Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on September 13, 2011, 04:26:30 PM
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Changes for zonal football a must.
Soca Warriors Online Editorial.
Even a casual scan of the current international environment reveals the impatience of people all over the world with political structures that restrict their development, and their increasing willingness to challenge their political masters.
No more globally than in Trinidad and Tobago. No less in football than in politics. It is widely known that the Soca Warriors Online (SWO) has for many years now called for fundamental change within the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation – to its organization, its political and financial culture and, most importantly, to its leadership.
The fact remains, however, that the SWO is not part of the TTFF. It is on the shoulders of the Regional Associations, the leagues and the clubs, which comprise the TTFF that responsibility for affecting the type of change we wish to see falls. SWO, therefore, notes with interest and concern the challenge being mounted to the established order in the Eastern Football Association of the TTFF.
The campaign being led by TTFF technical adviser Keith Look Loy, supposedly a TTFF insider, against the incumbent EFA president Lennox Watson, a TTFF vice-president, speaks volumes about the discontent with the established order that reigns within Trinidad and Tobago football, and crystallizes the issues that arise within the TTFF.
The incumbent EFA administration stands accused by the Look Loy campaign of flouting basic democratic norms in its relations with its membership, a lack of concern for the development of the game within its area of jurisdiction, and gross inefficiency in its administration.
This may be considered campaign rhetoric by Look Loy, who has taken the bold decision to challenge an established TTFF-insider regime, but the response of the Watson-led slate to the first serious challenge for leadership of a TTFF Regional Association in two decades provokes the concern of many SWO members.
The unilateral declaration by a TTFF-appointed official that the Look Loy slate was improperly nominated and seconded, on the basis of a letter produced immediately before the election but never shown to EFA members, and the attempt to reinstall the incumbent Watson slate into office as “unopposed” based on said letter, appear to many to be nothing short of an attempt at constitutional trickery intended to prolong the life of an administration that has done nothing for the sport in East-Trinidad.
Even worse is the refusal of the EFA and the TTFF to respond to the request by no less than thirteen of the EFA’s seventeen clubs for the election to be held. Both organizations have also refused repeated requests from the Look Loy camp for a copy of the letter which challenged the nomination and seconding of their candidates, and for a copy of the TTFF-appointed officials report.
The SWO considers this ongoing refusal to be arrogance of the highest order. An attorney's letter has been issued to the EFA and TTFF on behalf of the Look Loy campaign, which has indicated its intention to take the issue to FIFA.
The Look Loy campaign has indicated its intention to institute several administrative and developmental measures once in office. In a sense, the SWO considers the most critical among these to be;
1) The introduction of a limit of two consecutive terms for any Regional Association or TTFF office, and 2) the creation of an independent electoral commission of non-TTFF personnel to supervise elections at any level within the TTFF.
The SWO supports these measures as a means of preventing the political entrenchment of elites within the body politic of the TTFF. By themselves, however, they are not enough.
In the most fundamental way, real democracy within the TTFF and Trinidad and Tobago football demands that clubs defend their right to participate in the decision of issues at regional level, and insist on accountability from officials they elect to represent them at higher levels.
The SWO calls on the Eastern Football Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association to respect the principles of Democracy. The demand of the EFA’s member clubs for the election to be held must be respected. The EFA must call the election immediately.
The SWO also calls on the member clubs of the EFA to continue their fight for control of their Association and make sure it is run correctly.
We would also like to recommend that others who are not in any relation to the current TTFF and its entire board to step forward and challenge the other zones for Presidency as well, it's time for a change in T&T football and its dictated law and elected zones are the best place to start the rebuilding process.
Many names comes to mind, we believe can be viable zonal presidential candidates such as W Connection boss David John Williams, Terry Fenwick, Brent Sancho, Cyd Gray and or, maybe T&TEC chairman Omar Khan.
Finally, Look Loy is the only EFA candidate who has made his platform known to the fans of T&T football; and though the SWO represents a diverse number of supporters with varying opinions, it’s clear that the feelings of the fans are fully aligned with the ideals Mr. Look Loy has sworn to uphold in his EFA presidential campaign.
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Good work :thumbsup:
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Good write up
Remember Look Loy and Watson was and is Jack boys
So not sure how this will work as once they in power Jack will always have some say
Time will tell, this Watson fella playing de same card de TTFF does play on one of his own
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Only in Trinidad, a place where one can serve unlimited times.
This is a good letter, I agree.
Not sure about Keith Look Loy guy, I know he is a smooth operator and likesit his way, but out of the two Look Loy seems like a better choice.
I am also surprise no one else is stepping up for a challenge or are they still scared of the big bad Jack Warner ?
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ALL leaders like their way, when you get right down to it. THAT's why they are leaders. More to the point, where are all the critics in and of TT football? Why is it that NOT ONE of them, even those named by SWO as potential TTFF leaders, have come out - not only to support Look Loy - but to intensify the move for a new TTFF? While looking at Look Loy, why not examine THEIR horns at the same time? Maybe, under all the talk, they still scared of the powers that be - unlike Look Loy...
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Instead of starting on the fringe , change is needed at the centre of the Federation, that is at the level of the executive of the TTFF . Change at the centre and then spread to the periphery! with a new vision for football in T&T , not only about democratic ideals!
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Sit and wait for that. You clearly don't understand how the TTFF is structured and operates...
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Today was the EFA elections, right ?
Now Look Loy on the other side of the fence where he is getting the same treatment he gave to others while he was part of Jack regime.
Anyways, of de two, I hope Look Loy tear a new ass on Watson.
It seems Look Loy is trying to change and its never to late, time will tell, hope he don't forget the small men should he win.
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We will teach Keith a lesson.
Don't bite the hands that fed you.
Mr Watson is a true Patriot, this is why he told Keith to go to FIFA he does not care, bring the fight Keith, I hope you can go the distance.
Flex, Keith is using your site to get his word out because the T&T press don't want much to do with this.
Sooner or later you will see his true colors.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Lesson? What lesson? Look Loy mind his business and fought for progress within the TTFF for years. You don't know the man. He has now burned his bridges. He is not one of those people who wish to maintain the ancien regime. The old order has taken TT and Caribbean football to the limit of its possibilities. Now, it must be ushered out and a new order ushered in. One of the keys to success in life is to know when it is your time and to accept the responsibility that brings. Another key is to know when your time is over and to accept that any effort to prolong your stay is to make of yourself a sad caricature. Look at the ridiculous examples of Mubarak, Gadaffi, Assad. Those the gods would destroy they first make mad...
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Man breaking out de French Revolution references yes, lol
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...BTW, I don't agree that the media want to ignore this story. It has been highlighted in the Guardian, Newsday, Radio i-95...Whatever, I guarantee you FIFA will be interested. Watch this space...
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...(smile) true Bakes, that was for Jack Horner. He supposed to be a history teacher...
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We will teach Keith a lesson.
Don't bite the hands that fed you.
Mr Watson is a true Patriot, this is why he told Keith to go to FIFA he does not care, bring the fight Keith, I hope you can go the distance.
Flex, Keith is using your site to get his word out because the T&T press don't want much to do with this.
Sooner or later you will see his true colors.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!!!!!
hhhmmmm...... :thinking:
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We will teach Keith a lesson.
Don't bite the hands that fed you.
Mr Watson is a true Patriot, this is why he told Keith to go to FIFA he does not care, bring the fight Keith, I hope you can go the distance.
Flex, Keith is using your site to get his word out because the T&T press don't want much to do with this.
Sooner or later you will see his true colors.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack Horner doh mind the ignorant people on this site.
They don't appreciate your subtle talents.
You are a master of conjuring emotion with empty phrases
Rythmic, provocative, your words almost haiku-like
But in the end, vacuous
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We will teach Keith a lesson.
Don't bite the hands that fed you.
Mr Watson is a true Patriot, this is why he told Keith to go to FIFA he does not care, bring the fight Keith, I hope you can go the distance.
Flex, Keith is using your site to get his word out because the T&T press don't want much to do with this.
Sooner or later you will see his true colors.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!!!!!
Dey free yuh since d SOE yuh was MIA. What yuhget pick up 4?
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Jack Horner doh mind the ignorant people on this site.
They don't appreciate your subtle talents.
You are a master of conjuring emotion with empty phrases
Rythmic, provocative, your words almost haiku-like
But in the end, vacuous
Yuh sure de man could read that ?
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So what is the latest with the Keith Look Loy vs Watson thing ?
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Watson and company told the clubs they could do what they want and they could go to court. Then they sent an attorney's letter with a lot of legalese. The Look Loy campaign and the supporting clubs are now due to respond. They want to bring FIFA into the frame.
Meantime, there will be a CFU Extraordinary Congress in Montego Bay on 20 November. Four persons are listed to contest the post of CFU president: Horace Burrell (Jamaica), Gordon Derrick (Antigua), Anthony James (Jamaica), and ...HAROLD TAYLOR (TnT)! CONCACAF may be gone, but this is a move by the old regime to retain the CFU and, hopefully, influence over the confederation. Why do I mention this? Because the CFU battle is intimately linked to the campaign to hold on to the Eastern FA. FIFA will have a keen interest in what happens on both fronts.
Finally, a lot of people who have talked a lot over the years about the need to remove the old regime have failed to say nary a word in support of a democratic process in the EFA. No need to take sides - just to support Democracy. That would be enough to help the old regime to fall but they seem to have gone missing. Talk, talk, talk...
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Watson and company told the clubs they could do what they want and they could go to court. Then they sent an attorney's letter with a lot of legalese. The Look Loy campaign and the supporting clubs are now due to respond. They want to bring FIFA into the frame.
Meantime, there will be a CFU Extraordinary Congress in Montego Bay on 20 November. Four persons are listed to contest the post of CFU president: Horace Burrell (Jamaica), Gordon Derrick (Antigua), Anthony James (Jamaica), and ...HAROLD TAYLOR (TnT)! CONCACAF may be gone, but this is a move by the old regime to retain the CFU and, hopefully, influence over the confederation. Why do I mention this? Because the CFU battle is intimately linked to the campaign to hold on to the Eastern FA. FIFA will have a keen interest in what happens on both fronts.
Finally, a lot of people who have talked a lot over the years about the need to remove the old regime have failed to say nary a word in support of a democratic process in the EFA. No need to take sides - just to support Democracy. That would be enough to help the old regime to fall but they seem to have gone missing. Talk, talk, talk...
Like I said. Jack will raise again !!!!!!!! he always wins, God don't like ugly.
Jack did good for T&T football, who here could remember how he took his own money to help Marvin Lee and Mickey Trotman.
One way or the other, Jack will get a piece of the pie from football in the region.
I can guarantee you guys Keith Look Loy will not win the fight.
Let me remind you guys that Jack Warner is currently the acting Prime Minister.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!
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Everybody leaves the stage pal...Know when its time or become ridiculous...
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This letter should have been published in the T&T dailies as well Flex. !!
Good work !!!
Unfortunately, its a mountain for Keith Look Loy to climb, but it's not impossible. Ferguson and Watson need's to be on the breadline, they are worthless, Jack Warner slaves.
And Look Loy needs to watch his back, (IE: Richard Groden, Jamal Shabaaz and Alvin Corneal), trust me, they say enough bad things about him behind his back.
Keith should try and work together with Lincoln Phillips and Richard Braithwaite to help bring down Jack and company. They need to put the past behind them for the betterment of T&T football and they need to help rebuild it TOGETHER too.
We are to small of a country to be fighting, we need to pool everyone for the betterment.
PS: The Jack Horner guy.... :rotfl: I think you are giving Sam a run for his money for best comedian of the year...
Like I said. Jack will raise again !!!!!!!! he always wins, God don't like ugly.
Jack did good for T&T football, who here could remember how he took his own money to help Marvin Lee and Mickey Trotman.
One way or the other, Jack will get a piece of the pie from football in the region.
I can guarantee you guys Keith Look Loy will not win the fight.
Let me remind you guys that Jack Warner is currently the acting Prime Minister.
Jack will raise again !!!!!!!!
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Good comments Insider...and Look Loy knows his back needs watching. Lots of people "skin their teeth" at him, shake his hand, and wish he would disappear. He has lived with, and overcome that, all his life. But a man must be a MAN at some point and this ain't his first fight...
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Watson and company told the clubs they could do what they want and they could go to court. Then they sent an attorney's letter with a lot of legalese. The Look Loy campaign and the supporting clubs are now due to respond. They want to bring FIFA into the frame.
Meantime, there will be a CFU Extraordinary Congress in Montego Bay on 20 November. Four persons are listed to contest the post of CFU president: Horace Burrell (Jamaica), Gordon Derrick (Antigua), Anthony James (Jamaica), and ...HAROLD TAYLOR (TnT)! CONCACAF may be gone, but this is a move by the old regime to retain the CFU and, hopefully, influence over the confederation. Why do I mention this? Because the CFU battle is intimately linked to the campaign to hold on to the Eastern FA. FIFA will have a keen interest in what happens on both fronts.
Finally, a lot of people who have talked a lot over the years about the need to remove the old regime have failed to say nary a word in support of a democratic process in the EFA. No need to take sides - just to support Democracy. That would be enough to help the old regime to fall but they seem to have gone missing. Talk, talk, talk...
Burrell, James lead race for CFU presidency.
Jamaican Observer.
Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Captain Horace Burrell, is among four persons who have been officially nominated for the top football post in the Caribbean - that of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president.
The other three men up for the post to be decided on November 20 when an extraordinary congress convenes in Montego Bay, Jamaica, are Jamaica's Tony James, Antigua's Gordon Derrick and Trinidad and Tobago's Harold Taylor.
The post became vacant after former CFU and CONCACAF president, Austin 'Jack' Warner, resigned from all his football positions on June 20 following his suspension by the world football governing body, stemming from bribery allegations surrounding the FIFA elections.
Burrell has been the first vice-president of the CFU for over a decade and is the only nominee who currently holds a post among the regional executive. Of the other three nominees, only Derrick is currently is a member of the CFU, being the general secretary of the Antigua Football Federation.
Burrell is expressing confidence that when the members of the 30 countries that make up the CFU meet he will be appointed president.
"I have been the vice-president for way over a decade and I have gained tremendous experience over the years," Burrell shared. "I am also in close contact with my colleagues throughout the region and I have over the years developed a very good relationship with all the members."
He added: "Therefore, I am confident that come the 20th of November I will receive enough support to install me as the next CFU president."
Burrell, who has also expressed an interest in the job of CONCACAF president, is focusing on the CFU post at hand and filling the void left by Warner.
"President Jack Warner did a great deal for the development of football within the CFU and CONCACAF and has set the bar at a high level," Burrell declared.
"Therefore, the challenge is to try and maintain the levels set by President Warner," he added.
James, who is a former president of the JFF, explained his reason for putting himself up for the post.
"I think we need to bring healing and unity to the various factions that have developed recently in the Caribbean by providing experienced and effective leadership," James stated.
"I don't go into elections and these positions frivolously, so if I didn't feel I can win I wouldn't be in there," he added.
James, who is a past member of the CFU executive and currently a member of FIFA's Youth Committee, was nominated by The Bahamas and has also received the backing of Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
He is, however, not willing to make predictions pertaining to the likely outcome of the election until the ethics committee, which is looking into the bribery allegations, hands down its ruling next month.
"The Caribbean Union is in turmoil, so it is difficult to even say who is supporting who until FIFA's ethics committee has decided who is eligible to be a delegate and even who is eligible to be nominated."
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Joe Public relegated to EFA
T&T Express Reports.
THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association yesterday confirmed the relegation of two-time former Caribbean champions Joe Public, to the Eastern Football Association competition where they first competed 18 years ago.
Three-time professional league champions in T&T, Joe Public would only have survived if Defence Force had been confirmed as the bottom team.
The army/coast guard combination had an interrupted Super League programme after being barred from sporting activities by national security officials. They ended the competition bottom with 18 points, just three behind Joe Public (21 points) and two behind F.C. Santa Rosa, having played eight matches less than those opponents.
Yesterday, the TTFA issued a ruling stating: “T&T Defence Force will not be relegated due to circumstances beyond the team’s control. Guaya United are confirmed 2013/2014 Blink/Bmobile Super League Champions. FC Santa Rosa and Joe Public will be relegated.”
Formed in 1996, Joe Public also had some success at CONCACAF level when they defeated New England Revolution 2-1 at their Marvin Lee Stadium home and 4-0 at the Gillette Stadium in the USA in 2008. They also have the distinction of being the only T&T club to have won in Mexico, when edging Atlante 1-0 that same year.
At their peak, Joe Public sported notable players such as Arnold Dwarika, Kerry Baptiste, Kenwyne Jones, Cyd Gray, Gary Glasgow, Andre Toussaint, Densill Theobald, Lyndon “Chubby” Andrews, Hayden Tinto, Seon Power, Carlyle Mitchell, Trent Noel and Jamal Gay, as well as foreigners Gregory Richardson (Guyana), Alejandro Figueroa (Colombia), Yu Hoside (Japan) and Fabiano Agrapino (Brazil).
The “Eastern Lions” fell on hard times in 2011 after owner Jack Warner was embroiled in an international football bribery scandal and resigned his positions as FIFA vice-president, as well as president of the CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union bodies. In recent times, Joe Public have lost all their big-name players, and have used mainly youths in their squad.
FINAL 2013/2014 NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE STANDINGS
TEAMS P W D L F A GD Pts
Guaya United 23 19 1 3 57 26 31 58
Club Sando 23 18 3 2 68 25 43 57
Malabar FC 23 16 3 4 79 33 46 51
Real Maracas 24 9 4 11 41 32 9 31
1976 F.C. Phoenix 23 7 10 6 32 39 -7 31
Stokely Vale FC 24 9 3 12 36 51 -15 30
Bethel United 23 7 5 11 36 53 -17 26
Westside Superstarz 23 8 1 14 37 57 -20 25
Siparia Spurs 24 6 6 12 48 54 -6 24
WASA Football Club 24 5 8 11 27 35 -8 23
Joe Public FC 23 5 6 12 30 44 -14 21
FC Santa Rosa 23 5 5 13 29 51 -22 20
T&T Defence Force 16 5 3 8 23 44 -21 18
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Joe Public relegated to EFA
T&T Express Reports.
THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association yesterday confirmed the relegation of two-time former Caribbean champions Joe Public, to the Eastern Football Association competition where they first competed 18 years ago.
Three-time professional league champions in T&T, Joe Public would only have survived if Defence Force had been confirmed as the bottom team.
The army/coast guard combination had an interrupted Super League programme after being barred from sporting activities by national security officials. They ended the competition bottom with 18 points, just three behind Joe Public (21 points) and two behind F.C. Santa Rosa, having played eight matches less than those opponents.
Yesterday, the TTFA issued a ruling stating: “T&T Defence Force will not be relegated due to circumstances beyond the team’s control. Guaya United are confirmed 2013/2014 Blink/Bmobile Super League Champions. FC Santa Rosa and Joe Public will be relegated.”
Formed in 1996, Joe Public also had some success at CONCACAF level when they defeated New England Revolution 2-1 at their Marvin Lee Stadium home and 4-0 at the Gillette Stadium in the USA in 2008. They also have the distinction of being the only T&T club to have won in Mexico, when edging Atlante 1-0 that same year.
At their peak, Joe Public sported notable players such as Arnold Dwarika, Kerry Baptiste, Kenwyne Jones, Cyd Gray, Gary Glasgow, Andre Toussaint, Densill Theobald, Lyndon “Chubby” Andrews, Hayden Tinto, Seon Power, Carlyle Mitchell, Trent Noel and Jamal Gay, as well as foreigners Gregory Richardson (Guyana), Alejandro Figueroa (Colombia), Yu Hoside (Japan) and Fabiano Agrapino (Brazil).
The “Eastern Lions” fell on hard times in 2011 after owner Jack Warner was embroiled in an international football bribery scandal and resigned his positions as FIFA vice-president, as well as president of the CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union bodies. In recent times, Joe Public have lost all their big-name players, and have used mainly youths in their squad.
FINAL 2013/2014 NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE STANDINGS
TEAMS P W D L F A GD Pts
Guaya United 23 19 1 3 57 26 31 58
Club Sando 23 18 3 2 68 25 43 57
Malabar FC 23 16 3 4 79 33 46 51
Real Maracas 24 9 4 11 41 32 9 31
1976 F.C. Phoenix 23 7 10 6 32 39 -7 31
Stokely Vale FC 24 9 3 12 36 51 -15 30
Bethel United 23 7 5 11 36 53 -17 26
Westside Superstarz 23 8 1 14 37 57 -20 25
Siparia Spurs 24 6 6 12 48 54 -6 24
WASA Football Club 24 5 8 11 27 35 -8 23
Joe Public FC 23 5 6 12 30 44 -14 21
FC Santa Rosa 23 5 5 13 29 51 -22 20
T&T Defence Force 16 5 3 8 23 44 -21 18
I'm waiting for Jack Horner to tell us how Joe Public are as good as the Pro League teams :p
They were unlucky truth be told - there's no guarantee that DF would have been able to make up the points difference and that could have been a source of 3 points for JP that would have lifted them above WASA. Quite harsh imho.
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Wow. Look how the once mighty have fallen. Very sad. From hero to zero.
Almost like it's paralleling the decline of empire of a certain national character.
Then again some say Renraw will rise.
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Perseverance beat Cunupia
T&T Newsday
THE CENTRAL Football Association (CFA) held their CFA Ramsingh Sports World FA Cup last weekend in Caroni.
On Saturday, Perseverance United played Cunupia FC at New Settlement, Caroni Savannah and Cunupia emerged victorious 3-1.
Bryant Constantine drew first blood, scoring the first goal for Perseverance in the 21st minute but Cunupia’s Denron Fredrick replied with a hat-trick, in the 33rd, 62nd and 90th minutes.
In one of Sunday’s matches, Arawak Combined FC and Leeds FC battled to a 3-3 tie but, in kicks from the penalty spot, Arawak prevailed 4-2.
The first goal for Leeds came in the 20th minute by Ricardo Syrus and, six minutes later, his teammate Kennedy Cudjoe extended the lead.
In the 27th, Arawak answered back with a goal from Akil Sinnette and, in the 39th came the equaliser by Richard Seetahal.
Leeds took the lead again in the 58th minute with Markus Blackett finding the back of the net. With two minutes left in the game Akil Sennette again got his name on the scoresheet, causing the game to be determined via penalties.
Also on Sunday, Enterpise Life Sport and Edinbugh 500 battled to a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time, with Edinburgh’s Milton Wilson netting in the 17th minute while Jesse Francis replied for Enterprise in the 35th.
This game too came down to penalties, where Enterprise triumphed 4-3.
In the Under-16 Division, Crown Trace FC beat Tabaquite FC 3-0 with goals coming from Keston Boyke, Josh Cesair and Theophilus Bourne.
Meanwhile, in the Under-18 section, Crown Trace edged Tabaquite 2-1. Josh Cesair scored both goals for Crown Trace while Melik Roberts scored for Tabaquite.
Combined, Enterprise Life Sports roll in CFA
T&T Guardian
Arawak Combined FC and Enterprise Life Sports both advanced to the semifinal round of the Central Football Association Ramsingh Sports World FA Cup after penalty-kick wins in their respective quarterfinal matches on the weekend.
At Frederick Settlement Ground, Combined FC first needed an 88th minute equaliser from Akil Sinnette, his second goal of the match to earn a 3-3 draw with Leeds FC, before securing a 4-2 penalty-kicks triumph.
Early on, Leeds looked set for an easy passage to the last four when Ricardo Cyrus and Kennedy Cudjoe netted in the 20th and 26th minute for a 2-0 lead, only for Sinnette (27th) and Richard Seetahal (39th) to get Combined level before the half.
Markus Blackette restored Leeds lead at 3-2 in the 58th, but with two minutes left on the clock, Sinnette got his second to send the match to penalties, where his prevailed.
And in the second match at Frederick Settlement, Enterprise Life Sports got a 35th minute item from Jesse Francis to cancel out Milton Wilson’s 17th minute opener for Edinburgh 500 in their 1-1 regulation-time draw before, Enterprise won 4-3 on penalties.
In the semifinals carded for Monday, Combined will meet the winner of the remaining quarterfinal between Harlem Strikers and XtraFoods Chaguanas FC which was carded for New Settlement Ground, Caroni Savannah on Saturday, but did not come off; while Enterprise Life Sports will do battle with the winner of the Cunupia FC and Enterprise Youths FC encounter.
CFA Premier Ramsingh Sports World FA Cup results
Saturday August 16:
Cunupia 3 (Denron Fredrick 33rd, 62nd, 90th) vs Perseverance United 1 (Bryant Constantine 21st)
Harlem Strikers vs XtraFoods Chaguanas FC, New Settlement Ground, Caroni Savannah—postponed.
Sunday August 17:
Combined FC 3 (Akil Sinnette 27th, 88th, Richard Seetahal 39th) vs Leeds FC 2 (Ricardo Cyrus 20th, Kennedy Cudjoe 26th, Markus Blackett 58th)
Combined won 4-2 on penalty kicks
Enterprise Life Sports 1 (Jesse Francis 35th) vs Edinburgh 500 1 (Milton Wilson 17th)
Enterprise won 4-3 on penalty kicks
Remaining FA Fixtures:
Thursday August 21:
Quarterfinal:
Cunupia FC vs Enterprise Youths FC, Hugo Francis Rec.
Monday August 25:
Semifinal:
Harlem Strikers/XtraFoods Chaguanas FC winner vs Arawak Combined, Hugo Franci Rec. Ground
Enterprise Life Sports vs Cunupia FC/Enterprise Youths FC winner
Sunday:
Under-16:
Crown Trace 3 (Keston Boyke, Josh Cesair, Theophilius Bourne) vs Tabaquite 0
Under-18:
Crown Trace 18 (Josh Cesair 2) vs Tabaquite 1 (Melik Roberts)
Upcoming Youth schedule:
Today:
Under-8 semifinals: Cap Off Youths vs Gairy John CS, 4 pm; Crown Trace vs Tabaquite FC, 4.20pm
Under-10 semifinals: Gairy John CS vs Edinburgh 500, 4.40 pm; Cap Off Youths - bye
Under-12 semifinals: Blast FC vs Edinburgh 500, 5.20 pm; Cap Off Youths vs Crown Trace, 5.40pm
Under-14 semifinals: Cap Off Youths vs Marabella Family Crisis, 6 pm; Todds Road vs Blast FC, 6.20pm
Youth Results
Saturday August 16:
Cunupia 3 (Denron Fredrick 33rd, 62nd, 90th) vs Perseverance United 1 (Bryant Constantine 21st)
Harlem Strikers vs XtraFoods Chaguanas FC, New Settlement Ground, Caroni Savannah—postponed.
Sunday August 17:
Combined FC 3 (Akil Sinnette 27th, 88th, Richard Seetahal 39th) vs Leeds FC 2 (Ricardo Cyrus 20th, Kennedy Cudjoe 26th, Markus Blackett 58th)
Combined won 4-2 on penalty kicks
Enterprise Life Sports 1 (Jesse Francis 35th) vs Edinburgh 500 1 (Milton Wilson 17th)
Enterprise won 4-3 on penalty kicks
Remaining FA fixtures:
Thursday August 21:
Quarterfinal:
Cunupia FC vs Enterprise Youths FC, Hugo Francis Rec.
Monday August 25:
Semifinal:
Harlem Strikers/XtraFoods Chaguanas FC winner vs Arawak Combined, Hugo Franci Rec. Ground
Enterprise Life Sports vs Cunupia FC/Enterprise Youths FC winner
Sunday:
Under-16:
Crown Trace 3 (Keston Boyke, Josh Cesair, Theophilius Bourne) vs Tabaquite 0
Under-18:
Crown Trace 18 (Josh Cesair 2) vs Tabaquite 1 (Melik Roberts)
Upcoming Youth schedule:
Today:
Under-8 semifinals: Cap Off Youths vs Gairy John CS, 4 pm; Crown Trace vs Tabaquite FC, 4.20pm
Under-10 semifinals: Gairy John CS vs Edinburgh 500, 4.40 pm; Cap Off Youths - bye
Under-12 semifinals: Blast FC vs Edinburgh 500, 5.20 pm; Cap Off Youths vs Crown Trace, 5.40pm
Under-14 semifinals: Cap Off Youths vs Marabella Family Crisis, 6 pm; Todds Road vs Blast FC, 6.20pm
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EFA football kicks off tomorrow
T&T Express
The 2014 season of the Eastern Football Association will kick off tomorrow with the featured clash being a Premier Division match between SKHY FC and Malta Carib Alcons carded for 5 p.m. at Squadron ground, Arouca.
Action in the First Division begins on Sunday where four matches are scheduled.
PREMIER DIVISION
Tomorrow
SKHY FC vs Malta Carib Alcons, Squadron ground, 5 p.m.
Boss FC vs House of Dread, Morvant, 5 p.m.
WASA vs T&T Prisons, WASA, 5 p.m.
Valtrin United vs Carib FC, NUGFW, 5 p.m.
SUNDAY
FC Maloney vs BM Spurs, Maloney 5 p.m.
FIRST DIVISION
Barataria Ball Players vs Crompton FC, Lower Sixth Ave, 5 p.m.
Eastern Alliance vs FCM Supreme, Prime Min’s ground, 5 p.m.
Joe Public FC vs T&T Airguard, Marvin Lee, 4 p.m.
FC Elements vs Vorstelijke, Malick ground, 4 p.m.
RELATED NEWS
EFA season kicks off today
T&T Newsday
THE 2014 season of the Eastern Football Association (EFA) will kick off today with matches in the Premiership Division.
All matches will get going simultaneously at 5 pm, with SKHY FC opposing Malta Carib Alcons at Squadron Ground in Arouca, Boss FC meeting House of Dread at Morvant and Tunapuna Titans hosting La Horquetta XF at the Constantine Park in Tunapuna.
Also on today’s agenda will see WASA entertaining TT Prisons at the WASA Ground in St Joseph and Valtrin United facing Carib FC at the NUGFW Ground in Valsayn. There is a lone Premiership Division contest tomorrow with FC Maloney hosting BM Spurs.
Tomorrow will also feature a quartet of matches in the First Division.
At 4 pm, Joe Public will tackle TT Airguard at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya and Vorstelijke will visit FC Elements at the Malick Ground.
At five o’clock, Barataria Ball Players will be squaring off against Crompton FC at Lower Sixth Avenue in Barataria while Eastern Alliance will be meeting FCM Supreme at the Prime Minister’s Ground in Arouca.
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NFA clubs get East Port-of-Spain help
T&T Newsday
The East Port of Spain Development Company (EPOS) has partnered with the Northern Football Association (NFA) to help member clubs within the jurisdiction of East Port of Spain that play in the NFA competitions.
On Tuesday, the managing director of EPOS, Dr Cheryl Austin, presented match balls to four NFA clubs - Morvant Elements, Laventille United, Cosmos Eagles and RSSR . The company also presented corner flags to be used in matches played by these clubs and 10 size four footballs for use in the upcoming NFA youth development projects.
In making the presentation to the clubs, Dr Austin spoke of her company’s unequivocal commitment to sport as a vehicle for development within these communities. EPOS has also been involved in the setting up of recent home games within the community of Morvant for Caledonia AIA.
Clyde Denoon, who represented Morvant Elements at Tuesday’s handover, thanked EPOS for their understanding of the challenges facing small clubs. He also praised the NFA for its outreach programme in helping its member clubs.
The NFA will host the first ever night football match at the Queen’s Park Savannah, when the knockout final is played on November 25. Two of the clubs which received footballs, RSSR and Laventille United have advanced to the quarterfinals of the knockout competition.
For more information call Rayshawn Mars at 378-8795.
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Maple FC, Cultural Roots eye NFA FA final
By Keith Clement (T&T Guardian)
Title-holder Maple FC and Cultural Roots will be favourites to reach this season Northern Football Association FA Trophy final when semifinal matches take place at the Queen’s Park Savannah, this afternoon from 3.30pm.
At TSTT Ground, Maple FC dubbed “The Government” side will come up against Malta Carib Alcons while a few yards away, Cultural Roots and RSSR↔will face off at New Ground.
On Wednesday last in quarterfinal action, Maple FC which has already captured the NFA↔Premier Division League crown blanked Miscellaneous Laventille United 2-0 with goals from Akim Ash and Konsa Murei at the Brian Lara Recreation Ground, Sam Boucaud, Lower Santa Cruz and up at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, Alcons eked out a 1-0 win over Queen’s Park Cricket Club thanks to a strike from Isiah Irish.
A day later, Christon Freitas and Jameel Herbert were on target for Cultural Roots, First Division winners, to cancel out Jamiel Williams’ item for Football Factory at Long Circular while Corey Isaac, Terez Popwell and Jovon Vincent all found the back of the net for RSSR in their 3-1 defeat of New Millenium at Carenage Recreation Ground, Haig Street, Carenage. Kushia King scored for New Millenium.
The winners of today’s semifinal will meet in the final, under lights at the QP Savannah on Friday November 25. The champions will collect $12,000 and the runner-up $8,000 while the losing semifinalists will each earn $2,500.
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NFA final under lights Friday.
T&T Express Reports.
History will be created on Friday when, for the first time ever, a football match will be played under lights on the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.
The match will be the Northern Football Association’s knockout final, between RSSR and Alcons and it will be played on the pitch opposite Jerningham Avenue, near to the vendors’ stalls on the Savannah.
RSSR is a Beetham-based team which was founded by activist Ruthven Charles and named after football legends Russell Tesheira,Selris Figaro, Sammy Llewelyn and Reynold George.
Alcons, founded by former national player and coach Alvin Corneal, is based in east Trinidad but competed in the NFA this season.
On the road to the finals, Alcons defeated Premier Division league winners Maple, while RSSR overcame the First Division league champions Cultural Roots, thus ensuring that no team would complete the “double” in the nfa this season.
The teams will be doing battle for $25,000 in prize money. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7.30 p.m. and the NFA has promised, through its sponsors, to have giveaways for the crowd, an MVP award and music to help create a typical “Trini” atmosphere.
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, along with executive members of the TTFA have been invited to witness the match.
Public interest is high among the northern football fraternity and NFA president Tony Harford is optimistic the event will spark greater use of the Queen’s Park Savannah for sport after hours. Harford has also praised his NFA team for succesfully hosting 87 matches so far this season, on time and on schedule.
The NFA will complete it’s 2016 schedule with the Savannah Cup competition, starting on Tuesday of next week.
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RSSR takes NFA Knock Out...finally
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
After two attempts, Beetham club RSSR led by Ruthvin Charles has finally won the Northern Football Association (NFA) Knock Out Title.
On Friday, under lights at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain, the club named in honour of former national stand-outs Russell Tesheira, Selris Figaro, Sammy Llewelyn and Reynold George, edged Malta Carib Alcons 1-0 courtesy a strike by Hakeem Gulston in the 69th minute.
In a match that could have gone in any direction, the youthful Alcons outfit enjoyed the majority of possession, passing and moving the ball around, as well as creating lots of chances. But for the many opportunities they created, they could not find a way past the athletic Akeem James in the RSSR goal.
RSSR, which opted to play a more physical and gutsy game, got the winner in the second period of play when Gulston found room on top the area and unleashed a blistering low drive that beat the outstretched arms of the Alcons' custodian Marlon Carrington much to the delight of the hundreds of fans and supporters that made their way to the historic final.
Afterwards James, the talented RSSR goalkeeper was adjudged the Man of the Match for his heroics between the uprights which ensured he kept a clean sheet, while his team took home the winner's cheque of $25, 000, the winners' trophy and medals.
The final, which created history for being the first Knockout final to be played under lights at the savannah, had attracted an estimated 1,500 fans that included former national stand outs Clayton Morris, Reynold George, Selris Figaro, Jerry Brown and Angus Eve.
New NFA president Anthony Harford dsescribed the match as a remarkable success for a first-time event, saying people welcomed the initiative.
According to Harford it now gives him and his association the encouragement to have more matches at the Savannah at nights.
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Sherwood's double keeps Pele Pele perfect in SFA 'Big Six'
T&T Guardian
Former national youth player Linsee Sherwood scored a pair of goals as Pele Pele crushed Serial Strikers 4-0 for its second straight win in the Southern Football Association Petrotrin Super League "Big Six" competition on Saturday.
Coming off a 3-1 win over Santa Flora United on Thursday, Pele Pele also got goals from Ackeem Andrew and Ronaldo La Borde to improve to maximum six points, two more than Pitchmen FC.
This after Pitchment FC, 3-2 winners over Erin FC on Thursday, was held to a 2-2 draw by Santa Flora.
Richard Joseph and Tequan Rodrigue were the players on target for Pitchment, while Chris Moore and Isaiah Taylor replied for Santa Flora.
In Saturday’s other match, Akel Sanhez netted twice in a 3-1 win over San Fernando Giants.
Al Sinclair got the other goal for Erin FC to cancel out Sean Leoungtat item for Giants.
On Thursday, Pitchment FC got a double from Dennis Burgess and one from Seon Shipley to hold off Erin FC 3-2. Dannel Henry and Akel Sanchez were the players on target for Erin FC.
Over at Santa Flora, visitors Pele Pele used items from Andrews, Kareem John and Akil Wilson to defeat Santa Flora United 3-1. Kyle Sylvester got the lone reply for the host.
And in the other match played at Latchoos Road, Serial Strikers and San Fernando Giants battled to a 2-2 draw.
Devon John and an own goal from Oseil Sylvester accounted for Strikers' tally, while Jeremy Primus and Jamal Du Barry were on target for Giants.
The third round of matches will take place on Tuesday from 7 pm while the other rounds of matches are carded for Thursday, December 1 and Saturday, December 3, at the end of which a champion will be crowned and with it the SFA's representative in the T&T Football Association "Champion of Champions" to determine the qualifiers for the National Super League.
Saturday's Results
Pele Pele 4 (Linsee Sherwood 2, Ackeem Andrew, Ronaldo La Borde) vs Serial Strikers 0
Pitchment FC 2 (Richard Joseph, Tequan Rodriguez) vs Santa Flora 2 (Chris Moore, Isaiah Taylor)
Erin FC 2 (Akel Sanchez, Al Sinclair) vs San Fernando Giants 1 (Sean Leoungtat)
Thursday
Serial Strikers 2 (Oseil Sylvester o.g, Devon John) vs San Fernando Giants 2 (Jeremy Primus, Jamal Du Barry)
Pitchment FC 3 (Dennis Burgess 2, Seon Shipley) vs Erin FC 2 (Dannel Henry, Akel Sanchez)
Pele Pele 3 (Akeem Andrews, Kareem John, Akil Wilson) vs Santa Flora Utd 1 (Kyle Sylvester)
Latest SFA Big Six standings Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Pele Pele 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
2. Pitchment FC 2 1 1 0 5 4 4
3. Erin FC 2 1 0 1 5 4 3
4. San F’do Giants 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
5. Santa Flora 2 0 1 1 3 5 1
6. Serial Strikers 2 0 1 1 2 6 1
Today's Matches
San Fernando Giants vs Pele Pele, Latchoos Road, 7 pm
Pitchment FC vs Serial Strikers, La Brea, 7 pm
Erin FC vs Santa Flora United, Erin 7 pm
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Never heard of PelePele before until now.
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St Francois, Belmont FC, QPCC win in Fruta Cup.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The trio of St Francois Nationals, Belmont FC and Queen’s Park Cricket Club all won when the Northern Football Association (NFA) $22,000 Fruta Cup continued with three matches on Thursday night.
At President’s Ground, St Ann’s, visiting club, Queen’s ParK CC got the better of St Ann’s Rangers 2-1 while St Francois Nationals won by a similar margin over Harvard Sports Club, and Belmont FC topped beaten finalist Malta Carib Alcons, 1-0 at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James.
Today, two matches are carded for the Queen’s Park Savannah from 3.30pm with Morvant Elements up against Maple FC at New Ground, and New Millennium versus Cosmos at TSTT Ground.
When the tournament began on Tuesday at Long Circular, Premier Division champions, Maple FC edged First Division winners, Cultural Roots United 2-1, in the 70-minutes match while Football Factory pipped New Millenium 1-0.
For the duration of the competition, an out-right win teams gain three points while a penalty-kicks win is two points to the victor, and one for the loser.
Matches continue tomorrow also from 3.30pm while matches are carded for Tuesday and Thursday with the finals carded for Saturday December 17 under lights at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
At the end of the five round-robin groups, the group winner will advance to the quarterfinals, along with the three best second placed teams.
Last Friday, the NFA created history by hosting it’s knockout final under lights at the QP Savannah, which was won by RSSR, 1-0 over Malta Carib Alcons.
Today’s Match-ups
Morvant Elements vs Maple FC, New Ground, QP Savannah, 3.30pm
New Millennium vs Cosmos, TSTT Ground, QP Savannah, 3.30pm
Tomorrow
CMFA vs Malta Carib Alcons, QRC Ground, St Clair, 3.30pm
St Francois Nationals vs RSSR, TSTT Ground, QP Savannah, 3.30pm
QPCC vs Miscellaneous Laventille United, New Ground, QP Savannah, 3.30pm
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Posted to facebook by Marcus Daniel
YOUNG FOOTBALLER DIES AFTER COLLAPSING IN FOOTBALL MATCH
Andrew Andrews said to be 22 years of age collapsed and was rushed to the Scarborough General Hospital (SGH) where he was operated on but died failing to regain consciousness.
Andrews was at the time playing for his longstanding club Earlbrokes against Bethel United in a Championship Division league match at the RiverBank Oval, Mt St George.
According to reports, the central defender collapsed chasing a ball in his area 25 minutes into the game.
Referees and other EMT officials tried to resuscitate him using CPR but Andrews failed to regain consciousness. He was rushed to the SGH on the back of a Navara.
The Pembroke based team who are currently second from bottom on the seven-team league table are scheduled to play against Goodwood United in the finals of the Divisional Knockout tournament later in this week.
A teammate, who is a Fireman by trade has called for the TFA to have Emergency Officials at games.
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QPCC, Alcons reach Fruta Cup final
T&T Guardian
Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Malta Carib Alcons will square off in the tomorrow’s Northern Football Association Fruta Cup final at the Queen’s Park Savannah from 3.30pm.
This after both clubs won their semifinals matches at Dibe Recreation Ground, Belle Vue, Long Circular on Wednesday on penalty-kicks, after the 70-minutes contests ended goalless.
In the night’s first semifinal, the Parkites emerged 5-4 winners on penalties over Belmont FC while Alcons, runners-up to RSRR in the NFA FA final, got the better of St Francois Nationals, 4-3 from spot-kicks.
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Henry, Sanchez lead Erin FC to SFA Executive Cup title honours
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Simon Dannel Henry and Akel Sanchez scored a goal each to lead Erin FC to a 2-1 defeat of San Fernando Giants in the Southern Football Association (SFA) Executive Cup final at the Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin on Wednesday night.
Henry, the eventual “Most Valuable Player” of the match opened the scoring in the 26th minute and four minutes later Sanchez doubled the advantage before Sean Leoungtat pulled a goal back for Giants in the 62nd.
With the win, Erin FC captured $5,000 while Giants took home $3,000.
In the semifinals, both Erin FC and Giants registered contrasting semifinal wins to book places in the decider.
Last Thursday playing at home on a heavy surface, Erin FC made full use of the unpleasant conditions for “Big Six” champions Pitchment FC and came away with a resounding 6-1 triumph. The duo of Akil Sanchez and Henry scored two goals each for Erin FC while Keion Alexander and Sebastien Bailey chipped in with one each to cancel out Akinola Gregoire’s lone reply.
A day later at Penal, Giants battled to a 5-4 penalty-kicks victory over Santa Flora United after both teams played to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation-time with Jamal Dubarry scoring twice for the eventual winners, and Isaiah Taylor, a double for Santa Flora.
Last night at David Williams Recreation Ground, Penal, the SFA season was expected to come to and end, Pitchment FC, which won the SFA Petrotrin Super League $15,000 “Big Six” title to book a spot in the T&T Football Association “Champion of Champions” to determine the three qualifiers for the 2017 National Super League by winning the “Big Six” faced Diamond United in the League Cup.
This after Pitchment won their home-and-away semifinal, 6-4 over Siparia Police Youth Club. On Saturday in the first-leg at La Brea, Dennis Burgess scored twice for Pitchment in a 4-2 win while Monday’s return encounter at Siparia ended 2-2.
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Laventille United FC honoured for 2016 success.
By Shaun Fuentes (Guardian).
The Laventille United Football club members were honoured at an Awards Ceremony held at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday afternoon for its achievements in its inaugural year involved in National club football.
The club, founded by Cedric Hazelwood, presented a senior men’s team now called Miscellaneous Laventille United and participated in the Northern Football Association (NFA) First Division in 2016 following a partnership with the Miscellaneous Group in September.
This followed after the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sham Mohammed took a special interest in the talent coming out of Laventille during a Football 7s tournament sponsored by the Miscellaneous Group and staged at the St Paul Street Recreational Ground in conjunction with the Inter-Agency Task Force Hearts and Minds Programme earlier this year, before the team joined the NFA.
Hazelwood said that being able to see players and supporters from communities that were at some point warring with each other, turning up at matches supporting one cause and one team was the biggest achievement for him.
“I am proud to stand here to say to say that we have reached this stage in Laventille where over the last few years we know that every day was a murder on the street, around our homes. The governments ministries tried a lot of programmes in Laventille to curb crime and it never really worked. I think it had more crime. Since we started on August 1st, with the support of Miscellaneous Group and its CEO Sham Mohammed, we have seen a lot of improvements and achievements in Laventille.
“This is something great where, as mentioned by Mr Fuentes earlier on, we could have players from different parts of Laventille coming together to play football which is something that can bring the whole world together. this was the right vehicle to use to break down the barriers in Laventille. We had players brining supporters from their communities who were at once warring against each other. They all came together to support one team and for me and all of us here, this is a major success because of this programme,” Hazelwood added.
“We are committed to the work ahead because it helps us send a positive message throughout Laventille and the rest of the country,” he added.
The members of the squad come from various areas within Laventille, from Beverly Hills,St Paul Street, John John, Snake Valley, Mentor Alley, Block 22, Higher and Lower Picton , Soogrim Trace to Despers Centre and other areas.
The club honoured its outstanding performers with Dalone Murrell receiving the Most Dedicated Player award, Kareem Charles, the 26-year-old from Morvant taking the topscorer award, Richard Hannaway, a 23-year-old striker from Mentour Alley taking the Most Promising Player award and Brad Clifton receiving the “Most Valuable Player” award. All players and staff were also honoured with commemorative medals.
Mohammed has pledged continued assistance as the club’s main financier and there are already plans to expand the team’s backroom staff and technical video analysis sessions being added to the team’s programme for the 2017 season in the NFA Premier Division
The Laventille team finished second in the NFA First Division and earning promotion to the Premier Division for next year. The team also reached the quarterfinals of the NFA’s FA Cup tournament, also reaching the quarterfinals of the NFS Fruta Cup at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The club has also set up youth development programmes with teams in the Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 age groups.
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CFA wants TTFA constitution amended.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The Central Football Association (CFA), being led by Shymdeo Gosine is rejecting Samuel Saunders as the zone’s representative on the Board of Directors of the T&T Football Association.
The CFA in a strongly worded letter to the TTFA on January 3, made it clear that Saunders has breached the association’s constitution (TTFA) by not attending four consecutive meetings. Yesterday, the CFA’s General Secretary Clynt Taylor said his association intends to propose major amendments to the constitution of the TTFA which will allow Regional Associations the right to select its own representative to the football association’s board.
Their proposal will also enable the six regional associations-Northern Football Association (NFA), Southern Football Association (SFA), Central Football Association (CFA), Eastern Football Association (EFA), Tobago Football Association (TFA) and the Eastern Counties Football Union (ECFU) to have their representative immediately accepted as a TTFA member, in the event of a change.
In the constitution, if there is a change in the representative by the regional association, that person will be considered an observer until an AGM is held to approve their membership. Their proposal will again be raised at the next TTFA Congress next year.
Taylor, who was a candidate for the hotly contested race for presidency of the TTFA in 2015, told the Sunday Guardian that Saunders has not represented his association in anyway. “He has done absolutely nothing for the CFA. He does not attend meetings although we have been invited on many occasions and he has not responded to their messages to chart a way forward for the CFA” Taylor explained yesterday.
According to Taylor, Saunders who is an Attorney by profession, only met with the CFA when his executives made it public they wanted to remove him. The CFA has already chosen James Toussaint as the replacement for Saunders but Taylor said this is being blocked by the TTFA.
In its letter to the TTFA, Taylor pointed to the TTFA Congress on November 26, 2016 at Naparima Boys College, San Fernando, in which it was re-iterated that TTFA Board members who were absent for three or more consecutive meetings were automatically removed as Board members as stated by the constitution of the TTFA. This call was also reinforced by ex referee Osmond Downer.
Saunders who has failed to attend meetings on May 18, June 15, July 20 and August 17, 2016 automatically disqualifies himself from board membership, a call that was also made by the CFA at that congress.
Contacted, Joanne Salazar, the TTFA’s 3rd vice president said the CFA has been incorrect in their assumption that Saunders missed four meetings consecutively. She noted the meeting that was scheduled for June 15 was not held.
“No member to date, has missed four meetings” Salazar said and directed the CFA to its own constitution, which she said should be equipped with the necessary steps to discipline or take actions against its members.
The Guardian also learnt that the NFA, under new president Anthony Harford, has been experiencing similar problems with its representative.
RELATED NEWS
CFA wants Saunders out
By Ian Prescott (Express).
THE Central Football Association (CFA) has written to the governing Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, seeking to have its current representative Samuel Saunders removed from the TTFA’s board of directors.
The TTFA board of directors comprises: David John-Williams (president), Joanne Salazar, Ewing Davis and Allan Warner (vice-presidents), Samuel Saunders (Central FA), Sherwyn Dyer (Eastern Counties Football Union), Karanjabari Williams (Northern FA), Richard Quan Chan (Southern FA), Anthony Moore (Tobago FA), Joseph Taylor (Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association), Sharon O’Brien (Women’s League Football), Wayne Cunningham (Eastern FA) and Dexter Skeene (CEO of the TT Pro League).
Businessman Shymdeo Gosine was elected unopposed as president of the CFA for the next four years in November 2016, replacing Bryan Layne, who led Central football for over 20 years. Saunders has been portrayed as an absentee representative and through its general secretary and former presidential candidate and Referees Association president Clynth Taylor, the CFA is seeking his removal.
A December 2016 board meeting of the CFA voted to provisionally remove Saunders as the CFA’s rep on the Board of the TTFA. Previously, the TTFA Board at a meeting in Naparima last year, voted to suspend CFA representation on the Board due to Saunders’ absence.
In a release, the CFA said: “Please be advised that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) was advised in a letter dated September 8, 2016, that Mr Samuel Saunders, board member, no longer represents the Central Football Association (CFA) as a representative to the Board of the TTFA.“
The CFA further said: “The CFA board of management met on December 29, 2016 and nominated a new member as the CFA representative to the board of management of the TTFA, subject to final confirmation by its members; and until such time, the CFA continues to advise that Mr Samuel Saunders, who has begun contacting the CFA for the first time in over a year, does not and no longer represents the CFA in any capacity.”
Central Football is arguing that Saunders should be automatically disqualified under a TTFA statute which suspends a representative who misses four consecutive Board meetings. However, in reply to the CFA, TTFA president John-Williams said that while it is the CFA’s decision to name their own representative, Saunders in fact only missed three consecutive meetings.
“I am aware that you requested and received from Mr Azad Khan the attendance summary of board members to the TTFA board meetings. I take the opportunity to advise that Mr Saunders did not miss four consecutive board meetings as you are claiming,” John-Williams replied.
“The TTFA’s board meeting of June 15, 2016 did take place because of the lack of a quorum and as such, cannot be constituted as and considered as a board meeting,” John-Williams said.
Likewise, former referee Osmond Downer has shed light on the issue. Downer thinks that in light of the June 15 TTFA board meeting being aborted, Saunders remains the CFA representative on a technicality.
“If the CFA can provide proof that Mr Saunders’ removal and replacement is done in accordance with the Constitutions of the CFA and the TTFA, the CFA will be able to have representation on the TTFA board until such representation is approved at the next AGM of the TTFA (Constitution Article 34 Section 9, paragraph 2),” Downer said.
Downer added: “The main reason for the decision of the AGM at Naparima College concerning Mr Saunders was the information that Mr Saunders had missed four consecutive meetings of the TTFA Board and so, according to the TTFA Constitution (Article 34, section 8.), Mr Saunders’ place on the board would automatically be forfeited.”
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Elie is Laventille United technical director.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Former National Under-17 Head Coach Ken Elie has taken up a new role as Technical Director of the Miscellaneous Laventille United Football Club.
Elie, was head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 team in 2000, during the early stages of the preparations of the team for the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Cup staged in T&T.
He also took on the head coach role of the most recent T&T U-17 men’s team last year before Russell Latapy took over the reign ahead of the Caribbean Football Union leg of the U-17 World Cup qualifiers.
Elie said he is anticipating the new challenge with the Laventille United team which entered the Northern Football Association competitions last year and earned promotion to the Premier Division for 2017.
“Taking up the post with Laventille United presents a valuable opportunity and a patriotic one for me to serve the young people of a historically vibrant community in sport and culture, a community that has given and produced so much but has received little in comparison,” Elie said last Saturday.
“Being in this position now as technical director is my way of respecting all of Laventille and serving and contributing to their development. I am looking forward to long and professional relationship with the club management which is led by a committed individual in Sham Mohammed and the Miscellaneous Group,” Elie added.
Elie is also known for working with other local teams such as St Anthony’s College, Essex, WASA FC - which he helped attain national FA Cup success, and the St Dominic’s Children’s Home in the Atlantic LNG/Real Madrid programme.
Elie will also serve as assistant coach to the Laventille first team under head coach Cedric Hazelwood but will oversee the technical development of the club which also comprises youth teams in different age groups.
Mohammed and his establishment, the Miscellaneous Group have been the financiers of the Laventille United club and will handle Elie’s operations with the club.
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EFA Big-4 to be decided by referees committee.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The champions of the Eastern Football Association Big-Four competition could well be decided by its Referee’s Association.
This after a clash between WASA FC and Heights United at WASA Ground, St Joseph on Saturday only lasted 72 of the regulation stipulated 90 minutes, forcing both teams management to lodge an official complaint with the EFA’s executive.
At the time the match was halted, host WASA FC held a comfortable 2-0 lead over the EFA FA trophy runner-up, with the latter needing a draw or to lose by less than three goals to take the title.
Contacted for comment, EFA President, Linus Sanchez confirmed that the final outcome of the match will be taken after a meeting is held by the Referee’s Association which is in possession of written complaints from both clubs involved.
Should the match resume where it was halted then WASA, currently third on the table with three points from two matches will need to get another goal while blanking its opponent to grab the title on goal-difference.
On Tuesday night at Eddie Hart Ground, Tunapuna, SKHY FC also kept its chances of lifting the crown alive with a 1-0 defeat of WASA FC thanks to a 22nd minute strike from Shamar De Gannes while Heights United made it two-wins from two completed matches, without even breaking a sweat as scheduled opponent BM Spurs, the zone’s FA winners for a second straight season failed to show for a third straight match.
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Miscellaneous brings Laventille teams together.
T&T Newsday Reports.
THE MISCELLANEOUS Group and the Football Seven Association, have brought teams from a number of areas in Laventille together, for a 7s Open Competition that will run until February 18 at Sogren Trace Grounds, upper Laventille.
Teams such as Miscellaneous Laventille United, which campaign in the Northern Football Association Premier Division, St Barb’s, Troumacaque, Brooklyn, Despers, Crecent, Gonzales, Sogren Trace, Mentor Alley and The Trace are all engaged in matches, which are played three days weekly with double headers under lights at the venue. Crowds estimated between 400 to 500 have attended games on each matchday so far.
The teams are competing for prizes worth $10,000, plus possible selection on the Laventille United first team to appear in the Northern FA Premier Division this year.
The fourth double header since the start on January 29, took place last Saturday with Laventille United going on a goal spree with a 7-0 victory over St Barbs, while Mentor Alley got past Gonzales 4-0.
For Laventille, Lyndon Ferguson notched a hat-trick, while Leon Roberts struck twice and Nickomi Griffith and Qualanson Archibald score a goal each.
Keston Hewitt, Kareem Baptiste, Akeel Jack and Nickomi Griffith got the goals for Mentor Alley.
Prior to Saturday’s double header, an Under-12 match comprising players from the Laventille United Academy also took place at Sogren Trace Grounds.
Former national youth team coach Ken Elie is the technical director for Laventille United. He is also using the tournament to scout for possible new additions to the Laventille team for their NFA Premier Division campaign this year. Miscellaneous, partnering with the Hearts and Minds Programme, hosted a previous tournament at the St Paul Street Recreation Ground in August/ September, from which players were used to form the Miscellaneous Laventille United team.
“The power of one is effective in Sogren Trace.
The founder of Laventille United is Cedric Hazelwood and his ideas for Laventille have brought us here for this occasion,” Elie said on Saturday.
“This is what we will like to see in every community in Trinidad and Tobago. We have kids from two year old straight up to parents and grandparents at the group supporting football. The community is alive and well.
There are so many other things these people could be doing at this time but they are here supporting the football and persons from what was once gangs rivaling each other are here to support the games. Football has a life of its own and this is what it does for a community,” Elie, a member of the T&T Defence Force, added.
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Let's hope football can help in diverting most of the yutes from activities that causing harm to the communities East of the Dry River. Pan eh doing it anymore, so sad to say.
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CFA calls for TTFA General Meeting to remove Saunders as representative.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Fed up with attempts to have its own representative to the board of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) approved, the Central Football Association (CFA) is requesting an urgent Extraordinary General Meeting of the TTFA to have Attorney Samuel Saunders removed as their representative on the TTFA Board.
The CFA has been trying to have Saunders replaced by another lawyer, James Toussaint, as the representative for the CFA but encountered a stumbling block as the TTFA, led by president David John-Williams, seem reluctant to appoint the CFA choice, said Clynty Taylor, the CFA’s general secretary, when contacted yesterday.
Last month, the CFA submitted documentation to the TTFA to show it had received a two-thirds majority vote to oust Saunders as the representative. Taylor noted that his association, acting on the advice of constitutional expert Osmund Downer, also supplied the TTFA with proof that the board of the CFA voted overwhelmingly for Saunders to be removed.
According to Taylor, “Mr Downer has made it quite clear that no special majority vote was needed to remove Saunders as he was not a member of the CFA. In fact, because he is a representative, he can be removed the same way he was appointed which is through a vote of the board. That vote was taken since last year.”
Contacted by Guardian Media Sports yesterday John-Williams said he had no comment but he questioned the inconsistency in the special majority needed to remove Saunders. The embattled CFA rep had said last month that he was still the representative as the CFA had not complied fully with the constitution of the T&TFA.
Guardian Media Sports understands the CFA plans to take drastic measures to have him removed, which include writing to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), and another measure which he did not want to mention.
Meanwhile, Downer explained that the CFA had followed the constitution and did all it needed to have Saunders removed, saying he was optimistic the TTFA will act accordingly, as it only needed to ensure that the constitution of the CFA was followed.
“The board of the CFA can even provisionally remove Saunders until a general meeting is held. But what is clear is that they do not need two-thirds majority to have him removed,” Downer said.
The CFA’s request has received overwhelming support from the membership of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League, but GM Sports has learned that two CFA executives are against it. GM Sports was reliably informed that the two CFA executives have asked for an investigation into the voting process that removed Saunders, as they are not satisfied the CFA membership had reached the two-thirds majority it needed.
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Three CFA execs suspended.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Three executive members of the Central Football Association (CFA) were suspended yesterday after they were found to have violated the constitution.
Two of the persons Jimmy Henry of Leeds FC who is the CFA’s assistant secretary and ordinary Board member Anthony Jobe received suspension letters yesterday from the association’s General Secretary Clynt Taylor, which emanated from an emergency meeting last week.
The third person Raymond Superville, another ordinary member was expected to receive word of his suspension also yesterday evening.
Henry was charged with writing to the TTFA requesting an investigation into the process of voting which was aimed at removing the association’s representative to the Board of the TTFA Samuel Saunders. In a two page document on Henry alone, the association also found Henry guilty of allegations of impropriety against the CFA advising potential sponsors against funding the CFA: investigating individuals without the knowledge or approval of the CFA on its behalf which jeopardizes the profession of individuals: violating due process of law and the rules of the CFA, TTFA and FIFA and reported threats to other members of the CFA.
Both Jobes and Superville were charged with being signatures to a letter sent to the TTFA for an investigation into the process of voting; making false and misleading allegations against the Board and members of the CFA and violating the due process of law and rules of the CFA, TTFA and the FIFA. Taylor explained further that Superville also faced automatic expulsion having missed four consecutive Board meeting, which is considered a major violation of the constitution.
Guardian Media Sports understands that Superville missed a whopping 10 out of 11 Board meetings of the central association.
The members were informed that Article 14 (3) of the constitution requires that all contact with other members during the suspension until lifted, must be observed and all rights as a member during the provisional suspension has been lost. The matter is expected to be tabled at the association’s next General Meeting for confirmation at a date to be determined, upon which, they will be notified of a date of the hearing of the matter.
RELATED NEWS
CFA members in suspension battle.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
THE EXECUTIVE of the Central Football Association (CFA) have engaged in a war-of words with a few of its members over their desire to have current representative Samuel Saunders removed from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) board of directors, and the subsequent issuing of provisional suspension letters to Jimmy Henry (secretary administration) and Anthony Jobes (ordinary member).
According to the letter, which was obtained by Newsday, “the Board of Management in the Central Football Association hereby notifies in accordance with Article 14 (1) of the CFA Constitution that Leeds FC (of which Jobes is a member) was suspended with immediate effect.” Henry is a member of the Ball Runners FC but it alleged that his provisional suspension is a result of his club’s support towards Saunders.
Jobes, in a telephone interview yesterday, related, “We were fighting a battle with Saunders. He was the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and he represented CFA at the TT FA Board.” Alleging that there is a major rift between Saunders and CFA president Shymdeo Gosine, Jobes said, “He wants to get rid of Saunders but we’re saying no. That is a personal thing, that have nothing to do with football. From there, things have not been going well.”
About any desire to respond to the letter, Jobes stated that a meeting was planned, with Saunders and Henry, to determine their next course of action. However CFA general secretary Clynt Taylor is adamant that the issue have been ongoing since last June and he also slammed the TTFA for their tardiness in dealing with the matter.
“We’ve been dealing with an issue for close to a year and it started simple, (over) who is representing the Central Football Association at the (TTFA) board level,” said Taylor.
“That was the central issue.” Taylor stated, “We took a decision because Saunders had refused to meet with us at a board, at our level. He never met with us to discuss representing us. We took a decision in June last year to have him replaced.” However, the CFA general secretary admitted, “When we sent the info to the TTFA, the TTFA resisted our efforts. They kept ignoring us and pretending they did not hear us. We kept writing them and let them know the position of the (CFA) board.”
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I guess this is Tony Jobes who played football and cricket for Saints? But never a dull moment in TT football. Even the zones skettel.
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CFA gets clubs’ support.
T&T Express Reports.
THE Central Football Association (CFA) is gathering support as it seeks to force an extraordinary general meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, related to the presence of a former CFA executive on the board of the TTFA.
The CFA has officially written to Justin Latapy George, General Secretary of the TTFA, petitioning for the emergency meeting.
The national association is being accused of being obstructionist and purposely delaying the removal of Samuel Saunders as Central’s representative on its (TTFA) Board. Saunders is a remnant of the former CFA executive, which was deposed by the current executive whose president is Shymdeo Gosine.
The CFA contends that its own election process and nomination of a new candidate ought to be enough to remove Saunders as their representative in the TTFA. However, the TTFA has maintained that due process has to be followed. Efforts by the Express to contact Latapy-George yesterday proved futile.
Meanwhile, the CFA has provided a petition showing 20 representatives of several local football organisations supporting its position. Among them, Rayshawyn Mars of the Northern Football Association; Linus Sanchez, president of the Eastern Football Association; Keith Look Loy of Super League champions FC Santa Rosa; Selby Brown of the Veterans Football Association; Edison Dean, representative of the T&T Pro League’s Club Sando and many clubs of the former National Super League.
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Letters to FIFA/CONCACAF.
March 26, 2017
The Secretary General (TTFA)
Mr. Justin Latapy-George
Hasley Crawford Stadium
Port of Spain
Sir,
Please find attached a list of all the members of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) who have written to the TTFA supporting the request for an Extraordinary General Meeting made by the Central Football Association (CFA) as per letter dated March 8, 2017.
This list exceeds 50% of the membership of the TTFA. Twenty-Nine (29) authorized members listed. You are now mandated by Article 29 (2) of the Constitution of the TTFA to arrange for the Extraordinary General Meeting as requested by the CFA.
Members Name Date Sent
1. CFA Clynt Taylor March 8, 2017
2. NFA Rayshawn Mars March 14, 2017
3. TTAYSO Dale G Toney March 15, 2017
4. VFFOTT Selby Browne March 20, 2017
5. FC Santa Rosa Keith Look Loy March 21, 2017
6. Barrackpore United Sports Club Josh Dhanesar. March 22, 2017
7. Guaya United FC Jameson Rigues March 22, 2017
8. Cunupia Football Club's Narvin Charles March 22, 2017
9. Siparia Spurs FC. Quincy Jones March 22, 2017
10. Defence Force Super League Football Club Ryan Ottley March 22, 2017
11. Petit Valley United Football Club Derek Edwards March 22, 2017
12. EFATT Linus Sanchez March 22, 2017
13. University of Trinidad and Tobago Nicholas Lochan March 22, 2017
14. Club Sando Super League Club Eddison Dean March 22, 2017
15. Marabella Family Crisis Centre Terrence Boissiere March 22, 2017
16. Petrotrin Palo Seco SC Aldwin Ferguson Jr March 22, 2017
17. Youth Stars United Athletics Club Trishelle N. K. Sterling March 23, 2017
18. Wasa FC Cavelle Mc Alister March 23, 2017
19. Real Maracas Rene Lendore March 23, 2017
20. Bethel United Clyde Alleyne March 23, 2017
21. Matura RE-United F.C. Stephanie Guevara March 23, 2017
22. Prison Service Recreational, Sport and Cultural Club Ferdinand Bibby March 23, 2017
23. Police F.C Leonita Rivers March 23, 2017
24. Club Sando (Pro league) Eddison Dean March 23, 2017
25. Edinburg 500 Sports and Cultural Club Haydn McLean March 23, 2017
26. 1976 Phoenix FC Terry Williams March 23, 2017
27. SFA Richard Quan Chan March 28, 2017
28. SSFL William Wallace April 4, 2017
29. TFA Anthony Moore April 7, 2017
April 6, 2017
CONCACAF
1000 5th St #304, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
The General Secretary,
Re: Assistance in Conducting and Extraordinary General Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago
1) Since June 2016 the Central Football Association (CFA), a regional member of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), has attempted to constitutionally replace its representative on the TTFA Board of Management after carefully following the requirements of the constitution of the CFA as approved by the TTFA.
2) The TTFA Board of Management has consistently refused to accept the CFA democratic process and the rights of the CFA under the TTFA Constitution to replace their representative who has failed to effectively represent the CFA, throughout 2016. This representative was nominated to the Board by the outgoing Executive in 2015, days before leaving office. TTFA, under the leadership of President David John Williams, has ignored the constitutional rights of its members for too long now.
3) The Super League Clubs all members of the TTFA met in January 2017 and passed a resolution forming a limited liability company called the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL). The resolution also included applying for status at the TTFA as a member. On January 8, 2017 a letter addressed to the TTFA was sent seeking membership.
After several letters and failed meetings the TTFA has chosen to subvert the will of over twenty (20) members and have not acted on the petition for membership. This inaction jeopardizes the
future of the Super League which is scheduled to begin in June 2017.
4) CFA has been forced to circulate a petition requesting an EGM in accordance with Article 29 (2) of the constitution of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), which states:
"The Board of Directors shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting if a majority (more than 50%) of the Members make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items for the agenda.
An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within 30 days of receipt of the request, unless the agenda includes the election of members of the Board of Directors or the members of the Electoral Committee, in which case the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within 60 days of receipt of the request. If an Extraordinary General Meeting is not convened within the indicated time, the Members who requested it may convene the Extraordinary General Meeting themselves.
As a last resort, the Members may request assistance from FIFA and CONCACAF." This petition was supported by a majority of TTFA members (see attached list of supporting members), and identifies an EGM agenda of two issues, which have over a period of several months been an ongoing embarrassment for football in Trinidad and Tobago:
1. CFA representation on the TTFA Board, and
2. The recognition of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (see attached petition).
The TTFA, as the National Association, has a responsibility to protect and serve the needs of its members, and to work in harmony for the good of football. Instead the David John-Williams administration has employed evasive and delaying tactics to avoid acceptance of the expressed wish of members, both the CFA and the clubs identified in the attached document.
Our constitution is under attack and the aggrieved members believe the David John-Williams administration has grown comfortable in the expectation that CONCACAF and FIFA will provide support for this behavior and not intervene in these explosive issues.
The CFA seeks assistance from FIFA under the constitution of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, approved and sanctioned by FIFA, to have a representative sent to our country to act as an intermediary and to compel the Board of Management of the TTFA to resolve these two issues, and to respect the constitution and its members.
Without your intervention, Football will again disgrace Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean in
the local and regional media and before the world.
Your urgent intervention is requested. Please note that the matters highlighted in the attached agenda
are time sensitive, and require an urgent response and intervention.
Respectfully
Clynt Taylor
General Secretary CFA
Cc: FIFA, CFU, Media
President- -Shymdeo Gosine, General Secretary Clynt Taylor, 1st Vice-President - Wendell Collymore, 2
nd Vice-President- Allan Logan Assistant, Secretary Administration, Jimmy Henry Asst. Sec Operations- -David Ramkhallawan Ordinary Member- -Raymond Superville Ordinary - Member- Anthony Jobes
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Allyuh really think FIFA go listen to them and FIFA president and David John Williams is personal friends..
Allyuh wait.
David building a empire bigger than Jack Warner one.
He done converting everything to Williams already....
David John Williams - President
Brian Williams - Men U-20 Coach
Jan Michael Williams - Player
Nicola Williams - Women U-20 Coach
William Connection - Club
Jomal Williams - Player
Mekeil Williams - Player
Michael Williams - Equipment Manager
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And Dr. Eric Williams turning in he grave
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Constitutional cage-fight? How standoff between DJW, Look Loy and Gosein could change TTFA.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
In one corner stands the Central Football Association (CFA) and its general secretary Clynt Taylor and president Shymdeo Gosine as well as the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) and its interim president Keith Look Loy, who have a joint motion. In the other is the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) board of directors and its president David John-Williams.
And, in the middle of the ring, is the TTFA’s 22-month-old constitution.
One way or the other, the ongoing passive-aggressive battle involving the three parties might change the landscape of local football in the near future.
Tomorrow is the deadline for the CFA to satisfy the TTFA’s general secretariat on all procedural matters related to its motion for an extraordinary general meeting on 10 June 2017.
The EGM agenda, as drawn up by the CFA, has four points:
Removal and replacement of CFA representative on the Board of the TTFA as requested by the CFA;
Change status of the Super League Clubs with the establishment of the TTSL;
The application of the TTSL for full membership of the TTFA or for the enjoyment of equivalent status as the TT Pro League as a recognised body to organise its own games and competitions;
Changes in the TTFA constitution consequent upon changes made in (3) above: (Article 10.1b and 22.1b) Change from National Super League Clubs to Trinidad and Tobago Super League Clubs; (Article 33) To include one member representing the Trinidad and Tobago Super League [on the TTFA board]; To change the board of directors [from] 13 to 14 members; Elections of the TTSL representative to the board of directors of the TTFA.
The CFA has recommended that James Toussaint represent the zone on the TTFA board, due to its estranged relationship and irreconcilable communication issues with current representative Samuel Saunders. The TTSL already identified Look Loy as its choice.
Otherwise the TTSL’s request, like the CFA’s, seems remarkably straightforward. Apart from one season—when then Sport Minister Anil Roberts forced the TTFA to back away from All Sports Promotion under the threat of a withdrawal of State funding—the local football body has never run the Super League nor wanted to.
If anything, the clubs’ wish to run their own affairs should be applauded and encouraged—particularly by John-Williams, whose W Connection club was part of a similar movement, 14 years ago, when Professional Football League (PFL) clubs created the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League (TTPL) to rescue the local professional game.
Then TTFA president Oliver Camps and his puppeteer and special advisor Jack Warner did not lift a finger to help the Pro League. Warner initially withdrew his Joe Public team—which, ironically, employed Look Loy at the time. But, crucially, Warner did not block the country’s top flight clubs.
Not that John-Williams or his board will describe their own stance as obstructionist.
It was June 2016 when Taylor first indicated to the TTFA that the CFA wanted to change its representative. And Look Loy initially asked the TTFA to recognise the TTSL on 8 January 2017.
“It was an application for membership along with a copy of our constitution,” said Look Loy, as he recalled their first correspondence with the John-Williams-led board. “It took about three weeks for a formal response and they said they were putting a committee in place under [vice-president] Ewing Davis. (The committee also includes vice-president Joanne Salazar, CFA’s controversial representation Samuel Saunders and Northern Football Association member Jabari Williams).
“We have been playing ring around the roses ever since…”
Tomorrow will be the third deadline given by the TTFA for the CFA to support its motion—as the zonal body adjusted its initial agenda last weekend, which prompted Latapy-George to ask the supporting members to resubmit letters reflecting this change.
“The requirements that the TTFA is asking for are changing by the minute,” Gosine told Wired868. “Because we have met the requirements before and they always want something different after.”
Justin Latapy-George, who was hired as the TTFA’s general secretary last November, claimed the delay was actually a result of procedural issues and not gamesmanship.
The CFA is required to prove that its motion has the support of more than 50 percent of the TTFA’s membership. First, Latapy-George rejected the zonal body’s petition on the grounds that the requesting parties should offer their support on official letterhead with proof that they are bonafide members.
It provoked an immediate and furious response from Look Loy, who described the request as “a ruse to frustrate and deny the democratic will of both CFA and TTSL.”
“The TTFA Secretariat’s request is redundant, as more than half of the TTFA’s membership have already indicated their support for the CFA petition,” stated Look Loy. “Moreover the demand that the TTFA Secretariat’s standard letter be signed by the president of each member is an unnecessary imposition on members which do not have a president (such as Police FC and Defence Force FC), and on members which legitimately authorise other officials (such as their Club Secretary) to sign on their behalf.
“Indeed, the TTFA cannot tell a member who its official signatory should be.”
Regardless, Look Loy urged clubs to remain steadfast and urgently resubmit the requested information. However, Latapy-George’s request that members prove they are legitimate TTFA members caused more consternation.
“This demand is […] an artificial device being employed to threaten and undermine every member’s constitutional right to call an Extraordinary General Meeting,” stated Look Loy, “and to create artificial grounds for suspending said right of those members which support the CFA petition.
“The fact is that neither the TTFA Secretariat nor any officer or group of officers can arbitrarily suspend a member’s rights.”
Look Loy’s claim that the TTFA must prove the members were not bonafide rather than the other way around is debatable in this case.
In July 2015, as the TTFA rushed towards a November election, a transitory clause was inserted as an appendix to the constitution, which read:
“Existing members shall be granted a transitional period of 18 months to submit the documents and declarations required in article 10 paragraph 2 of this constitution. Failure to comply with this obligation may lead to the suspension of that member.”
Article 10.2 stipulates that all members must have an acceptable constitution, give declarations to abide by the laws of FIFA, CONCACAF and the TTFA, and, crucially, present a “copy of the minutes of its last General Meeting or constitutional meeting and a copy of its audited financial statements for the previous financial year.”
It was the duty of the electoral committee, which comprised of chairman Dinanath Ramnarine, Elton Prescott SC and Mervyn Campbell, to ensure that members complied with 10.2 before the election on 29 November 2015. But they did not and one presidential candidate was particularly disturbed by the committee’s negligence and, arguably, their misdirection of the membership.
“It is my understanding that all members mentioned in 10.1 in the new constitution of the TTFA must comply with all the requirements as outlined in 10.2 of the new constitution,” stated John-Williams, in an email to FIFA on 4 November 2015, “in order to take part in the elections carded for 29th November 2015.
“Furthermore it is also my understanding that the members who fail comply will be given an 18 month grace period to ‘get their house in order’ so to speak or lose their membership altogether after the 18 month grace period has expired.”
Despite his objections, the TTFA election proceeded with some legitimate voters and some illegitimate ones. And John-Williams won.
Some Wired868 articles apart, article 10.2 of the TTFA constitution was not mentioned publicly again. Until now.
“Before the election of 2015, there was a moratorium given by all members to become compliant by mid-January 2017,” said Latapy-George. “Based on the information we are still gathering, there are members who may not have been compliant as of yet…”
John-Williams confirmed that the TTFA board of directors created a sub-committee, last month, to investigate how many of its members were compliant with article 10.2.
“We are reviewing the entire process,” John-Williams told Wired868. “We are checking to ensure that all our members come to scratch, so we did set up a committee to ensure that all the members were compliant.
“But it is still ongoing and no ruling has been handed in [by the committee].”
The TTFA president refused to name the members of the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate its membership. However, Wired868 understands that Davis is again leading the committee.
Theoretically, John-Williams and the TTFA board—or at least a faction of it—might already have vital information on the CFA’s supporters, which could feasibly affect their motion for a fourth time. And, again, the TTFA would be following the letter of the law.
Although, as far as Gosine is concerned, the local football body does not have the moral high ground.
“It is all gimmickry and things unrelated to football,” said the CFA president. “What we are saying at the CFA is we want to promote football in every sense of the word… They are trying to create more confusion so they can create more delays.”
Look Loy insisted that the TTSL is prepared to fight with fire if necessary.
“There is not a single regional association that has an audited financial statement and only four Pro League clubs received money for this season because the rest of them don’t have audited statements,” said Look Loy. “Ninety percent of the TTFA is not compliant. So if they want to go that route, then remember it is the same non-compliant people who voted for them. So the [2015 TTFA] election, therefore, is null and void…
“If they try to disqualify anyone based on 10.2, then we will challenge the election.”
On Wednesday 20 April, John-Williams called Gosine and requested a meeting between his party and the CFA. The CFA president refused and accused the TTFA boss of trying to “railroad” the zonal body.
“I let him know that the CFA is an autonomous body and we don’t report to anybody,” Gosine told Wired868. “If we feel we need some help, we will ask him for it. We asked for a meeting last year which they never responded to… In my mind, the only thing [John-Williams] wants to do is to have a confrontation and having a meeting is just another way to prolong this and create more issues.
“The CFA is not going to have meeting with the TTFA president. We have asked for a meeting with the general membership with which we have the overwhelming support of more than 50 percent of the members. They will decide if what we are asking for is reasonable and within the permit of the rules.”
The distrust in either camp is growing.
“They blatantly refused to come,” said John-Williams, who confirmed his attempt to meet with the CFA but declined to share the purpose of the meeting. “You see how they do things and you make your judgment call…”
Ten months ago, the CFA wanted only to have a voice on the TTFA’s board of directors. Now, the zonal body is prepared to openly attack the operations of the sitting president.
The TTSL only wanted to run its own league in peace. Now, Look Loy wants a seat on the board too and has no qualms about threatening John-Williams right to lead local football.
John-Williams might have won the battles so far with either party but is he in danger of losing the war?
Latapy-George painted a different picture. The TTFA’s general secretariat, he said, was working on behalf of the CFA rather than against it.
“There is no intent or attempt by the general secretariat to frustrate or delay the process,” said Latapy-George. “The movers of the motion remain the CFA and the general secretariat is guided by the movers of the motion. All I am ensuring is adequate notice is given to all and that members show that they are in support of this motion according the constitution and by the required numbers.
“And what I am also trying to establish is that the members are compliant. That’s about it. There is no stopping of the meeting per se.”
The TTFA general secretary insisted that there will be no witch-hunt and victimisation of members who were not compliant with article 10.2.
“Any matter of suspension must go to an AGM, so there is a process that must be followed,” said Latapy-George. “So nobody can automatically suspend anyone, although the board can provisionally suspend until it is ratified by the AGM. Ultimately the powers of suspension lie with the AGM.
“Maybe my language was not quite clear or maybe it is because of the tension in the air, but the membership of the TTFA remains the members as listed in the constitution…”
Article 14.1 of the TTFA constitution, which deals with suspension states that:
“The General Meeting is responsible for suspending a member. The board of directors may, however, suspend a member that seriously violates its obligations as a member with immediate effect.
“In this case, the suspension shall last until the next General Meeting, unless the Board of Directors has lifted it in the meantime… A suspension shall be confirmed at the next General Meeting by two thirds of the members present and eligible to vote. If it is not confirmed, the suspension is automatically lifted.
“A suspended Member shall lose its Membership rights. Other Members may not entertain sporting contact with a suspended Member.”
Meanwhile, the TTSL is continuing plans for an 11 June 2017 kick off of its maiden season.
“We are setting up a meeting with the referees now and we are going about organising,” said Look Loy. “So we will be recognised [at the EGM] on the 10th [of June] and begin on the 11th.
“It is not the ideal situation—hardly. But we have no choice.”
John-Williams pointed to article 30.2, which deals with amendments to the constitution.
“Any proposals for an amendment to the Constitution must be submitted in writing with a brief explanation to the General Secretariat by a Member or by the Board of Directors.”
The CFA may struggle to pass that test. The TTSL could have another delay on the way.
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Goalkeeper Caesar is NFA ‘MVP’
T&T Guardian Reports.
Former national Under-17 goalkeeper Kern Caesar of Maple FC was voted as the 2016 Northern Football Association’s Premier Division “Most Valuable Player” at its annual end-of-season awards ceremony held at the VIP Lounge, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Thursday last.
Held under the patronage of NFA President Anthony Harford, Caesar won the award ahead of fellow “Top Five” Premier Division “Players of the Year” Kusiah King (New Millennium), Jabari Andall (St Francois Nationals), Hakim Gulston (RSSR) and Kareem Davidson (Belmont FC) after leading the Alistair Ramdoo-coached Woodbrook-based Maple FC to the Premier crown.
In the Championship Division, Christon Freitas of champions Cultural Roots United was voted as the “MVP” ahead of club mate Marcus Ashton, Isiah Irish (Malta Carib Alcons), Marlon Carrington (Malta Carib Alcons) and Kareem Charles (Miscellaneous Laventille United).
Reflecting on the 2016 season, Harford said he felt it was a solid one.
He added, “All our competitions were completed and the participation level was satisfactory with us being able to crown our winners in every one of our competitions.
“We also had a near perfect attendance by our referees and there was an impressive debut of the Savannah League with games played under lights at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Additionally our Youth Development Programme has been up and running and is one of the major focal points of the association and we were quite pleased to see ten of our players being selected on the national Under-15 boys team to go to Cayman Islands in May. All in all, our season was satisfactory and we will be aiming to build on this and make improvements in the various departments in 2017,” stated Harford,
The association also honoured three of its existing member clubs for its contribution over 50-plus years in Belmont-based St Francois nationals (50 years ) and Woodbrook duo, Malvern (75 years old) and Maple (100 years old in 2017.
For their distinguished service to the local game, Rolf Bartolo, Glenford Waines, Mervin Mercian, Aubrey Peters and the late Rudy Roberts, were all recognised for their contribution to the NFA.
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CFA targets Enterprise for football programme.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
The 2017 FIFA/TTFA Grassroot Football Programme will kick off in the Central Football Association (CFA) region next weekend and the troubled area of Enterprise Chaguanas has been targeted, among others, where young budding players between the age groups 7-11 will be given an opportunity to showcase their talents.
The programme is an initiative of the world governing body for the sport- FIFA, as one of the country’s criteria for development and funding. Under president Shymdeo Gosine and his general secretary Clynt Taylor the programme will first roll into Green Park, Felicity in Chaguanas in search of the top boys and girls from 9:00am, where the basic fundamentals of the game will be taught and tested.
Former national youth player and Naparima College standout in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Ateba Mc Knight has been appointed technical director of youth development by the CFA, with particular responsibility to drive youth development. He will be at the centre as 75 players will be chosen from Felicity to move on to the next phase of the programme. Taylor said yesterday that from Felicity they will take the programme to the Harlem Recreation Ground in Caroni before stopping at the Africa Recreation Ground in Enterprise where the same amount of players will be chosen by coaches.
In spite of its reputation however, Enterprise has been a breeding ground for a number of top players in the past such as Ansil Elcock, Ahkeela Mollon, Clyde Leon and coach Nicholas Griffith who received an international award for his contribution to the sport of football. Taylor said he wants young players to know that there are many avenues inside and outside of sports that can be exploited for their development.
The programme will then move on to the Couva Recreation Ground and then to Tabaquite to complete the central areas. According to Taylor the CFA will later select an all star representative team, as will also be done in the other regional associations as the Southern FA, Northern FA, Eastern FA, Tobago FA and the Eastern Counties Football Union (ECFU).
Players who were not chosen among the 75 in their respective areas will continue be embraced in the CFA development programme which will also begin next weekend and will run continuously under Mc Knight.
The ex Naparima striker will also have the support of hard working Deputy Chaguanas Mayor Debideen Mannick who is a member of the CFA’s Development Committee among others. Interested persons contact Taylor at (ctaylor@cfatt.com) or 777-3676.
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Fire begins CFA Cup defence against Leeds
T&T Guardian
Fire Services FC, the Central Football Association campaigners will begin its quest to retain the CFA Ramsingh Sports FA Cup on September 9 when they face Leeds FC in round one at the Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas.
The Firemen’s pick of Leeds for their opening game, came at a draw at the office of the CFA at Woodford Lodge recently. The draw was also done for the Hugo Francis Memorial Cup which will begin with a clash between Fire Services and Perseverance United FC at the Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground on November 27.
Apart from the Fire Services and Leeds encounter to take place three weeks from now, there will also be a match-up between Harlem Strikers FC and newcomers Family Soccer FC at 7 pm at Woodford Lodge.
Last year’s runners up Perseverance Ballrunners will begin their campaign against the winner of the Family Soccer/Harlem match days after.
Meanwhile round one of the Hugo Francis Cup will also feature a clash between Harlem Striker and Edinburgh 500 at Harlem ground on November 27 and Eagles United FC taking on Leeds in round two at the Edinburgh 500 grounds.
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Giants topple Pitchmen FC in SFA ‘Big-Six’
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Isaiah Mc Intosh netted a double to lead Giants FC to an entertaining 4-2 defeat of defending champions Pitchmen FC in the Third Round of the Southern Football Association Premier Division ‘Big-Six’ competition on Wednesday night.
In addition to Mc Intosh, who scored a hat-trick in his team’s opening round 3-1 defeat of Serial Strikers, Jeremy Primus and Jamal Dubaray were also on target for Giants FC, who led 1-0 at the half-time interval and 4-0 at one time in the contest at La Brea.
Elijah Alleyne and Seon Shipley got two late consolation items for Pitchmen FC in the loss at La Brea.
With the win, Giants climbed to the top of the six-team table with seven points from three matches, the same as Erin FC while Pitchmen remained on four points and slipped to fourth, level with Barrackpore United.
Both Giants and Erin FC also have the same goal-difference of plus-five, however, Giants have score more goals, seven to its rivals, six.
Erin FC won for the second time in three matches, 3-0 over #9 United at Erin with a double from Darren Alexis, and the other by Akinola Williams.
Down at Barrackpore, the host got two goals each from Trevon James and Angus John into a 6-0 trashing of cellar-placed Serial Strikers after leading 3-0 at the break.
The fourth round of matches takes place on Sunday with Giants FC hosting #9 United FC at St Margaret’s from 3.30 pm.
Erin FC at home to Serial Strikers in a 5 pm kickoff while Barrackpore United entertains Pitchmen FC from 5 pm.
Results - SFA Premier Division Big Six
Wednesday November 22
Giants FC 4 (Isaiah Mc Intosh 2, Jeremy Primus, Jamal Dubaray) vs Pitchmen FC 2 (Elijah Alleyne, Seon Shipley)
Erin FC 3 (Darren Alexis 2, Akinola Williams) vs #9 United FC 0
Barrackpore United 6 (Trevon James 2, Angus John 2, Ivan Williams, Jesse Downing) vs Serial Strikers 0
Remaining SFA Big-Six fixtures
Sunday November 26
Giants FC vs #9 United FC, St Margaret’s, 3.30 pm
Erin FC vs Serial Strikers, Erin, 5 pm
Barrackpore United vs Pitchmen FC, Barrackpore, 5 pm
Sunday December 2
Giants FC vs Erin FC, St Margaret’s, 3 pm
Serial Strikers vs Pitchmen FC, Penal, 3 pm
#9 United FC vs Barrackpore United, #9 Road, 3 pm.
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Cultural Roots lift NFA Viva FA Trophy
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Stephon Jack netted a pair of goals as Cultural Roots United romped to an emphatic 5-0 thumping of St Francois Nationals in the 2017 Northern Football Association FA Trophy final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo on Monday night.
Watched by a crowd of close to 300 spectators, both teams failed to trouble the score-sheet during the first half.
However, five minutes after the restart, Jack fired Cultural Roots ahead before Marcus Griffith capitalised on a defensive blunder to double the score in the 77th minute for the Rayshawn Mars-coached team which is based at Dibe Long Circular Road, St James.
Desperate to claw its way back into the contest, the Belmont-based St Francois Nationals, celebrating its 50th anniversary as a club threw players forward in numbers.
But this left lots of space at the back for Cultural Roots to take advantage of which it did through courtesy Jack with his second of the match in the 83rd minute followed by late items from Matthew Waldron in the 87th and Jamal Burke, a minute from full-time.
A week ago at the same venue St Francois Nationals booked its spot in the final after a 4-2 penalty-kicks semifinal win over Belmont FC after a goalless draw while Durant Felician scored a penalty-kick in the 65th, and Jack, the other in the 87th for Cultural Roots to blank last year’s winner and newly crowned Premier Division champions, RSSR 2-0.
Following the final, NFA President, Anthony Harford said the success of the association’s season has everything to do with the clubs buying into the idea that both zone and the clubs must accept and share the responsibilities that go with success, and both parties did exactly that.
Harford was also high in praise for his executive for the commitment they have shown.
The NFA also enjoyed abundant success at youth level, winning the T&T Football Association’s Inter-Zone Under-15 Division competition held in January, and the Elite Under-13’s as well.
The NFA’s Finance Committee came in for high praise as well from Harford for ensuring the association achieved compliance within the T&TFA’s stipulated deadline.
NFA SENIOR HONOUR ROLL
Premier Division:
1. RSSR
2. Miscellaneous Laventille United
3. St Francois Nationals
4. Cultural Roots United
Championship Division:
1. Cantaro FC
2. St Ann‘s All Stars
3. Patna/River Estate
4. Paramin Scholars
VIVA FA Trophy:
1. Cultural Roots United
2. St Francois Nationals
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the Belmont-based St Francois Nationals, celebrating its 50th anniversary as a club threw players forward in numbers.
Congrats for being still around. 50 yrs in football in TT is a real achievement, especially in this day and age. Hope you can make another 50.
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Barrackpore United, Giants FC in SFA semifinal
T&T Newsday
Barrackpore United and Giants FC will square off today in the second semi-final, of the Southern Football Association (SFA) Executive Cup competition. This game is scheduled to take place at Morne Diablo from 8pm.
The first game on the day will feature Pitchmen FC and Serial Strikers from 6pm.
Barrackpore booked a place in the last four after a 6-2 spanking of Diamond United in their quarter-final match. Kevon Foster and Derron Matthews each scored twice while Trevon James and Kesnel Sambury got the other goals for Barrackpore. Ronnie Charles notched a pair for Diamond United.
Giants FC got the better of Guapo United by a 3-1 scoreline. Jamal Dubarray, Nicholas Baldwin and Jeremy Primus were the scorers for Giants FC while Wren Hector netted the lone item for Guapo United.
Alfred John and Louis Granger found the back of the net as Serial Strikers whipped Club Sando FC 2-0 and, in the other scheduled quarter-final, Pitchmen earned a 3-0 win, by default, over Penal All Stars.
The final is slated to take place on Saturday, from 3pm, at St Margaret’s.
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NFA enjoy successful 2017.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Northern Football Association (NFA) ended a successful 2017 season on Saturday with the North Under-15 team travelling to La Fillette and beating Blanchisseuse Secondary 3-0 .
The NFA U-15s won the inter association U-15 title earlier this year, with 13 of its players making it to the national squad. The NFA U-13s also took the Elite inter zone title. At senior level, the season ended with all 182 matches completed within schedule. The NFA also hosted a coaching upgrade for its youth coaches.
Two clubs, Cantaro Utd and St Ann’s All Stars, have been promoted to the Premier Division for next season, while RSSR have qualified for the Champion of Champions playoff for possible elevation to the TT Super League.
The zone expects to have two full divisions participate in next season’s competitions, while the Zone’s U-16 team will tour Canada.
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CFA seeks sponsor for exciting FA Cup.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Regis hailed as Central’s Godfather
The Central Football Association considered one of the best-run Regional Association Leagues will kick-off its 2018 FA Cup play-off on August 12 with a doubleheader at St Mary’s Recreation Grounds.
The CFA has had mixed fortunes this year, first losing its instrumental FA Cup sponsor and partner Ramsingh Sportworld due to the economic grind, but has forged relationships with its members that have ensured a level of safety for players and officials, as well as enable attendances at matches are not affected.
The association’s secretary general Clynt Taylor yesterday called on corporate T&T to support the organisation’s its FA Cup tournament which was funded by Ramsingh’s Sportsworld for well over a decade. So far, through Nal Ramsingh, the CFA has received $18,000 to be used as prize monies, trophies and medals, as well as other support, for which Taylor said the CFA is very grateful.
The FA kicks off with Eagles United FC taking on Leeds FC in the opening game at 5 pm. In the second match at 7 pm Family Soccer FC, the second place team in the League will square-off with Perseverance Ballrunners.
Champs Real Central FC, which was formerly Perseverance United last year, will open its campaign six days later (August 18) in a clash with the winner of the Eagles/Leeds FC match. They face an uphill task to retain their title though, with Central Soccerworld at the top of the standings on 24 points after 10 matches and are unbeaten to date in excellent form.
Central Soccerworld will face the winner of the Ballrunners/Family Soccer encounter on August 15 in its opening match.
Taylor told Guardian Media Sports yesterday that in spite of his association’s search for a partner for the FA Cup, the CFA’s relationship with its members has been a bright spark in the midst of the dark. He singled out Christopher Regis, the Eagles manager whose contribution to providing police escort service to teams affected by the out-of-control crime scourge, has gained the recognition of all in the CFA and participating communities.
With Regis’ help, teams are taken to and from matches safely. Regis’, the hard-working Eagles boss who appears to be a lover of family and community, also ensures that there is a police presence at matches.
According to Taylor “We are very pleased with the work that Regis has done and continues to do, and we want to work with him and encourage him to keep up the fight to ensuring that the young people in the various communities are well served.”
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CFA's FA Cup to be settled at Ato Boldon
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
The new 'Home of Football' at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva will be the venue for Central Football Association's (CFA) Ramsingh Sportworld FA Cup final and third and fourth place play-offs matches on September 14.
Competing for the title prize and bragging rights will be Giants FC, which got the better of current leaders of the League Central Soccerworld in the semi-finals 5-4 on penalties, and Harlem Strikers, which got goals from Leroy Whiley and Victor De Silva in a 2-0 triumph over Leeds FC in the round of four two weeks ago.
Both Leeds FC and Central Soccerworld will be the contenders for third-fourth, by virtue of losing in the semis.
Yesterday Clynt Taylor, the CFA's Secretary General and Gregory Mc Sween, a member of his executive, said the League, considered one of the better run Regional Association competitions in T&T, has agreed to spread its wings and open up to all potential football teams and clubs in the central area. Taylor, who was a competitive candidate at the TT Football Association's presidential elections in 2015, has been leading the charge in the CFA becoming a model for other associations. He believes if young people are given a product of worth, they will gravitate to it, thereby ensuring the CFA successfully fights the scourge of crime sweeping through the land.
According to Taylor, his association is hoping to get between 5000- 10, 000 fans for the event which will be funded by Nal Ramsingh, a long-standing sponsor of central football. Taylor said apart from promoting his League as the place to be in central football, his association also intends to raise funds to maintain its youth development programmes and other initiatives moving forward.
The day's activities are expected to feature live entertainment from Soca artistes Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons, as well as performances from Ravi B, KI, Harlem Strikers Tassa Group and more entertainment from DJ Extreme Sounds, all in an after football lime, while entry for the match will be $20 for adults and free for children under the age of 12 years.
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WATCH: Compadres FC defeat Harlem Strikers on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time to win the 2018 Central Football Association FA Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/v/9I-2NJGLAm4
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WATCH: Central Soccer World takes 3rd place in the 2018 Central Football Association FA Cup Competition with a 3-0 win over Real Central FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/PnAfkwrV8Vk
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Laventille United are the Kings of North
misc-int.com
Miscellaneous Laventille United have captured silverware after finishing winners of the 2018 Northern Football Association Premier Division.
Laventille topped the eight-team table with 34 points from their 14 league matches, finishing five points clear of second placed Cantaro United with Patna/River Estate FC finishing third with 24 points.
Their first place finish automatically put Laventille United through to the Champions of Champions qualifiers where they will compete against the winners of the other regional associations for two spots in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League that are up for grabs.
Under head coach Cedric Hazelwood, Laventile maintained solid form throughout the season, winning eleven matches and losing only two during their campaign. Kareem Charles was the club’s top marksman with 19 goals during the season. He was ably supported by the likes of defender Brad Clifton, Kester Hewitt, Michael John and goalkeeper Rodney Stowe among the rest of the squad. Among their results were an 8-1 victory over Malvern and a 3-1 win over RSSR in October as well as a 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Cantaro and Belmont in November. They also whipped Paramin 7-3 last month with Charles notching a hattrick.
This season has been our most successful to date and we’re far from finished because we are eyeing qualification into the National Super League,” Hazelwood said. “I must pay homage to our club owner Mr Sham Mohammed and the Miscellaneous Group for staying true to word and supporting us throughout the season. The club was provided with the necessary resources to really improve our showing this season and the players responded by producing the match-winning performances the eventually brought us the title,” he added.
Laventille United also came in for praise from former national team midfielder and Under 20 head coach Russell Latapy who paid a visit to the club earlier this year at one of their matches at Sogren Trace.
“I’m delighted for the Miscellaneous Laventille United team and really proud to see the boys come out on top this season. I know they showed promise from last season and I was encouraged to see the way they were going about things when I saw them earlier in the year,” Latapy said. “Seeing their enthusiasm and love for the sport reminded me of my time playing in Laventille as a youngster and I think their successful season is a very positive development for the Laventille community. The journey continues and they will have maintain their drive and passion as they go in search of further achievements as a club,” Latapy added.
Former Trinidad and Tobago World Cup midfielder Densill Theobald, who addressed the players at their 2017 End of Season Awards ceremony last December, also offered some glowing words to the team.
“I think it’s a remarkable effort by the Laventille United team to in a sense defy the odds and finish on top of the league. In these times a lot of clubs are facing challenges and it can be discouraging but for them to come through a full season, winning eleven matches and now with a chance to move up to the Super League, shows strong character and organization. I think this a great bit of news for Laventille on a whole to have a club winning the Premier Division in the North Zone,” Theobald said. “These guys are a shining light for Laventille right now.”
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Laventille United crowned North Zone kings.
By Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).
Latapy, Theobald laud champions…
MISCELLANEOUS Laventille United have captured silverware after finishing winners of the 2018 Northern Football Association (NFA) Premier Division.
Laventille topped the eight-team table with 34 points from their 14 league matches, finishing five points clear of second placed Cantaro United, with Patna/River Estate FC finishing third with 24 points.
Their first place finish automatically put Laventille United through to the Champions of Champions qualifiers, where they will compete against the winners of the other regional associations for two spots in the TT Super League.
Under head coach Cedric Hazelwood, Laventile maintained solid form throughout the season, winning 11 matches and losing only two during their campaign. Kareem Charles was the club’s top marksman with 19 goals during the season. He was ably supported by the likes of defender Brad Clifton, Kester Hewitt, Michael John and goalkeeper Rodney Stowe among the rest of the squad. Among their results were an 8-1 victory over Malvern and a 3-1 win over RSSR in October, as well as 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Cantaro and Belmont in November. They also whipped Paramin 7-3 last month with Charles notching a hat-trick.
“This season has been our most successful to date, and we’re far from finished because we are eyeing qualification into the National Super League,” Hazelwood said. “I must pay homage to our club owner Mr Sham Mohammed and the Miscellaneous Group for staying true to word and supporting us throughout the season. The club was provided with the necessary resources to really improve our showing this season and the players responded by producing the match-winning performances the eventually brought us the title,” he added.
Laventille United also came in for praise from former national team midfielder and Under 20 head coach Russell Latapy who paid a visit to the club earlier this year at one of their matches at Sogren Trace.
“I’m delighted for the Miscellaneous Laventille United team and really proud to see the boys come out on top this season. I know they showed promise from last season and I was encouraged to see the way they were going about things when I saw them earlier in the year,” Latapy said. “Seeing their enthusiasm and love for the sport reminded me of my time playing in Laventille as a youngster, and I think their successful season is a very positive development for the Laventille community. The journey continues and they will have (to) maintain their drive and passion as they go in search of further achievements as a club,” Latapy added.
Former TT World Cup midfielder Densill Theobald, who addressed the players at their 2017 end of season awards last December, also offered some glowing words to the team.
“I think it’s a remarkable effort by the Laventille United team to, in a sense, defy the odds and finish on top of the league. In these times, a lot of clubs are facing challenges – and it can be discouraging – but for them to come through a full season, winning eleven matches and now with a chance to move up to the Super League, shows strong character and organization. I think this a great bit of news for Laventille on a whole to have a club winning the Premier Division in the North Zone,” Theobald said. “These guys are a shining light for Laventille right now.”
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WATCH: St. Francois Nationals claim the 2018 North Zone FA Trophy with a 2-0 win over Cantaro United
https://www.youtube.com/v/LkHj7grMhks
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St Francois takes Fruta Cup.
T&T Guardian Reports.
First-half goals by Odelle Armstrong and Kareem Frederick earned the men from St Francois Nationals their first title for the season, claiming the Fruta FA Cup on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain with a 2-0 triumph over Cantaro FC.
Armstrong's goal also ensured he finished as one of three leading scorers for the playoffs on four goals. St Francois Nationals, seasoned campaigners in the Northern Football Association (NFA) and local football for many years, failed to secure the covetous Premiership and Championship Division titles, won by Miscellaneous Laventille Utd and North Coast SCC, respectively.
On Wednesday though, they ensured that they did not finish the season empty-handed, downing Cantaro FC. Apart from Armstrong, Joshua Rogers was also among the leading scorers in the play-off with two goals, while Fredericks, Raheem Borde, Andre Joseph, Jared Harry and Rodnel John, each scored a goal apiece.
The game concluded another successful season in the NFA, as the top players now look forward to an NFA All-Star contest with T&T Pro League campaigners Club Sando at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva Saturday at 7 pm. NFA officials will now attempt to sort out matters with the Disciplinary Committee and other NFA committee issues before the curtain comes down on the season.
View - SPORT: St Francois Blanks Cantaro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkHj7grMhks)
RELATED NEWS
St Francois Nationals clinch Fruta FA Cup.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
ST FRANCOIS Nationals clinched the Fruta-sponsored Northern Football Association (NFA) FA Cup title, with a 2-0 win over Cantaro FC in Wednesday’s final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Former Defence Force and Caledonia AIA striker Odelle Armstrong broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, and Kareem Frederick got St Francois’ second goal in the 45th.
According to a media release from the organisers All Sport Promotions, “There are a couple matters that the disciplinary committee and NFA committee have to meet to officially complete the (2018) season.”
However, Miscellaneous Laventille United and North Coast SCC copped the Premier and Championship Division titles respectively.
Tomorrow, the attention will turn to the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, as the NFA Select All-Star team will face Club Sando in an exhibition game from 7 pm.
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Big up SFN!!! :beermug: :beermug: :beermug:
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Denoon cries NFA victimisation.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Nevick Denoon, coach of Northern Football Association (NFA) campaigners Morvant Elements, is claiming victimisation for the past two years for a stance taken against the Regional Association tournament.
The team's cry range from outright threats by referees during matches, to having their home matches played at the Dibe Recreation Ground in Long Circular, St James although they were given the assurance that their home matches would have been scheduled for the Queen's Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
The team, which once provided the national team in the past with top players, has had to apply for their home matches to be played at the Savannah because of the unsuitable condition of their home ground in the Morvant community. "During the week, to reach Long Circular, Dibe, anybody going up there for 7 pm will know it's a real trick, and coming from Morvant is another inconvenience. We were told prior to that, that all our home games, as our field was not prepared, would be at the Queen's Park Savannah. Subsequent to that, it didn't occur and we failed to produce the type of football that we wanted to, because of that situation which brought us to a point where we almost quit the zone."
However, Anthony Harford President of the Northern Football Association (NFA) told Guardian Media Sports that, "While Denoon is making that claim publicly he has not submitted any written complaint to the league to date. As far as for his team playing at the Dibe Recreation Ground, Mr Denoon complaint to the NFA and asked for help and we assisted and his team with a venue in the Savannah for their weekend matches and during the week they play at one of our natural venues since the League do not play week matches at the Savannah. So far, Elements is unbeaten at the venue, so I don't understand the complaint."
Denoon who turned 60 on Sunday, also explained that the unthinkable happened last season when his team never got the chance to play against the winning Premier Division team last year, though the teams were listed on the fixture to face-off each other twice.
Denoon said, "We didn't play against the champion team, first round and second round, and no decision has been made to date. I tried since December to find a resolution and had been told the committee would meet on it. I look at the fixture list and realised that the committee is being headed by Peter Rampersad, but when I called him (Peter) he said he is not a member, so I really don't know what is going on," Denoon said.
However, Harford explained to us that despite both teams (North Coast United and Morvant Elements) present for their match, the latter refused to play because the referee who showed up was not assigned to do the match. Although the NFM disciplinary Committee awarded the match and points to North Coast, Elements have appealed the decision and the NFA's Appeals Committee is yet to meet on the matter."
Denoon is calling on T&T Football Association president David John-Williams and other authorities to help with their plea, as the end result has been a severe blow for his football team based in Petunia Drive, Morant as well as the Morvant community which continues to be severely affected by crime.
Four months after the completion of the NFA League, the Morvant outfit is unsure of its final position on the standings, and now faces paying a registration fee of $6,500 to assure their participation.
Harford explains that the $6,500 registration represents insurance for the team and TTFA fees.
The NFA which has been holding it prize-giving awards in April is yet to do so because of the pending appeal be Elements which lies fourth on the standing with 19 points and a plus-two on goals. Even if Elements wins its appeal and its final match, the club will total 25 points, the same as Petit Valley United, but will stay in fourth place because on an inferior goal difference.
At present North Coast is on 32 points and Trendsetter Hawks on 30. The winning NFA team in the second division gets $20,000, the runner-up $15,000 and third place $12,000. There no cash prize for fourth place.
Denoon pointed out that team's increased cost for travelling added to the recruitment of a number of young players to replace the older ones, have left them financially dried, and because of this Denoon is calling on corporate T&T to come out and assist his players and community, even if it means by providing football boots, balls and uniforms.
In addition to the NFA, the team is also preparing to participate in the Caribbean Charity Shield Soccer Classic in Grenada from August 18-21 and its members have been holding fund-raising ventures to fund their travel and stay.
Rashawn Mars, secretary of the NFA said the Appeals Committee will meet on Element's case soon. However, he said if they (Elements) were to win their appeal it will not affect the winner of the league. He explained the Morvant team was hampered by their inability to consistently field full teams for games.
Harford said, "I personally spoke to Denoon last week and told him that his matter will be dealt with soon. We are aiming for the Appeals Committee to meet next week. Douglas James is chairman with Richard Piper and Kevon Long the other members."
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Trendsetter Hawks eye top spot in NFA Premiership
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday)
LEADERS of the Northern Football Association (NFA) Premiership Division, Cantaro United are on a bye for round 11, while the next four highest teams in the standings will be eager to make up ground this weekend.
Patna/River Estate and North Coast SCC, both teams languishing just above the foot of the table, following mixed results, will face off in the only match scheduled for today, at Patna Ground, from 3.30 pm.
The mouth-watering matches in the round, however, kick off tomorrow, featuring the current second placed team, Trendsetter Hawks, who will make the trip to New Ground to face mid-table team, St Francois Nationals. The Hawks are equipped with the league's leading goal-scorer, and former Malick Secondary forward Ryan Porter, who is on nine goals from as many matches. St Francois Nationals, who have been leaky in defence, however, has a potent attacking threat in the likes of Joshua Rogers, the second leading scorer with one fewer goal.
Trendsetter were on top form heading into their last match, but lost that encounter 2-1 at home to Belmont FC, the latter of which got right back into the title hunt with the win.
A win for Trendsetter Hawks will see them leapfrog Cantaro at least for the round, while Belmont FC will also have a chance to go top with a victory, when the club takes on Cultural Roots at TSTT Ground, Queen's Park Savannah.
All Premiership Division matches this weekend kick off at 3.30 pm.
RECENT RESULTS
Premiership Division – Round Ten
Misc. Laventille United 1 vs Patna/River Estate SSCC 3
Cantaro United FC 9 vs Paramin Scholars Utd 1
Trendsetter Hawks 1 vs Belmont FC 2
North Coast SCC 2 vs St Francois Nationals 2
Championship Division – Round Ten
Harvard FC 0 vs Seekers FC 1
Round Nine
Seekers FC vs RSSR FC, Seekers won 3-0 by default.
Combined Forces 2 vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin United 7
Malvern FC 1 vs Frontline FC 5
Morvant Elements vs Harvard FC, Harvard FC won 3-0 by default.
FIXTURES
Today
Premiership Division – Round 11
Panta/River Estate SSCC vs North Coast SCC, Patna Ground, 3.30 pm
Tomorrow
Belmont FC vs Cultural Roots Utd, TSTT Ground. 3.30 pm
Paramin Scholars Utd vs Misc. Laventille United, Malvern Ground, 3.30 pm
St Francois Nationals vs Trendsetter Hawks, New Ground, 3.30 pm
STANDINGS
Premiership Division
Pl*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
Cantaro Utd*9*6*2*1*35*14*20
Trendsetter Hawks*9*6*1*2*29*10*19
Belmont FC*9*5*2*2*15*12*17
Cultural Roots*8*4*2*2*19*12*14
St Francois*9*3*4*2*20*19*13
Patna/River Estate*9*3*2*4*16*18*11
North Coast SCC*9*2*4*3*14*16*10
Misc. Laventille Utd*9*1*1*7*15*38*4
Paramin Scholars*9*0*2*7*10*34*2
Championship Division
Teams*Pld*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
Frontline FC*9*7*1*1*41*15*22
Petit Valley/DM Utd*8*6*2*0*39*10*20
Seekers FC*10*6*1*3*29*24*19
Harvard FC*10*6*1*3*20*16*19
Malvern FC*9*3*2*4*15*20*11
Morvant Elements*9*2*1*6*17*40*7
RSSR FC*8*2*0*6*13*25*6
Combined Forces*9*0*0*9*14*38*0
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Jessop, Freitas lead Cultural Roots to NFA title
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Kevon Jessop and Christon Freitas were both on target as Cultural Roots United claimed its second Northern Football Association Premier Division title with a 2-0 victory over its closest rivals Trendsetter Hawks in front of its home fans at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James on Wednesday night.
Starting the match a point behind Hawks with two matches in hand, Cultural Roots which only gained promotion back to the top flight in 2017 after winning the Championship Division the previous year, got a goal from Jessop in the 15th minute before Freitas added the other two minutes later.
The win meant that Cultural Roots leapfrogged Hawks into top position with 32 points from 14 matches and two left to play while Hawks ended their 16-match campaign with 30 points.
Third-placed Cantaro United FC had a chance to take the title race down to another round of matches, as they went into their fixture with Patna/River Estate United with 31 points from 14 matches.
However, Patna/River Estate dashed its hopes with a 3-1 spanking with strikes from Nicholas Alexander, Jesse Edwards and Akel La Borde to cancel out Stephan David sixth-minute opening item.
The title win continued a fine return to the limelight for the Rayshawn Mars-coached Cultural Roots who were also winners of the NFA FA trophy in 2018 before collaborating with Club Sando for a one year stint in the National Super League last season and then returning to the NFA this campaign in stunning fashion.
Last weekend, the key twist in the Premier Division title race occurred when then leaders Trendsetter Hawks and second-placed Cantaro United SCC both faltered which paved the way for Cultural Roots United to claim a second league crown in the club's history.
This after, Hawks was clipped 3-1 by North Coast SCC with a goal each from Kyle Jack, Dameion Williams and Ron Quintero on Sunday, and remained on 30 points from 15 matches at the top of the nine-team table, one ahead of Cultural Roots who have two matches in hand, while Cantaro United is third with 28 points from 14 matches after a 1-1 draw with Belmont FC.
Corneal Thomas netted a double to lead Front Line FC to a 5-1 spanking of Harvard FC and promotion to the 2020 NFA Premier Division as Championship Division winners on Thursday night.
However, it could have all be so different had Petit Valley/Diego Martin United, which went into the final round with a one-point lead on the table did not stumble in its encounter with RSSR FC, losing 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo. RSSR had previously defeated Front Line 4-3 in its penultimate match as well.
At St Ann's, Kyle Davidson fired Front Line into a 14th minute lead while Keith Williams made it 2-0 in the 25th with his 18th goal of the campaign before Jerron Morris (77th), and Thomas, with a late double in the 80th and 90th to finish with a season-best tally of 23, capped off the scoring to spark off wild celebrations as Championship Division winners.
The win lifted debutants, Front Line FC to 34 points from its 14 matches, two ahead of Petit Valley/Diego Martin United.
YESTERDAY'S NFA RESULTS
Premier Division
Cultural Roots United 2 (Kevon Jessop 15th, Christon Freitas 17th) vs Trendsetter Hawks 0
Patna River Estate 3 (Nicholas Alexander 25th, Jesse Edwards 35th, Akel La Borde 73rd) vs Cantaro United FC 1 (Stephan David 6th)
Sunday, December 1:
North Coast SCC 3 (Kyle Jack 20th, Dameion Williams 26th, Ron Quintero 90th) vs Trendsetter Hawks 1 (Josiah Joseph 37th)
Belmont FC 1 (Matin Sedighi 21st) vs Cantaro United FC 1 (Stephan David 46th)
St Francois Nationals 3 vs Paramin Scholars 0 - by default
Championship
November 28:
RSSR FC 1 vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin United 0
Front Line FC 5 (Kyle Davidson 14th, Keith Williams 25th, Jerron Morris 77th, Corneal Thomas 80th, 90th) vs Harvard FC 1 (Shaquille Peters 45th)
Current NFA standings
Premier Division
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Cultural Roots*14*10*2*2*42*14*32
2. Trendsetter Hawks*16*9*3*4*43*17*30
3. Cantaro Utd*15*8*4*3*48*23*28
4. Belmont FC*14*7*3*3*25*21*24
5. St Francois Nationals*14*5*6*3*27*24*21
6. North Coast SCC*14*4*5*5*27*26*17
7. Patna/River Estate*15*5*2*8*25*31*17
8. Miscellaneous Lav'tille*13*1*2*10*20*57*5
9. Paramin Scholars*15*0*4*11*14*58*4
Championship Division
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. Front Line*14*11*1*2*62*24*34
2. P.V/D.M*14*10*2*2*62*19*32
3. Harvard*14*7*2*5*26*27*23
4. Seekers FC*14*7*1*6*36*33*22
5. RSSR FC*14*6*0*8*28*38*18
6. Morvant Elements*13*4*1*8*25*53*13
7. Malvern SC*14*3*2*9*21*42*11
8. Combined Forces*14*2*1*1*25*50*7
Upcoming matches
Premier Division
On December 7
Miscellaneous Laventille United vs Belmont FC, Soogrim Trace, Laventille, 7 pm
December 8
North Coast SCC vs Cultural Roots United, Blanchisseuse, 3.30 pm
December 10
Belmont FC vs North Coast SCC, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo, 8 pm
December 11
Cultural Roots United vs Miscellaneous Laventille United, Dibe Rec. Grd, Long Circular, St James, 7 pm
Cantaro United vs St Francois Nationals, Cantaro Grds, Santa Cruz, 7 pm
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Trendsetter Hawks cops NFA FA crown
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Trendsetter Hawks made up for missing out on the Northern Football Association Premier Division title by edging North Coast SCC 2-1 in the zonal FA final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field in Mucurapo on Tuesday night.
Daniel David fired Hawks ahead on the stroke of half-time as they led 1-0 at the break and ten minutes from the final whistle, Isaiah Primus doubled the advantage to 2-0.
However, three minutes later, Brandon Quintero pulled a goal back for North Coast SCC and they were handed a lifeline to send the match into penalty-kicks when Hawks’ Ato Emmanuel was issued a second-yellow card for a foul in the 18-yard-box on Damien Williams.
But it was not to be as Colin Kirk failed to convert the penalty to the dismay of his team-mates and delight of Hawks, who held on for the win to make amends for last year’s final defeat.
Speaking after the win, Hawks’ coach Anthony “Dadda” Wickham said it was nice to end with the title having thrown away the league after faltering in their final couple matches.
“We made up our mind to come out and run this team (North Coast) right down to the end after they defeated us in one of our finals matches to close out the season, which took away the league from us,” Wickham said.
“Most of the players grew up in this academy from around nine-years-old and we didn’t have them at the start of the season due to their involvement in colleges football and once that was over they came back and boosted the team.
“We now have to do a little reflection and come back again next year and win the league and try and qualify to the Super League.”
Last Wednesday, Isaiah Leacock fired in a beaver-trick as Cultural Roots United celebrated being crowned new Premier Division champions, their second in club history, with a 6-1 spanking of last year’s winners Miscellaneous Laventille United at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James.
Leacock, who scored a hat-trick on Sunday last when his team scored a come-from-behind 4-2 win over North Coast SCC at North Coast Ground, Maracas, got his goals in the third, 13th, 36th and 55th minutes to end as the league’s top scorer with 17 to his name.
Kareem Joseph added a double in the 29th and 57th minutes for Cultural Roots, who ended with 38 points from their 16-match schedule, seven ahead of runner’s-up Cantaro United, who blanked former champions St Francois Nationals 4-0 led by braces from Simeon Bailey and Marcus Berot.
Results
FA Final
(December 17)
TRENDSETTER HAWKS 2 (Daniel David 45th, Isaiah Primus 80th) v NORTH COAST SCC 1 (Brandon Quintero 83rd)
Premier Division
CULTURAL ROOTS 6 (Isaiah Leacock 3rd, 13th, 36th, 55th, Kareem Joseph 29th, 57th) v MISCELLANEOUS LAVENTILLE 1
CANTARO UNITED 4 (Simeon Bailey 22nd, 60th, Marcus Berot 37th, 88th) v ST FRANCOIS NATIONALS 0
BELMONT FC 2 (Maciek Hoyte 80th, Alec Benny 91st) v NORTH COAST SCC 2 (Kevin Quintero 21st, Jameel Maharaj 45th)
MISCELLANEOUS LAVENTILLE 2 (Tyler Kirton 22nd, 79th) v BELMONT FC 2 (Christopher Hernandez 84th, Matin Sedighi 93rd)
PATNA/RIVER ESTATE UNITED 3 v PARAMIN SCHOLARS UNITED 0 – by default
Final standings
Premier Division:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Cultural Roots 16 12 2 2 52 17 38
2. Cantaro Utd 16 9 4 3 52 23 31
3. Trendsetter Hawks 16 9 3 4 43 17 30
4. Belmont FC 16 7 6 3 29 25 27
5. St Francois Nationals 16 6 6 4 35 30 24
6. Patna/River Estate 16 6 2 8 28 31 20
7. North Coast SCC 16 4 6 6 31 32 18
8. Miscellaneous Lav’tille 16 1 3 12 25 73 6
9. Paramin Scholars 16 0 4 12 14 61 4
Championship Division:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Front Line 14 11 1 2 62 24 34
2. P.V/D.M 14 10 2 2 62 19 32
3. Harvard 14 7 2 5 26 27 23
4. Seekers FC 14 7 1 6 36 33 22
5. RSSR FC 14 6 0 8 28 38 18
6. Morvant Elements 13 4 1 8 25 53 13
7. Malvern SC 14 3 2 9 21 42 11
8. Combined Forces 14 2 1 1 25 50 7
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
When was de last time dem was mighty?
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
When was de last time dem was mighty?
A very long time. But for a legacy club(100 yrs old) it is sad to see them and Malvern unable to restructure themselves with the modern times.
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
When was de last time dem was mighty?
A very long time. But for a legacy club(100 yrs old) it is sad to see them and Malvern unable to restructure themselves with the modern times.
Maybe is de people involved and the unwillingness to forge a new path. Reinvent themselves.
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Man that is depressing. Imagine what spice an actual historical rivalry could bring to the upper leagues. There must be so many stories not told...
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Lochan happy with NFA U-17 US tour
T&T Guardian
Nicholas Lochan, manager of the Northern Football Association (NFA) Under-17 boys football team which returned from their 'US Soccer Boy's Winter Showcase' tournament in Tampa, Florida on December 31, 2019 (Old Years Day) said he was pleased with the efforts of players and coaches and the overall trip.
Throughout their six-day stay in the USA, the NFA boys won once and were beaten in their two other matches, but according to Lochan, the USA doesn't cut corners, so from an administrative stand-point it was good to see proper investment (personnel, competition, equipment, facilities) in structured youth development to improve the future for US football.
Lochan noted that it was an intense six days of travelling, driving and competition and a major eye-opener for players to gauge their level against top clubs and players in the USA.
In their opening match, the NFA boys narrowly lost their first match to Brazil/USA by 2-1, with a deflected handball given as an unfortunate penalty in the last minutes of play.
In the second match on day two, the NFA players regrouped to beat Kalonji Soccer Academy (KSA) out of Atlanta with a thumping victory 8-3 which was highlighted by midfield playmaker Daniel David audacious effort from half-line to beat the unsuspecting goalkeeper.
The third game on day three was against Club Ohio Soccer and this was arguably the best team in this Under-18/Under-19 age-group with the visitors ending as 4-1 losers.
Overall, Lochan felt it was a great learning experience for all involved including coaches Paul Decle, and Marlon Phillip.
He said, "The results may not shine brightly but that's a very good thing. These conditions and losses can't be replicated at home and are what helps build character and help the players to continue improving.
Highlighting the fact that the team was not one that played together at club level, Lochan stated: "The NFA isn't a team so these players learned to live, interact, adapt and play for each other in a few days, which is similar in national football."
"Secondly, all players got a taste of elite youth club football, since this wasn't an invitational tournament, but one where merit and performance allowed participation under the youth arm of the US Soccer Federation; US Youth Soccer.
"And thirdly, the guys were seen by US University scouts who have already declared interest in a few players so hopefully education opportunities will open up.
In addition to the matches, a University of Tampa tour under the supervision of former St Anthony's College and National Youth defender Maurice "Madras" Loregnard who is the Associate Head Coach at the school was also done where the team got to see the university and its Bob Martinez Athletics Center; a first-class High-Performance facility equipped with classrooms, indoor courts, Physio and Sport lab and a High-Performance Gym, where Auburn Football team was undergoing a training session."
"Fourth and perhaps most importantly, the players experienced playing in a highly organized foreign environment where climate/temperature, field conditions, accommodation and food are different from the comfort zone of home.
He stressed, "To make it like a pro, this is the environment, and it's all performance and delivery based, which means players need to dig deep and be mentally tough to motivate themselves, adapt, focus and perform.
Lochan ended "It has been a very hectic but rewarding Tour and I hope some of the guys take away the positives and adjustments required to succeed.
This month, the NFA will close off this chapter, with a session or two under the eyes of the new Under-20 and Under-17 national coaches.
The team is split with ten potential candidates for each team, so hopefully, apart from a few scholarships, the NFA could find a few players also stepping unto the national Under-20 and Under-17 teams.
The players come from our top youth clubs like Trendsetter Hawks, Queen's Park Cricket Club, RSSR, North Coast and Petit Valley/Diego Martin United.
NFA Under-17 players: Jacob Castillo, Saeed Pompey Charles, Emmanuel Thomas, Daniel David, Daniel Lake, Malachi Celestine, Jude-Anthony Johnson, Aaron Moruf, Jordan Romany, Andrew De Gannes, Antonio Chee Ting, Delaney Zamore, Shervohnez Hamilton, Jahiem Ashby, Kaihim Thomas, Luke Savery [captaint], Negus Jack, Jumaane McNeil.
Technical staff: Marlon Phillip (coach), Paul Decle (coach) Kerry Castillo (manager), Nicholas Lochan (managers), Donnette Mark (medical doctor).
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
correct
they've not been a part of the league 2-3 years now i believe
no funding.
issues with coaches n players as well it seems as well that caused the beginning of the end
legacy is one thing but if these clubs aren't taken over from the old heads at some pt and some kinda transition happens, these things will inevitably happen
sad but so it goes unfortunately
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Maple doh play football in NFA again or wha. I thought they had a team in the NFA. Oh how the mighty has fallen.
correct
they've not been a part of the league 2-3 years now i believe
no funding.
issues with coaches n players as well it seems as well that caused the beginning of the end
legacy is one thing but if these clubs aren't taken over from the old heads at some pt and some kinda transition happens, these things will inevitably happen
sad but so it goes unfortunately
legacy is one thing but if these clubs aren't taken over from the old heads at some pt and some kinda transition happens, these things will inevitably happen
Sad but true. The people with money who want to put money into a team, want to run the team, but not necessarily the club. They will butt heads with the old heads.
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the older heads need to let go of their "baby" and simply advise otherwise the death of the club could follow unfortunately
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the older heads need to let go of their "baby" and simply advise otherwise the death of the club could follow unfortunately
Same thing happened to teams in South, especially in Sando. Juniors, Searchers, Valiants, Hurricanes, Greyhound Dovers. There are more that the Southies on the forum could mentioned.
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Unfortunately it has been our experience here, when the older heads let go, the clubs fail. In our case our young (30 to 40’s) although grownup in the organization. The open world beckons and tend to call on them for different life commitments. We are trying different strategies, but it mostly fall back on new older heads.
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I hope in the future we get a mroe reliable way of knowing the actual league results of these zones. NFA nd CFA tend to be good, but I'm not sure what the hell the ECFU president is doing to justify their wage - as far as I can tell they don't seem to run a league anymore?
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I hope in the future we get a mroe reliable way of knowing the actual league results of these zones. NFA nd CFA tend to be good, but I'm not sure what the hell the ECFU president is doing to justify their wage - as far as I can tell they don't seem to run a league anymore?
It is 2020. All of the zones should be doing much much better in terms of relaying information. Not even ah website or ah Facebook page at least?
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I hope in the future we get a mroe reliable way of knowing the actual league results of these zones. NFA nd CFA tend to be good, but I'm not sure what the hell the ECFU president is doing to justify their wage - as far as I can tell they don't seem to run a league anymore?
It is 2020. All of the zones should be doing much much better in terms of relaying information. Not even ah website or ah Facebook page at least?
Central FA has a Facebook page, which is something, and I seem capable of finding NFA leagues online. EFA is poor, ECFU is a bloody wasteland of snippets of information - know more about the Fishing pond league than whatever they're running. SFA is variable, sometimes get boht leeagues, othertimes not much. Tobago's FA runs things a lot better - they had/have a website with all the leagues up.
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CFA president brushes off calls for his removal
By Narissa Fraser (T&T Newsday)
SEVEN of the nine clubs that make up TT’s Central Football Association (CFA) are calling on its president Symdeo Gosine to resign. If not, they said, he will be removed. But Gosine said they “don’t have that power”.
This call, the clubs say, is a result of comments he made in a recently-published article in the TT Guardian among other things.
In the article, Gosine spoke about the ongoing legal battle between the embattled TT Football Association (TTFA) executive and FIFA over the latter’s decision to appoint a normalisation committee to the association.
He was quoted as saying, “Keep them (embattled executive) out of TT football because they are not thinking about the effect it would have on the country and footballers as a whole. For me, they are all selfish. We need to separate these people from football.”
He called on the public to support FIFA’s decision.
But in a letter obtained by Newsday, Central Soccer World, Compadres FC, Family Soccer FC, Real Central FC, Arima Tigers FC, SME Titans FC, and Latchu Trace Youth all agreed – via a digital signature – they are all calling for his removal.
The two clubs which did not sign are Orange Field Firehouse SC and Harlem Strikers FC.
The letter was written and signed by CFA General Secretary Clynt Taylor and dated May 21.
“Shymdeo Gosine no longer speaks for the CFA members. Shymdeo Gosine no longer enjoys the confidence of 2/3 of the membership and board members in accordance with the constitution of the CFA.
“The members below are demanding his resignation by noon Monday May 25, 2020, or he will be removed by the clubs in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.”
It added that his comments to the TT Guardian do not represent the views of any other CFA members.
But contacted by Newsday, Gosine said Taylor has “no power” to issue such a letter as he is “no longer the CFA General Secretary.
“We have appointed somebody else. We have written to him and told him all the documents and equipment and so on that he has, that belong to the CFA, he should drop it to the office of the president or the secretary.”
He brushed off the letter as “stupid,” saying Taylor’s use of the CFA letterhead was “illegal.”
Asked about his comments to the TT Guardian, he said, “When I made those comments, I didn’t make those comments on behalf of the CFA, I said the president.”
In response to the clubs saying they will remove him as president if he does not resign, he said, “They don’t have that power. He (Taylor) doesn’t have that power. That’s just semantics. How could they remove me? They can’t.
“Even if he was still general secretary, he cannot issue a letter without my permission. That’s how it works.”
He added that he has nothing to hide.
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What's his logic behind that comment?
is it that these central clubs aren't compliant and can't vote him out?
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Gosine stands firm as president.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
SHYMDEO GOSINE is standing firm as president of the Central Football Association (CFA), even though seven out of nine member clubs have called for his removal by noon on Monday.
According to a letter issued to Gosine by CFA general secretary Clynt Taylor, the seven clubs (Central Soccer World, Compadres FC, Family Soccer FC, Real Central FC, Arima Tigers FC, SME Titans FC and Latchu Trace Youth) all agreed, via a digital signature, for Gosine to step down.
Orange Field Firehouse SC and Harlem Strikers FC did not sign the letter.
The letter stated, “The members are demanding his resignation by noon May 25 or he will be removed by the clubs in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.”
When contacted on Monday afternoon, Gosine said, “There is a guy (Taylor) who has not been the general secretary since December, who still has the instruments that we’ve asked him to drop off at the president’s office. He never did.
“There is a letter that has some club names and it referred to something virtual. It doesn’t hold any water. It doesn’t have an (iota) of legality to it. There is nothing about it that I would be bothered (about).”
Asked if this move may be perceived as a witch-hunt against him by CFA member clubs, Gosine replied, “I have nothing against (anybody), and I’m not worried about any witch-hunt. I’m in football, not to glorify myself. I don’t need anything from football. I’m not bothered by that nonsense that they write.”
Taylor was the first vice-president of the TT Football Association (TTFA) from November 24, 2019.
But that executive, led by William Wallace, was removed by FIFA in March, due to mounting debts, and replaced by a normalisation committee headed by Robert Hadad.
Gosine also featured at the November 24, 2019 TTFA elections, under the slate of fellow businessman Richard Ferguson. But Gosine lost to Joseph Sam Phillip in the race to become the TTFA third vice-president.
Taylor said on Monday, “Mr Gosine don’t have the authority as president to fire me. I have not resigned as secretary. Under our constitution, the only way a secretary can be hired (is if) the president proposes somebody. But the board does the hiring.
“He can propose the firing of a secretary but only the board does the firing,” Taylor added. “And the board has not agreed to do that. Mr Gosine has been bitter since (his loss) in the TTFA elections. He hasn’t been speaking to (most) of his board members.”
Asked if this matter revolves around a power struggle between himself and Gosine, Taylor responded, “Not at all. I am not about power. I’m about making sure things are done right. I do not care about having a name or a title. However, (CFA) are in a mess. How can you be a president and not talk to your members, and making decisions on your own?”
Taylor pointed out that the letter was sent to him by the member clubs, who expressed their desire to have a change at the helm of the CFA.
Leroy Davis, a representative of Central Soccer World, explained his club’s decision to support the move to oust Gosine from office.
“The league has been dormant. There is a major problem with the president. We are the (leaders) of the (2020 season) and we haven’t collected any money.
“So, we just make a stand and decide we want somebody to run the league better. That’s the main reason for removing the president.”
Davis said that the jackpot for the 2020 season was $15,000.
He said, “We had an excellent season last year. This year, there has been (an) administrative problem in the league, the board has been fighting each other. I think that’s what spoilt the league this year.
“The board is split in two,” Davis continued. “The majority of the board are supporting the secretary who is Taylor. This has nothing to do with the TTFA and the normalisation committee.”
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NFA membership calls for AGM or EGM to move forward.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The membership of the Northern Football Association (NFA) is demanding that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Officers, which have been postponed earlier this year, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, be held and a new executive is elected to manage their affairs.
Guardian Media Sports was informed on Monday by an associate who is involved with the developments that a petition was signed by 14 out of the 19 First Division clubs, was delivered to the executive early last month calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to decide on the way forward for the association if the AGM is not called.
Anthony Harford, who was president at the time, resigned last month saying that the sport in T&T had been at the end of a severe beating and he could no longer stand the blows. However, he promised to honour protocol and be at the AGM when it is called, to hand over to his successor.
Rashawn Mars, the association's secretary, in the absence of the president, was given the responsibility of convening the AGM but has refused to call it.
Among, the 14 clubs calling for an AGM or EGM are — Combine FC, Harvard Sports and Cultural Club, Morvant Elements, Miscellaneous Laventille, RSSR, Petit Valley, Patna River Estate FC, St Francois, Trendsetter Hawks, Seekers FC, Frontline FC and Belmont FC among others.
However, four clubs, Cultural Roots, Malvern, Cantaro FC and North Coast, did not sign the petition.
The members are demanding answers as to why there were no prize monies for the past three years, even though there was a sponsor, and why did clubs have to pay registration if that amount was taken care of.
Harford in his resignation letter, admit that prize monies for 2019 were not paid, and said: "I will discuss any matters outstanding and look forward to a smooth transition. These matters were not discussed earlier because the architect of the change taking place in the NFA, did not show up for planned meetings with the executive.”
Trendsetter Hawks coach Anthony Wickham who is better known as 'Dada' said there has been growing discontent within the NFA and the AGM but said he was given an assurance that an executive meeting, which was originally scheduled for last weekend, will be held this coming weekend and it will be used to decide on a date for the AGM.
'Dada' who is known around the country for his talent in coaching football, noted that he will not express further until the executive meeting is held. He confirmed however that prize monies for last year were not paid out.
Contacted Mars said his executive cannot call any meeting because of the COVID-19 lockdown, and gave the assurance that once the restrictions are lifted the AGM will be called.
"This was communicated to the members over a month ago. Holding an AGM requires a lot of people and because there is a 15-person limit given by the government due to the coronavirus. We are unable to do it. I don't know why they are forcing something that cannot happen."
Mars, who said he was confused by the petition, explained that the AGM had been called since September 2 but the lockdown forced its postponement.
He described the NFA as one of the most organised associations in T&T football, saying any member interested in finding out about the finances of the association can come into his office and see for themselves.
Mars called on his members to read the constitution of the NFA and understand it, saying all their concerns will be alleviated if this happens.
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Desperate NFA clubs write to CoP.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
Desperation has stepped in among the membership of the Northern Football Association (NFA).
Some 14 out of the 19 clubs have vowed to take any action necessary to run their own affairs in the league, as the executive has not acceded to their request for this year's annual general meeting (AGM) and election of a new executive, which they feel can take place at a venue that is big enough and suitable for the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
Anthony Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach who is the driving force behind this new development in the zone, said they have stepped up their demand for the AGM and election since things have been opening out with regards to the COVID-19 restrictions in sports, saying: "When it is fully opened up, they do not want to be caught behind in the zone."
The clubs are planning to exercise their rights to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) where the election of officers can take place at a venue to be determined.
On Monday, the clubs wrote to Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith seeking permission to hold a meeting of the general membership, at which time a decision will be taken to hold an EGM to decide on a new executive, Wickham said adding that for the EGM to be held the members will need to get 75 per cent support of the membership, as stated in the constitution.
The Trendsetter Hawks coach has ruled out holding the election via a virtual meeting, saying for the election of officers, there is need for a secret-ballot process.
"We have more than 75 per cent support at this time, so we are now waiting on a response from the Commissioner of Police to know if the meeting can take place at a facility where all the COVID-19 restriction can be adhered to," said Wickham, who is also passionately known as Dada.
He told Guardian Media Sports they will also write to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Ministry of Health Dr Roshan Parasram.
The clubs have repeatedly called on the general secretary of the NFA, Rashawn Mars, to call the AGM and election which was initially carded to be held in September but had to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mars too has repeatedly said that no gathering can take place without the permission of the CMO and the government.
Wickham said they will even consider holding the meeting among the membership virtually, but not the elections.
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Ross Russell, Richard Piper to contest NFA elections on December 12th
T&T Guardian
Former national goalkeeper Ross Russell is set to contest the position of presidency of the Northern Football Association (NFA) on December 12 at the Cascadia Hotel in St Ann’s.
The annual general meeting (AGM) and elections were scheduled after Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith gave the okay for a venue where proper social-distancing and sanitisation to deal with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, can take place.
Russell, who was a former national goalkeeper coach, is set to be contested by Richard Piper, a former national manager and football administrator, who has worked for many years under then NFA president Anthony Harford at All Sport Promotions.
Piper’s slate will comprise Derek Edwards, the Petit Valley Diego Martin United manager as his first vice president and Tristan Charles, the manager of Santa Cruz united as his second vice president.
Russell, on the other hand, has only confirmed Anthony Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach, as his first vice president. Confirmation of their second vice president will be announced soon.
Russell told Guardian Media Sports he took up the challenge to run for the presidency after he observed the interest of club participation, spectator- excitement and sponsorship in northern football have all totally disappeared.
“So I say let me come and try something to help out,” Russell said. “I expect my greatest challenge to be from the top right to the bottom. I will seek to help clubs secure their own home grounds and thereby prevent the large number of matches from being played at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. These venues must all be equipped with dressing rooms and toilet facilities etc.”
Guardian Media Sports was made to understand that a potential sponsor for the NFA 2021 has been found and talks are ongoing to make the League one of the best run in years.
Russell said another area of keen interest for him is bringing back the community spirit, which he believes will be of critical importance to the zone.
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Both good people - every time I talked to Ross he was about the potential for local football, especially on the Diego Martin Rec grounds. He was always inspiring with his vision of the future of football there.
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Both good people - every time I talked to Ross he was about the potential for local football, especially on the Diego Martin Rec grounds. He was always inspiring with his vision of the future of football there.
Richard has the experience at all levels & probablt better suited
Ross seems like a respectable and genuine individual. Just have to watch out for who is behind the scenes with him calling the shots .
Ross Russell may be the bigger name but in terms of the role at stake, Richard Piper is def. more qualified with a wealth of experience as a referee, manager and administrator
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Harford: I am not trying to stop NFA meeting, progress
T&T Guardian
Outgoing, Northern Football Association (NFA) president, Anthony Harford says the current zone executive is making no effort to stop a planned meeting for its existing club membership and is proceeding with the annual general meeting (AGM) before the end of this year.
Harford, who in October resigned his position as the NFA boss which will take effect at the next AGM, made the statement via a media release sent on Friday in response to claims by former national goalkeeper Ross Russell, one of the two candidates for the role of president that he observed the interest of club participation, spectator- excitement and sponsorship in northern football have all totally disappeared in the NFA.
Russell, a former winning coach with Defence Force in the T&T Pro League, is set to contest the position of presidency of the NFA against national team administrator Richard Piper on December 12 at the Cascadia Hotel in St Ann’s.
The AGM and elections were scheduled after Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith gave the okay for a venue where proper social-distancing and sanitisation to deal with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, can take place.
Richard Piper, a former national manager, who has worked for many years under Harford at All Sport Promotions has a slate comprising Derek Edwards, the Petit Valley Diego Martin United manager (first vice president) and Tristan Charles, the manager of Santa Cruz United as his second vice president.
Russell, on the other hand, has only confirmed Anthony “Dada” Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach, as his first vice president. Confirmation of their second vice president will be announced soon.
Speaking earlier this week Russell told Guardian Media Sports he took up the challenge to run to see if he can come and try doing something to help out the clubs.
He said, “I expect my greatest challenge to be from the top right to the bottom. I will seek to help clubs secure their own home grounds and thereby prevent the large number of matches from being played at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. These venues must all be equipped with dressing rooms and toilet facilities etc.”
Guardian Media Sports was made to understand that a potential sponsor for the NFA 2021 has been found and talks are ongoing to make the League one of the best run in years.
Russell said another area of keen interest for him is bringing back the community spirit, which he believes will be of critical importance to the zone.
But in response, Harford first pointed out that when he was voted into office unopposed in 2016, the executive with which he has been serving were also voted in then.
“None of them belonging to a ‘slate’ of any kind and it has been an exceptional pleasure working with this group of committed individuals. We made a commitment to serve one more term if elected at the end of the first term, in September 2020.
“However, I was advised by three clubs that they feel the association needs more progressive management and they are interested in putting forward a ‘slate’. I immediately told the clubs, as president I serve at their pleasure and I would comply and within 24 hours I tendered my resignation and committed I would not be contesting the position.
“I informed the secretary to plan for the AGM, while I wrote to the T&T Football Association’s (TTFA) Normalisation Committee to have an invigilator/supervisor attend and certify the election results.
“I received a letter from the TTFA instructing that we could not proceed with the election until after FIFA rules on the impasse with the TTFA. This was relayed to clubs, so we remained in office pending clearance.
“Once the FIFA matter was cleared I wrote again to the TTFA and last week received a letter indicating we can now proceed with the AGM and that the TTFA will supply an invigilator for the elections.
Harford advised that the secretary is now preparing all his documents and will announce the date and venue by this weekend including the nomination of candidates and the elections within the prescribed period.
He said: “The NFA has followed all the rules to date and is not resisting change, the election is supposed to do that. The zone openly admits it’s indebtedness to clubs but this is regrettable as our three fundraisers carded for this year to raise the funds have been postponed due to the pandemic.
“We have told the clubs we remain committed to meeting the obligation as soon as clearances are given to host events. It costs the zone roughly 260,000 annually to operate. In 2018 we received a grant of $75,000, the rest of the monies always come from fundraisers.
“The zone remains puzzled by some clubs bent on hosting their own meeting this weekend. The zone is making no effort to stop the meeting but we are proceeding with the AGM before the end of 2020 when we welcome a new executive to run the business of the NFA.”
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NFA AGM, elections unsure Saturday.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
It is unsure whether the annual general meeting (AGM) and election of officers of the Northern Football Association (NFA) will take place today as planned at the Cascadia Hotel in St Ann's.
Anthony 'Dada' Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach who is the first vice president on a slate being led by former national goalkeeper coach Ross Russell, said as far as he knows, the elections are on, with a starting time of 10 am.
But Richard Piper, president of the opposing slate which also comprises Derek Edwards (first vice president) and Rodney Stowe (second vice president), told Guardian Media Sports hesitantly that he is unsure if there will be an election today. Piper is bidding to replace his former boss and working colleague at All Sports Promotions - Anthony Harford, who resigned in October.
However, Wickham, seeking his foray into the area of administration, said officials from Piper's slate have been attempting to get the elections postponed to December 28 because they are unprepared.
According to Wickham: "I just got a call from one of the officials on their side asking me to put off the elections, asking me to put off the election until the 28th, because some of the clubs tell themselves they were not ready.
"For the last couple of days, what they were trying to do, they have been carrying around a petition trying to get clubs to sign on, to see if they could get nine signatures to stop the election. 'Alyuh' (They're) calling around to tell people don't come to the election because the election date is on the 28th."
Yesterday, Edwards said that 'Dada' and his team are attempting to go against the date set by the NFA executive, which is December 28.
"The December 12 date was set by Dada's team and a potential sponsor, which is in violation of the constitutionally set election date," Edwards said explaining that the December 12 date was set while a petition was being circulated by the majority of the clubs for the election to take place.
Nine clubs would represent more than a 50 per cent majority of the general membership required to stop the meeting, as there are 17 clubs in northern football.
With the NFA's AGM being postponed since September 2 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wickham's desire to elect a new administration took him to the Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, who later gave him permission for a face-to-face meeting to be held at the St Ann's venue.
Meanwhile, Russell said he will be confident going into the election today, saying the clubs will decide on who they want to run the affairs of the sport for them.
"I am excited because it is a new position for me, I have been in coaching but never really in management, so it's the dawn of something new for me. There is a lot to do, first, there is the youth programme that has to get back on stream. The youth programme has been out for two years I believe, and I have a good team behind me that will ensure the programme gets back on track."
Meanwhile, Hardford, president of the NFA who said, "The Northern Football Association (NFA) executive met following a petition from several clubs in the North Zone and set December 28, 2020, for the Zone meeting according to the constitution. This date was sent to the TTFA normalisation committee which has agreed to this date and will be sending adjudicators for the meeting."
Harford told Guardian Media Sports yesterday that he will not be standing for re-election and will be standing down at the AGM on December 28. He said has no knowledge of any other meeting and if the clubs have a meeting planned among themselves, he has no information about that. He said if anyone needs any information on the AGM, they can contact Rayshaun Mars, the NFA general secretary.
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No quorum at NFA meeting
By Keith Clement (T&T Guardian)
Rayshawn Mars, the general secretary of the Northern Football Association (NFA), said yesterday's meeting which was called by some clubs in the zone was not convened by the general secretary according to the zone's constitution.
Mars said he did not attend the meeting because no invitation was sent to the management of the zone.
Asked if the meeting was constitutionally called, Mars responded: "While clubs do have a natural right to do so there was a number of flaws from the get-go with the petition all the way to their handling of setting things in place 'according' to the constitution, that was flawed."
In response to how many clubs need to request a meeting. and the general secretary needs to respond as outlined in the constitution, Mars stated: "Fifty (50) per cent or more and yes the office of the secretariat has acknowledged their request at least in communication."
Asked if today's (December 12 meeting) was called according to the NFA constitution, he responded: "There were numerous flaws as for the meeting today. The time frame for instance they did not allow for the constitutionally recommended amount of time to lapse to have a legal meeting. The AGM is scheduled for 28th of December 2020."
However, yesterday's meeting which had on its agenda the election of officers did not have a quorum and has been rescheduled for December 26.
Anthony 'Dada' Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach, told Guardian Media Sports after the meeting was called off that, "Only seven clubs were present in which six had voting rights, so we had no quorum, so the meeting will now be held on December 26 (Boxing Day). The constitution says the reconvened meeting must take place 14 days after which is Boxing day. It will be held at the same venue at 10.30 am."
Wickham said that the clubs who attended were Trendsetter Hawks, Elements, Seekers, Laventille Utd, RSSR, and Partner Village. Real West Fort, the club of former national standout Ron LaForest, was also present but without voting rights.
Wickham's slate which comprises Ross Russell (president); Wickham and Rodney Stowe (vice presidents), Michael Thomas (assistant secretary - Admin) and Nevick Denoon (assistant secretary - Operations) with Kareem Paul and Dexter Harris as ordinary members.
Meanwhile, Derek Edwards of Petit Valley/Diego Martin United club explained that the slate which is led by Richard Piper will be contesting the meeting which is called by the NFA general secretary Mars for December 28.
He said that slate comprises - Richard Piper (president); Edwards and Triston Charles (vice presidents); Marvin Small (assistant secretary - Operations) while the assistant secretary - Admin is yet to be named and Mark Benny (ordinary member).
On Friday, Edwards said that Wickham's team is attempting to go against the date set by the NFA executive, which is December 28.
Also on Friday, Anthony Harford, president of the NFA told Guardian Media Sports that, "The Northern Football Association (NFA) executive met following a petition from several clubs in the North Zone and set December 28, 2020, for the Zone meeting according to the constitution. This date was sent to the TTFA normalisation committee which has agreed to this date and will be sending adjudicators for the meeting."
He said he will not be standing for re-election and will be standing down at the AGM on December 28. He said has no knowledge of any other meeting and if the clubs have a meeting planned among themselves, he has no information about that. He said if anyone needs any information on the AGM, they can contact Mars, the NFA general secretary.
Mars said, "The executive and by extension the NFA is not against change that's the only thing that is constant. On the 28th the parties that are running to hold office have an opportunity to participate in a 'free and fair' election.
"The zone has been and is always open to sponsors who want to invest in the clubs and by extension the communities that are represented. They are undeniably interrelated and as we look forward to the December 28, we are inviting the businesses and constituency office holders to play a part or for those who have been to continue to work in assisting zonal football."
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NFA to decide on Harford’s successor today.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).
Despite word that former national goalkeeper Ross Russell was elected as its new president on Boxing Day (December 26), the sitting executive of the Northern Football Association (NFA) is slated to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) which has on the agenda, the election for a new executive today.
The AGM and elections to replace the existing executive led by out-going president and well-known businessman and media personality Anthony Harford is carded to take place at the St James Youth Centre, Fort George Road, St James from 5.30 pm.
Rayshawn Mars, the general secretary of the NFA told Guardian Media Sports on Sunday that his executive was actually in the midst of preparing for tomorrow’s election which is expected to see the Anthony “Dada” Wickham-led slate go up against the slate led by football administrator and national team manager, Richard Piper.
Wickham said that the clubs who attended Saturday's meeting were Trendsetter Hawks, Elements, Seekers, Laventille Utd, RSSR, and Partner Village. Real West Fort, the club of former national standout Ron LaForest, was also present but without voting rights.
Wickham's slate comprises Russell (president); Wickham and Rodney Stowe (vice presidents), Michael Thomas (assistant secretary - Admin) and Nevick Denoon (assistant secretary - Operations) with Kareem Paul and Dexter Harris as ordinary members.
Meanwhile, Piper’s slate also includes Derek Edwards and Triston Charles (vice presidents); Marvin Small (assistant secretary - Operations); Hellwyn Junior Maxwell (assistant secretary – Admin) and Mark Benny (ordinary member).
However, there is some doubt as to whether Wickham and his team will be attendance at today’s meeting. It is understood they held their own elections on Saturday and Russell was voted in as president to replace Harford.
However, according to Mars, a former national youth goalkeeper, Saturday's meeting which was reconvened from December 12, failed meeting was not convened by the general secretary according to the zone's constitution.
Mars said as far as he is concerned, Saturday’s elections were illegal and no correspondence has been forward to any member of the current executive.
“We heard there was an election of some sort and I was told that Russell was elected, but that meeting and election was not constitutionally called.
When the first meeting was called by Wickham and his supporters on December 12 there were numerous flaws according to NGA constitution stated Mars.
Back then he said the time frame for instance did not allow for the constitutionally recommended amount of time to lapse to have a legal meeting.
The December 12 meeting which had on its agenda the election of officers did not have a quorum and was then rescheduled for December 26.
With regards to its rescheduling Wickham, the Trendsetter Hawks coach, told Guardian Media Sports then that only seven clubs were present in which six had voting rights, so we had no quorum, so the meeting will now be held on December 26 (Boxing Day). The constitution says the reconvened meeting must take place 14 days after which is Boxing day. It will be held at the same venue at 10.30 am."
But a few days later, Edwards said that Wickham's team was attempting to go against the date set by the NFA executive, which is December 28.
In addition, Harford told Guardian Media Sports that, "The Northern Football Association (NFA) executive met following a petition from several clubs in the North Zone and set December 28, 2020, for the Zone meeting according to the constitution. This date was sent to the TTFA normalisation committee which has agreed to this date and will be sending adjudicators for the meeting."
He said he will not be standing for re-election and will be standing down at the AGM on December 28. He said he had no knowledge of any other meeting and if the clubs have a meeting planned among themselves, he has no information about that. He said if anyone needs any information on the AGM, they can contact Mars, the NFA general secretary.
Mars said, "The executive and by extension the NFA is not against change that's the only thing that is constant. On the 28th the parties that are running to hold office have an opportunity to participate in a 'free and fair' election.
Upon request from interested parties, Robert Hadad, chairman of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) Normalisation Committee (NC), interjected in the matter and confirmed that he had received correspondences from the NFA.
However, he said, "The Normalisation Committee is not here to take over or run any of the affiliates but we will assist them and provide advice because we must make football attractive and workable for all stakeholders."
Regarding the annual general meeting (AGM) issue in the NFA, he said, "The Board of the NFA has convened an annual general meeting (AGM) for December 28, 2020. Once a meeting is called in accordance with the constitution, the Normalisation Committee will be willing to send representatives as per any official requests for such."
Asked if the NFA executive communicated to the NC about the NFA AGM he replied, "Yes, and the date the Normalisation Committee is aware of, is December 28, 2020, and we will do what we can to assist."
The NFA elections also caught the attention of Eastern Football Association president, Kieron Edwards who had been accused of interference and violating the constitution of the T&T Football Association (TTFA).
A board member of the Ascension Football League and a UNC alderman in the Arima Borough Corporation, Edwards was accused of writing to Fifa-appointed Normalisation Committee chairman Robert Hadad, on Saturday 28 November, requesting a TTFA observer for an NFA extraordinary general meeting on December, 12 to which Mars said, he Edwards had no business getting involved in.
Team Russell: Ross Russell (president), Anthony Wickham (first vice-president), Rodney Stowe (second vice-president), Michael Thomas (assistant secretary admin), Nevick Denoon (assistant secretary operations), Kareem Paul (ordinary member two), Dexter Harris (ordinary member two).
Team Piper: Richard Martin Piper (president), Tristan Charles (first vice-president), Derek Edwards (second vice-president), Hellwyn Junior Maxwell (assistant secretary admin), Marvin Small (assistant secretary operations), Mark Benny (ordinary member two), Russell Bristol (ordinary member two).
Outgoing NFA Board: Anthony Harford (president), second vice-president Glenford ‘Beetle’ Waines (St Francois Nationals), Marvin Small (Police), and Peter Rampersad (Malvern). (First vice-president Ruthven Charles (RSSR FC) passed away last year).
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Russell elected NFA president.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).
ROSS RUSSELL is the new president of the Northern Football Association (NFA).
The former national goalkeeper was elected, on Monday night, after the association held its virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Russell’s slate defeated national football team manager Richard Piper’s roster 10-6.
Anthony “Dada” Wickham and Rodney Stowe (vice presidents), Michael Thomas (assistant administrative secretary), Nevick Denoon (assistant operations secretary), Kareem Paul and Dexter Harris (ordinary members) were also appointed to the new NFA executive.
Russell’s team replaced the outgoing executive which was headed by veteran sport administrator and businessman Anthony Harford.
Harford, however, did not stand for re-election.
Piper’s slate comprised of Derek Edwards, Triston Charles, Marvin Small, Hellwyn Junior Maxwell and Mark Benny.
The NFA’s AGM was originally scheduled to take place on September 2 but was postponed owing to the pandemic.
(NFA election results)
President: Ross Russell unopposed;
First vice-president: Anthony Wickham 10 votes, Tristan Charles 6 votes;
Second vice-president: Rodney Stowe 10 votes, Derek Edwards 6 votes;
Assistant secretary admin: Michael Thomas 10 votes, Hellwyn Maxwell 6 votes;
Assistant secretary operations: Nevick Denoon 10 votes, Marvin Small 6 votes;
Ordinary member one: Kareem Paul 10 votes, Mark Benny 6 votes;
Ordinary member two: Dexter Harris 11 votes, Russell Bristol 5 votes.
RELATED NEWS
Russell is new NFA president
T&T Guardian Reports.
Finally, former national goalkeeper Ross Russell has been legally elected as the next president of the Northern Football Association (NFA) of The T&T Football Association during a meeting on Monday night in which his slate won by a landslide to secure all seven positions that were at stake to manage the zone from 2021-2023.
Russell, the La Horquetta Rangers goalkeeper coach, who was first elected president of the zone at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) arranged by Anthony “Dada” Wickham and his supporting clubs at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s on Boxing Day. It was a reconvened meeting after the first meeting on December 12 failed to attract a quorum.
However, that gathering was deemed to be unconstitutional by the zone since it had no information about the meeting.
Nevertheless, Russell, 53, of Diego Martin, was elected unopposed in the presence of 16 clubs at the Zone's annual general meeting which took place at the St James Youth Centre, Fort George Road, St James.
A former title-winning coach in the T&T Pro League with Defence Force, Russell was due to face off with national football administrator Richard Piper for the position, but Piper, who worked with Harford for over a decade as operations manager, cited outside interference in the zone's elections and decided not to participate and withdrew his nomination Form.
Rayshaun Mars, the out-going general secretary of the NFA told Guardian Media Sports on Tuesday that Piper informed the executive off his decision to pull out of the race for the presidency on Sunday evening, and they were only informed of that decision via the third party during their preparations for Monday’s elections.
The meeting also had to address the issue of the nominations Forms which were not completed according to the requirements of the constitution.
However, Wickham made a motion to have the Forms accepted and he was successful with 14 clubs voting in supports of it and two abstaining.
According to Mars, "We stuck to the agenda everything went smoothly. For the incomplete nomination Forms. Wickham called me to resubmit corrected Forms, I informed him that the deadline had already passed and it's only on the 28th he can address the issue. A motion was put to the floor for the members to accept the corrected forms that needed a two-thirds majority vote to allow any changes on election day. At the end, 14 clubs voted for the motion and two abstained. We then proceeded with the elections."
He said, "At the end of the day, all that was said and done what was acknowledged was that the right thing "is the right thing. NFA's AGM and the election came off smoothly a new executive was installed and I want to take this time to congratulate Ross and his BoM and wish them success in their future endeavours in the Zone."
Akel Baig, a former player with Morvant Caledonia United, will replace Mars as the zone's new general secretary.
As promised, Robert Hadad, chairman of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) Normalisation Committee (NC) provided neutral observers for the meeting with Secondary Schools Football League general secretary Azaad Mohammed Khan, who served as the returning officer, with support from chairman of the SSFL East Zone, Merrere Gonzales and former football official and T&T Football Referees Association vice-president Osmond Downer.
THE 2021-23 NFA EXECUTIVE
President: Ross Russell unopposed
First vice-president
Anthony Wickham 10 votes, Tristan Charles 6 votes
Second vice-president
Rodney Stowe 10 votes, Derek Edwards 6 votes
Assistant secretary administration
Michael Thomas 10 votes, Hellwyn Maxwell 6 votes
Assistant secretary operations
Nevick Denoon 10 votes, Marvin Small 6 votes
Ordinary Member 1
Kareem Paul 10 votes, Mark Benny 6 votes
Ordinary Member 2
Dexter Harris 11 votes, Russell Bristol 5 votes.
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Both good people - every time I talked to Ross he was about the potential for local football, especially on the Diego Martin Rec grounds. He was always inspiring with his vision of the future of football there.
Richard has the experience at all levels & probablt better suited
Ross seems like a respectable and genuine individual. Just have to watch out for who is behind the scenes with him calling the shots .
Ross Russell may be the bigger name but in terms of the role at stake, Richard Piper is def. more qualified with a wealth of experience as a referee, manager and administrator
Hugely favorable odds for these comments to be revisited. Just a matter of when and how often, but no doubt as to if.
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Both good people - every time I talked to Ross he was about the potential for local football, especially on the Diego Martin Rec grounds. He was always inspiring with his vision of the future of football there.
Richard has the experience at all levels & probablt better suited
Ross seems like a respectable and genuine individual. Just have to watch out for who is behind the scenes with him calling the shots .
Ross Russell may be the bigger name but in terms of the role at stake, Richard Piper is def. more qualified with a wealth of experience as a referee, manager and administrator
Hugely favorable odds for these comments to be revisited. Just a matter of when and how often, but no doubt as to if.
Meaning?
Nothing against Ross Russell
The ones behind him are the ones to worry about
So if you wanna say sthg, better direct than what you trying to do
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Both good people - every time I talked to Ross he was about the potential for local football, especially on the Diego Martin Rec grounds. He was always inspiring with his vision of the future of football there.
Richard has the experience at all levels & probablt better suited
Ross seems like a respectable and genuine individual. Just have to watch out for who is behind the scenes with him calling the shots .
Ross Russell may be the bigger name but in terms of the role at stake, Richard Piper is def. more qualified with a wealth of experience as a referee, manager and administrator
Hugely favorable odds for these comments to be revisited. Just a matter of when and how often, but no doubt as to if.
Meaning?
Nothing against Ross Russell
The ones behind him are the ones to worry about
So if you wanna say sthg, better direct than what you trying to do
Why the defensive response? May be wise to read my comment again without me responding substantively. And re-read your own post to which I was responding.
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Disappointed on the lack of procedural clarity - it would have been better to have a proper vote, but I'm happy and excited to see what Ross can do.
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Harford congratulates Russell.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Former president of the Northern Football Association (NFA) Anthony Harford has extended congratulations to the newly elected executive of the NFA on Thursday.
Harford, the immediate Past president wrote: "On behalf of the beaten executive at the NFA AGM elections, held on Monday 28th December, we wish to extend congratulations to the newly installed executive headed by President Ross Russell abundant success in their undertakings from 2021 for a four year period. It has been a pleasure to serve the 19 member clubs and have no doubt the zone will expand in the future and create some stellar players. It has been a previlege to serve the community of Port of Spain and envrons, which we thoroughly enjoyed."
The annual general meeting (AGM) and election of the new exective was marred with Ross Russell, A former title-winning coach in the T&T Pro League with Defence Force, being elected on December 28 at a reconvened Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) arranged by Anthony “Dada” Wickham and his supporting clubs at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s on Boxing Day. However, that gathering was deemed to be unconstitutional by the zone since it had no information about the meeting.
However, on Monday, the former national goalkeeper Ross Russell was legally elected as the next president of the NFA unopposed as his seven-member slate won by a landslide to manage the zone from 2021-2023.
NFA FORMER EXECUTIVE
Tony Harford- Immediate Past President.
Rayshawn Mars- Fmr Hon Secretary.
Glenford Waines – Past President.
Ruthvin Charles- Fmr. Vice President (post Honours)
Tony Richardson- Asst. Secretary.
Marvin Small- Management Member
Peter Rampersad- Management member..
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New NFA executive faces $250,000 overdraft.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
A bank overdraft, in excess of $250, 000 has been gaining the attention of the new Northern Football Association (NFA) executive, being led by former national goalkeeper and coach Ross Russell.
Russell who admitted that his first order of business in his new capacity will be to revive a Youth League which has been inactive for the past years, refused to comment, saying he was not in a position to say anything on the matter just yet, but will deal with it when information comes before them.
"We have to get the books in order, we have to receive the hand-over properly, but we are not in a position to say anything about how the account is, as we are now attempting to do an audit, so saying something now will be a bit too rushed because these things are serious," Russell told Guardian Media Sports on Thursday.
Russell's team recently hired an accountant to inspect the books, a few days before an executive meeting is held on January 14, at which time a decision will be taken on how they intend to investigate the matter.
Guardian Media Sports undertsands that the clubs left the meeting dissatisfied after the presentation of the audited accounts was made on December 28, the day the long-awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections of the new executive were held, with the overdraft compounding an already aggravated situation caused by the previous administration's inability to pay out prize monies for the past two years.
Russell, 53, a former Defence Force standout, did not want to reveal who the accountant is, but whoever it is, will have an opening task of delivering news about the association's accounts, amid scrutiny by clubs and other officials.
Russell, a Diego Martin native said, "We as a Board can't truthfully say if it's an overdraft or if it is a plus, so we don't really want to talk pertaining to the account right now. We got a report and we will be looking into the report, and when we get a synopsis of the entire thing we will make a press release and you will get the information you are asking for."
Previous president Anthony Harford, the long-serving sports administrator, when contacted said he will meet with the executive on Monday to iron out their concerns.
However, the membership opted to accept it, only on the basis that an accountant would explain what it meant at a later time, thereby giving the knowledge to make a firm decision, said Derek Edwards, the Petit Valley Diego Martin United manager explained.
Russell was elected unopposed after Richard Piper, the other candidate, who had filed nomination papers opted before the meeting. The other members of his slate, however, Anthony 'Dada' Wickham and Rodney Stowe (vice presidents), Michael Thomas and Nevick Denoon (assistant secretaries), and the pair of Dexter Harris and Kareem Paul as the ordinary members.
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Alleged gun-toting CFA member stops board meeting.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Central Football Association (CFA) on Monday, that was aimed at moving a vote of no-confidence in president Shymdeo Gosine, ended abruptly when a member, it was reported displayed a fit of rage and whipped out something resembling a gun that sent members scampering.
Guardian Media Sports was told that the incident is certain to lead to an arrest after police officers were called in and the suspect interviewed. Soon after, voice recordings of the incident began circulating among the football fraternity.
When contacted on Wednesday by Guardian Media Sports, assistant secretary Keisha Noel shared that she was scared for her life.
"While we were sitting in the meeting at approximately after 8 pm, myself, Wendell Collymore, Allan Logan, and David Ramkhelawan entered the room to begin the meeting, but before that, we were getting ready to call Wilfred Edwards, who was to join the meeting via teleconferencing. It was while doing that, the suspect (name called) decided to come in and take pictures.
"Mr Collymore and Logan proceeded to tell him he cannot take the pictures. But because of how they are, I took up my things and proceeded to the door because I did not want to be apart of any bacchanal."
According to Noel: "So, they told him he couldn't take pictures, the suspect put the camera down and pulled out a gun and when I said you pulling out a gun on us, he put it back into his pocket. Then he walked out the door, came back in, and said 'if anybody touches me, I will react accordingly'. So, I went outside, called the police and never returned to the meeting again."
The event was a culmination of previous threats and abuse that Noel said she had been subjected to since her nomination as assistant secretary, a position she picked up when general secretary Clynt Taylor was removed last year.
Guardian Media Sports understand that from the seven-man board, five members attended the meeting ready to express their dissatisfaction with the president and his leadership style. Those present were Logan, Noel, Ramkhelawan, Collymore and Edwards, all of whom signed documents regarding the 'no-confidence motion' in the president.
Gosine and Gregory Mc Sween, also attended the meeting but refused to sign the document.
Noel said under Gosine, key decisions were made without consultation with the board, while it is alleged that monies from the CFA's account were used for non-related football matters, among other concerns.
She also believes the appointment of general secretary Christopher Regis, who also attended the meeting, was done illegally and the invitation of the alleged 'gun-toting' suspect at the board meeting, although he is not a board member was a violation of the constitution by the president.
Noel said: "According to the constitution, if the president wanted to bring someone as a third-party to the meeting, he had to get approval from all the board members and that was not done. He never notified the board members that he was bringing somebody, of which he would have had to give advanced notice, and he never did that."
Meanwhile, Gosine, when contacted yesterday denied that anyone pulled out a gun at the meeting and claimed that the board, which is fractionated, has tried illegally to remove him as president.
"Clynt Taylor who used to work at Doc's Engineering was the general secretary employed by me. I allowed him to do certain things so when he brought people to me and said let's put these people on the board, I said no problem because my intention is not the board, but to get football running in the best possible manner.
"However, it turned out that there were ulterior motives involved. The situation was that they were looking at votes to get into the TTFA and that started to create a fraction in the CFA, because different people were leaning in different directions."
He added: "However, the fraction that had an allegiance to Taylor, called this meeting to remove the then president. What they did was they sent a letter with names to me, claiming that these people would have signed it. However, members would have signed something in the past and they copied it on to this letter and said that all these people could attest to this and that, which was the reason for the meeting. So, I got into contact with each individual and I knew who was a part of the meeting, who wasn't part of the meeting and who did not sign that letter. And immediately I realised it was a fraudulent letter."
The CFA boss was set to lodge a report to the Fraud Squad on the matter yesterday.
He lashed out at members on Monday for refusing to allow Regis, the current general secretary into the meeting. He said when Taylor was general secretary he was allowed to enter board meetings of the CFA.
Noel said she will await confirmation from board members on when the meeting will reconvene but made it clear, she will change the format of the meeting to a virtual one, to ensure the personal safety of members.
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Really, this is what our football come too?
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Interview with Northern FA President Ross Russell and Southern FA President Richard Quan Chan
https://www.youtube.com/v/yK8k9ak0Om4
Interview with Eastern Counties Football Union Vice President Ian Pritchard and Eastern FA President Kieron Edwards
https://www.youtube.com/v/yDcaOO5l168
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Alleged gun-toting CFA member stops board meeting.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Central Football Association (CFA) on Monday, that was aimed at moving a vote of no-confidence in president Shymdeo Gosine, ended abruptly when a member, it was reported displayed a fit of rage and whipped out something resembling a gun that sent members scampering.
Guardian Media Sports was told that the incident is certain to lead to an arrest after police officers were called in and the suspect interviewed. Soon after, voice recordings of the incident began circulating among the football fraternity.
When contacted on Wednesday by Guardian Media Sports, assistant secretary Keisha Noel shared that she was scared for her life.
"While we were sitting in the meeting at approximately after 8 pm, myself, Wendell Collymore, Allan Logan, and David Ramkhelawan entered the room to begin the meeting, but before that, we were getting ready to call Wilfred Edwards, who was to join the meeting via teleconferencing. It was while doing that, the suspect (name called) decided to come in and take pictures.
"Mr Collymore and Logan proceeded to tell him he cannot take the pictures. But because of how they are, I took up my things and proceeded to the door because I did not want to be apart of any bacchanal."
According to Noel: "So, they told him he couldn't take pictures, the suspect put the camera down and pulled out a gun and when I said you pulling out a gun on us, he put it back into his pocket. Then he walked out the door, came back in, and said 'if anybody touches me, I will react accordingly'. So, I went outside, called the police and never returned to the meeting again."
The event was a culmination of previous threats and abuse that Noel said she had been subjected to since her nomination as assistant secretary, a position she picked up when general secretary Clynt Taylor was removed last year.
Guardian Media Sports understand that from the seven-man board, five members attended the meeting ready to express their dissatisfaction with the president and his leadership style. Those present were Logan, Noel, Ramkhelawan, Collymore and Edwards, all of whom signed documents regarding the 'no-confidence motion' in the president.
Gosine and Gregory Mc Sween, also attended the meeting but refused to sign the document.
Noel said under Gosine, key decisions were made without consultation with the board, while it is alleged that monies from the CFA's account were used for non-related football matters, among other concerns.
She also believes the appointment of general secretary Christopher Regis, who also attended the meeting, was done illegally and the invitation of the alleged 'gun-toting' suspect at the board meeting, although he is not a board member was a violation of the constitution by the president.
Noel said: "According to the constitution, if the president wanted to bring someone as a third-party to the meeting, he had to get approval from all the board members and that was not done. He never notified the board members that he was bringing somebody, of which he would have had to give advanced notice, and he never did that."
Meanwhile, Gosine, when contacted yesterday denied that anyone pulled out a gun at the meeting and claimed that the board, which is fractionated, has tried illegally to remove him as president.
"Clynt Taylor who used to work at Doc's Engineering was the general secretary employed by me. I allowed him to do certain things so when he brought people to me and said let's put these people on the board, I said no problem because my intention is not the board, but to get football running in the best possible manner.
"However, it turned out that there were ulterior motives involved. The situation was that they were looking at votes to get into the TTFA and that started to create a fraction in the CFA, because different people were leaning in different directions."
He added: "However, the fraction that had an allegiance to Taylor, called this meeting to remove the then president. What they did was they sent a letter with names to me, claiming that these people would have signed it. However, members would have signed something in the past and they copied it on to this letter and said that all these people could attest to this and that, which was the reason for the meeting. So, I got into contact with each individual and I knew who was a part of the meeting, who wasn't part of the meeting and who did not sign that letter. And immediately I realised it was a fraudulent letter."
The CFA boss was set to lodge a report to the Fraud Squad on the matter yesterday.
He lashed out at members on Monday for refusing to allow Regis, the current general secretary into the meeting. He said when Taylor was general secretary he was allowed to enter board meetings of the CFA.
Noel said she will await confirmation from board members on when the meeting will reconvene but made it clear, she will change the format of the meeting to a virtual one, to ensure the personal safety of members.
What ever came of this incident??
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Ascension sponsors ‘Eastern’ football
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
IAN PRITCHARD is the new president of the Eastern Counties Football Union, the region governing football in Valencia, Sangre Grande, Toco, Manzanilla, Mayaro and such.
New president Pritchard said among his goals were youth development and the resurgence of ECFU football; forging partnerships and eventually having ECFU football become self-sufficient.
Speaking with moderator Kieron Edwards on the latest edition of the Ascension Football Show, new ECFU president Pritchard announced a partnership with Richard Ferguson’s Ascension Football. Ferguson is a former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) presidential candidate and boss of professional club La Horquetta Rangers.
Pritchard says Ferguson’s organisation has seen the vision of the Eastern Counties, bought into the plans for Eastern Counties football, and has decided to support the resurgence of the game in the region by partnering with the Eastern Counties in the first few years of their competition.
“The Ascension Football Tournament has already started in assisting the clubs in their preparation for their return to play,” Pritchard explained. “The clubs can now have balls, cones, nets for their grounds, corner flags, so when we return to play, everything will be as professionally organised as we would likely see in the Eastern Counties.”
Pritchard added: “We have also had the commitment from the Ascension Football Tournament that they will assist in the sponsorship of prize money for our tournament and referees’ fees.”
With on-field football at a halt due to Covid-19 restrictions, the ECFU joined other associations which have recently voted in new executives via a virtual election. The TT Super League elected former national captain Clayton Morris as its president in this manner. The Northern Football Association elected former national goalkeeper Ross Russell. The Secondary Schools Football League voted in former FIFA referee Merere Gonzales, while long-serving administrator Everton Alfred was elected head of the Tobago Football Association.
On July 5, the ECFU elected Pritchard (Tamana/Cumuto) to head an executive also containing first vice-president Clem “Scotty” Reyes (Sangre Grande), second vice-president Matthew Williams (Valencia), assistant-secretary Kern Pierre (Vega De Oropouche), assistant-secretary Owen Khan (Tamana), Andre Boodoo (Grande Reviere) and former footballer Glen Rampersad (Biche).
“One of the things that we skilfully did putting together the new executive, is to try as much as possible to have persons who are involved in various communities throughout the ECFU as members of the executive,” Pritchard said.
He explained there was great anticipation and eagerness by clubs to hold the AGM, which was originally due in 2019 and further postponed from May 2020, due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
“We had 14 clubs in attendance at the AGM,” Pritchard said. “It is the biggest turn-out in terms of members present at an AGM for many, many years.
“I think the desire and the passions of the clubs to see the resurgence in the ECFU was so great that everyone was on board in terms of that AGM.”
The new ECFU executive subsequently appointed Mayaro Youth Football Club manager Marvin Durham as the new general secretary.
“Marvin has been involved in football for many, many years,” stated Pritchard. “Because of that interest and that dynamism and that effervescent way that Marvin has in terms of putting his efforts towards football in the ECFU, he was unanimously elected by the executive to be the general secretary. There was absolutely no opposition to him by any member of the new executive.”
Eastern Counties has for several years been criticised at Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) AGMs for being one of the stagnant regions in local football, with intermittent or no formal competitions. However, Pritchard was complimentary of the former Sherwin Dyer-led executive, who he felt served under very trying financial circumstances.
“Kudos and thanks must be given to the outgoing executive, who would have held the ECFU up in difficult, trying times,” Pritchard declared. “They ensured that football was played in the ECFU as often as possible, even without funds many times.
“What could they have done better? I think a more ardent search for partnerships,” Pritchard said. “Developing the product was not sufficiently done so that we could have buy-in from potential partners for the ECFU.”
One of Pritchard’s critical goals is the return of youth football to the region, with every senior team also fielding a youth team.
“This coming season, even if we start off with three clubs, we will have a competition for that,” Pritchard said, while lamenting that Toco Secondary, North Eastern College and Mayaro Composite were no longer prominent among secondary school teams, because of lack of youth development in the region. Further, the one professional team in the region, North East Stars has relocated to the capital city and is now AC Port of Spain.
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Great news. ECFU needs a proper competition with some regularity
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Ascension sponsors ‘Eastern’ football
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
IAN PRITCHARD is the new president of the Eastern Counties Football Union, the region governing football in Valencia, Sangre Grande, Toco, Manzanilla, Mayaro and such.
New president Pritchard said among his goals were youth development and the resurgence of ECFU football; forging partnerships and eventually having ECFU football become self-sufficient.
Speaking with moderator Kieron Edwards on the latest edition of the Ascension Football Show, new ECFU president Pritchard announced a partnership with Richard Ferguson’s Ascension Football. Ferguson is a former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) presidential candidate and boss of professional club La Horquetta Rangers.
Pritchard says Ferguson’s organisation has seen the vision of the Eastern Counties, bought into the plans for Eastern Counties football, and has decided to support the resurgence of the game in the region by partnering with the Eastern Counties in the first few years of their competition.
This Ferguson is buying votes for next election a next A NEXT DICTATOR I BET YUH
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Ascension sponsors ‘Eastern’ football
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
IAN PRITCHARD is the new president of the Eastern Counties Football Union, the region governing football in Valencia, Sangre Grande, Toco, Manzanilla, Mayaro and such.
New president Pritchard said among his goals were youth development and the resurgence of ECFU football; forging partnerships and eventually having ECFU football become self-sufficient.
Speaking with moderator Kieron Edwards on the latest edition of the Ascension Football Show, new ECFU president Pritchard announced a partnership with Richard Ferguson’s Ascension Football. Ferguson is a former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) presidential candidate and boss of professional club La Horquetta Rangers.
Pritchard says Ferguson’s organisation has seen the vision of the Eastern Counties, bought into the plans for Eastern Counties football, and has decided to support the resurgence of the game in the region by partnering with the Eastern Counties in the first few years of their competition.
This Ferguson is buying votes for next election a next A NEXT DICTATOR I BET YUH
If memory serves me right he sounds like 1 of Jack Warner boys who got banned by FIFA in the 90's he was 1 of the smart 1's thou the money he stole he invested it unless it's someone else with the same name.
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CFA website to ensure clubs compliant
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
By January 2022, all clubs in the Central Football Association (CFA) are expected to be fully compliant, and their members fully vaccinated ahead of the start of football in July/August.
President Shymdeo Gosine has been leading this charge and on Monday, he issued an easier way for clubs to achieve this via an online website (cfatt.com) as a most effective means of club identification and compliance for central zone communities.
Gosine said his association intends to waive the fees for clubs owing monies to the CFA for registration in the past, as well as for other areas, to ensure that the objective of meeting FIFA's compliance initiative, will be achieved.
A release on Monday by the CFA said: "The Central Football Association (CFA) has implemented a website cfatt.com as a most effective means of club identification and compliance in the central zone communities.
"This is seen as necessary for both existing and prospective clubs to ensure transparency and legitimacy of club existence. In anticipation of a resumption of football in 2022, clubs are required to become fully compliant to avoid non-participation in upcoming competitions and activities."
According to the release also, the requirements shall be duly posted and clubs shall also have the option to seek clarification and support from the general secretary/secretariat of the CFA.
It said: "The general secretariat is therefore seeking to assist as far as possible in implementing this initiative's successful outcome."
Only recently the CFA appointed veteran football administrator Lennox Sirjuesingh as a replacement for Christopher Regis as the general secretary. And Monday, Sirjuesingh explained that due to the (COVID-19) pandemic, the CFA will be proactive to develop an online platform to assist club administrators, as well as the CFA, in the management of central football.
Gosine called on all club members to get vaccinated if they want football to take place.
"This is the only way football will go on as expected," Gosine explained.
In addition to the CFA League, Gosine will also seek to have a Youth League and a Women's League, this year.
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A website is promising!
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Central Zone moves to help clubs
T&T Express
Central Football Association (CFA) general secretary Lennox Sirjuesingh is calling on clubs in the Central Zone to take advantage of the updated website www.cfatt.com to become compliant in line with the requirements set out by FIFA.
According to the CFA, the implementation of the website is seen as the most effective means of club identification and compliance in the central zone communities to ensure all clubs will be able to participate in zonal football.
“This is seen as necessary for both existing and prospective clubs to ensure transparency and legitimacy of club existence. In anticipation of a resumption of football in 2022, clubs are required to become fully compliant to avoid non-participation in upcoming competitions and activities,” the CFA said in a media release.
The requirements for compliance will be posted on the website and clubs will also have the option to seek clarification and support from the general secretary/secretariat of the CFA.
Sirjuesingh said that given the state of the pandemic and with no football being played, now is the ideal time for the clubs to get their house in order and that the CFA will do its part to facilitate the process.
He said that in a meeting on September 11, the general consensus was that clubs needed assistance to become compliant hence the reason for updating the website.
“So based on that, we are looking at how best we can help the clubs become compliant because without them we have nothing. While there was a website, we have updated it so clubs can get the on to it 24/7 and will be able to access and look at what they are short of and what assistance they need and we will be available to them on a one and one basis,” Sirjuesingh told the Express.
He also expressed the view that in the current pandemic situation, it is pro-active to develop an online platform to assist club administrators and the CFA in the management of Central Football.
He said while there is no set deadline, he is encouraging the clubs to use the time they have now to became compliant which is a FIFA requirement. Sirjuesingh also noted that acting TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed is supporting the CFA’s effort to help their clubs fall in line.
“The general secretariat is therefore seeking to assist as far as possible in implementing this initiative successful outcome,” the CFA added.
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Northern Football Association’s Akel Baig keen to help uplift T&T football.
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday).
AKEL Baig, general secretary of the Northern Football Association (NFA), is keen to play his part in the development and betterment of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
The 33-year-old Baig is part of the NFA administration, headed by former Defence Force and T&T goalkeeper Ross Russell.
The former Morvant/Caledonia AIA goalkeeper and youth team coach is currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in sports management at the UWI St Augustine campus.
However, his primary focus is the short-term, as well as long-term future of football, both at the NFA and TT level.
The affairs of the TT Football Association (TTFA) are currently run by a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, comprising chairman Robert Hadad, Judy Daniel, Nigel Romano and Marcus Gomez.
“We all know of the past issues with FIFA and going to court,” said Baig, during an interview last Thursday. “I think we need to know the position we’re at, look into it, analyse it and come with solutions at how we could go forward, step by step, in order to better the football.
“It makes no sense that we all have different ideas and everyone wants to fight for leadership. We, as a body, need to come together and take the (steps) seriously.”
At his age, players will either be still actively involved or considering post-retirement plans.
According to Baig, “I think I transitioned into that area, outside of coaching, because I have more love for administration and my passion is there. I feel more comfortable in administration. Also, (I can) help develop and further better football in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Asked if he misses the playing side of football, Baig replied, “I have (gotten over) playing football because I’ve already made the step from playing to actively participating in football as an administrator. My main function now is to develop myself, gain enough knowledge and experience so I can lead in management and administration.”
This is his first year as general secretary of the NFA, but he has experience in football administration, having been involved in other committees with various NFA-affiliated clubs.
How has he been coping, as an administrator, in these covid19 times? Baig responded, “It have a lot of work to be done in the NFA, outside of playing. My main involvement, currently, would be (for the clubs) to be compliant with the TTFA, so that when football is ready to restart, we are in a position in terms of (having) our books in order to ensure we can manage football on the field better.”
He said, “Everybody is on the same page. We are trying to work together to ensure that we can further develop the clubs in whatever area it may be. The support is there.”
Football, at the club level, has been on hold in T&T since the pandemic struck in March 2020.
According to Baig, “We’ve been planning. One of the major things is vaccination and being able to go according to the covid protocols, the government guidelines, that they would want us to be vaccinated to partake on the field.”
He added, “We are trying to work out ways, with other respective leagues, so we can ensure that when we plan, we wouldn’t clash with other leagues. At the same time, we want to try and solicit sponsorship.”
One person who has been a mentor, as far as administration is concerned, is former TTFA and current Caribbean Football Union (CFU) general secretary Camara David.
“He’s a friend of mine and also my lecturer (at UWI),” said Baig. “I share ideas with him, and he shares ideas with me.”
Any long-term plans in terms of administration?
“My plan, at an administrative level, is to develop a proper strategic plan for the NFA. This strategic plan would also be something that’s needed to help the administration be guided in its goals and objectives, and it will be able to have any configurations, if need, going forward.
“A strategic plan is something which is not there presently and, even at a TTFA level, is also needed. In youth football, development is needed. A lot of focus is needed to be placed in youth football.”
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Football stakeholders demand to play in 'safe zones'
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
Members of the group of Footballer stakeholders walked along Hart Street in Port-of-Spain in protest of not being allowed to play football. They want Government to allowed football to play in safe zones.
A more-than-scary statistic, which shows that more than 30,000 young people have lost their jobs due to the government's refusal to allow sport, as an industry to be played, has led to a group of concerned footballers to take to the streets of Port-of-Spain yesterday in a and show the disappointment via a silent protest, calling for football, in particular, to be played.
The group of football players, coaches and other officials wore red T-shirts with the words - 'Let football play in safe zones,' printed on them following the government's decision to shut down sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic almost two years ago.
Their walk, which began at the bottom of Henry Street, near the South Quay, and proceeded through the capital city, via Independence Square, up Frederick Street to Woodford Square, then down Abrecromby street towards the office of the Sports Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, whose Ministry of Sports and Community Development office is housed at Nicholas Tower on Independence Square, with an aimed at sending a message to her about the apparent unfair treatment being dished out to sports in general, and football in particular, as all other industries are allowed to 'vaccinate and operate' according to a call by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley a few months ago to the business community.
Michael De Four, Director of Football at central club Cunupia FC who was one of the organisers of the peaceful walk, said his team alone has lost three players due to the shut-down. He told Guardian Media Sports on Thursday: "Football in T&T should be an industry. I did some stats and there are about 30,000 people in T&T that play football at some sort of competitive level, separated by another 25,000, who use football as a recreational activity. The industry generates an estimated TT$800,000 in economic activity annually and that has been shut down. So you're talking about some 20,000 to 30,000 young people who are out of some form of income. We're saying that after an entity decided to follow Government's proposal to vaccinate to operate, we were denied and that was the catalyst that provoked us to come to this peaceful walk to do like the business community and make a statement without saying a word. We've lost three players, one to crime, he was not going to come back. We lost one to drugs, not the legal drugs but the illegal drugs, and we've lost another one who just doesn't want to play football again, and these are truly talented individuals. And that is just one team. We have over 120 competitive teams in Trinidad and Tobago," De Four explained.
When the march reached Abercromby street, heading southwards, police officers, both on foot patrol and in vehicles made their presence felt, by stopping some of the participants and fielding questions to the group about the event. However, the march was allowed to continue after De Four, the Cunupia football boss ease the concerns of the officers by ensuring them that the required numbers of 10 persons per groups were maintained during the march.
The Ministries of Health and Sports were singled out by the the football stakeholders, as well as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as the only ones with the power to affect change from the march, but following the presentation of the budget in October in which no additional funding was given to sports, De Four said he was neither confident that sports will return, disappointed that the ministry of sports could not put forward a case for sports to be returned to play, nor even certain that a case was made at all by the ministry for on-the-field sports to be returned.
Meanwhile, Randolph Boyce, the Central Soccer World coach echoed similar sentiments, saying there was not even an attempt to allow sports to be returned.
According to Boyce, they're not fighting against the health issues, but they want to know or ask if they can be given something in principle. "Give us something that we could work with on when sports would start back to play. There is the Pro League, there is the Super League, there are zones, there are football academies, so you can start at the highest level, where it will be trials and errors. And if you have to shut it down then we could understand that, but you're not starting it at all, so to us, there are no plans at all."
RELATED NEWS
Coach De Four: Footballers lost to crime, drugs amid sport shutdown.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).
LOCAL stakeholders said footballers have fallen by the wayside to crime and the next generation of talented T&T players at a disadvantage with football, and sport in general, being on the sidelines for almost two years.
Roughly 25 coaches, players, administrators and supporters of local football marched through Port of Spain on Thursday morning to not only resume football but sports.
The group walked along the Brian Lara Promenade, Frederick Street and also gathered by the Red House while following covid19 protocols.
More than an hour after the march began they ended their walk outside the Ministry of Sport and Community Development’s office at Nicholas Towers.
The protestors wore red t-shirts saying “Let Football Play in a Safe Zone.”
Among those who attended the protest were director and coach of Cunupia FC Michael De Four, Unified Football Coaches of T&T interim president Jefferson George, coach of Central Soccer World/Cunupia FC Randolph Boyce and All Blacks FC official Simon Francis.
De Four, speaking to the media outside the Red House, said, “Financially (we have been affected by no football), health-wise…I could give an example (that) we have lost three players. We lost one to crime, he is not going to come back if you understand what I mean. We have lost one to drugs, not the legal drugs, (but) the illegal drugs and we just lost one. He just don’t want to play football again. These were truly talented individuals and I am just one team. They have over 120 competitive teams in Trinidad.”
Francis also spoke about players turning to negative activities.
He said, “I represent grassroots football in T&T. Grassroots football is very important because it is community-based football. Imagine right now in my community of South Oropouche I can take my vaccination card, my son’s vaccination card (or) some of my players vaccination cards and go by a bar and have a drink, but I cannot under the present measures carry those footballers to train and play football and that in itself is fundamentally wrong.”
He added, “We have been down for about 19, 20 months and for 20 months now if we had up and coming Dwight Yorkes, Russell Latapys amongst us we could kiss that goodbye.
“Sports bring discipline…in South Oropouche I have been able to fight crime by young men training and playing football.”
A few sports, including golf, have been allowed during the covid19 pandemic but team sports and contact sports are still waiting.
The Government, however, did permit the national senior women’s football team to play two international friendlies against Panama at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, last month.
The protest followed Government’s decision to blank the Ascension League’s proposal to resume football.
On November 2, the Ascension League issued a statement to the Ministry of Health Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe, normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad and Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago chairman Douglas Camacho. It was signed by tournament director Kieron Edwards.
The proposal said all the players and coaches are vaccinated.
Three days later, Deyalsingh said permission to start the league cannot be granted at this time because of the delta variant.
Boyce is asking the Government to give sport a chance.
“There is the Pro League, Super League, zones, academies. Start at the highest level and if it have trial and error and you have to shut it down then we could understand that, but you are not starting at all. It means to us there are no policies, they put us in a corner…if you have to find a safe zone we are willing.”
A month ago, the Government allowed more businesses to open for vaccinated people called safe zones. They included gyms, cinemas and casinos.
George said the march was not only about football.
“The public must remember that is not just football, but it is sport in general that has been put on the shelf proverbially since last year…we know from research that engaging in sport is one way that we can keep our bodies healthy.”
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Gosine resigns as CFA president, Collymore takes over helm
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
Central Football Association (CFA) president Shymdeo Gosine has resigned, leaving the association's first vice president Wendell Collymore to assume the role of interim president.
His resignation comes after a long battle with his membership over his management of the embattled association. Following his resignation recently, Gosine told Guardian Media Sports that he also submitted a comprehensive report to the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, being led by businessman Robert Hadad explaining in full the reasons for his resignation.
He is now awaiting a response from the normalisation committee to see if the situation will be dealt with.
In the meantime, Gosine who took over the leadership of the CFA from long-serving member Bryan Layne on November 26, 2015, and was re-elected for another term in 2019, has made it clear 'he is done with that.'
Gosine's first foray in the position of leader of central football generated huge excitement with a prize structure that exceeded that of all other regional associations. He also charted a course for youth development in the zone for the first time and spearheaded the upgrade of an online website for the association.
However, members still grew disenchanted, particularly with the way the association's finances were being managed.
Three weeks ago, the Board of the CFA called a meeting to move a motion of no-confidence in Gosine which eventually led to his resignation. It was one of several meetings held by the board.
But according to Gosine on Monday: "All those meetings were illegal meetings. They have never really had a proper meeting but it reached a point that I said listen, I don't need this. When I got involved in this it was to help football to get along, to help central football and for no other reason, because I love football.
"As you very well know, I had a professional team so my goal was to see how I can help football in central and when this thing started happening, since the T&T Football Association election, I decided that this has become too much of a headache for me and I have my business to run. I don't have time for this.
"This every day hounding me down and sending me emails and asking for AGMs, and when I hold one, they want another one, I said enough is enough, and I did a comprehensive report and sent it to the normalisation committee, telling them the reason I have removed myself as the president of central football.
"I removed myself as president of central football and that's the end of that. There's no in-between anymore, 'I done with that.' Not even if they ask me to go back there, I will not go back."
Guardian Media Sports was told that Gosine was also suspended by the board two weeks ago after he refused to give an account on the financial affairs of the association.
Gosine believes his investment in the association, coupled with his desire to take football to another level in T&T was not reciprocated by his members, saying: " In 2019 they got together and said they were going to raise the funds to pay the prize money, but to this date, they have not raised a penny.
"It has been going on for a little bit. All the time, I was picking up the expenses. I mean, there are some funds that I loaned them and I took back, but the truth is that $700,000 to $800,000 of my money was spent in there to keep football and keep it going, but those guys are not interested in football."
Meanwhile, Collymore's tenure will last until the Board of the CFA schedules a general meeting and at that time, they will have the election of a new president. Collymore himself can be returned as president at the general meeting if he is voted in.
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Anthony "Dada" Wickham steps down as NFA vice-president.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Outspoken Northern Football Association (NFA) vice-president Anthony "Dada" Wickham has resigned from his position with the regional football body with immediate effect.
This was cited in a letter to current NFA president and former national goalkeeper Ross Russell in a later dated December 21, 2021.
Back on December 28, 2020, Russell was legally elected as the next president of the NFA of the T&T Football Association after his slate won by a landslide to secure all seven positions that were at stake to manage the zone from 2021-2023.
Russell, the La Horquetta Rangers goalkeeper coach, was first elected president of the zone at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) arranged by Wickham and his supporting clubs at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s on Boxing Day (2020). The meeting was a reconvened meeting after the first meeting on December 12 failed to attract a quorum.
However, that gathering was deemed to be unconstitutional by the zone since it had no information about the meeting.
Nevertheless, Russell, 53, of Diego Martin, was elected unopposed in the presence of 16 clubs at the zone's annual general meeting which took place at the St James Youth Centre, Fort George Road, St James.
A former title-winning coach in the T&T Pro League with Defence Force, Russell was due to face off with national football administrator Richard Piper for the position, but Piper, who worked with recently deceased Anthony Harford for over a decade as operations manager, cited outside interference in the zone's elections and decided not to participate and withdrew his nomination form.
The meeting also had to address the issue of the nominations forms which were not completed according to the requirements of the constitution.
However, Wickham made a motion to have the forms accepted and he was successful with 14 clubs voting in support of it and two abstaining.
In addition to Russell, Wickham, the founder and head coach of Trendsetter Hawks which has produced a number of talented national senior and youth players, was elected as first vice-president via 10 votes to six over Tristan Charles.
The other elected members who were elected included Rodney Stowe (second vice-president), Michael Thomas (assistant secretary administration), Nevick Denoon (assistant secretary operations) and Kareem Paul, and Dexter Harris as ordinary members
However, in an email to Russell last December, Wickham cited his reason for resigning his position as due to a number of hindrances negatively impacting the ability to perform his role to which he was elected.
The letter added: "To further clarify, it has been a little over a year now since the new executive was elected and to date, we have not been able to accomplish anything that was promised to the members of the NFA.
"To date, outstanding payments to referees, as well as the 2019 league winners remain unpaid.
"Additionally, we are yet to make any headway with regard to the NFA's bank account and other important information that is required to be handed over to the newly elected executive.
"On being elected, I took a stand to bring about change in the NFA, however, if circumstances beyond my control hinder me being able to bring about change, I see no reason to continue in the position of first vice-president.
"Additionally and subsequent to the Ministry of Sports indication to have contact sports resume exclusively for vaccinated athletes, I regard this as a deliberate infringement of human rights, and as such, further supports my decision to make my exit from the NFA.
"Consequently, I am left with no choice but to tender my resignation with immediate effect. I, therefore, take this opportunity to thank the voting membership for the opportunity afforded to me to serve them, and to wish the Executive all success in their way forward," Wickham ended.
Reached for comment, Russell said the members of the NFA executive were yet to meet to discuss the letter of resignation by Wickham and also chart a way forward.
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LOCAL FOOOOTBALL IS BACK ......................... :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel:
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Unknown vaccination statuses kick NFA, EFA out Inter-Zone tourney.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The Northern and Eastern Football Associations (NFA, EFA) have been thrown out of the T&T Football Association's (TTFA) Inter Zonal Football Tournament because of their unknown vaccination statuses.
Both zones are yet to play a match after just the first round of action when they were ousted.
The NFA, which is being coached by former national midfielder Travis Mulraine, was set to officially begin their campaign in the tournament with a match against the Eastern Counties Football Union (ECFU) at the Larry Gomes in Malabar, Arima. They were scheduled to play against the Tobago Football Association last Sunday in their opening game but that match was called off.
The EFA, on the other hand, missed a match against the Central FA on March 6 but is scheduled to be on a bye on Sunday.
A letter from the TTFA that was sent to the associations (EFA, NFA) on Wednesday said: "In an effort to finalise and adequately execute the Zonal Screening Teams (ZST) plan, in the interest of time and availability of stadia, we have unfortunately excluded the Eastern Football Association and Northern Football Association as they have not submitted any information regarding their players or vaccination status to date.
"Additionally, in accordance with our communication on 16 January, 2022 and the targeted kickoff of other club competitions such as Ascension Tournament, Tiger Tanks Men’s Under-20 tournament and NLCL (Next Level Consulting Limited) U-19 Community Cup, the fixtures of the ZSTs will be adjusted. The ZST plan was formulated to operate in the absence of club competitions and it was organised with the understanding from all zones that once club competitions resume, the players would return to their clubs."
Yesterday, Mulraine, fuming at the recent development, said: "The rules never declared a deadline for submitting players' vaccine card and ID, so by right the normal 48 hours should have been adhered to.
"Look at the last line, it specifically says U-20 team. Whether special consideration means senior players can play with them, I don't know. It seems the manager was of the opinion that worst-case scenario, players would have walked with their vaccine card to be able to play on Sunday, he miscalculated."
Mulraine noted that if they were told to submit their vaccination status by a certain date then that would have been done.
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By now it should be evident to all and sundry that T&T is a world leader in organization and administration.
As you were! Carry on.
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LOCAL FOOOOTBALL IS BACK ......................... :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel:
It's almost a full two months since you posted that and yet ...
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LOCAL FOOOOTBALL IS BACK ......................... :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :wavetowel:
It's almost a full two months since you posted that and yet ...
You know how things are in trinidad . we are slow to do things .. always a little bacchannal ... yuh would think during the time contact sport was banned they would be reorganizing etc
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Look, these club and players are at fault. They know the situation about players being vaxxed. Why the hell the clubs don’t encourage the players to get vaxxed to get vax.
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Ascension pumps $.5M into zonal football
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
After almost two years of no activities, there will be football in the six Regional Associations this year as the Ascension Football Tournament of T&T has agreed to invest an estimated $500,000 into zonal football. The funds will be given to the Eastern Football Association (EFA), Northern FA, Southern FA, Central FA, Tobago FA and the Eastern Counties Football Union (ECFU).
Tournament Director of the Ascension Football Tournament Keiron Edwards said the sponsorship is to ensure that the foundation of local football at the various zones is kept alive, particularly at zonal youth levels.
Ascension's sponsorship will see each zone receiving $60,000, plus an estimated $30,000 for referees and other operational costs. The zonal executive will decide on how the tournaments would be played, the number of teams and who will be the teams taking part.
The winning team in each zone will walk away with $30,000, with $20,000 for the runner-up and $10,000 for the team placing third.
"We have been meeting with the officials from the T&T Football Association, the Normalisation Committee, the Referees Department, etc to ensure that issues related to refereeing, being compliant and club licensing among others are worked out," Edwards said.
He noted also that he believes the football association can provide much-needed assistance concerning supplying equipment, as well as the starting up of youth leagues in the various zones. The Ascension tournament which started on March 25 of this year, has seen top-quality, competitive action among 10 teams at the Phase II recreation ground in La Horquetta, the Arima Velodrome and the Police Barracks in St James.
Edwards said the Ascension tournament was also expected to include activities for tier one and tier two teams as well but restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have ruled it out. He promises that next year and there will be activities for all tiers of football in T&T.
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Zonal football warming up...Ascension to sponsor Eastern Counties, North and Central
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)
EASTERN COUNTIES will kick off their 2022 football season on Octobers 9, while both the Northern and Central Football Association competitions are expected to start soon.
Six regional associations have benefited from sponsorship by the Ascension Football Tournament, which committed to investing in zonal football, as well as the Women League Football competition.
This comes after two years of inactivity due to the Covid-19 epidemic and Government only lifting subsequent playing restrictions in March this year.
Ascension’s sponsorship offer was made in July by Kieron Edwards, tournament director of the Ascension Tournament. It was noted that each zone would receive $60,000 in prize money, as well as an estimated $30,000 for referees’ fees and other operational costs. The prize structure is first—$30,000, second—20,000 and third—$10,000.
Already, the Southern FA, Eastern Football Association (EFA), Tobago FA and the women’s league are underway.
NFA finally agrees
However, the Sunday Express learned that the Northern Football Association had initially rejected the Ascension offer. However, NFA president Ross Russell, the former Defence Force and T&T goalkeeper, has suggested that whatever concerns they have had been alleviated.
“We supposed to start by the end of the month (September),” Russell informed, suggesting that the NFA needed solid confirmation from Ascension before committing to the season.
“We have it in writing,” Russell added. “We having a competition via them (Ascension) because they say that they will sponsor the league.”
NFA secretary Akel Baig also suggested that the start has been hampered by the lack of grounds and also by community issues, with NFA teams coming from several crime hot spots.
“It’s tough, with a couple of little things, such as home grounds and the crime issue in certain areas, such as with Laventille United and (the dangers of) players moving from Belmont into Laventille and Patna Village. It’s a lot of little issues.”
Eastern Counties set to start
Meanwhile, Eastern Counties football was due to begin this weekend, but has been pushed back to October 9. Newly-elected ECFU president Ian Pritchard acknowledged the late start and expects his competition to run all the way to January 2023.
“We were supposed to start on Sunday, (today), but we have been pushed back until the ninth of October,” Pritchard announced.
The Eastern Counties competition will see 13 teams divided into two groups, playing home and away matches across areas such as Mayaro, Sangre Grande, Mafeking, Sangre Chicito, North East Coast, Tamara, Valarie Hill, Niche, Manzanilla, Toco and so on.
Pritchard explained the late start as due to not wanting to disrupt traditional minor leagues that had started, while the ECFU were still working out their funding issues.
“We didn’t want to compete with any league because the same footballers that play in the minor league play in the ECFU (competition), Pritchard explained. “There is competition for grounds as well,” he added.
“We had the Sweet 16 which completed in August. Then we have the Anton Wolfe Sweet 16 that is going on and we also have the Mayaro Football League that starts soon. So, we competing for grounds also.”
Pritchard stated further: “As the national organisation responsible for football in the region, we wanted to give players the best opportunity to play football. We did not know when we would have started because football had not been playing before. So, instead of competing, we collaborated, by allowing these leagues that had their dates set before, to proceed. We made the compromise.”
Randolph Boyce has taken over as CFA president from Doc Engineering boss Shymdeo Gosein. Boyce also expects Central football, which caters for clubs in areas such as Caroni, Chaguanas, and environs to start soon, but does not yet have a kick-off date.
“We are having a competition,” Boyce replied confidently, “We are submitting some documents to the TTFA (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) and when they get that, they will be able to give us a start date.”
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Guerra bangs in beavertrick in EFA Premier.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Former USA-based T&T international Ataulla Guerra registered a beaver trick as La Horquetta XF mauled Barataria Ball Players 11-0 in the second match of an Ascension-sponsored Eastern Football Association (EFA) Premier Division Zonal League double-header at the Maloney Recreation Ground, Maloney on Sunday.
Jamal Creighton helped himself to two goals while Kadeem Corbin, Isaiah Lee, Tyrone Charles, Isaiah Garcia, and Caleb Sturge chipped in with one each for La Horquetta in the one-sided contest against Barataria Ball Players to move to nine points in six matches, nine adrift of leaders Malabar FC who suffered a second loss on the season, this time by default after they arrived late for their match against CG Poseidon at D’Abadie Recreation Ground.
Also on D’Abadie, SKHY FC won by default as well after scheduled opponents Creek FC did not have enough players to start their match at the set time.
In Sunday’s other match, Keron Clarke scored two, and Saleem Henry, and Sean Bonval the others for Maloney FC to beat Oropune FC 4-0 to share the second spot with CG Poseidon on 13 points from six matches each, two behind Bon Air FC.
Results - Sunday:
Maloney FC 4 (Keron Clarke 2, Saleem Henry, Sean Bonval) vs Oropune FC 0
La Horquetta XF 11 (Ataulla Guerra 4, Jamal Creighton 2, Kadeem Corbin, Isaiah Lee, Tyrone Charles, Isaiah Garcia, Caleb Sturge) vs Barataria Ball Players 0
CG Poseidon 3 vs Malabar FC 0 - by default
SHKY FC 3 vs Creek FC 0 - by default
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Malabar FC 8 6 0 2 34 16 18
Bon Air FC 6 5 0 1 34 10 15
Maloney Eagles FC 6 4 1 1 28 10 13
CG Poseidon 6 4 1 1 19 15 13
Terminix Lighting 8 3 1 4 35 26 10
La Horquetta XF 5 3 0 3 26 15 9
SKHY FC 7 3 0 4 16 13 9
Oropune FC 7 2 2 3 14 23 8
Creek FC 8 2 1 5 10 45 4
Barataria Ball Players 7 0 0 7 3 46 0
Upcoming matches: Sunday, October 2:
Maloney FC vs Barataria Ball Players @ Maloney Rec. Grd, 7 pm
La Horquetta XF vs Malabar FC @ D’Abadie Rec. Grd, 6 pm
CG Poseidon vs Bon Air FC @ Bon Air Rec. Grd, 6 pm
SKHY FC vs Oropune FC @ Maloney Rec. Grd, 5 pm
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Police, Misc Laventille in winners' row in North Zone openers
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday)
KEVIN McNEIL, Dishon Awai and Ryan Isaac were all on target as Miscellaneous Laventille United cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Football Factory in the opening round of the Northern Football Association (NFA) Premier Division, on Sunday.
At St Mary's College Ground, St Clair, McNeil, a former San Juan North Secondary stand-out attacker bagged a brace, while Awai and Issac scored one item each to guide their team to an early Group D lead, ahead of Seekers FC on goal-difference.
There are four groups being contested with four teams in Group A and D and five in B and C. The top two teams will advance out of their groups into the quarter-final stage.
On Friday, Seekers FC defeated Patna FC 2-1, with Akeel Superville scoring an 81st minute winner. Nicholas Roach put Seekers before the half, before Kyle Jones levelled the scores in the 54th minute.
Also on Friday, Group A got underway with Abraham Livingston scoring a pair and O'Neal Vasquez, Khalid King and Josiah Cox all scoring one each as RSSR cruised to a 5-1 over Paramin Scholars. Kyle Jones scored for the losing team.
Police also won handsomely at the Police Barracks, St James, on Sunday, shooting to the helm of Group B, with a 4-0 win over Cultural Roots. Kurdell Brathwaite, Kadeem Boyce, Josiah Wilson and Jaden Moore were all on target.
Also in Group B, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United defeated AC Port of Spain via goals from Brandon Joseph and Jabarry Henry top join Police on three points.
On Saturday, Group C's St Francois Nationals and Guerreros played to a goalless draw.
Second round matches will be played this weekend. This season is the NFA's first since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Prizes on offer include $2,000 for group winners, $1,500 for runners-up, $1,000 for third place and $800 for fourth place.
The overall winners will take home $19,000, with $8,000 on offer for second-place finishers.
Quarter-final victors will also earn $2,000.
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A website is promising!
If you wondered, the website is still totally incomplete. Not even got the executive up on the pages.
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Palo Seco Trippy tops Point Ligoure United to qualify for CFL quarters.
By Rachael Thompson-King (T&T Guardian).
Palo Seco Trippy Football Club (FC) had three different players hitting the target in its lopsided 3-0 victory over Point Ligoure United in the Deportivo Point Fortin (PF) Community Football League (CFL) on Tuesday night at La Brea grounds.
Kyron Williams, Jeremy Carter and Tyrese Reefer each scored a goal to help Palo Seco Trippy win and move to top of Group Diamonds standings with seven points from two wins and a draw. The win also means that it has cemented it spot in next week’s quarterfinals. Nathaniel Garcia of Palo Seco Trippy was named the “Man of the Match” (MOTM).
Unfortunately for Point Ligoure, the loss means that it remains at the bottom of the three-team table with one point eliminating any chance of moving on in the southern 12-team competition.
Sporting Club Fyzabad, with one match outstanding, will be the other team progressing from the group with five points from three matches (a win and two draws). Fyzabad will meet Palo Seco Trippy tomorrow in their final preliminary round match at a venue to be announced.
In the other match earlier Tuesday, Egypt United earned its first point of the competition holding Erin Boarder Players to a 2-2 draw. However, it was not enough to lift Egypt from the bottom of Group Hearts in its final league match.
Dval Moore scored a double for Egypt while Border Players’ two goals came from eventual MOTM award recipient, Gesiah Bishop.
The Erin team will advance to the quarterfinals as the second-best team in the group, regardless of the result in the final match of the regular season also on Friday against unbeaten Guapo Uprising Youths.
On Monday, teams in Group Clubs and Spades were in action.
New Village FC topped the previously undefeated Lakeview United, 2-0, to head Group Spades going into the quarterfinals. Goals came from Kemuel Farrell and Terrell Abraham in a match where their teammate Jules Lee was named the top player of the affair.
Despite the loss, Lakeview will also move on to the next round with seven points from two wins and a draw.
In the second match, the leader of Group Clubs La Brea All Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Cedros Pirates, who had Kyle Vialva emerging as the top player of the match.
Rehad Moodie was on target for the Pirates while league leading scorer Shaquille John with six goals in three matches, netted the lone item for the group’s leader La Brea. Both teams will progress to the quartefinals after the final round of matches on Saturday, also at a venue to be announced.
Results
Tuesday (La Brea grounds)
• ↓Erin Boarder Players 2 (Gesiah Bishop 2) vs Egypt United 2 (Dval Moore 2). MOTM- Gesiah Bishop (Erin Boarder)
• ↓Palo Seco Trippy FC 3 (Kyron Williams, Jeremy Carter, Tyrese Reefer) vs Point Ligoure United 0. MOTM - Nathaniel Garcia (Palo Seco Trippy)
Monday (La Brea grounds)
• ↓New Village FC 2 (Kemuel Farrell, Terrell Abraham) vs Lakeview United 0. MOTM - Jules Lee (New Village)
• ↓Cedros Pirates 1 (Rehad Moodie) vs La Brea All Stars 1 (Shaquille John). MOTM - Kyle Vialva (Cedros Pirates)
Saturday (Fullerton grounds)
• ↓Point Ligoure United 1 (Jamille Boatswain) vs Sporting Club Fyzabad 1 (Dantye Gilbert). MOTM - Brent Plenty (Point Ligoure)
• ↓Cedros Pirates 3 (Rehad Moodie 2, Kyle Moodie) vs Fanny Village United 1 (Reasean Paul). MOTM - Rehad Moodie (Cedros)
Friday (Bonasse Grounds)
• ↓Guapo Uprising 7 (Rondel Phillip 2, Christon Figaro 2, Akeel Vesprey, Daniel Diaz, Justin Cornwall) vs Egypt United 0. MOTM - C Fifgaro (Guapo)
• ↓Lakeview United 1 (Chris Collins) vs Mahaica FC 0. MOTM - C Collins (Lakeview)
Matches
Friday
• ↓Palo Seco Trippy FC vs Sporting Club Fyzabad, 6 pm
• ↓Erin Border Players vs Guapo Uprising Youths, 8 pm
Saturday
• ↓La Brea All Stars vs Fanny Village United, 6 pm
• ↓New Village FC vs Mahaica FC, 8 pm
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Maloney edges La Horquetta on penalties in EFA kayo final.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Maloney Eagles FC captured the Ascension Eastern Football Association (EFA) Premier Division $10,000 winner-take-all knockout crown after they overcame league champions La Horquetta XF 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw in regulation time at the Phase II La Horquetta Recreation Ground, La Horquetta on Sunday.
Former national player Nathan Lewis stunned the host when he fired Maloney ahead as early as the second minute, but Jamal Creighton hit back for La Horquetta in the 15th minute before another ex-national player Ataulla Guerra put the host ahead for the first in the 34th minute which they held until the half-time interval.
Within 13 minutes of the restart, Saleem Henry got Maloney back on level terms at 2-2 and despite the best efforts of both teams the match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation time, and in the shoot-out, Maloney held their nerves to come away with the victory, making amends for their runner-up finish in the league.
For Maloney, Henry, Joshua Alexander, Keron Clarke and Lewis all scored their attempts with Sean Bonval the lone player to miss while Creighton, Guerra and Tyrone Charles converted their attempts for La Horquetta with failed attempts coming from Aikim Andrews and Isaiah Lee.
In the semifinals a week earlier at the Maloney Recreation Ground, Maloney trashed Malabar FC 7-0 with Daniel Warner scoring a hattrick in the 29th, 31st, and 32nd minutes while Alexander, Bonval, Keston Williams, and Jadel Carter added one each.
In the second semifinal, La Horquetta XF twice came from behind to defeat Terminix Lighting 3-2 in their semifinal at the same venue on Wednesday.
For Terminix Lighting, national youth team striker Real Gill opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but the short-handed La Horquetta who only fielded 12 men for the contest drew level seven minutes later through Guerra, only for Leonardo Da Costa to restore Terminix Lighting’s lead in the 42nd minute for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, Lee got La Horquetta on level terms for the second time in the contest before Guerra fired in the decisive item, his second of the match on the hour mark to book his teams’ place in Sunday’s final.
Last month, La Horquetta defeated Maloney Eagles FC 3-0 to claim the $25,000 league top prize ahead with 21 points from nine matches while Maloney finished in the second spot, two points behind the winners for $15,000, with Bon Air FC securing the $10,000 for third ahead of Malabar FC on goal-difference after both teams ended with 18 points each.
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Maloney edges La Horquetta on penalties in EFA kayo final.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Maloney Eagles FC captured the Ascension Eastern Football Association (EFA) Premier Division $10,000 winner-take-all knockout crown after they overcame league champions La Horquetta XF 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw in regulation time at the Phase II La Horquetta Recreation Ground, La Horquetta on Sunday.
Former national player Nathan Lewis stunned the host when he fired Maloney ahead as early as the second minute, but Jamal Creighton hit back for La Horquetta in the 15th minute before another ex-national player Ataulla Guerra put the host ahead for the first in the 34th minute which they held until the half-time interval.
Within 13 minutes of the restart, Saleem Henry got Maloney back on level terms at 2-2 and despite the best efforts of both teams the match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation time, and in the shoot-out, Maloney held their nerves to come away with the victory, making amends for their runner-up finish in the league.
For Maloney, Henry, Joshua Alexander, Keron Clarke and Lewis all scored their attempts with Sean Bonval the lone player to miss while Creighton, Guerra and Tyrone Charles converted their attempts for La Horquetta with failed attempts coming from Aikim Andrews and Isaiah Lee.
In the semifinals a week earlier at the Maloney Recreation Ground, Maloney trashed Malabar FC 7-0 with Daniel Warner scoring a hattrick in the 29th, 31st, and 32nd minutes while Alexander, Bonval, Keston Williams, and Jadel Carter added one each.
In the second semifinal, La Horquetta XF twice came from behind to defeat Terminix Lighting 3-2 in their semifinal at the same venue on Wednesday.
For Terminix Lighting, national youth team striker Real Gill opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but the short-handed La Horquetta who only fielded 12 men for the contest drew level seven minutes later through Guerra, only for Leonardo Da Costa to restore Terminix Lighting’s lead in the 42nd minute for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, Lee got La Horquetta on level terms for the second time in the contest before Guerra fired in the decisive item, his second of the match on the hour mark to book his teams’ place in Sunday’s final.
Last month, La Horquetta defeated Maloney Eagles FC 3-0 to claim the $25,000 league top prize ahead with 21 points from nine matches while Maloney finished in the second spot, two points behind the winners for $15,000, with Bon Air FC securing the $10,000 for third ahead of Malabar FC on goal-difference after both teams ended with 18 points each.
Hold up :o
La Horquetta has 2 teams in the same league?? (EFA)
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Coach Benny wants Belmont FC to become pro unit
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)
BELMONT FC won their first Northern Football Association (NFA) League Cup title at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field in Mucurapo on Wednesday night.
An early second-half strike from Kendal Hackett was enough to give Belmont FC a 1-0 win over Guerreros FC. Belmont FC became the second team from Belmont to win the title following in the footsteps of St Francois Nationals who won previously.
Former St Anthony’s College players Che Benny and Haile Beckles are among those on the Belmont FC squad. A total of 18 teams competed in the tournament over the past six weeks.
Belmont FC coach Mark Benny was pleased with the effort of his players but thinks the standard of play could have been of a higher standard.
"Performance wise I think we could have been better. We have always been one of the fitter teams in the league."
Belmont FC have been in existence for six years and is a community-based team as 75 per cent of the players are from Belmont including goalscorer Hackett.
"Most of the players though are homegrown to our credit. It is more a Belmont-based team. We have a few people from outside, but they are friends of the players."
Benny has goals for the club and does not want to see the club stay in the NFA. "We want to bring a professional unit out of Belmont. From day one that has been the dream."
Belmont FC trains at Queen's Park Savannah which is within walking distance from the community.
With support from sponsors, the club can reach further. Asked where he sees the club in two years, Benny said, "We know how the football goes. It is all dependent on sponsorship. Right now everything usually is on my pocket. We try to do fundraisers in between. We are hoping to do something where we could get the community involved."
Benny was thankful that fans made the trip from Belmont to the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field for the match. "We had a good turnout last night and we had a lot of Belmont supporters. We trying to keep that (because) you play for community and family first. We have a set of players who represent Belmont to the best of their ability and we just want to carry that forward."
Discussing what may have contributed to the success of the team, Benny pointed to the defence. "Defensively we pride ourselves on our rugged and sturdy defending. Even though we never won the league (previously) we always come out probably conceding the least amount of goals. We are a very solid unit and we play for each other."
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Good luck on your endeavours, Belmont FC.
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Maloney edges La Horquetta on penalties in EFA kayo final.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Maloney Eagles FC captured the Ascension Eastern Football Association (EFA) Premier Division $10,000 winner-take-all knockout crown after they overcame league champions La Horquetta XF 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw in regulation time at the Phase II La Horquetta Recreation Ground, La Horquetta on Sunday.
Former national player Nathan Lewis stunned the host when he fired Maloney ahead as early as the second minute, but Jamal Creighton hit back for La Horquetta in the 15th minute before another ex-national player Ataulla Guerra put the host ahead for the first in the 34th minute which they held until the half-time interval.
Within 13 minutes of the restart, Saleem Henry got Maloney back on level terms at 2-2 and despite the best efforts of both teams the match ended 2-2 at the end of regulation time, and in the shoot-out, Maloney held their nerves to come away with the victory, making amends for their runner-up finish in the league.
For Maloney, Henry, Joshua Alexander, Keron Clarke and Lewis all scored their attempts with Sean Bonval the lone player to miss while Creighton, Guerra and Tyrone Charles converted their attempts for La Horquetta with failed attempts coming from Aikim Andrews and Isaiah Lee.
In the semifinals a week earlier at the Maloney Recreation Ground, Maloney trashed Malabar FC 7-0 with Daniel Warner scoring a hattrick in the 29th, 31st, and 32nd minutes while Alexander, Bonval, Keston Williams, and Jadel Carter added one each.
In the second semifinal, La Horquetta XF twice came from behind to defeat Terminix Lighting 3-2 in their semifinal at the same venue on Wednesday.
For Terminix Lighting, national youth team striker Real Gill opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but the short-handed La Horquetta who only fielded 12 men for the contest drew level seven minutes later through Guerra, only for Leonardo Da Costa to restore Terminix Lighting’s lead in the 42nd minute for a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, Lee got La Horquetta on level terms for the second time in the contest before Guerra fired in the decisive item, his second of the match on the hour mark to book his teams’ place in Sunday’s final.
Last month, La Horquetta defeated Maloney Eagles FC 3-0 to claim the $25,000 league top prize ahead with 21 points from nine matches while Maloney finished in the second spot, two points behind the winners for $15,000, with Bon Air FC securing the $10,000 for third ahead of Malabar FC on goal-difference after both teams ended with 18 points each.
Hold up :o
La Horquetta has 2 teams in the same league?? (EFA)
I thought the same, but it seems Terminix Lightning isn't a reserve of the other two, just another sponsored team.
Could be wrong
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I kind of confuse here. I see Leonardo Da Costa and his brother played for Rangers in the national Acension league earlier in the year. Now he with Terminex Lightening. So Ferguson has two teams ?
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Was asking that earlier on....it seems so..
Hilarious if true
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Candidates Jordan, Latiff vie for SFA presidency
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
Battle for ‘Southern’ supremacy
IT is a South final and takes place tomorrow, at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 7 p.m. The big prize though is the presidency of the Southern Football Association (SFA).
By Friday, the SFA will have a new president and executive to run its affairs, following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) when the membership vote to elect a new Executive to serve a four-year term.
Two heavyweight candidates, businessmen Brian K Jordan and Denis Latiff, are vying for the presidency, vacated by Richard Quan Chan, who is stepping down having fulfilled the two-term maximum any president can serve. “I will support whoever the general council select as their president,” immediate past president Quan Chan announced. “I am staying out of the election. If they call me, I will advise, I will give direction. But to say I am supporting one side over the other...no.”
Candidate Jordan, 48, is a Point Fortin-born business owner, licensed football coach and founder of the NLCL Community Cup, an island wide youth football tournament, which benefits many of the at-risk youth footballers across T&T. His opponent Latiff is associated with Tiger Tanks Club Sando and also general manager of Tigers Tanks Limited, sponsors of the T&T Secondary Schools Football League and Tiger Tanks Under-20 tournament.
Jordan’s slate includes Jefferson George, the Princess Town-based former national youth team and W Connection goalkeeper, who fills a dual role as president of the Unified Coaches of Trinidad and Tobago. George is vying for the role of SFA second vice-president and technical director.
Also on the Jordan’s slate are Kirwin Weston (first vice-president), Jaggernath Goolcharan (PRO), Anita Sennon (Administration) and Andy Smith (Health, Safety and Security).
Latiff, 63, is from San Fernando, and his team includes Aldwin Ferguson Jr, who runs for first vice-president; Edison Dean of Club Sando, who runs for second vice-president; Michael Maurice, the former Trinidad and Tobago national team goalkeeper; Clayton Williams, who currently serves as SFA assistant-secretary of operations; and PRO Joey Rooplal. If the slate is successful, former United States-based youth coach Dwight De Leon will come in as general-secretary.
Jordan, coach of Union Hall United, hopes to begin the overhaul of South football starting with Youth football. Jordan outlined his plans for the South Zone. “We want to get in there. We want to organise. We want to bring resources, like we have been bringing resources to the zone in the NLCL,” he said.
Jordan indicated that youth development is big on his agenda and he intends to implement youth and women’s competitions in the South Zone. “We will start from the Academy leagues. We will implement a girls/women’s league. We will implement a boys youth league, all of which do not exist today.”
Once a league with several divisions, SFA football was contested last year by just 11 clubs, broken up into two groups.
‘Youth development’ high on the agenda
Latiff is also talking “youth development”, including structuring an academy for the best, young South footballers. But he thinks the biggest problem with the South Zone is lack of good management and a disconnect with cubs.
“My vision is to get the SFA back on its feet and get it back to the glory days that we had before,” said Latiff. “Not much has been done with development as should have been done.” He hopes to quickly have functioning committees with properly trained personal and, once restructured, to have SFA games televised on YouTube etc.
“The goal is to use the people in the area to get that (Committees) going. I am going to have oversight on it, but they are the ones that know what they want,” stated Latiff. “Most of them say it’s the first time somebody come. First time they see a manifesto. I’m going to work with all. There are some teams that have no structure. We will help structure them.”
Jordan stated: “We believe the clubs are ready for change. The clubs are saying all the right things which indicate we will get their support,” stated Jordan.
“But we are humble and respectful of the process.” He believes he has the know-how to bring financial resources to South football as well. “NLCL is our company. So, we will be bringing some of our own resources to the table and, secondly, we have not had a problem with (getting) sponsors at the NLCL,” explained Jordan.
As a businessman and a former coach at both St Benedict’s College and Presentation College, Jordan pointed out that he also has vast experience of successfully dealing with the business community. “Business people have a way that we communicate and we have been saying to them we can provide value. That is all they want. They want standards and value,” Jordan concluded.
Latiff says his track record speaks for itself. “I am a doer. I’m going to make it happen. At Tiger tanks that is our motto,” noted Latiff. “We held the Tiger Tanks U-20 football tournament last year with the TTFA. I did almost everything for that single-handedly. The way it was structured, TV coverage, all that. The TTFA helped me with getting the grounds.”
He added: “The same thing we did with SSFL (Secondary Schools Football League)...I sponsored the SSFL last year. It is the first time that anybody ever got both Sportmax and Flow Sport to work together.”
RELATED NEWS
‘Team Transformation’ promises youth development in South
T&T Newsday Reports.
SOUTHERN football is set to transition into a new administrative era as the general elections for the Southern Football Association executive committee are nigh upon all stakeholders involved.
Members of the southland's governing body will determine the future of football in the zone on April 27 when they march to the polls to cast their vote for this year’s new presidential candidate.
The elections will be contested by two teams – one led by the founder and organiser of the Next Level Consulting Limited (NLCL) Community Cup, Brian Jordan, and the other co-led by Tiger Tanks executives, Denis Latiff and Eddie Dean.
In 2022, both parties hosted youth tournaments which were considered successes by the respective organisers, investors and fans. Jordan spearheaded the NLCL Under-19 Community Cup and is currently managing the Under-15 version of the tournament. On the flip side, Latiff was the mastermind behind the Tiger Tanks Under-20 Invitational Tournament, which was won by Defence Force in June last year.
Nicknamed “Team Transformation”, Jordan declared that his party will be heavily focused on youth football and the improvement of football standards in the South Zone. Using his experience as a professional coach and former footballer, he believes that, if elected, the structure and organisation of the zone’s operations will be drastically improved.
In an interview with Newsday on Tuesday, he expressed that his youth tournaments sparked his desire to pursue the presidential position. “As many may know, the NLCL Under-19 tournament has been a blessing for youth development in the nation since 2019”, he said. “As a result, several stakeholders reached out and asked if there was anything that could be done in a similar nature in the south zone.”
“Grassroots and youth football are parts of a recipe that produced a generation of footballing talents in the zone in previous years. But now, we’ve lost that. We have to go back to producing talent through youth-focused development, and that is why I am running to be the new SFA president.
“We have to look at what has happened since TT qualified for the 2006 World Cup – there has been little to no progress in local football. The entire nation has been in a football stasis and, somehow, we need to find a way to change that.”
Jordan also addressed the lack of maintained grounds in the zone. He said that his team proposed a partnership with the regional corporation to ensure better field conditions and have more venues to facilitate matches. “Clearly, if we don’t have proper grounds, we can’t have proper development”, he claimed. “If we are to expand the opportunities for development – academy football, youth football, senior football, girls’ football and women’s football – we must have more facilities available and well maintained.”
The partnership will also provide employment opportunities as the unified SFA and Regional Corporation will staff ground maintenance crews.
If elected, Team Transformation will further boost the marketability of the league through engaging social media content, fan activities at matches and live broadcasting of select fixtures.
“We want to take the model of the pyramids in Egypt – build from the bottom and make the zone’s operations scalable and strong so that, no matter who comes into office in the future, there is a good base to work with and they can offshoot from there and initiate even more opportunities for football.”
Moreover, Jordan assured stakeholders that the senior SFA league will not clash with the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL). He said, “I believe that there can be an overlap (between leagues) particularly as there is currently no reserve league under the TTPFL. Therefore, younger players who are not first-team regulars at their Premier League club will be able to hone their craft and get playing time. We will not have senior players participating in both the Premier League and the zonal league.”
“However, with regards to the TTFA’s second-tier league, there is potential for South teams like Moruga FC, Erin FC and San Fernando Giants to be a part of it. We would be blessed to have them participate in both the second-tier and the SFA League. If scheduling allows it, those teams can be capable of competing on the two fronts. Sustainability for this will also be targeted so that teams will have full squads for every match day.”
Jordan also assured that his company, NLCL, will bring funds into the organisation, along with the financial assistance from sponsors, to ensure that the league, its teams and all other stakeholders can operate at their full capacity and produce the results that the Committee set out to achieve.
Additionally, he stated that match officials will receive benefits such as more training opportunities, equipment stipends and an increase in match fees. With the Match Officials Committee led by former FIFA referee Jaghernath Goolcharan, referees in the zone are almost certain to elevate to a higher level as the footballing standard increases.
He concluded by stating, “I’m proud to say this: once we get two or three years into our tenure, every zone will see our operations and seek to replicate it. When we started the NLCL Community Cup, no one gave it a chance. But, because of the strength of the team, we ensured that everything that was put to paper came to pass. Likewise, as the SFA Executive, things will happen.”
Along with Jordan, Team Transformation consists of Kirwin Weston (first vice president/iInformation technology enhancements), Jefferson George (second vice president and technical director), Jaghernath Goolcharan (board of management rep for match officials and PRO), Anita Sennon (board representative or administration), Andy Smith (board representative for health, safety and security) and Rucine Baker (board representative for women’s and girls’ football).
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Businessman Latiff is new SFA president.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
Businessman Denis Latiff is the new president of the Southern Football Association (SFA).
At Thursday night’s Annual General Election (AGM) Election at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, the man credited for the formation and execution of the Tiger Tanks Under-20 League defeated Brian Jordan 24-17 in the election for the position of president.
Jordan is another businessman from the southland who has invested his existence in the development of youth football. However, this time he had to settle for second place with Latiff’s promise of overall development, particularly at the youth level through his desire to include voting powers to football academies in the south football constitution, seemingly amongst the promises that the club voted for.
It is understood that Dwight De Leon was Latiff’s first appointment as general secretary.
Latiff in his manifesto also laid out a list of what he will pursue if he is elected the SFA leader.
They include: 1- Providing direction and assistance in helping clubs to become self-sustainable, and self-efficient, to be properly prepared to play in high-quality competitions; 2- Continuous improvement with clubs which includes interaction via regular meetings; 3- Continued assistance in providing local and international coaching assistance, to assist the development of clubs coaches, bringing together, a higher quality of players and performances; 4- Establishment of a proper office where clubs can have open communication amongst themselves and the association; 5- Creation of a dynamic SFA leading by example, by providing continue club and players development where scholarships and possible international contracts can be given; 6- Introduction of a proper club and players’ database, where information can be given at the press of a button; 7- The development of an SFA website and a virtual office for Clubs to interact with the management and transact daily football business in almost real-time; 8- All prizes (monetary) and otherwise will be given out at an end of season prize giving function; 9- Relook the Constitution to include the Academies as a voting power also; 10- Find and assist the ‘lost’ clubs/teams to revitalise and get back into the system; and 11- To assist teams to grow into clubs and to sustain themselves in their communities.
Latiff’s entire slate received the nod of approval to manage the affairs of southern football, with first vice president Aldwyn Ferguson beating Kerwin Weston 26-15; Eddison Dean, the man behind the successes of Club Sando FC in the T&T Premier Football League, getting the better of Jefferson George by the same margin 26-15, while Clayton Williams (secretary of operations), Michael Maurice (secretary of Administration) and Joseph Rooplal (public relations officer) prevailing over Jaggernath Goolcharan, Anita Sennon and Andy Smith respectively.
Attempts to reach Latiff for comments proved futile as he was on a business trip to the United States.
AGM ELECTION RESULTS
SFA PRESIDENT
Denis Latiff - 24
Brian Jordan - 17
1ST VP
Aldwyn Ferguson - 26
Kerwin Weston- 15
SFA 2nd Vice President
Eddison Dean - 26
Jefferson George - 15
Vision Initiative For Football
1. 30 Clayton Williams
2. 26 Michael Maurice
3. 28 Joseph Rooplal
4. 26 Dwight De Leon
Transformation
5. 12. Jaggernath Goolcharan
6. 13. Anita Sennon
7. 12. Andy Smith
8 13 R. Baker
RELATED NEWS
Latiff is new SFA boss.
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express).
Ready to work
“I won’t let you down,” was the assurance given by San Fernando businessman Denis Latiff, after being installed as new president of the Southern Football Association (SFA).
Thursday night’s SFA AGM, held at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, saw Latiff defeat Point Fortin businessman Brian K. Jordan in a keenly-contested race for the post of president, which was relinquished by Richard Quan Chan, having served the maximum two terms. Latiff has been given a mandate to serve for the next four years. The SFA election lived up to the heavyweight clash it was billed as, with 41 delegates voting. Latiff won 24-17 and was overwhelmed by the huge turnout.
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Moruga/Tableland wins sixth straight in SFA.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).
Quinn Rodney netted a pair of goals as Moruga/Tableland Samba Youths clobbered Merikins Youth Academy 7-1 to make it six straight wins from as many matches in Group B of the Southern Football Association (SFA) Premier Division at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground in Moruga on Sunday.
The quintet of Andy London, Chad Francois, Bevon Bass, Sanchez Lee, and Darren Moore added a goal each for Moruga/Tableland to push their points tally to a maximum of 18 from six matches at the top of the eight-team table, three clear of Mascall Football Academy and Erin FC while Merikins Youth Academy which got its lone item via an own goal stayed rooted to the bottom of the standings with one point after seven matches.
Erin FC missed a chance to stay top of the table after a narrow 1-0 loss to Mascall Football Academy with Maurice Dick on target for the latter at Erin Recreation Ground while in the two other matches, Dream Team outplayed Penal Is Love Youth Movement 3-1, and #9 United and Moruga FC drew 2-2.
In Group A, Shaquille Dublin netted a beaver trick to fire Deportivo Point Fortin past Newcomers 5-1 on Saturday.
Quinn Sealy got the other item for Deportivo PF now with 12 points from seven matches to stay seven behind unbeaten leaders Pitchmen who won by default over IBG Sporting Academy, while Newcomers’ which got its consolation strike from Simeon Pierre stayed fifth with eight points.
In the two other Group A encounters, Uprising Youths blanked Field of Dreams 3-0 led by a brace from Shakeem George, and one Simeon Modeste while Point Fortin Civic Centre trashed Lion Heart 8-1 with a goal each from Omari Cobham, Jahmali Cobham, Kendell Phillip, Akiel Phillip, Kaleem John, Gesiah Bishop, Kevon Bernard, and Ronell Paul to cancel out Jeremy Duntin’s reply.
Matches continue this weekend.
Results
Group A
Pitchmen FC 3 vs IBG Sporting Academy 0
Deportivo PF 5 (Shaquille Dublin 4, Quinn Sealy) vs Newcomers FC 1 (Simeon Pierre)
Uprising Youths 3 (Shakeem George 2, Simone Modeste) vs Field of Dreams 0
Point Fortin Civic Centre 8 (Omari Cobham, Jahmali Cobham, Kendell Phillip, Akiel Phillip, Kaleem John, Gesiah Bishop, Kevon Bernard, Ronell Paul) vs Lion Heart FC 1 (Jeremy Duntin)
Group B
Dream Team 3 (Tevin Scott, Malik Elliot, Aiden Sankarsingh) vs Penal Is Love Y.M 1 (James Baptiste)
# 9 United 2 (Akel Sanchez, Kevin Alexander) vs Moruga FC 2 (Jessie Edwards, Anderson Toussaint)
Mascall Football Academy 1 (Maurice Dick) vs Erin FC 0
Moruga/Tableland Samba Youths 7 (Quinn Rodney 2, Andy London, Chad Francois, Bevon Bass, Sanchez Lee, Darren Moore) vs Merikins Youth Academy 1 (own goal)
Standings
Group A
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Pitchmen FC 7 6 1 0 37 6 19
Deportivo PF 7 4 2 1 27 12 12
Point Fortin C.C 6 3 2 1 26 13 11
Uprising Youths 6 3 2 1 14 7 11
Newcomers FC 6 2 2 2 14 15 8
Lion Heart 5 1 1 3 6 16 4
IBG Sporting Academy 3 0 0 3 0 19 0
Field of Dreams 6 0 0 6 3 39 0
Group B
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Moruga/Tableland SY 6 6 0 0 19 4 18
Mascall F.A 6 5 0 1 17 3 15
Erin FC 7 5 0 2 19 6 15
#9 United 6 2 1 3 16 18 7
Moruga FC 7 2 1 4 13 16 7
Dream Team 7 2 1 4 10 19 7
Penal is Love Y.M 6 2 0 4 9 15 6
Merikins YA 7 0 1 6 4 27 1
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Real Central repeats as CFA Premier champ...as Central Strikers abort clash
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)
Reigning champion Real Central made it back-to-back triumphs in the Central Football Association (CFA) Premier Division in somewhat controversial fashion after they were leading Central Strikers 5-0 at the half-time whistle at the Balmain recreation ground, Couva on Sunday night when their opponents opted to forfeit the second half of the contest.
Going into the match, Real Central led the ten-club table with 21 points from eight matches and needed to win to be certain of the $25,000 top prize ahead of Central Soccer World who faced Valiant in the second encounter at Balmain and trailed the leaders by a mere point.
However, any doubts of Real Central lifting the title quickly faded when Chad Andre Baptiste opened the scoring in the 11th minute followed by Neon O'Garro's first of two items on the night in the 17th.
The score quickly turned to 3-0 in the 22nd minute through Miguel Pollard while Shakir Burk extended the advantage to 4-0 in the 26th before O'Garro added the fifth in the 27th.
Central Strikers, who began the match with seven players managed to stem the flow of goals until the half-time whistle, after which they opted not to return to the pitch for the second half after two of the players sustained slight knocks, handing Real Central the win and the title.
In the second match at Balmain, runners-up Central Soccer World who pocketed $15,000 ended the league campaign on a high ahead of its Hugo Francis Memorial Cup semifinal with a 3-1 whipping of Valiant via goals from Dion Lewis, Jeremiah Charles, and Vincent Pendergrass while Valiant got its lone reply from player/coach Keston Cedeno-Cardinez.
At Latchu Trace Recreation Ground, Compadres held onto the third spot and $10,000 after a 1-1 draw with host Latch Trace with Nicaya Mahon's penalty being cancelled out by Leroy Whyle.
In the opening match at Latchu Trace, Perseverance Ball Runners outlasted MIC Tigers 5-3 with Malik Robinson scoring all five goals for the winners while the trio of Syon Prosper, Shem Alexander and Yohance Nurse netted for the losers.
Meanwhile, Central Soccer World and Compadres will hope to add more cash and trophies to their collection as both contest the semifinals of the Hugo Francis Memorial Cup against Ball Runners and Gasparillo Youths, respectively, tomorrow with the winners advancing to the take-all $5,000 final.
Results
Sunday, October 1:
Real Central FC 5 (Neon O'Garro 17th, 27th, Chad Andre Baptiste 11th, Miguel Pollard 22nd, Shakir Burke 26th) vs Central Strikers 0
Perseverance Ball Runners 5 (Malik Robinson 5) vs MIC Tigers 3 (Syon Prosper, Shem Alexander, Yohance Nurse)
Gasparillo Youths 3 vs Xtra Food Tigers 0 - by default
Latchu Trace Youths 1 (Leroy Whyle) vs Compadres 1 (Nicaya Mahon pen)
Central Soccer World 3 (Dion Lewis, Jeremiah Charles, Vincent Pendergrass) vs Valiant 1 (Keston Cedeno-Cardinez)
Current standings
Pl Teams P W D L F A Pts
1 Real Central 9 8 0 1 24 5 24
2 Central Soccer World 9 7 2 0 24 8 23
3 Compadres 8 5 2 1 17 5 17
4 Latchu Trace 9 5 2 2 18 10 17
5 Ball Runners 8 4 0 4 20 15 12
6 MIC Tigers 9 3 0 6 19 25 9
7 Gasparillo Youths 9 2 2 5 13 20 8
8 Valiant FC 9 2 2 5 9 18 8
9 Central Strikers 9 2 2 5 11 22 8
10 XF Arima Tigers 9 0 0 9 8 35 0
Upcoming matches:
Hugo Francis Memorial Cup semifinals:
Wednesday, October 4:
Central Soccer World vs Perseverance Ball Runners, Balmain Rec. Grd, 7 pm
Compadres vs Gasparillo Youths, Lumsden Rec. Grd, 7 pm
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Heatwave FC, Maloney Eagles unbeaten in EFA
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)
Heatwave FC and FC Maloney Eagles currently lead the way after three rounds of matches in the Eastern Football Association (EFA) league campaign, with both teams registering three wins apiece.
Heatwave lead the standings thanks to their +7 goal differential. Maloney, last season's runners-up, have a +6 goal differential and sit in second spot. Malabar Young Stars FC, Trincity Nationals and CG Poseidon (all six points) occupy the next three spots on the ten-team table.
Last Sunday, Heatwave got a 3-0 win over Poseidon to hand their opponents their first loss of the campaign. Meanwhile, Maloney were involved in a ten-goal thriller, as they ended up on the right side of a 6-4 result against United Coaching Academy (UCA).
In their exciting win over UCA, Maloney got a pair of goals from both Teryke Johnson and Levin Caballero. Kervin Coa and former TT international Nathan Lewis scored the other goals for Maloney. Lewis has made over 20 appearances for the Soca Warriors and last represented TT in November 2019.
The sixth-placed Malabar FC got their first win in the EFA and were the biggest winners in round three, as they hammered SKHY FC 10-1. Malabar Young Stars also put on a fine scoring exhibition as they slammed seven unanswered goals past Creek SCC in a 7-0 drubbing. Trincity got a 4-2 win over Zebulun FC, and their main goal threat Jiron Francis currently leads all scorers across the league with six goals.
This Sunday, the fourth round of matches will be contested. Malabar Young Stars will meet Trincity in a battle between the third- and fourth-placed teams in Phase 1 Malabar from 6.30 pm. Heatwave will face Zebulun at the Eddie Hart Grounds in Tacarigua from 5 pm. Maloney will tackle Poseidon at Knowles Street Recreation Ground in Curepe from 5pm.
The winner of the EFA competition will receive a $25,000 prize. The second-placed team will receive $15,000 and the third-placed team will pocket $10,000.
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Coa's hat-trick keeps Maloney FC atop EFA
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)
Maloney Eagles FC (16 points) maintained their one-point lead atop the Eastern Football Association (EFA) standings last Sunday, as they romped to a 6-1 win over SKHY FC to extend their unbeaten record in the ongoing season to six games.
Playing at the Maloney Recreation Ground, the hosts got a second-half hat-trick from Kerwyn Coa. Jaquan Samuel, Teryke Johnson and former Soca Warriors attacker Nathan Lewis netted the other goals for Maloney, who finished second in the EFA league campaign last season. Both Lewis and Johnson have netted six goals in the campaign. The hat-trick hero Coa took his league tally to five goals.
Creek SCC (12 points) continued their climb up the table as they leapfrogged CG Poseidon (ten points) courtesy a 2-1 win in a mid-table tussle. Justin Busby scored a double to inspire Creek to victory.
In the first game of a double-header at the D'Abadie Recreation Ground, Malabar FC moved up to seven points with a thumping 5-0 win over the cellar-placed Zebulun FC, who have lost all six matches this season. Valentonio Elder and Jason Nicholas both scored a pair of goals to propel Malabar FC to the big win.
In the second game of the D'Abadie double-header, United Coaching Academy (six points) wiped out a first-half goal by the league's top scorer Jiron Francis to get a 3-1 victory over Trincity Nationals (seven points).
At the Eddie Hart Ground in Tacarigua, the second-placed Malabar Young Stars (15 points) made sure to keep close tabs on the table-toppers Maloney as they handed the third-placed Heatwave FC (12 points) a heavy 6-0 defeat. Terrell Neptune opened the scoring in the 20th minute to take his season's tally to seven goals. Nickerson Simpson scored a late double to put the icing on the cake for the Malabar Young Stars outfit.
Heatwave started the season with four consecutive wins, but their fiery start has now been cooled following heavy defeats to Maloney and Malabar Young Stars.
On Sunday, both Maloney and Malabar Young Stars will aim to continue their impressive form, with the league leaders making an away visit to Creek and Malabar Young Stars contesting a Malabar derby when they meet Malabar FC in Phase One, Malabar.
There are just three games left to conclude the EFA league season. The winner of the EFA competition will receive a $25,000 prize. The second-placed team will receive $15,000 and the third-placed team will pocket $10,000.
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Ex-Soca Warrior Lewis doubles for Maloney Eagles in 5-2 win.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).
Former Soca Warriors winger Nathan Lewis scored a double for his Maloney Eagles team on Sunday as they powered their way to a 5-2 win over Trincity Nationals to maintain a one-point lead in the Eastern Football Association (EFA) league with a solitary match to go.
Maloney (22 points) placed second in the EFA last season, but they can seal the title and the $25,000 top prize on November 12 when they meet the cellar-placed Zebulun FC in their final game of the current campaign. Playing the struggling Trincity team at the Maloney Recreation grounds, Lewis, 33, scored either side of halftime for the hosts to take his league tally to nine goals. Kervyn Coa also scored a brace for Maloney, who overcame an early one-goal deficit against Trincity after a strike by the league's top scorer Jiron Francis.
The second-placed Malabar Young Stars (21 points) did their best to stay on the heels of the high-flying Maloney team as they whipped United Coaching Academy (UCA) by a 4-2 margin in a wild encounter in D'Abadie. All six goals were scored in the second half in the contest and UCA even held a 2-1 lead in the 71st minute after a double strike by midfielder Jervaughn Drakes. Jorel Grant, Terrell Neptune and flanker Renaldo Francois scored in the dying stages of the game as Young Stars staged a comeback to keep their slim title hopes alive. Young Stars are guaranteed a second-place finish at minimum and will play the third-placed CG Poseidon (16 points) on the league's final day.
Poseidon did their damage early and often versus Zebulun on Sunday, as they scored all six of their goals in the first half in a thumping 6-1 win. Lejean Lezama scored a brace to lead Poseidon to the big win.
At the Eddie Hart ground in Tacarigua, Heatwave FC (13 points) and Malabar FC (eight points) played to an exciting 2-2 draw, with the latter team salvaging a point thanks to second-half goals by Jamel Hargeaves and Miquel Williams.
Creek SCC (15 points) moved up to fourth on the ten-team table without kicking a ball on the weekend, as they won by default against SKHY FC who failed to prepare their ground in time for the fixture.
The second-placed team will receive $15,000 and the third-placed team will get $10,000.
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Ex-Soca Warrior Nathan Lewis helps Maloney Eagles to first EFA league title.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).
Maloney Eagles FC stormed to their first Eastern Football Association (EFA) league title on Sunday, as they got a thumping 5-0 win over cellar-placed club Zebulun FC to secure the crown by a solitary point. Maloney amassed 25 points in the nine-game EFA season, with Malabar Young Stars finishing a close second with 24 points.
Playing at Eddie Hart grounds in Tacarigua, the Maloney outfit left no stone unturned in pursuit of their maiden EFA league trophy as they outclassed the Zebulun outfit. Not for the first time in the EFA season, former Trinidad and Tobago winger Nathan Lewis proved to be a standout player for Maloney as he bagged a brace to take his season's tally to 11 goals – the second highest in the competition.
The former Caledonia and Jabloteh player was ably supported by his teammates, as Kervyn Coa and Teryke Johnson both scored their eight goals of the campaign in the riot. Jabari Charles got the other goal for Maloney, who will receive a $25,000 prize for their first-placed finish.
Young Stars did their utmost to push Maloney to the wire on the final day of the league campaign, as they held on for a 2-1 win over the fourth-placed CG Poseidon (16 points) in Phase One Malabar. Young Stars jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to second-half goals by Nathan Plaza and Renaldo Francois. The game took a twist in the 78th minute, as Poseidon coach Dareem Ranjitsingh was sent off after using abusive language towards the referee.
A Poseidon player was also sent off during the exchange for a similar offence. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Poseidon still managed a consolation goal in stoppage-time from Tyrek James. Young Stars will receive a $15,000 prize for their second-place finish.
At the George Boyce recreation ground in D'Abadie, Creek SCC (16 points) and the third-placed Heatwave FC (17 points) played to a 1-1 draw, with the latter team salvaging a draw in the 73rd minute through a penalty conversion from Deon Cuffie-Joseph.
United Coaching Academy (12 points) and Malabar FC (eight points) played out a wild contest in D'Abadie, as the former team held on for a 4-3 win in a seven-goal thriller after jumping out to a commanding 4-0 lead. Malabar were reduced to ten men from as early as the 24th minute, as Joshua Anderson was sent off for handling the ball near the goal-line. Malachi Hazel stepped up to convert the penalty for UCA, who also got a brace from Kosi Charles and another goal from striker Terron Miller to take a healthy 4-0 lead in the 72nd minute.
The ten-man Malabar team showed great fighting spirit though, as they got goals from Dillon Rogers, Daniel Arthur and Jamel Hargeaves to reduce the deficit to 4-3 in the 88th minute. Unfortunately for Malabar, the final blow of referee Gregory Mansano's whistle stopped their comeback plot short.
SKHY FC forfeited their match against Trincity Nationals.