2016 National Super League Thread

[Tallman]

Look Loy explains Santa Rosa’s success
By Joel Bailey (T&T Newsday)

PLAYERS who were signed by Sports and Games FC Santa Rosa owner/coach Keith Look Loy during the off-season, as well as those who came through the ranks at the Arima-based club, were essential to the team’s successful campaign in the 2016 National Super League Premiership Division.

FC Santa Rosa secured the title on Sunday, by virtue of a 2-0 victory over Guaya United at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya. In the process, they maintained their four-point lead over 2015 winners Defence Force, with one round of matches remaining.

Asked during a telephone interview on Monday about the secrets of his team’s success, Look Loy replied, “we had a hard core of players that we have built up over the first four seasons (in the Super League).

Of our 25-man squad, about 10 of them have come through Santa Rosa from since they were kids. Just two of them in particular, who are starters and who have won national titles with Santa Rosa before at youth level, Jean-Paul Aqui-Blanc and Osei Sandy, I coached them at the Under-17 level and they won the TTFA (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association) Youth League. We had that base.

The players who were signed by Look Loy were Keron Clarke (who scored both goals on Sunday), Sheldon Nesbitt, Quillon Dick, Ricardo Cornwall and Kevon Cornwall.

“We brought in five new players, all of whom played (on Sunday), either they started or they came on as subs,” noted Look Loy. “They brought some extra quality and that’s why I recruited them, and it paid off. So it is a combination of a solid core built up over the years and the addition of several new elements in the course of the season.” Sports and Games became the team’s official sponsors earlier this year and Look Loy stated that the sports merchandise group plans to stay on board for the 2017 season.

“At our (youth teams) function on Saturday, the CEO of Sports and Games Omar Hadeed told the audience that they are continuing to sponsor Santa Rosa,” Look Loy said. “It means equipment and, more than that, it gave us some financial resources to stabilise the men’s team, in terms of travelling and giving the players a stipend.

“It’s not a professional team but we can give them something every month,” he continued. “That was a big input and we’re very happy about that. I’m happy that they’re going to continue their sponsorship.”

[Tallman]

Huawei gifts Petit Valley United sponsorship
By Nickolai Madray (T&T Newsday)

PETIT Valley United were granted an early Christmas, or rather season, gift after their sponsorship request to Huawei Technologies (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited was given approval to the sum of $45000.

The one year agreement would see Huawei’s logo on Petit Valley’s kit for next season’s edition of the Super League as the company covered the cost of registration along with new uniforms.

Tricia Henry, Public Relations Manager for Huawei T&T , reiterated some of the reasons for the deal as she stated, “basically we have been operating in T&T just over 10 years now and we take our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ) very seriously in every country we engage in, and Trinidad is no different as we recognize this as a major market in the English Speaking Caribbean.”

She went on to explain, “we want to see the growth of sport throughout the country and when they (Petit Valley United) approached us, we did not hesitate to assist them.”

The organization views this strategy as one way they can interact and communicate with the community as they plan to continue investments, not just through football and sport, but throughout various channels in society.

Manager of Petit Valley United, Derek Edwards, also gave his nod to the new sponsorship agreement by stating, “we are grateful that they came to our assistance, after we applied, as we look forward to a successful season and working with them in the future.”

[Tallman]

WATCH: The National Super League aims to officially become the second tier of league football in Trinidad and Tobago

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/UA3chKtuuVA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/UA3chKtuuVA</a>

[Flex]

Parkites whip champs FC Santa Rosa
T&T Newsday Reports.

QUEEN’S PARK whipped recently-crowned Premier Division champions Sports and Games FC Santa Rosa 1-0 on Sunday, in the final day of action in the National Super League.

Santa Rosa, who sealed the title a week earlier, were undone by a 71st minute goal by Jason Devenish, at the St Mary’s Ground in St Clair.

Nonetheless, the champs finished the season with a tally of 51 points from 26 games, four more than Defence Force, who were also in losers’ row on Sunday.

At the WASA Ground in St Joseph, the hosts prevailed by a 2-1 margin. Dwight Crichlow found the back of the net in the 34th minute while Nathan Julien doubled the lead in the 70th.

Stephan Antoine got the lone goal for the Army-Coast Guard combination, in the 89th.

Club Sando Moruga had an easy time on Sunday, as they earned a 3-0 victory, by default, over Petrotrin Palo Seco at the Grand Chemin Recreation Ground in Moruga.

Fourth-placed Guaya United got a second-half double from Kevin Jagdeosingh to defeat hosts Matura ReUnited 2-1 at the Arima Velodrome. Matura went ahead through Dorian Robinson in the 27th but Jagdeosingh hit back for the visitors with strikes in the 71st and 90th.

Finishing in fifth spot on the standings were Siparia Spurs, who got the better of Real Maracas 3-2 at the Maracas Recreation Ground in St Joseph.

Andy London, who was the top scorer in the Premier Division with 26, scored twice for Siparia, in the 41st and 45th, while Marcus Kelly found the back of the net in the 12th. Veteran midfielder Ryan Stewart scored twice for Maracas, in the 30th and 83rd. In a meeting of lower- placed squads, Bethel United registered a 4-3 victory over table- proppers Marabella Family Crisis Centre at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Akeel Scott (69th and 84th), Teejay Cadiz (46th) and Densyl James (76th) netted for Bethel United while Kurlan Khan (28th), Andrei Pacheco (59th) and Daniel Smith (74th) replied for Marabella. Police and 1976 FC Phoenix played to a 2-2 draw at the St James Barracks.

Ricardo Peltier (45th), brother of ex-national winger Lester Peltier, and Jason Boodram (52nd) struck for the lawmen, while Shelton Williams (36th) and Lejandro Williams (65th) scored for Phoenix.

RELATED NEWS

Santa Rosa beaten 1-0 by QPCC.
T&T Express Reports.

THE top two teams in the Premier Division of the National Super League both lost on Sunday's final day of competition. But nothing changed.

Sports & Games FC Santa Rosa won the competition despite a 1-0 defeat against Queen's Park on the final day of the season, while Defence Force fell 2-1 to WASA on Sunday, but still ended up second.

A 3-0 default win over Petrotrin Palo Seco gave Club Sando Moruga third spot, while former champions Guaya United beat Mathura Reunited 2-1 to finish fourth.

SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
(Premier League)

WASA FC 2 (Dwight Crichlow – 34', Nathan Julien 70') vs T&T Defence Force FC 1 (Stephan Antoine 89')

Matura Re United 1 (Dorian Robinson 27') vs Guaya United FC 2 (Kevin Jagdeosingh 71' & 90' )

Club Sando Moruga 3 vs Petrotrin Palo Seco 0 (DEFAULT)

Real Maracas FC 2 vs Siparia Spurs 3

QPCC 1 (Jason Devenish 71') vs Sports & Games FC Santa Rosa 0

Marabella Family Crisis 3 Bethel United 4

Police FC 2 vs 1976 FC Phoenix 2

[Flex]

Mascall embracing new career.
T&T Express Reports.

Women Soca Warriors midfielder Dernelle Mascall exchanged her boots for the coach's clip board, when she accepted the job to be the Head Coach for Club Sando Moruga back in May. She has led the club to a third-place finish with 42 points in the Premiership Division of the National Super League. She is the only female to coach in the National Super League.

Asked about the reaction to having a female coach, captain and the team's leading goalscorer, Nigel John said that it was “a positive feeling to have Dernelle as our coach. She was very hard on us... and despite the ups and downs, she did good.”

Mascall, who always tries to deflect attention and the spotlight away from herself, reflected: “the season has been a journey; went in somewhat naive, expected to add structure, implement tactics; only to be confronted by 'our football culture'. This took me completely out of my comfort zone, a challenge I accepted willingly.”

Asked about how this experience as a coach impacted her as a player, Mascall said: “Being a player is the easiest aspect of the game. After calling all my coaches and apologising...heading back to the pitch to thoroughly enjoy every game I play; to always play with the joy and passion of an eight-year-old.”

This is the second time Moruga has played in the Super League, but the first time they ended the season in the top three. John is looking forward to next season “with their woman coach” and hopes that they can have all their players, train hard and win games to ensure that in 2017 Club Sando Moruga will be lifting the trophy as Champions of the Super League.

[Flex]

Cunupia FC collect Super League trophy.
T&T Newsday Reports.

Cunupia FC, winners of the Championship Division of the National Super League (NSL), last Thursday received their trophy and $140,000 prize at a ceremony held at All Sport Promotions in Woodbrook. Michael De Four, coach of Cunupia FC, collected the prize from Richard Piper, Tournament Co-ordinator of the NSL.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, De Four said his club is eagerly awaiting the start of the newly formed Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) League One competition which will replace the NSL.

Despite playing in the second tier of local football for the first time, De Four is confident his team can represent themselves with distinction.

“We’re looking to win the league. Cunupia, like any other team, are looking to win,” he said, while indicating they’ve already started training in anticipation for the June 2017 start.

Asked about the likely composition of the squad considering Cunupia FC have signed an agreement with Brazilian club Cruzeiro to share information and players, De Four said: “The local guys have asked for the opportunity to show they have the quality, professionalism and determination to play at this level.” Cunupia FC won the National Super League Championship crown ahead of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT ) via a better head-to-head record after both were tied on 32 points. Central 500 Spartans finished the season in third place.