Pro League’s CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh kicks off the Clico Cup against St Clair Coaching School of Tobago from 5 pm at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Scarborough on Saturday.
The four team tournament, which is the first of its kind, would take place in the sister isle Tobago from March 24-28 and all matches of the round rubbing tournament would take place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The feature team of the tournament is English Division One Club, Millwall FC and they would face the second Pro League Club of the tournament and another home team, Tobago United in the second match on the opening day.
According to Coach Terry Fenwick of San Juan Jabloteh the tournament was scheduled in Tobago to facilitate the English based Club and is also planning on having the tournament annually.
The Dwight Yorke Stadium is expected to attract huge amounts of supporters as the host island Tobago has two participating teams, Tobago United and St Clair Coaching School.
The Jabloteh coach also explained that Coloden Reef Hotel a British Company based in Tobago contributed a lot in bringing the English Club to the Caribbean island.
Speaking to ‘ttproleague.com’ during his first training session after arriving in Tobago, Fenwick said, “Millwall are here and Coloden Reef has done a lot to help with this tournament. They have decided to work with us on the long term and while we look to continue this tournament on a yearly,” said Fenwick.
He also added, “With the help of our sponsors we want to create a big name tournament which is the Clico Cup and have a lot of big name English Clubs in it. Next year we want to maybe have two or three foreign Clubs in the tournament and for us to give them some tough matches,” he said.
While Millwall is to field their reserve team with players all below the age of nineteen, Jabloteh, Tobago United and St Clair Coaching School would be fielding their senior teams.
Fenwick will use the tournament as a showcase for his young talents who are currently in his senior ranks and create opportunities such as the opportunities earned by Lester Peltier and Atulla Guerra with English Premiership Club Portsmouth.
“We’re very much a development Club and we are focused on bringing on the players faster and getting better contracts outside of Trinidad and Tobago. We’re hoping that Millwall would get a really good look at what we’ve got and see if they like any of it and maybe some of the local guys can get contracts outside.”
“Lester Peltier and Atulla Guerra have already received very lucrative offers by Premiereship Club Portsmouth which is great and we are looking to get more youngsters bigger better things,” said the former England international.
Looking ahead of the tournament Fenwick said, “There are all sorts of prizes up for grabs and we want to win it. We have trained extremely hard during our pre-season, so Millwall and the Tobago teams can expect very tough matches from us,” said the Jabloteh Coach who isn’t underestimating Pro League minnows, Tobago United.
“Tobago United’s head coach Peter Granville has been doing a great job over the last few years in the Pro League and although they have failed to get any victories, their performances have been growing in standard, so we cant take them lightly,” said the Jabloteh Coach.
CLICO Cup 2007
Match Day One
Saturday 24th March 2007
Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago
San Juan Jabloteh vs St Clair Coaching School – 5pm
Millwall FC vs Tobago United – 7pm
Match Day Two
Monday 26th March 2007
Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago
San Juan Jabloteh vs Tobago United – 5pm
Millwall FC vs St Clair Coaching School – 7pm
Match Day Three
Wednesday 28th March 2007
Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago
Tobago United vs St Clair Coaching School – 5pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Millwall FC – 7 pm