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29
Fri, Mar

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Not bad for a former fete match side.


No-one says W-who? anymore, but it must still give David John Williams more than a little satisfaction to see his football team prove time and again over the past seven years what can be achieved by someone determined to follow his dream.

Runaway leaders in their quest for another Professional League title, Vive CT 105 W-Connection will seek to add to their already considerable list of honours when they tackle CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh in this evening's final of the FCB Cup at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

As a resident of the general area, I would be less than honest not to claim more than just a passing interest in the welfare of Jabloteh.

However, losing to Connection is no disgrace and it is difficult to begrudge John Williams another slice of success in their 17th knockout final since 1999, for here is a man who has attempted to redefine the image of local football while turning a cherished fantasy into reality.

It just didn't seem to make sense. The undisputed king of friendly games talking big and bold about turning his side into a truly professional outfit on the way to reaching the top locally, then regionally then, who knows, internationally?

Then the Semi-Pro League came into being, followed by the Pro League, giving him the avenue to take his dream a step further.

It seemed nothing short of absurd to have such an obscure outfit involved in the country's top football competition just because the owner happened to have the money to meet the rather demanding financial obligations of the League.

More than that, the W-Connection attitude of professionalism, not just in name but nature, was almost completely alien to the loosely-organised chaos that typified the local game.

From the smartly-decorated team bus the players would arrive for their games, dressed to kill in their blazers and ties.

It soon became a source of much amusement when the Connection bandwagon rolled in, leaving hardened sceptics to wonder if this John Williams fella was just an eccentric in a fantasy world of his own.

He still dwells in that realm of the surreal because he not only talks big, but is prepared to put his money where his mouth is to promote his team and, by extension, football in Trinidad and Tobago.

Yet, from being just an oddity, Connection have developed into a consistently potent force, courting controversy along the way with the team owner's decision to sign up a handful of Brazilian players.

Already with a decent Caribbean presence in his squad, John Williams attracted the inevitable accusation of not only trying to buy his way to success but also limiting the opportunities for local players in packing his squad with a bunch of second-rate foreigners.

However, as unrealistic as it still seems, he keeps day-dreaming of great moments in grand arenas for his team and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get them there, even if it means taking a little licks from critics along the way.

Whether or not he scales the summit of his aspirations, John Williams' undaunted spirit and limitless enthusiasm typifies just what can be achieved with the right attitude and motivation.

Of course, he has the money to finance his ambitions, but so many others have similar resources yet lack the vision and enthusiasm to make their dreams come true.

A little obstacle, a little criticism and they are ready to throw in the towel. You can't have a thin skin and last for any length of time on the local football scene.

Since the advent of professional football in these parts, a few established names have faded from the scene. Some Johnny-come-latelys, like W-Connection, kicked off hot and sweaty. But unlike the Savonetta-based team, folded up operations almost completely or have since merged with other struggling franchises just to keep going.

In contrast, W-Connection continue to prosper on and off the field, working hard to maintain a high standard of performance that will ensure more trophies and titles, while also making the deals with clubs in the high-profile leagues in Europe and elsewhere that will earn the organisation substantial transfer fees and performance bonuses.

At the moment, striker Kenwyne Jones, now plying his trade at Southampton, represents the pinnacle of Connection's lucrative international connections.

With the club's impressive run of success attracting more and more of the country's best young players, John Williams must feel that the passage of time has proven him right in his gamble to go after foreign talent to gain results that would instantly lift the organisation's profile and therefore it's attractiveness to footballers nationwide.

One of the many valid criticisms of the present structure of local football is that supporters find it difficult to identify with many of the top teams because they are not traditionally associated with any particular community.

That is the challenge W-Connection are yet to conquer in the quest to develop grassroots support and long-term viability.

But you can rest assured that, win or lose tonight against Jabloteh, John Williams and his team of assistants are already thinking ahead, not that another trophy is anything to be scoffed at, especially as it will increase their players' market value and give the boss a bit more leverage when he connects with the next club chairman outside there in the quest to make a deal.