Soca Warriors News Room.

05-May-2008.

Jabloteh overcome Caledonia hurdle.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).

Stallions hobbled

Underestimate Clico San Jan Jabloteh at your own peril. Much has been said of the defending Pro League champion football team's supposedly unsporting tactics in the transfer market and the sometimes abrasive touchline behaviour of head coach Terry Fenwick. But the root of Jabloteh's success runs deeper than a hefty cheque book and raucous boss.

Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA got close to a result on Saturday night before Jabloteh captain Trent Noel decided the contest, 2-1 in favour of the San Juan club, with a breathtaking stoppage time free kick. Champions make their own luck.

The "Eastern Stallions" played their trademark fluent football in spurts but, on the balance of play, Jabloteh were marginally better. Neither team lacked motivation or ambition but Jabloteh won the majority of their individual battles around the field.

Caledonia coach Jamaal Shabazz expressed outrage at Jabloteh's pre-season poaching of former talisman and 2007 Pro League MVP Marvin Oliver and their alleged overtures towards St Lucian star and team captain Sheldon Emmanuel. Emmanuel, according to Shabazz, was so distracted by Jabloteh's illegal approaches that the coach decided to omit arguably his most valuable player for the key weekend match-up.

Saturday was billed as a day of revenge for the have-nots against the supposedly arrogant champions. Jabloteh do not appear to need motivational gimmicks to spur on their employees, though, as just crossing the white line in a green shirt seems a victory in itself.

Oliver started proceedings on the substitutes' bench as did defenders Karlon Murray, Jason Cudjoe and Nigel Daniel-Murray and Cudjoe were stalwarts in Jabloteh's title success last season while Daniel has 26 international caps and is still in his mid-20s.

Fenwick is neither a respecter of reputations nor a slave to sentiment and his fearless nature was replicated in the approach of his youthful squad.

Caledonia midfielder and 2006 World Cup player Densill Theobald must have considered the Jabloteh meeting as a perfect opportunity to remind local fans of what he has to offer but 20-year-old Jabloteh playmaker Ataullah Guerra and his teenaged teammate Devon Jamerson were not in an indulgent mood.

Caledonia started brighter with a high press and the fleet footed work of Hayden Tinto and Kendall Velox but, as soon as Jabloteh started to physically impose themselves, they went ahead.

Another teenager, Robert Primus, got the opener with an opportunistic close ranged finish in the 35th minute as Caledonia goalkeeper Michael Woods and defender Howard Lowe distracted each other from the task of clearing a Jabloteh set piece.

The deficit should have doubled, three minutes later, as Antiguan marksman Peter Byers failed to convert after a Guerra through pass found him in space behind the Caledonia defence.

Caledonia were first out the blocks again in the second half as winger Abdullah Phillips went close before striker Nigel Codrington was barged over by Primus in the opposing penalty area. Referee Nigel Roberts looked the other way.

Caledonia finally caught a break in the 57th minute with a touch of class from Theobald whose threaded pass to Velox panicked Jabloteh goalkeeper Daurance Williams into bringing down the veteran Vincentian.

Kareem Joseph's mocked his "Tiny" stage name with a defiant penalty kick down the middle as Williams dived to his left.

Within seconds, Fenwick introduced Oliver while former Vibe CT 105 W. Connection talisman Earl Jean also came off the bench. But Caledonia looked good enough to preserve the point.

At the 90th minute mark, Caledonia had possession deep in Jabloteh territory too. But another ponderous touch from Theobald allowed right back Elton John to strip him before launching a counter-attack that was ended crudely by Caledonia captain Charles Pollard, 23 yards from his own goal.

Noel did not disappoint with a brilliant curler into the near corner that gave Woods no chance. The captain has now managed a goal in each of his last three outings.

Last season, Bmobile Joe Public coach Michael McComie spoke disparagingly about Jabloteh's effort to conquer the local competition with "kids". But it is Fenwick's ability to spot and inspire new, youthful talent that remains his club's best asset.

For all their bluster and despite the close result, Saturday's outing was a wake-up call to Caledonia and their playmaker, Theobald. Jabloteh set a high standard to match.

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