Jabloteh reject Celtic offer.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
Title contenders hold Connection
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh just cannot seem to get a fair deal these days. Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick told the Express that the Pro League club received an undisclosed offer from Scotland Premier League defending champions, Celtic, for 18-year-old midfielder Khaleem Hyland but were poised to reject it.
Celtic allegedly offer Hyland a one-year deal with the option of a second year but Fenwick said the terms were not suitable for the local club or player.
"It is not good enough," Fenwick said. "If we get a reasonable offer, no way would we stand in the player's way... The British transfer window closes on Wednesday so, unless things change by tomorrow, I cannot see anything happening until January."
Jabloteh were not having things their own way at the Manny Ramjohnn Stadium either as they were fortunate to escape with a goalless draw on Saturday night against bitter rivals, Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
Hyland played the full 90 minutes for Jabloteh but was upstaged by goalkeeper Cleon John who was in outstanding form as Connection threatened throughout.
"A cat's got nine lives and we used them all up," Fenwick told the TT Pro League website.
Saturday's draw meant that Jabloteh could drop three points behind present leaders, Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, if the latter team defeated Economy North East Stars yesterday.
For W. Connection, it was a case of two points dropped.
"We were able to penetrate their defence on four occasions and create clear cut chances," Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier told the TT Pro League, "and it shows that our guys were on top of their game, but as I have said, we just have a draw to show proof of it, because our finishing let us down."
Jabloteh failed to get three points from their last two outings before Saturday's kick off and did not look keen to do themselves any favours early on.
Teenaged right back Devon Jamerson squandered possession high up the pitch in the 11th minute, after Hyland and Jason Marcano were ponderous from a right side Jabloteh corner kick, and Connection's fresh faced strike pair sliced through the opposing backline.
Jonathan Frias played a clever pass to Dwight Scott who sprinted from the halfway line into the Jabloteh penalty area only to be denied by a superb John save low to his right.
John performed an encore, 19 minutes later, with another fine reflex save to deny Connection midfielder Ronaldo Viana while Scott and Frias also failed to capitalise on decent opportunities before the interval.
The trend continued in the second half with John clawing away another Frias shot in the 55th minute and looking on as Gefferson Goulart blasted the rebound over the bar.
"You know we will lose this match 1-0," muttered one frustrated Connection official.
Jabloteh tried to oblige.
Substitute Peter Byers, who replaced striker Cornell Glen, thrives as a lone centre forward-a tactical preference of Fenwick's-and nearly conjured up a winner, six minutes from time, when he barged into the penalty but hooked his effort wide of the last post.
National midfielder Trent Noel came close too but saw his low free kick fizz past the wrong side of the Connection upright in the 87th minute.
Jabloteh were left counting their blessings, though, as left back Marcelle Francois escaped a second caution after leaving his feet in a mistimed tackle on Connection right back Kern Cupid in stoppage time.
"I am seeing so much good stuff on the training ground but it is not carried on into the games," said Fenwick.
Jabloteh have found themselves at loggerheads with national senior team boss Wim Rijsbergen and under-23 coach Michael McComie recently and their mood would not have been lifted by a rejected work permit application for Lester Peltier -who was on the verge of a move to England Premiership team, Portsmouth - and a supposedly poor offer by Celtic for Hyland.
"We need a bit of confidence at the moment," said the Jabloteh coach.
Caledonia AIA must make the most of their counterparts' malaise.
San Juan Jabloteh: — Cleon John, Carlon Murray (capt), Ian Gray, Devon Jamerson, Marcelle Francois, Trent Noel, Khaleem Hyland, Elton John (Wendell Joseph 74th), Lester Peltier (Atullah Guerra 55th), Jason Marcano, Cornell Glen (Peter Byers 59th).
W Connection: — Marvin Phillip, Elijah Joseph (capt), Kern Cupid, Clyde Leon, Dwight Scott, Douglas Da Costa, Jose Luis Seabra, Ronaldo Viana, Gefferson Goulart (Leslie Fitzpatrick 75th), Christian Viveros (Hughton Hector 80th), Jonathan Farias (Earl Jean 67th).
