Well said “Real Madnessâ€. I could not put it better myself. I guess we have all developed a healthy respect for our opponents from Embacadere as we get older. We even look back and relish the skirmishes on the football field. But a little healthy rivalry neva kill nobody…..and yuh know the picong ha to flow like water on dis site. That is why we always coming on here, and man wife does steups when dey realize we cracking up and laughing “on de Soca Warriors site AGAINâ€.
“Rodneyâ€: what years you went Pres? I was there from ’73 to ’81. Good to see you following the fortunes of the world’s greatest school all the way out in the UK.
“Naparima†from Toronto: news for u breds….both Naps and Pres were in Senior Division in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Both had great teams that got them out though. I believe Naps also won out Intercol as a Senior Division team (cannot remember if they won all the way thru National title….somebody help me here). It included a young man named Leonson Lewis who also played for Bionic Bunch (Steve from Soccerworld was a stalwart on dat team), and later a much beloved team called the Strike Squad.
The game last Saturday was one in the annual Val Turton-Carl Osborne Foundation series of games intended to revive the traditional Pres-Naps rivalry, and to raise funds for university scholarships for student-athletes. Click here for the website, including pictures of past games, events, history of the Pres-Naps rivalry, etc.
http://www.turton-osbornefoundation.com/About_Us.htm I live in Miami, but I am working in Trinidad for a year, and as such I have the opportunity to see some college football this year (and of course the Soca Warriors home games in the HC Stadium).
Saturday’s game was the most competitive of the series thus far. Great for Sando football. Naps are obviously a classy team. They have good chemistry and understanding of the game, and are technically sound. I can see how they topped the South Zone again. They are coached by Richard Nagar a former Naps midfielder from my day. Pres, coached by Brian John (Jabloteh), is much improved, play a solid brand and display tons of heart out on the field of play. The team is well-supported by the Principal (Errol Jaikaransingh), and the young group (mostly Form 4 and 5 from what I have been told) respond by showing a lot of that good old Presentation Spirit. I had the tremendous privilege of addressing the school assembly last Wednesday to promote the game on Saturday, and to “rally the troopsâ€. The spirit amongst the student body was extremely high. I almost crack up when I heard one of the chants: “OLE OLE OLE OLE…..NAPS GAY, NAPS GAYâ€. In fact, on Saturday Pres also won the annual prize given to the better Rhythm Section, and also took the MVP award.
Ironically, this year both teams play each other in the CFL South Zone Intercol first round. By virtue of the draw, Naps as the Championship Div winners will play the Senior Div winners, Pres at 3 pm on Nov 4th at Manny Ramjohn. That day is the Eid holiday, and it would be nice to see a great turnout by past students of both colleges to support the youngsters (barring religious obligations of course).
I would like the Pres men on this site to email me with a SHORT message or a FEW words of encouragement to pass on to the team. Send emails to gerardosborne@bellsouth.net Don’t forget to put your name and year.
By de way, Pres v Naps Over 40 is next month at Manny Ramjohn Stadium. Was supposed to be Nov 12th, but they couldn’t get FIFA to postpone the T&T/Bahrain game so it hadda be later in de month. Stay tuned. Ah hope me bong up foot heal fully by then. Naps practicing hard, playing Fatima Over 40 and ting, but is still cut arse fuh dem.
BRING OUT DE BROOM….WE SWEEPING NAPS THIS YEAR.
PRESENTATION FOREVER.
