Messages

1

Football / Re: Building An Academy In Trinidad

« on: March 20, 2018, 07:57:02 PM »

Respect to everyone....football coming along, lots of challenges but that is what makes it interesting. Bless!

https://youtu.be/atxbicmHdfQ

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Football / It's been a while!

« on: September 18, 2017, 09:36:26 PM »

Hope things good with everyone - haven't posted in quite sometime. Sadly the football vibe in the country is absolutely awful but we persevere....2016 was a decent year for our guys and in 2017, we are starting to see some positive results. Until things change for the better, we've (as a group) - come to the conclusion that we will rely on those outside to further the development of our players - getting them equipped at a young enough age is now the goal. Bless!

https://youtu.be/ykHSaNdL84A

https://youtu.be/zgd3512qMjc

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Football / Re: Questions & Answers With Hannibal Najjar.

« on: July 05, 2017, 01:33:42 PM »

Haha! True that..

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Football / Re: Questions & Answers With Hannibal Najjar.

« on: July 05, 2017, 01:16:55 AM »

Amazing how coaches were selected for national team duties in those days...

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Football / Re: Men's U-13 Team Thread.

« on: June 23, 2017, 09:39:11 PM »

I'm sure those guys are all very good coaches, but if the most success teams and players are coming from one particular club, then it would make sense that they are consulted at the very least...

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Football / Re: Men's U-13 Team Thread.

« on: June 22, 2017, 04:38:36 PM »

Is anyone from Jabloeth involved in these programs? They've been the most successful youth program in the country for the last 3 years straight (winning all age groups comfortably.)

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Football / Re: Latapy vs Marcelle

« on: May 04, 2017, 10:05:26 PM »

Not even close - Russell was a different level to everyone else by miles.

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Football / Re: CONCACAF Under-13 Champions League Thread.

« on: July 25, 2016, 10:28:18 PM »

Great job Jabloteh! Great experience for the players....

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Football / Creating An Amazing Football Atmosphere Locally - Pres Old Boys vs CIC

« on: June 13, 2016, 02:02:48 AM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnUecNOQI0s

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Football / Players heading on trials Thread

« on: June 09, 2016, 08:32:53 PM »

Good Luck To Keston, Heads To Europe Tomorrow...

Talented kid, with great size and strength...all the best to him as he heads to Holland tomorrow...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60dEDr3L86o

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Football / Re: Passing It Till We Drop...

« on: May 10, 2016, 10:58:31 PM »

US Talent with T&T ties ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz-WuJpblRQ&feature=youtu.be

I enjoyed watching your video and I'm aware of the work that you guys do...I remember reading an article about the trip and the games that you all played in Europe - someone actually inboxed me with a link on this very site...what I'm saying is that I know what the Development Academies have to offer in the US - I have colleagues who coach with those organizations and we speak occasionally, & in truth, I feel that we could prepare a team to compete against them with the required approach. Europe is still the benchmark though and doing well against youth teams in Holland or England could send a more impactful message to those who may pay attention to these things in this part of the world. Taking a couple of youth teams from T&T and doing well against AZ ALKMAAR OR AJAX or ah Man City would resonate more heavily within our football circles than us doing well against CASL or the New York Bulls. There is no disrespect intended of course, because I know how challenging soccer is in the US and the level of investment that is being pumped into the development of the game...respect and continue the good work that you all are doing...incidentally, would love to see any footage that you all may have of your time in Europe - I read a blog post about it - I believe, but some footage, if you have any would be fantastic. Bless...

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Football / Re: Passing It Till We Drop...

« on: May 10, 2016, 02:30:30 AM »

Appreciate the little feedback as always fellas...as it pertains to taking a team to the US - the cost is just too much at the moment...additionally, ah feel like I have a fairly good grasp of the level that US youth soccer is at having coached in the States for such a long time. We would struggle to be competitive against some of the top US Development Academies (Red Bulls, LA Galaxy etc) but we have only been at this for 36 months. What would be interesting is taking a couple of teams to a place like Holland and getting a sense of where we are against that type of opposition, that is something we hope to do in the near future...that would be a meaningful benchmark. Also, it's insane that in this country there are only 10 youth teams in all of T&T that have guaranteed games to play come ah Sunday. The rest have nothing other than the occasional frendlies that they attempt to arrange with other grassroots clubs. We are failing massively in this regard, there are players in areas like Mayaro, Moruga, etc who will never know what it means to be involved in competitive football until they get to secondary school...that's a travesty as it relates to the development of the game locally...

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Football / Passing It Till We Drop...

« on: May 08, 2016, 06:22:05 PM »

Making some real progress on the football front...
https://youtu.be/LMPhJZiW1h0

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Football / Re: Brian Williams appointed head coach of Men’s U-20 team

« on: April 13, 2016, 01:41:28 PM »

Sometimes you think you helping but with the current culture in local football - it might be that we are hurting them...this is the second player who is part of our setup that is dealing with this stuff.

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Football / Re: Brian Williams appointed head coach of Men’s U-20 team

« on: April 06, 2016, 10:52:15 PM »

Wishing the new u20 coach the very best...

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Football / Re: A Few Of South's More Exciting Upcoming Dribblers

« on: April 01, 2016, 09:42:36 PM »

Much respect fellas! Normally when we do a session that involves 1v1 type situations there is always an emphasis on the end product - the quality of the finishing and being efficient when going tuh goal - yuh must at least test the keeper. This was really more of a "fun type" evening where we just wanted to see if the guys could really "twist - up" the defenders, and of-course -there is always the old talk and banter that comes with that...this is a really great group and they are always encouraging the younger ones that we occassionally "bring up" to join the session. Also, allot of them are Levi's old teammates and his "moment" is fueling a serious fire. In fact his little brother Judah is highly motivated and really responsive to the coaching - they all are. The vibe with these kids is excellent and we wanted to really show that. Again, much respect...   

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Football / A Few Of South's More Exciting Upcoming Dribblers

« on: April 01, 2016, 01:35:12 AM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yje9jJBepBw

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Football / Re: TTFA vows to pay Hart and Walkes but not remaining coaches

« on: March 25, 2016, 02:20:11 AM »

I hope things work out for him, but I have to tell you - unless he was living under a rock, there is no way he could not have known the issues regarding the TTFA and its well documented inability to pay key personnel...to uproot your family under such circumstances knowing that Tim Key could potentially loose an election is a brave decision on his part.

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Football / Re: Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel - Is back from Manchester City (New Video Added)

« on: March 18, 2016, 09:20:25 PM »

They would all like to play professionally one day :-). He has great tools though and with some strengthening he could get there...there are people watching him as we speak.

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Football / Re: Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel - Is back from Manchester City (New Video Added)

« on: March 17, 2016, 02:55:23 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQgHO-0j1vs

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Football / Re: Levi Garcia Thread

« on: March 14, 2016, 09:24:05 PM »

Proud of this of this youth...

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Football / Re: Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel - Is back from Manchester City

« on: March 10, 2016, 02:20:46 PM »

Azzuri,

As you may know there is almost no infrastructure regarding youth football in this country - no logistics regarding how and if players are able move from one youth club to another. In our case were not really interested in developmental fees etc. The objective from day one has been to create an environment where talent kids are given a chance to develop in a manner that allows them to attract the attention of bigger better environments outside of Trinidad and Tobago. The hope is that we get our act together locally and these environments will someday exist. I live with a deep rooted appreciation for what T&T football has done for me...and I have given myself 5 years in Trini to see if I can play a little part, then it's back to the States. Connection is still the benchmark - rightfully so and if we loose kids to them then it means that the environment or "perception" that we have created is not good enough. That little game for our guys was important because it reinforces that our approach to player development is one to consider in the grand scheme of things...even when confronted with the likes of powerhouse W CONNCETION.

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Football / Re: Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel - Is back from Manchester City

« on: March 08, 2016, 10:38:47 PM »

Levi and them have real ballers in they family.

Why yuh sell players to W Connection? you should just loan out your players, now them bastards go sell them players and reap all de benefits and bawl them that their product.

And de back ground music getting me more vex.

Good stuff though, de team looking good.

You should really be a part of we set up, but knowing de TTFA they will not hire man who could show them up.

Sam is sell you say :-) No man, Connection wants him and there is nothing we can do about it...coach Leoson Lewis is quite a convincing man. They are still the benchmark regarding youth football in Trini - that's what I was told from day one. But for many of our players it was an important game. That said, I respect everybody in the football because the truth is soccer in Trini is very hard and there are allot of challenges especially socioeconomic. I am happy to see the youths buy into a football concept and make every effort to execute it on the pitch. It's a system that forces you to be fundamentally good if you want to contribute...in the long run it pays off. Our youth football is still way to slow locally, but in many ways it's up to the coaches to demand more from the players, especially defensively - as they say "anyone can play with time and space."

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Football / Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel Thread

« on: March 07, 2016, 07:53:22 PM »

Little footage of him against W Connection on Wednesday - they like him allot over there and we are focused on getting him stronger, it was also a good opportunity to demonstrate to the WConnection Kids the concept of keeping the ball - although most of the possession seems negative, there really was not an attempt to go at goal having scored very early on. Also in the video is Levi's little brother Judah Garcia who will be extremely good - as well as few of our kids who are essential 4/5 years younger than the other players out there. We've lost one player to Connection who is amazing at 11. He would have started that training game for us, but he's coming off the bench for them with their 14s. The emphasis with all of our groups is cementing a clearly identifiable approach to the way all of the kids play the game - they must all be comfortable in possession ...Bless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDkmCRAJ_DM

25

Football / Chasing Champions

« on: February 05, 2016, 01:08:24 PM »

Guapo has always been an excellent football community and is a perfect example of the influence that football can have on our youths...Sheldon Mitchell does amazing work with these kids with almost no financial support. His son Jabari Mitchell is an excellent example of what can be achieved - our youths were excited to have the privilege of playing them...

http://youtu.be/4sjls7f5Rfg

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Football / Re: Levi Garcia Thread

« on: February 01, 2016, 10:05:56 PM »

Have not viewed the goal yet. Merely read about it. However, as I extend my congrats to Levi and urge de Santa Flora massive to keep the noise level down tonight , I want to recognise amwood for his role in stewarding Levi during the preparatory months. Stay tuned!

Appreciate the "Bligh" asylum...although we take absolutely no credit for what Levi has achieved thus far in Holland - the truth is - getting a player fit and sharp is nothing more than science and day to day benchmarking... However, what I do recall vividly are the conversations before, during, and after those sessions. We spoke constantly of becoming a "beast" physically and mentally - the goal was that when he returned for pre season he needed to make the type of impact that resulted in AZ seeing him as a player for today as opposed to "one for the future." I think he enjoyed being challenged, and he now understands what it means to operate at the "limit"...what I enjoy seeing is the impact he is having on allot of young players - reminds of the impact Dwight Yorke had on the generation around him. i hope Levi continues achieving his goals. Bless...

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Football / Re: SSFL Greatest Players

« on: January 17, 2016, 10:50:31 PM »

Had an opportunity to check out the event...thought it was a good initiative by the SSFL. Sports Minister was in attendance and made some brief comments, he stressed the importance of his SSFL football career  because it provided him with an opportunity to go abroad on scholarship. Highlight was Leroy Deleon being voted the best player in the league's history. Steven Hart was also in attendance along with many of the older icons in T&T football.

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Football / Re: Levi Garcia Thread

« on: January 16, 2016, 04:58:15 PM »

He's making great progress...happy for the youth!

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Football / Re: SSFL Greatest Players

« on: January 12, 2016, 01:08:39 PM »

I always wonder who are the men that pick these list...they're always a bit suspect.

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Football / Re: Atlantic commits $300,000 to primary schools football league.

« on: December 15, 2015, 03:43:15 AM »

It's discouraging that after all these years that these coaches have been coming to Trinidad they have never once invited a single player to England to experience the training environment at MAN U...