Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on December 20, 2010, 10:05:36 AM
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One of T&T's unsung heroes recognized today.
By: Inshan Mohammed.
At one time, he was considered one of the best right-wingers in Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, he was so good that his best friend and Defence Force teammate Pamphille and his wife Lydia gave their son his name and made him his God father.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Soca Warriors Online (SWO) would like to introduce you to one of T&T's unsung heroes Mr. Kenwyn Cooper; and if you're wondering who his godson is, it's none other than current Stoke City star-forward Kenwyne Jones.
Kenwyn told Socawarriors.net, he christened Kenwyne as a child and after that he didn't see much of him, because they were both based in opposite sides of the Island. In spite of this he feels a strong sense of pride for his godson and still follows the striker’s success.
Getting To Know Kenwyn
Kenwyn and I sat down on a chilly Friday night at my home in New York and got to know each other a little better. Kenwyn told me that he wanted to finally meet "Flex" in person, one of the main men responsible for the Soca Warriors Online. The other of course is his longtime pal, Nigel Myers.
Cooper is also one of SWO biggest supporters and for your information he goes by the member name Coops (guys, cut him a break.).... He is also addicted to the website and does not miss a day away from it as many of the SWO diehards can relate.
Cooper, the most polite and friendly person you could meet, showed up at my door in his SUV after driving almost 9 hours from Virginia Beach to visit his wife, he took a detour to finally meet “yours truly”. Coops was so happy to meet me that he shook my hands at least three times and his eyes were glossy as to say he almost wanted to shed a tear or two He said: "Flex, I didn't realize you were so young. I was expecting someone much older." That made my day! Yes, I am young and still look it, but I assumed the gloss in his eyes blinded him and he didn't notice the hidden gray hairs on my head. In any case, I was flattered. A few months ago in New York I also had the pleasure of meeting another SWO member, Weary1969. I wonder what she thought.... :-)
Getting to know Coop's.
In January 2010 Coops was hit by the most terrible news anyone could bear. After months of problems with his body mainly his bladder, Coops finally decided to make the trip to the doctor only to find out that he had a tumor in his bladder. To make matters worse the doctor informed him that the tumor was malignant. In other words he had cancer of the bladder.
Now only half the size he was, Coops is literally a moving hospital and basically lives on chemo and other cancer treatment devices. You would think he would be down and out under such circumstances, but not Coops. He is full of life, happy as a puppy and is just enjoying his life to the fullest. If he hadn't told me he had been diagnosed with cancer, I would have never known.
His Career
It all started on the field for Kenwyn at a small club in Cocorite called Paragon FC before moving to Defence Force in the 1970's. He played there until the early 80’s. Defence Force as we all know were the top team in those days as they were frequent winners of the Semi-Professional League and to play for such a team at that time one had to be outstanding.
Cooper, who only wore the number 13 jersey, came up against many top players in the League. Two noteworthy players he rubbed shoulders with at times and came up against in the league are Leroy Spann and best friend Noel "Sammy" Llewellyn, both of whom played for Caroni and Essex respectively.
At Defence Force Cooper also played alongside Ron LaForest, Ron’s brother Lennox, Charlie Spooner, Milton Archibald (Warren Archibald's brother), Bert Neptune, Sam Phillip, Francis Furlonge, Grantley Maxwell, Arab Nelson, Kenny Joseph, Winston Phillips who by the way happens to be the brother of current TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips. Winston is also known for his long throws and was part of the team that was robbed of glory in Haiti during the 1973 World Cup qualifiers. His throws caused the Haitian goalkeeper Henri Francillon and his defenders; Pierre Bayonne, Arsène Auguste, Claude Barthelemy and captain Wilner Nazaire all sorts of heartaches. I forgot to mentioned that T&T's Steve David finished the 1973 tournament in Haiti with 7 goals, 2 more than Haiti's Emmanuel Sanon.
At Army Kenwyn also played against many international opponents at CONCACAF level, and he remembers one in particular during encounters with Haiti's Violette FC. Coops said that Philippe Vorbe was the best midfielder he had ever witnessed and that he would put Latapy in the shade with his vision and ability to stay in one area and control the entire Haitian team. Coops also remembered how Vorbe played with his sock rolled down and no chine guards. Thank God Tobago-Born hard rocker defender Cyd Gray was still a toddler then.
His T&T Career
Born in Blanchissuese on September 26th, 1948 and grew up in San Juan Coops was neighbors with another T&T great Leopold Sookram. Sookram many know today as Bobby, the South born midfielder, and at that time he played for North Base team Maple and was based in San Juan. Coops reminded me that Bobby Sookram’s goal scoring average of above 45 goals per season and he scored a remarkable 110 goals for Maple in three years.
Kenwyn had such a fantastic season with Army that he was called up to represent Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team, though he was never entered into our database here at the SWO because of the lack of recorded information in those days and Coops never kept records himself. His best days in the Red, White and Black have gone unnoticed to this day.
Coops played for Trinidad and Tobago between 1974 to 1975, and played under coach Edgar Vidale. He played in such tournaments as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualifiers respectively. There were no restrictions when it came to Olympic football, and T&T fielded their senior team in the said tournament. Maybe this was one of the reasons he's not on the SWO database as players who participated in those tournaments were not officially recorded in the history books of T&T football.
His time with T&T saw Coops rubbing shoulders with many great talents such as Earl Carter, Noel Llewellyn, Russell Tesheira, Buggy Haynes, Mike Grayson, Lawrence Rondon, Tom Phillips, Steve Khan, Sydney Augustine, Selwyn Murren (capt), Winston Phillips and Leon Carpette to name a few. Cooper was a hard working right-wing midfielder who had great pace and a powerful kick. His crossing ability would have left current Ipswich Town winger Carlos Edwards blushing. Unfortunately, for all his hard work the former John Donaldson student has one goal to show and that came against Suriname on April 26, 1976 in the Oval during an Olympic qualifier. He was proud of that goal and it showed as tears almost coming out of his eyes when he told me, the game ended 1-1, Coops with the equalizer. Coops also found that the Surinamese team was a force in those days and had a player called Edwin Schal who was a talent he adored dearly. Unfortunately, T&T paid the price and bowed out as the 1-1 draw wasn't enough, Suriname had won the first-leg 2-0 in Paramaribo on April 19th.
Coaching Career.
After his glory days as a player, Cooper took his success off the field when he coached San Juan Senior Comprehensive to the SSFL and InterCol East titles respectively in 1987. The team was captained by Louis Legendre and Robert Banfield and lost 1-0 to a Chris Brice own goal in the InterCol finals against Signal Hill who had stars Dwight Yorke and Colvin Hutchinson on their team. San Jan SC also placed 4th in the Big Four tournament.
Cooper was also a trainer for a national under 16 team which was packed with talent such as Russell Latapy, Clint Marcelle, Colin Rocke, Ansley Weeks and Ross Russell and played some role in developing these players. He mentioned that he was and still is shocked that Collin Rocke was never called up by Trinidad and Tobago senior team and that the midfielder was a more complete player than Latapy and Marcelle. Coops said “You could have put him anywhere on the field and when it came to dribbling he had the tools as well.” Coops further added that Rocke, Marcelle and Latapy use to terrorize defences and they where the three top midfielders in the country at that time.
He took his career further when he coached ECM Motown in the Arthur Suite League (ASL) before being asked by then T&T head coach Everald "Gally" Cummings to coach a Trinidad and Tobago national senior B-Team.
That B-team was comprised of players who were some of the best the country had to offer, with the likes of Elliot Allen, Clint Marcelle, Garfield DeSilva, Timothy Haynes, Kelvin Jones, Dexter Lee, Ivan Sampson, Richard Chinapoo, Nevick DeNoon and Anthony Sherwood.
Both Cooper and his assistant in former St Benedicts College coach Jan Steadman took that T&T B-team to the 1989 Shell Cup final group stage before being dropped by Jack Warner. Coops and his entire team were disbanded by Warner because the players wanted the same treatment that Gally's Strike Squad (A-Team) were getting.
Despite some impressive results in the group stage (Zone A) here in Trinidad and Tobago, Coops disclosed that the TTFF blamed the 1-0 lost to Grenada as the excuse to dismantling the team. T&T were 11-0 winners over Aruba which was probably one of the biggest wins in the history of the tournament, a 3-1 win over French Guyana and Coops’ “Army” was also victorious over St Kitts (2-0). The already qualified T&T then finished the semi-final group with a 1-0 lost to none other than Grenada.
Everald Cummings then continue where Cooper left off and won its opener in the final group stage against host Barbados (3-0) but stumbled on it's way to the final as Guadeloupe had defeated T&T 2-0, then it was a 1-0 Barbados victory over Guadeloupe that got Gally's team into the final and T&T made no mistakes this time when they won 2-1 in the final against Grenada off a Dwight Yorke double to win the 1989 Caribbean Shell Cup. It was July 9th 1989, the Strike Squad created history, the team field players such as Marvin Faustin, Russell Latapy, Clayton Morris, Philbert Jones, Marlon Morris and Dwight Yorke became Caribbean champs for the first time, the Shell Cup was born.
The Caribbean Cup, known then as the Shell Cup, before becoming the Copa Caribe began in 1989. The Caribbean Cup is a tournament for the CFU currently contested biannually (in odd years). The Caribbean Cup is also a qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Coops further disclosed that while he was coach of the T&T team he had to work under very harsh and unprofessional conditions. He said the arrangements were very poor and there was always a rush to do things because decisions were made at the last minute. For example, he remember one moment before training was over everyone on the team was gathered together and were rushed off to Curacao for a tournament comprising of 3 teams and two games in two days. Fortunately T&T won the tournament, however, while on the airplane Coop's learned from reading the newspaper that his team was playing St Lucia the very next day. To make matters worse, he also learnt that half of his team was scheduled to fly off to Puerto Rico to join Gally's Strike Squad (A-Team) who was there for a training camp. As a result of this Coops’ under strength T&T side lost 1-0 to St Lucia.
Coops Migrated
Shortly after, Cooper being disheartened by his experience coaching T&T left Trinidad and decided to try his luck in the United States. His first stop was New York where he stayed with close friend Charlie Spooner before jetting off to Philadelphia and finally settled in Virginia where he is now based. After all those years Coops has gotten over the Trini-tabancca and is happily living his life to the fullest.
Did You Know
It was all uphill for Cooper after he left T&T shores. He had his own coaching school in Virginia. It was called Cooper's Soccer World. He trained players, had training camps, team sessions and clinics. He was also the Technical Director for Norfolk United and Director of Coaching at United Soccer.
Kenwyn Cooper carries a number of awards and badges which includes; National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA Advanced Diploma), USSF National Youth License, FIFA Certified Solidarity coach (Trinidad and Tobago), Special Olympics (Caribbean Training school) and to top it off he was a 10-time Championship winner with Defence Force.
Now retired, Cooper enjoys watching the Trinidad and Tobago national teams, surfing the SWO and seeing his relatives play football. He is also a fond admirer and a relative of current under 17 women’s team striker Liana Hinds who rips up the net for T&T. You would remember her goal scoring exploits against Nigeria and Chile in T&T's historic 2010 Women’s U-17 World Cup appearance.
Kenwyn, 62, a father of three and happily married seemed to have strong genes when it comes to football. His daughter Tricia Cooper, 34, also donned the Red, White and Black and is retired as a player but is currently the assistant coach of Florida University Women's team.
The SWO family would like to extend heartwarming greetings to Mr Kenwyn Cooper and his family during this festive season and wish him a full and speedy recovery. Do what you can my friend and what you cannot do, let the Almighty do the rest.
Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.
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Well done Flex; It was very encouraging, uplifting and inspiring to read the tribute and accolades of
Mr. Cooper.
These profiles of our local heroes ought to be a regular feature in our daily news and our daily lives. Given the times we live in, and given the propensity for the daily news to be covering rampant crime and alleged illegal activities of our leaders in government, who could we look up to for role models? what ideological frames do we have to guide us through these turbulent times?
I recently came back from Trinidad after attending the funeral for my grandmother who was 100, as I reflected on her lifetime and read her stories, it brought to light the immense changes in all aspects of our lives. Your feature article here captures a legendary episode of a different era and times that we often discard and forget.
As someone who grew up in that time period, it was enlightening to read of the names of those who have gone on before us and to recall a different time in our legacy.
All the best Mr. Cooper for all your contributions. I read continue to read your astute comments daily. I know we have shared some p.m.s and I appreciate your opinions.
Thanks Flex, for your ongoing and progressive features on this site.
Best of health and happiness to all our forgotten 'Warriors'
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Flexos, Coops. Thanks! Season greetings!
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a great read flex. this coop's is an inspiration to all. we need people like him around our football to impart wisdom and guidance to the up and coming ballers.
season's greetings to all!
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All the best Coops, will definitely keep you and the family in my thoughts and prayers.. bless.
Thank you Flex
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Coop's, Cornell from the Cocorite area and he is only wear #13. That is because he used to idolise you or what?
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Coops u are a true Warrior! Blessings to u and yours and speedy recovery breds! :beermug:
Another boss write up Flex! :thumbsup:
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I have developed a lot of relationships on this site but none has come as close to the man himself Flex,i spoke to him a couple of times on the phone but always wanted to meet him in person,i must say it was a pleasure meeting him and his family,like me he is dedicated to T&T Football and longs for the day when the game can give us the joy we once had.
Flex i just want to wish You and your Family all the best for the Christmas holidays.
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so with a bit of water in my eyes..thanks Flex.. and coops..be strong and be good...blessings man
I saw Coops play for army many times..and also for tnt...respect
COOPER 13
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Respect Coop's. Here's hoping for improved health in the New Year and beyond.... :beermug:
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Coop's even though we bump heads from time to time it's always a pleasure to read your contributions, you are a definite asset to not only SWO, but TnT football in general, and I'm happy that you're finally getting your just due. I know it's been a couple years since we last talk but that will change soon. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. All the best for the season :beermug:
Great job again Flex... and I agree with A.B., it would be nice to have a regular feature like this on some of our other unsung heroes (posted either here or on WN.com), and to have a feature on some of our other forumites like Deeks, Trevor etc... men who might also have some footballing insight from years past.
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Keep the Faith my brother- Healing. I am curious about COOPs take on Latapy as a coach.
Coops is from a generation of ballers who gave blood, sweat and tears for T&T and played to the final whistle. Importantly they were very professional with respect to personal training and fitness levels.
Christmas Blessings
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Kenwyn had such a fantastic season with Army that he was called up to represent Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team, though he was never entered into our database here at the SWO because of the lack of recorded information in those days and Coops never kept records himself.
Coops played for Trinidad and Tobago between 1974 to 1975, and played under coach Edgar Vidale. He played in such tournaments as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualifiers respectively. There were no restrictions when it came to Olympic football, and T&T fielded their senior team in the said tournament. Maybe this was one of the reasons he's not on the SWO database as players who participated in those tournaments were not officially recorded in the history books of T&T football.
Yeh, de reason he is not in de database is because the matches in those tournaments are not considered senior internationals, which is what our database currently tracks. However, there are plans to expand the scope of the database, so he will be in there at some point.
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Coops.... :salute: :salute:
I've known of you since you coached SJ and my dad knew of you even longer. I didn't know about the cancer diagnosis and I'm sorry to hear about that but, I wish you a full recovery.
I'm glad Flex decided to do a spot on you b/c your contributions are immense. All the best my friend and again, god speed on the recovery.
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Thanks Flex, and Coops I wish you a speedy recovery.
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Keep the Faith my brother- Healing. I am curious about COOPs take on Latapy as a coach.
Coops is from a generation of ballers who gave blood, sweat and tears for T&T and played to the final whistle. Importantly they were very professional with respect to personal training and fitness levels.
Christmas Blessings
The thing with me is i try most times to give views and opinions on people i've dealt with,have seen or knows about.We know Latapy the player but never knew Latapy the Coach and we all raised our expectations only to be disappointed,i'm not here to say weather Latas have enough experience to coach a national or not because in my time none of our Coaches at club or international levels had any so called qualifications,what they had going for them was players who would go out there as you said give blood,sweat and tears for T&T,even when we loose people was satisfied.
When Latas got the job,i said it will only be a matter of time before he suffer the same fate as all of us Coaches before him,i personally feels the guy know Football but his problem is manageing players,i don't think he should have coached a T&T team so soon after playing,he could not comand/demand the respect of the players he played and hang out with for years,it's the reason why i think he shuns the more seasoned foreign based Pros and align himself with the locals,he has more control there.
I would still like to see a national coaching our national team some day but like there are no candidates we can think off.What are the conditions under which Latas left?was he fired,resigned or walked away?what's the storey? i hope he continues in the coaching aspect of the game,Football is where he can make a contribution to the country but i don't think he can build himself in T&T,gain some experience outside and come back we need you.
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Coops I would like to wish you a speedy recovery and extend Christmas wishes to you and your family,may god bless you brother.
Your contributions are insightful to say the least.
Saga Pinto....
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Very nice read of a special T&T person and footballer. Wishing you god's guidance and protection. Keep on educating us and enjoying your football
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Coops I remember that team yuh coach with Colvin Hutchinson and all them cyah believe they do allyuh like that...... anyway all the best for the holidays and mad bigups!!!!!!!!
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Big up Flex!!!!!!!!!! boss article.
My man Coops, what can I say meh boy !!!!
Get better, you are in our prays, the swo prays forever.
Big up to de orignal Kenwyn !!!!!!!
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The "real" hero warrior! I wish you well my friend.
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Boy I tell you, class act is class act oui
Look at the amount of accolades coops toting around in he history bag and never once mention them, humility and class go hand in hand.
Coops it seems like you are a fighter from long time, so I feel yuh go beat back that disease.
Thanks for the history lesson
on a side note...I woulda really like to see dat haitian fellah on ah field.
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Coops...I wish you all the best and I hope that you and your family spend a lot more Christmas seasons together!
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A really nice interview, thanks Flex & Coops. Just a correction however, when Gally's Strike Squad played in the first Caribbean Cup Finals they beat Barbados 3-0 but lost to Guadeloupe 2-0, it was a Barbados victory over Guadeloupe that got us into the final against Grenada. I always wanted to know who coached the Shell B team as they were called, now I know. I am married to the daughter of a member of the '73 team , he played in the SFA (they say he was the hardest kicker of the ball in south, used to score goals from the half line) so I will ask the Ole Man if he had the honour of playing against Coops.
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Very nice work Flex. Very nice indeed.
Coops re. the Cancer thing, I have sent you a message on FB.
Very important, please read ASAP.
VB
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I am married to the daughter of a member of the '73 team , he played in the SFA (they say he was the hardest kicker of the ball in south, used to score goals from the half line) so I will ask the Ole Man if he had the honour of playing against Coops.
Ah guess dat yuh talking bout Ray Roberts.
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Coops,
You are in my prayers. Thank you for your contributions.
Flex,
Excellent! Class! Thank you for this site, breds.
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Coops , wishing you a speedy recovery and all the best to you and the family in this festive season peace .
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When Latas got the job,i said it will only be a matter of time before he suffer the same fate as all of us Coaches before him,i personally feels the guy know Football but his problem is manageing players,i don't think he should have coached a T&T team so soon after playing,he could not comand/demand the respect of the players he played and hang out with for years,it's the reason why i think he shuns the more seasoned foreign based Pros and align himself with the locals,he has more control there.
Nice read Flex. Coop's all the best my brother, keep fighting and continue to live life to the fulliest :beermug:
Again you hit the nail on the head with that paragraph, I couldn't agree with you more as that was a main part of latas lack of success as T&T's coach.
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This bring a nice smile to meh face. ;D Coops we are honored to have you here bro to share this season with you.
God Bless and thanks for the contribution. ;D
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giants does really walk amongst us... ;)
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Long but worth the read !
Mr Coops, I never know you had all this info under your belt..
Ivan Smapson played for T&T allyuh ? And under Coops, we beating teams 11-0, maybe coops should call Latapy and talk with him.
Hope you get better soon Coops.
PS: Never knew Colin Rocke was that good. !!
Alot of great info here Flex... you put this together very well I must say.
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Kenwyn had such a fantastic season with Army that he was called up to represent Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team, though he was never entered into our database here at the SWO because of the lack of recorded information in those days and Coops never kept records himself.
Coops played for Trinidad and Tobago between 1974 to 1975, and played under coach Edgar Vidale. He played in such tournaments as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualifiers respectively. There were no restrictions when it came to Olympic football, and T&T fielded their senior team in the said tournament. Maybe this was one of the reasons he's not on the SWO database as players who participated in those tournaments were not officially recorded in the history books of T&T football.
Yeh, de reason he is not in de database is because the matches in those tournaments are not considered senior internationals, which is what our database currently tracks. However, there are plans to expand the scope of the database, so he will be in there at some point.
(http://www.ttfootballhistory.com/files/images/1975-nationalteam.preview.jpg)
1975 team before a training session:
Back row (L-R): Ken Henry, Lawrence Rondon, Tom Phillips, Devenish Paul, Leon Carpette, Ron LaForest, Sydney Augustine, Selwyn Murren, Edgar Vidale.
Front row (L-R): Norris Sorzano, Robert Francis, Steve Khan, Kenwyne Cooper, Mike Grayson, Milton Archibald.
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Memories of my favorite players growing up.
Coops could correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the T&T team use to play warm up games against POSFL, SFA/SFL Selects etc. Huge crowds use to turn out to see those games. As a matter of fact when Kevin Verity took over, Leon Carpett dominated the midfield for SFA/SFL vs T&T and was then selected for the 1973 Team.
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"Ah guess dat yuh talking bout Ray Roberts."
Yes Tallman yuh spot on ;D
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Memories of my favorite players growing up.
Coops could correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the T&T team use to play warm up games against POSFL, SFA/SFL Selects etc. Huge crowds use to turn out to see those games. As a matter of fact when Kevin Verity took over, Leon Carpett dominated the midfield for SFA/SFL vs T&T and was then selected for the 1973 Team.
You are correct,it was the norm to play warm up games against these combine teams on a regular basis,i can even recall the team that went to Haiti playing against us(DF) in Skinner Pk before leaving,it was a way for selectors to see players they must have missed.
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Excellent Read !!!!!
Good work Flex and get well Coops
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Excellent read and deserving recognition. Coops comes from a true footballing family, with his brothers having represented St. Mary's on the football field with distinction, Michael in or around 1970 and Zachary in 1974. Perhaps Coops may wish to confirm this.
Permit me to point out though that Ron La Forest and Len La Forest are cousins and not brothers. Actually, Len carried the surname 'de Souza' until his entry to Belmont Intermediate where the name change took place. Just a bit of trivia.
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Excellent read and deserving recognition. Coops comes from a true footballing family, with his brothers having represented St. Mary's on the football field with distinction, Michael in or around 1970 and Zachary in 1974. Perhaps Coops may wish to confirm this.
Permit me to point out though that Ron La Forest and Len La Forest are cousins and not brothers. Actually, Len carried the surname 'de Souza' until his entry to Belmont Intermediate where the name change took place. Just a bit of trivia.
Yes both my youger brothers played for St Marys,Michael went on to play for Maple after leaving St Marys and had the distinction of being assistant Coach of the national team when Alvin coached,Zachary went to play for Jabloteh in their grassroots days in Aranguez etc etc i must say they were descent players.
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Big up 2 meh San Juan coach speedy recovery u are in my prayers.
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Haven't been on the site much lately but this is what makes this site so great. I always knew that Coops was a coach and played in the league back home but I didn't even realise his pedigree. I could remember that b-team, had no idea Coops was the coach, that was a damn good team. Coops, stay strong my brother. Flex, job well done as usual. Yuh is ah boss.
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A really nice interview, thanks Flex & Coops. Just a correction however, when Gally's Strike Squad played in the first Caribbean Cup Finals they beat Barbados 3-0 but lost to Guadeloupe 2-0, it was a Barbados victory over Guadeloupe that got us into the final against Grenada. I always wanted to know who coached the Shell B team as they were called, now I know. I am married to the daughter of a member of the '73 team , he played in the SFA (they say he was the hardest kicker of the ball in south, used to score goals from the half line) so I will ask the Ole Man if he had the honour of playing against Coops.
Yes, Ray had a powerful shot. It was a stinging shot to be exact. I first saw him play in the Oval againts Chelsea with Bonetti,Osgood. He scored and low hard shot outside the area. Bonetti never had a chance. But Chelsea won 3-2.
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A really nice interview, thanks Flex & Coops. Just a correction however, when Gally's Strike Squad played in the first Caribbean Cup Finals they beat Barbados 3-0 but lost to Guadeloupe 2-0, it was a Barbados victory over Guadeloupe that got us into the final against Grenada. I always wanted to know who coached the Shell B team as they were called, now I know. I am married to the daughter of a member of the '73 team , he played in the SFA (they say he was the hardest kicker of the ball in south, used to score goals from the half line) so I will ask the Ole Man if he had the honour of playing against Coops.
Thanks, correction made.
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it really grieve my heart why the TTFF in such a small country like TnT doh use the resources ah men like Coops and others,whereas a huge country like America uses every resource it could possibly use.
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ttproleague publish your article Flex and they have manners, they not like the T&T Newspapers who does not credit the source...
Thank you Mr Skeene
http://www.ttproleague.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=510:one-of-tats-unsung-heroes-recognized-today&catid=1:domestic-news
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Re. the photo of Coops. where he really raising dat ball?
It look gravelly no ass.
VB
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Re. the photo of Coops. where he really raising dat ball?
It look gravelly no ass.
VB
That was in Mexico,Pan Am Games.
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it really grieve my heart why the TTFF in such a small country like TnT doh use the resources ah men like Coops and others,whereas a huge country like America uses every resource it could possibly use.
Small country, small ambition, small minds, brother!
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Re. the photo of Coops. where he really raising dat ball?
It look gravelly no ass.
VB
That was in Mexico,Pan Am Games.
Oh shit. I thought that was in some neighbourhood in TT.
DAT is where dey put allyuh to practice?
VB
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One of T&T's unsung heroes recognized today.
By: Inshan Mohammed.
At one time, he was considered one of the best right-wingers in Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, he was so good that his best friend and Defence Force teammate Pamphille and his wife Lydia gave their son his name and made him his God father.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Soca Warriors Online (SWO) would like to introduce you to one of T&T's unsung heroes Mr. Kenwyn Cooper; and if you're wondering who his godson is, it's none other than current Stoke City star-forward Kenwyne Jones.
Kenwyn told Socawarriors.net, he christened Kenwyne as a child and after that he didn't see much of him, because they were both based in opposite sides of the Island. In spite of this he feels a strong sense of pride for his godson and still follows the striker’s success.
Getting To Know Kenwyn
Kenwyn and I sat down on a chilly Friday night at my home in New York and got to know each other a little better. Kenwyn told me that he wanted to finally meet "Flex" in person, one of the main men responsible for the Soca Warriors Online. The other of course is his longtime pal, Nigel Myers.
Cooper is also one of SWO biggest supporters and for your information he goes by the member name Coops (guys, cut him a break.).... He is also addicted to the website and does not miss a day away from it as many of the SWO diehards can relate.
Cooper, the most polite and friendly person you could meet, showed up at my door in his SUV after driving almost 9 hours from Virginia Beach to visit his wife, he took a detour to finally meet “yours truly”. Coops was so happy to meet me that he shook my hands at least three times and his eyes were glossy as to say he almost wanted to shed a tear or two He said: "Flex, I didn't realize you were so young. I was expecting someone much older." That made my day! Yes, I am young and still look it, but I assumed the gloss in his eyes blinded him and he didn't notice the hidden gray hairs on my head. In any case, I was flattered. A few months ago in New York I also had the pleasure of meeting another SWO member, Weary1969. I wonder what she thought.... :-)
Getting to know Coop's.
In January 2010 Coops was hit by the most terrible news anyone could bear. After months of problems with his body mainly his bladder, Coops finally decided to make the trip to the doctor only to find out that he had a tumor in his bladder. To make matters worse the doctor informed him that the tumor was malignant. In other words he had cancer of the bladder.
Now only half the size he was, Coops is literally a moving hospital and basically lives on chemo and other cancer treatment devices. You would think he would be down and out under such circumstances, but not Coops. He is full of life, happy as a puppy and is just enjoying his life to the fullest. If he hadn't told me he had been diagnosed with cancer, I would have never known.
His Career
It all started on the field for Kenwyn at a small club in Cocorite called Paragon FC before moving to Defence Force in the 1970's. He played there until the early 80’s. Defence Force as we all know were the top team in those days as they were frequent winners of the Semi-Professional League and to play for such a team at that time one had to be outstanding.
Cooper, who only wore the number 13 jersey, came up against many top players in the League. Two noteworthy players he rubbed shoulders with at times and came up against in the league are Leroy Spann and best friend Noel "Sammy" Llewellyn, both of whom played for Caroni and Essex respectively.
At Defence Force Cooper also played alongside Ron LaForest, Ron’s brother Lennox, Charlie Spooner, Milton Archibald (Warren Archibald's brother), Bert Neptune, Sam Phillip, Francis Furlonge, Grantley Maxwell, Arab Nelson, Kenny Joseph, Winston Phillips who by the way happens to be the brother of current TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips. Winston is also known for his long throws and was part of the team that was robbed of glory in Haiti during the 1973 World Cup qualifiers. His throws caused the Haitian goalkeeper Henri Francillon and his defenders; Pierre Bayonne, Fritz Andre, Wilfried Louis and captain Wilner Nazaire all sorts of heartaches. I forgot to mentioned that T&T's Steve David finished the 1973 tournament in Haiti with 7 goals, 2 more than Haiti's Emmanuel Sanon.
At Army Kenwyn also played against many international opponents at CONCACAF level, and he remembers one in particular during encounters with Haiti's Violette FC. Coops said that Philippe Vorbe was the best midfielder he had ever witnessed and that he would put Latapy in the shade with his vision and ability to stay in one area and control the entire Haitian team. Coops also remembered how Vorbe played with his sock rolled down and no chine guards. Thank God Tobago-Born hard rocker defender Cyd Gray was still a toddler then.
His T&T Career
Born in Blanchissuese on September 26th, 1948 and grew up in San Juan Coops was neighbors with another T&T great Leopold Sookram. Sookram many know today as Bobby, the South born midfielder, and at that time he played for North Base team Maple and was based in San Juan. Coops reminded me that Bobby Sookram’s goal scoring average of above 45 goals per season and he scored a remarkable 110 goals for Maple in three years.
Kenwyn had such a fantastic season with Army that he was called up to represent Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team, though he was never entered into our database here at the SWO because of the lack of recorded information in those days and Coops never kept records himself. His best days in the Red, White and Black have gone unnoticed to this day.
Coops played for Trinidad and Tobago between 1974 to 1975, and played under coach Edgar Vidale. He played in such tournaments as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualifiers respectively. There were no restrictions when it came to Olympic football, and T&T fielded their senior team in the said tournament. Maybe this was one of the reasons he's not on the SWO database as players who participated in those tournaments were not officially recorded in the history books of T&T football.
His time with T&T saw Coops rubbing shoulders with many great talents such as Earl Carter, Noel Llewellyn, Russell Tesheira, Buggy Haynes, Mike Grayson, Lawrence Rondon, Tom Phillips, Steve Khan, Sydney Augustine, Selwyn Murren (capt), Winston Phillips and Leon Carpette to name a few. Cooper was a hard working right-wing midfielder who had great pace and a powerful kick. His crossing ability would have left current Ipswich Town winger Carlos Edwards blushing. Unfortunately, for all his hard work the former John Donaldson student has one goal to show and that came against Suriname on April 26, 1976 in the Oval during an Olympic qualifier. He was proud of that goal and it showed as tears almost coming out of his eyes when he told me, the game ended 1-1, Coops with the equalizer. Coops also found that the Surinamese team was a force in those days and had a player called Edwin Schal who was a talent he adored dearly. Unfortunately, T&T paid the price and bowed out as the 1-1 draw wasn't enough, Suriname had won the first-leg 2-0 in Paramaribo on April 19th.
Coaching Career.
After his glory days as a player, Cooper took his success off the field when he coached San Juan Senior Comprehensive to the SSFL and InterCol East titles respectively in 1987. The team was captained by Louis Legendre and Robert Banfield and lost 1-0 to a Chris Brice own goal in the InterCol finals against Signal Hill who had stars Dwight Yorke and Colvin Hutchinson on their team. San Jan SC also placed 4th in the Big Four tournament.
Cooper was also a trainer for a national under 16 team which was packed with talent such as Russell Latapy, Clint Marcelle, Colin Rocke, Ansley Weeks and Ross Russell and played some role in developing these players. He mentioned that he was and still is shocked that Collin Rocke was never called up by Trinidad and Tobago senior team and that the midfielder was a more complete player than Latapy and Marcelle. Coops said “You could have put him anywhere on the field and when it came to dribbling he had the tools as well.” Coops further added that Rocke, Marcelle and Latapy use to terrorize defences and they where the three top midfielders in the country at that time.
He took his career further when he coached ECM Motown in the Arthur Suite League (ASL) before being asked by then T&T head coach Everald "Gally" Cummings to coach a Trinidad and Tobago national senior B-Team.
That B-team was comprised of players who were some of the best the country had to offer, with the likes of Elliot Allen, Clint Marcelle, Garfield DeSilva, Timothy Haynes, Kelvin Jones, Dexter Lee, Ivan Sampson, Richard Chinapoo, Nevick DeNoon and Anthony Sherwood.
Both Cooper and his assistant in former St Benedicts College coach Jan Steadman took that T&T B-team to the 1989 Shell Cup final group stage before being dropped by Jack Warner. Coops and his entire team were disbanded by Warner because the players wanted the same treatment that Gally's Strike Squad (A-Team) were getting.
Despite some impressive results in the group stage (Zone A) here in Trinidad and Tobago, Coops disclosed that the TTFF blamed the 1-0 lost to Grenada as the excuse to dismantling the team. T&T were 11-0 winners over Aruba which was probably one of the biggest wins in the history of the tournament, a 3-1 win over French Guyana and Coops’ “Army” was also victorious over St Kitts (2-0). The already qualified T&T then finished the semi-final group with a 1-0 lost to none other than Grenada.
Everald Cummings then continue where Cooper left off and won its opener in the final group stage against host Barbados (3-0) but stumbled on it's way to the final as Guadeloupe had defeated T&T 2-0, then it was a 1-0 Barbados victory over Guadeloupe that got Gally's team into the final and T&T made no mistakes this time when they won 2-1 in the final against Grenada off a Dwight Yorke double to win the 1989 Caribbean Shell Cup. It was July 9th 1989, the Strike Squad created history, the team field players such as Marvin Faustin, Russell Latapy, Clayton Morris, Philbert Jones, Marlon Morris and Dwight Yorke became Caribbean champs for the first time, the Shell Cup was born.
The Caribbean Cup, known then as the Shell Cup, before becoming the Copa Caribe began in 1989. The Caribbean Cup is a tournament for the CFU currently contested biannually (in odd years). The Caribbean Cup is also a qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Coops further disclosed that while he was coach of the T&T team he had to work under very harsh and unprofessional conditions. He said the arrangements were very poor and there was always a rush to do things because decisions were made at the last minute. For example, he remember one moment before training was over everyone on the team was gathered together and were rushed off to Curacao for a tournament comprising of 3 teams and two games in two days. Fortunately T&T won the tournament, however, while on the airplane Coop's learned from reading the newspaper that his team was playing St Lucia the very next day. To make matters worse, he also learnt that half of his team was scheduled to fly off to Puerto Rico to join Gally's Strike Squad (A-Team) who was there for a training camp. As a result of this Coops’ under strength T&T side lost 1-0 to St Lucia.
Coops Migrated
Shortly after, Cooper being disheartened by his experience coaching T&T left Trinidad and decided to try his luck in the United States. His first stop was New York where he stayed with close friend Charlie Spooner before jetting off to Philadelphia and finally settled in Virginia where he is now based. After all those years Coops has gotten over the Trini-tabancca and is happily living his life to the fullest.
Did You Know
It was all uphill for Cooper after he left T&T shores. He had his own coaching school in Virginia. It was called Cooper's Soccer World. He trained players, had training camps, team sessions and clinics. He was also the Technical Director for Norfolk United and Director of Coaching at United Soccer.
Kenwyn Cooper carries a number of awards and badges which includes; National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA Advanced Diploma), USSF National Youth License, FIFA Certified Solidarity coach (Trinidad and Tobago), Special Olympics (Caribbean Training school) and to top it off he was a 10-time Championship winner with Defence Force.
Now retired, Cooper enjoys watching the Trinidad and Tobago national teams, surfing the SWO and seeing his relatives play football. He is also a fond admirer and a relative of current under 17 women’s team striker Liana Hinds who rips up the net for T&T. You would remember her goal scoring exploits against Nigeria and Chile in T&T's historic 2010 Women’s U-17 World Cup appearance.
Kenwyn, 62, a father of three and happily married seemed to have strong genes when it comes to football. His daughter Tricia Cooper, 34, also donned the Red, White and Black and is retired as a player but is currently the assistant coach of Florida University Women's team.
The SWO family would like to extend heartwarming greetings to Mr Kenwyn Cooper and his family during this festive season and wish him a full and speedy recovery. Do what you can my friend and what you cannot do, let the Almighty do the rest.
Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.
So wait nah, Jack Warner should be called the banner !!!
He banning teams from donkey years now, what a shame, soon as players ask for better treatment or disagree, Jack ban them, is his way or the highway.
The funny thing is, 1973 is 38 years now and nothing has changed. !!!!
They say nothing last forever, it seems Jack might be a leprechaun then cause he have luck and fortune no one has.
Get well soon Coops.
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Check this out www.coopssoccerworld.webs.com it's a website i had started before i got diagnosed with my illnes and had to put everything on hold.
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Re. the photo of Coops. where he really raising dat ball?
It look gravelly no ass.
VB
That was in Mexico,Pan Am Games.
Oh shit. I thought that was in some neighbourhood in TT.
DAT is where dey put allyuh to practice?
VB
Merry Christmas VB and family.
If I recollect that was in 75. The PanAm was to be held in Sao Paulo, but the Brazil gov't say they had a dengue fever issue(I stand to be corrected). I wanted to be on that team because Carter, Walkes, Grayson, Granville, Murrell from the 74 youth were drafted on that team. But I was not good enough. That is how it goes sometimes. But Mex. now has some of the best if not the best football facilities in the Panam area. Well after 2014 Brazil will have the best.
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Re. the photo of Coops. where he really raising dat ball?
It look gravelly no ass.
VB
That was in Mexico,Pan Am Games.
Oh shit. I thought that was in some neighbourhood in TT.
DAT is where dey put allyuh to practice?
VB
Merry Christmas VB and family.
If I recollect that was in 75. The PanAm was to be held in Sao Paulo, but the Brazil gov't say they had a dengue fever issue(I stand to be corrected). I wanted to be on that team because Carter, Walkes, Grayson, Granville, Murrell from the 74 youth were drafted on that team. But I was not good enough. That is how it goes sometimes. But Mex. now has some of the best if not the best football facilities in the Panam area. Well after 2014 Brazil will have the best.
Not necessarily true Deeks. I learn that over the years. Some times players just don't fit into the plans because you can only use so many players or certain qualities in certain positions. More a product of poor timing. A good example you and Coops will remember, is Campbell who played midfield wth Police. Nice player who seldom got called to T&T
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Mr Lincoln Phillips told me that this article touched him real deeply. He said "I am a very close friend to Coops, We worked together in many areas of football in Trinidad and the US. I was the one who brought him to Virginia when I was coaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia.
I hooked him up with a private school which never won anything in their long history. Coops made the newspapers when the team beat up everybody and won the championship. After that Coops made his name in the area doing jobs, camps, etc.
He is not just a great coach but also a great friend and a gentleman. I am so glad the you gave him the recognition he so deserves. Great job Flex and rest assure that we will be staying in close check with Coops if and when he needs anything. Great job again Flex and get better my dear friend coops.
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Mr Lincoln Phillips told me that this article touched him real deeply. He said "I am a very close friend to Coops, We worked together in many areas of football in Trinidad and the US. I was the one who brought him to Virginia when I was coaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia.
I hooked him up with a private school which never won anything in their long history. Coops made the newspapers when the team beat up everybody and won the championship. After that Coops made his name in the area doing jobs, camps, etc.
He is not just a great coach but also a great friend and a gentleman. I am so glad the you gave him the recognition he so deserves. Great job Flex and rest assure that we will be staying in close check with Coops if and when he needs anything. Great job again Flex and get better my dear friend coops.
Lincoln my dear friend,like all the other forumites who have contributed to this article,i want to say thanks for believing in me at a time when you did not even know me,i don't know what you saw or heard but you were there for me even to this day.
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I always knew there was a whole lot more going on with Coop's than he was letting on. Like a man said, "class is class" not unlike men like Warren Archibald and Bobby Sookram. God bless, Coop's. I really and truly wish you a succesful fight against your illness and a speedy recovery throughout. Even though I was too little to understand at the time, I can say that I have seen you play and I will treasure the opportunity to have done so. :beermug: :beermug: Nice job, Flex. Rell nice job!! :beermug: :beermug:
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Mr Lincoln Phillips told me that this article touched him real deeply. He said "I am a very close friend to Coops, We worked together in many areas of football in Trinidad and the US. I was the one who brought him to Virginia when I was coaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia.
I hooked him up with a private school which never won anything in their long history. Coops made the newspapers when the team beat up everybody and won the championship. After that Coops made his name in the area doing jobs, camps, etc.
He is not just a great coach but also a great friend and a gentleman. I am so glad the you gave him the recognition he so deserves. Great job Flex and rest assure that we will be staying in close check with Coops if and when he needs anything. Great job again Flex and get better my dear friend coops.
Well as u know Coop's, I never once came at u in any disrespectful way on dis forum and I always have much respect for u as a human being, and is not b cuz of your past title and who you know, cuz I do not know or even met u before. As a matter of fact, I suspected that you is or was a coach, just by the way you gave your opinion on dis forum. Supa might sound like gangster wid he crew etc, but I was well brought up in a christian home and I can sense class, when it there is class. I will keep repeating myself, by saying I never kissed up and will never kiss up to anyone here, but there is a small group of people that I have a lot of respect for as a human being and by the way they conduct themselves here. Well Coop's, you was and is still part of that elite group. All the best boss and nuff respect sir. HIGHLY BLESSED.
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I guess some of you are surprised at Coops' accomplishments.
But for the longer members of the forum this should not be. He has dropped the odd hint and info here and there over the years but in a very modest fashion, ala SH.
VB
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Cooper, do you remember these games ? I saw you played there, can you fill in/correct the blanks ?
Panamerican Games 1975 (Mexico) - Match Details T&T scored four goals, one each from Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron La Forest and Tom Phillips.
Mexico vs T&T
Mexico 6: José Gómez; Gabriel Márquez, Eduardo Rergis, Carlos García, Mario Carrillo; Ernesto De la Rosa, José Luis Caballero, Guillermo Cossío; Héctor Tapia (Rafael Toribio 64'), Víctor Rangel (Alberto Sandoval 90'), Hugo Sánchez.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Earl Carter; Russell Tesheira, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Michael Grayson; Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Kenwyn Cooper (?. Howell 78'), Ron Laforest.
USA vs T&T - Noel Llewellyn with the winner in the 60th (unofficial time).
USA 0: Kurt Kuykendall, Tino Domingues, George Chapla, Telmo Pires, Bruce Hudson, Glenn Myernick, Neil Cohen, Santiago Formoso, Dennis Wit, Len Salvemini (Pallo Garibay), Tim Hunter.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Team ?
Argentina vs T&T
Argentina 5: Carlos Suárez, Luis Galván, Eduardo Marillack, Aldo Espinoza, Américo Gallego, Pablo de las Mercedes Cárdenas, Carlos Salinas, José Santiago Tello, Juan César Silva, Daniel Valencia, José Luis Ceballos.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Winston Phillips, Kendall Walkes, Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Gordon Husbands, Tom Phillips, Ron LaForest.
Bolivia vs T&T
Bolivia 3: Peinado; Espíndola, Édgar Vaca, Martínez, Tomás Porcel; Sempertegui, Natalio Flores, Escobar; Camacho, Blanco, Maldonado.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: John Granville; Francis Furlonge, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Kendall Walkes; Tom Phillips (Ron Laforest 46'), Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Steve Khan.
Brazil vs T&T
Brazil 7: Carlos Roberto Gallo, Mauro de Campos Júnior, Roberto Franqueira 'Tecão', Edino Nazareth Filho 'Edinho', Francisco Fraga da Silva 'Chico Fraga', Alberto Raimundo Marques 'Leguelé' (João Batista da Silva), Eudes Lacerda Medeiros, Rosemiro Corrêa de Souza, Erivélton Martins (Marcelo de Oliveira Santos), Cláudio Adalberto Adão, João José dos Santos.
Trinidad & Tobago 0: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge, Kendall Walkes, Gordon Husbands, Leon Carpette, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron Laforest, Steve Khan.
ALSO....
Matches Coached by Kenwyn Cooper - click here (http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/statistics.html?view=matchfixtures&coachid=160) - Fell free to let us know if you have more info on the games you coach. Like the line up and goal scorers.... etc....
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Cooper, do you remember these games ? I saw you played there, can you fill in/correct the blanks ?
Panamerican Games 1975 (Mexico) - Match Details T&T scored four goals, one each from Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron La Forest and Tom Phillips.
Mexico vs T&T
Mexico 6: José Gómez; Gabriel Márquez, Eduardo Rergis, Carlos García, Mario Carrillo; Ernesto De la Rosa, José Luis Caballero, Guillermo Cossío; Héctor Tapia (Rafael Toribio 64'), Víctor Rangel (Alberto Sandoval 90'), Hugo Sánchez.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Earl Carter; Russell Tesheira, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Michael Grayson; Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Kenwyn Cooper (?. Howell 78'), Ron Laforest.
USA vs T&T - Noel Llewellyn with the winner in the 60th (unofficial time).
USA 0: Kurt Kuykendall, Tino Domingues, George Chapla, Telmo Pires, Bruce Hudson, Glenn Myernick, Neil Cohen, Santiago Formoso, Dennis Wit, Len Salvemini (Pallo Garibay), Tim Hunter.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Team ?
Argentina vs T&T
Argentina 5: Carlos Suárez, Luis Galván, Eduardo Marillack, Aldo Espinoza, Américo Gallego, Pablo de las Mercedes Cárdenas, Carlos Salinas, José Santiago Tello, Juan César Silva, Daniel Valencia, José Luis Ceballos.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Winston Phillips, Kendall Walkes, Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Gordon Husbands, Tom Phillips, Ron LaForest.
Bolivia vs T&T
Bolivia 3: Peinado; Espíndola, Édgar Vaca, Martínez, Tomás Porcel; Sempertegui, Natalio Flores, Escobar; Camacho, Blanco, Maldonado.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: John Granville; Francis Furlonge, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Kendall Walkes; Tom Phillips (Ron Laforest 46'), Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Steve Khan.
Brazil vs T&T
Brazil 7: Carlos Roberto Gallo, Mauro de Campos Júnior, Roberto Franqueira 'Tecão', Edino Nazareth Filho 'Edinho', Francisco Fraga da Silva 'Chico Fraga', Alberto Raimundo Marques 'Leguelé' (João Batista da Silva), Eudes Lacerda Medeiros, Rosemiro Corrêa de Souza, Erivélton Martins (Marcelo de Oliveira Santos), Cláudio Adalberto Adão, João José dos Santos.
Trinidad & Tobago 0: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge, Kendall Walkes, Gordon Husbands, Leon Carpette, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron Laforest, Steve Khan.
ALSO....
Matches Coached by Kenwyn Cooper - click here (http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/statistics.html?view=matchfixtures&coachid=160) - Fell free to let us know if you have more info on the games you coach. Like the line up and goal scorers.... etc....
Flex i wish my memory was still that sharp,i was one that had a passion for keeping reports and newspaper clippings because i felt someday it might be usefull but over the years a lot gone missing,i had all the reports from Mexico but was in spanish and i still kept it,i'm so sorry today i don't have that part of our history to share with you all because it was never recorded in T&T history of Football,it have players there we don't know or heard about.
As i said before i got injured in that fisrt game with Mexico and was replaced by Rudy Howell,i basically watched the rest of the tournament,it's was not like today where these guys get the necessary medical treatment,i had to wait until i got back home and use my soft candle,safron,ratchet etc etc
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i basically watched the rest of the tournament,it's was not like today where these guys get the necessary medical treatment,i had to wait until i got back home and use my soft candle,safron,ratchet etc etc
Coops,
Things have changed so much in football since them days. Rudy Howel was a very speedy and skinny player for Caroni.
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i basically watched the rest of the tournament,it's was not like today where these guys get the necessary medical treatment,i had to wait until i got back home and use my soft candle,safron,ratchet etc etc
Coops,
Things have changed so much in football since them days. Rudy Howel was a very speedy and skinny player for Caroni.
Nah these days we does drop yuh in d hospital and doh pay d bill.
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Cooper, do you remember these games ? I saw you played there, can you fill in/correct the blanks ?
Panamerican Games 1975 (Mexico) - Match Details T&T scored four goals, one each from Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron La Forest and Tom Phillips.
Mexico vs T&T
Mexico 6: José Gómez; Gabriel Márquez, Eduardo Rergis, Carlos García, Mario Carrillo; Ernesto De la Rosa, José Luis Caballero, Guillermo Cossío; Héctor Tapia (Rafael Toribio 64'), Víctor Rangel (Alberto Sandoval 90'), Hugo Sánchez.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Earl Carter; Russell Tesheira, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Michael Grayson; Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Kenwyn Cooper (?. Howell 78'), Ron Laforest.
USA vs T&T - Noel Llewellyn with the winner in the 60th (unofficial time).
USA 0: Kurt Kuykendall, Tino Domingues, George Chapla, Telmo Pires, Bruce Hudson, Glenn Myernick, Neil Cohen, Santiago Formoso, Dennis Wit, Len Salvemini (Pallo Garibay), Tim Hunter.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Team ?
Argentina vs T&T
Argentina 5: Carlos Suárez, Luis Galván, Eduardo Marillack, Aldo Espinoza, Américo Gallego, Pablo de las Mercedes Cárdenas, Carlos Salinas, José Santiago Tello, Juan César Silva, Daniel Valencia, José Luis Ceballos.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Winston Phillips, Kendall Walkes, Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Gordon Husbands, Tom Phillips, Ron LaForest.
Bolivia vs T&T
Bolivia 3: Peinado; Espíndola, Édgar Vaca, Martínez, Tomás Porcel; Sempertegui, Natalio Flores, Escobar; Camacho, Blanco, Maldonado.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: John Granville; Francis Furlonge, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Kendall Walkes; Tom Phillips (Ron Laforest 46'), Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Steve Khan.
Brazil vs T&T
Brazil 7: Carlos Roberto Gallo, Mauro de Campos Júnior, Roberto Franqueira 'Tecão', Edino Nazareth Filho 'Edinho', Francisco Fraga da Silva 'Chico Fraga', Alberto Raimundo Marques 'Leguelé' (João Batista da Silva), Eudes Lacerda Medeiros, Rosemiro Corrêa de Souza, Erivélton Martins (Marcelo de Oliveira Santos), Cláudio Adalberto Adão, João José dos Santos.
Trinidad & Tobago 0: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge, Kendall Walkes, Gordon Husbands, Leon Carpette, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron Laforest, Steve Khan.
ALSO....
Matches Coached by Kenwyn Cooper - click here (http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/statistics.html?view=matchfixtures&coachid=160) - Fell free to let us know if you have more info on the games you coach. Like the line up and goal scorers.... etc....
Flex i wish my memory was still that sharp,i was one that had a passion for keeping reports and newspaper clippings because i felt someday it might be usefull but over the years a lot gone missing,i had all the reports from Mexico but was in spanish and i still kept it,i'm so sorry today i don't have that part of our history to share with you all because it was never recorded in T&T history of Football,it have players there we don't know or heard about.
As i said before i got injured in that fisrt game with Mexico and was replaced by Rudy Howell,i basically watched the rest of the tournament,it's was not like today where these guys get the necessary medical treatment,i had to wait until i got back home and use my soft candle,safron,ratchet etc etc
Good thing yuh didn't play Coops, de amount ah licks them fellas collect in that tournament. :rotfl:
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Cooper, do you remember these games ? I saw you played there, can you fill in/correct the blanks ?
Panamerican Games 1975 (Mexico) - Match Details T&T scored four goals, one each from Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron La Forest and Tom Phillips.
Mexico vs T&T
Mexico 6: José Gómez; Gabriel Márquez, Eduardo Rergis, Carlos García, Mario Carrillo; Ernesto De la Rosa, José Luis Caballero, Guillermo Cossío; Héctor Tapia (Rafael Toribio 64'), Víctor Rangel (Alberto Sandoval 90'), Hugo Sánchez.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Earl Carter; Russell Tesheira, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Michael Grayson; Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Kenwyn Cooper (?. Howell 78'), Ron Laforest.
USA vs T&T - Noel Llewellyn with the winner in the 60th (unofficial time).
USA 0: Kurt Kuykendall, Tino Domingues, George Chapla, Telmo Pires, Bruce Hudson, Glenn Myernick, Neil Cohen, Santiago Formoso, Dennis Wit, Len Salvemini (Pallo Garibay), Tim Hunter.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Team ?
Argentina vs T&T
Argentina 5: Carlos Suárez, Luis Galván, Eduardo Marillack, Aldo Espinoza, Américo Gallego, Pablo de las Mercedes Cárdenas, Carlos Salinas, José Santiago Tello, Juan César Silva, Daniel Valencia, José Luis Ceballos.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Winston Phillips, Kendall Walkes, Michael Grayson, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Gordon Husbands, Tom Phillips, Ron LaForest.
Bolivia vs T&T
Bolivia 3: Peinado; Espíndola, Édgar Vaca, Martínez, Tomás Porcel; Sempertegui, Natalio Flores, Escobar; Camacho, Blanco, Maldonado.
Trinidad & Tobago 1: John Granville; Francis Furlonge, Selwyn Murren, Lawrence Rondon, Winston Phillips; Leon Carpette, Gordon Husbands, Kendall Walkes; Tom Phillips (Ron Laforest 46'), Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Steve Khan.
Brazil vs T&T
Brazil 7: Carlos Roberto Gallo, Mauro de Campos Júnior, Roberto Franqueira 'Tecão', Edino Nazareth Filho 'Edinho', Francisco Fraga da Silva 'Chico Fraga', Alberto Raimundo Marques 'Leguelé' (João Batista da Silva), Eudes Lacerda Medeiros, Rosemiro Corrêa de Souza, Erivélton Martins (Marcelo de Oliveira Santos), Cláudio Adalberto Adão, João José dos Santos.
Trinidad & Tobago 0: Devonish Paul; Russell Tesheira, Lawrence Rondon, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge, Kendall Walkes, Gordon Husbands, Leon Carpette, Noel 'Sammy' Llewellyn, Ron Laforest, Steve Khan.
ALSO....
Matches Coached by Kenwyn Cooper - click here (http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/statistics.html?view=matchfixtures&coachid=160) - Fell free to let us know if you have more info on the games you coach. Like the line up and goal scorers.... etc....
Flex i wish my memory was still that sharp,i was one that had a passion for keeping reports and newspaper clippings because i felt someday it might be usefull but over the years a lot gone missing,i had all the reports from Mexico but was in spanish and i still kept it,i'm so sorry today i don't have that part of our history to share with you all because it was never recorded in T&T history of Football,it have players there we don't know or heard about.
As i said before i got injured in that fisrt game with Mexico and was replaced by Rudy Howell,i basically watched the rest of the tournament,it's was not like today where these guys get the necessary medical treatment,i had to wait until i got back home and use my soft candle,safron,ratchet etc etc
Good thing yuh didn't play Coops, de amount ah licks them fellas collect in that tournament. :rotfl:
I will not say so nah Sam!because when you look at the teams we were up against,what preparation we had,our technical staff etc etc all local to boot,i think for Mexico Sanchez scored about 4 in that game,just to play against those countries was worth it,that's the kind of mentality we had.What would you think about playing those same teams today,nothing has changed.
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I spoke to Mike Grayson, Carter, Walkes, Sammy. They say altitude was one of the many issues they had to deal with. Those teams were better prepared than TT. Mexico had an axe to grind against we. We beat them in Haiti. We beat them in Santo Domingo, We tie them in the U-19 in Ottawa. So it was payback in Toluca. Sanchez and Rangel had played in the U-19 in Canada, so they were familiar with some of the TT guys. Them men say Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguy were too much. It was pros against amateurs. At least they scored 4 goals.
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I spoke to Mike Grayson, Carter, Walkes, Sammy. They say altitude was one of the many issues they had to deal with. Those teams were better prepared than TT. Mexico had an axe to grind against we. We beat them in Haiti. We beat them in Santo Domingo, We tie them in the U-19 in Ottawa. So it was payback in Toluca. Sanchez and Rangel had played in the U-19 in Canada, so they were familiar with some of the TT guys. Them men say Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguy were too much. It was pros against amateurs. At least they scored 4 goals.
Well don't talk about that altitude,all the other countries had their teams in Mexico days or weeks before to acliamatize,we got there may be a day or two before,even Hasely Crawford and them who was there for the athletics was dropping like flies,i think Hasely lost to Quantarina from Cuba in the 100 meters,but it was oxygen tanks after our athletes performed,so you see i'm not trying to make excuses you get it from other players like myself who were there,they thought was Steve,Archie etc they would be up against again so they took us Tuluca.
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Yes, I also forget that they said that Mex thought Archie and Gally would be on the team. Mex fraid speedy forwards from the opposite end. They get burn with speed in Haiti, so Toluca was the equaliser. It just goes to show how the amateur rules was a big sham. Mex and all the SA teams were shamateurs. All those guys played for pro teams. They use the technical terms to disguise that they pay the players a pro-players salaried stipend. Our guys were the real amateurs.
Coops the guy that beat Crawfie in 100 was Silvio Leonard. He had step on a broken glass just before Montreal Olimpics. And that is history. Gold Crawfie!!!!!!
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Yes, I also forget that they said that Mex thought Archie and Gally would be on the team. Mex fraid speedy forwards from the opposite end. They get burn with speed in Haiti, so Toluca was the equaliser. It just goes to show how the amateur rules was a big sham. Mex and all the SA teams were shamateurs. All those guys played for pro teams. They use the technical terms to disguise that they pay the players a pro-players salaried stipend. Our guys were the real amateurs.
Coops the guy that beat Crawfie in 100 was Silvio Leonard. He had step on a broken glass just before Montreal Olimpics. And that is history. Gold Crawfie!!!!!!
You see how my memory mix up,Quanterina was the 400 meters guy you are correct.
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Goals scorers from the Panamerican Games 1975 (Mexico), one each from; Michael Grayson vs (Mexico), Noel Llewellyn (vs USA), Ron La Forest (Bolivia) and Tom Phillips (vs Argentina).
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Cooper was also a trainer for a national under 16 team which was packed with talent such as Russell Latapy, Clint Marcelle, Colin Rocke, Ansley Weeks and Ross Russell and played some role in developing these players. He mentioned that he was and still is shocked that Collin Rocke was never called up by Trinidad and Tobago senior team and that the midfielder was a more complete player than Latapy and Marcelle. Coops said “You could have put him anywhere on the field and when it came to dribbling he had the tools as well.” Coops further added that Rocke, Marcelle and Latapy use to terrorize defences and they where the three top midfielders in the country at that time.
Great read, Anyone that was involved with San Juan team- good with me.
coops, did you pick Rocke for the B team? I`m to young to know those days, if you didn`t any reasons??
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Cooper was also a trainer for a national under 16 team which was packed with talent such as Russell Latapy, Clint Marcelle, Colin Rocke, Ansley Weeks and Ross Russell and played some role in developing these players. He mentioned that he was and still is shocked that Collin Rocke was never called up by Trinidad and Tobago senior team and that the midfielder was a more complete player than Latapy and Marcelle. Coops said “You could have put him anywhere on the field and when it came to dribbling he had the tools as well.” Coops further added that Rocke, Marcelle and Latapy use to terrorize defences and they where the three top midfielders in the country at that time.
Great read, Anyone that was involved with San Juan team- good with me.
coops, did you pick Rocke for the B team? I`m to young to know those days, if you didn`t any reasons??
Colin was not in T&T around that time,he was out dealing with his college carear.That U16 tournament was the last of Colin and T&T football,he was never called or considered for our national teams after that,i don't know why.
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kool, thanks bro, was just a bit curious. :beermug:
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Nice thread and very appropriately titled. Good job by Flex. Nuff respect on your contributions Coop's. Youths need to see that yuh have to contribute and represent. Fight dem Coop's.
Now Coop's, dah doh mean yuh geyyin' a bligh when yuh hit we wit' any controversail stands eh. Right :beermug:
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Nice thread and very appropriately titled. Good job by Flex. Nuff respect on your contributions Coop's. Youths need to see that yuh have to contribute and represent. Fight dem Coop's.
Now Coop's, dah doh mean yuh geyyin' a bligh when yuh hit we wit' any controversail stands eh. Right :beermug:
Dreamer,Breds ah know that's why i does try to be cautious,i took enough beating on this site to gain the respect guys give me today,i have nothing but love and respect for everyone on here,we all are entitled to our views and ideas.Ah hear yu :devil:
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Only hear of Sherwood, Rocke and Sampson,,,,, coops, can you tell us more how these men played ?
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See one of the T&T games Kenwyn Cooper coached. - vs Aruba (http://vimeo.com/27687545)
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Only now seeing this thread, great interview, big respect to the interviewer and the interviewee and wishing you a full recovery Coops :beermug:
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Garfield was world class
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I had to pull up this interview again, to show how sour coops was with the TTFF and T&T football, but yet today he singing they praises..
Even Gally jam him up.
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Garfield was world class
Garfield De Silva?
Based on?
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This is a fitting thread for a legend of T&T football. Great work Flex
Big respeck to Coop's...one of my favourite T&T players ever.
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Garfield was world class
??????? ??? Always thought World Class meant that the individual identified, could play on any team in the World
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Garfield was world class
Garfield De Silva?
Based on?
Because we went San Juan Government Secondary and 1 of the houses is now named after him.
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Guys,i know i am a pain in the butt but for the time i'm on here while others have quit Coops still here fighting his battles,it's the same way i played the game.
You all may notice i don't disrespect or hate anybody regardless of what's said too or about me,is just that my responses hit home very hard,Coops will always be Coops with his controversial views.
I must say this subject has touched me very much and cannot thank Flex enough even though it was a surprise to me at first,i certainly want to show some appreciation to the posters who contributed to this topic and want all to know don't judge me by what you read on this website.
I had to be strong to stay on this website after getting beat up so many times :justkidding:but thanks to guys like Palos who told me to hold on,i've learned a lot from you guys because you are more up to date on everything than me,don't worry about me and JW/Camps,TTFF etc i'm not going to come on this website and criticize anybody,i don't know who reads what goes on here and while i may have had some bad experiences as a Coach with the Admin i think i had a reasonable good playing career,it was a time when you enjoyed playing Football.
Thanks guys love you all.
Coops
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Coops first time I think everyone will agree with you :)
Guys,i know i am a pain in the butt but for the time i'm on here while others have quit Coops still here fighting his battles,it's the same way i played the game.
Seriously though while there are those who may disrespect your views there are others like myself who do respect your opinion as it one cultivated from your experience which harkens back to the heyday of TnT's football. Just ignore the haters and remember debate is always healthy.
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This was/is a real nice thread....bringing back memories of when I was a lil' boy....my God Mother (R.I.P.) used t take me to every sporting and cultural event possible and her two sons were excellent footballers, one of whom was a good friend of Gally and Russell Tesheira.....so seeing some of them names that played alongside with Coop's (Leon Carpette, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge (was one of her favourite players) and of course Sammy and Ron La) names I was used to hearing as I used to be in the oval, the savanna and in King George V, watching Malvern, Maple, Police Defence Force, Falcons, (ent it had a side from Carenage, too?)...and hear them names call all d time....Burt Neptune....Football was rel sweet in dem times.....fast-forward to Coop's' involvement with that U-16 team.....a team that had galvanized our country for that epic CONCACAF tournament.....remembering what it was like to had our own little battles at QRC against practically every member of that squad....Memories, boy, Coop's.....Thank you. Me eh know what your corrent relationship with or against the ttff is, Coop's but dize between you and dem and allyuh business. You could be jacula bess fren and all but ah have to respect your contribution to we football. Bless up, Coop's!! :beermug: :beermug:
PS...Coop's, ah could appreciate what yuh say about Colin Rocke....he had speed fuh days and BOY de lil' f**ker coulda beat! :laugh: He had people on dey feet in the HC stadium, SRO and was amazingly humble fuh a CIC fella :devil: with all dat ability....Clint wasn't so much of a dribbler even though he could.....when he was younger he used to rely more on his speed than anything else (at least, whenever he was beatin' we ass!) but his finishing was exceptional for a young fella...Latas was always my favourite player from since he small and even though Shaka is meh boy, Ross Russell was always the best GK of our generation for me....the most naturally gifted GK I ever see...made all the difficult shit that GK's do look like he coud do in a deep sleep. I sorry that he never (for what ever reason) pursued a career in football overseas. He coulda save in a foreign league, easy, easy. Ah lie 'bout anything dey, Coop's? :beermug: :beermug:
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This was/is a real nice thread....bringing back memories of when I was a lil' boy....my God Mother (R.I.P.) used t take me to every sporting and cultural event possible and her two sons were excellent footballers, one of whom was a good friend of Gally and Russell Tesheira.....so seeing some of them names that played alongside with Coop's (Leon Carpette, Selwyn Murren, Francis Furlonge (was one of her favourite players) and of course Sammy and Ron La) names I was used to hearing as I used to be in the oval, the savanna and in King George V, watching Malvern, Maple, Police Defence Force, Falcons, (ent it had a side from Carenage, too?)...and hear them names call all d time....Burt Neptune....Football was rel sweet in dem times.....fast-forward to Coop's' involvement with that U-16 team.....a team that had galvanized our country for that epic CONCACAF tournament.....remembering what it was like to had our own little battles at QRC against practically every member of that squad....Memories, boy, Coop's.....Thank you. Me eh know what your corrent relationship with or against the ttff is, Coop's but dize between you and dem and allyuh business. You could be jacula bess fren and all but ah have to respect your contribution to we football. Bless up, Coop's!! :beermug: :beermug:
PS...Coop's, ah could appreciate what yuh say about Colin Rocke....he had speed fuh days and BOY de lil' f**ker coulda beat! :laugh: He had people on dey feet in the HC stadium, SRO and was amazingly humble fuh a CIC fella :devil: with all dat ability....Clint wasn't so much of a dribbler even though he could.....when he was younger he used to rely more on his speed than anything else (at least, whenever he was beatin' we ass!) but his finishing was exceptional for a young fella...Latas was always my favourite player from since he small and even though Shaka is meh boy, Ross Russell was always the best GK of our generation for me....the most naturally gifted GK I ever see...made all the difficult shit that GK's do look like he coud do in a deep sleep. I sorry that he never (for what ever reason) pursued a career in football overseas. He coulda save in a foreign league, easy, easy. Ah lie 'bout anything dey, Coop's? :beermug: :beermug:
It have nothing to lie about,i'll give anything for the good old days.Yes Carenage had a very good team,they had some good players that's where guys like Kelvin Jones,Hayden and Marlon Waterman,Anton Thomas,Angus Eve who also had a brother that was pretty good,it also had a player who i liked a lot called Dave Denoon,some real good players came out of that area.
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Is more this section here ah was arkskin' yuh 'bout dey, Coop's.
PS...Coop's, ah could appreciate what yuh say about Colin Rocke....he had speed fuh days and BOY de lil' f**ker coulda beat! He had people on dey feet in the HC stadium, SRO and was amazingly humble fuh a CIC fella with all dat ability....Clint wasn't so much of a dribbler even though he could.....when he was younger he used to rely more on his speed than anything else (at least, whenever he was beatin' we ass!) but his finishing was exceptional for a young fella...Latas was always my favourite player from since he small and even though Shaka is meh boy, Ross Russell was always the best GK of our generation for me....the most naturally gifted GK I ever see...made all the difficult shit that GK's do look like he coud do in a deep sleep. I sorry that he never (for what ever reason) pursued a career in football overseas. He coulda save in a foreign league, easy, easy. Ah lie 'bout anything dey, Coop's?
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Yeah man, Coops ... I was introduced to Tricia some years back. It must be rewarding to see that she's carrying on in the family business. :beermug:
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Yeah man, Coops ... I was introduced to Tricia some years back. It must be rewarding to see that she's carrying on in the family business. :beermug:
I am very proud of her achievements in the game because she didn't have much help from me,it's rewarding to see what Football has done for her.
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Guys,i know i am a pain in the butt but for the time i'm on here while others have quit Coops still here fighting his battles,it's the same way i played the game.
You all may notice i don't disrespect or hate anybody regardless of what's said too or about me,is just that my responses hit home very hard,Coops will always be Coops with his controversial views.
I must say this subject has touched me very much and cannot thank Flex enough even though it was a surprise to me at first,i certainly want to show some appreciation to the posters who contributed to this topic and want all to know don't judge me by what you read on this website.
I had to be strong to stay on this website after getting beat up so many times :justkidding:but thanks to guys like Palos who told me to hold on,i've learned a lot from you guys because you are more up to date on everything than me,don't worry about me and JW/Camps,TTFF etc i'm not going to come on this website and criticize anybody,i don't know who reads what goes on here and while i may have had some bad experiences as a Coach with the Admin i think i had a reasonable good playing career,it was a time when you enjoyed playing Football.
Thanks guys love you all.
Coops
:applause:
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Re-reading contributions on this thread brings out mixed emotions. Looking back, we were able to acheive much more with so little. Now, with all the advancement in technolgoy etc where we have so much, we seem to be achieving so little.
Nuff respect to one and ALL.
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Re-reading contributions on this thread brings out mixed emotions. Looking back, we were able to acheive much more with so little. Now, with all the advancement in technolgoy etc where we have so much, we seem to be achieving so little.
Nuff respect to one and ALL.
Well yuh know what they say - "with every level there is a new devil"
;)
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Anybody seen coops lately ?
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Anybody seen coops lately ?
We chat on BB. He ah rite.
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coops say howdy but has PC probs so when he is back up u all would hear from him.
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Thanx Weary.
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Thanx Weary.
No probs
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I still cant get over this piece of greatness. Nice journalism Flex.
Say hello to coops for us.
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coops say howdy but has PC probs so when he is back up u all would hear from him.
Respeck! :beermug:
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Coops, how much games yuh went to so far ?
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Anybody seen coops lately ?
Hi Flex,thanks for checking on me,i'm still here holding on,i just got my PC working so i trying to catch up on what's been going on,it's nice to see the site going as strong as ever although i'm not seeing a lot of the regular posters i used to know like Palos,Patriot,Small Mag etc etc i saw where one the guys got killed a few weeks ago.
I stay away from Football at home, don't go to games,meetings,fete matches etc due to what's going on but i follow and know about everything in Football so there isn't much for anyone to tell me,i talk and deal with the ppl involved in all the bachanal it have,i have been to one game since returning home T&T V Peru the crowd was small and ppl still got up during the game and went home,it's sad to see what our Football has come too,i'm invited to different meetings etc but i don't think there is much i can do so i just don't attend.
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Anybody seen coops lately ?
Hi Flex,thanks for checking on me,i'm still here holding on,i just got my PC working so i trying to catch up on what's been going on,it's nice to see the site going as strong as ever although i'm not seeing a lot of the regular posters i used to know like Palos,Patriot,Small Mag etc etc i saw where one the guys got killed a few weeks ago.
I stay away from Football at home, don't go to games,meetings,fete matches etc due to what's going on but i follow and know about everything in Football so there isn't much for anyone to tell me,i talk and deal with the ppl involved in all the bachanal it have,i have been to one game since returning home T&T V Peru the crowd was small and ppl still got up during the game and went home,it's sad to see what our Football has come too,i'm invited to different meetings etc but i don't think there is much i can do so i just don't attend.
Thanx for dropping by man. We are all frustrated with T&T football, but at the end of the day we love football whether T&T or someone else playing we should still take on a game or two to keep in tune with the sport we love.
Dont give up man, just make yourself happy.
We cannot change the past, we cannot control tomorrow but we can enjoy today.
Bless !!!
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Anybody seen coops lately ?
Hi Flex,thanks for checking on me,i'm still here holding on,i just got my PC working so i trying to catch up on what's been going on,it's nice to see the site going as strong as ever although i'm not seeing a lot of the regular posters i used to know like Palos,Patriot,Small Mag etc etc i saw where one the guys got killed a few weeks ago.
I stay away from Football at home, don't go to games,meetings,fete matches etc due to what's going on but i follow and know about everything in Football so there isn't much for anyone to tell me,i talk and deal with the ppl involved in all the bachanal it have,i have been to one game since returning home T&T V Peru the crowd was small and ppl still got up during the game and went home,it's sad to see what our Football has come too,i'm invited to different meetings etc but i don't think there is much i can do so i just don't attend.
Coops good to see you around. Keep it rolling & just enjoy the ride
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This appears to be a few years old I hope that Mr Cooper is now in remission and is doing well.
Jan Steadman told me the same story about the B team situation and that crooked Jack Warner. As a result a lot of good players didn't get the chance to represent at the senior level.
I had the priviledge of playing with Garfield da Silva and could never forget the guy's intensity, strength and accuracy with corner kicks.
I took it for granted back in those days but looking back now, I had the opportunity to play with and against Gally Cummings, Rawl Aimey, Jap Brown, Jan Steadman, Peter Mitchell, Leone Carpet, Alvin Henderson, Hutson Charles, O Brian, Gerry Vidale, Roger Gaspard, Sloan Seales, Roderick Gibbs, Polycarp Alexander, Crispen St Louis, Leonson Lewis, Ivan Sampson, Colin Osbourne, and so many other big names which I can't recall ..the 70's and the 80's were the glory years for football in Trinidad. I used to play in a minor league in Moruga in the summer and big players like Wilfred Cave and Leroy Spann as well as other players from the first division would be playing. This was how the torch was passed to the younger players. Players learned from players back then.
Coops has to be among the greats.
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This appears to be a few years old I hope that Mr Cooper is now in remission and is doing well.
Jan Steadman told me the same story about the B team situation and that crooked Jack Warner. As a result a lot of good players didn't get the chance to represent at the senior level.
I had the priviledge of playing with Garfield da Silva and could never forget the guy's intensity, strength and accuracy with corner kicks.
I took it for granted back in those days but looking back now, I had the opportunity to play with and against Gally Cummings, Rawl Aimey, Jap Brown, Jan Steadman, Peter Mitchell, Leone Carpet, Alvin Henderson, Hutson Charles, O Brian, Gerry Vidale, Roger Gaspard, Sloan Seales, Roderick Gibbs, Polycarp Alexander, Crispen St Louis, Leonson Lewis, Ivan Sampson, Colin Osbourne, and so many other big names which I can't recall ..the 70's and the 80's were the glory years for football in Trinidad. I used to play in a minor league in Moruga in the summer and big players like Wilfred Cave and Leroy Spann as well as other players from the first division would be playing. This was how the torch was passed to the younger players. Players learned from players back then.
Coops has to be among the greats.
All dis time ah reading yuh ah thought yuh was a youthman, buh if yuh "play with and against" men like Rawle Aimey and Jap Brown, then yuh would have pulled down plenty calendars! LOL............... ;D
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Cooper's Army team back in those days would have easily beaten any Pro league team and make our present National team look like amateurs. The Army was a professional outfit, fast ,fit and precise. They picked their opposition apart piece by piece, they wore down their opponents with their higher discipline and fitness. They very rarely lost a match. If they lost a match it would be in a big final or on the international stage no more than one goal.
Even in the 80's the Army won the Concacaf club championship and lost in the quarterfinal of the World Club Championship to Argentinos Juniors who went on to win.
Argentinos Juniors had some wc winners on their team but only beat us 1-nil in Trinidad. Rambo Gibbs and Frazier terrorized that Argentina defense.
The worst defeat in the Army's history was in Mexico at the high altitude other than that the Army was the best. Players like Cooper set the standard..he was a big one. May God smile on him. Thanks for the memories Coops.
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Coops daughter Tricia Cooper is now the assistant coach for Jackson State soccer team.
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Coops daughter Tricia Cooper is now the assistant coach for Jackson State soccer team.
I thought this achievment would have caught the eyes of the Football authorities in T&T since at this present time they are into restructuring and development of T&T Football.
I am not sure if there are any ex T&T international Football women who are coaching at this level,she has all her lisences plus a degree and besides playing for T&T has played professionally in the US.
I think someone like this the TTFA should keep in mind for the future of our Football,is time our women take control of women Football in T&T.
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Congrats Coops, no doubt a proud moment for the entire family :beermug:
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Good talk Coop's... nepotism aside ;D Seriously, congrats to Tricia and to your family by extension. Yuh sure she ready fuh de madhouse dat is local football? Gih she ah li'l bit more time :)
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Coops daughter Tricia Cooper is now the assistant coach for Jackson State soccer team.
I posted dat news yesterday and I didn't even realize de connection:
http://www.socawarriors.net/foreign-based/foreign-based-news/college-news/12709-jackson-state-soccer-hires-tricia-cooper-as-assistant-coach.html
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Congrats Mr Cooper she is poised for a bright future in coaching . It is a wonderful opportunity for her and young people of Trinidad and Tobago..
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Good talk Coop's... nepotism aside ;D Seriously, congrats to Tricia and to your family by extension. Yuh sure she ready fuh de madhouse dat is local football? Gih she ah li'l bit more time :)
Bakes she has been coaching a while now and is something she is very passionate about.Since her days of playing more or less came to an end she always mentioned to me she would like to coach our National team it does not matter if it' s Snr/Youth,i am not pushing her but just try to endorse what she does.I know she not ready for the mad house just want our country to know what they got.
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nice...nice...Coops go on
coach de fitball
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Yeah Coop's congrats and one for the future, it’s in the blood!
Let's hope our TTFA is looking out while they are trying to restructure the development of our women's football in T&T.
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Congrats Coops. It look like the mango seed eh fall too far from the tree!!!
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Coops daughter Tricia Cooper is now the assistant coach for Jackson State soccer team.
I thought this achievment would have caught the eyes of the Football authorities in T&T since at this present time they are into restructuring and development of T&T Football.
I am not sure if there are any ex T&T international Football women who are coaching at this level,she has all her lisences plus a degree and besides playing for T&T has played professionally in the US.
I think someone like this the TTFA should keep in mind for the future of our Football,is time our women take control of women Football in T&T.
But coops ent u have a problem with foreign coaches, but yet yuh want yuh daughter to be coach of T&T, allyuh good we, it only good when is yuh family.
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Coops daughter Tricia Cooper is now the assistant coach for Jackson State soccer team.
I thought this achievment would have caught the eyes of the Football authorities in T&T since at this present time they are into restructuring and development of T&T Football.
I am not sure if there are any ex T&T international Football women who are coaching at this level,she has all her lisences plus a degree and besides playing for T&T has played professionally in the US.
I think someone like this the TTFA should keep in mind for the future of our Football,is time our women take control of women Football in T&T.
But coops ent u have a problem with foreign coaches, but yet yuh want yuh daughter to be coach of T&T, allyuh good we, it only good when is yuh family.
Nah Sam. How can Tricia not be a local? You cussing out the local coaches who don't further their knowledge of the game. Most coaches who further knowledge always, must go abroad. Tricia got a scholarship, played and went on to do more coaching and is now a qualified coach. Is that not what you expected of local coaches. You yourself said they can't be good unless they go abroad to experience the necessary experience. So what is your point?
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Deeks, wake up nah, I being scarstic towards coops.
He hate foreign coach but he daughter is one and he calling for she to coach T&T.
He double swording.
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Deeks, wake up nah, I being scarstic towards coops.
He hate foreign coach but he daughter is one and he calling for she to coach T&T.
He double swording.
Sam it gone to being scarstic now but lets be serious lets leave my family out of this,i have never disrespected you or your family in any way.
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Sam it gone to being scarstic now but lets be serious lets leave my family out of this,i have never disrespected you or your family in any way.
I not bad talking your daughter boss.
I just poiting out to you, that you always complaining about foreign coach but on de other hand you want your daughter to be T&T coach one day and she is a foreign coach. How is that disrespect ?
Come on... I not disrespecting your daughter. I just showing people how you have double tongue.
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Coops,the highest form of admiration & love anybody could show someone is to follow
in their footsteps.I am sure that's the feeling you get from her accomplishments.
Congrats to your daughter and 'Well Done' to you on your persuits.God bless breds.
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Deeks, wake up nah, I being scarstic towards coops.
He hate foreign coach but he daughter is one and he calling for she to coach T&T.
He double swording.
Sam u just like to talk yes,my career in the US involved many years of Football as a matter of fact that's all i did,at one time i was the assistant Coach at Davis and Elkins College,i worked for a company called Soccer Academy (English Coaches)for about fifteen of those years,my last gig out there was Technical director for a club called Norfolk Utd which had just over two thousand kids,when i started with them they only had a boys program,i had the experience of working with Brazillian,Argentinian,Vietman,American etc etc Coaches,they all liked me because i brought something different to the table,what made Summer Camps interesting for the kids was the variety of national
Coaches that did these Camps.
I never considered myself a foreign Coach i still maintain my accent and everything,when TT qualified for Germany i never signed so much autographs in my life every kid wanted one,i came to realize out there once u maintain your identity u get more respect.
I hate foreign Coaches!! tell that to somebody else not me,i have all the USSF and NSCAA certificates plus membership,u can dis respect me all u want i like to listen to guys like u.
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Deeks, wake up nah, I being scarstic towards coops.
He hate foreign coach but he daughter is one and he calling for she to coach T&T.
He double swording.
Sam u just like to talk yes,my career in the US involved many years of Football as a matter of fact that's all i did,at one time i was the assistant Coach at Davis and Elkins College,i worked for a company called Soccer Academy (English Coaches)for about fifteen of those years,my last gig out there was Technical director for a club called Norfolk Utd which had just over two thousand kids,when i started with them they only had a boys program,i had the experience of working with Brazillian,Argentinian,Vietman,American etc etc Coaches,they all liked me because i brought something different to the table,what made Summer Camps interesting for the kids was the variety of national
Coaches that did these Camps.
I never considered myself a foreign Coach i still maintain my accent and everything,when TT qualified for Germany i never signed so much autographs in my life every kid wanted one,i came to realize out there once u maintain your identity u get more respect.
I hate foreign Coaches!! tell that to somebody else not me,i have all the USSF and NSCAA certificates plus membership,u can dis respect me all u want i like to listen to guys like u.
I am not interested in what qualification you have, this is not my point.
And I am sure if you were to work wit the TTFA again you would do things differently.
De bottom line, with all that qualification you have I am sure your stock went up compare to when you live in T&T over 20 years ago.
Hart also kept his accent and is very close to his roots.
So stop hating on de foreign coach and you yourself is ONE and now you return home when you have nothing more going for you in de USA and all of a sudden you is Trini now !!!!!!!!
I remain close to my roots too, but I am base foreign. De you think de locals will respect him ?
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Deeks, wake up nah, I being scarstic towards coops.
He hate foreign coach but he daughter is one and he calling for she to coach T&T.
He double swording.
Sam u just like to talk yes,my career in the US involved many years of Football as a matter of fact that's all i did,at one time i was the assistant Coach at Davis and Elkins College,i worked for a company called Soccer Academy (English Coaches)for about fifteen of those years,my last gig out there was Technical director for a club called Norfolk Utd which had just over two thousand kids,when i started with them they only had a boys program,i had the experience of working with Brazillian,Argentinian,Vietman,American etc etc Coaches,they all liked me because i brought something different to the table,what made Summer Camps interesting for the kids was the variety of national
Coaches that did these Camps.
I never considered myself a foreign Coach i still maintain my accent and everything,when TT qualified for Germany i never signed so much autographs in my life every kid wanted one,i came to realize out there once u maintain your identity u get more respect.
I hate foreign Coaches!! tell that to somebody else not me,i have all the USSF and NSCAA certificates plus membership,u can dis respect me all u want i like to listen to guys like u.
I am not interested in what qualification you have, this is not my point.
And I am sure if you were to work wit the TTFA again you would do things differently.
De bottom line, with all that qualification you have I am sure your stock went up compare to when you live in T&T over 20 years ago.
Hart also kept his accent and is very close to his roots.
So stop hating on de foreign coach and you yourself is ONE and now you return home when you have nothing more going for you in de USA and all of a sudden you is Trini now !!!!!!!!
I remain close to my roots too, but I am base foreign. De you think de locals will respect him ?
You know something this conversation have to stop,imagine ah man telling me i come back home "HOME" and all of a sudden i'm a Trini,i wonder what is it you trying to say may be i don't understand English.
Are u a comedian or something?i come home because i had nothing going for me in the US?
Before alyu bann me i gone,have a good day. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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Before Allyuh get to uptight...how I read it..
Coops defence of the abuse and misuse of local coaches, especially there lack of payment, while new coaches from outside the country, not necessarily foreigners, are paid on time, does not constitue to he hating local foreign coaches...Coops wrong, cause Simoes, and Holger and possibly Maturana worked extended time without pay..
Sam point seems to me, a local coach cannot in anyway, build the same experience, as a coach living and working, in a foreign country, where more interest and due to it's size, other factors, demographics..etc etc more money is invested in sports development. As even described by Coops..
So imo,you're both correct, but Sam is wrong in thinking Coops dislike foreign coaches , even if I think they are over paid.... :devil:
Last one is mine, doh wha get nobody in trouble...oh how, he say, and this one was backin
La la la. ;D
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Sam right for pointing out the hypocrisy of those who criticize local coaches but bending over backwards to accomodate foreign coaches. Sam wrong for assuming that this is Coop's stance. Coop's stood up for local coaches getting a fair shake. Sam also wrong for bringing the man daughter into this... Tricia Cooper is just as much Trini as Stephen Hart and Coop's himself. Ex-pats don't lose their 'local' status just because they've plied their trade abroad. Just the sheer fact that people open to bringing their expertise and talents back to TnT.
Coop's doh need me to vouch for him, but he and I have been talking and dealing with each other offline for nearly six years now. It was a huge surprise to me when he decided to move back home because of all the things he was doing in the Norfolk area and all of the opportunities he had going for him. Paraphrasing the famous quote from Mark Chapter 6: "A prophet is [never honored]... in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
To suggest that Coop's suddenly discover that he's Trini or that he run home because he didn't have any other opportunities abroad, is not only wrong, it is downright rude and disrespectful. The sad irony is that Sam here tearing down a man in a thread that Flex created to honor him.
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"To suggest that Coop's suddenly discover that he's Trini or that he run home because he didn't have any other opportunities abroad, is not only wrong, it is downright rude and disrespectful. The sad irony is that Sam here tearing down a man in a thread that Flex created to honor him."
Totally agree with whole post, especially above
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So stop hating on de foreign coach and you yourself is ONE and now you return home when you have nothing more going for you in de USA and all of a sudden you is Trini now !!!!!!!!
Sam, Breds I think you gone overboard here. I know for a fact Coops has NO dislike for foreign coaches. Coops use to coach in the Tide water area of VA Beach. Lots of military people in the area. The parents do overseas military duty frequently. Very transient life for the kids. Coops organization would find teams for these kids, in addition to coaching many of them. And as a former military man was only to glad too accomodate these military parents.
I agree with him that locals are disrespected and are not afforded the same resources like the foreign coaches. I also agree with you that the local coaches need to improve. But the last 25 years with Jack at helm, even those who went abroad refused to fall in line with the bull of the last Admin. They simply did their own things without fanfare. I spoke of my alma mater school mate Mike Grayson. Another one was Haydon Martin, former Fatima, who coached Saints for a while. He used to go Germany in the summers but decided he would stick with the college football and not deal with TTFF at the time.
Sam there is an important reason why Coops is back home. I don't think is my business to tell you. Maybe you and Coops can have a civilize conversation on that.
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Coops, sorry if yuh take it de wrong way.
I just fed up with man here defending de local coaches and my point is, if they
1. Dont respect themselves no one will respect them.
2. They do not want to take their coaching to the next level but want the same treatment and pay like the more qualified one. If they get certified, they need exposure and this is why it is important for Charles, Hart and King to make the best of the opportunity they currently have.
I always feel you like to pick up for local coaches too much and in a sense yuh right because we have to look out for ours but they to have to be more.
And sorry, if you feel I disrespect yuh daughter, I feel to myself I did not, but sorry if you take it that way.
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Like Coops have de carnival jumbie, I eh see him in a while.
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Like Coops have de carnival jumbie, I eh see him in a while.
You know when Carnival come, the College league old boys does have they fan-fare down at Saints ground. All them ex-overseas does be down there. So meh Breds, Coops, have to be liming down there.
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Anyone else heading down there for that...we bring a good squad to represent as they say, would be nice to catch up with everyone..
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I would like to extend my deepest condolence to Kenwyn Cooper's family.
Coops pass away this morning.
RIP brother.
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I would like to extend my deepest condolence to Kenwyn Cooper's family.
Coops pass away this morning.
RIP brother.
Saddest CO-SIGN
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Condolences, RIP
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Wow.... Just logged on here. RIP my brother. Till we meet again.
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Today is Coops birthday.
Mis ya bro.
(https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/1908060_850288872165_6869042919277605013_n.jpg?oh=58fe1bb70b860367c4236f3c659f7fac&oe=569722AA)
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Wow!!. Happy Birthday, meh bredda. Hope you having a good time in you resting place.
This look like a DF-Maple game. That look like Coop's brother, Michael, who is about to tackle him. Guy to the left looks Hannibal Najaar. Two players in the background looks like Philbert Prince and Keith Lookloy?? Anybody can identify?
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Wow!!. Happy Birthday, meh bredda. Hope you having a good time in you resting place.
This look like a DF-Maple game. That look like Coop's brother, Michael, who is about to tackle him. Guy to the left looks Hannibal Najaar. Two players in the background looks like Philbert Prince and Keith Lookloy?? Anybody can identify?
Not so sure about the other players, but the goalie look like Troy Marquis.
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Coops.... RIP my boy...
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The other guy to Coops may be a guy called Dennis Phillips? He went Saints. Trevor, whey you?
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Wow!!. Happy Birthday, meh bredda. Hope you having a good time in you resting place.
This look like a DF-Maple game. That look like Coop's brother, Michael, who is about to tackle him. Guy to the left looks Hannibal Najaar. Two players in the background looks like Philbert Prince and Keith Lookloy?? Anybody can identify?
Not so sure about the other players, but the goalie look like Troy Marquis.
You have bionic eyes, how you see that goalie from quite here?
Coops, must be laughing all now.
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RIP Warrior.
You are missed.
VB
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RIP Coop's :salute: