He’s not just advantaging the stage during his high-energy performances, but Soca sensation Machel Montano is helping the youths of Siparia exert their energies on the football field.
The 2011 Road March/Soca Monarch winner is a major supporter of Southern Football Association powerhouse Siparia Spurs Football Club.
Spurs have been knocking on the doors of qualification for the T&TFF National Super League for a few seasons well after dominating competition in the south.
And they’ve managed to secure a sponsorship deal with Adidas and have expressed gratitude to Montano for offering his premises and facilities in Siparia to assist in the team’s preparations.
Though born in Carenage, Montano moved with his family to the southern village and attended the Siparia Boys RC.
Spurs representative Pascal Ramsumair said Montano has been “generous” to the club. “We have spent a lot of time and we put in the effort to try and take the youngsters from 11 years and up towards becoming good players and allow them to move on to better things.
One of our main problems has always been getting support from the Siparia area to assist in the funding and development of the club.
“Most of our support comes from outside. But we are very grateful to Mr Montano who has helped us. This is going a long way towards the development of the club.
He has assisted us by giving us the use of his residence for our training camps,” said Ramsumair who was an observer at the recent T&TFF/Dutch KNVB “C” License coaching course at Rousillac.
Adidas, through a local contact, has provided equipment and gears for the team and they offered a prize incentive of a team bus had they made it into the Super League for 2011. Now they will try to go a step further this season in order to journey to their matches in luxury.
Former Strike Squad defender Dexter Francis is a member of the technical staff which oversees training camps for players from under 11 to under 20 throughout the year free of cost. Currently the club has a membership of 200 players.