Hart slams Joevin and Cyrus; sees Pro League positives

[SWF Reporter]

Hart slams Joevin and Cyrus; but sees Pro League positives
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)

Trinidad and Tobago national senior football team coach Stephen Hart summarised the behaviour of DIRECTV W Connection players Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus in one word: irresponsible. However, Hart is counting on the “Soca Warriors” to learn from their mistakes and move on.

Connection fined Jones and Cyrus one month’s salary and gave the players two match bans yesterday after the starlets were caught playing minor league football in Carenage last month.

Jones, who was arguably the Pro League’s most outstanding player last year, received time off from national and club duties in September to recover from fatigue while Cyrus missed the 2013 OSN Cup in Saudi Arabia after failing to catch his flight. Both players were secretly participating in a minor league competition at the time.

Hart was unimpressed.

“They entered into a professional agreement with a club,” said Hart, “and there is a certain expectancy (that comes with that)… It was probably a betrayal to the club and the coach.

“But they are young men and they are going to make mistakes.”

Jones and Cyrus are likely to be stripped of their club portfolios as captain and vice-captain respectively.

But they are expected to return to domestic competition tomorrow when Connection faces Couva rivals, Central FC, from 8 pm in the second game of a First Citizens Cup doubleheader at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Hart, the former Canada head coach, has made regular scouting trips at Pro League matches this season and credited the tactical improvement of the local clubs.

“The quality at times has been good,” said Hart. “The teams have been organised and (the matches) have been tight affairs except for one game, which was probably exciting for the fans…

“It would have been nice to have more games played (by now)… It is a work in progress.”

The Warriors coach remains concerned by the paltry attendances at Pro League fixtures and suggested that the small crowds may mean less responsibility for the players on the field, which could negatively impact on their development.

“A lot of times, you are not playing in front of a (sizeable) crowd (in the Pro League),” said Hart, “so the demands on the players as professionals is not what it should be.”

Hart called on Pro League players to make the competition more marketable by lifting the standard of the games while he also urged them to behave in a more professional manner.

The local top flight game will be in the spotlight again tomorrow when Defence Force tackles San Juan Jabloteh and Connection squares off against Central at 6 pm and 8 pm respectively in Couva.

[coache]

Dai rel nonsense...dat eh makin no sense..de Pro League playin rel nonsense..no player development could happen there..

[Deeks]

As much as them fellahs is ball jumbies. THEY WRONG!

[KND2]

how do you miss a flight to go to Saudi Arabia

u supposed to be in the airport 3 hours before .....amazing

most teams are usually in camp before they fly out to prevent this kind of nonsense.

if I was hart I would ban him for a year, how you could miss the flight to go on a big tour like this?

[Anbrat]

Dai rel nonsense...dat eh makin no sense..de Pro League playin rel nonsense..no player development could happen there..

coache, I have interpreted your comments to mean that disciplining these 2 players for breaching their contracts is "rel nonsense". Hopefully I am wrong!

[SWF Reporter]

Sorry coach: Joevin and Cyrus return to P/League action after apologies.
Lasana Liburd (wired868).

DIRECTV W Connection and Trinidad and Tobago starlets Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus have formally apologised to their club and the Trinidad and Tobago national football team’s technical staff after being penalised for playing minor league football in Carenage.

Jones and Cyrus, who were the club’s captain and vice-captain respectively, were fined one month’s salary and given a two-match ban by Connection. The two 22-year-old players were also stripped of their responsibilities as captain and vice-captain.

Wired868 received copies of letters of apology from both players.

“I want to take the time to apologise to the Trinidad and Tobago football committee, DIRECTV W Connection and to all my fans who have supported me throughout my season,” stated Jones. “I am really sorry for creating this situation… I know I should have known better than to take part in any minor league.

“I admit that I was wrong and can only say how sorry I am. I can promise you that this will not happen again because I have learnt from my mistake and thank you for giving me the opportunity to prove this to you.”

Cyrus followed suit.

“I wish to apologise for taking part in a minor league, as I know that I must respect that I am a professional player,” wrote Cyrus. “I have indeed (realised), that I have done an injustice to my club and the Trinidad and Tobago national team and, by extension, the public of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Please accept my apology for my unprofessional behaviour; this will not happen again.”

Jones and Cyrus were omitted from the “Soca Warriors” squad to face New Zealand on October 15 at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium. Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart told Wired868 that he wants to see more enthusiasm from both players towards representing their country.

However, the national door remains open to them in the future.

Jones was used off the bench last Friday in the First Citizens Cup semi-final, which Connection lost on penalties to Central FC. Cyrus was an unused substitute in that match.

The two players are expected to return to the Connection first team tonight when the “Savonetta Boys” play San Juan Jabloteh from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

(Today’s Pro League fixtures)

St Ann’s Rangers vs Point Fortin Civic, 6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva;

W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh, 8 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva;

Caledonia AIA vs Police FC, 6 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain;

Defence Force vs North East Stars, 8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.

[Coop's]

Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus return to Pro League action today for W Connection after formal apologies
http://wired868.com/2013/10/08/sorry-coach-joevin-and-cyrus-return-to-pleague-action-after-apologies/

      I hope they learn their lesson,mature players must act mature but thanks to the club for accepting their apology and returning these two quality players to Football,is the country will benefit.