“It’s almost frightening coming up against Ma Pau this season,” warned Ma Pau SC Director of Football and senior team head coach Michael McComie when he revealed his 2010 squad on Monday morning at the Sweetlime Restaurant, Aripita Avenue.
McComie bolstered his already talented squad signing San Juan Jabloteh foursome of Joel Russell, Devon Jamerson, Lester Peltier and Elton John, Joe Public trio Alejandro Figueroa, Seon Powers and Keyeno Thomas, Cyd Gray of United Petrotrin—all former League winners—and Shane Calderon of Valtrin United earlier this month.
“We have invested heavily at the top,” continued the former League winning coach. “And we do expect quality.”
The new signings will join last season’s Lyndon Andrews, Trevin Caesar, Renne Britto, Dwayne James, Kerry Noray, Shandell Samuel, Aquil Selby, Shane Mattis, Mikeil Williams, Curtis Gonzales and Kevin Molino who have all renewed contracts.
McComie’s new signings had one thing in common, and that’s to win the Digicel Pro League championship—one step towards fulfilling the club’s dream of making the CONCACAF Champions’ League.
“I’m here to help Ma Pau to titles,” said defender Seon Powers who helped Bmobile Joe Public to an amazing five titles last season, including the League championship. “I can’t promise five titles for Ma Pau this season, but at least one.”
He also believes that the Ma Pau squad is made up of championship quality.
Fellow defender Keyeno Thomas said that his role will bring the team’s winning attitude, while former Jabloteh two-time League winning attacker, Lester Peltier, believes that the Woodbrook club is good enough to win championships.
Former Trinidad and Tobago U-23 duo Shane Calderon and Elton John had the League title at the tips of their tongues as well.
“My focus is to win the League with my new club,” said Calderon. “I’m delighted to be at Ma Pau and working with McComie again.
“Winning the League this season is my goal,” said John who won the League championship in 2007 and 2008 with Jabloteh. “I hope that my performances this season will also earn me a contract abroad.”
Michael McComie and assistant coach Angus Eve joined the club last season—only its second year as a professional outfit—replacing Ron La Forest who only managed a ninth place finish in its debut year.
McComie and Eve immediately proved themselves after promising a competitive team, which finished fifth in the League Championship along with creditable knockout performances.
“We came into the team with a three year program,” said McComie. “We didn’t know what resources we had available but knew that we were going to produce a competitive team.”
This time around McComie said, “We intend to reach the Champions’ League (after the upcoming season).
“The names we have included are former champions. And what I am sensing at the moment is that they all want to win. They all aspire to be in the starting lineup and that’s going to make our team stronger. They are all going to work the hardest this season,” he assured.
Speaking at the 2010 Ma Pau unveiling, invited guest and TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene applauded the club.
“I applaud Ma Pau for finishing 5th last season with such a short preparation period,” Skeene said. “And I expect to see great things from Ma Pau.”
Skeene reminded players that it was players from the Pro League who starred in the 2006 World Cup against England and to believe in their talents.
Ma Pau SC Technical Staff
Director of Football/Senior Team Head Coach—Michael McComie
Director of Youth Football/Senior Team Assistant Coach—Angus Eve
Team Managers—Yusuf Govia/Jill Paul
Goalkeeper Coach—Gefferson George
Physiotherapists—Earl Joseph/David Cumberbatch
Equipment Manager—Roy Beharry
Reserve Team
Coaches—Angus Eve/Nigel Grosvenor
U18
Coach—Ricardo Aleong
Resigned players
Lyndon Andrews
Trevin Caesar
Renne Britto
Dwayne James
Kerry Noray
Shandell Samuel
Aquil Selby
Shane Mattis
Mikeil Williams
Curtis Gonzales
Kevin Molino
New signings
Joel Russell (San Juan Jabloteh)
Devon Jamerson (San Juan Jabloteh)
Lester Peltier (San Juan Jabloteh)
Elton John (San Juan Jabloteh)
Alejandro Figueroa (Joe Public)
Seon Powers (Joe Public)
Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public)
Cyd Gray (United Petrotrin)
Shane Calderon (Valtrin United)
Ma Pau for Central American pre-season soccer tour.
By: Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).
Woodbrook-based Digicel T&T Pro League club, Ma Pau will embark on a pre-season tour of Central America from March 8-30 ahead of the domestic season.
This was confirmed by club coach and Technical Director, Michael McComie at a media briefing held to introduce its new signings for the 2010 season and returning players at Sweet Lime Restaurant, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, yesterday.
McComie and his assistant and close friend Angus Eve who led the club to a fifth place finish in the league last year in only their first season in charge on a three-year deal will commence training on Februray 1-11 before taking a break for the carnival festivities.
When the camp resumes on February 23, the players will journey to Tobago where according to McComie the bulk of the pre-season physical work will be done over a ten-day period.
The “Casino Boys” who have snapped up nine new players in the off-season incluing the trio of goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa, Seon Powers and Keyeno Thomas from last year’s dominant club, bmobile Joe Public will then depart for Panama City, Panama on March 8 where they will play two matches over a one-week period.
The matches in Panama are expected to include a clash with that country’s national Under-23 team.
The team then leaves for Colombia on March 14 for a two-week tour during which time they expected to play no fewer than four matches before returning home on March 8 ahead of the local season which is due to kick off by the second week in April.
During the trip to Central America, no fewer than eight Ma Pau players as stated by Mc Comie will be hopeful of attracting interest from other club.
“Because of the successes of players like Dwight Yorke, Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards everyone thinks that all the local players should focus on contracts in England, said Mc Comie.
“But you have to remember its not easy to get a work permit from countries like ours to play in England and at the same time we believe that there are other top quality leagues around the world or closer to home in Central and North America where our players can make an impact.
“Ma Pau is using the tour not just as preparation for the season but in the form of football business as well by exposing our players to foreign clubs which can generate revenue for our development programmes.
The fomer Jabloteh quartet of Joel Russell, Devon Jamerson, Lester Peltier and Elton John as well as United Petrotrin’s Cyd Gray and Valtrin United Shane Calderon have also been signed on long-term contracts. Looking at the dept of his sqaud Mc Comie said management has invested heavily in the team and by doing so will expect good results.
Mc Comie also announced the coming on stream of youth coaches Ricardo Aleong and Nigel “Grovy” Grosvenor, both of St Anthony’s College who along with Player Recruitment and Youth Development Officer Eve will oversee the Under-21 and Under-18 Division teams.
Ma Pau will also be represented by teams in the Under-16, Under-14 and Reserve Division (Under-21) where according to McComie, the club will be showcasing its Under-20 players alone.
In the technical department, experienced former national football team physiotherapist, David Cumberbatch as a new staff member. Dexter Skeene, chief executive of the Pro League said based on the signings Ma Pau has signalled its intentions for the 2010 season and beyond.
Skeene also urged Ma Pau as well as the other clubs to prepare the players for life after football while urging the players to help build the reputation of the local league.
In closing, Skeene squashed the fears of any players by boasting because of investors like John Wallace (Ma Pau), Jack Warner (Joe Public), David John-Williams (W Connection), Richard Fakoory (St Ann’s Rangers) and Jerry Hospedales (Jabloteh), all successful businessmen in their own right, the balance sheets of the league has never been better.