Football to add to village life
By Sheldon J. Yearwood (Trinidad Guardian)
“Our aim is to take football back to the communities and in some small way reclaim our land back from crime and lawlessness!”
So said Roy Jagroopsingh, First Vice President of the Southern Football Association at the formal opening of the 2005 football season yesterday.
“This season, we anticipate a very high standard of football and even a higher standard of discipline from all the teams on and off the field,” Jagroopsingh said.
With their flags, 11 of the 15 teams scheduled to play in the tournament paraded on the field.
The four teams not represented at the formal opening were Moruga FC, X Men, Barrackpore United and Penal All Stars.
A panel, headed by Jagroopsingh, and including Neville Ferguson of the T&T Football Federation, Jennifer Marryshow, who brought greetings from the Mayor of San Fernando, Ian Atherly, and ex T&T footballer, Leonson Lewis, inspected the teams before the start of the first match.
Lewis played in Portugal for a number of years and is a past pupil of Naparima College.
There are two divisions in the league, one named after Lewis, the other after Leroy de Leon, also a former national player of the l970s.
North of the creek teams are in the Leonson Lewis Division and south of the creek, the Leroy De Leon Division.
The clubs will be vying for the coveted Petrotrin Super league Trophy and a cash prize of $12,000.
The opener featured a double header, with Playaz FC from Point Fortin playing Icacos Youth, and Petrotrin playing T&TEC.
T&TEC trounced defending champs Petrotrin SC with goals coming from Karim Gibson(2) and ex-national footballer Nkosi Blackman, while Playaz beat Icacos Youth Group 3-1.
Apart from Petrotrin, all other teams are new to the league.
Results:
Playaz F.C 3 (Wendell Prescott, 33rd and 40th and Kevin Bartholemew, 87th) vs Icacos Youth Group 1 (Peter John Williams, 76th).
T&TEC S.C 3 (Karim Gibson, 36th and 57th and Nkosi Blackman 38th) vs Petrotrin S.C 1 (Nigel Hart 78th)
