nothing to deserve success.
But they showed tremendous character to hold Jabloteh at bay despite
playing a man short for a long period.
Joe Public looked to be gaining only a valuable point, until Jack's
David Seaman-like blunder gave them the whole pot.
Jack looked untroubled by a routine centre, until he dropped the ball
at Theobald's feet five minutes from full-time.
Surprised, Theobald almost ran the ball out of play, but regained his
composure and blasted it high into the net.
The goal was the high point of an often brutal game which saw both Joe
Public's Andre Toussaint (59th) and Jabloteh hard man Travis Mulraine
given marching orders by referee Richard Piper.
Toussaint was first to go when Cyd Gray fell clutching his face,
seemingly in total agony. After consultation between Piper and
assistant referee Mereire Gonzales, Toussaint was adjudged to have
elbowed Gray and was sent off.
By that time, the seriousness of the occasion seemed to be getting to
the players and both the tackles and yellow cards were coming in quick
succession.
Jabloteh had been making most of the running on the heavy ground, but
repeatedly failed to break down strong Joe Public resolve at the back.
Gary Glasgow should have given Jabloteh the lead after four minutes,
when the ball bounced over defender Derek King to Glasgow, who poked
the sphere past goalkeeper Donavan Thomas, but wide of an upright.
And Kerry Noray and Josh Johnson also failed to score from good
positions.
Joe Public's lone chance in the first session fell to Toussaint, who
hit straight at goalie Jack when it seemed easier to find the far
post.
Joe Public hardly looked like the home team as Jabloteh pinned them
back in the second half. Jabloteh may have been dominating the play,
but down the stretch the teams were even as they traded hard tackles
and serious infringements.
After Toussaint's indiscretion, Jabloteh's Ancil Elcock mowed down
Theobald from the back to pick up his yellow card, with many in the
crowd calling for a tougher sanction.
Joe Public's Dale Saunders matched Elcock's ferocity when his high
tackle felled big defender Brent Sancho like a dead oak. Saunders,
too, was lucky to walk away with just a yellow.
The tough tackles were coming quickly as the then urgent Jabloteh team
started applying pressure on the Eastern Lions.
And 80 minutes into the match, substitute Errol McFarlane seemed to
have finally breached the Joe Public wall.
Turning skilfully on his marker, McFarlane must have seen all of the
inside of the far post as he unleashed a low, hard drive. But
goalkeeper Thomas made what must have been his best save in a Joe
Public shirt when he dropped low to his left to deflect the shot.
Minutes later, Thomas just got his hands up in time to fend off a
deflected Mulraine free-kick. As the ball was played back into the
area, both striker Cornell Glen and goalkeeper Thomas went in with
high kicks. Both missed.
Eventually the ball rolled to McFarlane, who should have just banged
it home. Instead, he attempted to walk the ball over the line from
close up and was foiled by an outstretched leg.
Joe Public made full use of the reprieve by launching the
counter-attack which eventually saw Theobald benefitting from Jack's
generosity.
Suddenly, Jabloteh were facing the pressure of losing a second
successive Pro League title towards the end of the season.
And being Mulraine, Jabloteh's hard man did what most now come to
expect of him...he sent an opponent flying with a hefty tackle down
the sideline.
By now, Mulraine has become familiar with the script and never
hesitated as he walked towards the opposing touchline, pursued by
referee Piper, who was still trying to issue a second yellow card to
the offender.
Despite the loss, Jabloteh are still at the top of the standings with
56 points from 24 matches.
But defending champions Vibe CT 105 W. Connection now have a chance to
catch them in the last five rounds of the season.
Connection, who did not play yesterday, have a match in hand and can
move to within a point of Jabloteh if they win it.
Joe Public are a distant third on 42 points from 24 matches.
Last year, Connection won the title when Jabloteh lost crucial points
towards the end of the season. Could it be a case of deja vu in
2002"
Arnold Dwarika, Nigel Pierre
fired.
By Keith Clement.
6-July-2002 - National footballers Arnold Dwarika and Nigel Pierre
were yesterday fired by Joe Public Football club.
The two players had their contracts terminated by its owner,
businessman Austin Jack Warner.
Warner said, "I had enough. They have things too easy and the
discipline was not there. They're the best paid players in the
country, but perhaps life is too easy at Joe Public." Warner,
who is also a FIFA vice president said, "I'm going to
re-structure the club so that each individual will own-up to his
responsibilities."
Asked what will become of the two players, Warner replied,
"They are free to play for whosoever they want on free
transfers, while the other players would be relegated to the second
team."
Warner said, "Joe Public players earned between T&T$7,500
and $4,000, a month and they work for just 90 minutes a week."
Dwarika, a midfielder and the club's ex-captain, was the 1999 and
2000 "Footballer of the Year". He got a house and car for
his exploits on the field and was the best paid player at the club.
Warner's decision to sack the duo resulted from their participation
in the Jogglers' Soccermania which took place at St Mary's College
last month.
Another national standout with the club, defender Stokey Mason
together with Adrian Narine, Joseph "Gouti" Peters,
Kendall Velox, Pierre and Dwarika were sanctioned for breaking the
club's rules by playing in the event.
Except for Dwarika, 29, and Pierre 22, the others have been
relegated to play for the "Eastern Lions" in the Eastern
Football Association.
The Club will also slash their salaries by half as part of the
re-structuring process.
The six players did not suit up for Wednesday's Pro League encounter
with Arima Fire which going into the match with only five of its
regular players, Joe Public managed to scramble a 1-0 victory with
an Andre Toussaint header in the 83rd minute.
Apart from Toussaint, the other regulars in the starting line-up
were goalkeeper Donovan Thomas, skipper Dale Sanders, George Dublin
and Gayson Gregory.
Eight of the club's Under-19 players were drafted into the side in
the absence of the "Naughty Six". They were Davin Jordan,
Hollis Brown, Sterling O'Brien, Julius James, Kevon Cornell,
Terrance McAllister, Keiron Benito and Lincoln Brown.
Pierre said they all knew of the circumstances if they played in any
competition not relating to the Pro League since it was scribed in
their contracts but they took one chance too many.
Warner said the Joe Public budget is $3.8million annually and
already this year he has spent $1.3 million on the club. Joe Public
has been having one of its leanest seasons in top flight football
since 1997 after joining the Semi-Pro League.
Team Administrator, Sam Phillip said yesterday that the decision by
the management of the club to discipline the six players stemmed
from their playing for another side without permission.
"We have a rule at the club where the players cannot play in
any other league or game without our permission," said Phillip.
"If this rule is flouted, the guilty player or players face
either suspension, a fine or relegated to a lower division," he
added.
Phillip explained that Dwarika, Pierre, Mason, Narine, Peters and
Velox will be closely monitored over the next month.
Dwarika who played a vital role in Trinidad and Tobago's final World
Cup qualifying matches, has struggled to make it into the Eastern
Lions starting lineup in the inaugural 2002 T&T Pro League
football season, while Pierre was expected to return for trials in
England later this month.
Jemmott has run afoul of club rules in the past, while Narine
recently returned from an unsuccessful stint in Major League Soccer
(MLS) in the United States It is understood Warner is not taking the
situation lightly, especially with the current below-par
performances of the Eastern Lions in the pro league. technical
director Zoran Vranes said he too was dissatisfied with the
unimpressive performances of some of his players.
"It is clear that some of these players are not giving their
best. Some of them are not serious.
"We have to blood the younger players and give them a chance,
and I hope Mr Warner supports my move to look more at the
youngsters," Vranes said.
Joe Public sign coach La
Forest - Vranes elevated to technical director.
By LASANA LIBURD.
25-May-2002 - FORMER CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh head coach Ron
La Forest has emerged from the football wilderness to take a
coaching post at Joe Public.
La Forest, who was replaced by ex-English international Terry
Fenwick at Jabloteh in the 2001 pre-season, discreetly signed with
Public on May 14 for a one-year contract and an option to renew for
a further year.
He has already started duties with Public and was on the bench last
Sunday when the “Eastern Lions” whipped North East Stars 3-1 in
the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League.
Yugoslav Zoran Vranes still heads the Public technical staff and now
holds the title of technical director.
However, the local football arena was abuzz with the news of La
Forest’s new post and the possibilities it opens for Vranes, with
the position of Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF)
technical director now vacant.
Joe Public is owned by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner—still an
influential figure in local football circles despite quitting as
T&TFF special adviser last December—and has offered its
coaches to the national team before at such critical times.
One such example was the T&TFF’s hiring of Scotsman Ian
Porterfield, who replaced Bertille St Clair as national coach in
March 2000, just a month after Porterfield was announced as the
Public coach.
Vranes is also a former Trinidad and Tobago coach.
The Yugoslav led the national team between 1995 and 1996, steering
them to two Caribbean Cup titles before being sacked by Warner just
one match into the CONCACAF stage of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers.
Vranes returned to the national technical staff last year to assist
Porterfield and even coached the team once in his absence—a
crucial 2-1 Caribbean Cup win over Jamaica—but parted ways with
the “Soca Warriors” soon after.
There were rumours of a serious difference of opinion between Vranes
and Porterfield, although that was never confirmed.
Likewise, Public team administrator Richard Abraham told the Sunday
Express that he knew nothing of a move to replace outgoing T&TFF
technical director Rene Simoes with Vranes.
Abraham explained that Vranes had been handling a larger than usual
workload this season due to the exit of former assistant coach Alvin
Thomas, who has taken up a job as a teacher.
Public defender Coulson Dick replaced Thomas but is still an active
player and is not yet seen as a suitable long-term replacement.
“Coulson Dick has been Zoran’s assistant but he is still a
player and has no experience as a coach,” said Abraham. “We
needed someone who Zoran can leave to conduct courses in his absence
and relieve the pressure in handling both (the under-19 and senior)
teams...
“As far as I know, there is no plan for Zoran Vranes to handle the
national team.”
La Forest, who led Jabloteh to successive First Citizens Bank Cups
in 1999 and 2000, is just glad to be back at the highest level of
the domestic game.
“It feels good,” said La Forest yesterday. “I still have a lot
of knowledge to share with the young ones.”
He dismissed questions of any lingering animosity over his exit from
Jabloteh, who have gone title-less without him.
“They called it as they saw it,” he said. “They thought that
they needed to change to move forward. There are no hard feelings
and there will be no special feelings when I come up against them.
“But you know that I like competing.”
Vranes could not be reached for comment on the latest addition to
his technical staff and his own role as technical director.
T&TFF president Oliver Camps is out of the country, representing
the federation at Wednesday’s FIFA congress in Seoul, South Korea.
'Eastern Lions' aim to avenge
last season's loss.
By: Shaun Fuentes.
15-Apr-2002 - National strike duo of Arnold Dwarika and Nigel Pierre
will form what their coach Zoran Vranes hopes will be the most
lethal attacking partnership in the 2002 Professional League season.
Both members of the "Soca Warriors" outfit will spearhead
the "Eastern Lions" who despite capturing the 2-1 FA
Trophy, will be hoping to avenge last season's edge into second
place in the League by Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
Yugoslavian-born coach Zoran Vranes has been hard at work with his
team since the start of the year and is hopeful that they can
produce the good when it comes to competition. Team administrator
Sam Phillips indicated this week however, that whole Joe Public will
be aiming to capture some silverware, one of their main emphasis
will be placed on strengthening their youth development.
Some nine players coming out of the club's Under 19 team last season
will be in the Public senior team this time around and according to
Sam, they hope that the number will continue increasing. Seven
players who campaigned with Joe Youths in the North Association last
year have signed professional contracts with Public in time for the
new PFL season. Some of these younger players were also part of the
Public outfit which won the PFL Reserve knockout competition last
season. Joe Youths also captured titles in the North Zone
competitions.
Out of the Joe Public youth programme, eight players have obtained
scholarships to attend university in the United States from July
including Nkosi Aberdeen (Lafayette College), Kevin Norman (Wake
Forest University), Naeem Frederick (Appalachian State University),
Marc Anthony (University of Colorado), Ossie Telesford and Kareem
Benito (Liberty University) and Ryan Abraham (University of South
Florida) and Rhett Abraham (Furman University), who are the sons of
club general manager Richard Abraham.
Only three foreigners are on the Joe Public professional team roster
for this season including Antiguan duo Gayson Gregory and George
Dublin and new signing, midfielder Hugo Lareservee of South Africa.
The rest of the squad will include Derek King, national midfielders
Dale Saunders and Stokely Mason, Alvin Beharry, Devin Jordan and
promising striker Andre Toussaint who should provide good back up to
Dwarika and Pierre. Michael McComie decided against returning to the
club and so Donovan Thomas and former national under 20 goalkeeper
Kevin Graham will contest for the spot between the uprights.
"We always go into a season expecting to do well. I am
satisfied with the way our preparations have gone. The coach ahs
been doing a good job to ensure things are in place. But while we
want to do well one of our main aims is to also to continue building
a successful youth programme," said Phillips. "We are
looking to build a team which will continue to supply the national
team with players. This season we intend to play good football as
always and take each game at its merit," he added.
So far the "Eastern Lions" have enjoyed good results in
their preseason build up including 5-0 and 4-0 victories over Carib
FC and WASA Clean and White respectively, a 9-0 thrashing of Club
Sando, 1-1 and 0-0 draw with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and a
0-0 stalemate with Defence Force.
Abraham, who is now serving as general manager of the club including
senior and youth teams, remains confident that Dwarika and company
will be tough to overcome and any team entering the lions den, the
Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, will have to be well braced
for the battle.
Joe Public slashes 2002
budget.
By LASANA LIBURD.
13-Jan-2002 - PROFESSIONAL Football League (PFL) outfit, Joe Public,
will operate on a slashed budget in 2002 as FIFA vice-president Jack
Warner’s change in attitude towards Trinidad and Tobago football
hits home.
Warner, who is chairman of the Public team, recently declared he is
severing ties with local football and will relinquish several posts,
including special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football
Federation (T&TFF) and the PFL.
Public will also feel the pinch as Warner ordered a cut in their
budget from $4.2 million to $2.7 million. That budget includes all
Public football teams and their coaching academy.
Already, a shuffle has been ordered at both administrative and
playing levels.
The biggest casualty is club captain and former national World Youth
Cup goalkeeper Michael McComie, who will not have his contract
renewed.
McComie, according to team manager Richard Abraham, had run afoul of
his employers after allegedly leaving a team camp under false
pretenses.
McComie was allowed to leave a Public camp to visit his daughter,
only to be shown on television participating in a minor league match
at Chinese Association, St Ann’s.
The club has also released six other players, including speedy
Vincentian left winger Kendall Velox, Antiguan midfielder Ranja
Christian, Tobagonian defender Coulson Dick, Colombian left back
Luis Murillo and former National Flour Mills striker Marc Borde.
Dick would be kept on as an assistant coach, though. Sturdy Haitian
stopper Pierre Bruny and Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Kerwyn
“Hardest” Jemmott are both on standby.
Bruny, who was among the league's top players for the 2001 season,
has been told that no players will be given salary increases and he
must accept that decision if he chooses to remain with Public.
Jemmott, on the other hand, is due for a one-on-one conversation
with Warner in which he must prove his commitment to the club after
a rocky relationship with Public's Yugoslav coach Zoran Vranes last
season.
Incidentally, Vranes will be kept on at Public, as well as Antiguans
George Dublin, an uncompromising defender, and teenaged striker
Gayson Gregory.
At present, the salaries at Public range from $2,000 to $6,500 per
month, not including match bonuses.
Abraham insisted, though, that the “Eastern Lions” would remain
alive to participate in local football, whether or not the PFL
survives.
All PFL club officials are to attend a retreat this weekend in which
several issues will be discussed, including a reduction in the
minimum wage from $2,000 to $1,200 per month.
Caribbean Football Union (CFU) general secretary Harold Taylor will
represent Public at the meeting in his official capacity as club
deputy chairman.
'Joe Public dedicates FA Cup
to Mickey.
T&T Guardian Reporting.
9-Dec-2001 - THE players and staff of Joe Public Football Club have
dedicated their FA Cup victory to their former teammate Mickey
Trotman.
Joe Public nicknamed the "Eastern Lions" beat Carib FC 1-0
to lift their biggest trophy in the club's history in the L-Sporto
Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation FA Cup final played last
Wednesday night at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
Trotman had been a member of the "Easter Lions" in between
his international stint in the United States, and was even in talks
about a possible return to the club this season before his passing
in a vehicular accident in October.
Mickey, his brother Stefan, who played for WASA Clean and White, the
third placed finishers in the FA Cup, and a friend Tasha Moses, all
died in the one-car accident in their home town of Arima.
Joe Public captain and goalkeeper Michael McComie and coach Zoran
Vranes paid tribute to Trotman.
"Definitely this victory is for Mickey Trotman. Not only the FA
Cup, but basically every game. We had clippings from the newspapers
reminding us about Mickey's presence in the dressing room.
"Mickey was part of us, and he is still part of us and this one
was for him and the Trotman family," McComie said moments after
Wednesday's victory in which defender Pierre Bruny scored.
He added it was the perfect way to make up for the loss in the PFL.
"We were a bit disappointed about not winning the League, but
things didn't go our way on that night. The conditions were
difficult in the FA final and we made the best of it.
"We have to start rebuilding now in terms of preparations for
next year. But now we will go on a break and some of us have
contracts that will expire at the end of this season.
"Negotiations will start soon but now it's just a matter of
relaxing because we never really got a break this season. When the
PFL was on a break , we always had to go into camp with the national
team, so it was always difficult for Joe Public."
He also made special mention of club chairman Jack Warner for his
efforts on the local scene.
"He deserved credit for the PFL League and the competitions.
Look at the kind of support we got tonight.
"A lot of people were doubting him before he started the
League. The organisation at Joe Public is improving, other
organisations are improving, and I think once we can get the lower
teams competing well against the bigger ones, then it augurs well
for the League," added McComie.
Vranes was equally pleased with the FA Cup success. "It is an
important victory for us, as it is the first time we have won the
Cup and that is special for us. Unfortunately, we didn't score too
many goals. I know that the management was disappointed not to win
the League, but I thought that we beat ourselves there. But now I
think they will be pleased with this success," the Yugoslavian
and former Trinidad and Tobago coach said.
"Unfortunately, before Mickey and I were talking about him
coming back to play for us, the sad incident occurred. But this
victory is for him," Vranes added.
About the FA Cup triumph, striker Nigel Pierre said, "I think
that after missing out on the League title when we lost 4-1 to W
Connection, we owed it to ourselves and our owner Jack Warner, to
bring home this one, and we did just that."
Joe Public wins FA Cup,
$100,000.
By Gregory Trujillo.
6-Dec-2001 - At last Joe Public has won a major prize.Professional
Football League club Joe Public is the new FA Trophy winners of
T&T. The "Eastern Lions" captured the silverware of
the 73rd edition and $100,000 last night edging non-professional
challengers Carib FC of the Eastern Football Association 1-0 at the
Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
Haitian defender Pierre Bruny netted the match winner and the game's
lone goal in the 55th minute of the match played on a heavy Lions
Den after early afternoon showers.
The conditions were made difficult following the first match in
which Carib's EFA counterparts WASA Clean and White whipped PFL team
Caledonia AIA 3-1, with goals from Saure Alvis in the 9th and 23rd
minutes and Darren Modeste in the 49th.
National selectee Conrad Smith scored the lone item for the
Morvant-based Caledonia outfit in the 17th minute.
After the match Joe Public's Yugoslavian coach Zoran Vranes said he
was pleased with his team's victory because it was his team's first
trophy for the year. He said however, he was not pleased because Joe
Public should have won by ten clear goals.
"We again played good and created many, many chances and the
result was supposed to be at least ten goals in our favour," he
said.
Vranes contract ends on December 31, 2001, but said, "Depending
on what the club wants he will stay on."
Pouncing on a ball that came off the crossbar, Bruny banged a volley
from inside the six-yard box that rebounded off goalkeeper Dexter
Absolum, who saved over the goal line.
Carib players protested, but referee Noel Bynoe ruled that the goal
was legitimate.
In the first half, Joe Public had most of the ball possession and
created several chances. However, Carib did well to close the first
half goalless with it's defensive structure, which saw the nearest
man would push out to stifle the opposition attacking play .
Joe Public march to the title started when they defeated defending
champions VIBE CT 105 W Connection 2-0 in their first round
encounter.
The runners-up will receive $30,000 and 25 silver medals, while the
beaten semifinalists with each receive $5,000.
The losing quarter-finalists will each get $2,000 and beaten second
round and first round teams will get $1,000 and $500 respectively.
Sponsors L-Sporto will also provide prizes for the best performance
by a non Professional League team, "Man of the Match" for
the final, best individual performance by a non-PFL player per
round, most promising players and player of the tournament.
Devon Mitchell of Arima Fire and Colin Samuel of CL Financial San
Juan Jabloteh are the tournament's leading scorers with five goals
each.
'Less players away, better it
is for us' says Warner.
By: Shaun Fuentes.
FIFA Vice President Jack Warner has
indicated that he no longer has interest in the exporting of local
players from Joe Public to foreign leagues.
Speaking in light of the recent success of the FIFA Under 17 World
Championship and the progress of the T&T senior team under the
current technical staff, Warner added that having the majority of
players at home will better serve the national team.
"I have no interest in exporting players. I am tired of
exporting players and then have difficulty in getting them back to
play for the country. We have reached a level where our players are
comparable with any player outside. I think that we if we are to
keep these players at home under our present Technical Director, we
shall achieved much more than if we export them. If our objective is
to showcase our skills to the world, Gold Cup, World Cup and
Olympics, then our players must stay here and train as a team and
now we have the facilities for training. We have the facilities and
now we have the best technical staff in the world. We are supposed
to have the funding shortly. There will be no excuses anymore,"
Warner said in an interview on the weekend.
The CONCACAF President mentioned that Joe Public midfielder Arnold
Dwarika continues to attract interest from Europe but has declined,
preferring to remain in the PFL.
"Nigel Pierre had to go to Egypt, he didn't want to go and I
said no problem. Another player had to go to Belgium and doesn't
want to go, I said okay. Dwarika (Arnold) is still being courted in
Europe, he doesn't want to go and I say okay no problem. I am not
concerned about the short term goals. My eyes are on the long term
goals," said Warner.
He also commented on the work of Professor Rene Simoes and his
assistants saying "The technical staff members are doing their
best with limited resources. We don't have enough funding at this
present time. But of course that will come. One of the biggest
assets to football here is Simoes himself. I think once we have
patience, we shall achieve."
PFL Commissioner Colin Prevatt obviously welcomed the thought of
T&T's best players remaining at home but added that it would
have to be the choice of the individual and the respective clubs.
"That has to be personal decision on the part of the player and
the club. We of course will be very happy if all the players decided
to ply their trade here because the best interest of T&T
football will be served by having the best pool of players right
here at home," said Prevatt.