Classic erupts into brawl.
By Ian Prescott (Express).Brazilian Gefferson Da Silva Goulart boastfully ran towards the opponents' bench after hitting an expertly-taken free kick into the roof of the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh net.
The 66th minute stunner proved to be the only goal in a tight Toyota Classic final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Friday night and should have sparked celebrations on the part of the Vive CT105 W Connection faithful.
Instead, it set off a brawl.
Taking offence to Goulart's perceived taunt, hard-nosed Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick made a deliberate movement and stuck out his right elbow into Goulart's face as he was about to run past the Jabloteh bench.
For his indiscretion, Fenwick was surrounded by several of the W Connection players and Brazilian midfielder Ronaldo Viana retaliated to the attack by striking the Englishman in the face.
Eventually, several players on both teams erupted into an all-out free-for-all on the field. At one point, Viana was racing for his life chased by Jabloteh's Kerry Noray and Ian Gray, who made a 40-metre dash from his penalty area before just missing with a kick at the Brazilian.
Also joining the fracas was former Jabloteh player Travais Mulraine, who came off the bench to engage his ex-teammate Ian Gray in battle.
By the time referee Richard Piper had regained control, four players were dismissed from the field and Mulraine sent off the bench.
Jabloteh coach Fenwick was also dismissed to a chorus of heavy boos from the entire crowd.
Also done for the night were Atiba Charles and Goulart of W Connection, while Jabloteh's Gray and Dexter Franklyn also had an early shower.
A total of six players got red cards, while many more escaped punishment.
T&T Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene called the incident regrettable and said sanctions will be taken against the offending parties.
"The Pro League will not condone any unsportsmanlike behaviour and indiscipline. The Pro League is about fair play and discipline and you can be sure that the Disciplinary Committee will look at it and take whatever action is necessary in the near future."
St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier, W Connection's technical director, was also peeved about the incident, stating his team have never been associated with violence.
"This afternoon saw players reacting to one of our players being stuck by the Jabloteh coach and that started the whole thing," he said.
"He (Viana) was running and looking at the stands, looking at the people and he struck him with the elbow. I would never strike a Jabloteh player like that...that is violence. But, I am not surprised, Jabloteh under Terry Fenwick wants to win at all cost," Fevrier declared.
Except for Goulart's free-kick, the first-ever Toyota Classic final was tight.
The teams started with a flurry and both Earl Jean and Nigel Codrington came close to scoring at either end in the opening minutes. But once settled, both defences started to dominate.
Connection, though, had the better of the first half, forcing Jabloteh custodian Daurance Williams into a couple of timely saves from efforts by Goulart and Andre Toussaint.
Connection also came close twice in the second half, with Jean hitting a diagonal shot across Williams and just missing the far post.
Toussaint also had the chance to give W Connection a second goal, when picked out in a wide position, but wasted an excellent opportunity by scooping his shot over the bar.
Jabloteh's best moments came when Trent Noel forced Connection's Colombian keeper Alejandro Figueroa to tip over his attempt early in the first half.
After the incident, Jabloteh chased the game looking for the equaliser, causing a couple scares with dangerous crosses into the W Connection penalty area.
With heavy tackles coming in all the time, a second violent incident looked a distinct possibility. And when temperamental national midfielder Aurtis Whitley and W Connection captain Jean went down in a bundle, another scrap seemed certain.
Fortunately, the two experienced players led their teammates by example and while on the ground Jean embraced Whitley, who returned the favour once off the turf. That was the high point of a game that at one time had gone terribly bad.
W Connection's Travais Mulraine (#4) and San Juan Jabloteh's Ian Gray (#3), former Jabloteh teammates, at left, square off during Friday's Toyota Classic final at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Disciplinary committee to meet Wednesday.
By Kern De Freitas (Express).The T&T Pro League's disciplinary committee will meet on Wednesday to decide what action will be taken following the brawl which marred the Toyota Classic final between CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and Vibe CT 105 W Connection on Friday night at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene yesterday told the Sunday Express the committee will be taking a hard line on offenders, after the referee and match commissioner's reports, as well as video footage, are reviewed at the meeting.
"The Pro League will not condone any kind of indiscipline," Skeene said in an interview yesterday. "We strive for excellence in all areas, and discipline is important. People who received expulsions will appear before the committee and as soon as we have a report on Wednesday we will release all the findings to the press."
Video replays showed the incident began in the 66th minute, when Connection midfielder, Brazilian Gefferson Da Silva Goulart, after scoring the lone item of the contest from a free kick, sprinted off the field toward the Jabloteh bench.
On his approach, Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick caught him with an elbow and a melee involving players from both sides ensued.
Following the match, Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier came to the defence of his players, saying his team had no reputation of violence.
"We are not a nasty playing team," a visibly upset Fevrier asserted following the final, which his team won 1-0.
"We are a team that always come to play football. I'm sure nobody would associate W Connection with violence. And this afternoon, you saw players reacting to one of our players being struck by the Jabloteh coach, that is what really caused everything."
Charles-Fevrier also denied Goulart was trying to taunt the Jabloteh bench.
"If you watch, he was running and looking at the stands. And Fenwick struck him with the elbow. I would have never done a Jabloteh player that. That is violence. But I'm not surprised, though. Jabloteh under Terry Fenwick wants to win at all cost."
Jabloteh representatives declined to comment on the event yesterday, saying the club would issue a statement on the incident following a meeting of their executive today.
Earl Jean happy with win, but...
T&T Guardian Reports.[/size]
Earl Jean, captain of the VIBE CT 105 W Connection club, said his club was ecstatic with the win over rivals CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh in the Toyota Classic final.
“We have worked hard all season long and thrive on winning trophies.
“We always look forward to playing Jabloteh, because we know it’s always going to be a tough match.
However, what happened tonight was a very unfortunate incident.
“A coach should lead by example for his players but what happened was not acceptable.
“We must all have respect for one another as players and coaches because no one should be above the law, whether you are a local or a foreigner.”
Asked what his team’s tactics were on the night, the St Lucian native said: “If you look back at our matches against Jabloteh, they have always been close ones, so we just wanted to get an early lead and work from there.
“We did not get the lead we were hoping for in the first half but we kept working at it.”
Jean, who has been campaigning in the PFL since its inception, also praised the strike by teammate Brazilian Gefferson Goulart, which was the eventual match winner.
“It was an excellent goal, he has been having a great season so far and this will fit in nicely among his goals so far in the campaign.
“I think his stint in Europe has helped him to develop somewhat and has been to the benefit of the club.”
Stuart Charles-Fevrier, coach of the victorious W Connection club, said he was very disappointed in the actions of San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick.
“Someone like Terry Fenwick, who should be leading by example, should not have done that.
“I’m very angry, I’m positive I would never have done anything like that.
“Since the inception of the league, we at W Connection set our sights on playing attractive football while being disciplined.
“And what you saw from our players was a reaction to one of their teammates being struck in the face by Fenwick’s elbow.
Asked if he felt that Goulart running towards the Jabloteh bench during his goal celebration aggravated the situation, Charles-Fevrier said: “No, I don’t think so at all; he was running and looking towards the stands.
“Jabloteh, under Fenwick, has become a team that wants to win at all cost,” ended the St Lucian-born Charles-Fevrier, a former national coach of T&T.