The 2012 Oasis T&T Youth Pro League will kick off on Sunday with matches being contested in all three divisions, the under-14, under-16 and the under-18.
Champions W Connection, who won both the under-13 (now under-14) and under-15 (now under-16) divisions last season, will be looking to retain their league titles outright, while the under-18 (formerly under-17) division will see a new champion, with the absence of 2011 league winners Joe Public FC, who, as in the case with the senior outfit, will sit out proceedings for the 2012 season.
The clubs, all of which also compete in the senior Digicel TT Pro League are as follows: W Connection, San Juan Jabloteh, Police FC, St Ann’s Rangers, North East Stars, Defence Force, T&TEC and Caledonia AIA.
The Youth Pro League, the highest level of competitive football in T&T for players under the age of 18, was described by Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene as the “lifeblood of your clubs,” when the official launch of the 2012 season was held at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road, yesterday. “It is the breeding ground for our senior national footballers.
Some of those have been nurtured, shaped, and sharpened, while representing the various clubs, in the bowels of the Oasis Youth League and have gone on to represent (the) country at the various levels,” said Skeene. He identified Sheldon Bateau, Devorn Jorsling, Leston Paul, Daneil Cyrus, Andrei Pacheco and Shahdon Winchester as some of the notable players, who went on to represent T&T as a product of the Youth League.
For the third consecutive season Oasis—a bottled water product of SM Jaleel & Co Ltd—has pumped $50,000 into the league’s administration, in addition to its contribution of bottled water to the eight clubs, on their match days.
League CEO reminded clubs during Oasis Youth League launch - youth teams are the lifeblood.
ttproleague.com.
TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene urged clubs at the youth division to continue doing their best in the development of young footballers, speaking at the launch of the 2011-12 season Oasis Youth Pro League on Thursday afternoon at the Hasely Crawford Stadium VIP Loungue.
Eight clubs, W Connection, San Juan Jabloteh, Caledonia AIA, T&TEC FC, North East Stars, Defence Force, St. Ann’s Rangers and Police FC will contest each other in two rounds of U14, U16 and U18 divisions during fourteen (14) weeks of competition beginning on Sunday 04 March and ending Sunday 24 June.
“The youths are the future of the League,” said Skeene. “…we must embrace them. We must nurture their passion, talent and potential.
I call on the clubs to do their best to continue to put their best efforts into their youth programmes because it is the lifeblood of our club. It is the future. It is the breeding ground for our Senior National footballers, some of those who have been natured, shaped and sharpened while representing the various clubs in the bowels of the Oasis Youth Pro League.”
Last season’s U13 and U15 winners, W Connection will take on rivals San Juan Jabloteh on Sunday at the Gilbert Park, Couva in the U14, U16 and U18 divisions from 10am, 2pm and 4pm respectively in Round One.
Defence Force will host North East Stars at the Haig Street Recreation Ground, Carenage in all three divisions, St. Ann’s Rangers are hosts to T&TEC FC at the Mucurapo East Secondary School Ground and Police FC against Caledonia AIA at the St. Joseph Convent Ground.
Shireen Ali, Brand Marketing Manager at SM Jaleel and Company Limited, the parent company for Oasis water spoke on behalf of the sponsor in its third year relationship with the Youth Pro League saying, “We are proud to be a supporting figure in the development of our youths.
This, the third year of our sponsorship of the Youth League, is testimony to our commitment to the advancement of youth pro football in Trinidad and Tobago. We recognise the youth league as very integral to the development of our future leaders of the nation.”
Skeene praised the support of Oasis adding, “I congratulate Oasis for their vision and foresight in investing in the young people of this country, while sponsors would settle for the bright lights and publicity at the senior levels. Oasis understands that development is long term and they are showing that like the TT Pro League, they have the faith in the talent and ability of our young footballers.”
The League CEO added, “Football is the number one sport in the world and by extension Trinidad and Tobago and we must use this popularity to do our best to create a positive impact and impression. It would be a travesty therefore if we did not use this activity to make a difference in the lives of the young footballers who are impacted daily in a very meaningful way by our League and clubs.”
This season the Youth League will also be working in collaboration with the Heroes Foundation with regards to the social aspect to have programs for, not only our players, but for the youngsters who are involved in and with the Heroes Foundation revealed Skeene.
He said, “Sports in general, and in particular football provide an opportunity to learn life skills such as fairplay, teamwork, tolerance and teaches us to strive for excellence. It builds self esteem and self discipline. It can also foster healthy lifestyle choices.”
Oasis Youth Pro League 2011-12 season
Round One Match Day One
Sunday 04 March 2012
Haig Street Recreation Ground, Carenage
Defence Force vs North East Stars—10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
St. Joseph Convent Ground
Police FC vs Caledonia AIA—10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
Gilbert Park
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh--10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
Mucurapo East Secondary
St. Ann’s Rangers vs T&TEC FC--10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
ttproleague.com.
TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene urged clubs at the youth division to continue doing their best in the development of young footballers, speaking at the launch of the 2011-12 season Oasis Youth Pro League on Thursday afternoon at the Hasely Crawford Stadium VIP Loungue.
Eight clubs, W Connection, San Juan Jabloteh, Caledonia AIA, T&TEC FC, North East Stars, Defence Force, St. Ann’s Rangers and Police FC will contest each other in two rounds of U14, U16 and U18 divisions during fourteen (14) weeks of competition beginning on Sunday 04 March and ending Sunday 24 June.
“The youths are the future of the League,” said Skeene. “…we must embrace them. We must nurture their passion, talent and potential.
I call on the clubs to do their best to continue to put their best efforts into their youth programmes because it is the lifeblood of our club. It is the future. It is the breeding ground for our Senior National footballers, some of those who have been natured, shaped and sharpened while representing the various clubs in the bowels of the Oasis Youth Pro League.”
Last season’s U13 and U15 winners, W Connection will take on rivals San Juan Jabloteh on Sunday at the Gilbert Park, Couva in the U14, U16 and U18 divisions from 10am, 2pm and 4pm respectively in Round One.
Defence Force will host North East Stars at the Haig Street Recreation Ground, Carenage in all three divisions, St. Ann’s Rangers are hosts to T&TEC FC at the Mucurapo East Secondary School Ground and Police FC against Caledonia AIA at the St. Joseph Convent Ground.
Shireen Ali, Brand Marketing Manager at SM Jaleel and Company Limited, the parent company for Oasis water spoke on behalf of the sponsor in its third year relationship with the Youth Pro League saying, “We are proud to be a supporting figure in the development of our youths.
This, the third year of our sponsorship of the Youth League, is testimony to our commitment to the advancement of youth pro football in Trinidad and Tobago. We recognise the youth league as very integral to the development of our future leaders of the nation.”
Skeene praised the support of Oasis adding, “I congratulate Oasis for their vision and foresight in investing in the young people of this country, while sponsors would settle for the bright lights and publicity at the senior levels. Oasis understands that development is long term and they are showing that like the TT Pro League, they have the faith in the talent and ability of our young footballers.”
The League CEO added, “Football is the number one sport in the world and by extension Trinidad and Tobago and we must use this popularity to do our best to create a positive impact and impression. It would be a travesty therefore if we did not use this activity to make a difference in the lives of the young footballers who are impacted daily in a very meaningful way by our League and clubs.”
This season the Youth League will also be working in collaboration with the Heroes Foundation with regards to the social aspect to have programs for, not only our players, but for the youngsters who are involved in and with the Heroes Foundation revealed Skeene.
He said, “Sports in general, and in particular football provide an opportunity to learn life skills such as fairplay, teamwork, tolerance and teaches us to strive for excellence. It builds self esteem and self discipline. It can also foster healthy lifestyle choices.”
Oasis Youth Pro League 2011-12 season
Round One Match Day One
Sunday 04 March 2012
Haig Street Recreation Ground, Carenage
Defence Force vs North East Stars—10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
St. Joseph Convent Ground
Police FC vs Caledonia AIA—10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
Gilbert Park
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh--10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)
Mucurapo East Secondary
St. Ann’s Rangers vs T&TEC FC--10am (U14), 2pm (U16), 4pm (U18)