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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #180 on: May 01, 2019, 08:32:17 PM »
WATCH: U-15 and U-17 Youth Pro League Highlights (Police FC 7-0 La Horquetta Rangers; Police FC 5-0 La Horquetta Rangers)

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #181 on: May 06, 2019, 12:19:02 PM »
North East Stars puts a spoke in the wheel of U-13 title favourites San Juan Jabloteh
T&T Pro League Media


Malik Addley struck in the second half to earn mid-table North East Stars a well-deserved point in a 1-1 draw against Youth Pro League Under-13 leaders San Juan Jabloteh on Sunday, slowing the title favourites for the first time this season.

Jabloteh (19 points) entered play needing a win against the visitors at San Juan North Secondary and for rivals W Connection to either lose or draw against cellar-placed Defence Force FC to celebrate the title with two games to spare.

But neither went Jabloteh’s way. North East Stars (9 points) snapped the San Juan side’s 100 percent streak while Connection (16 points) narrowly defeated Defence Force 3-2 at Ato Boldon Stadium to close the gap to three points on the leaders.

Jabloteh must face Defence Force FC and Club Sando in their remaining league fixtures while Connection are against Sando and Central FC.

North East Stars looked the better side in the first half with fluency though falling behind 1-0 on the stroke of the half.

Deshawn Plaza punished the height of North East Stars’ pint-sized goalie Michael Peter Hadad in the 35th minute with a looping shot from distance to give Jabloteh lead 1-0.

Hadad had earlier proved huge between sticks when he stretched low to his left to keep out a penalty strike from Joachim Callender after Raheem Mohan was tripped up in the box by North East Stars’ big defender Jaden Williams.

Williams, much earlier, troubled Jabloteh with a free kick before the rebound effort by a teammate crashed off the upright as Jabloteh were spared.

Kendell Castle tested Hadad again from distance early in the second half but the Stars goalie made just enough height to stop the ball from entering his net a second time.

Addley turned up the hero in the 55th-minute by levelling North East Stars 1-1 from close up with his second goal of the season when teammate Jadail Joseph’s effort dropped to him off goalkeeper Joshua Gonzales’ crossbar.

Elsewhere, Nkosi Fuentes scored his sixth, seventh and eighth goals of the season to lift Morvant Caledonia United U13s over hosts Police FC in a 7-5 thriller at Police Academy.

Fuentes joins Jabloteh’s Thane Devenish and Central FC’s Micha’el John in the U13 Golden Boot lead with eight goals.

John struck his eight item to edge Central past visiting Club Sando 1-0 at Edinburgh 500, extending the U13 Sharks’ unbeaten run to six games since losing to Jabloteh on the opening day of the season.

Jabloteh were also held in the Under-15 division by North East Stars with that score ending 2-2.

Juan Montealegre-Corriols (66 & 74) scored twice in the second half to level North East Stars U15s after Nkosi Ambrose (1), from the penalty spot, and Israel Joseph (9) cushioned Jabloteh early. Jabloteh’s problems spilled over when Keshawn Diaz was ejected six minutes from time on a direct red card.

Jabloteh (14 points) slipped two spots into fourth on the U15 ladder, while Police FC (15 points) became the new leaders after a 3-0 win over Morvant Caledonia United thanks to a double from overall leading scorer Nathaniel O’Garro, who snatched his eighth and ninth goals, and an opening item from Jaden Moore all in the second half.

Civic (15 points) slipped off the top into second after being edged 1-0 by Terminix La Horquetta Rangers. Rangers moved up to spots into third but remains below Civic by a lesser goal-difference.

Jabloteh later registered their first Under-17 win of the campaign with a 4-2 result over North East Stars as both teams occupy seventh and eighth on a standing led by Point Fortin Civic (18 points).

Civic maintained grip with a 4-1 win over Terminix La Horquetta Rangers but the Point Fortin side are closely chased by Club Sando and W Connection, two teams on 16 points with two games left.

The Angus Eve-coached Sando defeated hosts Central 3-0 at Edinburgh 500 with Jaden Mc Kree netting a double before Kern Cedeno completed the win while Terrell Noel scored in the second half to separate Connection from cellar-placed Defence Force FC with a narrow 1-0 victory.

Sando will return to action against Connection on Saturday when they host the “Savonetta Boys” at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, while Central will welcome Morvant Caledonia United at Edinburgh 500. On the same day Defence Force FC must visit Jabloteh at San Juan North Secondary while Rangers and North East Stars will clash at D’Abadie Recreation Ground.

On Sunday, Police FC will travel to Civic at Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.

Remaining Youth Pro League (league) 2019 fixtures
Match Day Eight
(May 11)

Central FC vs Morvant Caledonia United, at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas;

Club Sando vs W Connection, at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force FC, at San Juan North Secondary;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs North East Stars, at D’Abadie Recreation Ground.

(May 12)
Point Fortin Civic vs Police FC, at Mahaica Oval.

Match Day Nine
(May 19)

Point Fortin Civic vs Morvant Caledonia United
North East Stars vs Police FC
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force FC
Club Sando vs San Juan Jabloteh
Central FC vs W Connection

Youth Pro League 2019
Match Day Seven results (May 5)
UNDER-13 Division

Police FC 5 (Antonio Cole 6’, 17’, Stephon James 10’, 13’, Jeremiah Gabriel 45’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 7 (Jaheam Bailey 12’, 33’, Jeremiah Glasgow Own Goal 35’+1, Nkosi Fuentes 38’, 53’, 59’ pen., Lyndell George 50’ pen.), at Police Academy;

Point Fortin Civic 0 vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 0, at Mahaica Oval;

San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Deshawn Plaza 35’) vs North East Stars 1 (Malik Addley 55’), at San Juan North Secondary;

W Connection 3 (Ayche Saunders 34’, Sahrai Mitchell 49’, Chaz Forde 69’) vs Defence Force FC 2 (Roshon Doobay 9’, Micah Nelson 42’), Ato Boldon Stadium;

Central FC 1 (Micha’el John 27’) vs Club Sando 0, at Edinburgh 500.

UNDER-15 Division
Police FC 3 (Jayden Moore 49’, Nathaniel O’Garro 58’, 75’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 0, at Police Academy;

Point Fortin Civic 0 vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Tinto Phillip 22’), at Mahaica Oval;

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Nkosi Ambrose 1’ pen., Israel Joseph 9’) vs North East Stars 2 (Juan Montealegre-Corriols 66’, 74’), at San Juan North Secondary;

W Connection 3 (Maliki Clement 13’, Tyrell Bereaux 14’, Jaden Grant 88’+2) vs Defence Force FC 0, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Central FC 1 (Christopher Brooks 66’) vs Club Sando 1 (Jean-Pierre Reyes 49’), at Edinburgh 500.

UNDER-17 Division
Police FC 2 (Terrell Brown 5’, Matthias Hinkson 25’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Jardell Mitchell 11’), at Police Academy;

Point Fortin Civic 4 (Ezekiel Kesar 2’, Ezekiel Richards 60’, Jahmali Cobham 79’, Darion Campbell 81’) vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Josiah Edwards 7’), at Mahaica Oval;

San Juan Jabloteh 4 (Malachai Daniel 3’, 7’, Jerry Morris 15’, 33’) vs North East Stars 2 (Jordan Romany 9’, 89’), at San Juan North Secondary;

W Connection 1 (Terrell Noel 54’) vs Defence Force FC 0, Ato Boldon Stadium;

Central FC 0 vs Club Sando 3 (Jaden Mc Kree 7’, 51’, Kern Cedeno 87’), at Edinburgh 500.
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Online Tallman

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #182 on: May 12, 2019, 10:24:57 PM »
Jabloteh crowned Youth Pro League U-13 champions; qualifies for 2020 Concacaf U-13 Champions League
T&T Pro League Media


San Juan Jabloteh are champions of the youngest age-group division in the Youth Pro League (YPL) for a fifth consecutive time when they secured the 2019 Under-13 crown by their penultimate match day on Saturday.

The race for the YPL Under-15 and Under-17 titles, however, goes down to the wire on final league day next Sunday with four teams in each division still standing with a mathematical chance.

Jabloteh U13s, though, stretched their unbeaten run to eight from eight with a 6-1 win over bottom-placed Defence Force FC in front of home supporters at San Juan North Secondary to put an unassailable 22 points on the standings.

Defence Force fell behind after just three minutes when Malik Harraman inadvertently headed past his own goalkeeper Josiah Chandler before Jabloteh star forward Lindell Sween (9, 20 & 30) snatched his seventh, eighth and ninth goals of the season. Raheem Mohan (13) and Thane Devenish (17), another player on 9 goals, scored the other items for the eventual champions.

Roshaun Doobay converted from the penalty spot after 12 minutes to celebrate Defence Force's consolation item.

Jabloteh are Trinidad and Tobago's qualified team at the 2019 Concacaf U13 Champions League (August 10-17) as champions of last season’s YPL, and their follow-up this season earns them a fourth qualification at the international tournament in 2020.

Keith Jeffrey, head coach of the Jabloteh U13s, was in full praise of his players and staff after securing the division's league title and a place at next year’s Concacaf tournament.

“We have Thane [Devenish], our second choice goalkeeper we used as a wide outfield player and he scored nine goals in the tournament including two hat-tricks; Joachim Calendar, a stalwart at the back; Kendell Castle, who has improved in midfield; Ability Hazel, captain of the team who has done an excellent job in keeping a lot of clean sheets; and we have [Lindell] Sween, another top goal scorer for us. These players make up the backbone of the team that has made us successful for the 2019 season,” said a glowing Jeffrey.

He added, “Coaches Dave Weekes and Andre ‘Andy’ Morales have assisted me in the success of the team. The administrative managers making everything possible administratively are Charmaine Villafana and Cyril George.

"It was a total effort and the success belongs to everyone at the club.”

Jeffrey, who is also technical director and first team head coach of the San Juan club, said winning the youngest age-group a fifth time in a row shows the level of standard set by Jabloteh in youth football.

"We have a brand in our youth programme,” he pointed out. “ …and we ask players coming into Jabloteh to honour this brand which has a history of success.”

Rivals W Connection (17 points) and Central FC (15 points) in second and third respectively after both sides were held to a 2-2 draw by Club Sando and Morvant Caledonia United, respectively, are left to battle for U13 runners-up.

Jabloteh U13s, meanwhile, are looking ahead to the Youth Pro League Cup (knockout) May 26 – June 16, and the Concacaf U13 Champions League in August.

Jeffrey said the YPL Cup competition will provide a huge challenge for his outfit, pointing out that U13 teams such as Central, North East Stars and Sando are very good teams. “In knockout it’s on the day so we must prepare to go very hard. It will be a final for us against every team we face.”

“We welcome the challenges as we prepare for the Concacaf [U13] Champions League. We reached the quarterfinals the two times before and this year we want to go one step further. So everything now will fall under our preparation for Concacaf,” ended Jeffrey.

Jabloteh visit Sando at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Sunday 19 May for their final league match before the Youth Pro League knockout competition begins around the corner—May 26 – June 16.

Sando (19 points) leads the U17 table after eking a 1-0 win over Connection but Angus Eve’s players are just one point ahead of Police FC and Civic (both on 18 points) after the young Blues defeated the Point Fortin side 3-1 on Sunday.

Connection and Central (both on 16 points) occupy fourth and fifth on the U17 standings ahead of next Sunday’s final match day.

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (18 points) leads the U15 standings and will welcome Defence Force on Sunday at D’Abadie Recreation Ground in hopes of holding off Jabloteh (17 points), Police (16 points) and Civic (16 points) for the division’s title.

Other final league day fixtures includes Civic hosting Morvant Caledonia United at Mahaica Oval and Police against host North East Stars at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Youth Pro League 2019
Upcoming Match Day Nine fixtures (final league match day)
(Sunday 19 May)

Point Fortin Civic vs Morvant Caledonia United, at Mahaica Oval;

North East Stars vs Police FC, at Hasely Crawford Stadium training field;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force FC, at D'Abadie Recreation Ground;

Club Sando vs San Juan Jabloteh, at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Central FC vs W Connection, at Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas.

Match Day Eight results
(May 11)
UNDER-13 Division

Central FC 2 (Micha'el John 10', Thomas Decle 28') vs Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Lyndell George 60', 65'), Edinburgh 500;

Club Sando 2 (Jaazaniah Greene 3’, Gabriel Collins 20') vs W Connection 2 (Chaz Forde 9’, 12'), at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh 6 (Malik Harraman Own Goal 3', Lindell Sween 9', 20', 30', Raheem Mohan 13', Thane Devenish 17') vs Defence Force FC 1 (Roshaun Doobay 12' pen.), at San Juan North Secondary;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Mark Thomas 63') vs North East Stars 3 (Josiah Connell 25', Logan Maingot 46', Kade Collier 47'), at D'Abadie Recreation Ground.

(May 12)
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Kwesi Seales 25’) vs Police FC 4 (Stephon James 29’, 60’, 67’, Tyrese Manswell 54’), at Mahaica Oval.

UNDER-15 Division
Central FC 1 (Tyrik Trotman 12’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Giovanni Warner 77’, Jaheem Williams 78’), Edinburgh 500;

Club Sando 1 (Daylon Riley 78’) vs W Connection 0, at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Israel Joseph 46’, Kyle Dwarika 55’) vs Defence Force FC 0, at San Juan North Secondary;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 2 (Akiem St. Phillip 3’, Yannis Oliver 66’) vs North East Stars 0, at D'Abadie Recreation Ground.

(May 12)
Point Fortin Civic 0 vs Police FC 0, at Mahaica Oval.

UNDER-17 Division
Central FC 5 (Malik Robinson 6’, Isaiah Samuel 13’, Ivan Dos Santos 29’, Naeem Bisnath Own Goal 48’, Drei Guisseppi 69’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Joshua Ambrose Own Goal 47’), Edinburgh 500;

Club Sando 1 (Nesean Duncan 78’) vs W Connection 0, at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh 4 (Aaron Perouse 24’, 58’, 59’, Jaheim Faustin 62’) vs Defence Force FC 0, at San Juan North Secondary;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 0 vs North East Stars 0, at D'Abadie Recreation Ground.

(May 12)
Point Fortin Civic 1 (Darion Campbell 50’) vs Police FC 3 (Matthias Hinkson 26’, Erin Steeple 51’, 80’), at Mahaica Oval.
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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #183 on: May 24, 2019, 03:28:12 PM »
Civic are new U15 champions; Rangers U15s to join U13, U17 outfits in Cup playoffs
TTproleague.Media.


Point Fortin Civic are champions of the Youth Pro League 2019 Under-15 division, a follow up of last season's Under-18 title, after beating runners-up Police FC to the crown by three points after Terminix La Horquetta Rangers were overturned as champions due to player ineligibility.

Civic are one of four U15 teams (Morvant Caledonia United, North East Stars and Defence Force FC the others) to have their losses against Rangers reversed by the League.

The league rules state: “Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the match(es) played deducted from its total points earned and may be subject to further sanctions at the discretion of the Board.

“In addition, the opposing teams in all such instances shall be awarded three points and three goals. This will also be reflected in the overall statistics of the league competition. Any team which would have achieved a higher score than mentioned above in winning any such game will maintain the score.”

Rangers U15s, as a result, dropped seven spots into eighth and must join their Under-13 and Under-15 teams in the Richard Fakoory Memorial Youth Pro League Cup (knockout) play-offs on Sunday 26 May.

Rangers U13s will face Defence Force from 10am at Ato Boldon Stadium before their U15 and U17 teams tackle North East Stars from 2pm and 4pm respectively at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium for quarter-final spots.

Other play-offs include Point Fortin Civic against Police FC in the U13 division from 10am at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium and Defence Force taking on W Connection in U15 action and San Juan Jabloteh in the U17 division from 2pm and 4pm respectively at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Jabloteh, last season's YPL Cup finalist in all three divisions, captured this season's U13 league title while last season's Cup U16 winners Club Sando won the league's U17 division.

Richard Fakoory Memorial Youth Pro League Cup 2019
Play-Off Round (May 26)


Under-13 Division

Point Fortin Civic vs Police FC—10am at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs Defence Force FC—10am at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Under-15 Division

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs North East Stars—2pm at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

W Connection vs Defence Force FC—2pm at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Under-17 Division

Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs North East Stars—4pm at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force FC—4pm at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Quarter-Final Round (June 02)

Under-13 Division

A. San Juan Jabloteh vs Point Fortin Civic/Police FC;

B. Central FC vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers/Defence Force FC;

C. W Connection vs Club Sando;

D. North East Stars vs Morvant Caledonia United.

Under-15 Division

A. Point Fortin Civic vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers/North East Stars;

B. Police FC vs W Connection/Defence Force FC;

C. San Juan Jabloteh vs Central FC;

D. Morvant Caledonia United vs Club Sando.

Under-17 Division

A. Club Sando vs Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs North East Stars;

B. Police FC vs San Juan Jabloteh/Defence Force FC;

C. W Connection vs Morvant Caledonia United;

D. Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC.

Semi-Final Round (June 09)

A vs D
B vs C

Final (June 16)
Ato Boldon Stadium

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #184 on: May 31, 2019, 06:57:58 PM »
Rangers secure place in Youth Pro League quarters.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).


TERMINIX La Horquetta Rangers are through to the Under-15 quarter-finals of the Richard Fakoory Memorial Youth Pro League Cup (YPL Cup) after progressing out of last Sunday’s play-offs.

Jadon Clarke struck his first hat-trick at the Youth Pro League to lift Rangers past their North East Stars Under-15 counterparts with a 3-0 win at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, cooling disappointment after they were stripped of the U-15 league crown a week ago due to player ineligibility.

Rangers, ironically, must return to the Marabella venue to face U-15 league champions Point Fortin Civic from 2 pm on quarter-final Sunday—June 2.

Rangers Under-13s also progressed from the play-offs and will face U-13 league runners-up Central FC in the quarter-finals from 10 am at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field.

Defence Force FC U-13s enjoyed a 4-2 result against their Rangers counterparts in what was supposed to be their first win of the season in all competitions, but the result was later overturned due to player ineligibility.

Rangers Under-17s, however, ended with nine men – Emmanuel Hunte and Akidoon Weeks red carded – and on the wrong end of a 2-0 loss against North East Stars at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium.

Andrew de Gannes and Joshua Lewis both converted from the penalty spot in the second half to send North East Stars through to the quarter-finals against U-17 league winners Club Sando at the same Marabella venue from 4 pm.

San Juan Jabloteh, last season’s defeated Cup finalists in all three divisions, will tackle Police FC in the U-13 and U-17 divisions, and Central FC in the U-15 age group with all three quarter-final matches to be contested at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. The U-13 and U-17 matches will be contested on the main field of the Couva venue from 10 am and 4 pm, respectively, while the U-15 contest will be played on the training field from 2 pm.

Police U-13s advanced from the play-offs when they defeated Point Fortin Civic 4-2 to meet U-13 league champions Jabloteh.

Other quarter-final match-ups will see W Connection take on Club Sando in the U-13 division from 10 am at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, and North East Stars against Morvant Caledonia United in the same division and same time at the Ato Boldon Stadium training field.

Police FC and Connection will clash from 2 pm at Ato Boldon Stadium in the U-15 quarter-finals while Morvant Caledonia are against Club Sando in the same division simultaneously at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field.

In the U-17 age-group, Connection and Morvant Caledonia face each other from 4 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium training field, and Point Fortin Civic takes on Central FC simultaneously at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training field.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #185 on: June 18, 2019, 12:04:36 AM »
Jabloteh repeats U-13 Youth Pro League champs.
By Keith Clement (Guardian).


Cameron Gul­ston reg­is­tered a beaver-trick to lead San Juan Jabloteh to a 7-1 maul­ing of Cen­tral FC in the Un­der-13 Di­vi­sion of T&T Youth Pro League Richard Fakoory Memo­r­i­al Cup fi­nal at the Ato Boldon Sta­di­um in Bal­main, Cou­va, on Sun­day.

Win­ners of the di­vi­sion­al league crown for a fourth straight sea­son last month, Jabloteh stormed in­to the lead as ear­ly as the first minute via Gul­ston, who added fur­ther strikes in the 18th, 65th and 71st min­utes.

Myeki­ah Hay­wood added a pair of goals in the 16th and 31st and An­tho­ny Alexan­der al­so got his name on the score­sheet in the 42nd, while Eli­jah Wong net­ted Cen­tral FC’s con­so­la­tion item in the 47th.

While Jabloteh cruised to its ti­tle tri­umph, Club San­do's Un­der-15s and W Con­nec­tion's Un­der-17s se­cured their ti­tles on penal­ty-kicks af­ter 1-1 draws.

In the Un­der-15 de­cider, Po­lice went ahead against Club San­do in the 48th minute through Ra­heem At­i­ba, on­ly to be pegged back by Alex Cha­con-Her­nan­dez’s 63rd-minute equalis­er, be­fore the south­ern team snatched vic­to­ry 3-1 via penal­ty kicks.

Club San­do had a chance at an­oth­er ti­tle in the Un­der-17 Di­vi­sion but fell 5-4 on penal­ty kicks to W Con­nec­tion fol­low­ing a 1-1 dead­lock.

This af­ter Nir­van Ram­nar­ine tied up the score for W Con­nec­tion in the 79th minute from the penal­ty spot af­ter Ad­i­ca Ash had fired Club San­do ahead in the 39th.

Sun­day’s Re­sults

Un­der-13 Di­vi­sion

Jabloteh 7 (Cameron Gul­ston 1st, 18th, 65th, 71st, Myeki­ah Hay­wood 16th, 31st, An­tho­ny Alexan­der 42nd) vs Cen­tral FC 1 (Eli­jah Wong 47th)

Un­der-15 Di­vi­sion

Club San­do 1 (Alex Cha­con Her­nan­dez 63rd) vs Po­lice FC 1 (Ra­heem At­i­ba 48th) - Club San­do won 3-1 on penal­ty kicks

Un­der-17 Di­vi­sion

Club San­do 1 (Nir­van Ram­nar­ine 79th pen) vs W Con­nec­tion 1 (Ad­i­ca Ash 39th) - W Con­nec­tion won 5-4 on penal­ty kicks

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #186 on: June 23, 2020, 12:14:40 PM »
The Youth Pro League is scheduled to start on 12 July with 12 teams involved.

The participating clubs are:

AC Port of Spain, QPCC, Morvant Caledonia United, W Connection, Central FC, San Juan Jabloteh, Cunupia FC, Point Fortin Civic, Club Sando, Police FC, Defence Force and La Horquetta Rangers.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #187 on: June 26, 2020, 11:37:38 AM »
Griffith confirms green light for youth team sport, YPL to kick off on 12 July.
Wired868.com.


Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith confirmed this evening that youth team sport can commence immediately, despite a statement from chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram, who said all children activities should wait until September.

Griffith said that, after a few calls, he can now clarify that Parasram was referring to activities like children’s camps and not organised sport for young men and women.

“Just to clarify, I liaised with the minister of national security because there seemed to be some confusion and youth team managers were contacting me for clarification,” Griffith told Wired868. “And as stated by the prime minister and confirmed by the minister of national security, all team sport is allowed from 22 June and that includes youth team sport.

“What the CMO was referring to was situations like summer camps but for things like the Youth Pro League, permission was already given [to run the competition]. You also have players who are under-18 and training with national senior teams and obviously you are not going to ban them.

“One lingering issue might be with spectators like parents and so on who would want to congregate for games; and that is something we want to rectify. But youth teams can start training and playing games with immediate effect.”

It means that Trinidad and Tobago’s youth football teams can finally emerge from hibernation due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Youth Pro League is scheduled to start on 12 July with 12 teams involved. The participating clubs are: AC Port of Spain, QPCC, Morvant Caledonia United, W Connection, Central FC, San Juan Jabloteh, Cunupia FC, Point Fortin Civic, Club Sando, Police FC, Defence Force and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will kick off in September.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #188 on: June 30, 2020, 06:52:05 AM »
So how it is that the Youth PRO League can take place and Youth Leagues in Tobago have not gotten the green light ??

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #189 on: July 12, 2020, 03:13:29 AM »
Youth Pro League on hold... SSFL to be decided on.
Jonathan Ramnanansingh (Newsday).


THE Youth Pro League has not been given clearance to kick off, in August, as originally scheduled.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has been handed the responsibility to say whether or not the 2020 Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL), which is set for September, can proceed.

This was revealed by Chief Medical Officer Roshan Parasram during Saturday’s virtual media conference held by the Ministry of Health.

“With regards to any activity in which children are participating before September, we are in the middle of a pandemic and things can’t be as they were before. We are asking please with any activities related to children be held until September,” said Parasram.

He added, “With regards to SSFL, that is a matter for the Ministry of Education to determine in terms of their extracurricular activities. I would have a meeting earlier this week with the permanent secretary (Lenore Baptiste-Simmons) and chief education officer (Harrilal Seecharan) to discuss the guidelines going forward when school reopens in September.”

According to the CMO, the Ministry of Health will send a draft guideline to the education ministry by early next week. This will be used to determine if there will, in fact, be any extracurricular activities taking place in schools.

RELATED NEWS

Youth Pro League on hold, SSFL to be decided on
T&T Newsday Reports.


THE Youth Pro League has not been given clearance to kick off, in August, as originally scheduled.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has been handed the responsibility to say whether or not the 2020 Secondary Schools’ Football League (SSFL), which is set for September, can proceed.

This was revealed by Chief Medical Officer Roshan Parasram during Saturday’s virtual media conference held by the Ministry of Health.

“With regards to any activity in which children are participating before September, we are in the middle of a pandemic and things can’t be as they were before. We are asking please with any activities related to children be held until September,” said Parasram.

He added, “With regards to SSFL, that is a matter for the Ministry of Education to determine in terms of their extracurricular activities. I would have a meeting earlier this week with the permanent secretary (Lenore Baptiste-Simmons) and chief education officer (Harrilal Seecharan) to discuss the guidelines going forward when school reopens in September.”

According to the CMO, the Ministry of Health will send a draft guideline to the education ministry by early next week. This will be used to determine if there will, in fact, be any extracurricular activities taking place in schools.

« Last Edit: July 13, 2020, 04:43:25 PM by Flex »
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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #190 on: July 15, 2020, 08:04:13 AM »
Dr Parasram vetoes U-18 sport competition before Sept, Griffith: CMO makes ‘absolutely no sense’
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


Chief medical officer Dr Roshan Parasram appeared to veto the 2020 Youth Pro League (YPL) today as he drew a line under his previous stance: no children’s competition before September.

“With regards to any activity in which children are participating before September, and as we have said time and time again,” said Dr Parasram, “we have to recall we are in the middle of a pandemic and things can’t be as they were before. We are asking, please, let all activities related to children be held [back] until September.”

The CMO’s verdict contradicted an assurance from Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, who, on 22 June, suggested that pre-teens and teenagers were in a separate category.

“Just to clarify, I liaised with the minister of national security because there seemed to be some confusion and youth team managers were contacting me for clarification,” Griffith told Wired868. “And as stated by the prime minister and confirmed by the minister of national security, all team sport is allowed from 22 June and that includes youth team sport.

“What the CMO was referring to was situations like summer camps but for things like the Youth Pro League, permission was already given [to run the competition]. You also have players who are under-18 and training with national senior teams and obviously you are not going to ban them.

“[…] Youth teams can start training and playing games with immediate effect.”

Dr Parasram made it clear that this was not so.

“It is not what I consider [a child], there is a legal definition,” said Dr Parasram. “I asked for my Ministry of Health legal officer to confirm and they have confirmed to me that 18 and under is considered a child—based on the legislation.”

Dr Parasram’s assertion prompted a rebuke from the commissioner of police who claimed that the CMO was contradicting the Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh.

“It continues to be reported that the CMO is stating that persons under 18 years old cannot take part in competitive tournaments,” sad Griffith. “I wish to clarify that I do not make public comments, and direct the Police, based on my personal view—but based on Laws, Regulations and being briefed by relevant officials to adhere to national policies.

“When asked for clarification by TT Youth Pro League and other youth tournament officials, as to whether such youth tournaments can proceed, I do not communicate with the CMO to be guided but the relevant line ministers.

“Upon which the AG (Faris Al-Rawi), Minister of Health and Minister of National Security (Stuart Young) clearly told me that such tournaments can proceed, and I advised the youth tournament officials as such.

“To hear again that the CMO is stating otherwise, is confusing the life out of my officers as well as sporting officials, parents and players—as the football goal post is literally being shifted every time the CMO speaks on this matter.”

Griffith stood by his earlier assertion that Deyalsingh and Minister of National Security Stuart Young both gave clearance for youth competition to resume, which was relayed to the YPL.

Griffith suggested that Dr Parasram’s view on the threat posed by Covid-19 on athletes under the age of 18 ‘makes absolutely no sense’.

“From a personal view, I agreed with the view of the line ministers, because the logic of the CMO is that it is not a Covid threat if a 16 or 17 yr old trains daily with his football team,” said Griffith, “but if they take part in a tournament, then the Covid virus would lift its head and kick in. In fact, it is just the opposite.

“A club can have 25 young players presently train in a small huddle, but a tournament involves 11 a side playing in a 100 yard by 60 yard field—hence showing that those training can be even more susceptible to being infected than in a tournament.

“So to state that persons can train but not participate in a tournament, is alluding to  Covid being a shrewd, tactical virus that is not a threat for minors if they train; but if they take part in a tournament, it then becomes a serious risk for a minor.

“Likewise if there are 17-year-old players in a national senior sporting team, the CMO is stating that they are at risk to being affected and hence should not be on an adult team, but an 18 year old on the same team is not as risk and can train.”

At present, Griffith’s son, Gary Griffith III, is one of several minors who are training with the Men’s National Senior Team under current football head coach Terry Fenwick.

A government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, hinted that Griffith was right. However, the CMO’s public position was supposedly meant to discourage unregulated sporting activities between minors.

The government, allegedly, has tacitly agreed with the commissioner of police to ‘turn a blind eye’ to competitions such as the YPL; and there is nothing in the health regulations to penalise sanctioned youth sport tournaments.

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), in theory, should avoid the confusion as competition there does not restart until September. However, the CMO said the upcoming schools season will hinge on the go-ahead from the Ministry of Education—which must weigh up the guidelines for competition handed down by the Ministry of Health.

“[The 2020 SSFL season] is a matter for our Ministry of Education to determine, in terms of their extracurricular activities,” said Dr Parasram. “So I would have had a meeting earlier this week—with the PS and the Chief Education Officer—to discuss the guidelines going forward when school reopens in September.

“The Ministry of Health will send a draft guideline to them early next week and they will then utilise that to determine if there will be extracurricular activities, which will be a decision that the Ministry of Education has to make.

“We will [also] give them guidelines as it relates to activities during normal school hours.”

Interim Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) president Phillip Fraser, who is also a director at YPL bigwigs, San Juan Jabloteh, said the CMO’s public sentiment was a hammer blow for youth club teams. However, he agrees that health of the nation’s children is the first priority.

“The Pro League [board] was waiting until Wednesday to decide [the fate of the 2020 YPL season]—but based on what the CMO said, I think we can make that call right now!” Fraser said. “It is a big blow to the children. Of course we have to protect the children, first and foremost. But they have a lot of energies right now.

“The amount of children who are in the savannah now readying for the Pro League and coming out to train, you can see the enthusiasm. You know what it is to tell them now that next week is the last week for training until further notice?”

Fraser said the SSFL still has its own deliberations to make about the 2020 schools competition and he could not say much about that until the various zones have met.

“What [instructions] we gave all the zones is to come up with all their suggestions before we decide—based on what we have before us,” he said. “[…] First things first, is the Ministry guidelines; and then zones have to come up with possible contingencies when the restrictions are lifted.”

Fraser, who was elected as the SSFL first vice-president last year, succeeded William Wallace as president on Monday when the latter resigned the post. Wallace, who is also Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, formally handed in his resignation to the SSFL general secretary on Thursday.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #191 on: July 16, 2020, 06:08:47 AM »
Decision on Youth Pro League Thursday
By Ryan Bachoo (Guardian).


Minister of National Security Stuart Young has cleared the air on whether the Youth Pro League can go ahead or not. There were conflicting messages from the Ministry of Health and the Commissioner of Police on whether the league can kick-off in August. At Saturday’s virtual press conference with the Ministry of Health, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram said all events with children should be held back until September.

However, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said permission was granted from the health ministry for the Youth Pro League to go on.

And at yesterday’s virtual Ministry of Health media conference, Young addressed the matter. He said, “The CMO’s advice is exactly as he stated but the regulations don’t prevent it so at the end of the day there is no law that is being broken but the medical advice is for them just to be cautious so I don’t think this is a conversation that can continue to mushroom.”

Young confirmed both he and the Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh has had conversations with commissioner Griffith “including on Saturday”.

The CMO has advised that activities with children be withheld for the next two months, “Children should have been held until September. The regulations, as far as I know, don’t speak to the age of persons being able to conduct any sort of activity,” Dr Parasram said.

A source close to the league who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity said that "A decision on whether organisers will honour the CMO’s advice and postpone the start of the league could be made as early as today when the matter comes before a board meeting of the league today."

When contacted by Guardian Media Sports Commissioner Griffith said, "These comments continue to do nothing other than to confuse the life out of my Police Officers, as they are the individuals who have to enforce the law, and likewise parents as they are left to wonder if their children playing sport is against the law. As Commissioner of Police, to clarify this issue, the answer is no.

There is no law preventing any young person from participating in a sport. All that is required is that extra-curricular activity and sport, must not have more than the stipulation of numbers established in the Public Health Ordinance Regulations.

The CMO does not draft, approve, or enforce laws. I have received absolutely no policy from any Government official to stop any young person from taking part in sport. In fact, as the COP, preventing or trying to persuade young people not to play sport after being boxed in their homes for months, is an avenue that can frustrate many young persons and hence their energies can very well be diverted in non-productive, if not criminal avenues, hence these continuous comments trying to prevent young people from playing a sport, are indeed a liability from a TTPS perceptive, and does not help us in our role and function.

These strange comments yet again, are said without taking any consideration into the role of the TTPS, because what is the TTPS supposed to do? Go to every sporting ground, every football game, and start checking ID cards to see dates of birth?

Likewise, based on their logic, if an athlete is a 16 or 17 years’ old who is a very fit, healthy, high-intensity athlete or national player in a contact sport, it becomes a concern, but not if the athlete is 18 years or over. I challenge them to show what data they can produce to show this. The CMO seems to have a concern about a 16 or 17-year-old playing sport, but he does not have a concern when a set of children are packed into a cinema watching a movie.

Dozens of elderly persons, 80 years of age and above, playing bingo in an enclosed room, may be more susceptible to getting the virus than the same number of young, fit, healthy kids playing football, so the CMO may need to monitor such real concerns and not that of young persons trying to stay fit and healthy.

This can now also confuse National teams and Men and Women Club teams. The logic of the CMO and whoever else wants to support him is that if anyone is under 18 years, but on a National Senior team, or a Men or Women Club team, that they can be at risk to getting the Virus.

This makes very little sense, as again, there is nothing to show that a 16 or 17-year-old in a national or club team is going to be more prone to being a patient to COVID-19, to others who are 18 or 19 years on the same field.

There are however several measures that can be used to safeguard the concerns of the CMO, and it is not by telling young people not to play Sport, but simple protocols prior to, and after training and tournament matches, such as no huddling before and after games, no sharing of snacks etc, persuade non-attendance of supporters, which are basic policies done in other countries."

The Youth Pro League was scheduled to start last Sunday with 12 teams taking part in the competition. The clubs taking part in the competition include AC Port-of-Spain, QPCC, Morvant Caledonia United, W Connection, Central FC, San Juan Jabloteh, Cunupia FC, Point Fortin Civic, Club Sando, Police FC, Defence Force and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #192 on: July 16, 2020, 04:14:26 PM »
Youth Pro League called off for now.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).


A decision was taken by the Board of Directors of the T&T Pro League during a meeting on Thursday, a day after Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said permission was granted by the Ministry of Health for the Youth Pro League to go ahead as planned.

Chairman of the T&T Pro League Brent Sancho said: " The Board decided at present to not pursue the playing of the Youth Pro League because of the statements of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram which clearly states that, although it is not against the law, it is not advised."

Sancho did not rule out the action in the youth pro league entirely, saying if permission is granted for the Secondary Schools Football League in September then there could be a change in plans, but he said, for now, the Board believes it is the best position to take at this time.

And Wednesday’s virtual Ministry of Health media press conference, Minister of National Security Stuart Young had cleared the air on whether the Youth Pro League can go ahead or not. He said, “The CMO’s advice is exactly as he stated but the regulations don’t prevent it so at the end of the day there is no law that is being broken but the medical advice is for them just to be cautious so I don’t think this is a conversation that can continue to mushroom.”

The CMO has advised that activities with children be withheld for the next two months, “Children should have been held until September. The regulations, as far as I know, don’t speak to the age of persons being able to conduct any sort of activity,” Dr Parasram said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Griffith said on Wednesday that, "Based on their logic, if an athlete is a 16 or 17 years’ old who is a very fit, healthy, high-intensity athlete or national player in a contact sport, it becomes a concern, but not if the athlete is 18 years or over. I challenge them to show what data they can produce to show this. The CMO seems to have a concern about a 16 or 17-year-old playing sport, but he does not have a concern when a set of children are packed into a cinema watching a movie."

However, Sancho was high in praise for the Commissioner Griffith for his attempts to ensure that there is play for the youths. "I would like to personally thank Mr Griffith for his pursuit and his counsel of the entire matter. I think he has been superb in all that he has been trying to facilitate for us and for youth football."

The Central FC owner and managing director sought to dismiss hints that the youth pro league could be held once there are proper social distancing measures put in place, saying: "We have a comprehensive COVID document that the League has prepared, we have a lot of procedural measures in place, and therefore it goes back to what I said originally, the CMO has advised, and we feel that the responsible thing to do is to opt-out at this present time."

Regarding the senior Pro League tournament, the former national defender now turns football administrator said they are having extensive discussions going on. "We have meetings next week with the Sports Company, we have had extensive discussions on the season and clubs are committed to playing football this year for sure."

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #193 on: July 16, 2020, 04:24:17 PM »
So all the leagues in the world has resumed and T&T can't even get a Youth U-18 League running.

I can't understand that, is not like the league attract fans, even before the COVID-19...

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #194 on: July 21, 2020, 03:24:30 PM »
CMO, Deyalsingh must review youth sports participation.
By Andre E Baptiste (Guardian).


Many will say that the youth of this country will determine the future rise or fall of society in all aspects from economical to social or simply mental planning and awareness.

However, it appears to be nothing simple in the thought process of those that define what our youths in sports can do as we continue to focus on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and how it is affecting all aspects of life.

At a time when the youth of this beautiful twin island seem at odds to cope with many of the necessary demands of all that has happened particularly over the last five months and appear in need of a proper outlet, comes the distressing news that the advice from the Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram is that our youths (under 18) should not be involved in team sports which has led to the Pro league cancelling its youth league apparently as a result and other event and organizations confused and in disarray as our youth stand transfixed in time.

If this was not true then we would have expected the CMO and the Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh to refute such a claim but sadly that has not been forthcoming and instead many youngsters have told me, they are going to turn “away from sports because of the current situation “.

Many have alluded to the fact that both men appear uncertain on sports and how to approach the subject and its advantages simply because they themselves never played during their youth which makes it challenging for them to understand the need that teangers have with regards to expressive themselves through a sporting activity.

It is one thing to be cautious as we have seen with other sports not just here in T&T but around the world. If indeed the only plan is to just follow the World Health Organization (WHO), then alert us, so that everyone can read the same playbook and avoid the necessary heartache and pain being instilled on parents and students. Sometimes, you get the sense that avoiding a discussion that is critical and vital as this, some in Health believe that it will just go away, but in reality it will not because it affects thousands of lives.

<Ireland on youth’s participation>

Here's an example with some extracts from the June 2020 interim report regarding Ireland on youth’s participation in sports in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is significant and important in terms of risk and overall assessment:

The purpose of this document is to outline both the necessary measures which should be taken before the return of children and adolescents (up to the age of 18 years) to play and sports activities in the community, such as organized sports and summer camps, as well as the ongoing measures which need to be taken to continue to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures are aimed at risk minimization of COVID-19 amongst children and adolescents returning to sports activities, their families and the wider surrounding community, recognizing the importance of those activities for health and wellbeing

2. Risk assessment

In each event, and up to date risk assessment should be conducted to determine the risk level for COVID-19 transmission related to the particular activity or sport, and what additional measures are needed to reduce this risk.

Different activities and sports carry different degrees of risk related to the level of close contact involved. Team sports, for example, can largely be categorized into contact and non-contact sports, with contact sports carrying a higher risk of virus transmission:

• • Contact sport is an activity, particularly a team activity, in which by participating you are coming into close contact with others as part of competing or taking part in that activity – for example, physical contact sport like rugby and sport where there is close contact like Gaelic football, hurling, camogie, football, basketball, hockey, swimming or a rowing crew.

Non-contact sports – activities in which you can comfortably maintain a two-metre distance from others while participating – for example running, tennis, cycling or golf.

The risk associated with each sport or activity also varies depending on the level at which you are playing the sport or conducting the activity.

The following grading system is an example of how to stratify the various levels of risk associated with different stages of sports or activities, but the timing of when they can be initiated needs to be in line with the Government Road map and is for each sports organization to determine how best this is to be operationalized

• • Grade 1 – practicing sporting drills, skills and exercises at home with only family present

• • Grade 2 – team or group-based practice within your community practising drills, skills etc., without physical contact between participants

• • Grade 3 – competition within your team/activity group which involves physical contact such as a practice match during your weekly training involving only people from your team

• • Grade 4 – competition involving physical contact between different teams/groups from the same geographical area, for example from the same county

• • Grade 5 - a competition involving physical contact between different teams/groups from different geographical areas, for example, different counties or provinces

Therefore, going forward, we need to urge the CMO and the Minister of Health to try to better understand the role that sports play in life and in our national community development.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #195 on: July 21, 2020, 03:48:15 PM »
‘We are guided by the CMO’; Sportt blocks youth activities at gov’t-run facilities.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


The Trinidad and Tobago government will not actively block youth sporting competitions, like the Youth Pro League, from going ahead before September. However, they will need to find their own venues to play on.

This morning, Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Sportt) official Justin Latapy-George spelt out their policy position to national sporting organisations. And, although Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram and Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith have differed on the subject, Sportt will follow the CMO’s guidance.

So, all government-run sporting facilities—including the national football stadia—will not be made available for any children’s sports.

“[…] As a special interest company of the [Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs], all policies, procedures, etc of the GORTT, inclusive of any laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” stated Latapy-George, “must, and will be, adhered to by Sportt.

“As such, please note that Sportt’s current position re the classification of child communicated by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and the limitations articulated relative to this classification, will be adhered to by SPORTT.

“In addition to this, please note that as a general rule of thumb, all policies, procedures, laws, etc enacted nationally will always be automatically applied to Sportt, when and where relevant.”

Sportt corporate communications officer Kevin Garcia confirmed that Latapy-George’s email was an accurate representation of the body’s internal policy, which will immediately impact on a variety of youth sport including athletics, swimming, hockey and gymnastics.

The debate on whether or not youth sporting competition should be permitted over July/August—traditionally the high period for such activities—came into focus recently as Griffith insisted that children were free to play in organised competition and encouraged them to do so.

“The CMO does not draft, approve, or enforce laws,” said Griffith, in a statement sent to Wired868. “I have received absolutely no policy from any government official to stop any young person from taking part in sport.

“In fact, as the CoP, preventing or trying to persuade young people not to play sport after being boxed in their homes for months, is an avenue that can frustrate many young persons. And hence their energies can very well be diverted in non-productive, if not criminal avenues.

“Hence these continuous comments trying to prevent young people from playing sport, are indeed a liability from a TTPS perceptive, and does not help us in our role and function.

“[…] When certain persons never kicked a lime in contact sport, they may not understand the bigger picture.”

However, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh backed Dr Parasram at a virtual media conference on Thursday—even as he admitted that there were no regulations that prohibited children’s activities.

“We cannot legislate for everything—there comes a time when parents have to make a decision,” said Deyalsingh. “These are your children [and] with the evidence of the changing epidemiology and how children under five are now dying, […] are you prepared to take that risk with your child?”

For Sportt, Dr Parasram’s advice is as good as law. Youth sporting activities will remain on hold at state facilities until September.

It is uncertain whether the Sportt decision would affect the Youth Pro League, since most youth football teams now use community grounds. However, YPL organisers hope to get written clearance from the CMO or the Ministry of Health—so as to placate parents.

A written blessing from the Ministry of Health, under the current circumstances, is unlikely.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #196 on: July 22, 2020, 10:23:47 AM »
‘Thousands of youth frustrated by one man’; Griffith vows to hold Commissioner’s Cup—with over 2,000 minors.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).


The Youth Pro League (YPL) pulled the plug on its 2020 competition today while the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Sportt) officially closed all government-run facilities to minors, which will immediately impact on youth sport over a wide range of disciplines.

However, not only will Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith again hold the Commissioner’s Cup Football Tournament—but he suggested that he might have an expanded competition, which includes YPL teams.

The Commissioner’s Cup usually plays on community fields and should not be particularly inconvenienced by Sportt’s move to deny access to youth activities.

The YPL competition involves 12 teams competing in three age groups: under-14, under-16 and under-18. Last year, the Commissioner’s Cup had 46 teams in as many categories.

It means that, even without inviting YPL teams to join, the Commissioner’s Cup is likely to encourage well over 2,000 children to get on to the football field.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram urged organisers of youth competition to wait until September before engaging in any activity—his stance was supported by Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and relayed by Sportt official Justin Latapy-George to national sporting organisations.

Griffith is sticking to his guns, though, and expressed his disappointment with Sportt’s position.

“Unlike the Sport Company—I don’t know who they work on behalf of—but I work on policy, regulation and law,” Griffith told Wired868, “and the Minister of National Security [Stuart Young] made it clear that there is no law that stops young people from taking part in team sport. However the Sport Company has now seen it fit to make a decision based on the perception of one person.

“[…] The CMO apparently has no problem with hundreds of young people being on top of each other at a water park; but he has a problem with a 17 year old who can do 14 [laps] in a beep test being engaged in physical activity.”

Yesterday, Dr Parasram held firm on his view that youth activity should be put on hold, so as to avoid a potential spike in Covid-19 infections—although Trinidad and Tobago has not had a local case in two months.

Dr Parasram and Deyalsingh conceded that there is no rule that prohibits youth sport. But the minister of health urged parents not to take any chances.

“We cannot legislate for everything—there comes a time when parents have to make a decision,” said Deyalsingh. “These are your children [and] with the evidence of the changing epidemiology and how children under five are now dying, […] are you prepared to take that risk with your child?”

Not for the first time, Griffith suggested that the view of the medical experts was adversely affected by a supposed lack of information about local youth sport.

The commissioner of police pointed out that YPL matches have few patrons at the sidelines, so there is virtually no chance of large congregations in contravention of Covid-19 regulations. And he reiterated his belief that the nation’s young men and women are better off doing outdoor activities.

Most important, as far as Griffith is concerned, is the fact that the government officially lifted restrictions on team sport since last month.

“Unlike the Sport Company I don’t work on personal opinion, I adhere to the law,” said Griffith. “It is unfortunate that the Sport Company has chosen to ban youth players from all across the country from being involved in physical activity, which can lift their resistance—so they can fit off potential illness and even serve as a deterrent for crime.

“I am seriously considering speaking to clubs from the Youth Pro League and inviting them to take part in the Commissioner’s Cup this year. There are thousands of young people who want to play sport now after being cooped up for months; and now they are frustrated because one individual gives his personal opinion and the Sport Company decides to act on it and deprives teams of the chance to play.”

Griffith also rebutted claims from an international website, Inside World Football, which has spent the last year attacking critics of former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams—a list that includes current president William Wallace, TTFA technical committee chairman Keith Look Loy and Men’s National Senior Team head coach Terry Fenwick.

Last week, the site claimed that money meant to provide scholarships for local talent to Sunderland University had gone missing. Griffith said it was nonsense.

“We are trying to get best young talent in the country to take up possible scholarships in the United Kingdom,” said Griffith. “And despite those mischievous comments, in fact not one cent has been allocated for that purpose yet. What we are trying to do is get the private sector involved to help fund it.

“The spaces are there waiting for us at Sunderland University.”

The Commissioner’s Cup has not yet given an official kick off date but, according to Griffith, should start in early August.

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Re: T&T Youth Pro League Thread.
« Reply #197 on: November 24, 2020, 12:26:52 PM »
Any chance of youth football coming back, given the national team is?

 

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