Nine Club Sando starters in the 2013 Toyota Classic final, including MVP Kern Cupid, were former W Connection players. However, Club Sando coach Anthony Streete maintains that his club is not yet a professional one.
“Because players migrated from W Connection to Club Sando, some are saying we are a pro team, ” Street declared. “We have footballers with Pro League experience, but right now we are a Super League team. We are aspiring to be a professional team next season.
He added: “All the guys working seven to four. We are not a professional team because they are employed elsewhere beside football. Nobody on a salary on the team. Men getting stipend.”
W Connection owner David John Williams hinted that the defection of local players from W Connection to community teams Point Fortin Civic Centre and Club Sando, is largely responsible for his club fielding several foreign-based players through the season. Connection won the 2011-2012 Pro League with a team of mostly young, local players.
Six of Connection’s starters in Saturday’s Toyota Classic final were local, and made the most impact as well. Jomal Williams and Hasim Arcia both scored; Neil Benjamin was a regular threat, and the former Japan, Italy and England-based midfielder Silvio Spann was a rock in centre midfield.
“What do you do when you lose 14 players after winning a championship in 2011-2012?” John-Williams said.
“We are about putting the best team on the pitch, and we are not breaking any rules.” “If you look at the Club Sando team, there were nine starters who were W Connection players,” John-Williams declared. “Some of them reneged on their contract.”