“Proud to be Malick.”
Those were once the watchwords of one of the most dominant team of the 1990s in secondary schools football.
Not since 2000 have Malick Secondary won anything at national level, but for Oba Samuel, yesterday was a proud moment; “especially because of where I am from,” stated the 19-year-old striker, who hails from Morvant, often referred as a crime hotspot.
Malick’s Samuel won the Golden Boot award, to share the spotlight with Male and Female Players of the Year Michael Chaves and J’Elisha Alexander at the Secondary Schools Football League’s 2023 season awards ceremony yesterday.
For Samuel, yesterday was a moment of high achievement, not just for winning the Golden Boot award, having scored the most goals for the season, despite Malick finishing just eighth in the 16 team boys Premier Division.
He was also named among the Top Five Premier Division Boys Footballers of the Year.
“I have to thank God for everything,” Samuel said. “It’s great. But it was not really a surprise because I have plenty confidence.”
Samuel has been lifted by the support that he has gotten from his family, community, team-mates and friends.
“That has lifted my confidence,” stated the Central Soccer World footballer, who also hopes one day to be a professional player.
His goals are: “To keep going forward, continue playing, and maybe get a scholarship. And who knows what else?”
Meanwhile, Chaves was not going to let a broken leg stop him from receiving his first Player of the Year title. The 17-year-old Fatima College player hopped in on crutches, a result of recently breaking his foot while playing for his local club Queen’s Park.
“It is a great achievement for me,” stated Chaves. “I just want to thank my coaches, all my family members and friends. This would not have been possible without them. For Chaves, the 2023 Player of the Year award was something he did not really expect.
“I just tried to play my best last season, and obviously, I impressed some people,” he said.
Chaves is on the mend and hopes that his broken leg will be a thing of the past by the time the 2024 season begins.
“It’s coming along,” he announced, “I am starting my rehab and in two weeks, I have my next surgery. Once that surgery is undergone, I will probably be able to recover and walk again.” ‘
2023 SSFL HONOUR ROLL
BOYS ALL STAR TEAM
Goalkeepers: Tristan Edwards (Fatima College ), Kanye Lazarus (Presentation College), Thane Devenish (St. Benedict’s College)
Defenders: Leshawn Morris (St. Benedict’s College), Akil Henry (Arima North Secondary), Josiah Cooper (Naparima College), Christia Bailey (Fatima College), J’Lon Matthews (Malick Secondary).
Midfielders: Jeremiah Niles (St. Benedict’s College), Josiah Ochoa (St. Benedict’s College) Nathan Quashie (San Juan North Secondary), Aalon Wilson - Wright (St. Anthony’s College ), Tau Lamsee (Queen’s Royal College).
Forwards: Lindell Sween (San Juan North Secondary), Kyle Phillip (St. Mary’s College Oba), Samuel (Malick Secondary), Malacai Webb (St. Benedict’s College), Michael Chaves (Fatima College).
TOP FIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
Michael Chaves (Fatima College), Christian Bailey (Fatima College), Lindell Sween (San Juan North Secondary), Kanye Lazarus (Presentation College), Oba Samuel (Malick Secondary).
Player of The Year:
Michael Chaves (Fatima College)
GIRLS ALL STAR TEAM
Goalkeepers: Janike Ramoutar (Pleasantville Secondary), Kimberlynn Rampersad (Miracle Ministries PHS ), Shivelle Williams (Scarborough Secondary).
Defenders: Mikalah Guerero (Pleasantville Secondary), Mikaela Yearwood (St. Joseph Convent POS ), Kiana Sandy (Five Rivers Secondary), Naomi Scott (Signal Hill Secondary), Dextra Harris (Scarborough Secondary), Midfielders: Orielle Martin (Bishops Anstey East), Luann Craig (Five Rivers Secondary), Jewel Benjamin (Miracle Ministries PHS) Natalia Gosine (Pleasantville Secondary), Makaylah Robley i(Scarborough Secondary) Kellecia Taylor Signal Hill Secondary
Forwards: J’Eleisha Alexander (Scarborough Secondary), Nikita Gosine (Pleasantville Secondary), Talia Martin (Scarborough Secondary), Myeisha Cox (San Juan North Secondary).
Top 5 Players of the Year
Luann Craig (Five Rivers Secondary), J’Eleisha Alexander (Scarborough Secondary), Nikita Gosine (Pleasantville Secondary) Talia Martin, (Scarborough Secondary), Dextra Harris (Scarborough Secondary).
Player of the Year
J’Eleisha Alexander (Scarborough Secondary).
SOURCE: T&T Express
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