Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on December 31, 2016, 06:29:48 AM
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Super League moving ahead with 2017 plans.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The sixteen member clubs of the new T&T Super League, formed at the end of the 2016 season, are moving ahead speedily to establish the organisation as a corporation - Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited (T&TSL) to run the new league.
Following a meeting of the League’s Board of Directors which took place on Thursday evening at the Dinsley Government Primary School in Trincity, a meeting of the members will take place on Saturday, January 7 at the University of T&T (UTT) O’Meara campus from 10 am so that approval for several proposals from the interim board can be considered.
The clubs appointed the directors to guide the establishment of the TTSL and to prepare the 2017 budget for the league’s operations.
Among the discussions up for approval is the registration fee which will be used to finance the operations of the 2017 season and make the league viable in the long run.
FC Santa Rosa president Keith Look Loy is president of the interim board of directors, which also includes, Lt Ryan Ottley (Defence Force FC), Kester Lendor (Real Maracas FC), George Joseph (Bethel FC) and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs FC).
The TTSL will kick off its inaugural season on Sunday, June 11, 2017.
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So tnt have two leagues now no promotion and regulation
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Right now is a power play going on here, as far as I can see. It appears that that the super league is making an attempt to catch the imagination of the football public. If they start getting more fans than the the pro league who know what can happen. They truly have a home and away schedule. And their league is short and not a long drawn out season like the pro-league. But DF is part of that league also. They playing both side of the issue. This reminds of the old inter league. POSFL, Nafa, sfl, sfa, etc. But whatever ever it takes to bring out the fans.
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Clubs take charge of running Super League.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
THE SIXTEEN clubs, who will form the new Trinidad and Tobago Super League, are keen on establishing a corporation - Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited, to run the new league.
Keith Look Loy, owner and coach of the 2016 Super League Premiership Division champions Sports and Games FC Santa Rosa, is the president of the interim board of directors, with Lt Ryan Ottley (Defence Force), Kestor Lendor (Real Maracas FC), George Joseph (Bethel FC) and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs) completing the list of directors.
According to Look Loy, “on the 13th of December we voted to adopt a constitution to form ourselves into a League. Until the end of this season, the Super League was a TTFA (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) competition, like the FA Cup, it wasn’t a proper league.
“So what we’ve done is voted on a constitution that has been agreed by (14) clubs, out of the 23 that we had last season.” The clubs who voted for the new League were Barrackpore FC, Bethel FC, Central 500 Spartans, Club Sando-Moruga, Cunupia FC, Defence Force, FC Santa Rosa, Guaya United, Palo Seco FC, Petit Valley FC, Real Maracas, Siparia Spurs, UTT and WASA FC.
“The rest are invited to adopt the constitution that would automatically make them members,” Look Loy noted. “We’re going forward. We have registered our name and we’re going ahead with incorporating to form a company that would own the league and run the league on our behalf.
“In addition to that, in the early days of January, we have that date fixed as the 9th of January, we’re going to be formally applying for membership in the TTFA. On the 7th we have a general membership meeting where we’re going to finalise on certain things, and then send in the formal application on the 9th. We would be responsible for running the Super League, as it is called now the Trinidad and Tobago Super League. It will be two divisions as we had (in 2016) and maintaining promotions, and relegations, with the zones.” Concerning his role as coach of FC Santa Rosa, Look Loy admitted, “that is something that clearly, in Santa Rosa, we’re going to have to address. We’re going to have that resolved long before the new season starts.
“I have thought of that and, in fact, when we had that meeting on the 13th, I took this role because the clubs asked me to do it. I wasn’t looking for any pole position but the clubs unanimously asked me to do it. I recognise it has implications in my club so the club would have to address that.” With regards to the clubs who did not vote for the new format (1976 FC Phoenix, Prisons FC, Queen’s Park and Saddle Hill Hotspur), Look Loy said, “as members of the 2016 National Super League, they’re entitled to membership. But, because we’re forming a new organisation, they have to adopt the constitution.
When we had that meeting, we had 18 clubs there and four abstained because they were not prepared, although we had circulated the constitution and agreement two weeks before.
“There were some clubs absent, although they were invited. The people who would have to qualify would be the people coming through Champions of Champions, from the zones, just like before.” He went on to add, “now the clubs would own the league, instead of the TTFA.” As far as the sponsorship aspect was concerned, Look Loy pointed out, “we have a draft budget for 2017. We recognise that we’re going to have to attract some sponsorship.
What we’re trying to work on is to ensure that we’re financially viable. And the starting point for that is to make sure that our membership fees cover the cost of operations.”
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Let the fight begin. Proleague or Super league, Keith vs Dexter. Saints vs Saints.
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TT Super League forges ahead.
By Keith Look Loy (TTSL).
Member clubs of the newly formed Trinidad and Tobago Super League met on Saturday 7 January 2017 at the UTT campus in O’Meara, Arima, yesterday to discuss an agenda intended to further institutionalize the emerging football body and to prepare for its first football season.
The following clubs were present:
Barrackpore FC
Bethel FC
Central 500 Spartans FC
Club Sando
Cunupia FC
Defence Force FC
FC Santa Rosa
Guaya United FC
Marabella Family Crisis Centre
Petrotrin Palo Seco SC
Petit Valley United FC
1976 Phoenix FC
Real Maracas FC
Saddle Hill Hotspur FC
Siparia Spurs FC
UTT
WASA FC
Youth Stars FC
These eighteen clubs approved the formation of “Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited”, a jointly-owned limited liability company to conduct the financial and commercial affairs of the league, and adopted a Founding Agreement, which defines the fundamental principles on which TTSL is established - equality of ownership and responsibility; commitment to a promotion/relegation relationship with all levels of local football; and equitable profit sharing.
The clubs also approved several administrative proposals from the TTSL board of directors, including annual membership and competition fees; an operational budget for 2017; and dates for the start of the 2017 season in each of its two divisions (11 June for the Premiership division, and 24 June for the Championship division). Importantly, TTSL will immediately write to TTFA regarding the status of its Champion of Champions competition, which will determine which regional association clubs will be promoted to TTSL for the 2017 season.
TTSL has submited its membership application to TTFA and the league is awaiting the Association’s response.
FOUNDING AGREEEMENT OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE
I. Founding Principles
The founding members of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League, established on 13 December
2016, agree to the following fundamental principles for the operation of the league:
(a) the constitutional and commercial independence of the TT Super League;
(b) an integrated system of promotion and relegation involving the six (6) Regional Associations,
the TT Super League and the TT Pro League;
(c) conduct of the business of the TT Super League on the basis of "one club one vote" according
to the provisions of the TT Super League constitution;
(d) policy adopted by the TT Super League board of directors and/or general Meeting would be
implemented by the League’s secretariat;
(e) revenue from television and/or broadcasting contracts, and/or sponsorship contracts in excess
of the league’s operational costs would be shared as follows -
- 50% would be divided equally amongst the member clubs;
- 25% would be shared on the basis of the league position of each member club at
the end of the season;
- 25% would be reinvested in the TT Super League.
II. Relationship to other leagues
The TT Super League will begin its first season in June 2017;
(a) relegation and promotion between the Regional Associations and the TT Super League will
begin immediately and will include the first and second place clubs in the TTFA Champion of
Champions tournament, which involves the champion of each Regional Association;
(b) TTSL Super League clubs will continue to play in the TTFA and any TT Pro League
competition to which they may be invited;
III. Incorporation
To achieve its administrative and commercial ends the founding members of the Trinidad and
Tobago Super League agree to form a limited liability company that will be known as Trinidad
and Tobago Super League Limited.
The objects of the company include the following:
(a) to organise and manage (under the jurisdiction of the TTFA) a league of
association football clubs to be known as "The Trinidad and Tobago Super League"
or such other name as the company may from time to time adopt ("the TT Super
League");
(b) to make, adopt, vary, and publish rules, regulations and conditions for the
management of the TT Super League and the matters relating thereto, and to take
all such steps as shall be deemed necessary or advisable for enforcing such rules,
regulations and conditions;
(c) to promote, provide for, regulate and manage all or any details or arrangements
or other things as may be considered necessary or desirable for, or ancillary to, the
comfort, conduct, convenience or benefit of football players and of the public or of
any other persons concerned or engaged in or in or associated with the TT Super
League;
(d) to enter into television, broadcasting, sponsorship, commercial or other
transactions of any kind in connection with the TT Super League. The TTSL
General Meeting has sole authority to finally decide contractual agreements in this
regard.
Agreed this 7th day of January 2017 at UTT, O’Meara by the representatives of the following clubs:
Barrackpore FC - Kirwin WESTON
Bethel FC - George JOSEPH
Central 500 Spartans FC - Mark SIMON
Club Sando - Eddison DEAN
Cunupia FC - Narvin CHARLES
Defence Force FC - Ryan OTTLEY
FC Santa Rosa - Keith LOOK LOY
Guaya United FC - Jameson RIGUES
Marabella Family CC - Terrence BOISSIERE
Petit Valley United FC - Derek EDWARDS
Petrotrin Palo Seco SC - Aldwin FERGUSON
1976 Phoenix FC - Terry WILLIAMS
Real Maracas FC - Kester LENDOR
Saddle Hill Hotspur FC - Dexter GILL
Siparia Spurs FC - Quincy JONES
UTT - Nicholas LOCHAN
WASA FC - Cavelle McALLISTER
Youth Stars FC - Anselm ROBLEY
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Contro, these are the guys your group need to persuade before the next TTFA AGM.
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TT Super League seeking applications for League Secretary position.
By Keith Look Loy (TTSL).
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League continues to establish itself and the League is seeking applications for the position of League Secretary. This is a full-time position.
TTSL was established on 13 December 2016 by thirteen clubs which previously played in the TTFA’s “National Super League” competition. The number of member clubs has quickly increased to eighteen since that time. The TTSL has set its kick-off date as Sunday 11 June 2017 and is quickly moving to ensure that its inaugural season is successful.
An effective full-time secretariat headed by the League Secretary will be essential to the work of the fledgling league. The Secretary will be responsible for the daily administration of the TTSL office and operations. He/she will facilitate communication among member clubs, the Board of Directors, League Committees, the TTFA and external parties/agencies.
Responsibilities:
• Manage the League’s office and secretariat.
• Prepare an operations budget for approval by the League’s General Meeting.
• Manage the finances of the League and facilitate annual external auditing of said finances.
• Submit a quarterly financial statement to the Board of Directors.
• Establish an annual meeting schedule for all Members and the Board of Directors.
• Provide secretariat support to the Board of Directors and League Committees.
Record and prepare minutes of all Board of Director, Committee and Members meetings.
Distribute meeting minutes in accordance with league regulations.
• Collate and arrange for the preparation and printing of the League’s annual activity report for presentation to Members at the AGM.
• Maintain an accurate copy of the League’s Regulations, By-laws and Codes.
• Maintain registers of all players of Members, as well as Match Commissioners.
• Receive all correspondence submitted by Members and Match Commissioners, respond and follow up as the necessary.
• Verify the match readiness of all clubs’ home venues.
• Prepare all match fixtures and Match Commissioners appointments and ensure their distribution.
• Obtain and collate match results and cautions for notification to Members and the print
• Such other responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned by the Board of Directors.
Compensation Package:
To be negotiated.
Responses:
Seriously interested persons should forward their Curriculum Vitae to: ttsuperleague@outlook.com
Regards.
Keith Look Loy
Interim President
TTSL
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What? Super league vs Pro league
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It's looking good - if it becomes successful I could see this eclipsing the TT Pro League in the long run, if it maintains its high level of organisation and local engagement.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/9DEIj_eCBoI
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TT Super League appoints secretary.
By Keith Look Loy (TTSL).
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Camara David to the position of League Secretary, with immediate effect.
Mr. David is the holder of the FIFA International Masters’ Degree (M.A.) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, which is provided by three distinguished European universities – De Montfort University (Leicester, England), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan, Italy), and University of Neuchatel (Neuchatel, Switzerland). He is also a graduate of U.W.I. St. Augustine (FIFA/UWI/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management, and B.SC. in Economics).
Mr. David previously worked as a business analyst at the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT), and was the director of SPORTT’s Women’s Professional Football League, managing the administration and finances of the league office, as well as the budgets of the six member teams of the WPFL.
The appointment of Mr. David is a key step in the institutionalization of TTSL, which was formed only on 13 December 2016. The league has already appointed several standing committees and the General Membership will meet on Saturday 28 January 2017 to appoint its Judicial bodies – the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees.
TTSL membership now stands at twenty (20) clubs. The inaugural competition of the league will be played in two divisions beginning on Sunday 11 June 2017 for Super League 1 with fourteen (14) clubs, and Saturday 24 June 2017 for Super League 2, with ten (10) clubs.
Keith Look Loy
Interim President
TTSL
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Nice! nice!
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Super League is about clubs and communities.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The formation of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) on December 13, 2016, is arguably the most important development in our football in the last 15 years.
From 2002, All Sport Promotions (ASP) ran the competition known as the “National Super League (NSL)” under a franchise sold by theTTFF/TTFA. The participating clubs in this competition were orphans in this arrangement, belonging neither to Regional Association nor TTFA. And they were not in a position to seriously influence the politics and direction of the league and football.
The ASP franchise ended on December 31, 2016.
The NSL seized the moment to transform itself into the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL). For the first time, these clubs have the opportunity and the awesome responsibility of control over the administration, the politics and the finances of the competition in which they participate.
TTSL is, in conception and practice, an example of grassroots football democracy. It comes from the communities of the nation, including Tobago. It is not an imposition from above. It is founded on merit. No buying your way into the dance because you can afford it. You have to win your way in. And in a football culture where debt and dependency seem to be genetically predisposed, TTSL holds the potential to create an alternative model of viable football administration and management that depends on something other than favours and hand outs.
This potential is transparent. Although mere weeks old, TTSL has already been approached by potential commercial partners, and has received many inquiries from regional association clubs that wish to come into the TTSL fold—the consequence of the culture of league membership based on money not merit that has been introduced into our football.
TTSL insists that there must be an integral connection of promotion and relegation with the TT Pro League. But “professional football”, as currently organised in T&T, has failed—commercially and from an organisational standpoint.
Until the new century, every club in T&T was rooted in a community. The organic connection between club and people in a particular locale was lost around the turn of the century as teams began to buy their place in a league. In the dangerous social and economic climate which we endure, the time is now to return football to its rightful place—the community. The importance of successful community clubs is critical to any chance of social integration today. TTSL is found in 24 communities across the country, including Tobago.
TTSL has adopted a set of “Founding Principles”, which are essentially: (1) equality of ownership and responsibility to the league and to football; (2) commitment to a relationship with regional association football, and to the principle of promotion and relegation —membership based on merit not money —among all tiers of the local club game; and (3) equitable profit sharing by an agreed formula, because it is only the generation of profit for TTSL member club that will allow them sustainable resources to grow and develop themselves and football as a whole. The latitude for blaming others for failure is now gone.
We live in the era of 24-hour cable television football from elite leagues around the world. TTSL is not La Liga or the EPL or Serie A or the Bundesliga. We know this. It takes a conscious political decision by each and every one to support the local game.
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How TTSL could revolutionise T&T football; and why you should care!
Wired868.com.
“For the first time, these clubs have the opportunity and the awesome responsibility of control over the administration, the politics and the finances of the competition in which they participate…
“TTSL is, in conception and practice (so far) an example of grassroots, ‘coming from below’ football democracy. It comes from the communities of the nation, including Tobago. It is not an imposition from above. It is founded on merit.”
The following Letter to the Editor on the potential of the nascent Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) was submitted to Wired868 by interim TTSL president and CONCACAF technical study group member, Keith Look Loy:
The formation of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) on 13 December 2016 is arguably the most important development in local football in the last fifteen years.
That is a huge statement. Why do I make it? After all, in the last fifteen years we have witnessed amazing scenes.
Trinidad and Tobago participated in FIFA World Cups at men’s, women’s and youth level. A professional league was created at the apex of the local game. The Jack Warner era came to an end for better and worse—and I mean “better AND worse”, not “OR”.
Schoolboy football is now televised live to the region, even as the elite game suffers from a lack of gate receipts and income other than State funding. Amazing scenes, indeed.
But I repeat: The formation of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) on 13 December 2016 is arguably the most important development in local football in the last fifteen years.
Why? Because if the thirteen clubs that grasped the bull firmly by the horns on 13 December 2016 and bestrode it; if these thirteen clubs now bloomed to twenty with the joining of seven more to date; if these twenty clubs, therefore, press on with maturity, bravery and vision to fulfil the potential of their moment, then the landscape of Trinidad and Tobago football will be forever changed. I will explain.
For the past many years—since 2002 I believe—the TTFA has run a competition known as the “National Super League”. This was a mere competition, like the FA Cup and not a proper league. And it was run under a franchise sold by TTFF/TTFA and held by All Sport Promotions Limited (ASP).
ASP did a great job. But the participating clubs in this competition were orphans in this arrangement. Voiceless. Belonging neither to a Regional Association nor to the TTFF/TTFA. Having neither stake nor say in either. And certainly not in a position to seriously influence the politics and direction of the league and Football.
The ASP franchise ended on 31 December 2016. In the evolution of any organism, animal or otherwise, key moments come when the organism is transformed from one state into something qualitatively different.
The member clubs of the National Super League have seized their moment and transformed themselves into the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL).
For the first time, these clubs have the opportunity and the awesome responsibility of control over the administration, the politics and the finances of the competition in which they participate.
OK, you say. That’s nice. Buh wah make dat “the most important development in local football in the last 15 years?”
The answer to that question is simple. TTSL is, in conception and practice (so far) an example of grassroots, “coming from below” football democracy. It comes from the communities of the nation, including Tobago.
It is not an imposition from above. It is founded on merit. No buying your way into the dance because you can afford it. You have to win your way in.
And in a football culture where debt and dependency seem to be genetically predisposed, TTSL holds the potential to create an alternative model of viable football administration and management that depends on something other than favours and hand outs. Yes. Even in these “harsh economic times”.
Call me a dreamer. Call me naïve. But my conviction is that the TTSL and its member clubs could produce a product that is marketable—in their communities and to commercial partners.
This potential is transparent. And spurred on by recognition of this potential and with desire for something better than what exists, TTSL, although less than two months old, has already been approached by potential commercial partners, and many have been the enquiries from regional association clubs that wish to come into the TTSL fold—yes, the consequence of the culture of league membership based on money not merit that has been introduced into our Football by some.
TTSL insists that there must be an integral connection of promotion and relegation with the TT Pro League. Super League clubs have attempted to pursue this for many years. Indeed, TTSL recently wrote to TTPL seeking an urgent discussion of this and other matters.
But “professional football”, as currently organised in Trinidad and Tobago, has failed—commercially and from an organisational standpoint.
Until the new century, every successful club in Trinidad and Tobago was rooted in a community. This is no longer so. That organic connection between club and people in a particular locale was lost around the turn of the century as teams began to pay players and to buy their place in a league.
In the dangerous social and economic climate which we endure, the time is now to return Football to its rightful place—the community. Even as they already make a contribution to Society, the importance of successful community clubs is critical to any chance of social integration today.
TTSL is found in twenty-four communities across the country, including Tobago. This is our “competitive advantage” and TTSL clubs must use it.
In this regard, as few TTSL members now have a youth programme—a real one—it must be a priority in the TTSL scheme of things to have clubs establish and maintain viable youth set ups. We are football clubs and nothing catches youth and allows for their social education better than football.
TTSL has adopted a set of “Founding Principles”, which are essentially: (1) equality of ownership and responsibility to the League and to Football; (2) unflinching commitment to a relationship with regional association football, and to the principle of promotion and relegation—membership based on merit not money—among all tiers of the local club game; and (3) equitable profit sharing by an agreed formula, because it is only the generation of profit for TTSL member club that will allow them sustainable resources to grow and develop themselves and Football as a whole.
But these “Founding Principles”, as worthy as they may be, exist only on paper and will be materialised only via proper planning and smart, tireless work by each club. The latitude for blaming others for failure is now gone.
TTSL has submitted its application for TTFA membership on 8 January 2017 and has requested a meeting with the TTFA Board of Management to ensure its application is successful. The league is requesting nothing more from TTFA than recognition. No money. Nothing.
TTSL is a progressive development and we expect TTFA to facilitate the membership of an elite league with twenty-four of its members. The League will begin its inaugural season on Sunday 11 June 2017.
We live in the era of twenty-four hour cable television football from elite league around the world. TTSL is not La Liga or the EPL or Serie A or the Bundesliga. We know this. It takes a conscious political decision by each and everyone to support the local game.
You love Trinidad and Tobago? You love Trinidad and Tobago football? You love Trinidad and Tobago youth?
Stop talking. Find the nearest TTSL game and go support that Holy Trinity…
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Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs endorses TTSL.
By Keith Look Loy (TTSL).
The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Darryl Smith, has expressed his absolute support for the establishment of the new Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL).
Minister Smith met members of TTSL’s interim Board of Management this morning at his office. A wide ranging and very cordial discussion revolved around the establishment of the new league; TTSL’s fundamental principle of being commercially viable and independent and how this could be achieved; the important work of TTSL member clubs with youth in the communities; the availability of community football venues with revenue-generating potential; and the role of the State as a main facilitator of sporting development.
As a former player and community worker himself, Minister Smith demonstrated a ready grasp of the issues raised by the TTSL team and praised the league’s ongoing effort to ensure that it is able to kick off its inaugural season as planned on Sunday 11 June 2017. The Minister advised the TTSL representatives to always treat his as an open door as he understands the important work being done by Super League clubs.
TTSL expects its application for TTFA membership to be approved on 18 February 2017 at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Association.
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TTFA Statement – Matter regarding TTSL Proposal.
TTFA Media.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) wishes to place on record the following, in relation to requests submitted by the proposed Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL):
Correspondences received from the proposed TTSL were entered into the formal record for deliberation by the Board in its statutory meeting on January 18 2017. As a result of these deliberations, the Board mandated the General Secretariat to respond to representatives of the proposed TTSL as follow –
The TTFA’s Board fully supports the initiative taken by the current clubs playing in the National Super League to appoint an interim committee to manage this competition. However at the time of its initial submission, the proposed TTSL’s interim committee prematurely applied for membership, since, the National Super League has been, and still is, a TTFA competition whose operations are outsourced.
Moreover, pursuant to the TTFA’s constitution, the proposed TTSL must first become a duly constituted body governed by a constitution approved by the TTFA.
To be recognized as a duly constituted body governed by a constitution approved by the TTFA, the proposed TTSL needs to submit correspondence to the General Secretariat of the TTFA, enclosing a hard copy of the its proposed constitution and requesting that the same be ratified by the TTFA.
Should the General Secretariat of the TTFA receive the proposed TTSL’s constitution, a request will be made to include an application for membership as an Agenda item on the next permissible statutory Board meeting.
As an approved Agenda item, the proposed TTSL’s constitution will be reviewed and subsequently returned for ratification and adoption, including changes, if any, by the current clubs playing in the National Super League.
In consultation with the TTFA, the proposed TTSL will convene special meetings of the current clubs playing in the National Super League to adopt the proposed constitution and hold elections pursuant to same.
Providing that the constitution is adopted and elections are called to fill all positions identified by its constitution, the proposed TTSL will then become a duly constituted body that can apply to the TTFA for membership.
As a duly constituted body submitting for furtherance on its application for membership, the General Secretariat of the TTFA will request that the said matter be included as an Agenda item on the next permissible statutory Board meeting for deliberation.
As an approved Agenda item, the Board of the TTFA will consider the proposed TTSL’s application for membership in its entirety before a vote is taken.
Should the vote be in support of the proposed TTSL application for membership, and pursuant with Article 9.1 of the TTFA’s constitution, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) needs to be called, guided by Article 29.1 of the TTFA’s constitution, to facilitate deliberation by the TTFA’s General Meeting Delegates.
Conscious of the extensive nature of the process previously outlined, the Board of the TTFA committed a subcommittee, as well as the General Secretariat, to engage the proposed TTSL representatives in discourse and activities that will allow this membership application to be processed in the shortest possible time.
The representatives of the proposed TTSL have since positively responded to the advice relayed, specific to the application for membership process by submitting their constitution on January 26th, 2017, and have accepted the Board’s gesture to meet with the subcommittee designated by the Board.
By all foreseeable projections, the subcommittee of the TTFA’s Board and the representatives of the proposed TTSL will meet prior to the next scheduled statutory meeting of the FA’s Board on February 15 2017.
The TTFA trusts that this release clearly articulates its position and the activities required to process the proposed TTSL’s admission application while providing updates consistent with maintaining and further developing a professional relationship with our stakeholders.
Related correspondence was sent to TTSL’s Interim President Mr. Keith Look Loy on January 25th, 2017, outlining the necessary steps to be considered for membership into the FA.
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TTSL told to produce by-laws.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
It’s now a patient wait for clubs in the T&T Super League (TTSL) to know their fate on whether approval will be granted by the parent, T&T Football Association, for them to run the super league this year.
A starting date of June 11 has already been set for kick-off but some officials of TTSL are surprised by the delay, which they described as unnecessary. At a meeting between the parties (TTFA/TTSL) at the TTFA office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday night, the TTSL was told to produce their by-laws, this after they were initially asked to produce their constitution.
Yesterday, Keith Look Loy, the TTSL’s interim president said his association has agreed to abide by the procedures of the TTFA, but noted their constitution is merely the same as everyone else, including the six Regional Associations (Eastern Football Association- EFA, NFA, SFA, CFA, Tobago Football Association- TFA and the Eastern Counties Football Union-ECFU, Women’s Football and T&T Pro League etc.
His hopes that the TTSL Constitution would have been approved at TTFA’s statutory Board meeting on 15 February was dashed following a release by the TTFA on Tuesday that outlined a lengthy procedure that had to be taken before approval can be granted to the TTSL as a member. And on Wednesday night the TTFA stated this procedure may be further affected by the coming Carnival activities, as well as other personal agendas by its members.
The TTSL has since given a date of mid March for a resolution and gave a commitment that its by-laws will be submitted shortly.
Look Loy, who has spent his entire life in the sport from player, coach, manager and now FIFA official, said he could not understand why the tidious process in granting approval to a league that will enhance the quality of football in T&T all-round. “In fact I do not believe that the actual management of the TTFA should decide on whether the TTSL should be accepted as a member or not, but rather the general membership. “And this decision should be taken at one of the football association’s general meetings” the official said.
Guardian Media Sports understands that there are concerns the TTSL, which produces a high level of competition in both its Premiership and Championship divisions can rival the T&T Pro League. Look Loy, the coach and president of Super League champs Sports and Games Santa Rosa FC has made it clear he wants a speedy and amicable resolution to their issues, saying the interim committee of the TTSL has gone ahead with its search for sponsorships of the league and wanted both the TTSL and the TTFA to work togerther for the betterment of the sport in T&T.
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TTSL told to produce by-laws.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
It’s now a patient wait for clubs in the T&T Super League (TTSL) to know their fate on whether approval will be granted by the parent, T&T Football Association, for them to run the super league this year.
A starting date of June 11 has already been set for kick-off but some officials of TTSL are surprised by the delay, which they described as unnecessary. At a meeting between the parties (TTFA/TTSL) at the TTFA office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday night, the TTSL was told to produce their by-laws, this after they were initially asked to produce their constitution.
Yesterday, Keith Look Loy, the TTSL’s interim president said his association has agreed to abide by the procedures of the TTFA, but noted their constitution is merely the same as everyone else, including the six Regional Associations (Eastern Football Association- EFA, NFA, SFA, CFA, Tobago Football Association- TFA and the Eastern Counties Football Union-ECFU, Women’s Football and T&T Pro League etc.
His hopes that the TTSL Constitution would have been approved at TTFA’s statutory Board meeting on 15 February was dashed following a release by the TTFA on Tuesday that outlined a lengthy procedure that had to be taken before approval can be granted to the TTSL as a member. And on Wednesday night the TTFA stated this procedure may be further affected by the coming Carnival activities, as well as other personal agendas by its members.
The TTSL has since given a date of mid March for a resolution and gave a commitment that its by-laws will be submitted shortly.
Look Loy, who has spent his entire life in the sport from player, coach, manager and now FIFA official, said he could not understand why the tidious process in granting approval to a league that will enhance the quality of football in T&T all-round. “In fact I do not believe that the actual management of the TTFA should decide on whether the TTSL should be accepted as a member or not, but rather the general membership. “And this decision should be taken at one of the football association’s general meetings” the official said.
Guardian Media Sports understands that there are concerns the TTSL, which produces a high level of competition in both its Premiership and Championship divisions can rival the T&T Pro League. Look Loy, the coach and president of Super League champs Sports and Games Santa Rosa FC has made it clear he wants a speedy and amicable resolution to their issues, saying the interim committee of the TTSL has gone ahead with its search for sponsorships of the league and wanted both the TTSL and the TTFA to work togerther for the betterment of the sport in T&T.
Without trying to be too arrogant, a nit picker or straying too far from the topic, do you mean to say a journalist for a national newspaper can't spell "tedious"?? If not does his software not have a spell check feature? It's not the first time this meat head has made similar errors either. Smdh
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TT Super League partners with UMBRO.
By TTSL Press Release.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) is pleased to announce a commercial partnership with global sportswear brand, Umbro. This partnership will cover the period March 2017 to December 2019, with an option for renewal to cover 2019.
TTSL was established on 13 December 2016. The League applied for TTFA membership on 8 January 2017. Since that date TTSL has embarked on a course of internal institutionalization and has established a company, Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited, to manage the League’s commercial affairs. TTSL has also established several internal committees since applying for TTFA membership.
In February, the TTSL general membership weighed proposals submitted by Lotto, Mitre and Umbro concerning these brands’ sponsorship of equipment for member clubs. Members determined the Umbro proposal to be the best. TTSL, therefore, has assigned Official Partner status to Umbro, which will provide a mix of free and significantly reduced-price equipment of various types to TTSL members.
TTSL sees this development as a major step in its evolution from a TTFA-owned competition to an autonomous, member-owned League. The offer of sponsorship from three globally recognized brands and eventual partnership with Umbro highlights the credibility of our new League and underlines its growth potential.
TTSL calls on TTFA to finally approve its membership application with urgency as the League is scheduled to begin on 11 June 2017.
RELATED NEWS
Two months to kick-off
...New T&T Super League partners with Umbro, awaits TTFA
By Ashford Jackman (Express).
TWO MONTHS after applying for membership with the local governing body for football, the newly former Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) is still awaiting ratification but has targeted early June for the start of its inaugural season.
Details of the TTSL’s progress were revealed yesterday at a media event announcing its partnership with global sportswear and football equipment producer Umbro and its local agent, Sports and Games Ltd.
Once the TTFA sanctions it, the TTSL will replace the former National Super League as the country’s second-tier club football competition. However, interim president Keith Look Loy emphasised that the new entity would not be run along the lines of others throughout the country’s football history and would steer away from being “governed by debt and dependency”.
“We want to break that culture; we want to depart from that mode,” he told reporters. “The founding purpose of our league is to make our clubs commercially viable entities and to make the league a channel through which commercial benefit comes to the clubs.”
Look Loy said the league would accommodate 24 clubs, consisting of 14 in its top division (League One) and ten in League Two. At present, he added, 22 clubs have signed up, with the other two expected to come from the TTFA’s Champion of Champions playoff series.
As a means of achieving parity, the TTSL would share any monies earned among its 24 shareholders. Fifty per cent would be divided equally among the 24 while another 25 per cent would be shared based on league placings. The other 25 per cent would be reinvested in the running of the TTSL.
Look Loy cited Umbro’s sponsorship as another example of how club sustainability would be encouraged.
In the deal, Umbro will provide “a mix of free and significantly reduced-price equipment of various types” to TTSL members, including football kits and all match balls.
“This means that their resources could go to other areas. We have no interest in merely running a competition; that is the history of our football,” Look Loy said.
“Domestic football in T&T has long been abandoned by the authorities. The regional associations, the clubs are left to their own devices to sink, swim, succeed or fail and generally operate in debt. We want to depart from that.”
Sports and Games CEO Omar Hadeed said the move was part of Umbro’s decision to expand worldwide into new markets, including the Caribbean.
“What Sports and Games has done through Umbro is provide a number of footballs free of charge for all teams. We are absorbing the cost of some of the uniforms, with the hope that they (the TTSL clubs) eventually purchase for the youth teams.”
Hadeed linked the deal to his firm’s relationship with Look Loy’s FC Santa Rosa in the NSL last year.
“Our partnership with the newly formed Super League is testament to the success of Mr Keith Look Loy because we are investing in him. If he can run the Super League half as well as he does his own team, it will be a huge success.”
Meanwhile, the TTSL, having been established as a limited company and submitted all required documentation to the TTFA, is hoping ratification comes soon.
It plans to kick off on June 4 with a “Super Cup” between last year’s NSL league and knockout champions before starting league competition one week later.
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I really hope they can pull this off.
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I really hope they can pull this off.
You really feel DJW will approve this when he have no control over it.
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I really hope they can pull this off.
You really feel DJW will approve this when he have no control over it.
Hopefully he has no choice! I'm sure the Pro League is likely to take issue as this league will probably end up competing with them. And the teams having established links to their communities gives them an immediate advantage over the Pro League. I am hoping though that DJW's hands will be tied by the constitution and once they meet all the requirements then TTFA will have no choice but to ratify the league.
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I'd be absolutely shocked if DJW and his minions approve this. They already ent like Look Loy
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The dictator will sabotage this initiative .....
He's a house negro under manners, so anything that progresses TT football will be counter to his agenda set forth for him...
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Keith's latest letter to Justin Latapy-George.
Dear Sir,
On 23 February 2017 you acknowledged receipt of documents I emailed to you regarding Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited.
I now request an update on the status of TTSL’s application for TTFA membership, which, I remind you, was submitted on 8 January 2017 and remains unresolved. TTSL has expeditiously responded to every TTFA request for information but, effectively, our membership application has not been progressed by the TTFA Board of Management.
I repeat TTSL’s oft stated position that our membership application MUST, by constitutional requirement, be submitted to TTFA’s General Meeting for approval. This right does not belong to the TTFA Board.
TTSL hereby, once again and through your office, calls on the TTFA Board to submit our application to the Extraordinary General Meeting that is supposedly scheduled for March 2017, OR to call such a Meeting with the greatest urgency to settle what, it would seem, is now an unnecessary struggle for TTSL’s membership in TTFA.
I anticipate your response.
Best regards.
Keith Look Loy
TTSL
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Keith's latest letter to Justin Latapy-George.
Dear Sir,
On 23 February 2017 you acknowledged receipt of documents I emailed to you regarding Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited.
I now request an update on the status of TTSL’s application for TTFA membership, which, I remind you, was submitted on 8 January 2017 and remains unresolved. TTSL has expeditiously responded to every TTFA request for information but, effectively, our membership application has not been progressed by the TTFA Board of Management.
I repeat TTSL’s oft stated position that our membership application MUST, by constitutional requirement, be submitted to TTFA’s General Meeting for approval. This right does not belong to the TTFA Board.
TTSL hereby, once again and through your office, calls on the TTFA Board to submit our application to the Extraordinary General Meeting that is supposedly scheduled for March 2017, OR to call such a Meeting with the greatest urgency to settle what, it would seem, is now an unnecessary struggle for TTSL’s membership in TTFA.
I anticipate your response.
Best regards.
Keith Look Loy
TTSL
Well then, I guess the easy block this would be to cancel that meeting for some trumped up reason then not cancel another one until it's too late for the TTSL season. The question then becomes what avenues for redress would be available to TTSL in that case and whether or not there's a back up plan? Hope there is.
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No we wanted a club owner as president because he make ah pdf...den yuh consider d trini propensity to be jealous and small minded.....and DJW is king small mind so..............
Sent from my SM-J105B using Tapatalk
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To: Justin Latapy
General Secretary, TTFA
Port of Spain
13 March 2017
Dear Sir,
The member cubs of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League met yesterday, Saturday 11 March 2017. After discussion of the Central Football Association (CFA) petition seeking an Extraordinary General Meeting, the membership unanimously adopted the following resolution,
“Be it resolved that the membership assembled at the TTSL General Meeting held on 11 March 2017 at the Ato Boldon Stadium from 2.00PM, agrees with the petition of the Central Football Association calling for an Extraordinary Meeting of the TTFA, agrees to the date, time and venue proposed in said petition, and agrees to the agenda proposed in said petition”.
Consequently, please note that the eight (8.) votes allocated to the Super League by the TTFA Constitution (2015) are to be counted in favour of the CFA’s petition. The Super League delegates to the TTFA General Meeting are:
Bethel FC
Club Sando
Cunupia FC
Defence Force FC
FC Santa Rosa
Guaya United FC
Siparia Spurs FC
WASA FC
Best regards.
Keith Look Loy
Interim President
TTSL
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To: Justin Latapy
General Secretary, TTFA
Port of Spain
Sir,
I attach documents regarding the above-captioned ahead of the meeting between TTSL’s membership and members of the TTFA Board scheduled for today, Monday 20 match 2017, at 5.30PM at TTFA offices in Port of Spain. A signed and stamped copy of each document will be hand delivered to the TTFA Secretary at today’s meeting.
Regarding the By Laws, and by way of explanation, TTSL legal counsel, Mr. Stefan Fabien, has advised that according to the requirements of the Companies Act 1995 of Trinidad and Tobago, TTSL had not properly adopted and minuted its adoption of its By Laws. This has been rectified, as the attached minutes demonstrate, and the requirements of said law are now satisfied.
Further, regarding TTSL’s shareholders, please note that a full member, i.e. a club which has paid its TTSL membership fee, and which is incorporated or has declared a trustee for the purpose, is entitled to receive an equal share in TTSL Limited. As the attached minutes demonstrate, the decision has been legally taken by TTSL’s Board of Directors to issue shares to member clubs that satisfy the requirements of TTSL’s By Laws. These shares were issued as of 18 March 2017. At 19 March 2017, the beneficiary clubs are:
Barrackpore United SC
Bethel FC
Club Sando
Cunupia FC
Defence Force FC
FC Santa Rosa
Guaya United FC
Marabella Family Crisis Centre
Petrotrin Palo Seco SC
1976 Phoenix FC
Petit Valley United FC
Police FC
Prisons FC
Real Maracas FC
Saddle Hill Hotspur FC
Siparia Spurs FC
WASA FC
The following clubs, upon attaining full member status, and upon incorporation of declaration of a trustee, will be entitled to received an equal share in the TTSL:
Central 500 Spartans FC
Matura Reunited FC
Queen’s Park Cricket Club
UTT
Youth Stars FC
Thus, the legal requirements of Trinidad and Tobago Company Law have been satisfied.
TTSL very much anticipates today’s meeting.
Regards.
Keith Look Loy
TTSL
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Cunupia FC sign agreement with Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
By Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).
Cunupia FC will be campaigning in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) for its 2017 season but their main goal is to be the best football club in the country. As part of their mission, Cunupia FC coach, Michael De Four, visited famed Brazilian club, Cruzeiro, on March where he inspected their infrastructure, interacted with their players and officials and signed a player exchange agreement during a three-week stay.
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is one of Brazil’s biggest ever clubs, producing outstanding players such as 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo, renowned goalkeeper Dida and hard-tackling ex-Chelsea midfielder Ramires. Several other legends have played for the Belo Horizonte-based club including 1970 World Cup champion Jairzinho, former Barcelona icon Rivaldo, 2001 UEFA Champions League winner Giovane Elber and many others.
Speaking to Newsday about his visit, DeFour, who coached Cunupia FC to their Championship title last year, declared: “This trip came about after winning the Central zone and winning the (National Super League) Championship (division). We at the club want to go to the next level.
We don’t want to look at a top T&T club and say ‘we want to be like that’. We wanted to see how a top international club operates and what better place to do that than Brazil?” He continued: “When I see Ronaldo and Maicon came from there, I asked why not (visit)? Cruzeiro constantly produces good players and we wanted to see why.” One of the areas of interest to De Four and Cunupia FC was Cruzeiro’s approach to getting players to a superior fitness level.
“We at the club feel we play good and attractive football. Over the years, every national coach that is hired says we have to get fitter. Part of our drive is to see what is their (Cruzeiro) approach of conditioning an international level calibre player and I got a big insight into that,” he said.
While not willing to disclose what he learned, he indicated that moving forward, fitness “has to be a more scientific approach.
It can’t be just seeing a player running some laps.” Adding to the allure of the famous club was the culture of football that surrounds it.
“I think T&T could fit in Brazil 1700 times. I’ve been to places where men were just ‘sweating’ and they were on turf (grass).
I think T&T only has one turf facility.
There are turf pitches for children Under-10 as well to just take a sweat. Football plays here 12 months a year,” he said.
Comparing T&T to Brazil, he added: “Football here (in Trinidad) is mostly recreational and you might have a man trying to make it professional. But there, it is a job and children grow up wanting to be a footballer just like maybe a doctor or lawyer or policeman.” A key component of the visit was the fostering of a long term relationship with the Brazilian club.
“We signed an agreement for player exchange as well as other things like coaches (exchange) and (sharing) knowledge.
This agreement takes effect immediately but we have to get ourselves organised and tweak a few things first,” he said.
De Four said he marvelled at the youth development programme at Cruzeiro which he called a factory.
“Children Under-12 get dropped off at the facility from 7am and they go to class, get their meals and everything and play football too. There is law that says you can’t live there (at the club) under the age of 14 but basically everything is in place. It’s like a football factory here,” he said.
De Four said he was stunned by the standard of football on display by some of the youngsters at the club.
“When they are playing a game, it’s very organised and no coach is shouting at them to pass the ball or anything like that. They already know what they have to do,” he said.
Asked to summarise his stay in Brazil, the local coach said: “It was a wonderful, edifying and a nice learning experience.” He also described the city of Belo Horizonte as “simply beautiful” and hopes to return soon.
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TTSL rejects TTFA’s proposal.
THE recently-formed TTSL (Trinidad and Tobago Super League) has unanimously rejected a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Board’s sub-committee on the TTSL.
In a media release issued yesterday, the TTSL noted that its 21 member clubs, at a meeting on March 20, were presented with the MOU, which offered to allow the clubs/ TTSL to run the National Super League.
“In response, TTSL committed to forward a formal proposal counter offer to the TTFA’s rejected MOU,” the media release said. “(The) TTSL is not requesting TTFA membership for its administrative and commercial arm TTSL Limited but for recognition of TTSL as an autonomous, second tier league within the hierarchy of TT football, which is legally represented by TTSL Limited.”
Memorandum of agreement between the TTSL and the TTFA.
Dear Sir,
At the meeting of Monday 20 March 2017 between the TTFA Board’s sub-committee on TTSL and the general membership of TTSL, said sub-committee tabled a proposed Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between TTFA and the clubs of TTSL, which offered to allow the clubs/TTSL to run the National Super League. This proposed MOU was unanimously rejected by the twenty-one (21) TTSL clubs represented at the meeting. In response, TTSL committed to forward a formal proposal counter offer to the TTFA’s rejected MOU.
TTSL proposes to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with TTFA, which is copied below. This proposed MOA offers an alternative pathway to the recognition of our league, which is based on the TT Pro League model, which is:
1. The ten (10) member clubs of TT Pro League are directly affiliated to the TTFA and are full members of TTFA.
2. These ten (10) member clubs are collectively recognized as TT Pro League, an autonomous league within TTFA, with representation in the TTFA Constitution and General Meeting.
Accordingly, TTSL is of the view that the recognized and established TT Pro League model should applied to TTSL as follows:
1. The current twenty-two (22) member clubs of TT Super League are already directly affiliated to TTFA and are full members of TTFA.
2. These current twenty-two (22) members clubs should be collectively recognized as TT Super League, an autonomous league within TTFA, with representation in the TTFA Constitution and General Meeting.
3. An MOA should be signed between TTFA and TTSL Limited, the legal representative of the twenty-two (22) TTFA members which currently comprise TTSL.
Please note that TTSL is NOT requesting TTFA membership for its administrative and commercial arm, TTSL Limited, but for recognition of TTSL as an autonomous, second tier league within the hierarchy of Trinidad and Tobago football, which is legally represented by TTSL Limited.
TTFA officials have repeatedly stated the Association’s readiness to approve TTSL. Therefore, TTSL members await TTFA’s urgent response.
Keith Look Loy
TTSL
Below is the entire proposed MOA.
Memorandum of Agreement
This Agreement is made and effective from on xx of xxxx 2017
Between
1. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (‘TTFA’), a body corporate established under Act No. 17 of 1982 under the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which is responsible for the regulation, control, conduct and promotion of football in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a member of both the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (‘CONCACAF’) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (‘FIFA’) on the one part; and
And
2. Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, Chap. 81:01 of the Laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to represent the interests of the twenty-two (22) football clubs listed in Schedule 1, which is annexed to this Agreement, and which are full members of the TTFA that played in the 2016 TTFA National Super League (‘TTSL’) on the other part.
By which IT IS AGREED:
FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF THIS AGREEMENT
1.1 - The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League (‘TT Pro League’) is the first tier of league football in Trinidad and Tobago.
FIFA has mandated TTFA to establish a properly constituted second tier of league football in conjunction with the clubs of the TTFA National Super League.
1.3 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) recognizes the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), which comprises the clubs that played in the TTFA National Super League, as listed in Schedule A appended hereto.
4. TTFA and TTSL mutually recognize each other and agree to work together to improve and develop the game of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
5. TTFA recognizes Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited (TTSL Limited) as the sole legal, administrative and commercial representative and arm of TTSL, the full member clubs of which are the sole shareholders in TTSL Limited, as outlined in the company’s by-laws.
PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT
1. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the terms and conditions under which the TTSL member clubs will establish and manage their own football competitions, in accordance with requirements of the TTFA Constitution.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
TTFA hereby agrees with TTSL Limited and recognizes that:
1. TTSL is the second tier of league football in Trinidad and Tobago;
2. TTSL is an autonomous football league comprising the clubs listed in the attached Schedule 1, as may vary from time to time through the system of relegation from or promotion to TTSL;
3. Promotion and relegation between TTSL and Regional Association football will take place by way of the annual TTFA Champion of Champions tournament for Regional Association champions;
4. TTSL member clubs are solely responsible for the establishment and management of the League competition, the League Cup competition and any other competition they may choose to establish;
5. TTSL member clubs retain their status as full members of TTFA, directly affiliated to the TTFA;
6. TTSL replaces the TTFA National Super League in the organizational structure and Constitution of the TTFA;
7. TTSL Limited is the administrative and commercial arm of TTSL, solely responsible for the management of the TTSL;
NO VARIATION
1. This Agreement may not be unilaterally abrogated or amended, and may be altered only by mutual consent of TTFA and TTSL Ltd.
2. Any changes, modifications, revisions or amendments to this Agreement, which are mutually agreed upon by and between TTFA and TTSL Ltd, shall be incorporated by written instrument, and become effective when executed and signed by authorized representatives of both parties to this Agreement.
GOVERNING LAW
1. This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
NO PARTNERSHIP OR AGENCY
1. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between any of the parties, constitute any party the agent of another party, or authorise any party to make or enter into any commitments for or on behalf of any other party
7.0 - ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT
7.1 - This Agreement hereto constitutes the entire Agreement between the contracting Parties in connection with the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any previous discussion, agreement, statement, representation, understanding or undertaking whether written or oral given or made before the effective date of this Agreement relating to the subject matter.
SEVERABILITY
1. If any provision or part-provision of this agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of this agreement
2. If one party gives notice to the other of the possibility that any provision or part-provision of this agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision so that, as amended, it is legal, valid and enforceable, and, to the greatest extent possible, achieves the intended commercial result of the original provision
WAIVER
1. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under this agreement or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
1. All rights granted to either of the parties shall be cumulative and the exercise by either of the parties of any right under this Agreement shall not restrict or prejudice the exercise of any other right granted by this Agreement or otherwise available to it
THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
11.1 - Except where expressly provided to the contrary, this Agreement is not intended to be for the benefit of, and shall not be enforceable by any person who is not specifically named at the date of this Agreement as a party to it, and neither party can declare itself a trustee for the benefit of a third party.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
1. The parties acknowledge and agree that they shall adopt a policy of trying to reach settlement of all matters at issue between them by an amicable process of negotiation and mediation.
2. Any and all claims, controversies, disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and which remain unresolved after direct negotiation with the parties, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, the Parties agree to submit the dispute to Mediation, and any signed resolution arrived at in Mediation shall be binding upon the Parties. In the event that the Parties cannot agree a Mediator, such Mediator shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Centre of Trinidad and Tobago.
3. If either party fails or refuses to agree to or participate in the ADR procedure or where the Parties fail to arrive at a resolution in Mediation within 10 days of the commencement of such Mediation or in any event the dispute is not resolved within 60 calendar days after it has arisen, either party may, by notice in writing, inform the other party of its intention to pursue any other remedies that may be available to it, provided that no such conduct, statements, promises, offers, views and opinions expressed during the course of the mediation shall be used in any subsequent litigation proceedings.
4. Both parties reserve all their respective rights in the event that no agreed resolution shall be reached in the ADR procedure, and neither shall be deemed to be precluded from taking such interim formal steps as may be considered necessary to protect such party’s position or to preserve any legal right or remedy while the mediation or other ADR procedure is pending or continuing.
AS WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been signed on behalf of the parties.
SIGNED BY DAVID JOHN WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION in the presence of:
SIGNED BY KEITH LOOK LOY
DIRECTOR and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE LIMITED in the presence of:
Title of Witness
Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited
Name of Witness
Camara David
SCHEDULE 1
List of Clubs
Barrackpore United FC
Bethel FC
Central 500 Spartans FC
Club Sando
Cunupia FC
FC Santa Rosa
Guaya United FC
Marabella Family Crisis Centre
Matura Reunited FC
Petit Valley United FC
Petrotrin Palo Seco Sports Club
1976 Phoenix FC
Prisons FC
Queen’s Park Cricket Club
Real Maracas FC
Saddle Hill Hotspur FC
Siparia Spurs FC
Defence Force FC
Police FC
University of Trinidad and Tobago
WASA FC
Youth Stars FC
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AS WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been signed on behalf of the parties.
SIGNED BY DAVID JOHN WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION in the presence of:
SIGNED BY KEITH LOOK LOY
DIRECTOR and duly authorized representative of
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE LIMITED in the presence of:
Title of Witness
Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited
Name of Witness
Camara David
Allyuh sure this is a copy of the real transaction. Right now Contro pump so much conspiracy theory in meh head, I am leaning on the skeptical side now.
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The MOA I posted deeks is PROPOSED. NOT SIGNED. The TTSL still waiting.
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The MOA I posted deeks is PROPOSED. NOT SIGNED. The TTSL still waiting.
Cool, Breds!
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What a shame, the TTFA wants to control everything, lets see what Look Loy go do now because de FIFA president and John Williams is personal friends, so DJW feel nobody could touch him.
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What a shame, the TTFA wants to control everything, lets see what Look Loy go do now because de FIFA president and John Williams is personal friends, so DJW feel nobody could touch him.
Leh we see what go happen!
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I would think that once they can prove that they (TTSL) have complied with all of the requirements of the TTFA constitution then they could apply to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) for an injunction(or something so), if TTFA continues to block them.
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CFA and Super League clubs: Is TTFA trying to develop football or kill it?
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams and his board of directors face more accusations of operating in poor faith and being a law unto itself, as the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) and the Central Football Association (CFA) have complained of being snubbed by local football’s governing body.
For close to year, CFA general secretary Clynt Taylor tried unsuccessfully to replace his zone’s representative, Samuel Saunders, on the TTFA’s board of directors—a straightforward procedure according to the constitution.
While, for the fledgling Super League, it is going on four months that its 24 prospective clubs—all already TTFA affiliates—have petitioned the local football body for formal recognition. Without that endorsement, the League and everyone associated with it would be open to sanctions from FIFA.
TTSL interim president Keith Look Loy claimed the TTFA is attempting to hoodwink the public into believing that the delays are down to “process and constitutional requirements.” He suggested otherwise.
“Since January 2017, TTSL has submitted every documentation requested by TTFA,” Look Loy told Wired868. “We have satisfied every requirement of the TTFA Constitution and the laws of Trinidad and Tobago. The delay in the approval of TTSL’s membership not procedural. It is the frustration of democracy.
“The collective democratic will and right of TTSL’s twenty-two members to form their own league is being frustrated by a very small group of people at the top of the TTFA hierarchy for their own reasons.”
The National Super League was formed in 2003 and was the brainchild of All Sports Promotions director Anthony Harford. However, the competition—which was meant to be a bridge between zonal competition and the Pro League—always belonged to the TTFA and was merely run by All Sports.
The seed for the eventual breakaway of the TTSL was planted in 2015, as the local football body approved a new constitution.
“When FIFA came in 2015 and went through the whole constitutional exercise with [then TTFA president Raymond] Tim Kee, they mandated the TTFA to form a proper league with the Super League clubs,” said Look Loy, “because the Super League is really a competition and not a league. FIFA brought that to us.
“Then in November 2016, [current TTFA vice-president] Ewing Davis introduced the issue of restructuring the league and we took that bit between our teeth and ran with it.”
Look Loy tried to explain the difference between a competition and league and why the clubs felt compelled to act.
“A competition is something that we fully understood that the TTFA could decide to play or not to play [on any given year],” said Look Loy. “Last year, somebody in a bathroom decided not to hold the FA Cup and they simply didn’t. That was never explained to us.
“Similarly, they never held the Champions of Champions Cup [for zonal teams]. And they could simply decide not to have a Super League this year and we would be forced to take a year off.
“So, based on the FIFA mandate and our precarious position as a competition, we decided we would get together and form ourselves as a league.”
The fact that All Sports Promotions had a one-year contract from the TTFA which ended on 13 December 2016 and was up for review, rather than guaranteed automatic renewal, did nothing to soothe the anxiety of the clubs.
On 13 December, 13 clubs decided to take fate into their own hands and the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) was formally created. The number of stakeholder clubs has almost doubled since.
The League intends to kick off its inaugural season on Sunday 11 June 2017 and, last month, unveiled a two year sponsorship deal with global sporting company, Umbro.
Harford, who had some health issues in 2016, said the departure of key All Sports employee, Richard Piper, to the TTFA would have left his company needing to source new administrative talent to run the competition anyway. He said he “gracefully accepted” the parting of ways from the competition he founded.
“If I am completely honest, after doing it for 14 years I am ready to give it up anyway,” said Harford. “For me, there is absolutely no issue or problem. It is just that it has evolved.”
The TTFA has not been as warm to the fledgling body so far.
After a heated meeting between the two parties last month, TTFA general secretary Justin Latapy-George issued a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 13 March, which drew up the criteria under which the football body would allow the TTSL to operate.
Latapy-George described the TTSL as: “the entity applying for permission to administer the National Super League.”
Look Loy said he and his clubs rejected any notion that the Super League clubs were applying to run a TTFA competition. And, remarkably, the TTFA intended to charge the clubs for the right to their own competition which would remain wholly owned by the local football body.
Look Loy insisted that the TTSL wanted to be an autonomous body operating under the TTFA’s umbrella, just like the Pro League. It intended to accept nothing less than that.
Thus far, no motive has been advanced by either side to explain the TTFA’s supposedly adversarial approach.
At present, the TTFA’s constitution assures the National Super League of eight from 49 voting delegates at its elections or 16 percent of the local football electorate. It is two less than the 10 delegates afforded to the 10-club Pro League.
Should the Super League teams retain this political bargaining chip, it will remain the second largest voting bloc in local football and could be viewed as a potential headache for an incumbent TTFA president.
Also, the TTSL’s commercial gains could be viewed as a threat to the Pro League in a sport industry often starved of resources. While the Pro League’s 10 clubs play most of their games at four or five venues—all in Trinidad—and often to paltry audiences, the Super League’s 24 clubs are spread across nearly two dozen venues in the country including four in Tobago.
Guayaguayare-based club, Guaya United, has a support base which dwarfs that of most Pro League teams while Siparia United, Petrotrin Palo Seco, Matura United, Bethel United and champions FC Santa Rosa also boasted of getting hundreds of fans out for important match-ups.
John-Williams is the owner of Pro League club, W Connection, which is being run by his daughter, Renee John-Williams, in his absence. Losing a grip on the TTSL could feasibly have implications for the Pro League down the line, particularly as the top flight competition depends heavily on a government subvention that has become unreliable in recent years.
There is a similar suspicion that it suits the John-Williams-led TTFA board to ignore the CFA’s attempts to replace Saunders as its representative on local football’s decision making body.
Saunders was appointed to the TTFA board in 2015 by the CFA executive led by then president Bryan Layne, who subsequently left office in a matter of weeks. But, according to Taylor, Saunders showed no interest in dealing with the newly elected zonal executive.
“We came into office in 2015 and there was no intention then to move Saunders,” Taylor told Wired868. “But we kept sending him messages to meet with us, to join us at various events and to report back to us after board meetings. And he has never once even acknowledged our messages…
“In fact, he has never responded to us until after we voted to remove him. He has never showed that he wants to work with us. And someone told us that his position is when he is on the [TTFA] board, he is there to represent the board and not the CFA.”
The CFA wrote to the TTFA in June 2016 and informed the local football body that it wanted to replace Saunders as its representative on the board of directors.
By then, Saunders, who is an attorney, had already emerged as a key ally for the John-Williams-led administration.
Just days after John-Williams took office on 29 November 2015, Saunders was the only person outside of the new president’s slate who was appointed to a committee meant to stave off potential strike action by the Soca Warriors.
Saunders has since become a go-to-guy for the TTFA’s sticky legal situations. When the National Futsal Team threatened legal action against the local football, Saunders was put on a committee to liaise with them. And, ironically, he is also on the committee entrusted with handling the TTSL’s petition for recognition from the TTFA.
Taylor claimed that the CFA’s letters to the TTFA were either ignored or, when John-Williams did respond, responses were not copied to the Central zone and he had to rely on other members to forward them to him.
“They have not responded to us officially since June last year,” said Taylor. “Everything we hear was sent via a third party and not sent directly to us… The only thing that would happen is [former TTFA general secretary] Azaad [Khan] would acknowledge our letter and [current general secretary] Justin Latapy-George would acknowledge it. But beyond that there is nothing.”
On 13 March 2013, the frustrated CFA general secretary informed the TTFA president that he had received support for an Extraordinary General Meeting from the required 51 percent of delegates, so as to regain his body’s voice on the board.
The TTSL was named among the CFA’s backers and their quest for formal recognition is also scheduled for discussion at the EGM. However, Taylor said a source tipped him off that John-Williams allegedly intended to ignore the letter on the grounds that the TTSL was not recognised by the TTFA,
Taylor responded by having each of the TTSL’s member clubs write in to pledge their individual support.
Look Loy reiterated the TTSL’s support for the Central zone.
“More than half of TTFA members, the constitutional requirement, have called on the TTFA to call the meeting,” said Look Loy. “It is important to note here that three regional associations with representation on the TTFA board have supported the CFA petition. The fact that they should do so is a clear indication that there is dissatisfaction with the board’s handling of these two matters.”
Taylor said he was unhappy to deal with this issue in public but felt the TTFA board left him with no choice.
“We don’t like it because it is not good for football and it is not good for the image of the TTFA when one of your regional members is fighting with you,” Taylor told Wired868. “We were trying to do it quietly but, seeing as how we were being ignored, we had to involve the media. None of us were happy about having to use this means to get a representative on the board like everyone else.
“If we had a choice we wouldn’t do this but what else can we do?”
Look Loy urged John-Williams and his fellow board members to carefully consider their role in local football as they go about their duties.
“The TTFA must decide if its mandate is to develop football or to kill it,” said Look Loy. “If we are not granted approval urgently, 22 of the country’s top clubs will be forced to forget football for 2017. TTSL is of the view that what applies for the TT Pro League should be good enough to apply to the TT Super League. If their 10 club league is recognised, so too should our 24 club league be.
“We want the MOU to be signed urgently so we could proceed with our business, as our operations are being stymied by the lack of official TTFA membership.”
Harford said he is confused by the TTFA’s position.
“I don’t think the TTFA has a choice,” said Harford. “I think they do have to accept the Super League and they should accept the Super League. They cannot afford to let 23 or 24 clubs not play football. That is nonsense.”
The question is when will the TTFA accept the new body.
Wired868 asked John-Williams for the TTFA’s position on the petitions from the Super League clubs and the Central FA and a date for the proposed AGM.
John-Williams, who is believed to be in Guyana with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, did not respond up until the time of publication.
The current 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 Sheldon Phillip (TT Pro League).
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After readin the first two paragraphs I got depressed. I read no more.
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Green light for TTSL as TTFA recognises new league; Look Loy seeking local sponsor.
By Sean Taylor (Wired868).
All systems are now go for the new Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), which is carded to kick off on 11 June 2017. The highest hurdle standing in their way was cleared on Wednesday evening when they finally got the long awaited ratification by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) after a brief 15-minute meeting involving TTSL representatives and TTFA President David John-Williams.
“We had a meeting last evening at the Cycling Centre in Couva between the TTFA board and the clubs of the Super League,” TTSL interim president Keith Look Loy told Wired868. “Of the 22 clubs, there were 19 in attendance [and] John-Williams will have to put it in writing by Monday before he and [TTFA general secretary Justin] Latapy-George go to the FIFA Congress in Bahrain.”
“It” is confirmation of the TTFA’s ratification decision and Look Loy is optimistic that official word from the TTFA will come as early as next week.
Although he seemed generally satisfied with the way the discussions had gone, John-Williams was neither willing to divulge the details of the meeting nor to give any commitment to a timeline.
“All I can tell you,” he said, “is that we had a very cordial meeting, a very positive meeting. Everything is fine so far as I’m concerned.”
Look Loy provided a little more detail.
“Essentially,” he explained, “the TTFA—although they have to put it in writing—by the agreement of the chairman David John-Williams […] have agreed that we (the TTSL) will enjoy what is the same status as the TT Pro League.
“We will be an autonomous group so what we wanted we have achieved after four months of unnecessary strife and uncertainty.”
The toing and froing between the two parties started at the beginning of the year when the TTSL submitted a formal request for membership to the TTFA.
The umbrella body demanded that the applicants submit a stack of documents, including company by-laws, a copy of the League’s constitution and documentation associated with the formation and registration of the company, which has 22 shareholders.
According to Keith Look Loy, who also manages FC Santa Rosa, the TTSL provided all requested documentation and submitted a formal request for TTFA recognition on 8 January. It took 46 days for the governing body to acknowledge receipt of the application, which occurred on February 23.
By the time the league was publicly launched in March, the TTSL organisers had not yet got word from the TTFA on the status of their membership application.
In the month that followed, John-Williams and Latapy-George found themselves embroiled in a constitutional standoff with not just Look Loy but Central FA president Shymdeo Gosein, which kept hundreds of players, coaching staff and officials uncertain and uneasy about whether they would be playing Super League football in the 2017/2018 season.
Look Loy expressed satisfaction with the eventual resolution but he remains wary that, despite the administrative victory, funding for the league is not yet forthcoming and continues to be an issue. The TTSL have already sealed a $100,000-plus equipment deal with sports apparel giants Umbro but the interim president lamented that the local corporate sector seems completely uninterested in supporting the new league.
“We have one sponsor,” he revealed, saying that details of the deal will be disclosed in the near future, “and this is not a Trinidad and Tobago company [but] a company out of Canada.”
“The local business sector has shown no interest in sponsoring the Super League,” he continued, “[but] a Canadian company [has] agreed to sponsor our League Cup. We’re hoping therefore that we’ll be able to find a local corporate entity to become the title sponsor of our league.”
“The issue of national integration, of a national league, of maintaining the presence of Tobago communities in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League,” the interim president stressed, “one of them is the Bethel Community—they won the knockout last year—is of primary importance to us. But so far we have been unable to convince the corporate sector or the state that this is important.”
But Look Loy has not thrown in the towel. He intends to meet with Sport Minister Darryl Smith next week with a view to getting him to agree to provide TT$400,000 to the League.
“Our budget is based entirely on income from membership fees,” he explained. “What we have done is that we have cut the suit to fit the cloth and we have trimmed it down to make sure that when we run this inaugural season, based on fees alone we would not be operating in debt.
“The biggest chunk in our expenditure is travel between the two islands for the 22 teams that will constitute the two leagues.”
The requested government subvention will cover the hefty price tag for travel between the two islands.
“That is going to cost us $420,000, which is a big chunk out of our budget,” said Look Loy. “We have been trying to talk to the Ministry of Sport about that. For the 15 years of the National Super League, the State in one form or fashion—whether the Ministry of Sport or the Sport Company or Caribbean Airlines—covered the cost of that travel.
“We have not been able to convince the Ministry of Sport or Caribbean Airlines to do that or even to subsidise it. When we sent in our fixtures to Caribbean Airlines to try and immediately start booking spaces, they told us they want money up front.
“If we could get that taken care of, we would be very happy with that because then we can have some money from internal sources to pay prize money.”
He also took time out to expand on the significance of the community-based league and knockout competition in the local footballing sphere.
“We would go on to continue organising ourselves and playing football,” he told Wired868. “We didn’t sit down waiting on this to arrive. We have been going about planning our business so we have all our fixtures, people checking the venues and everything is proceeding to kick off with the first league on the 11th of June and the second league on the 24th of June.
“I’ve always said that this is the most important development in Trinidad and Tobago football in the 21st century [and] the only progressive move we have seen in terms of the organising of football and the administration of football.
“In the end, we have achieved what we wanted to achieve and that is all that matters.”
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Look Loy feel DJW and Justin Latapy going to the FIFA Congress in Bahrain anytime soon.... :rotfl:
I respect Look Loy for wanting to run de league eh, but he cant create a league and he didn't have money in de first place.
He in football a long time now and know de local companies dont support football.
Acquire de money first and then plan league, so if they eh get no money, all this planning going up in smoke.
De MoS Darryl Smith and DJW is personal friends, you feel Smith giving any money?
Look Loy should contact Rowley and THA and tell them how Tobago football is dead without de TTSL because odda than that, no teams from Tobago play in de pro league.
This is a good exposure for them.
Teams in de TTSL will play vs de pro league teams in de FA cup competition to.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/a7Knkxa61k4
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Caribbean Football Trust inject $550,000 to Super League.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).
FORMER national footballer and chairman of the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), Chris Anderson, wants to help improve the standard of local football by giving more than half a million dollars to the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), for the forthcoming season.
The CFTL will give $200,000 to the League Cup starting in September, which will involve all 20 teams in the Super League. A further $350,000 will be handed over to the Power Eight tournament kicking off in January 2018, a post-season tournament featuring the top eight teams in the Super League First Division.
Speaking at a media conference at the former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association office at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo yesterday, Anderson said his passion for T&T football has not wavered and he wants to help with the growth of the sport.
“As a former Trinidad and Tobago player, my passion is always for Trinidad and Tobago football,” stated Anderson. “For the past 15 to 20 years I have seen our football decline in a way where it is totally dilapidated.
“When I saw Mr Look Loy, with the passion and the commitment to implement such an independent operation, I felt it was my duty to intervene and I made the first call to him and offered my assistance.” Anderson said the agreement between the CFTL and the TTSL can be the start of a long relationship between the two organisations.
“This is the beginning.
I anticipate that we will venture into greater things as we go along. I could see our company committing to bigger cash amounts to help elevate this Super League to the next level which I envision.” Keith Look Loy, interim president of the TTSL, was elated with the new partnership. Look Loy said, “We are very, very happy that Caribbean Football Trust has come on board. This is not only a vote of confidence, but it gives incentives to the clubs and to the players.
There is prize money to be played for, and it gives us creditability that an international sponsor recognises what we are trying to do.” Look Loy says the gap between the TT Pro League and the TTSL is small, and believes the Power Eight tournament will be of a high standard.
“This is going to be a good tournament. The top eight clubs in the Super League, it is going to be a high level tournament.
“The gap that is supposed to exist between Pro League clubs as the top tier of local football and Super League clubs as the second tier of local football is increasingly becoming imaginary. I believe that the top clubs in the Super League could match any club in the TT Pro League,” Look Loy ended.
RELATED NEWS
CFTL pumps $550,000 into TTSL.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The new T&T Super League kicks off on Sunday and the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL), an international football group being chaired by Chris Anderson, has agreed to fund the T&TSL’s League Cup and a Power Eight tournament to the tune of $550,000.
Yesterday, interim president Keith Look Loy said the CFTL Group has agreed to pump a whopping $200,000 into the League Cup competition which will go toward prize monies and will also donate another $350,000 Power Eight tournament. That amount will go towards prize monies, marketing and administration. However the TTSL is still to get an overall sponsor of the league.
Look Loy, the president of last year’s Premier Division champion team FC Santa Rosa said they are on the search for a title sponsor and calls on government or corporate T&T to come on board. The TTSL has already committed itself to covering inter-island funding to the tune of $500,000.
The league will be played in two divisions as it did in previous years, but it will be called League 1 and League 2 instead of Championship and Premier Divisions. It gets going on Sunday with defending Premier Division champion FC Santa Rosa taking on Cunupia FC at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar Arima from 3:30pm. The game will be one of six scheduled to be played on the the opening round at different venues across T&T.
Apart from that match, Defence Force the dethrone champions will have a date with Siparia Spurs at the Hasely Crawford Stadium frtom 6pm and Guaya United will take on Club Sando Moruga from 4:30pm at the Guayaguarare Recreation Ground.
In other games Bethel United will come up against Queen’s Park at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground and 1976 Phoenix FC will take on Police at the Canaan Bon Accord Recreation Ground. UTT will complete the day’s fixtures with a clash against WASA FC at O’Meara Campus Ground from 6pm.
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Good news all round. Congrats to Look Loy and company! :beermug:
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Keeping track of sponsors for de TTSL so far under Look Loy.
$550,000 TT from CFTL.
$25,000 US from TTFA.
Free Office at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Umbro $100,000-plus equipment deal.
Teams entry fee? I am sure its not totally free.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/FSip4OrUfjg
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Champs Santa Rosa start with win.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Super League champs FC Santa Rosa got their 2017 campaign going with a victory over Cunupia FC 2-1 on Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, but will give way to 2015 winners Defence Force and Guaya United for the top on the standings to date in League 1, though it’s still early days.
Santa Rosa, coached by former national coach Keith Look Loy, took the lead after just five minutes when Kieron Charles fired into the back of the net for the early advantage.
But the men from Central Trinidad got the equaliser when the multi-talented Gorean Highley found the net in the 83rd minute. The celebrations were hardly finished when Santa Rosa stole the win when striker Nathan Julien scored in the 83rd minute to hand his team maximum points.
At the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground the home team sent an early warning to their counterparts by whipping Club Sando Moruga 3-1 and take the top spot on the table along with the Army Coast-Guard combination with a better goal difference to Santa Rosa and the University of T&T, courtesy a double strike by Glenton Wolfe.
However it was the visitors who took the lead through Morgan in the 27th minute which they enjoyed until the interval. Afterwards the Guaya men fired in three unanswered goals for the win.
The Army outfit also clobbered Siparia Spurs 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Training Field from a brace from Tirek George in the 38th and 40th and another goal by his name-sake Jaamal George in the 23rd. The Spurs lone strike came from the boot of Andy London in the 68th minute.
In other games UTT got goals from Kevaughn Connell in the 13th and 31st to edge WASA 2-1 and Bethel pipped Queen’s Park CC 1-0 from Denyse James goal in the 29th minute.
RELATED NEWS
Santa Rosa edge Cunupia in Super League opener.
T&T Newsday Reports.
FC SANTA Rosa kicked off their defence of the Super League title on Sunday with a narrow 2-1 win over Cunupia FC, on the opening day of the 2017 season.
This was a meeting of the 2016 Premiership winners (Santa Rosa) against the 2016 Championship winners (Cunupia).
Santa Rosa got full points in this encounter at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, courtesy of goals from Keron Clarke in the fifth minute and Nathan Julien in the 63rd. Gorean Highley got the consolation strike for Cunupia, who wasted several chances, in the 83rd.
Defence Force got a pair of goals from Tirek George as they defeated Siparia Spurs 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field in Mucurapo.
Jamaal George put Defence Force ahead in the 23rd while Tirek George notched a pair, in the 38th and 40th. Andy London pulled one back for Siparia in the 68th but Defence Force held on for the win.
There was another 3-1 result, in favour of Guaya FC over Club Sando Moruga, at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground.
Kyle Morgan gave Club Sando Moruga a 27th minute lead, before Carlon Hughes equalised in the 64th.
Defender Glenton Wolfe, who joined Guaya from North East Stars during the off-season, converted two penalties, in the 77th and 89th.
Densyl James scored in the 29th as Bethel United edged Queen’s Park 1-0 at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground while UTT edged WASA 2-1 at the O’Meara Campus Ground in Arima.
Kevaughn Connell netted twice for the hosts, in the 13th and 31st, while Kylon Gay (21st) replied for WASA.
And, at the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground, 1976 FC Phoenix battled to a 1-1 draw with Police. Che Richards scored for Phoenix in the 73rd but Real Dedier tied the scores three minutes later.
Round Two action is expected to be staged on June 18.
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Super League launches website.
T&T Express Reports.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League has launched its new website — ttsuperleague.com — which will provide viewers with up-to-date information and stats, exclusive TTSL content and live score updates on match days.
The TTSL will also be unveiling new features of the website throughout the season that will provide supporters with the best online fan experience, centred around the league motto of “Clubs. Communities, Country.”
Meanwhile, action in the TTSL Premier Division continues today with a full round of six matches, including an intriguing clash between last season’s TTFA-run National Super League champions FC Santa Rosa and Tobago‘s Bethel United, both of which won on the opening day. Another interesting clash will be at St. Joseph where WASA will host Cunupia FC.
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Guaya solidifies top spot in TTSL.
ttsuperleague.com.
Guaya United continued their fine form in Round Two of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) by claiming a 4-2 win over Siparia Spurs.
The “Green Army” raced to a 2-0 lead at half time through goals from Kendes Garcia and Kevin Jagdeosingh, who were both making their first appearances for the season. Jagdeosingh added his second, early in the second half before Carlon “Judgement” Hughes scored to make it two goals in two games for the Guaya marksman.
Dwayne Edwards scored late on for the home team, but similar to Andy London’s goal in the 52nd minute, it came as merely a consolation.
At St James Barracks, Defence Force TTSL FC ensured that they kept on the heels of Guaya United, by sauntering to a 2-0 over Police FC in the “servicemen” derby. Josimar Belgrave showed how lethal he can be in dead ball situations as he bent in a free kick in the first half, before rounding off the win with a penalty in the 73rd minute.
QPCC recovered from their opening round loss, by condemning Club Sando Moruga to a consecutive defeat at St Anthony’s College Grounds. Forward Kevaughn John bagged a brace for the Parkities and was ably assisted by the evergreen Devon Modeste who proved to be a thorn in Moruga’s side throughout the match.
Cunupia FC also bounced back to beat WASA FC by a solitary goal. Michael Darko scored in the 30th minute and the “Predators” were able to hold onto the win with Tevin Mungo proving to be especially resolute in the Cunupia defence.
FC Santa Rosa made a triumphant debut at the Arima Velodrome with a 2-0 win over visiting Bethel United FC. Santa Rosa captain Keron Clarke was chief destroyer with a goal and an assist at the Arima venue, while Rashad Griffith, the team’s top scorer from last season, also got on the score sheet for the “Big Cannons” as a second half substitute. Teenage attacker Saleem Henry, also displayed his burgeoning talent with another impressive display in Santa Rosa colours.
In the late kick off, Isaiah Mejias scored a double but it was Theon James who was the star of the show for UTT as they dismantled 1976 Phoenix FC 4-2 at O’meara Campus. Midfielder James, was creative and incisive as he set up goals for Mejias and Dillon Bartholomew while also being rewarded with a goal of his own in the 55th minute via an assist from J’Deem Parris.
TTSL continues on Sunday 25 June with Round Three action.
Santa Rosa blank Bethel in Velodrome; Makan wants more Tobagonians on Soca Warriors.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).
Defending champions FC Santa Rosa notched their second straight win of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) season as they defeated Tobago’s Bethel United by a 2-0 margin before an appreciative crowd at the Arima Velodrome yesterday.
Great efforts have been made by Super League holders Santa Rosa and TT Pro League club North East Stars to return football to the famed Velodrome. And it was only Friday evening that the Velodrome was deemed unsatisfactory to host a Pro League match between home team Stars and three-time defending Pro League victors Central FC, after the visitors complained about the lighting and the field markings at the venue prior to kick off.
Yesterday however, without any adjustments to the field markings, Rosa and Bethel’s 4pm duel went off without a hitch.
Despite being defending champions, the “Big Cannons” would not have expected a cakewalk against Bethel, who dumped Rosa out of the Super League knockout competition last season en route to clinching the knockout crowns themselves.
The visitors, aided by the giant presence of former Trinidad and Tobago national youth and senior team defender Makan Hislop, gave a fairly decent showing in the first half as they tested the Santa Rosa defence with a barrage of long balls. However, the Tobagonians were less threatening in the second half once the hosts took away their ‘route one’ access.
According to Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy, things aligned perfectly with the playbook.
“For the entire match they played with three central defenders and in the first half I thought [we would allow them to play the long balls],” Look Loy told Wired868. “What we didn’t want in the second half was for them to play long balls with the wind and with the slope. So I asked our forwards to press in on their centre backs and we significantly reduced the long balls they were playing.”
Rosa did not have it all their own way in Arima yesterday though, as Bethel’s Akiel Holdford fashioned a couple decent chances in the first half and was generally one of the brighter sparks for the visitors on a bleak afternoon.
Holdford, who turned out for Signal Hill in the 2016 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) alongside three of his Bethel teammates, nearly squeezed his team into the lead in the fourth minute when he tried to punish stranded Rosa goalkeeper Kitwanna Manning.
Thankfully for Manning, defender Marc Leslie was there to clean up the mess. Just two minutes later, Holdford again prompted concerns for Manning as the attacker struck a meaty volley just over bar following a miscued clearance by Leslie’s central defensive partner, Alfie James.
The enthusiastic Holdford deserved an ‘A’ for effort yesterday, and his ‘spanner’ on Rosa’s Durwin Ross on the near sideline would have taken him to the top of the class if not for a typically tigerish tackle by the recovering Vincentian.
Ross, who rarely shows up on the stat sheet, was voted Rosa’s MVP last season for his combative midfield play. And yesterday he reminded Holdford that he was not the easiest player to get around.
While Holdford and his teammates were trying to shrug off the likes of Ross on one end, Santa Rosa attackers Mikheil Peters and Keron Clarke were doing their best to run the Bethel defenders ragged at the other.
Peters, a much sought after attacker in the Super League, got himself into dangerous positions down Rosa’s right in the first half and twice forced goalkeeper Joel Sampson into sharp saves.
In the 13th minute, Peters brought the Velodrome to life as he spanked a right-footed effort on frame. Meanwhile, the bustling forward saw his powerful close range shot turned back by Sampson near the half hour mark after working a neat exchange with substitute Jesse Rampersad.
Cracks were beginning to show on the left side of the Bethel defence and the hosts were determined to exploit that leak. Clarke and right-back Joel Duffal both had near misses during flowing moves while Peters was denied by a last-gasp tackle by Bethel’s Oral Williams in the 41st minute.
Rosa broke the deadlock from the resulting corner kick though, as Clarke headed a teasing Saleem Henry cross past Sampson for the opener.
The Big Cannons conceded the fewest goals in the Super League’s top flight last season and Bethel surely knew that mustering a comeback on enemy territory would be an uphill task.
“Our philosophy is if we get the first goal in a match, chances are the opposition has lost because we are going to defend well,” Look Loy told Wired868. “If we get the first goal we figure we are halfway home.”
With such a miserly defence, it must be some luxury to be able to call on your top scorer from among the substitutes.
Rosa’s Rashad Griffith, who scored 19 goals last season, was summoned from the bench on the hour mark and it took the speedy forward all of five minutes to get on the score sheet, as he finished neatly from close range after an unselfish pass from Clarke.
The goal was not without controversy as Griffith appeared to get away with a foul, midway in the Bethel half of the field, during the buildup, only for referee Rashby McPhie to wave play on.
On the face of it, Griffith’s item was an insurance policy. But Manning might tell you it was wholly unnecessary as his goalmouth saw very little action in the second half.
In the game’s aftermath, Hislop put his team’s defeat down to inexperience and a lack of composure in the final third, as he felt his teammates did not capitalise when they got into promising positions.
Truthfully speaking, Bethel coach Urington Samuel may have to reserve more time for crossing practice in his upcoming sessions as his players sent at least five crosses—including a corner—behind Manning’s goal.
Hislop, who spoke at length about the development of Tobago’s young players, strongly believes that the sister isle needs some method of standardisation to better integrate its players into the national team pool.
“Tobago has always been blessed with raw talent. In my time playing in the professional league in Trinidad, every single team had a Tobagonian player on it as a standout,” Hislop told Wired868. “And I’ve always had a big grudge against that because the opportunity for Tobagonians to do something on a national scale is so hard.
“For them to do anything they have to come to Trinidad. And that’s a big step when you take in travel, accommodation and meals. Meanwhile, a Trinidadian just has to go on the Bus Route and he is in training.
“I would really like to see a standard, whereby every year I could say for sure that ten or even five Tobagonians will have a look in on the national team… When you have screenings in Trinidad you hear about 40 Trinidadians and three Tobagonians. The odds are heavily stacked against a Tobagonian excelling and, because of that [and] the psychology of a young person, they don’t see a professional contract in Trinidad being a reality to them.”
Bethel would hope to give a better example of what Trinidad football fans are missing out on next Sunday when they host WASA FC from 6pm at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground. Meanwhile Santa Rosa will attempt to maintain their 100 percent record away to QPCC from 4pm at the St Mary’s College Grounds on Serpentine Road, St Clair.
(Teams)
FC Santa Rosa (4-2-3-1): 22.Kitwana Manning (GK); 3.Joel Duffal, 5.Alfie James, 23.Marc Leslie, 2.Quilon Dick; 21.Durwin Ross, 20.Jesse Reyes; 12.Mikheil Peters (27.Kevon Cornwall 68), 10.Keston Jones (26.Jesse Rampersad 23), 14.Saleem Henry (7.Rashad Griffith 60); 11.Keron Clarke (captain).
Unused Substitutes: 1.Tevin Boswell (GK), 6.Ricardo Cornwall, 17.Brian Sequea, 25.Deon Capriata.
Coach: Keith Look Loy
Bethel United (3-4-2-1): 1.Joel Sampson (GK); 18.Makan Hislop, 3.Oral Williams, 5.Shaquiele Gardiner; 4.Daniel Craig, 12.Oshan Geogre, 10.Rohan Sebro (captain), 9.Teejay Cadiz; 26.Jalanie James, 28.Akiel Holdford; 11.Densyl James.
Unused Substitutes: 13.Azimodeen Leith, 21.Terelle Collins, 22.Chevi Mcmillan, 23.Kenneil Roberts.
Coach: Urington Samuel
Referee: Rashby McPhie
Wired868 Man of the Match: Keron Clarke (Santa Rosa)
TTSL One Results
(Sunday 18 June)
QPCC 2 (Kevaughn John 59, 75), Club Sando Moruga 0 at QRC Grounds;
Siparia Spurs 2 (Andy London 52, Dwayne Edwards 89), Guaya United 4 (Kendes Garcia 10, Kevin Jagdeosingh 40, 59, Carlon Hughes 63) at Fyzabad Petrotrin Sports Club Ground;
FC Santa Rosa 2 (Keron Clarke 42, Rashad Griffith 65), Bethel United 0 at Arima Velodrome;
Police FC 0, Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 15, 73) at St James Barracks (Inside field);
WASA FC 0, Cunupia FC 1 (Michael Darko 30) at WASA, St Joseph;
UTT 4 (Isaiah Mejias 31 [p], 34, Theon James 55, Dillon Bartholomew 85), 1976 Phoenix FC 2 (Jabarry Francis 18, Dominique 46) at UTT, O’Meara;
Upcoming TTSL Fixtures
(Sunday 25 June)
Club Sando Moruga vs Siparia Spurs, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, 4pm;
QPCC vs FC Santa Rosa, St Mary’s College Grounds, 4pm;
Guaya United vs Police FC, Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, 4.30pm;
Bethel United vs WASA FC, Mt Gomery Recreation Ground, 6.30pm;
Defence Force vs UTT, Defence Force Sports Field, Chaguaramas, 4pm;
Cunupia FC vs 1976 Phoenix FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 3.30pm.
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OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE TT SUPER LEAGUE
Are you a sports enthusiast? A die-hard football fan? Well, this is your chance to get your head in the game.
SPORT LOVERS are invited to volunteer AND support the DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUPER LEAGUE.
There are currently twenty-four (24) COMMUNITY FOOTBALL clubs; from all corners of TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO in OUR league, providing inspiration for our motto “Clubs, Communities, Country.”
Volunteers are THE BACK BONE of sport and community LIFE. TTSL OFFERS all interested persons a bold and exciting opportunity to provide expertise IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: Administration, multimedia support, event operations, communications and public relations, AND MORE.
http://ttsuperleague.com/opportunity-volunteer-tt-super-league/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/opportunity-volunteer-tt-super-league/)
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TTSL promise to bring Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to Trinidad; awaiting TTFA approval.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).
Did somebody say Samba?
The fledgling Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) is anxiously waiting for the chance to pull off a coup with former Brazil World Cup winners Ronaldinho and Rivaldo and Italy champions Luca Toni supposedly waiting for the green light to come to Port of Spain.
The three are among a host of famous names who are scheduled to visit Trinidad in October for a gala football match against an local TTSL All-Star team.
Interim TTSL president Keith Look Loy said the affair was the brainchild of Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL) chairman Chris Anderson. CFTL has already pledged TT$550,000 towards two cup competitions for the TTSL’s maiden domestic season, which kicked off earlier this month.
The exhibition match should not only be a treat for local football fans but would allow TTSL stand-outs like Rashad Griffith, Makan Hislop, Josimar Belgrave and Carlon “Judgment” Hughes to face the aforementioned trio as well as former France internationals Florent Malouda and Djibril Cissé in a ‘Rest of the World XI’.
The star attraction, undoubtedly, would be Ronaldinho, a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, and Champions League winner with Barcelona. Look Loy said local organisers altered the proposed 16 September date for the game to accommodate the 37-year-old Brazilian who is due to participate in a Futsal league in early September.
However, what the TTSL and CFTL have not counted on is the slow pace of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), which must sanction the venture.
“I wrote a letter to the TTFA requesting permission for an international match,” Look Loy told Wired868. “I’m awaiting a response from the TTFA. They say they are going to respond. We have already applied for the use of the Hasely Crawford Stadium to host that match.”
TTFA director Sharon O’Brien, who is also the Women’s League Football (WOLF) president, said the David John-Williams-led administration has no problem with the TTSL’s proposed exhibition. However, she maintained that the TTFA wanted to follow the correct procedures before giving the game the green light.
“We want to make sure that we cross our T’s and dot our I’s,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien said the TTFA is currently awaiting word from CONCACAF as to the proper criteria needed for hosting international games of this nature. She said could not give a definitive time frame for CONCACAF’s expected response.
Not for the first time, Look Loy is forced to play the waiting game. Earlier this year, the fledgling league fussed and agitated for months before finally being ratified by the local governing body.
Look Loy hopes the TTFA gets the ball rolling much faster on this occasion, as he wants the TTSL to have ample time to prepare for the star studded affair.
If Look Loy and the TTSL keep good on their promise, then local fans can soon be getting a close view of two of football’s most famous past names in the Samba duo of Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who helped Brazil lift their last World Cup title in 2002.
And, of course, there is an opportunity for the TTSL players to catch the eye too. Locals will be able to familiarise themselves with the Super League stars sooner rather than later, as Look Loy said an arrangement with Bmobile is virtually in place and will see TTSL teams live streaming their games.
“Within the next two weeks, we are going to be live streaming because we have a discussion with Bmobile this week to finalise an agreement,” Look Loy said. “TTSL is going to be live streaming one game per week but the clubs are also going to live stream their games. Several of the clubs have signed up for that.”
Upcoming TTSL Fixtures
(Sunday 25 June)
Club Sando Moruga vs Siparia Spurs, Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, 4pm;
QPCC vs FC Santa Rosa, St Mary’s College Grounds, 4pm;
Guaya United vs Police FC, Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, 4.30pm;
Bethel United vs WASA FC, Mt Gomery Recreation Ground, 6.30pm;
Defence Force vs UTT, Defence Force Sports Field, Chaguaramas, 4pm;
Cunupia FC vs 1976 Phoenix FC, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, 3.30pm.
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TTSL GOAL OF THE WEEK⚽️➡️ Fantastic Acrobatic Volley by Keron Clarke of FC Santa Rosa in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League. Santa Rosa beat Club Sando Moruga 7-0.
https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1916584688598487/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1916584688598487/)
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Golaso! aso! aso! aso! aso!
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Guaya United maintain spot in Super League,
T&T Newsday Reports.
GUAYA UNITED maintained their hold of the top spot in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League One division, after a 2-1 win over the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in a Round Four match at the UTT O’Meara campus, Arima, on Sunday.
With the result, Guaya continued their 100-percent start to the season, with a maximum 12 points from four games.
Marcus Ramkalawan put Guaya ahead in the 46th minute before Dillon Bartholomew levelled the scores eight minutes later. But Shaquille Ferrier gave Guaya the lead for good when he struck in the 79th.
Another team with a perfect start to the 2017 edition are FC Santa Rosa, who demolished Club Sando Moruga 7-0 at the Arima Velodrome.
Keron Clarke registered a hattrick, as he struck in the 32nd, 36th and 73rd, while there were one goal apiece from Saleem Henry (26th), Keron Bethelmy (46th), Nathan Julien (47th) and Mikheil Peters (90th).
Cunupia FC earned a hardfought 3-2 win over Defence Force at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Josimar Belgrave put the Army-Coast Guard combination ahead in the 10th before Stevon Stoute tied the scores in the 31st.
Belgrave put Defence Force in front for the second time, in the 50th, but that lead lasted only five minutes as Malcolm Stewart made it 2-2.
And Stoute got the winner for Cunupia, in the 64th, as they ended Defence Force’s quest for a fourth straight win.
Police cruised to a 3-0 win over Siparia Spurs at the St James Barracks, courtesy of a pair from Colin Williams (64th and 80th), after the opening item from Anton Hutchinson (58th).
In a clash of Tobago-based teams, 1976 FC Phoenix and Bethel FC battled to a 2-2 draw at the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground.
Dominique Kerr (eighth) and Jabarry Francis (75th) were the goal-getters for Phoenix, while Terelle Collins (18th) and TeeJay Cadiz (56th) replied for Bethel.
And, at the WASA Ground in St Joseph, WASA and Queen’s Park played to a 1-1 draw, with Glen Walker netting for the hosts in the 56th before Devon Modeste equalised for the Parkites in the 71st.
On Saturday, in the Super League Two, Central 500 Spartans moved up to first place after a narrow 1-0 win over overnight leaders Prisons at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Ground, Arouca.
Josiah Grazette found the back of the net for Spartans, in the 18th minute.
Petit Valley/Diego Martin United rallied from a goal down to edge Youth Stars 2-1 at the Diego Martin North Secondary School Ground.
Duran Dilworth broke the deadlock for Youth Stars in the 15th before Sydney Charles equalised for the hosts, in the 80th. And, with four minutes of regulation time left, Ishaq Abdullah found the back of the net to guarantee full points for Petit Valley/Diego Martin.
And, at the Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground, Harlem Strikers registered a 3-2 win over Marabella FCC.
Neon O’Garro (fifth), Akil London (54th) and Wendell Archibald (56th) were on target for Harlem Strikers, while Jaycee Paras (10th) and Kendell Mason (86th) responded for Marabella.
RELATED NEWS
WASA waste points in TTSL action as 10-man QPCC snatch draw in St Joseph.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).
WASA FC and Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) both lost the chance to keep up with the top of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) One yesterday after battling to a 1-1 draw at the WASA compound in St Joseph yesterday.
WASA took the lead in the second half through a headed item by striker Glen Walker but 10-man QPCC salvaged a draw when the wily veteran Devon Modeste scored from close range in the 72nd minute.
The result saw WASA slip one place from seventh to eighth in the 12-team standings while QPCC stayed sixth but missed the opportunity to leapfrog UTT to fifth.
Still, QPCC were relieved to salvage even a point after slugging it out with the hosts in very heavy conditions. The “Parkites” nearly went without kicking a ball for the second week running, as a soggy outfield threatened the evening’s proceedings.
The Shurland David-led WASA team were determined to treat their guests to 90 minutes of action though, as players from the home team cleared puddles on the field with buckets in an unusual pre-game ritual.
And WASA were the ones who asserted themselves early on. And, while their initial moves weren’t flowing like tap water, the hosts gave opposing goalkeeper Raheem “Birdie” Belgrave and his defence a lot to think about.
Most of WASA’s first half probing came down the right wing and flanker Kerron St Cyr was never too far from the action. In the 10th minute, Walker hit the underside of the bar after receiving a through pass from St Cyr—God Alone knows how the shot didn’t go in.
Meanwhile, in the 14th minute, QPCC defender Marcus Ashton agonisingly headed a dangerous St Cyr cross over his own bar.
The Parkites clearly weren’t paying particular attention to the gaps down the right flank and the visitors were lucky when defender Phillip Nelson failed to convert with the goal at his mercy from the ensuing set piece.
All along, QPCC’s Kevaughn John and the predatory Modeste were lurking on the opposite end as they tried to keep the WASA backline honest. And a few of the WASA supporters were wary of the visitors’ game plan.
“That’s all [QPCC] playing for inno,” one patron uttered. “They’re just looking for that one counter attack.”
Modeste attempted to show the effectiveness of his team’s tactics in the 22nd minute, as he forced WASA goalkeeper Denzil Carabon into a smart save with a crisp volley.
Belgrave, a former Jabloteh custodian, saw much more action on the opposite end and probably walked with a lucky charm in his back pocket—as some of WASA’s misses were just inexplicable.
In the 31st minute, midfielder Kirth Hutchings screwed his right-footed effort wide of the goal frame after eluding the QPCC defence and rounding Belgrave. Just two minutes later, Walker aimed for the skies as he dreadfully shot over bar from close range after St Cyr put in another useful cross.
In the second half, the flow of the game nearly mirrored that of the first. However, the hosts shifted their attention to the left flank where winger Nkosi David put in a fine display of dribbling and crossing. David was making his TTSL debut for WASA but the neutral would not have figured as much from his assured play.
In the 49th minute, the slender David gave QPCC a glimpse of what was to come as he had Belgrave stretching to the fullest to swat away a dangerous cross. But ‘who don’t hear, does feel’; and QPCC paid the price for their frailty on the flanks when Walker nodded in the opener from close range in the 56th minute after a David cross.
QPCC coach Shawn Cooper was far from impressed.
“Raheem [Belgrave], I tell you if he head from there you can’t save it,” Cooper shouted. “That’s in your six-yard box, come on!”
Cooper decided to spice things up as he inserted the energetic duo of Angel Williams and Jabari Raphael in the 62nd minute. And the visitors almost reaped rewards immediately, as Williams smashed a angled right-footed shot into the side netting in the 65th minute after working a short corner with Raphael.
As if containing WASA’s wing play with 11 men wasn’t challenging enough, the QPCC task got much tougher in the 70th minute when defender Chad De Freitas was shown a red card for dissent after committing a foul on David.
Maybe QPCC needed the challenge though, as Modeste headed in, just two minutes later, after John was denied from point blank range by Carabon. Modeste, who got a few mud baths for his troubles yesterday, embraced the ejected De Freitas to celebrate his team’s leveller.
“Be positive guys we will get one,” WASA coach David told his charges.
The hosts came close to a winner in the latter stages of the match, as David whipped a left-footed free kick agonisingly wide in the 79th minute while, moments later, defender Akil Harley sent a cheeky effort just wide moments later.
Although QPCC were doing more than just hanging on for a draw though, as John forced Carabon into a sharp save at his near post in the 83rd minute after meeting a left side cross from Raphael.
In the end, the Parkites were pleased to come out with a point.
“It’s very difficult to be a man down and playing away from home in these conditions,” Cooper told Wired868. “And we ended up getting a point in the end. I think this is [like] three points for us…
“WASA are at home and I think they adapted to the conditions a lot better than us. They did not seize the moments they had in terms of converting the chances they had. And this is what football is about.”
David, a former Trinidad and Tobago international, admitted that his team was wasteful in front of goal but was still pleased with their performance.
“All we need to do is to continue playing positive and we will get where we want to reach at the end of the season,” David said. “We aim for the sky. We want to win [the league]. If we don’t win we have to fall at number two; it’s as basic as that.
“All in all, we just want to improve from last season.”
WASA, who currently sit on four points from four games, will have their lofty ambitions tested next week when they entertain defending champions FC Santa Rosa. And the “Big Cannons” are firing on all cylinders too, as they hammered Club Sando Moruga 7-0 at the Arima Velodrome yesterday on the back of a hat-trick by attacker Keron Clarke.
It is Guaya who rule the roost at present, though, as they edged UTT 2-1 in O’Meara to remain three points clear at the top of the standings, although Santa Rosa have a game in hand.
(Teams)
WASA FC (3-4-2-1): 13.Denzil Carabon (GK); 2.Damien Pompey, 5.Akil Harley, 3.Phillip Nelson; 27.Kerron St Cyr (10.Michael Lee Celestine 76), 6.Christopher Young, 23.Ché Doyle (25.Dwight Crichlow 79), 15.Cleveland Cambridge (captain); 19.Kirth Hutchings (21.Shem Clauzel 56), 32.Nkosi David; 26.Glen Walker.
Unused Substitutes: 16.Anthony Alleyne (GK), 8.Kevon Henry, 17.Dillon Peterson, 29.Claudius Howard.
Coach: Shurland David
QPCC (3-4-1-2): 99.Raheem Belgrave (GK); 6.Chad De Freitas [Red card 70], 29.Marcus Ashton, 2.Dominic Hutchinson; 16.Mylz Barrington, 20.Shomari Antoine, 23.Shaquille Francis (25.Angel Williams 62), 18.Kern Gardner (14.Jabari Raphael 62); 19.Nasyir Rodriguez; 7.Kevaughn John, 10.Devon Modeste (3.J’ovan Marshall 80).
Unused Substitutes: 11.Ackime Prudhomme, 22.Akel Linton, 24.Jameel Lashley, 28.Jared Pantin-Rogers.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
Referee: Joel Cox
Wired868 Man of the Match: Nkosi David (WASA)
TTSL League One Results
(Sunday 2 July)
Police FC 3 (Anton Hutchinson 58, Colin Williams 64, 80), Siparia Spurs 0 at St James Barracks;
FC Santa Rosa 7 (Saleem Henry 27, Keron Clarke 33, 36, 73, Nathan Julien 45, Keron Bethelmy 46, Mikheil Peters 90), Club Sando Moruga 0 at Arima Velodrome;
Cunupia FC 3 (Stevon Stoute 31, 64), Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 10, 50) at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar;
WASA FC 1 (Glen Walker 56), QPCC 1 (Devon Modeste 72) at WASA, St Joseph;
1976 FC Phoenix 2 (Dominique Kerr 8, Jabarry Francis 75), Bethel United 2 (Terelle Collins 18, Teejay Cadiz 56) at Canaan and Bon Accord Recreation Grd;
UTT 1 (Dillon Bartholomew 54), Guaya United 2 (Marcus Ramkalawan 46, Shaquille Ferrier 79) at UTT at O’Meara;
TTSL League Two Results
(Saturday 1 July)
Harlem Strikers 3 (Neon Ogarro 5, Akil London 54, Wendell Archibald 56), Marabella FCC 2 (Jaycee Paras 10, Kendell Mason 86) at Frederick Settlement Recreation Grd;
Prisons FC 0, Central 500 Spartans 1 (Josiah Grazette 18) at YTC, Arouca;
Petit Valley/Diego Martin United FC 2 (Sydney Charles 80, Ishaq Abdullah 86), Youth Stars 1 (Duran Dilworth 15) at Diego Martin North Secondary School;
Perseverance Ball Runners were on a bye.
League One Standings
# Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Guaya United 4 4 0 0 12 5 7 12
2 FC Santa Rosa 3 3 0 0 11 1 10 9
3 Defence Force FC 4 3 0 1 9 4 5 9
4 Cunupia FC 4 3 0 1 7 4 3 9
5 UTT 4 2 0 2 7 7 0 6
6 QPCC 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 4
7 Police FC 4 1 1 2 5 6 -1 4
8 Wasa FC 4 1 1 2 4 5 -1 4
9 Bethel United 4 1 1 2 4 6 -2 4
10 1976 Phoenix FC 4 0 2 2 5 9 -4 2
11 Siparia Spurs 4 0 1 3 3 10 -7 1
12 Club Sando Moruga 4 0 1 3 1 12 -11 1
League Two Standings
# Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Central 500 Spartans 2 2 0 0 4 1 3 6
2 Harlem Strikers 2 1 1 0 6 5 1 4
3 Prisons FC 2 1 0 1 4 2 2 3
4 Petit Valley/Diego Martin United 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
5 Youth Stars 2 0 1 1 4 5 -1 1
6 Perseverance Ball Runners 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0
7 Marabella FCC 2 0 0 2 3 7 -4 0
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Golaso!! aso! aso! aso! Still can't get over this goal. Send it to ESPN!
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Hydro Tech forge partnership with Guaya Utd.
T&T Newsday Reports.
LEADING TRINIDAD and Tobago Super League team, Guaya United Football Club, has forged a unique ‘community partnership’ with Hydro Tech Limited with two major objectives in mind, taking the talented football club to the highest rung of the football ladder and playing a significant role in the overall development of the wider Mayaro/Guayaguayare region.
This positive note was struck at a gala function held recently at the Hydro Tech Limited Business Centre, Galeota Point, Guayaguayare, to celebrate the partnership between Hydro Tech and Guaya United with the Mayaro-based company taking on the pivotal role as platinum sponsor of the club.
“While our main interest is striking success on the football field and opening up opportunities, locally, regionally and internationally, for our players to explore their sporting talent, Guaya United FC is also focused on uplifting and developing the community of Mayaro/ Guayaguayare.
“We don’t intend to be just a football club and we are delighted that our premier sponsor shares our vision,” asserts manager Jameson Rigues.
Hydro Tech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Lynch, said his company was thrilled to be a major player in the inspirational journey of the community-based team, explaining that the gala launch was aimed at showcasing to the community, and the country, that Guaya United FC was destined to be a model sporting/community organisation for all to emulate. Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray, told the audience at the gala function, that the Hydro Tech-Guaya United partnership was a great platform for sports tourism potential in the Mayaro region.
He urged the youths engaged with the club to be very disciplined, both on and off the field, reminding them that they were “now representatives of both Mayaro/Guayaguayare and Hydro Tech”.
In its short history since its formation in 2010, Guaya United FC upstaged all comers, winning the Super League championship trophy in its very first year of competition in the 2013/2014 season.
Despite a lean time the following year, Guaya rebounded as Knock-Out champions in 2015/2016, and also emerged runners-up in the league championship.
Under the captaincy of Glenton Wolfe, with Ron La Forest as coach, Guaya United’s 2017 squad boasts accomplished players such as talented striker Carlon Hughes, who leads the goal-scoring charts, veteran Kevin Jagdeosingh and Beville Joseph, bolstered by a cadre of young, rising stars.
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TTSL (League One) Player of the Month June 2017 - Theon James of UTT
https://www.youtube.com/v/kb1RX1t8T-I&feature=youtu.be
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It would be nice if Hydro could develop a Turf field for them.
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TTSL CALLS ELECTIONS
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) will host its inaugural Elections of the Members of the Board of Directors at its next official General Meeting on Wednesday 9th August 2017 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The TTSL was founded on January 2017 and the member clubs appointed an interim Board of Directors to oversee its operations until an election could be called. These interim Board of Directors included Keith Look Loy (FC Santa Rosa) – Interim President, Ryan Ottley (Defence Force Super League FC) – Interim Vice-President, George Joseph (Bethel United FC) – Interim Board Member and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs) – Interim Board Member.
Candidates will be vying for the positions of President, Vice-President and Three (3) Ordinary Board Members and will be elected at the General Meeting.
The Election shall be conducted in compliance with the TTSL By-Laws and the TTSL Electoral Committee.
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Army whips Bethel 3-1.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Defence Force moved into third on the T&T Super League table in League One on Thursday when they shut-out Bethel FC 3-1 at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground in Tobago.
The army/coastguard combination outfit will now attempt to take the lead tomorrow when they come up against Queen’s Park CC at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 4pm as Round Six action resumes with matches across T&T.
Playing in the sister isle of Tobago for the first time this season, the Army Coast Guard Combination were determined to recover points they dropped in earlier matches, and they got the perfect start when Kevon Blackman fired them into the lead in the 36th and Stephen Antoine gave them a two-goal cushion in the 45th.
The Army thought it had a two-goal advantage going to the interval, but the hometeam got surprised two minutes into time added on time, when Rohan Sebro caught its defence in celebratory mood, and fired his shot past the Army goalkeeper to reduce its deficit to a 2-1 half-time scoreline.
Both teams exchanged attacks for most of the second period, until Aaron Lester sealed the win in the 90th minute to push the Army to 12 points and in third place on the standing with an inferior goal difference to FC Santa Rosa. The standing is still being led by Guaya United (15 points) which will go into action against Bethel FC at Mt Gomery from 6pm, while Santa Rosa will square off with 1976 Phoenix FC at the Canaan Bon Accord Recreation Ground from 5pm.
In other games, WASA will host Club Sando at St Joseph from 4:30pm: UTT will face Police at the O’Meara Campus Ground in Arima and newcomers Cunupia FC will come up against Siparia Spurs, 4pm at Larry Gomes Stadium.
Today in League Two action, leaders Central 500 Spartans will meet Petit Valley United FC from 4pm at the Diego Martin North Secondary School: Youth Stars face Marabella Family Crisis Centre at the Roxborough Complex at 5pm and Harlem Strikers will have a date with Perseverance Ball Runners at Frederick Settlement at 6pm.
TTSL calls elections.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) will host its inaugural Elections of the Members of the Board of Directors at its next official General Meeting on Wednesday 9th August 2017 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
The TTSL was founded on January 2017 and the member clubs appointed an interim Board of Directors to oversee its operations until an election could be called. These interim Board of Directors included Keith Look Loy (FC Santa Rosa) – Interim President, Ryan Ottley (Defence Force Super League FC) – Interim Vice-President, George Joseph (Bethel United FC) – Interim Board Member and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs) – Interim Board Member.
Candidates will be vying for the positions of President, Vice-President and Three (3) Ordinary Board Members and will be elected at the General Meeting.
The Election shall be conducted in compliance with the TTSL By-Laws and the TTSL Electoral Committee.
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TTSL 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 6
www.ttsuperleague.com (http://www.ttsuperleague.com)
Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL)- League One featured some surprising scorelines in Round Six with many players making their debuts in the TTSL Team of the Week (TOTW).
Siparia Spurs were the biggest winners of the round after they notched their first win of the season in a 0-1 win over Cunupia FC. While Marlon Phillip scored a rocket in the final few minutes, the “Sand City Boys” had their teenage goalkeeper Ishmael Salam to thank for preserving their clean sheet.
Salam was phenomenal in goal, recording more than 10 saves as he single-handedly denied the Cunupia FC onslaught.
Salam’s skipper, Kevon Bascombe, ably assisted his younger counterpart but putting in a commendable performance in defence.
Joining him in the Team of the Week defence are FC Santa Rosa’s Marc Leslie, whose experience was key in maintaining a clean sheet against 1976 Phoenix FC in Tobago and Adisa Huston of UTT who notched two assists as his team thumped Police FC 6-0.
On the wings, the “Big Cannons” Nathan Julien put in a man of the match performance, while Guaya United continued their perfect start to the season with Kendes Garcia heralded as the star of the show against Bethel United at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground. Garcia terrorized the Bethel defence and capped off his performance with a goal and an assist.
QPCC’s dynamic duo Nasyir Rodriquez and Devon Modeste put in goal scoring performances to turn the tide in the second half against Defence Force TTSL. Trailing 1-0 from a first half strike, Rodriguez pounced on some less than convincing defending to score from close range in the 66th minute. The evergreen Modeste then scored a thumping penalty a few minutes later to confirm the win for the Parkites.
In the rollercoaster match of the round, WASA FC’s Dwight Crichlow proved to be the difference maker. He latched onto a right sided cross from Daniel St Cyr to volley in his first item before rounding the Club Sando Moruga goal keeper a few minutes later, to score what would turn out to the game winner in a 4-3 affair.
TOTW Debutant, UTT’s J’Deem Parris scored the only hat trick of the round against a struggling Police FC. The attacker was rampant and fluid alongside fellow Team of the Week player Dillon Bartholomew who recorded 2 goals and an assist.
Parris placed the ball into the bottom corner following a quick counter before scoring two more from close range with feeds from the impressive Adisa Huston and Isaiah Mejias.
TTSL Team of the Week is compiled by the TTSL Editorial Team with recommendations provided by coaches and match commissioners
TOTW Round 1 - https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1905491319707824/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1905491319707824/)
TOTW Round 2 - https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1909132682677021/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1909132682677021/)
TOTW Round 3 - https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1913433358913620/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1913433358913620/)
TOTW Round 4 - https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1916511921939097/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1916511921939097/)
TOTW Round 5 - https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1921154681474821/ (https://www.facebook.com/TTSuperLeague/videos/1921154681474821/)
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Super League kicks into live streaming.
T&T Express Reports.
For the first time in the history of local club football, fans can now cheer on their favourite teams while on the go or from the comfort of their homes courtesy a recent agreement between the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) and communications solutions provider, bmobile.
The pair has teamed up to exclusively provide followers of the semi-professional league with live streaming of competitive matches. By downloading the football application (app), mycujoo, bmobile and the TTSL will be able to provide fans with a free seat inside the stadium by way of their smartphones and internet connectivity.
A release from bmobile stated that the platform will “aid in developing local clubs by creating a new avenue for support whilst simultaneously promoting the work of the TTSL.
TTSL Secretary, Camara David said that the implementation of new creative technological ideas such as the app would supply a more modern channel of sport marketing throughout the region.
“bmobile and mycujoo have provided a football platform to do live streaming of TTSL games.
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TTSL Announces Election Candidates
http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-announces-election-candidates/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-announces-election-candidates/)
On 9 August 2017, the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) will host its Elections of the Members of the Board of Directors with ten (10) official candidates vying for various positions.
The position of President will be contested by current Interim President Keith Look Loy and Interim Vice President Ryan Ottley who will each lead a slate of candidates into the inaugural elections.
Candidates will be vying for the positions of President, Vice-President and Three (3) Ordinary Board Members.
SLATE A: Keith Look Loy (President), Jameson Rigues (1st Vice-President), Eddison Dean (2nd Vice-President), George Joseph (Ordinary Member), Clayton Morris (Ordinary Member), Colin Murray (Ordinary Member)
SLATE B: Ryan Ottley (President), Marvin Wilson (2nd Vice-President), Stephanie Guevara (Ordinary Member), Michael De Four (Ordinary Member)
The Election will be held at the August 9th General Meeting at the Ato Boldon Stadium and will be conducted in compliance with the TTSL By-Laws and the TTSL Electoral Committee.
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TT Super League One Round 8 Highlights - https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10155640152517996/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0 (https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10155640152517996/?autoplay_reason=gatekeeper&video_container_type=0&video_creator_product_type=2&app_id=2392950137&live_video_guests=0)
Guaya Utd 2-0 FC Santa Rosa
Cunupia FC 1-1 UTT
Defence Force TTSL 3-2 WASA FC
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Look Loy vs Ottley: TTSL presidential candidates announce slates for 9 August elections.
Wired868.com.
Interim president Keith Look Loy and vice-president Ryan Ottley will lock horns on 9 August 2017 when the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) hosts its inaugural election at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Look Loy, who is 64, is the FC Santa Rosa head coach, a former CONCACAF technical committee member and TTFA technical advisor and a retired school teacher. The 29-year-old Ottley is a Flying Officer in the Defence Force and manager of the Regiment’s TTSL team.
The elections will follow the one club, one vote system while the electorate consists of the 19 active and five inactive TTSL clubs from its two divisions. These are Guaya United, Defence Force FC, UTT, QPCC, FC Santa Rosa, WASA FC, Cunupia FC, Police FC, Siparia Spurs, 1976 Phoenix FC, Club Sando Moruga, Bethel United FC, Central 500 Spartans, Prisons FC, Youth Stars United, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United, Perseverance Ball Runners, Harlem Strikers, Marabella Family Crisis Centre, Matura ReUnited, Real Maracas, Petrotrin Palo Seco, Saddle Hill Hotspur and Barrackpore United.
The TTSL president will serve a four-year term and can be re-elected once.
The current interim TTSL executive comprises of Look Loy and Ottley as president and vice-president respectively along with George Joseph (Bethel United FC) and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs) as board members.
At stake on 9 August are six positions, which are: president, two vice-presidents and three ordinary board members.
Look Loy has announced a slate to contest all positions. He is joined by Jameson Rigues (1st Vice-President), Eddison Dean (2nd Vice-President), Joseph (Ordinary Member), Clayton Morris (Ordinary Member) and Colin Murray (Ordinary Member).
Ottley’s slate includes Marvin Wilson (2nd Vice-President), Stephanie Guevara (Ordinary Member) and Michael De Four (Ordinary Member).
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TTSL applied to TTFA almost two months ago for permission to host a match as part of the Islands Cup caravan. This match will bring big names to Trinidad and Tobago, headlined by Ronaldinho, and give serious professional/contractual opportunity to TTSL players. To date TTFA has not granted permission..
KLL
https://www.youtube.com/v/j2_AoPs2rVw
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TTSL 1 – TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 7
http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-1-team-week-round-7/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-1-team-week-round-7/)
In the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) – League One Round Seven, FC Santa Rosa suffered their first defeat of the season to a resilient Defence Force TTSL outfit. While league leaders Guaya United were denied a seventh consecutive win after being held to a goal less draw with QPCC.
QPCC had goal keeper Raheem Belgrave to thank for their share of the spoils with Guaya United at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field. The teenage custodian produced a number of smart saves to deny leading goalscorer Carlon Hughes and company.
Belgrave was ably assisted by defender Trevon Mitchell who was resilient to deny the Guaya United wing play.
While the strength of Guaya United may have intimidated some, QPCC’s attack didn’t shy away from their tasks. Guaya United defender Sherlon Campbell had to be sharp to snuff out all attacks and in doing so, he provided the stable platform for the “Green Army”s attackers to try to do the job at the other end.
At the other end of the island, Siparia Spurs prevailed in a 3-2 shoot out with Bethel United. Siparia’s Arvid Applewhite was particularly impressive and commanded the ball with assurity. This created the platform for midfield architect Chris Collins to pull the strings for the “Sand City Boys” as he laid the ball on for Dwayne Edwards to score soon after notching a goal of his own.
The midfield in this Round’s Team of the Week belongs to the dynamic Defence Force duo of Dexter Thornhill and Seon Jack. Thornhill in particular was imperious and has been knocking on the door of the Team of the Week for some time. He was even able to cap off his impressive performance against FC Santa Rosa by providing the pass for Josimar Belgrave to score the team’s second.
Police FC bounced back from their recent poor form by beating a demotivated Cunupia FC outfit 1-0 at St James Barracks. The result was in no small part based on Chase Sealey’s goal and overall performance.
Capping off the Team of the Week midfield is UTT goalscoring midfielder Dillon Bartholomew. Bartholomew has hit a purple patch in front of the goal recently and rescued UTT from 2-0 to claim a draw against Club Sando Moruga.
Quickfire, early goals was the name of the game for our Team of the Week attackers. Kyle Morgan of Club Sando Moruga opened the scoring against UTT in the 3rd minute, before providing Marcus John with the pass for him to score his goal in the 10th minute. It was a great overall effort from Morgan.
He is partnered in attack by WASA FC’s Michael Lee Celestine who proved to be goal poacher extraordinaire against 1976 Phoenix FC. Twice within the first 14 minutes, he was in the right place at the right time to poke home after some excellent build up play from Dwight Crichlow.
TTSL Team of the Week is compiled by the TTSL Editorial Team with recommendations provided by coaches and match commissioners
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TTSL 1 – TEAM OF THE WEEK – ROUND 8
http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-1-team-week-round-8/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-1-team-week-round-8/)
Round 8 in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL), served up a toast of excellent midfield performances.
The Team of the Week (TOTW) is packed with midfield maestros who were at the heart of their club’s performances and therefore dictated that we packed our midfield in a 3-5-2 formation for Round 8.
Starting in goal this week is TOTW debutant Joel Sampson of Bethel United. The Tobago custodian, whose team has been struggling this season, was like a one man wall for the Bethel Village club. He produced a string of excellent saves to preserve a clean sheet and a much needed point for the “Bethel Kings”.
In defence, serial TOTW defender Glenton Wolffe is joined by debutants Sheldon Nesbitt (Cunupia FC) and Dominic Hutchinson (QPCC). Wolffe was at his solid best to deny the usually potent FC Santa Rosa attack while Nesbitt produced a gritty performance to help his team earn a 1-1 draw with UTT. “Parkite” Hutchinson, facing off against Siparia Spurs, was extremely composed and personified the values of hard work that has seen QPCC go unbeaten in 6 matches.
Goalscorers dominate the midfield with Lejandro Williams of 1976 Phoenix FC adding the bit of magic to give his team their first win of the season at the expense of inconsistent Club Sando Moruga. Another player who stepped up to stop his club’s free fall was Michael Darko. The Cunupia midfielder was vibrant and inventive and capped off his display by creating and scoring his team’s penalty.
In that same encounter, Darko was equally matched by the classy Isaiah Mejias. Mejias scored with a precise shot from the top of the box after an excellent pull back from June Player of the Month Theon James. Surprisingly, this is Mejias’ first appearance in the TOTW even though he has an enviable stat CV this season. With 5 goals and 5 assists already, we can expect to see Mejias in a few more TOTWs before the end of the season.
At 2-0 down, Dexter Thornhill orchestrated a remarkable recovery. 2 assists and 1 goal from the boot of Thornhill at the end of full time and Defence Force left WASA FC holding their heads. Excellent performance.
FC Santa Rosa suffered their second loss of the season in a tense affair in Guayaguayare. 36 year old Beville Joseph roved in midfield and when the opportunity came to kill off the game, Joseph responded with aplomb as he thumped a rasping shot into the roof of the net int he dying minutes.
Joseph is joined in the team of the week by his Guaya United team mate Shaquille Ferrier. The electric winger was enterprising throughout and gleefully accepted his chance at glory to give his team the prized 3 points.
Rounding out the TOTW is the skillful Dwight Crichlow of WASA FC. Making his second appearance in the TOTW, Crichlow has just kept getting better. He ran riot against Defence Force in the early exchanges and recorded an assist and a classy goal but couldn’t prevent Defence Force’s second half recovery. Very harsh on Crichlow.
TTSL Team of the Week is compiled by the TTSL Editorial Team with recommendations provided by coaches and match commissioners.
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Look Loy vs Ottley for SL presidency today.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Former national coach Keith Look Loy and Lieutenant Ryan Ottley, of the T&T Defence Force, will challenge each other for the leadership of the T&T Super League (TTSL) when the organisation holds its inaugural elections of the members of the Board of Directors during a General Council Meeting this evening at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, from 6 pm.
Look Loy is from Santa Rosa FC, while Ottley is the manager of the Defence Force team. Both men have been leading the re-organisation of the league which was founded in January after the member clubs appointed them to serve as interim Board of Directors members to oversee the league 2017 operations. The successful candidates will serve for a four-year term.
The interim Board of Directors includes Keith Look Loy (FC Santa Rosa) —interim president, Ryan Ottley (Defence Force Super League FC) —Interim vice-president, George Joseph (Bethel United FC) —interim board member and Quincy Jones (Siparia Spurs)—interim board member.
Candidates will be vying for the positions of president, vice-president and three ordinary board members and will be elected at the General Meeting. The election shall be conducted in compliance with the TTSL By-Laws and the TTSL Electoral Committee.
In today’s election, persons will be voting for the members of the Board of Directors with ten official candidates vying for various positions.
The position of president will be contested by current Interim President Keith Look Loy and Interim Vice-President Ryan Ottley who will each lead a slate of candidates into the inaugural elections.
TT Super League Elections
Keith Look Loy (president), Jameson Rigues (1st vice-president), Eddison Dean (2nd vice-president), George Joseph (ordinary member), Clayton Morris (ordinary member), Colin Murray (ordinary member)
Ryan Ottley (president), Marvin Wilson (2nd vice-president), Stephanie Guevara (ordinary member), Michael De Four (ordinary member)
RELATED NEWS
Ottley looking to dethrone Look Loy as Super League head.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
RYAN OTTLEY, manager of the Defence Force Super League squad, is looking to dethrone Keith Look Loy, coach of FC Santa Rosa, as the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League today.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, the Super League will be hosting its inaugural elections, of the members of the Board of Directors.
Look Loy, the interim president of the League, leads Slate A, which comprises Jameson Rigues (first vice-president), Eddison Dean (second vice-president), George Joseph, Clayton Morris and Colin Murray (ordinary members), while Ottley, the interim vice-president, will lead Slate B, which will include Marvin Wilson (second vice-president), Stephanie Guevara and Michael De Four (ordinary members).
Ottley, who works as a Staff Officer, Chief Finance, at the Defence Force headquarters noted in a recent interview, “the main reason that I would have decided to finally put my hat in the race (is) because I was being asked by members of the League to contest the seat for president.
“I asked them what was the reason that they would have come to me and ask me to run.
They indicated to me that they were uncomfortable with some of the things that the current interim (were) doing,” he continued.
“I indicated to them that I don’t want to run for no office if it’s a one-man show. If we really want change, we must operate as a team.” Ottley added, “more than a half that called and asked me to run against it. In that regard I agreed that I would be the person to represent their views.”
If elected today, Ottley noted, “one of the things that our committee will attempt to do differently is that we’ll use business principles and apply it to a footballing arena. So the structures, the policies and guideline systems that the League made for transparency and accountability will be our very first approach into bringing this League into a sustainable (one).”
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Keith Look Loy will serve as the first president of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League. Look Loy will now immediately take up a role on the Board of Directors of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
Eddison Dean as second vice-president.
Jameson Rigues first vice-president.
George Joseph, Clayton Morris and Colin Murray as ordinary members.
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New TTSL president Look Loy turns gaze to TTFA; Ottley delivers parting shot.
By R.Walcott (Wired868).
Defeated Trinidad and Tobago Super League presidential candidate Ryan Ottley might have woken up this morning as elected Vice-president. However, Ottley claimed that his commitment to complete transparency and openness, however, prevented him from accepting an offer to run for the position on Keith Look Loy’s slate.
“I need to make the point,” newly elected Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) president Look Loy told Wired868 today, “that before he declared his candidacy, I had offered Ryan Ottley the opportunity to remain as vice-president, which he declined.”
Ottley confirmed that he had indeed been offered the option of running as Look Loy’s candidate for the post of first vice-president; however, he said, when the offer was made, Look Loy had not yet outlined a strategic plan to take the TTSL forward and he (Ottley) felt that he could not go in blind.
“The reason for me declining would have been that the president never indicated to us what his visions for the League were,” he explained. “And to support a vision that is not there is a bit alarming for me.
“I’m talking about a strategic plan, a manifesto, anything that could say ‘Aye, we are here now and this is where we want to be’.”
The 64-year-old Look Loy, who is a former CONCACAF technical committee member and TTFA technical advisor, defeated his 29-year-old challenger by 14 votes to eight in the inaugural elections which took place at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva last night. Saddle Hill Hotspur, one of the 24 voting clubs, was unrepresented at the meeting while there was also one spoilt ballot. And none of the four persons on Ottley’s slate was able to get the nod over his Look Loy opponent.
Nevertheless, the Flying Officer with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force feels that his team did all they could to persuade the TTSL’s 24-strong general membership.
“I don’t think we could have done more,” Ottley told Wired868. “We would have exhausted all our resources to go to the clubs and provide them with a plan and that was our selling point.
“We had a plan and this is what we want to do with the TTSL. What this means to us is that some clubs are satisfied with how things are going and that’s okay…”
Look Loy’s response to the implied criticism that he had failed to share his vision with the League was that he and his team had deliberately not prepared a manifesto document. According to him, his manifesto is his stint as the TTSL’s Interim President and his many years of football service, both of which are there for all to see.
“I thought that I and the people who were there had done good work to get the League up and running and have it started from scratch essentially,” Look Loy told Wired868. “Now that we are in office we will create the strategic plan. That is our first priority to guide us in all these different areas of development.”
Ottley did get two of his pre-election wishes, though, as Guaya United manager Jameson Rigues was elected unopposed as first vice-president while George Joseph of Bethel United is now one of the Board’s three Ordinary Members. Ottley had said publicly on the eve of the elections that his team was impressed with Rigues’ business plan for the League and that their wish was to have Tobago represented at board level at all times.
In the race for the second vice-presidency, Club Sando’s owner Eddison Dean defeated Marvin Wilson by 15 votes to six. There were two absentees and one spoilt ballot.
Joseph, Colin Murray, Stephanie Guevara, Michael Du Four and Clayton Morris vied for the three Board spots as Ordinary Members and Joseph was the runaway winner in round one, collecting 12 of the 21 votes then at stake, three of the total of 24 voters being absent.
Morris’ first round four became 16 in round two, leaving Du Four, Guevara and Murray to battle for the final place. Guevara and Du Four received six and three respectively while Murray, vote-less in the first two rounds, tallied 12.
Importantly, the newly elected TTSL President now has a seat at the head table with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Board of Directors. And he is adamant that the League will finally have a chance to let its voice be heard.
“There is a lot that we are not happy with,” he warned. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of the administration of the TTFA, the decision-making process at the TTFA and the decisions that are arrived at with the TTFA.
“Now, we will have access to information that we did not have before and now we will have the opportunity to make our input on how the association is run and how decisions are made.”
Pointing to the recent re-appointments of Anton Corneal as TTFA Technical Director and Jamaal Shabazz as the senior women’s football coach, Look Loy stated that local football’s governing body needs to be kept on its toes where the development of football in the country is concerned.
Prior to last night’s election, the TTSL also held a meeting with its general membership to ratify their promotion and relegation system–two teams will be demoted and two teams will be promoted from the various tiers of the League–and appoint Robert George to the Audit and Compliance Committee.
The meeting also agreed, Wired868 was informed, that TTSL’s proposed Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL)-backed ‘All Star’ gig will now be modified to pit a TTSL All-Star team against a Jamaica Premier League All-Star team on 15 October.
A second exhibition game will see the World XI, which should include Brazil legends Ronaldinho and Cafu, now facing off against the Trinbago Oilers FC unit from the Islands Cup tournament, which is also backed by CFTL.
CFTL, chaired by Chris Anderson, has already pumped $550,000 in sponsorship behind the TTSL for two knockout tournaments,
However, Ottley questioned the wisdom of making room for these matters on an agenda that includes so important an item as an inaugural election.
“People come to an election to do exactly one thing and that is to vote,” Ottley declared. “I believe that a meeting before the election can work in two ways. It can allow for electioneering and campaigning on one side and then it could also be allowed to discredit a candidate’s views or perspective on a matter.”
Look Loy responded obliquely to the objection, treating the issue of the need for foreign investors since the local corporate sector seems less than interested.
“What we are going to do is develop a road map, a strategic plan. I don’t want to sound clichéd [but] there is a shortfall in local investment so we have already started that with our budding investment with Caribbean Football Trust Limited. And we are going to be proceeding with that kind of approach.”
From Day One, therefore, Look Loy is already charting a clear course for the TTSL ship. The general membership which has put its fate in his hands will be looking forward to plain sailing from here on in.
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'Professor' La Forrest leads Guaya United to 3-1 Super League Triumph.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Call him professor Ron La Forrest, the former national football player and coach who has been making waves in T&T Super League with Guaya United. La Forrest, who has earned the right to be addressed as ‘professor’ at the Guayaguayare team, saw them continue their unbeaten run to date, with a convincing 3-1 triumph over 1976 Phoenix at the Guayaguayare Recreation in front of hundreds of fans.
La Forest told Guardian Media Sports that he has had to conduct major clean-up work with respect to players’ attitude and discipline, since being recalled to the team last year. Ironically, during his first stint back in 2014, he guided them to the League title before being axed for making an impromptu trip to the United States on business.
According to La Forrest: “When I took over the team last year, I had to do fundamental cleaning. After that I was able to take the team from 11th to fourth at the end of the season. This year, however, I selected my own players and ensured that everyone respected one another first, before receiving a commitment that everyone had a role to play to ensure the success of the team.”
With that commitment understood by everyone, striker Shaquille Ferrier responded by giving his team the lead on the 66th minute mark, before the prolific Carlon Hughes made sure of victory with goals in the 75th and 91st, which also propelled him to second on the goalscoring chart with 11 goals from 10 matches.
The Guaya men are now top of the standing with 26 points from eight wins and two drawn matches in 10 games. Professor La Forest said there will be no letting up when they face fourth place Defence Force in their next match to complete the first half of the league. “With the momentum we have now there will be absolutely no letting up because we have worked too hard to be where we are presently. We will be attacking the Army with the same intensity as any other team and I can assure you, we will be taking that momentum to the end of the season.”
The University of T&T moved to second on the standing when they held off Queen’s Park CC 1-0 in a gruelling contest at the Training Field of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, courtesy a 22nd minute goal from Theon James, while champs FC Santa Rosa got a hat-trick from the competition’s leading goals scorer Keron Clarke in the 74th, 81st and 93rd minutes in thrashing Police 4-0 at the St James Barracks in St James.
Santa Rosa’s ‘Big Cannons’ moved to third with 19 points from nine games while table proppers Bethel FC succumbed to their seventh defeat of the season, going down 0-2 to Cunupia FC at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground in Tobago. In another game, WASA FC and Siparia Spurs played to a goalless draw at Fyzabad Petrotrin Sports Club Grounds.
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TTSL’s international matches stalled..Look Loy: FIFA’s approval not needed
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
After months of seeking approval from parent body, the T&T Football Association (TTFA), to stage two international football matches on October 15, the T&T Super League has been told that its request is still to be granted by the world governing body for football—FIFA.
TTFA president David John-Williams said on Friday that the ball is not in their court as the TTSL is still to provide key bits of information to the FIFA, such as the names of players that will represent a TTSL All Star team to take on a Jamaica All Star team on that day.
The other match will feature a World XI, comprising football mega-star Ronaldinho of Brazil meeting the T&T Oilers - a team being used to promote a Regional Island Cup tournament next year by key sponsors Caribbean Football Trust Ltd.
Keith Look Loy, the TTSL president who was recently appointed as its representative on the Board of the TTFA, said he had been reliably informed that the players they were bringing would require no approval from the FIFA and hinted at a sinister ploy to prevent the matches being held.
Look Loy said: “They are players who have retired from the game but are still active and have the ability to draw a crowd when they walk on to a field.”
Among these players are Cafu who visited T&T recently to demonstrate the possibilities of achieving through sport, former French international Florent Malouda who represented Chelsea in the English Premiership and ex-Italian striker Luca Toni, among others.
The Super League boss lamented the lack of information from the TTFA, in spite of numerous reminders but gave the assurance that his league would supply the association with the list of names by Wednesday August 30.
He however called on the TTFA to say why matches in the coming National FA Cup competition had been scheduled to be played on October 15, the same date for the international games.
“We indicated to the TTFA that we (TTSL) had to change the date of the matches from September 15 to the same date in October to facilitate Ronaldinho.
“We have been sending them reminders of the game regularly, but to my surprise we were greeted with National FA Cup fixtures which showed matches being played on October 15. Now this tells me that the TTFA has no intention of ensuring that our matches will come off” Look Loy explained.
He said he believed the treatment being meted out now was reminiscent of the hardship they faced to receive approval from the football association to be recognised as a TTFA competition. According to Look Loy: “If the TTFA were genuine and really wanted to ensure that the TTSL matches come off, they would not have scheduled FA Cup matches on that date, but rather would have used October 22 as an alternative date.”
The TTSL’s predicament now is that they have already communicated to all participating players that the date for the match will be October 15. Look Loy said his league had contingency plans in place as the matches were international ones but he called on the TTFA to work with them.
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TTSL Livestreamed Games:
Half Time: QPCC 2-0 Bethel United - https://mycujoo.tv/embed/434 (https://mycujoo.tv/embed/434)
Half Time: WASA FC 0-0 UTT - https://mycujoo.tv/wasa-fc?id=8671 (https://mycujoo.tv/wasa-fc?id=8671)
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Club Sando end Guaya’s unbeaten run
T&T Newsday
CLUB SANDO Moruga ended Guaya United’s unbeaten run in League One of the TT Super League on Sunday.
Playing at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga, Club Sando Moruga edged the league leaders by a 1-0 margin, with Jesse Edwards finding the back of the net in the 42nd minute.
Guaya remain atop the standings with 29 points, with FC Santa Rosa next on 25.
Santa Rosa registered a 2-0 win over Cunupia FC at the Arima Velodrome, with new signing Ryan Stewart opening the scoring with a 54th minute freekick while Rashad Griffith converted a penalty five minutes later.
Defence Force moved up one spot to third on the standings despite a 2-2 draw against Siparia Spurs at the Petrotrin Sports Club Ground, Fyzabad.
Chris Collins put Siparia ahead in the 25th minute before Defence Force responded with items from Dwayne Calliste (40th) and Jabari Andall (59th). However, Marcus Kelly ensured that the hosts will get a share of the points when he got Siparia’s second, in the 64th.
Queen’s Park got a double from Devon Modeste as they defeated cellar-placed Bethel United 3-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field, Mucurapo.
Modeste scored in the 41st and 90th minutes, after Jabari Raphael broke the deadlock for the Parkites, in the 28th. Kleon Melville got Bethel’s consolation, four minutes into added-on time in the second half.
1976 Phoenix FC earned a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Police at the Police Barracks, St Joseph. Colin Williams found the back of the net for the lawmen in the 14th but Phoenix replied through veteran Lejandro Williams (22nd) and Kaleb Douglas (62nd).
Another team who rallied from a goal down to prevail 2-1 were WASA, in their home encounter against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ).
The home fans at the WASA Ground in St Joseph were silenced when Ishmael Daniel put UTT in front after 53 minutes but Dillon Peterson evened the scores in the 77th. And, in stoppage time, Phillip Nelson got his name on the scoresheet to guarantee full points for the hosts.
Other Results - League One (Saturday)
At Frederick Settlement Recreation Ground, Caroni:
CENTRAL 500 SPARTANS (3) - Deon Flatts 35th; Donovan Derrick 37th; Josiah Grazette 78th vs HARLEM STR IKERS (1) - Akil London 48th.
At Diego Martin North Secondary School:
PETIT VALLEY/DIEGO MART IN UNITED (4) - Eric Charles 10th; Kerwin Bonnette 21st; Karamo Samuel 59th; Ishaq Abdullah 89th vs MARABELLA FCC (1) - Keron Mason 80th.
At Youth Training Centre Ground, Arouca:
PERSEVERANCE BALL RUNNERS (2) - Glenwell John; Kiedel Glasgow vs PR ISONS FC (1) - Ricardo Alleyne 23rd.
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Big Cannons climb as Guaya falls in Trinidad and Tobago Super League
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
Guaya United suffered its first defeat of the T&T Super League season, a shocking 1-0 loss to lowly Club Sando Moruga at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground in Moruga that allowed League One winners FC Santa Rosa ‘Big Cannons’ to sneak within four points of the lead.
Coach Ron La Forest’s intention to take his tally to 32 points on Sunday was blocked when goalkeeper Shane Matis’ desperate clearance from a goal-mouth scrimmage struck the back of Club Sando Moruga’s Jesse Edwards and flew into the back of the net in the 42nd minute, a goal that the leaders never recovered from thereafter despite numerous chances.
La Forest said his team just did not play well. Big Cannons coach Keith Look Loy said his team has reached a point where they can consolidate and hold firm in their remaining matches to retain the title they won last year.
On Sunday the Big Cannons shut out Cunupia FC 2-0 at the Arima Velodrome courtesy goals from new signing Ryan Stewart in the 54 minute and Rashad Griffith five minute later. Look Loy said his team sought to reinforce its goalscoring following the loss of instrumental striker Keron Clarke through injury.
He told Guardian Media Sports yesterday his team acquired during the recent transfer window, the services of Stewart and Heelon Mitchell, two former Guaya strikers who made a move to Real Maracas last year, as well as Dorian Robinson and Sheldon Nesbit.
“We feel that it has worked out so far because it was Stewart’s first goal that helped us to win the game Sunday” Look Loy said.
The win pushed the Big Cannons to 25 points after 11 matches and still with a game in hand, a rescheduled encounter with Queen’s Park to be played at a date and time to be announced. They trail Guaya (29 points) by four points currently.
Defence Force fluctuating affair on the table continued at the weekend with a 2-2 draw with third from bottom Siparia Spurs at the Fyzabad Petrotrin Sports Club that saw them replace the University of T&T at third with 20 points from fourth last week.
The Spurs surprised the Army men with a 25th minute goal but the visitors equalised in the 40th from Dwayne Calliste.
Jabari Andall later gave the Army Coast-Guard Combination the advantage for the first time in the game in the 59th minute, but Marcus Kelly levelled the scores for a second time in the 64th to ensure a share of the points.
Meanwhile The Parkites got a double strike from Devon Modeste in the 41st and 90th and another goal from Jabari Raphael in the 28th to prevail over Bethel FC 3-1 at the Training Pitch of the Hasely Crawford Stadium while UTT went down in a hard-fought 1-2 defeat to WASA at St Joseph.
The University men opened the scoring in the 53rd minute from Ishmael Daniel, but WASA stormed back with two unanswered goals from Dillon Peterson (77th) and Phillip Nelson in 91st.
In another game 1976 Phoenix FC edged Police FC 2-1 at the St James Barracks. Phoenix goals came from Leandro Williams and Kaleb Douglas while the lone item for the Lawmen came from the boot of Colin Williams.
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TT Super League One - August Player of the Month Nominees:
- Rashad Griffith (FC Santa Rosa)
- Carlon Hughes (Guaya United)
- Devon Modeste (QPCC)
- Keron Clarke (FC Santa Rosa)
- Stevon Stoute (Cunupia FC)
https://www.youtube.com/v/tS1Z9wr3CYM&feature=youtu.be
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TTSL Live - Defence Force Super League 2-1 Police FC at HT
Follow the second half here - https://mycujoo.tv/embed/434 (https://mycujoo.tv/embed/434)
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Guaya remains top of the league.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Guaya United remains firmly bolted to the top of the T&T Super League despite drawing its game against Police over the weekend. Guaya would feel it squandered a chance to pull away at the top after Carlon Hughes scored two goals in two minutes in the first half.
He opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and doubled his side’s lead in the 25th. Hughes continues to be the league’s leading goal scorer, now with 17 goals to his name. The visitors held that advantage through to the second half.
It was only in the 65th minute, Jason Boodram pulled a goal back for the officers. It made for an interesting end to the game. Just as Guaya seemed on course for a narrow victory, Colin Williams struck in the 92nd minute to ensure Police shared the spoils.
Meanwhile, in the east, FC Santa Rosa failed to capitalise on Guaya United dropping points. Playing against Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC), there were two early goals in this match. Shabaka Mahluli gave QPCC the lead in only the seventh minute. However, the lead lasted only 12 minutes before Rashad Griffith equalised for FC Santa Rosa.
There was also interest in Defence Force’s trip to UTT where both teams are in a top five tussle. UTT was two goals up in the first half-hour courtesy Ishmael Daniel (16’) and Cyrano Glen (30’). Dexter Thornhill pulled a goal back for the army in the 63rd minute but UTT held on for a 2-1 victory.
With the top two teams getting a point each, it means Guaya United is on top with 33 points while FC Santa Rosa is four points behind in second. QPCC is third on the table with 24 points while Defence Force and UTT are both on 23 points each to round off the top five.
RELATED NEWS
Club Sando Moruga edge Harlem in Super League Cup.
T&T Newsday Reports.
JESSIE EDWARDS registered a hat-trick as Club Sando Moruga edged Harlem Strikers 4-3 last Wednesday, in the First Round of the TT Super League’s Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL)- sponsored League Cup competition.
At the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, the hosts benefitted from an own goal in the 25th minute from Keston Raphael to take a 1-0 lead, before Akil London replied in the 35th.
Edwards then got his name on the scoresheet three times, within the space of 14 minutes – with items in the 41st, 43rd and 55th. London also notched a treble, as he struck again in the 71st and 90th, but Club Sando Moruga held firm until the final whistle.
Bethel United eliminated Petit Valley/Diego Martin United 6-5, via kicks from the penalty spot, after the scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground.
Kleon Melville, Makan Hislop, Anton Simon, Daniel Craig, Teejay Cadiz and Densyl James netted their efforts for Bethel, while Keron Cummings, Josiah Alleyne, Brandon Joseph, Quason Hartman and Keion Goodridge replied for Petit Valley/Diego Marin. However, Kerwin Bonnette missed Petit Valley/Diego Martin’s sixth kick, handing victory to the hosts.
During regulation time, Cadiz (Bethel) and Ishaq Abdullah (Petit Valley/Diego Martin) were the goal-getters for the respective teams. In the other scheduled meeting last Wednesday, Youth Stars earned a 3-0 win, by default, over Marabella FCC at the Roxborough Complex.
Second Round Fixtures (WEDNESDAY) -
Prisons FC vs 1976 Phoenix FC, YTC Arouca, 4 pm;
Guaya United vs Youth Stars, Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, 5 pm;
UTT vs Bethel United, O’Meara Campus Ground, Arima;
Cunupia FC vs Siparia Spurs, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Central 500 Spartans vs WASA, Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, 6 pm;
FC Santa Rosa vs Club Sando Moruga, Arima Velodrome;
Defence Force vs Perseverance Ball Runners, Ato Boldon Stadium;
Queen’s Park vs Police, Debe Recreation Ground, St James, 8 pm.
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Prisons outplays FC Santa Rosa.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
League One champions in the T&T Super League FC Santa Rosa was booted out of the League Cup on Thursday afternoon, after falling 2-0 to unlikely match favourites Prisons FC of the League Two Division.
Playing at their home at the Arima Velodrome, Santa Rosa, nickname the ‘Big Cannons’ failed to break the Prisons’ defence which was made sturdy by the increased numbers together with a determined attitude. The opening goal came in the 26th minute when talented Barry Carrington turned and twisted the Santa Rosa defence before being hacked down in the area. Captain Anthony Parris later stepped up and fired past the Santa Rosa goalkeeper to hand his team an unbelievable 1-0 advantage, which they took to the half-time interval.
Afterwards Prisons coach Anderson Veronique sought to strengthen his defence, by playing six defenders and three in the midfield to cope with the barrage of attacks that came in the remaining moments. But as the Big Cannons pushed numbers up in search of an equalizing goal, the visitors sealed the win on the counter-attack.
In the 88th minute Ricardo Alleyne quickly released to a speedy Kerwin Stafford down the right flank, and with the Big Cannons short of numbers on the back, Stafford skilfully cut inside before driving home the winner, much to the delight of their supporters.
Afterwards coach Veronique said he looked at the Santa Rosa strengths and weakness and came up with a strategy to counter it. “We knew that they like to play direct football, so I closed down my defence and midfield and played a counter- attacking brand. It worked for us nicely in the first half when we held them out and got a goal from our skipper, so in the second half I decided to shut the door by adding two more players in defence to make it six and play with one up front.”
With the victory the Prisons Officers advanced to the semi-final of the league cup where they will meet the University of T&T at a date and time to be announced. Veronique said he intends to take the same approach against the UTT men, as he already knows what type of football they play.
Prisons, the second place team in League Two, faces their biggest challenge today, a meeting with Diego Martin All Stars at home from 4pm to determine if they will have a chance of being promoted to League One.
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One Win from Promotion - PVDMU & Prisons Seek History.
ttsuperleague.com
League Two in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League is drawing to a dramatic close with the top two teams – Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd (PVDMU) and Prisons FC, going head to head on Saturday 23 September at 4 pm with a spot in League One up for grabs.
With two rounds of matches left in League Two, Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd (20 Pts) and Prisons FC (19 Pts) occupy the two promotion spots but they are followed closely by Central 500 Spartans (18 Pts), Harlem Strikers (16 Pts) and Perseverance Ball Runners (15 Pts) who all have a mathematical chance of sneaking into the top two by the end of the season.
A win for either team on the day though would mean automatic promotion and it comes as no surprise that Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd view the match-up at YTC, Arouca as a virtual final, according to Manager Derek Edwards.
“All the guys excited. That’s what they are craving for the whole season – the opportunity to play in a virtual final and it comes like a final. All guns coming out tomorrow,” Edwards told TTSL Media.
Edwards also made mention of the impact that playing in the Super League’s highest tier for the first time would have for the west based community.
“It means plenty you know (for the community). Right now it comes like the pinnacle of the football fraternity so they really going for it. Its a strong drive from the guys” stated Edwards.
“We really looking forward to being in the other division.”
Much of PVDMU success this season has come on the heels of stellar performances from their returning hometown heroes, such as Keron “Ballpest” Cummings.
Former national senior team midfielder Cummings has been at the heart of his team’s ascent and echoed his manager’s sentiments regarding the key clash.
“We’re excited about the game,” Cummings told TTSL Media. “That’s one of the reasons why I came back (to PVDMU). We just want to come out and put on a good performance for the village and the young players coming up now.”
He continued, “where football is concerned, the youths and them look up to me. So it’s important. That’s what I came back home to do – bring the boys and them up (to League One) and show them the right way.”
In Prisons FC however, PVDMU face an opponent high on confidence and not short of quality either.
The Arouca based team produced the shock of the round in midweek action in the CFTL League Cup Quarterfinals by defeating League One title contenders FC Santa Rosa 2-0.
The Prison’s outfit was resolute against the “Big Cannons” and boasting a host of new recruits to compliment the likes of Anthony Parris, they comfortably dispatched their more prestigious opponents.
A victory in league action for Prisons, would also mean a maiden voyage in the Super League’s highest tier after coming close to promotion in 2015.
What’s for certain is that history beckons for the two teams, but at the end of 90 mins in Arouca, who will answer the call?
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PRISONS PREVAIL – BEAT PVDMU TO EARN PROMOTION
http://ttsuperleague.com/prisons-prevail-beat-pvdmu-earn-promotion/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/prisons-prevail-beat-pvdmu-earn-promotion/)
Prisons FC became the first team to be officially promoted to the Trinidad and Tobago Super League – League One on Saturday after a thrilling 4-2 victory at YTC Arouca against Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd (PVDMU).
Prior to kick off, the match was set up as a winner take all encounter with either team assured of promotion if they could claim the valuable 3 points. Victory meant that either team would earn promotion for the first time in their respective club’s history.
With a chance at making history on the line, Prisons FC caught PVDMU flat footed in the 13th minute. Inform attacker Barry Carrington placed the ball beyond the PVDM custodian to set Prisons on their way.
Both teams continued to throw attacking jabs at each other throughout the first half but it was Carrington’s partner in crime, Ricardo Alleyne, who finally hit PVDMU with a sucker punch at the stroke of half time.
The tricky winger slammed home Prisons’ second and the men from Arouca felt like it would be their day of history making.
However, former national senior team midfielder Keron “Ballpest” Cummings had other ideas. 10 minutes into the second half, he conjured a reply for the visitors and it was game on!
Both teams then traded three goals in a frantic spell of attacking football. Aron Peters restored Prisons’ two goal cushion in the 71st minute but 19 year old Ishaq Abdullah, pulled one back again for PVDMU in the 80th, his 6th goal for the season.
Just when PVDMU might have thought that the momentum had shifted once again in their favour, up stepped Carrington to deliver the final nail in PVDMU coffin.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Cummings and his team but fate is still in their own hands. A final day home victory over Harlem Strikers on Saturday 30 September would allow them to leapfrog Central 500 Spartans who currently sit in the second promotion spot but have already wrapped up their season.
And they certainly wrapped it up in style.
In their final match of the League Two season – they are on a bye for the final round – Central 500 Spartans walloped lowly Marabella FCC 13-1 at Edinburgh 500 Rec. Ground.
In the biggest margin of victory in any TTSL fixture this season, Josiah Grazette scored four and Amalis James notched 3 in the impressive rout for Central 500.
Captain Donovan Derrick scored one of only three goals registered in the first half, which puts him at the top of the goal scoring charts alongside Kevon Woodley with eight goals. Woodley has since transferred to Cunupia FC but continues to maintain his scoring touch in League One.
Without Woodley, a depleted Youth Stars outfit suffered a 3-2 defeat to Perseverance Ball Runners in Chaguanas in the other match-up on the day.
These results mean that Central 500 Spartans currently occupy second spot on 21 pts with Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd trailing on 20 pts and Perseverance Ball Runners on 18 pts.
In the final day of action, PVDMU can win promotion and possibly the League Two crown itself if they defeat Harlem Strikers and Prisons FC suffer a loss to Youth Stars.
Anything less than a win for PVDMU however, would give Central 500 Spartans the coveted reward of promotion after the central based side emphatically boosted their goal difference against Marabella FCC.
TTSL League Two is surely in for a grand finale.
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Santa Rosa sees silverware as Guaya draws
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
FC Santa Rosa’s Big Cannons, are well on course to successfully defend its League One crown in the T&T Super League after Sunday’s 2-0 triumph over WASA FC, coupled with Hydro Tech Guaya United’s goalless draw with Cunupia FC.
However they face their biggest challenge against Guaya later on in the league, which could determine the ultimate winner. Guaya’s tie with Cunupia has left them on 37 points and still on top on the standings by two points ahead of Santa Rosa 35, but the latter has a game in hand, a rescheduled encounter with Queen’s Park to be played at a date and venue to be announced.
Yesterday Guaya manager Jameson Rigues said there was no need to press the panic bottom as his team will meet Santa Rosa in one of the remaining six matches. “They will first have to beat us first. There are six matches to go and it is crucial for us to win those matches. Winning this title is important for us and all other teams, as it is the first time the league is being managed by the clubs” Rigues explained.
At the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on Sunday, Guaya failed to convert the many opportunities that came its way, while at the Arima Velodrome, the home team got two quick goals from Nathan Julien in the 12th minute and Keelon Mitchell a minute later, in securing maximum points and a clear sight on the silverware in the two-team race.
Cunupia’s tied saw them maintain third on the table with 27 points, but fourth Defence Force moved to 26 points by hammering Bethel FC 6-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, courtesy a hat-trick by Aaron Lester in the 16th, 61st and 84th minute and other goals from Keston Williams (23rd), Michael Edwards (71st) and Christon Baptiste in the 76th minute.
At the Police Barracks in St James, Police got two goals from Dwight Elliot (43rd) and Akiba Peters in time added on (90+3), to defeat Club Sando Moruga 2-1 while UTT edged Siparia Spurs in a high-scoring affair 4-3 at the O’Meara Ground in Arima.
Kevaugh Connell (59th, 79th) and Dillon Batholomew (70th, 88th) got double strikes to hold off items by Spurs’ Sylvester Teesdale (62nd), Marcus Kelly (83rd) and Deon Collins (90th). Meanwhile at Canaan Bon Accord Recreation Ground, 1976 Phoenix thrashed Queen’s Park 3-0 to lift them to eighth.
Noel Williams scored twice in the 12th and 85th, and Andel Noray got the other in the 75th minute to assure them maximum points.
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Guaya United drubs Bethel 7-0.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Santa Rosa keeps Super League title race tight
Guaya United remained intent on wrestling the T&T Super League’s, League One title away from holders FC Santa Rosa when the South Easterners beat Tobago’s Bethel United at their Newlands, Guayaguayare home ground yesterday.
Forward Carlon ‘Judgement’ Hughes continued his hot form for Guaya’s Green Army with a hat-trick while Leroy Jones, Shaquille Ferrier, Beville Joseph, and Jody Allsop all scored one goal each in the rout over the visitors. That result took them to 40 points from 17 games played, a two point lead of second placed Santa Rosa which also turned back a Tobago team with a 3-0 win over 1976 Phoenix FC.
Through two points back in the standings, Santa Rosa as a game in hand. Playing before a typically vibrant home crowd, Jones would open the scoring for Guaya in the 24th minute to get them started on piling up the goals. Hughes got his first of the match in the 28th as the home team went to the interval with a 1-nil lead.
Guaya’s appetite did not abate in the second half and they went to work as early as four minutes in when Ferrier added his name to the score sheet. Following further goals by Joseph and Allsop in he 64th and 79th minutes, Hughes returned to round off scoring with two goals in two minutes.
The speedy front-man score in the 84th and 85th to cap a fine days work and propel him further away from the rest at the top of the TTSL League One scorers’ charts with 21 goals. His nearest rival is Santa Rosa’s Keron Clarke (13) who will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken ankle last month.
At the Arima Velodrome, the ‘Big Cannons’ got all of their goals in the second half as Phoenix held firm during the first 45 minute period. Nathan Julien opened the scoring for the home team in the 52nd minute before returning to make it 2-0 to Santa Rosa in the 77th. Santa Rosa’s final goal was netted by former Joe Public attacker Rashad Griffith who scored one minute into added on time to ensure that Santa Rosa remain within touching distance of the former champions Guaya United.
SCORES/ TTSL LEAGUE ONE
Club Sando Moruga 5 (Marcus John 39th, Amin Julien 52th & 55th, Kyle Morgan 88th, Andy London 90th+2) vs WASA FC 0
Police FC 2 (Akiba Peters 31st, Ishmael Sawyer 55th) vs UTT 0
Siparia Spurs 0 vs Cunupia FC 7 (Hakeem Legall 43rd, Kevon Woodlley 48th, 77th & 89th, Michael Darko 57th & 70th, Stevon Stoute 75th)
QPCC 1 (Shomarie Antoine) vs Defence Force 3 (Dexter Thornhill 3rd, Keston Williams 37th, Dominic Hutchinson 70th)
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Big Cannons back on top in TTSL
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)
FC Santa Rosa’s Big Cannons have regained the leading position in League one of the T&T Super League, a position they assumed after beating Queen’s Park CC 4-1 in a revised encounter at the Arima Velodrome on Sunday.
The win came courtesy double strikes by the prolific Rashad Griffith and Ryan Stewart. Trailing leaders Hydro Tech Guaya United by two points on 38, the Big Cannons received a major scare under rainy conditions when Jovan Marshall popped the Parkites into the lead in the 15th minute and defended it stoutly to the half. After the resumption however their resistance was broken when Ryan Stewart equalized in the 47th and triggered a barrage of attacks from the home team.
Griffith got his first goal in the 60th minute which handed the Big Cannons a 2-1 advantage, and with the home team heading for maximum points, Stewart and Griffith made sure by adding two more goals within the space of a minute. First Stewart got his team’s third goal in the 75th minute and with the visitors struggling to regroup, Griffith added another to confirm victory as well as their return to the top.
Keith Look Loy the Big Cannons coach said his team will not only be pursuing its second title, but a bit of history as being the only team to win back-to-back titles in the Super League. “In the 15 year running go the Super League, no team has ever won back to back titles and we want to be the first to achieve it, so we are motivated by this. We know the race for the title is not a long way off and Guaya will be our main opponent” Look Loy said. He noted his team is no stranger to this position, as they were in a similar position last year, a close race for the title and managed to pull away nearer the end.
Both the Big Cannons and Guaya have five more matches to go, including a mouth-watering clash with each other on November 5 at the Velodrome. Look Loy said in spite of this key game it is important that they win their other matches.
Ron La Forest, the Guaya coach said Look Loy cannot be a happy man right now, as his Big Cannons will have to pass through him first to be crowned champions a second time. Guaya who are on 40 points and trail their opponent by one point will also have to win their next four games in a title race that has been reduced to just two teams. After leading his troops to a convincing 5-2 triumph over Cunupia FC in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Saturday, La Forest said “Jump high, jump low, Look Loy will have to beat me first for that title, and I will be waiting impatiently for him.”
In another match on Sunday, Defence Force moved to third in the standings from a 2-2 tie with Club Sando Moruga at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. The Army moved to 30 points courtesy of goals from Jamal Goodridge in the 49th and Kevon Blackman in the 86th. Club Sando got their goals from Marcus John (34th) and Andy London in the 61st.
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TTSL Match Commissioners shine on and off of field - Graduate with Honors
http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-match-commissioners-shine-off-field-graduate-honors/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-match-commissioners-shine-off-field-graduate-honors/)
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) wishes to extend congratulations to our very own Brandon Greene and Tisha Belfon who recently graduated from the University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus with Bachelor of Science degrees (Honors) in Sports Management.
The duo have distinguished themselves as young, enthusiastic TTSL match commissioners throughout the 2017 season.
While Greene already possessed some experience in the field, Belfon was drafted into the fold following the inaugural TTSL Match Commissioner Training Seminars held in May 2017.
It is an opportunity and an experience that she is eternally grateful for.
“I am extremely grateful to the TTSL Secretariat and Mr Camara David for having the confidence in me and allowing me the good fortune of being a match commissioner” Belfon told TTSL Media.
“You must embrace what’s laid out for you and strike every opportunity with enthusiasm; you never know, it just may be what the stars have aligned for you. I can attest to that when I was given the opportunity to be a match commissioner for the TTSL season 2017.”
Greene echoed his fellow graduate’s appreciation and even went onto identify the unique insight that practical knowledge in the field brings.
“After being accepted into the current pool of match commissioners in June 2017 and receiving numerous appointments throughout the season, the TTSL has allowed me to elevate from understanding the principles I learnt in the classroom from my sport management major, to applying it in real life situations faced in managing sport (football) – having to communicate with different personalities and make tough decisions to impact the game’s operations,” stated Greene.
While Belfon and Greene both agree that sport administration in T&T has a long way to go, they are encouraged by the vision and opportunities that the TTSL is focused on providing for young professionals.
Greene stated, “I must say after closely working with TTSL and various students in my sport management classes, there is a cadre of upcoming, brilliant and passionate young sport professionals ready to change the landscape of sport development in T&T and shape our country’s youth, elite athletes and professional teams to greater accomplishments.”
“So it’s just for these professionals to network and gain opportunities to work with the decision makers.”
He continued, “in my view, the TTSL is under great leadership at the moment with the current Secretariat which has been helpful, forward-thinking and innovative while also representing some of the qualified and educated sport professionals we currently have.”
The pair, alongside fellow match commissioner John Barclay, have also served as official TTSL volunteers for special projects such as the staging of the CFTL League Cup semi-finals and exemplify the commitment needed to continue football development in T&T.
“I was able to network myself as a player and as a sport administrator when exposed to various matches,” stated Belfon.
“I was given the chance to have an opinion by Mr David (League Secretary) – a kind, open-minded individual, on certain situations that may have been raised during the 2017 season. For this small gesture, I will forever be grateful. The TTSL 2017 season was an enjoyable one and I do look forward for what’s in store for me next season.”
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WATCH: Behind the scenes with newly promoted Trinidad and Tobago Super League club, Prisons FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/we_7CQYduKo
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Guaya’s Green Army to face Santa Rosa’s ‘Big Cannons’
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
With four more games to be played in League One of the T&T Super League, today’s key clash between FC Santa Rosa and Hydro Tech Guaya United from 3.30 pm at the Arima Velodrome could potentially determine the winner.
Ironically the teams will be led by childhood friends and colleagues Keith Look Loy and Ron La Forest, both of whom began representing T&T back in 1971.
Yesterday La Forest said he was setting aside the friendship for today’s mouth-watering clash.
“FC Santa Rosa is in the way of us claiming the title,” La Forest said.
“We are really looking forward to this match and claiming victory if we are to be rewarded for our hard work this season.”
Look Loy, on the other hand, outlined a number of benefits the match would have for his team and the league, describing it as a clash between the two best teams in the league.
“We can go into this game and play it safe, meaning playing for a draw, but we really want to win this game because we know it will almost guarantee us the title,” he said.
“This means we will be going all out to win the game, but it will be a difficult match for both teams.”
Look Loy said: “We are also expecting a very good crowd which will only augur well for the TT Super League.
“This is what the league needs and it will definitely be a good platform for the future.”
Also called The Big Cannons, the league’s defending champions are also motivated by the fact that they could be the only team to retain the Super League title in its 15 years of existence.
Santa Rosa, with 44 points at the top of the standings, leads their rivals Guaya (43) points by one, with third place Cunupia FC a distance behind on 33 points.
Look Loy’s men will also fancy their chances with the Siparia Spurs, fourth-from-bottom Police and the University of T&T their remaining games.
Guaya, who are now affectionately known as the ‘Green Army’ will finish their campaign with matches against WASA FC, Bethel United and the Defence Force.
Today’s fixture will also see the Spurs up against Queen’s Park at Palo Seco Recreation Ground at 3:30pm: Police taking on Bethel United at St James Barracks for 3:30pm: and WASA at home to Defence Force from 4.30 pm.
STANDINGS
Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 FC Santa Rosa 18 14 2 2 45 10 35 44
2 Guaya United 18 13 4 1 51 16 35 43
3 Cunupia FC 18 10 3 5 34 25 9 33
4 Defence Force FC 18 9 3 6 38 25 13 30
5 UTT 18 9 2 7 32 31 1 29
6 QPCC 18 7 3 8 25 28 -3 24
7 Wasa FC 17 6 5 6 25 29 -4 23
8 1976 Phoenix FC 17 6 4 7 27 26 1 22
9 Police FC 18 5 4 9 21 37 -16 19
10 Club Sando Moruga 18 4 4 10 35 41 -6 16
11 Siparia Spurs 17 1 4 12 18 46 -28 9
12 Bethel United 17 1 3 13 12 49 -37 6
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Guaya United stops Rosa.
By Gyasi Merrique (Guardian).
Hydro Tech Guaya United yesterday returned to the top of the T&T Super League’s top division standings as a 3-1 win for the ‘Green Army’ put a spoke in the wheel of defending champion club, FC Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa, who are also called the ‘Big Cannons’ led the league at the start of yesterday’s round with 44 points, but only held a slender one point advantage over 2015 winners Guaya (43 pts) who made the trip to the Arima Velodrome for this top of the table clash.
Guaya scored first when former T&T international midfielder Andrei Pacheco brought their normally energetic support base to life in the 17th minute.
There were many story lines to this encounter one of which saw Keith Look Loy, head coach of Santa Rosa, come face to face with Ron La Forest who heads Guaya United’s staff and the former T&T youth players and childhood friends were not backing down.
Mayaro-born midfielder Ryan ‘Fry’ Stewart who once captained Guaya and is now in the Santa Rosa ranks wrote his own narrative in the 26th minute, producing a neat finish to put Santa Rosa level at 1-1.
But three minutes before half time, Kevin Jagdeosingh struck to once again send Guaya supporters into frenzied celebration through to the interval.
A testy battle between the two teams in the second half was marked with the ejection of Look Loy to the stands and bad went to worse for the holders of the title when Carlon Hughes headed Guaya into a 3-1 lead 20 minutes from the end of the match, which stood at the final whistle.
With that result Guaya United moves back to the top of the standings on 46 points with three matches remaining in the competition, leaving Santa Rosa to play catch-up.
TTSL RESULTS
Club Sando Moruga 1 (Andy London 65th) vs 1976 Phoenix FC 2 (Andel Noray 20th, Nigel Thomas)
WASA FC 1 (Kerron St Cyr 30th) vs Defence Force SL FC 1 (Aaron Lester 64th)
UTT 2 (Moses Jaikaran 37th, Myles Ryan 83rd) vs Cunupia F.C. 3 (Kevon Woodley 52nd and 62nd, Janeke Danzell o.g 90th)
Police FC 3 vs Bethel United 3
Siparia Spurs vs QPCC - (QPCC won by default)
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There were many story lines to this encounter one of which saw Keith Look Loy, head coach of Santa Rosa, come face to face with Ron La Forest who heads Guaya United’s staff and the former T&T youth players and childhood friends were not backing down.
Forumites, Keith and Ron used to clash big time when Saints and Belmont meet. I saw those memorable head to head clashes. Saints came out on top most of time, or when it count the most. In the finals. But Blmont was dangerous. They were also Team mates/buddies on the TT youth team. WITCO/Benson and Hedges decides to have a Caribbean youth football in 70 or 71 (please correct me). They sponsored the Caribbean youth cricket tournament in previous years. Only 4 English speaking island participated. TT, JA, Guyana and Barbados. TT won, but barely. They lost to JA 1-0. They had to depend on Barbados to put up a spirited fight against JA. That game tied 0-0. Then in 72 Concacaf started the U-19. TT did not particpate. We started to participate from 74. Ron and Keith were very good players. After school Keith went Howard, Ron went to the TTDF/Coast Guards. Great guys. Glad they still "at one another".
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Look Loy, Rochford face disciplinary charges.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy and his assistant Timothy Rochford will be asked to answer a number of questions by the Disciplinary Committee of the T&T Super League soon, after T&T’s FIFA referee Cecile Hinds yesterday filed a written complaint of verbal abuse by the duo at Sunday’s top of the table clash between Hydro Tech Guaya United and FC Santa Rosa at the Arima Velodrome.
Hinds in a two page document that was copied to David John-Williams- the T&T Football Association president, Wayne Caesar-Head of the Refereeing Department, Joseph Taylor- Chairman of the Referees Committee and Jaggernath Goolcharan, among others, highlighted the alleged abuse she received after an incident in which Santa Rosa striker Rashad Griffith appeared to have collided with the Guaya goalkeeper Shane Mattis on his way to goal.
Hinds did not blow for a foul although the collision left Griffith unconscious on the ground.
In her report she said “While Griffith was being treated, Rochford ran on to the field without the referee’s permission, heading directly towards me and not to assist the injured player. Upon arriving he began shouting in a loud aggressive tone while using hand gestures”
He noted that after ordering Rochford off the field of play she later received insults from Look Loy in a loud and aggressive tone. Both Look Loy and Rochford were sent from the bench while Griffith was taken to the nearby Arima Health Facility by ambulance.
Contacted, a furious Look Loy said if Hinds was abused it was because she endangered the life of a player. He made it clear the video evidence is there for all to see and further lashed out at the referee for her lack of concern for a player whose life was at risk due to the failure by her to do her job properly and protect players while on the field of play.
“Griffith left the field unconscious and got up in the hospital. We are talking about someone’s life here and if he had died it would have been another story.
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Taylor calls for respect for local refs
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)
President the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (TTFRA) Joseph Taylor, says that respect must be shown to all involved in local football, in particular the referees.
Taylor was speaking following the situation where a referee was verbally attacked during a TT Super League match between the “Big Cannons” FC Santa Rosa and Guaya United FC at the Arima Velodrome on November 5.
President of the TT Super League and FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy, and FC Santa Rosa assistant coach Jovan Rochford, were irked at the manner in which referee Cecile Hinds dealt with a collision between Santa Rosa attacker Rashad Griffith and Guaya United FC goalkeeper Shane Mattis. Look Loy and Rochford were removed from the sidelines by Hinds.
FC Santa Rosa have since issued an apology to the TTFRA for the reaction by their coaches towards the referee during the Super League match.
Taylor said refereeing is a difficult job and it is challenging to encourage young referees to join the profession. “Refereeing is a difficult job and we are constrained because we have a challenge of getting new and younger people coming (into the profession).”
Taylor said everyone must respect each other’s role in football as this will lead to progress in the sport. “When we look at professional leagues such as the English Professional League, the Italian Professional League and the Mexican League then we will see that they have standards. If we call ourself a professional league or a semi-professional league we must have standards. Even if you don’t feel that you are being treated fairly there are processes to follow and I think that is how we have to address it. If we are to work together we must make sure that we respect each other’s role and address it (when problems arise).”
The apology issued by Look Loy to the TTFRA stated, “I write regarding the incident and referee’s incident report in the match played between FC Santa Rosa and Guaya United FC on 5 November 2017.
“FC Santa Rosa is of the view that the referee in charge of the match, Cecile Hinds, was dangerously slow in her handling of two head collisions involving Santa Rosa players. The second collision resulted in our player being taken to the hospital unconscious. This provoked an undesirable response from Santa Rosa personnel, including its coaches.”
The letter continued, “FC Santa Rosa disputes certain details of the referee’s incident report but, nonetheless, we wish to apologise to Miss Hinds and to the TTFRA for the insulting language directed to her by myself and Jovan Rochford.
The match was almost at an end, without confrontation between Santa Rosa and the referee, when this incident occurred. We were angry about her handling of the head collisions and emotions boiled over. We should have maintained self control. I would appreciate it if you would communicate the sincere apologies of both coaches and the club to Miss Hinds.”
Griffith is currently recovering from his concussion and is due to visit a doctor tomorrow. Officials of Santa Rosa are hoping that after medical clearance he will rejoin FC Santa Rosa in training on Thursday.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/JvjQfrqQoL0&feature=youtu.be
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WATCH: Trinidad and Tobago Super League President Keith Look Loy talks about the league’s inaugural season
https://www.youtube.com/v/ZeLT0SEYtSc
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Guaya eyes $.1m CFTL prize.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Hydro Tech Guaya United will be hoping to cash-in on the $100,000 prize at stake for the winner of the Caribbean Football Trust League (CFTL) Cup Tournament when they clash with Prisons FC in the final from 7 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium tomorrow.
For all the exciting football played and goals scored in League One of the T&T Super League this season, coach Ron La Forest’s Green Army can finally put their hands on a title, if they can prevail over the prisons officers who have recently been promoted to League One by virtue of their second place finish in League Two of the T&TSL.
La Forest said the prisons officers will be treated no different from his opponents in the TTSL or T&T Pro League, as his focus is on winning the title. “We had a good game against Santa Rosa in the league recently, and also against W Connection in the National FA Cup Tournament, so we will be stopping at nothing or no one. We will be confident in our approach and motivated by the fact that it could be our first title for the season,” La Forest said.
“I saw them play against UTT in the semifinal of the tournament and though they may be playing decent football, I will not be changing my brand for any team,” he added.
La Forest’s men will provide a scary history for their opponent, having scored 54 goals to date and conceding 17. Carlon Hughes, the league’s leading goalscorer with 28 will also be hoping to increase his tally, which in itself can be a separate challenge for the Arouca team, come Saturday.
Anderson Veronique, the prisons’ coach said his team will be looking to end the season on a high. “We are excited but calm for the match. I saw them play recently against Santa Rosa and will make a few adjustments in my defensive structure to cope with their offence,” Veronique said. Special attention will also be placed on Hughes, the coach said, but he made it clear his team will not be afraid of Guaya.
“We have played a few warm-up matches against pro league teams, so we have been preparing for better competition. We will make adjustments if it’s necessary when the game begins, but I can tell you that we will be going after that title,” Veronique said.
Prisons’ stroll to the final includes victories over tricky Santa Rosa’s Big Cannons and Tobago giants 1976 Phoenix FC, the only Super League team in the National FA to date.
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Guaya bags CFTL League Cup.
By Gyasi Merrique (Guardian).
Guaya United is the champion club of the T&T Super League’s inaugural Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL) League Cup competition following a riveting 3-1 win over Prisons F.C at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Saturday night.
Guaya is now well positioned to seal a unique double in what is essentially T&T domestic football’s second tier as they currently command a two point lead in the League over FC Santa Rosa with two matches left in the regular season.
Speaking to Guardian Media Sports following Saturday’s victory, Guaya head coach Ron La Forest said, “When we started working in May, this one one of the objectives. We said we’re looking to go at two title - the League and the League Cup. So the next requirement is to try and win the league in the next three games ahead of us.”
The Green Army had to fight from behind for its League Cup win though as Prisons took a 38th minute lead through Ricardo Alleyne after the attacker stormed onto a right sided through ball and into his opponent’s penalty area, before slotting the ball calmly beyond the Guaya goalkeeper.
Guaya, the team from South East Trinidad, almost responded right from the touch off, but having done well to shrug off two Prisons players before marching into the penalty area and doing even more impressively to make shooting space in a crowd of Prisons defenders, Carlon Hughes’ effort barely troubled the man between the sticks.
But Guaya’s wait for the equaliser didn’t last very long. Andrei Pacheco lined up a free-kick from about 25 yards out and his low left-footed drive took a wicked deflection on its way in. That was in the 45th minute and ensured that both teams started the second half on even keel.
Pacheco, known for possessing a powerful and accurate left foot, had his team’s first two attempts of the next half, however both of his speculative attempts from distance were off target.
A period of sustained pressure from Guaya, resulted in a series of corner kicks that finally brought a deserved lead in the 68th minute. One such set play was repelled at the near post and out towards the half way line where Glenton Wolffe collected and pumped the ball back into the Prisons penalty area. An unchallenged Leroy Jones collected with one touch and fired a fierce left-footed volley with the other to make it 2-1 in favour of La Forest’s men.
Hughes ended up as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals when he latched on to a long distribution from his own goalkeeper. The Guaya number 10 then beat his defender and the Prisons keeper before finishing into an empty net to seal the win in the fourth minute of five that were added on for stoppages.
With three matches left, Guaya’s next task is recapturing the league title which it last won in 2015 before relinquishing it last season to Santa Rosa.
They next host WASA FC at Newlands Recreation Ground in Guayaguayare on November 26 and La Forest said the players must remain focused in order to be certain of success.
“There is no pressure on us right now. We’re playing good football, all departments are working. The only pressure on us is what time the game is starting.” he said. “We going full speed ahead starting with WASA on Sunday.”
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Cunupia brush aside Club Sando Moruga.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Kevon Woodley and Michael Darko each scored twice on Sunday as Cunupia FC brushed aside Club Sando Moruga 5-1, in a TT Super League Round 20 League One fixture.
Cunupia stayed in third spot, but the top two teams, Guaya United and FC Santa Rosa, did not play for varying reasons.
Guaya United’s game against WASA was postponed due to Guaya’s participation in the CFTL Cup final – they defeated Prisons FC 3-1 on Saturday, while the match between Santa Rosa and Siparia Spurs, at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground, was abandoned due to the absence of match officials.
Woodley got his name on the scoresheet in the 21st and 45th minutes, while Darko struck in the 33rd and 76th. Hakeem Legall was the other goal-getter for Cunupia, in the 32nd.
Amin Julien got the consolation item for Club Sando Moruga, in the 83rd.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) was the only team to climb the standings, going up one spot to fourth after whipping Bethel United 3-0 at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground.
The Glen brothers were at the thick of things, as ex-national striker Cornell netted in the 17th and 84th, while midfielder Cyrano chipped in with an 82nd minute strike. However, another Tobago-based team, 1976 FC Phoenix, took care of Defence Force by a 3-1 margin, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field, Mucurapo.
Andel Noray registered a hat-trick, with strikes in the fourth, 74th and 82nd minutes, while veteran Ronald St Louis got the lone goal for the Army-Coast Guard combination in the 57th.
In the last game on Sunday, Queen’s Park edged Police 2-1 at the St Mary’s Ground, St Clair.
Devon Modeste (24th) and Kieran Marin (35th) were on target for the Parkites, while Dwight Elliott (83rd penalty) pulled one back for the lawmen.
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Look Loy furious as officials boycott Siparia-Santa Rosa match.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
Keith Look Loy, coach of FC Santa Rosa, was in a furious mood as the match officials (referee and assistants) failed to turn up to yesterday’s TT Super League encounter between Siparia Spurs and FC Santa Rosa at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground.
Look Loy was recently under fire for comments he allegedly made towards referee Cecile Hinds during a league game against Guaya United, as well as officials in the sister isle Tobago.
But he claims yesterday’s action may be a sign that the officials, and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association by extension, will not compromise in this matter.
An irate Look Loy, who is also the president of the TT Super League, said in a telephone interview, “With the Tobago referees I gave them their apologies. They have said they would continue refereeing.
“There (were) five other matches scheduled (including Tobago). Three of them in Trinidad have referees and they proceeded. One match, in Palo Seco, the referees (did) not turn up. I was advised, unofficially, that the referees committee of the TTFA (TT Football Association) have decided that they would not be appointing referees to any match that FC Santa Rosa is involved in. No reason given.”
Look Loy pointed out, “(I) have been saying for years that there is a problem with the standard of refereeing. Because I have been consistent in saying that, they want to turn their guns on me and the way they choose to apply pressure on me is to say they’re not refereeing ‘Look Loy’ games.”
Look Loy also slammed the TTFA for their silence on this issue.
“We paid the referees to provide a service,” he said. “They’re not doing us a favour. They’re choosing not to provide the service.”
Efforts to contact Joseph Taylor, president of the TT Football Referees Association, as well as TTFA boss David John-Williams, proved futile up to press time last night.
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Look Loy accepts ban, insists referees must improve.
By Jelani Beckles (Newsday).
FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy has accepted the $1,000 fine and one-match ban handed out to him for using insulting language towards female referee Cecile Hinds during a Trinidad and Tobago Super League football match on November 5.
Look Loy and his assistant coach Jovan Rochford, who received the exact punishment, were found guilty by the Disciplinary Committee of the TTSL of verbally abusing Hinds in a game against Guaya United at the Arima Velodrome.
The duo reacted angrily to Hinds following a head collision between Santa Rosa attacker Rashad Griffith and Guaya United FC goalkeeper Shane Mattis. Griffith was left unconscious and Look Loy and Rochford felt Hinds did not give their player the immediate attention required. Look Loy got himself in trouble even further with the Tobago referees after alleged comments about their impartiality.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Look Loy, who is also president of the Super League, said he is hoping the referees return to work since the situation has been resolved. Local referees have failed to show up two two games in Tobago and one involving Santa Rosa and Siparia Spurs at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground on Sunday.
“I hope now that the referees, having stated that they were waiting on the Disciplinary Committee findings and decisions, now that they have it, I hope that will get back to doing what they have been paid for and what they are being paid for – which is to referee football matches.”
Look Loy said the main concern is that referees are not performing at a high level and they need to step up.
“Look Loy is not the referees’ issue, the referees’ issue is the poor quality of refereeing. Everybody in every league complains about the referees. This has been going on for years and it is frustrating...the football community is convinced that the referees believe that they are unaccountable to anyone and that they are above criticism.”
Look Loy said there was a national test for referees last weekend and alleged less than one third of the referees showed up. The Super League boss believes local referees are not taking their job seriously.
Look Loy and Rochford chose not to appeal the decision by the TTSL Disciplinary Committee to punish them but they had challenged some of the contents in the referee’s report.
Look Loy said Hinds claimed she was threatened by the FC Santa Rosa officials but the Disciplinary Committee rejected that.
TT Super League general secretary, Camara David, said yesterday the Super League is trying to ensure that respect is shown by the entire football fraternity.
David said, “As I would have told the head of the (TT) Referee Association Mr (Joseph) Taylor, their report really has not fallen on deaf ears. I would encourage them to keep writing us on issues like this and let us look at it. So if disrespect towards match officials comes more into the light, we as the league will be pioneers in trying to stamp out disrespect to match officials.”
David explained that the level of punishment for coaches or players will increase for repeat offenders.
”Someone else can do something similar and if this is the first time they did something wrong, and we received a report, we will probably give them a $1,000 fee and a match ban. However, let’s say Mr Look Loy does it again it will be his second time (offence), so maybe he will get a $2,500 fine and a five-match ban or something like that.”
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TTSL CELEBRATES INCLUSION – SUPPORTS PLAY 4 INCLUSION
http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-celebrates-inclusion-supports-play-4-inclusion/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/ttsl-celebrates-inclusion-supports-play-4-inclusion/)
The TT Super League closed its curtains on the CFTL League Cup with a pulsating final on Saturday 18 November where Guaya United were crowned champions after a 3-1 victory over a spirited Prisons FC outfit.
The atmosphere at the Ato Boldon Stadium was electric as coach Ron La Forest’s “Green Army,” geed up by their hundreds of travelling supporters, were able to produce the come-from-behind win.
But the tale on the pitch, was not the only important story that unfolded at the Couva venue.
Founded on the motto, Clubs.Communitites.Country, the TT Super League ensured that a wide cross section of the Trinidad and Tobago community was represented at the finals by inviting the children from the Focus Football Coaching Academy (FFCA) to be the official mascots to escort the players out of the tunnel and onto the field.
Focus Football, an arm of the Focus on the Community Foundation, caters to children with disabilities and it was truly a special night for them to be a part of the League Cup finals.
“Having the kids from FFCA come over, be part of the finals night proceedings and walk out onto the pitch, further emphasizes the league’s commitment to have all walks of society, regardless of differences, be part of football development and football inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago, ” TTSL League Secretary Camara David passionately told TTSL Media.
“Community involvement is one of the major components of the success that the TTSL has experienced thus far and this is just another testament to that.”
Focus Football operates weekly out of St Ann’s and for many of the children, it was a unique and uplifting experience.
Focus on the Community director Aalon Lewis stated, “this was a great opportunity for the kids to feel what the big stage is like.”
“The parents were elated that there is an avenue that their kids could be themselves and be involved directly or indirectly in sport. It’s all about new experiences for them.”
“The kids love that they are getting to mingle and make new friends while doing the sport that they love.”
Lewis continued, “opportunities are sorely lacking for people with disabilities – down syndrome, autism, visual impairment, etc. in our society so it was really fantastic that the TT Super League was able to accommodate us. They have embraced our motto which is “Play 4 Inclusion.”
The TTSL and its Secretariat are committed towards the holistic development of communities by using sport as an agent of positive change.
Individuals with disabilities need only the opportunity to unlock their individual potential and we encourage all to simply offer them that as we all Play 4 Inclusion.
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Taylor: Punishment a slap on the wrist.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Games involving TT Super League club, FC Santa Rosa, might be forced to be postponed again as Joseph Taylor, president of the TT Football Referees Association, has indicated they have not ended their protest action against FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy.
On Sunday, officials boycotted Santa Rosa’s game away to Siparia Spurs, at the Palo Seco Velodrome, due to a pair of incidents involving Keith Look Loy, who is also president of the Super League.
Look Loy and Santa Rosa’s assistant coach Jovan Rochford were each handed one-game bans and $1,000 fines for using abusive language towards referee Cecile Hinds in a recent match.
But Taylor insisted yesterday evening that the punishment meted out to the duo was too lenient.
“You have to send a message to all coaches that abuse towards any kind of official – especially (one who serves) at the FIFA level – can not and would not be tolerated,” said Taylor, a former top assistant referee. “Giving a person a one-match ban and $1,000 is a slap on the wrist...our members feel very unsafe to still send anyone to do those games.”
Taylor believes a longer ban and stiffer fine should have been handed out.
“It is a deterrent for us to get it right. We have to set a very strong standard of what is acceptable. No matter what level he is at, a coach or the president of a League, he would be not seeing the field or coming close to coaching until next year.”
Taylor believes Look Loy has not learned his lesson and is wary of what referees might face in the future.
“Based on postings being made (on the Santa Rosa’s Facebook page), I think that can place my referees in a harmful environment.”
Taylor alleged there have been previous incidents of indiscipline towards officials by members of Santa Rosa’s technical staff but “the last incident was just totally overboard.”
He is calling for transparency in the process used by the Super League’s Disciplinary Committee to come to their decision.
“We have already expressed our concerns to the general secretary of the Super League (Camara David). After meeting with the Referees Committee, we’ll decide on the way forward. We’re definitely not happy and how they (dealt) with it is not sending the right message.”
The Siparia Spurs-Santa Rosa game has been rescheduled to this Sunday, at the Palo Seco Velodrome, from 3.30 pm. Santa Rosa’s other league games are against Police (December 3) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (December 10).
RELATED NEWS
Referees blank Santa Rosa FC as Look Loy continues attack.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
There will be no officials at FC Santa Rosa’s remaining matches in League One of the T&T Super League, although its coaches Keith Look Loy and Jovan Rochford were each slapped with a one-match ban and a $1, 000 fine this week.
Joseph Taylor, head of a two-member referees Appointment Committee said it is difficult for him to appoint any referees to matches involving Look Loy, as he believes the former national player and coach received a slap on the wrist from the Disciplinary Committee of the TTSL, and has since been continuing his attack on officials by degrading them.
Taylor said he is terribly disappointed with the punishment given to Look Loy and his assistant, and intends to write to David John-Williams, president of the T&T Football Association and Camara David, general secretary of the T&TSL, to vent his feelings. Quizzed on whether any referees will be used at Santa Rosa’s games to end the season, Taylor said, “The Super League general secretary and Look Loy will have to convince me that both parties can work with the referees to progress the sport. You cannot be on a campaign abusing and berating my referees, and then turn around and ask them to do your matches.”
Look Loy’s FC Santa Rosa is scheduled to be involved in a revised fixture with Siparia Spurs on Sunday at Palo Seco and will be at its Arima Velodrome home for its final two games against Police FC and the University of T&T over the next two weekends.
Taylor believes Look Loy’s out-burst against one of the organizations woman officials in a match between his team and Hydro Tech Guaya United at the Velodrome on November 5 was the last straw. To date women referees still feel unsafe to do Santa Rosa’s games. “We know that our referees are not perfect and we have work to do, but coming after complaints by Tobago referees on Look Loy and then the Guaya game, I think he went over board”, explained Taylor.
Boni Bishop, the other member of the referees’ appointment committee pointed to the laws of the game which states referees are not liable for referees safety during matches. She confirmed that a decision was taken not to appoint referees for Santa Rosa matches after a report of abuse by its members.
“Some referees complained that they feel threatened for their lives”, Bishop said. Contacted Look Loy said he is convinced Taylor, Bishop and the referee’s committee are not sincere, and are instead waging a personal attack on him and his club by committing extortion on the league. He believes they are attempting to paint him as a kind of gangster that will turn his TTSL members against him.
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CFA/Taylor condemn Santa Rosa snub.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Clynt Taylor, First Vice President of the T&T Football Referees Association (TTFRA) and the Central Football Association (CFA) are strongly condemning the actions taken by Joseph Taylor, head of the referees Appointment Committee by withholding the services of referees and other officials at matches involving FC Santa Rosa.
Taylor (Clynt) and the CFA have since called for a national consultation among all the stakeholders to chart a way forward.
“We need to talk about all the issues we are experiencing now, and have experienced earlier this season. There is no doubt that there is a concern with the level of officiating, but more so we must all be on the same page when it comes to taking the sport forward,” Clynt told Guardian Media Sports yesterday.
He was expected to make the CFA’S concerns known at a meeting of the south referees last night.
Clynt, who is also general secretary of the CFA made it clear the central football administrators are firmly against any attack or assault on referees and officials but believe the Big Cannons are being wrongfully punished for the actions of its coaches Keith Look Loy and Jovan Rochford.
They have called on Taylor (Joseph) and other members of the appointment committee to stop personalizing the issue, saying it will eventually lead to a total shut-down of the T&T Super League.
Look Loy’s Santa Rosa which campaigns in League One of the T&T Super League, have three more matches to complete the season, and a strong chance of repeating as League One champs if leaders Hydro Tech Guaya United blunder in their remaining games.
But referees more than opponents have been the Big Cannons’ concerns. Last week no officials were appointed to its clash with Siparia Spurs at Palo Seco and it could be deja vu come Sunday, in a rescheduled fixture.
Taylor (Clynt) on behalf of the CFA said, “Referees should not punish a team because of a coach, neither should they show disapproval in their actions, toward any decision by any independent committee such as the T&TSL’s Disciplinary Committee.”
“What they can do is sit with the TTSL and try and work out the issues. Referee have a job to do and regardless of what happens, they are responsible for carrying out their officiating duties, since a lot of money is spent on this service,” Clynt noted.
He admitted referees are humans and can make mistakes, however, the CFA secretary, who is still a referee, cited that referees today have been making games all about them. This he attributed to inexperience and lack of training, and painted a bleak picture of the affairs of local officiating, that unprepared referees are dumped into high-profile TT Pro and Super League matches.
“New referees come into the association as Grade 4 and 5 and are required to be a Grade 1 or 2 to qualify for refereeing at the pro league and super league. The TTFRA try to develop officials by offering regular training through the Regional Associations. But what we have observed is that referees hardly attend the training sessions but are used in matches,” Clynt explained.
In addition to the training, referee upgrades are achieved through written and practical examinations annually.
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WATCH: TTFA urged to intervene in Trinidad and Tobago Super League referee stand-off
https://www.youtube.com/v/ImEJegG6TpY
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FC Santa Rosa grateful as referees end boycott.
By Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).
Referees ended their boycott on Sunday, showing up at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground to officiate FC Santa Rosa's resounding 5-2 win over Siparia Spurs in a rescheduled Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) fixture.
In a contest that was surrounded by controversy and doubt with regards to the presence of match officials, head referee Roger Smith and his assistants Devon London and Junior Geoffrey all showed up for the 3.30pm kick off.
Noticeably absent was FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy and his assistant coach Jovan Rochford who were serving one-match bans for their verbal abuse of female referee Cecile Hinds.
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Another match ban for Santa Rosa coaches.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Referees want harsher penalty
FC Santa Rosa coaches Keith Look Loy and Jovan Rochford have agreed to serve another match suspension to ensure his team’s matches and the T&T Super League (TTSL) can be completed, but it may not be enough for local referees and its head Joseph Taylor.
The decision came at a meeting called by the T&T Football Association (TTFA) on Monday to settle the impasse between TTSL campaigner FC Santa Rosa and referees at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. It was chaired by TTFA president David John-Williams.
Guardian Media Sports learnt the Santa Rosa duo decided to stay away from Sunday’s encounter with Police FC at the Arima Velodrome to appease a disgruntled referees Appointment Committee, led by Taylor which argued that the pair did not serve a ban since the officials in last Sunday’s match between Santa Rosa and Siparia Spurs did not come from the appointment committee.
The match at the Palo Seco Velodrome was done by referee Roger Smith with Devon London and Junior Geoffrey as his assistants, all of whom took it upon themselves in the interest of the game.
Both Look Loy and Taylor refused to comment yesterday based on agreement that the TTFA would issue a release to the media soon. But Guardian Media Sports has learnt that another issue is on the rise based on a request by Taylor that was not on Monday’s agenda to be discussed. It is understood Taylor has asked for referees to appeal the decision of the TTSL’s Disciplinary Committee of a one match ban and $1,000 fine each.
It is unsure of what punishment Taylor and his referees want for the FC Santa Rosa duo but the request was denied by John-Williams, a source close to the parties said.
Guardian Media Sports was also reliably informed that the referees want Look Loy to take down all videos of Cecile Hinds’ involvement in the November 5 encounter with Santa Rosa and Hydro Tech Guaya United at the Velodrome down from his social media sites.
The meeting was attended by Wayne Caesar, head of referees department, Frank Brancker, chairman of the south zone referees committee, Lee Davis, chairman of the east zone referees committee, David Ramkalawan, chairman of the central zone referees committee: John-Williams, TTFA general secretary Justin Latapy-George and Azaad Khan, as well as TTSL Board members Look Loy, who is also president, Eddie Dean, Clayton Morris, George Joseph and general secretary Camara David.
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Referees in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
By Colin Murray (Guardian).
The TT&T Football Referees Association (TTFRA) recently decided not to appoint any of their referees to games involving Santa Rosa FC due to the behaviour of their head coach and his assistant.
As far as the TTFRA was concerned, the abusive and insulting attitude to the match officials during the match vs Guaya Utd simply went too far and they demanded action be taken.
They also insisted that the Head coach apologise and remove a Facebook post where the club allegedly questioned the integrity of Tobago referees.
Both Santa Rosa officials were reported by the referee to the relevant authorities i.e. T&T Football Association (TTFA), TTFRA and the T&T Super League (TTSL).
Meanwhile, the headcoach apologised and removed the Facebook post, however, the TTRFA felt that the incident was being swept under the carpet by the TTSL.
The disciplinary committee of the TTSL then met and suspended both coaches for a match and issued a $1,000 fine to each party.
This decision did not sit well with the TTFRA because the boycott of games continued.
I’d like to make it clear that no referee leaves their home to service football and expects to be verbally abused, and that behaviour is wholly unacceptable and has no place in football. However, the TTFRA cannot determine if a fine is too severe or the punishment is not satisfactory.
The referees did their job and reported the indiscretion of the club officials.
The buck stops there. Perhaps, if they do not agree with the punishment, that should have been taken up in another forum, not by stopping the football.
The TTFRA decided that they were going to flex their muscles and show the TTSL that no games can play without match officials. Immediately, they were being accused of holding the TTSL to ransom. Referees worldwide are now being put under tremendous pressure with the advent of television cameras and every decision is replayed and slowed down so it can be analysed.
We have it right here now with the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) and the live games on Sportsmax/CNC3.
We also see managers in the English Premier league often complaining about the officials and when they step out of line, they are dealt with by the league and the matter is closed.
Therefore it is such a pity that this situation went back and forth for weeks and the governing body for the sport, the TTFA, made no efforts until now to step in to mediate the problem, because it was obvious there was one. Words were exchanged for almost three weeks with no solution to the matter. The Santa Rosa officials are questioning the standard of refereeing in the country which in response, the TTFRA is acknowledging the need for support. But the important question remains – whose decision is it to support the development of referees in T&T? It falls at the feet of the TTFA.
Referees in T&T have complained for years about late payments not from the TTSL, but from the TTFA.
We expect professionalism, but referees go without being paid for months, sometimes years! I also understand that they are owed wages from a particular league (run by a promoter) since 2016.
Their travel allowance policy is also in the dark ages. But when a referee makes a mistake, they suddenly become public enemy #1.
I myself am not a Saint as when I coached Carib FC in the East Zone, I was dismissed from the technical area by a referee as I felt he was totally incompetent. But at the end of the day, we need to all work together to help improve, so that our football will improve.
We must never forget that referees remain a part of football. I understand the calls by the Santa Rosa FC Headcoach for the standard of refereeing to improve, but it can only improve if we all take an active role and just as how we assist with the development of youth players, we have to assist with the development of the TTFRA.
The TTFRA needs support as if they don’t have access to what they need to train their referees, and have them protected from all external agents (fans included), these problems will continue.
Meanwhile, it is extremely heartening to see so many young referees in the Pro League, TTSL and SSFL, but if they are not guided properly and assisted at a young age, they may not last.
Being a match official requires both physical and mental strength and the TTFRA must have the resources to push its young referees to reach the FIFA level.
Come on for the good of the game, let’s all put our heads together and move the game forward as if we say we are true administrators and here to serve the game, then prove it; because at the moment, a lot of those that call themselves administrators simply seek self-promotion.
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Agreement reached by stakeholders.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian)
Look Loy: Please don’t victimise my team, referees
The T&T Football Association (TTFA) has confirmed an agreement by all stakeholders in the sport of football to work together with respect to the remainder of the T&T Super League (TTSL) season.
The TTFA in a release yesterday said, “While the opportunity facilitated sober and open discourse among the stakeholders in attendance, it was evident that the matter at hand required deeper introspection as well as further ventilation that was independent of the immediate constraints of ensuring that the TTSL’s inaugural season is completed.”
The release, said to have been done collectively by general secretary Justin Latapy-George and communications consultant Wayne Cunningham did not carry a signature, but further stated: “It was mandated that no segment participating in the League operations, would further air their discontent in such a manner as to bring the league and or its officials into public disrepute or odium.”
Look Loy, one of two coaches at the centre of the impasse between League One defending champion FC Santa Rosa and officials of the T&T Football Referees Association (TTFRA) after he verbally abused referee Cecile Hinds, was not impressed with the release, saying it had a lot of jargon. He however called on officials to stay true to the agreement and refrain from victimising his team or officials Devon London, Roger Smith and Junior Geoffrey, who took it upon themselves to do last Sunday’s match between Santa Rosa and Siparia Spurs at the Palo Seco Velodrome.
“I have heard that this (victimisation) has already started,” Look Loy said. TTFRA president Joseph Taylor made it clear no team or official will be victimised but he believes the decision by the trio to officiate without being appointed by the referees committee, is being met with dissatisfaction by other officials.
“They are the making of their own problems. In a group chat that we have, the referees are firmly of the view that London, Smith and Geoffrey have many questions to answer, as their actions did not sit well with other officials,” Taylor said.
The referees’ boss said he was happy with the decisions of the TTFA at Monday’s meeting at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, but promised to address all the issues affecting them at a national consultation at the end of the season at which proposals will be offered to deal with realistic refereeing standards, penalties for officials and proper code of conduct.
He said their stance is not about Hinds but rather about respect for all referees, saying all officials will be held accountable for unsuitable behaviour in the coming seasons, as is done internationally.
London said he don’t believe he is being victimised but said there are calls for him to be thrown out of the TTFRA because of the manner in which he responded to accusations that he betrayed his colleagues by his actions.
“I believe in standing for the right thing and not just standing with others,” London said.
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No room for error in Super League.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Leaders Guaya goes after tricky Phoenix.
There will be absolutely no room for error for the top two teams in the T&T Super League; Hydrotech Guaya United and second placed FC Santa Rosa, when action continues today at various venues across T&T.
At Bon Accord ground in Tobago, leaders Guaya on 49 points, face a tricky test from 1976 Phoenix, one of the top four teams in the National FA Cup tournament this year and which is likely to fancy its chances at 5pm this afternoon.
The Tobagonians, for all their attractive football this season, are in sixth position on standings with 31 points, by virtue of an inferior goal difference behind seasoned campaigners Defence Force.
The last meeting between the teams ended in a comfortable 3-1 triumph for Guaya at its home base in Guayaguayare. But Phoenix will have in mind, their 3-2 win over the team from Trinidad’s South East coast two years ago in Tobago.
Guaya coach Ron La Forest has assured his team will be treating every match as a final. Only recently Guaya, considered one of the fastest developing teams in local football, copped the Caribbean Football Trust League (CFTL) League Cup title by whipping Prisons 4-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain Couva, and it will be going after its counterparts today for maximum points.
“We cannot afford to slip up now because there are teams on our backs that will benefit. We have been on a roll so far but will not take Phoenix or any other team for granted. We will be putting our best foot forward and once we play to our true potential we should win.” said the ex-national player and coach who described Phoenix as one of the better playing teams in the league.
Guaya Manager Jameson Rigues took his troops to the sister-isle two days earlier to prepare, saying Phoenix has been playing better football of late and he did not want to be caught in a similar situation like two years ago when they went over to the sister-isle on the same day to take on Phoenix.
At the Arima Velodrome however, Keith Look Loy, the Santa Rosa coach and his assistant Jovan Rochford will not be on the bench as his team faces Police FC at 3:30pm. They have agreed to sit out the match at the request of the League’s referees, angered by the punishment the Santa Rosa officials received from the League’s Disciplinary Committee for abusing referee Cecile Hinds almost a month ago.
Like Guaya, the Big Cannons cannot afford to lose against the Lawmen, as a win for , coupled with a loss for Guaya, can see them take the lead position with one round of games to go.
2017 TTSL STANDINGS
Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Guaya United 20 15 4 1 58 19 39 49
2 FC Santa Rosa 20 14 2 3 51 15 36 47
3 Cunupia FC 20 12 3 5 42 28 14 39
4 UTT 20 10 2 8 37 34 3 32
5 Defence Force FC 20 9 4 7 40 29 11 31
6 1976 Phoenix FC 20 9 4 7 35 30 5 31
7 QPCC 20 9 3 8 30 29 1 30
8 Wasa FC 20 6 6 8 30 37 -7 24
9 Police FC 20 5 5 10 25 42 -17 20
10 Club Sando Moruga 20 4 4 12 37 48 -11 16
11 Bethel United 20 2 4 14 18 55 -37 10
12 Siparia Spurs 20 1 4 15 20 57 -37 9
TODAY’S TTSL MATCHES
Club Sando Moruga vs Defence Force- 3:30 at Grand Chemin Recreation Ground, Moruga
Cunupia FC vs Bethel United FC- 3:30pm @Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima
FC Santa Rosa vs Police FC- 3:30pm @Arima Velodrome, Arima
WASA FC vs Siparia Spurs- 4:30pm @WASA Head Office Grounds, St Joseph
1976 Phoenix FC vs Guaya United- 5pm @Canaan Bon Accord Recreation Grounds, Tobago
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Santa Rosa sneaks into TTSL lead.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Postponement puts Guaya second.
FC Santa Rosa crept into the lead in the inaugural edition of the T&T Super League yesterday with a 1-0 win over Police FC at the Arima Velodrome.
However the Big Cannons’ new status as league leaders was only made possible as inclement weather in Tobago forced the postponement of the scheduled clash between 1976 Phoenix FC and former league leaders Guaya United.
Guaya’s charge towards the title has been stalked at every juncture by the only other challengers for the title, FC Santa Rosa, and the Arima-based team would feel as though they have gotten a timely upper hand via their one point lead, moving to 50 points with just one match left to be played in the league campaign.
Santa Rosa got its goal yesterday in the 29th minute, ironically from the boot of former Guaya skipper Ryan ‘Fry’ Stewart.
Following the turn of events, Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy who had to watch his team’s match from the stands said, “It was important for us to win, we understood that. We knew that a loss or even a draw by Guaya would open the door for us. They didn’t play but our points are on the board. We are hoping that Phoenix would do a job and if we go into the last match on equal terms with them or ahead, then its all there for the taking.”
Look Loy and his assistant Jovan Rochford were serving a one-match touchline ban handed down by the TTSL Disciplinary Committee for verbal abuse of a match official when they lost to Guaya United 3-1 at the Velodrome almost a month ago.
Meanwhile, Guaya United manager Jameson Rigues was disappointed to have their match postponed considering that the Guaya team arrived in Tobago two days in advance of their assignment, demonstrating their intentions to do everything in their power to capture the title.
However the weather was out of their control. “It was really an unexpected situation. We came here in high spirit and tied up all the loose ends but you cannot predict the forces of nature.” he said.
Rigues added, “A lot of spend would have gone in to this trip to one, make the guys comfortable and two, to make sure that everybody acclimatised properly. The players were looking forward to the match up, not even thinking about Santa Rosa but now that it happened the way that it happened we will just got back to the drawing board and reinforce to the players the importance of the next two matches for us.”
Guaya United’s fixture against Phoenix has tentatively been rescheduled to Thursday December 7 meaning that the Green Army would now be required to play two matches in four days, closing off their campaign against the Defence Force at their home ground in Newlands, Guayaguayare on Sunday December 10, the same day that FC Santa Rosa hosts UTT at the Arima Velodrome.
TTSL Results
Club Sando 6-2 Moruga
Cunupia FC 3-1 Bethel FC
FC Santa Rosa 1-0 Police
1976 Phoenix vs Guaya United (postponed)
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WATCH: Ryan Stewart’s free-kick gives FC Santa Rosa a 1-0 win over Police FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/6Xp8h4Ch688
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UTT, Parkites in exciting 3-3 draw.
T&T Newsday Reports.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and Queen’s Park battled to a 3-3 draw on Tuesday, in a rescheduled Round 21 League One match, in the TT Super League.
At the O’Meara Campus ground in Arima, UTT raced to a 2-0 lead with goals from Moses Jaikaran, in the 62nd minute, and Kevaughn Connell in the 77th.
Kevaughn John pulled one back for the Parkites in the 80th but, UTT regained their two-goal advantage through Garvin Samaroo in the 82nd.
However, there was a final twist to the tail as the Parkites stormed back in the dying minutes, with strikes from Devon Modeste (86th) and Chad De Freitas (90th).
Today, Guaya United will have an opportunity to leapfrog FC Santa Rosa and reclaim the top spot in the points standings when they meet 1976 Phoenix FC, in another rescheduled encounter, at the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground, from 6 pm.
This game was originally slated for Sunday but was postponed due to inclement weather.
The final round of action, Round 22, will be contested this Sunday, with Guaya United and FC Santa Rosa vying to be crowned as the 2017 League winners.
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Guaya suffer shock defeat to Phoenix.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Andell Noray netted a hat-trick as 1976 Phoenix FC earned a shock 5-3 win over Guaya United on Thursday, in a rescheduled Round 21 League One match of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League.
The result saw Phoenix move up to fourth spot, while Guaya remain in second place with 49 points, one behind FC Santa Rosa.
The final round of matches are due to take place tomorrow (SUNDAY), and it will surely be a neck-and-neck battle between the top two to determine the inaugural League One winners of the TT Super League.
Tomorrow, Santa Rosa will be squaring off against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima from 3.30 pm and, simultaneously, Guaya United will be hosting Defence Force at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground.
At the Canaan/Bon Accord Recreation Ground on Thursday, Jody Allsop found the back of the net in the fifth minute but the hosts responded with three goals within the space of 19 minutes, from Noray (seventh and 24th) and Shelton Williams (26th).
The prolific Carlon Hughes reduced the deficit to 3-2 with an item in the 52nd before Dominic Kerr scored Phoenix’s fourth in the 72nd.
Noray completed his treble in the 74th and Phoenix were not going to be denied full points, despite Hughes’ second goal, in the 79th.
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Guaya United are TTSL League One Champions
http://ttsuperleague.com/guaya-united-league-one-champions-cornell-glen-dooms-santa-rosa/ (http://ttsuperleague.com/guaya-united-league-one-champions-cornell-glen-dooms-santa-rosa/)
Guaya United were crowned 2017 League One Champions in an amazing final round of action in the Trinidad and Tobago Super League.
The “Green Army” trounced Defence Force TTSL 6-1 at the Guayaguayare Ground in a thrilling final day of action on Sunday.
Carlon “Judgement” Hughes was the man of the hour for Guaya United, as he has been all season. Turning on the style, he netted 4 goals versus Defence Force to take his tally to an incredible 30 goals for the season.
Needing a favor from UTT at the Larry Gomes Stadium though, they duly got what they needed as 2006 World Cup veteran Cornell Glen struck the lone goal in a 1-0 victory for the visitors against FC Santa Rosa.
The “Big Cannons” were one point ahead of their rivals and in pole position to defend their title after Guaya slipped up versus 1976 Phoenix FC in the previous round. However Glen’s solitary goal doomed the Arima based club to a runners up position in the inaugural TTSL season.
Although, his defence was breached in the title deciding game against UTT, FC Santa Rosa's Kitwana Manning immense form between the posts sees him walk away with the golden glove award after recording 11 clean sheets throughout the League One season.
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Guaya United crowned 2017 Super League kings.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Guaya United completed the League and Cup double, in the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Super League, after the final day of action in League One yesterday.
In their Round 22 encounter, Guaya United, under the guidance of ex-national striker Ron La Forest, humiliated Defence Force 6-1 at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, courtesy of a beaver-trick from striker Carlon Hughes, who finished the season atop the scoring chart with 30 goals.
But overnight leaders FC Santa Rosa saw their dreams of retaining their title squashed following a 1-0 defeat to the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Former national striker Cornell Glen got the winner for the UTT outfit. As a result, Guaya finished their league campaign with 52 points, two more than Santa Rosa, who are coached by current TT Super League president Keith Look Loy.
La Forest, when contacted last evening, admitted that there was a feeling of elation in the village, located on the south-eastern peninsula. “Everybody’s dancing and wining on the streets right now,” said the former TT assistant team coach. “Old ladies, young people, old (men), everybody’s having a time right now.”
La Forest expressed his gratitude to his players for a triumphant season. “When we started (the season),” he said., “we had two objectives – two titles to go after which were the Cup and the League. And we started to put in the work very early, in the month of May.
“I told them what you put in is what you get out. And they did the work towards what we achieved here (yesterday). A lot of sacrifice went in and I’m so proud of them and the community.” Guaya had a shock 5-3 loss to 1976 Phoenix FC, in a rescheduled game, on Thursday, but La Forest acknowledged, “we say ‘that was in the past’. We put it away and we said let’s gave the last game the best shot possible. We played some excellent football and the crowd enjoyed it.”
Other Results -
Guaya United- 6 (Carlon Hughes 8th, 40th, 50th, 55th, Russell Alfred 37th, Jody Allsop 74th) vs Defence Force- 1 (Kevon Blackman 15th)
Bethel FC- 3 vs Club Sando Moruga- 0 (win by default)
Cunupia FC- 3 (Keron Edwards 9th, Zavion Navarro 36th, Andel Bishop 90th) vs QPCC- 3 (Kieran Martin 11th, Ajani Clarence 19th, 24th)
1976 Phoenix- 3 vs Siparia Spurs- 0 (win by default)
UTT- 1 (Cornell Glen 68th) vs FC Santa Rosa- 0
WASA FC- 3 (Gary Glasgow 42nd, Glen Walker 49th, 73rd) vs Police-2 (Kenwin Matthew 44th, Jason Boodram 77th)
(Teams - by Wired868.com)
FC Santa Rosa (4-2-3-1): 22.Kitwana Manning (GK); 2.Quilon Dick, 20.Jesse Reyes, 5.Alfie James (captain), 15.Osei Sandy; 10.Keston Jones (25.Dorian Robinson 67), 21.Durwin Ross; 9.Nathan Julien, 24.Ryan Stewart, 14.Saleem Henry (27.Kevon Cornwall 61); 23.Kheelon Mitchell (26.Jesse Rampersad 60)
Unused substitutes: 4.Kerron Reid, 8.Sheldon Nesbitt, 18.Stephen Johnson.
Coach: Keith Look Loy
UTT (4-2-3-1): 30.Perry Martin (GK); 17.Rickyl Morris, 5.Joseph Brown, 3.Taryll Coutou, 32.Kareem Hamilton (36.Cornell Glen 56); 12.J’deem Parris, 35.Cyrano Glen (28.Akil Clarke 81); 33.Garvin Samaroo, 24.Moses Jaikaran, 8.Myles Ryan (4.Ishmael Daniel 13); 20.Kevaughn Cornell (captain).
Unused substitutes: 22.Kenny Dick (GK), 15.Janeke Danzell, 25.Adisa Hutson.
Coach: Clayton Morris
Referee: Rodphin Harris
Wired868 Man-of-the-Match: Perry Martin (UTT)
STANDINGS
CLUB GP W L D GF GA GD PTS
1 GUAYA UNITED 22 16 2 4 67 25 42 52
2 FC SANTA ROSA 22 16 4 2 52 16 36 50
3 CUNUPIA FC 22 13 5 4 48 32 16 43
41976 PHOENIX FC 22 11 7 4 43 33 10 37
5 UTT 22 11 8 3 41 37 4 36
6 QPCC 22 9 8 5 36 35 1 32
7 DEFENCE FORCE FC 22 9 9 4 43 41 2 31
8 WASA FC 22 8 8 6 36 39 -3 30
9 POLICE FC 22 5 12 5 27 46 -19 20
10 CLUB SANDO MORUGA 22 5 13 4 43 53 -10 19
11 BETHEL UNITED FC 22 3 15 4 22 58 -36 13
12 SIPARIA SPURS 22 2 17 3 20 63 -43 9
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Costly boycott by referees
T&T Newsday
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) wants a refund of almost $20,000 from matches boycotted by referees during the recently concluded Trinidad and Tobago Super League season.
Referees failed to show up to officiate in three matches this season. In Tobago, referees failed to report for duty in the match between Phoenix and WASA and another contest between Bethel and Siparia Spurs. In Trinidad, referees did not show up for a match between FC Santa Rosa and Siparia Spurs at the Palo Seco Velodrome.
The referees decided not to officiate in Tobago after president of the TTSL and FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy allegedly questioned the objectivity of officials in the sister isle.
The officials decided to protest the match in Trinidad after Look Loy and FC Santa Rosa assistant coach Jovan Rochford verbally abused referee Cecile Hinds in a Santa Rosa-Guaya United FC match. Look Loy and Rochford disagreed with how Hinds handled a collision between a Santa Rosa player and a Guaya player.
Look Loy said the teams affected by the referees protest are asking for a reimbursement.
“We have written them (TT Football Referees Association). The secretary (of the Super League), on a directive from the board of directors (of the Super League), has written to them requesting a refund of just over $19,000 for all the matches that they boycotted starting in Tobago, and continuing over into Trinidad in Palo Seco involving the match between Santa Rosa and Siparia.”
Look Loy said the figures includes the cost of air fare, ground transportation, meals and other match-related expenses.
Look Loy is hoping the TT Football Association (TTFA) gets involved if the TT Football Referees Association (TTFRA) does not respond favourably to their letter.
Look Loy said, “The email was copied to David John-Williams, who is the president of the TTFA, which has oversight over the Referees Committee and the appointment of referees.
Ultimately the body responsible is the TTFA. If we don’t get satisfaction by the way of proper response from the referees committee, then we are going to have to bypass them and pick it up with the TTFA and the board of the TTFA and then see where that goes.”
Look Loy believes their request is on solid ground as before the season kicked off, a contractual arrangement was signed and the referees were paid in advance.
“If you have been paid for something and you did not deliver the service, we want our refund,” Look Loy declared.
Responding to the email, president of the TTFRA, Joseph Taylor, is also calling on the TTFA to get involved.
“A lot of misinformation was given in that letter and I don’t think the media is the forum to air it in. But again, other parties think that is the way to go, if they feel that is the way that they have to go, that is not the way I am going. I would rather the TTFA, the general secretary or the management of (the TTFA) to address it first because sometimes people make a story when there is not a story,” Taylor said.
The referees boss added, “As always, in the interest of football, I think this matter – if it is addressed by the TTFA management – will be cleared up very quickly. There is a first time for everything.”
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Guaya United: From rural community to ruling Super League
T&T Guardian
When Guaya United raised the T&T Super League trophy on Tuesday night, it was the culmination of a season of tension, struggles, and rebounding that ultimately led to joy. When the team was stunned 5-3 in Tobago against 1976 Phoenix FC, captain Glenton Wolfe admitted doubt seeped in, and the players were left distraught.
“We had to get our act together, which we did. We came back together and spoke about it, and we came out [in the final game] and we got the job done… We know we had to get the job done and whatever happens in the next game happens, but we just wanted to give it our best shot,” Wolfe said.
Having heard the result that FC Santa Rosa was beaten 1-0 by UTT, Wolfe was left speechless but filled with emotion. This was his first season in the Super League and he found it to be challenging. He was part of a carefully assembled squad by coach Ron La Forest.
“When we started in May, the players were jittery about what we were looking to do and we were looking to achieve. In May, when I put them together, I tried to gel them as a family… so here we are today, victorious, and I personally want to thank the players for a wonderful season,” the Guaya coach told the media.
What makes Guaya United’s success even bigger is that this is a team in the deep parts of south Trinidad, from a place on the island known for oil and gas. This predominantly community side went to some of the big towns across the country and left its mark. In talking to the media at the trophy presentation on Tuesday night, the captain, coach and sponsor all echoed similar statements, the community was as responsible for the success of this team as were the players.
La Forest said, “The community is like a 12th person and also like the coaches. The community has played a great part in where we are at today.”
Hydro Tech Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Lynch, said, “What we’ve done is taken these diamonds and put them in front of the whole nation and shown what Guaya could produce and what we could do as a community to bring back hope.” Lynch has all but assured Hydro tech will continue to support the community club, as it now aims to build a formidable reputation.
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Hughes, Cummings cop MVP awards.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
Carlon “Judgement” Hughes and Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings were named as the Most Valuable Players in League One and League Two respectively, as the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Super League staged its awards ceremony on Wednesday evening. The venue was the Bmobile Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.
Hughes, with a league-leading 30 goals to his name, was a key component in Guaya United’s capture of the league and cup titles. Cummings, the former national midfielder, notched six goals but was a vital member of the Petit Valley/Diego Martin United squad who triumphed in League Two.
Hughes thanked the community of Guayaguayare for their support throughout this season.
“This trophy was well-deserved, for the supporters especially,” he said. “They gave me the inspiration for scoring all these goals. This trophy was for Guaya United.”
Delivering the feature address at the function was League president Keith Look Loy, who promised an improved 2018 season on and off the field.
“We have to grow, and we could only grow if we have an infusion of serious money,” said Look Loy.
He pointed out that former Carib Brewery’s sponsorship and events manager Colin Murray, who serves as an ordinary board member, will assist in that regard.
And Look Loy is hopeful the 2018 season will be televised locally. “I don’t know how we’ll be doing it, but it will be done,” he stressed. “Television brings sponsorship, so we have to be on television.”
He went on to say, “2018 cannot be a repeat of 2017. If we’re merely content to come back and repeat what we’ve done in 2017, then we’re falling behind, not going forward. We have to be better. Ultimately it’s my responsibility to get it done.”
He said the League was able to fulfil his promise of not operating in a deficit which he made before the start of the 2017 season.
“I am pleased to say that we have run this League (with) one sponsor, Bmobile, and through the efforts of the (secretariat) and volunteers, we will complete the year with something like $100,000 in the black,” he declared.
The TT Super League president is also keen to maintain at least one Tobago-based team in the tournament, despite the struggles regarding the inter-island travel services.
Look Loy, who is also the coach of League One runners-up FC Santa Rosa, reflected on the 2017 season, which saw the creation of a new governing body, comprising the membership of all the clubs in the both League One (12) and League Two (seven).
He noted, “We have had great success, not only in my view, but in the view of the board of the TTSL and the players.”
The Super League president boasted, “We have brought crowds back to football. Guaya United may be the chief water-carrier in that respect, but other clubs have done well to return supporters to club football.”
He praised the Ron La Forest-coached Guaya for their League One success. There was also a League One Team of the Year, which was announced at the function.
Super League League One All-Star XI:
Goalkeeper – Kitwana Manning (FC Santa Rosa).
Defenders – Glenton Wolfe (Guaya United), Alfie James (FC Santa Rosa) and Joseph Brown (University of Trinidad and Tobago).
Midfielders – Michael Darko (Cunupia FC), Shaquille Ferrier (Guaya United), Beville Joseph (Guaya United) and Rashad Griffith (FC Santa Rosa).
Strikers – Carlon “Judgement” Hughes (Guaya United), Kevon “Showtime” Woodley (Cunupia FC) and Devon Modeste (Queen’s Park).
RELATED NEWS
TTSL 2017 ends on a high – Team of the season revealed.
ttsuperleague.com.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) brought the curtains down on the inaugural 2017 season with an awards ceremony held at the Bmobile Hospitality Lounge at the Queen’s Park Oval on 13th December.
In the evening’s feature address, TTSL President Keith Look Loy boasted about the TTSL’s financial management, digital marketing and the overall administration from the Secretariat.
“We have achieved a lot of success in 2017,” Look Loy told the gathered audience and media. “From the very beginning, there were people who doubted that we could do what we have done…I believe that the last months of competition have shown that we are fully capable of that.”
“Lots of people now, who don’t necessarily come to to football match, know about the Super League.”
Look Loy also offered his congratulations to the League One champions Guaya United and the ceremony’s three awardees.
“I must give my sincere congratulations to Guaya United…in the end, Guaya had the extra quality on the last day and this is a testament to the quality of our league that it was decided on the last day.”
“I also need to congratulate the three young men to receive these trophies…there is no football without football players and we must not forget that…I need to compliment them,” he continued.
Keron “Ballpest” Cummings was voted as the League Two MVP after returning to his hometown team, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United this season and leading them to promotion to League One with a host of impressive performances.
The glamorous League One MVP award went to none other than the hitman of Guaya United, Carlon “Judgement” Hughes. The ace forward struck fear in opposition defences throughout the season as he racked up an amazing 30 goals.
While from an administrative point of view, Adesh Dwarika was voted as the most outstanding match commissioner.
The ceremony, which was also streamed live online, also catered for the reveal of the TTSL Team of the Season which is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Kitwana Manning – The FC Santa Rosa custodian was commanding between the posts for the “Big Cannons” and appeared in every league match this season, tallying a phenomenal 11 clean sheets. A true shepherd of the defenders in front of him, he is the golden glove winner.
Defender: Glenton Wolffe – Mr Consistent and Captain Fantastic for the champions Guaya United. The rugged left back, who made the move from North East Stars at the start of the season, cemented himself into the hearts of the Guaya faithful and embodied the spirit of the team.
Defender: Alfie James – Joining his goalkeeper in the Team of the Season, is the captain of FC Santa Rosa. The lanky defender does not shy away from his responsibilities and is always up for the challenge. FC Santa Rosa conceded only 16 goals in the league and James was a big reason for that stubbornness at the back.
Defender: Joseph Brown – This imposing young central defender continuously looked the part for UTT in their first season after promotion to League One. Brown is quick and always eager to snuff out danger before it begins.
Midfielder: Beville Joseph – At 36 years of age, many would think that Joseph’s all star days are behind him. However, those individuals would be concertedly wrong. The glue that binds the Guaya United team together, Joseph has used his experience to cleverly dictate the pace of games this season and has even shown up as imperious as ever when called upon to play in central defence.
Midfielder: Shaquille Ferrier – The speed demon of the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground. Before you can blink, this left footed winger would have already raced beyond you. Guaya United is a community based team with players who are tied to the area. Ferrier is by no means any different and rewarded his family and friends in the community with an impressive 8 goals and 4 assists.
Midfielder: Michael Darko – From round 1, this Ghanian midfielder showed that he was ready and able to command the middle of the park in any League One match. Whether it is picking the right pass to free his team mates or even bursting into the box to score one of his 11 league goals, Darko was the heartbeat of a Cunupia FC team that finished the season in blistering form.
Forward: Rashad Griffith – Picking up where his injured team mate Keron Clarke left off, Griffith spearheaded the FC Santa Rosa attack with aplomb. Dangerous with his feet, running in behind or rising like a salmon to head home, Griffith exemplified his threat, by notching 14 goals for the TTSL – League One season.
Forward: Devon Modeste – The timeless wonder. The clever veteran. QPCC’s sole representative in the Team of the Season bamboozled his younger counterparts week in and week out in League One. His composed touch and classy finishing was a sight to behold and he joins Griffith with 14 goals in a very productive season in front of goal for the journeyman forward.
Forward: Kevon Woodley – They call him “Showtime” for a reason! He began the season with Youth Stars in League Two and registered a league high 8 goals for the Tobago outfit before joining the Predators of Cunupia in the mid season transfer window. It id not take him long for him to find his scoring touch in his new team. Nor did it take long for League One fans to see why they call him “Showtime”. The field is his stage and with a bag of tricks as big as Santa’s famous red sack, Woodley wowed crowds as he totaled 10 goals and 7 assists.
Forward: Carlon Hughes – The League One MVP needs little introduction. 30 league goals affords you such luxuries. “Judgement” was passed down onto any and all opposing teams that came eye to eye with the stellar forward. Hughes is the complete centre forward. Boasting a deft touch, a deadly right foot, an accurate left, precise headers, clever movement…the list goes on and on. Top goalscorer by more than double what his his nearest counterparts scored, Hughes displayed enviable variety to his game by also providing 5 assists. A true champion and a toast to Guaya United.
TTSL – League One Team of the Season was selected by the TTSL Editorial Team based on goals, assists, team of the week appearances, match commissioner nominations and coaches nominations.
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Good for Cummings, hopefully he's finding the form he previously had.
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WATCH: Guaya United celebrate winnning the 2017 Super League title
https://www.youtube.com/v/dr4SUbu65eU
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WATCH: Trinidad and Tobago Super League’s End of Season Awards
https://www.youtube.com/v/fZKMwU8WfVM
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Look Loy to write to FIFA for referees.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
Says TTFRA illegal
Keith Look Loy, president of the T&T Super League (TTSL) is threatening to write to the world governing body for football-FIFA- if the illegal functioning of the T&T Football Referees Association (TTFRA) continues in the coming year.
Look Loy, coach of League One campaigners in the TTSL, FC Santa Rosa, said the country has been subjected to a double-role by the T&T Referees Committee, which is the recognised body in the eyes of the FIFA, and the T&TFRA, which is an interest group dedicated to promoting the interest of referees, as stated in its constitution.
Look Loy, a former FIFA Development Officer, believes the dual-function of the two has led to a crossing of the lines in football which has proven to be detrimental to the sport. He referred to the TTFRA as a social club which has been given key responsibilities in the affairs of the sport and called on the TTFA to deal with the duplication of roles taking place.
He also cited a clear conflict of interest among the administration of refereeing with Joseph Taylor, head of the TTFRA also being Chairman of the Appointment Committee of the Referees Committee to the TTFA.
He quoted from the FIFA Constitution that says “The Referees Committee shall be composed of a chairman, a deputy chairman and the members deemed necessary to discharge its duties. Its members may not be affiliated to any clubs, leagues or any other football organisation.”But Taylor dismissed claims of interlapping roles among the administrators of refereeing in the sport, saying both the referees’ committee and TTFRA have been complimenting each other.
“They work alongside each other to ensure the sport progresses. This is done in every football territory the world over and it has in fact, been encouraged by the FIFA,” Taylor explained.
Meanwhile Osmund Downer, referee aficionado also dismissed talks of overlapping roles as he sought to clear the air on the function of the TTFRA. “The appointment of referees is done by the Appointment Committee of the Referee’s Committee of the TTFA. The first aim of the TTFRA is to seek welfare or represent the interests of referees in their Leagues and Associations all over the world,” Downer said. The Referees Committee of the TTFA, on the other hand, has an overall responsibility for the management, development and progress of the quality of officiating. Downer said since referees function on a voluntary basis in T&T, they are not obligated to officiate at any match, especially one in which they are subjected to abuse.
The veteran referees believes the TTSL’s request for reimbursement is a senseless call as referees in T&T have no contract with any league or association.
Look Loy, in his capacity as president of the TTSL, said he will hold the referees firm to a promised consultation aimed at dealing with the issues affecting the sport. The veteran coach who has been at the helm of his club FC Santa Rosa for the past 25 years, said he will also continue the super league’s request to be reimbursed for matches that referees were not appointed to in the TTSL this season.
He was slapped with a one match ban and $1,000 fine along with his assistant at Santa Rosa, Jovan Rochford, for abusing referee Cecile Hinds in a hotly contested match between his team and Hydro Tech Guaya United on November 5 at the Arima Velodrome.
RELATED NEWS
Stand-off! TTSL say they paid referees in advance; Downer: “We had no contract”
By Roneil Walcott (Wired868).
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Referees’ Committee Board member Osmond Downer is denying that the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) had any written contract agreement with referees for the just-concluded TTSL season.
Yesterday, acting on behalf of the TTSL, the League’s general secretary Camara David requested reimbursement from the refereeing body to the tune of TT$19,206 for three boycotted games during the inaugural TTSL season which ended on 10 December. However, Downer, who is also vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees’ Association, stated that the referees did not breach any contractual arrangement.
“The Referees’ Committee has no written contract with the TTSL,” Downer told Wired868, recalling the meeting the bodies had before the start of the TTSL season. “All they had were discussions regarding the supply of referees. The only thing that was agreed upon was the conditions of service.”
Downer was of the view that refereeing locally was completely voluntary, and he stated that the boycott of TTSL games on 12 and 19 November occurred because the referees were fearful of abuse at the hands of players and team officials.
“The individual referees expressed trepidation and fear of abuse and they wanted the abuse to stop,” said Downer, driving home the point that referees cannot be required to come out and officiate.
TTSL president Keith Look Loy confirmed that conditions of service were discussed before the start of the season but travel allowances and match payments for referees and assistant referees, he said, were also covered in the meeting. And David noted that the referees were paid in advance. According to Look Loy, it was a payment which the TTFA advised was to be paid to them and not to the Referees’ Committee.
And the TTSL proceeded on that basis.
Meanwhile, TTFRA president and Referees’ Committee chairman Joseph Taylor told Wired868 that he had taken note of David’s letter and would be taking the matter to TTFA general secretary Justin Latapy-George.
Just last month, the TTFA acted as mediator when the TTSL and TTFRA tried to break the impasse that threatened to prevent a smooth end to the TTSL season, which saw Hydrotech Guaya United walking away with both League and Cup titles. And although David noted that the TTSL had enquired who would be reimbursing them for the “unrecoverable expenses” they had incurred in November, the response had so far been slow in coming.
So are Joseph and company going to accede to the TTSL’s reimbursement request, which came as a result of a TTSL Board meeting on 4 December?
“We have noted the letter and we are going to take it up with the general secretary of the TTFA,” Taylor said.
It is uncertain if Latapy-George and the TTFA will act as mediators on this occasion but the general secretary told Wired868 that he was yet to hear from Taylor on the issue. Latapy-George did say that the doors for dialogue are always open and he would not be surprised if a meeting with all parties were held before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, TTSL president Keith Look Loy assured Wired868 that the TTSL Board will be forced to act if the Referees’ Committee does not offer a response by the first week in January.
“We are going to have to make a decision if we don’t get a response in reasonable time,” Look Loy said. “We will have to bring TTFA president David John-Williams into this because the Referees’ Committee is an agent of the TTFA.”
“Logically and legally we are in the right,” Look Loy continued. We are waiting on the Referees’ Committee and we want to know if the answer is ‘no’, if they will leave us hanging in space or if the answer is a ‘yes.’”
On 12 November, players from WASA FC and Siparia Spurs were left out in the cold as their away games in Tobago against 1976 Phoenix FC and Bethel United respectively were postponed after Tobago officials failed to turn up.
At the time, Tobago Referees’ Association head Noel Bynoe was adamant that, unless Look Loy apologised for the comments he had allegedly made about a Tobago referee following an FA Trophy game in October, referees on the island would not abandon their boycott stance.
Look Loy subsequently apologised and the Tobago referees resumed service. However, on 19 November, no match officials turned up for Siparia’s match with Look Loy’s club, FC Santa Rosa, and Wired868 even had sight of a document which showed that no referees had been assigned to the game, carded for the Palo Seco Velodrome.
Taylor and the TTFRA were not pleased with the TTSL’s Disciplinary Committee’s decision to hand Look Loy and his assistant Jovan Rochford one-match bans and $1,000 fines following their verbal spat with referee Cecile Hinds on 5 November in a pivotal Santa Rosa versus Guaya clash. The referees head demanded assurances that in the future certain standards would be adhered to by coaches and players.
Santa Rosa’s fixture against Siparia eventually went ahead in Palo Seco on 26 November, when referee Roger Smith and his assistants Devon London and Junior Geoffrey ignored any boycott action and turned up for duty.
Thereafter, the TTFA intervened and managed to get the TTSL and the TTFRA to call a truce in the interest of successfully completing the 2017 season.
However, on Sunday, Look Loy slammed the performance of referee Rodphin Harris in Santa Rosa’s final league match against UTT on 10 December and declared that the truce was over.
“This referee […] can’t even pass the fitness test but he keeps coming back match after match after match,” Look Loy declared, after his team let the TTSL League One title slip from their grasp at the Larry Gomes Stadium. “Now the season is done, I can begin talking again and I can begin posting videos again…”
So we might be in for a return to the silly season. Perhaps not. It’s the festive season so the Santa Rosa boss can perhaps be persuaded to let peace and goodwill reign if Santa Claus, in the form of the Referees’ Committee or the TTFA, decides to fill their stockings with almost $20,000 in “unrecoverable expenses.”
TTFA await word from Super League.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) are yet to receive any correspondence from the Trinidad and Tobago Super League regarding claims for a sum of $19,206 from the TT Football Referees Association.
Earlier this week, Super League president Keith Look Loy admitted his body had written to the TT Football Referees Association requesting a refund of the aforementioned sum for three 2017 Super League matches which were boycotted by match officials.
Justin Latapy-George, general secretary of the TTFA, admitted yesterday, “we haven’t received any official correspondence regarding any sort of claims or any kind of reimbursements or repayments.”
When asked whether or not the TTFA would get involved in the matter, Latapy-George replied, “I wouldn’t want to comment that far as yet. We are the overarching governing body.
“Once it falls under our remit, it’s something we have to look at very objectively to see how best we can come to some sort of compromise and resolve whatever the issue would be,” he added.
The TTFA, TT Super League, TT Football Referees Association and TT Referees Commission, recently met at the TTFA’s office in Couva, to discuss issues between Look Loy and the local crop of referees.
Latapy-George pointed out, “I wouldn’t say it would be going down the drain at this point. We did a joint press release that stated the provisions that were adopted by the parties that were in attendance.”
The TTFA general secretary continued, “We committed to approaching the matter in a very dignified and respected way. We do appreciate the fact that emotions would run high based on the matter on hand. We have limitations and we’re improving on the limitations.
“We’re in the business of football, to be as efficient and as professional as we can be,” he ended.
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Look Loy retires as Big Cannons head coach.
FC Santa Rosa Release.
FC Santa Rosa wishes to inform the members and supporters of the club, and the public as a whole, of the resignation of Big Cannons head coach Keith Look Loy.
The resignation brings to an end of Keith's eight-year tenure as head coach of the club's elite team, and a thirty-year career that began with Malick Senior Comprehensive School in 1987 and saw him win titles in schools', youth and elite football..
Keith founded the club in 1992 and coached its several junior teams to regional and national titles over many years.
The Big Cannons were created in 2010 to participate in the men's division of the Eastern FA and quickly won successive promotions from the two-division EFA to the National Super League in 2012.
The Big Cannons finished seventh in their first season and quickly established themselves as a bona fide Super League team. The club won the last NSL title in 2016 and finished second in the new TT Super League this season.
At the start of the 2017 season Keith had advised the club of his intention to retire at the end of the season and he has held to his decision. He will now continue coaching the Under 12s in FC Santa Rosa's football school, which he has done for many years.
He will, of course, remain president of the club. He will also now focus on his role as president of the TT Super League.
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I swear, Downer has to a 100 yrs old.
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La Forest’s kids get expert advice.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The young budding players from the Ron La Forest Soccer Coaching Academy received words of advice from some of the country’s sporting icons Hasely Crawford, Everald ‘Gally’ Cummings and Kenwyne Jones when the school held its end of year function on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Park, St Clair.
Crawford, the country’s first Olympic Gold medallist encouraged the players to work hard, saying there is no benefit without hardwork.
Crawford, who had his Olympic medal of 1976 with him on display, also encouraged youngsters to work towards having a proper diet, saying it can adversely affect their health.
Jones, who recently called it quits from all football, called on parents to support their lads in whatever field of endeavour they chose.
It was actually this support that help Jones move from youth football to international status where he represented English clubs Sunderland, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Bournemouth AFC, Southhampton and Sheffield Wednesday among others.
Gally urged the young players to be respectful to those in authority, particularly referees. And he called on local football administrators to select La Forest as a coach on the country’s technical staff.
“Gally” who took the “Strike Squad” to within a point of qualifying for the 1990 World Cup in Italy said if coaches are being chosen based on their achievements then La Forest, who is called the professor of coaching at his club Hydro Tech Guaya United, should be considered.
Under La Forest the Guayaguayare men copped the Caribbean Football Trust League (CFTL) League Cup and League titles in the T&T Super League. Cummings said La Forest’s return to his young players was a show of humility that is needed by all coaches locally.
The young players were engaged in football matches among themselves before taking on their parents in a feature game. Afterwards they were showered with trophies, calendars, medals and certificates of participation at the academy.
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Look Loy unplugged: Why I quit as Rosa coach, Malick and the “Susconosco sorcerer” Arnold Dwarika.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Keith Look Loy coached his last top-flight football match on 10 December 2017 when FC Santa Rosa were surprised 1-0 by UTT at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, a result that cost them the chance to repeat as Super League champions.
Barely a week later, Look Loy confirmed that he has retired as Santa Rosa head coach and will now focus more on his administrative post as Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) president.
No doubt, the outspoken administrator will continue to grab the headlines for his fierce verbal deliveries, whether the target is the local refereeing body or the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
So what is the legacy of Look Loy as coach?
Wired868 talks one-on-one with the TTSL president about his career, which first came to public prominence with Malick Secondary in 1990—Look Loy was actually listed as assistant to head coach Kenneth Franco but got much of the credit for the surge in the school’s fortunes—before going on to include coaching jobs with Trinidad and Tobago and Joe Public and developmental roles with CONCACAF and FIFA:
Wired868: Why have you given up your job as head coach?
Keith Look Loy: Well, I started coaching in 1987 and I told my club that this would be my last year. I tried to do it once before but had to come back. That was 2015. I had put one of my former players, Jason Hope, in charge. He was inexperienced […] and the team started very badly. We got six from Club Sando and six from WASA, so I re-assumed leadership of the team and we finished seventh, I think.
But this year, I told them whatever the result, I had to go out. It would have been good to go out as double champions but I stand by my decision… It has got nothing to do with the refereeing situation—I’ve never seen a fight I’d want to run from. Thirty years is a lifetime in coaching and that is enough.
So I will focus on coaching the Under-12s and I will support whoever takes over. I will not turn my back on the club, of course, because it is my club and I am still the president… We have already had approaches from five coaches who are non-Santa Rosa coaches [but] we will take our time and make what we think is the best decision—all factors considered.
Ultimately, I will make the decisions although other people will no doubt factor in. The players believe that Jovan Rochford, who is the former captain and my former assistant, should be the coach… He is a leading candidate if not the leading candidate but I will let it stew and then make a decision.
Wired868: Why didn’t you advise of pending retirement before? Were you giving yourself room to change your mind?
Look Loy: I just didn’t want to affect things [at the club]. Those who needed to know knew. We would have just gone ahead with our business without it going public [but] somehow the [Trinidad] Guardian newspaper found out… The timing of the release was not ours but it is not like it was a national security secret.
Wired868: Has your dual role as Santa Rosa head coach and TTSL president been a distraction to your club and the TTSL?
Look Loy: It was not a distraction to the club. I am retired so I have 24 hours to work on football and I am a good time manager. So I went about my different time portfolios and the evidence is there that I did a great job. The TTSL had a great season and Santa Rosa could have and should have won the league. Also our Under-15 team won the National Youth League and we were losing finalists in the Under-13 division.
[…] It affected the League in the sense that the referees decided they would disrupt the League in their fight with Santa Rosa. But we have taken action to have a refund of our money and that was a board decision.
On the first Wednesday of every month, the [TTSL] Board meets and, in the 12 months since our foundation, we have had 10 general meetings. That is more than the TTFA. In the Super League, the general membership is the ultimate decision maker and takes the heavyweight decisions—and, in particular, the commercial decisions like to bring the Caribbean Football Trust and bMobile on board. The Board decides on the administration of the League and gives guidance but the general meeting decides what to do.
We also have a good administration run by Camara David with his two assistants. I am in constant touch with all of them and they are very capable young people.
Wired868: Will you return as Santa Rosa head coach after your term as TTSL president?
Look Loy: I am a man of my word. For me, the best part about coaching is coaching the little children; that is the coaching I have always loved and that is what I will finish my career as coach doing. I will coach up to Under-12 level.
I am [club] president so I will be asking questions [of the new head coach] and giving guidance and placing demands but I will leave them to do their business. They will still have to answer to me as president but that is only fair.
Wired868: What would you say was your best moment as coach?
Look Loy: Apart from coaching these little children, it would have to be winning the [National] Intercol title with Malick [Secondary] in 1990 and winning the Super League in 2016. I have won a lot of titles but those two stand out.
It was the first time that Malick had ever won an Intercol. When I started coaching Malick in 1987 in the East Zone, the nickname for Malick then was ‘more licks.’ We finished in second place to San Juan then on goal difference and, in 1990, we won our first ever title and we won all the titles. North, National Intercol, Big Seven, MVP, Most Goals. Everything! I will always remember when we won that Intercol title, you couldn’t fit a pin into the National Stadium; there were 25,000 people in there.
Then, of course, with Santa Rosa, we won in our 25th year. We had started the [senior] team in 2010 [after initially opening the club in 1992] because we were tired of losing [our young] players, so we took the decision to start our own men’s team. In our fifth season, we won the League title and just the march towards that—as a club without any major sponsor or big resources—that was very special.
We had boys who joined Santa Rosa from 6 or 7 years old like Jean-Paul Aqui-Blanc, Jovan Rochford, Shaka Pilgrim, Osei Sandy, Gary Bart, Keston “Zico” Henry, Kitwana Manning. It was a validation of our work [over the years] and we were very happy about that.
Wired868: Tell us about Arnold Dwarika. How did you come across him?
Look Loy: Well, we were in pre-season just a few weeks before the start of the 1990 season and the boys told me that a village team wanted a practice game in Susconosco. I said where? They said Susconosco, which is a little village in the back of Santa Cruz. So I said okay, let’s go.
That season, we had played against some big men like teams in the NFA and won, so I wasn’t expecting much from a village team. So we are playing this village side and this little fellah only disrupting our defence. And I’m there on the sidelines pulling my hair out because we just couldn’t stop him. So I turned to Azaad Khan, who was the manager, and asked him who is this boy and what school does he go to. So he told me it was Arnold Dwarika and he goes to a technical school called St Bede’s up in Mount St Benedict’s and he lived just 50 feet from field. They told me his father is a policeman and he was really dread. So I went over there that evening and I said ‘Good evening, ma’am, I would like to talk to you about your son playing for Malick.’
While I was talking to her, his father came home. I told them ‘Send your son to play for me in Malick and he will eventually play for Trinidad and Tobago.’ Well both of them looked at each other and started to laugh. I said don’t laugh.
So they agreed and they brought him into Malick. They were restructuring the League and we had the chance to play in the North, which meant better grounds, more media coverage and closer to home…
In the first five or six games, Arnold struggled and people told me all sorts of things on the sidelines. I remember somebody said, ‘Look Loy, where you get this coolie from? You’re with his mother or what?’
But by the end of that season, Bertille [St Clair] called him up to try out for the 1991 World Youth Cup team. The problem was he would miss the [SSFL] Big Seven and he said: ‘No. Because nobody knew me before I came to Malick so I will stay and play. And if you don’t want to pick me because of that, then don’t pick me.’
Wired868: What advice did you give him about that choice?
Look Loy: I left it to him. I told him if you stay, we will win but if you go to play with the team then there are benefits to that too. But then Bertille picked lots of boys for that team, including [Malick players] Shawn David and Mark James. But he didn’t pick anybody from Signal Hill [Secondary], who he was then coaching. And when we looked at that, we felt that was very transparent. His parents also said [Dwarika] would finish the season with Malick and that was that. If we had never played that match in Susconosco, who knows…
[Editor’s Note: No Signal Hill players made St Clair’s final World Cup squad so it seems fair to say that the Tobagonian coach had not tried to give his school team an advantage].
Wired868: Where do you rate Dwarika among the local talents you’ve seen in your coaching career?
Look Loy: Anybody who knows me as a coach knows that my teams are very structured. Everybody has their job to do for the team and I make no bones about that. The only player I would tell ‘just go and play’ was Dwarika. I just left him to invent his game. I never once told him what to do and that’s the truth. He is the best talent I ever coached. He is better than even Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy in my book but what they had on him was discipline.
The boy was just too indisciplined. I could tell you stories about him from even in Malick. He was not a good trainer—and it took me a little while to realise this—but he would always deliver on match day. But as you get older, you cannot get away with that. When he came back to Trinidad from [East Fife in] Scotland because he was injured, Jack [Warner] and myself brought him back and I picked him at the airport and took him to his sister. I told him ‘You are 25 years old; this is the time you should be leaving Trinidad, not coming back.’
I don’t think he ever fully recovered [from the Scotland experience]. Don’t get me wrong, he went on to play for Trinidad and Tobago many times and he made the CONCACAF Gold Cup All-Star team and so on but he never had the mentality and drive like Dwight Yorke.
While Dwarika was at Joe Public with me, we got offers from clubs from the Mexico Primera Division all the way to Saudi Arabia. But he just wasn’t interested. He should have achieved a lot more. He could play cricket, basketball, table tennis; everything with a ball he could play at an expert level. But he didn’t have the drive.
Wired868: And can you tell us about when you received a ban from the SSFL?
Look Loy: It was 1991 and we were trying to repeat [as champions]. It seems that I can’t repeat. Anyway, we were playing against Trinity College [Moka] on St Mary’s College ground in a make-up game. Brent Sancho was playing for Trinity at the time.
Before the game, some Malick supporters came to me and said: ‘Coach, get up and go inside; the referee come here smelling of alcohol and we want to mash up the game.’ I told them to behave and leave the game to us.
Well, Trinity beat us 1-0 after a player hit the ball with his hand and, as my players stood up waiting for the whistle, he ran after the ball and scored. So our crowd was in volatile form. I went to the referee after the match to ask him about what he did in the match and one of the [Malick] fans hit him. I had to jump in to protect him.
After that, we were in our dressing-room and a policeman came and knocked on our door and said we have a report you hit the referee. I asked who said that and he pointed to an off-duty referee. I said ‘You saw me hit the referee?’ He said no and I asked the referee if he wanted anything else from me and that was it on that evening.
Then the SSFL said I incited violence. Ewing Davis was in charge of the disciplinary meeting and I turned up for it with two lawyers and they immediately cancelled the meeting. Then, they announced that I would get a two-year ban without even giving me a hearing. I took them to court and won and, in the end, they had to pay damages and legal costs. That case finally ended in 1993.
I never went back to coaching Malick. I left and went to work for the TTFA as Jack Warner put me in charge of national youth development and made me the National Under-20 coach. I went on to take teams to three international youth tournaments.
Editor’s Note: In the second and final part of this two-part interview on 20 December, Keith Look Loy will discuss Trinidad and Tobago football during the Jack Warner era, David John-Williams’ failure at the helm of national football, why local football should be in crisis mode and who should be the next TTFA president.
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Susconosco. Dudes, I is a real Trini history buff. I can't recall hearing that village name.
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Thomas replaces David as Super League secretary.
T&T Guardian Reports.
The T&T Super League has announced the immediate appointment of Peter Thomas, as the new General Secretary of its League, only in its second year being managed by its clubs.
Thomas, a graduate from the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Sports Management programme, replaces Camara David who tendered his resignation at the end of the 2017 season in the interest of advancing his career.
David’s tenure as the League’s first Secretary ended on December 3, and saw a highly competitive tournament in which Hydro Tech Guaya United dominated by winning the the coveted League and its Caribbean Football Trust League (CFTL) League Cup titles.
David in his letter of resignation said, “I must say that I am grateful for the opportunities provided for me during the season and the invaluable experiences gained, but in the best interests of my career advancement and future development I have decided to terminate my contract as an independent contractor and go back to Europe to gain more international experience.”
Thomas is set to hit the road running and continue from where David has left off. After his appointment he said, “I am thankful for the opportunity to work for TTSL, which, in its first year, set a high standard for football organization in T&T. I hope to make a valuable contribution to the league’s continuous growth and development, and I very much look forward to the challenge.”
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Cunupia FC coach lauds team’s debut League One season
T&T Newsday
Cunupia FC had an exceptional debut season in the 2017/2018 edition of Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) as the side which was promoted into the League One division, following winning the Championship (League Two) title the season before, shocked many of their opponents by finishing on the top half of the table. The newcomers not only managed to finish in the top half, but after 22 games, Cunupia FC registered 13 wins, four draws and five losses as they finished third on the standings with 43 points, behind league winners Guaya United (52) and runners up Santa Rosa FC (50).
Discussing the historic season for the club was head coach, Michael DeFour where he reviewed the club’s season with Newsday during a recent interview.
He began by stating, “Well, in our first season, without any hiccups and setbacks to adjusting to the level of football, we could have gone on and challenged for the title and that in itself shows the characteristics of this team and their ability to achieve success.”
Speaking about some of the characteristics the team possess and how the chemistry within the camp grew throughout the 2017 campaign, he said, “Being able to generate these sort of performances came from hard work and patience.
While we were a little nervous as a group, only as the season progressed and time went on, the players really settled down and found their rhythm again.” He confessed, “Sometimes, as coach, I did not realise or take into consideration the jitters and anxiety (of athletes) because you take for granted that the players understand team professionalism, what it means, and being able to deliver week-in-week-out at a higher level of competition.”
He went on to explain, “I think as coach, I did a fair job in preparing them during the season and a pretty good job in anticipating the level of football we would have been playing at, but, with 80 per cent of our players never playing at this level, they needed an adjustment period and were not given the opportunity to adjust at the beginning of the season.”
Cunupia FC’s first five fixtures of the season saw them vying against arguably some of the top teams in the league, including, Santa Rosa FC, 1976 Pheonix FC, WASA FC, Defence Force and eventual winners Guaya United. The Central boys managed to escape being thrown into League One’s fire with three victories and two losses which helped build momentum for the season to follow.
DeFour detailed some differences he witnessed first-hand between League One and Two, saying, “The level of football is arguably better than the level played at the championship. The discipline that is required to play consistently at the League One level is more pronounced because of the talent and technical abilities of players in the league.”
He noted, “For a championship team, one or two players can standout and make a difference over the other average players, but in this division, you find everybody has a higher average of technical ability, however, more mental discipline is necessary for these players to excel and reach another step further.”
As players found it more difficult to take on the initiative and use their abilities to get past an opponent, the coach’s role changed slightly to develop a working formula for the team to compete successfully. He stated, “You have to get them (the athletes) to work as a team and to understand the responsibility of playing their role in the system, than trying to be a good individual player. “
DeFour refrained from highlighting individual performers for the 2017 season, instead, he took the time to boost the entire team, as he expressed, “To be honest, I was blessed with the 11 standout players who were on the field of play, at any given time, and wearing a uniform.”
Cunupia FC adopted a 3-4-3 formation for the majority of the season and benefitting from the squad line-up were TTSL League One Team-of-the-Season picks, midfielder Michael Darko and forward Kevon “Showtime” Woodley.
From the first round the Ghanian midfielder, Darko, showed that he was ready and able to command the middle of the park in any League One match. Whether it was picking the right pass to free his team mates or even bursting into the box to score one of his 11 league goals, Darko was the heartbeat of a Cunupia FC team that finished the season in blistering form.
Darko got a helping hand from Woodley, aka “Showtime”, when he joined the Predators of Cunupia during the mid-season transfer window.
Showtime began his season with Youth Stars in League Two and registered a league high of 8 goals for the Tobago outfit before making the switch. It did not take him long to settle as he quickly located his scoring touch in his new team, flooding the field with his bag of tricks and wowed crowds, ending the League One campaign with a total of 10 goals and 7 assists.
When asked the question “What’s next?” for the team and their approach to the season ahead, the coach responded, “Well seeing the results throughout this season and us being able to finish third, I can say this is not a one-off season for this team as we will be back and placing a lot more effort into winning the title.” He detailed, “The team currently plays a nice, fluent attacking style of football so we would want to pay some attention to the defensive aspect of our game and working on a faster transition (from defense to attack) on the field.”