Ma Pau jackpot in Media 21 football
Friday, October 26 2007
MA PAU, playing their first season in the Media 21 Limited- sponsored Northern Football Association Premier Division, won the Group “A” title.
And they also reached the final of the League Cup series with a 3-0 shut out of Police. Akiel Fairbain netted a double and Wendell Douglas got the other goal for the newcomers. Earlier, Ma Pau ripped apart QPEFA 5-0 in a quarter-final match with Irvin Rullow netting twice while Sheldon Carimbocas, Steffon Peters and Keremme Goddard got one goal each. Police shut out Petit Valley United 4-0 on goals by Anslem Coa, Garfield Ambrose, Kevin Morang and Kelon Williams.
And St Francois Nationals whipped Harvard 4-1 with Lorne Joseph scoring a double, Mario Assoon and Keron Edwards, one each. Shawn Ramdoo got the consolation. In league action, Ma Pau sealed the group title with a 8-0 hammering of Fire Services on Sunday.
Akiel Fairbain helped himself to a hat-trick of goals, while Sheldon Taylor (two) and Wendell Douglas, Kevin Quintero and Rennie Estwick (one apiece) also scored.
And Superstar Rangers who finished runners-up shut out last season’s champions Alcoa Carenage United 2-0 on goals by Keith Willams and Winston Guy. Queen’s Park held third with a 3-1 win over Malvern with Devon Alleyne scoring twice and Brendon Barry the other. Djerrel Sebro got the consolation goal. St Francois Nationals put themselves within reach of the Group “B” title when they whipped Medianet Orie 3-0 on a Keron Edwards double and another goal by Lorne Joseph.
They now top the standings with 38 points from 16 matches with two more to play. But Police have 35 points with four matches still to complete their schedule. Maple moved up to fourth after edging QPEFA 1-0 on Gerard Martin’s goal.
Ma Pau is a Casino in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. The casino's gaming space features fifty gaming machines and three table and poker games.
Ma Pau Sports Club are the newest members of the T&T Pro League following weeks of negotiations.
The Northern Football Association (NFA) team come into the competition at the expense of Police SC, who dropped out following a directive from Police Commissioner Trevor Paul preventing police officers from participating in sporting events outside the service during working hours.
Also back are Tobago United, who finished last in 2007 but remained in the line-up after promoted Super League champions WASA FC could not meet the financial requirements to join the Pro League.
On Thursday afternoon at the League's office in Valpark Shopping Plaza, Valsayn, the T&T Pro League's board of directors granted Ma Pau membership after lengthy discussions were held concerning several applications from teams wanting to join the professional league.
The directors found that Ma Pau met the requirements of the League in terms of their financial and administrative capability.
Commenting on the League's newest members, T&T Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene said: "I expect that they would be able to give a creditable performance. And with their managerial expertise they would be able to effectively run a professional unit able to compete in the professional league and that's why the board of directors saw it fit to add Ma Pau as one of the teams in the League for 2008.
"They will bring a wealth of experience to the League in areas of managerial and coaching positions with Louis Charles (manager) and Ron La Forest (coach) on board."
Skeene is fully aware the Ma Pau club have a short history, but added: "They have people around them with years of involvement in business and football."
He made reference to Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA in 2007, stating: "Their performance improved 100-fold when proper management systems were implemented and, as a result, they were able to challenge for the championship. I think a major part was the addition to their staff of persons like Brian Lewis, along with the involvement of Neal & Massy Limited, who were able to lend their expertise. I expect that the same thing would happen to a team like Ma Pau. I'm sure that they will not come into the Pro League with the same team that they had last season in the North Zone."
Ma Pau SC manager Louis Charles told ttproleague.com that his club have been granted the resources by Ma Pau Members' Club to create a top professional club.
"We have the backing to be a top-notch professional club. We have been given the resources and it's now up to us, the members of the football club, to know how to use these resources to create what our bosses want, which is a top professional club," said Charles.
Ma Pau SC, hailing from Woodbrook, Port of Spain, were formed in May 2007 and have already been successful, finishing runners-up in the North Zone and winning both the Superstar Cup and League Knockout competitions last season.
They are coached by former Trinidad and Tobago international Ron La Forest, who will carry the team into the top flight. He will have the task of getting them ready for the 2008 T&T Pro League season, which kicks off on April 5.
And despite having little time to prepare for the new season, La Forest believes Ma Pau will be competitive in their first campaign at the Pro League level.
"People might think that the big clubs have already grabbed up all the talent, but it's not so," he said.
La Forest conducted open trials for his senior team for four days last week and will have more sessions this week at King George V Park in St Clair in efforts to select the best possible squad for their debut season.
"We had a fantastic turnout of players showing keen interest of becoming part of Ma Pau football club. It will be a tough season for us but although we are the 'new kids on the block', we will be competitive," assured La Forest.
