As a further step in its ongoing youth football development programme, Digicel will be ensuring that Trinidad & Tobago’s young football talent – both players and coaches - has all of the right stuff to succeed on the world stage when it brings two coaches from English Premier League club, Sunderland AFC, to Trinidad for a three-day coaching clinic next week.

Defending FA Trophy champions Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille had to be rescued by an injury time item by substitute Kerry Daniel against Ma Pau SC before winning the match 6-5 on penalties to advance into the semifinals of this year’s competition.

Ma Pau were leading following a first half item by Dwane James and thought they had the 1-0 victory with four minutes added-on time up on the board.

However following a careless challenge by midfielder Reshad Wint in the ninetieth minute—two minutes after making his appearance—on Kerry Daniel, Ma Pau were reduced to ten men followed by the Caledonia equalizer.

Daniel was left with little challenge above the area after picking up a pass from the right and the Caledonia substitute rescued his team with a low shot which eluded a fully stretched Shane Mattis to tie the score 1-1 which eventually led the match into extra time.

Either side failed to register a winning item after 30 minutes of injury time forcing the match to be decided on penalties.

And after seven kicks from either side, defending champs Caledonia were in celebration when Jamaican goalie Kevin Graham made a save on Sayid Freitas for a 6-5 penalty kicks victory.

Advancing into the semifinal stage of the FA along with Caledonia are W Connection, United Petrotrin, and Bmobile Joe Public after easing past their opponents on Monday night.

At the Ato Boldon Stadium a hattrick by Hughton Hector and a goal each by Christian Viveros and Jose Carlos Diaz gave Connection a 5-1 win over Valtrin in the first match. And in the second match United Petrotrin registered a 3-1 over Siparia Spurs with Luis Andre Lima, Gary Glasgow and Kennedy Hinkson hitting the mark for the Oilmen.

Digicel Pro League champions Joe Public playing in the second clash at the Marvin Lee Stadium trashed the Joe Public Eastern Football Association team 6-0 led by Kerry Baptiste who registered a beavertrick. Defender Seon Powers and an own goal by Dinelvi Tinto had the other items.

The semifinal draw for the FA Trophy will be announced on Tuesday by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

The most competitive of clashes in the quarterfinal stage was Caledonia against Ma Pau SC in the first match at the Macoya venue. Caledonia started strong however failed to find the back of the net.

Match Play

Marcus Ambrose crashed an effort onto the crossbar in the 10th minute after meeting Akim Armstrong’s cross from the right which was just too high for a towering Randolph Jerome as Caledonia squeezed Ma Pau on the defensive.

Six minutes later Kareem Joseph was just high and wide as his curling effort from above the area missed the far corner.

Dwane James had a rare go at goal for Ma Pau in the 24th minute however his effort spilled just wide of Graham’s far upright before Ma Pau were back on the defensive.

They were rescued by a brilliant save when goalkeeper Shane Mattis pushed out Kendall Velox’s shot from above the area for a corner. Mattis denied Velox seconds later from the angle before his defence somehow managed to clear the ball after Caledonia attack.

But against the run of play Ma Pau stunned Caledonia for a 1-0 advantage in the 39th minute after a brilliant set-piece which ended with Dwane James at far post heading in Meikel Williams cross.

Ma Pau was awarded the freekick some 22 yards out after Velox clipped Rennie Britto from behind, and from a very unfamiliar set play Williams was fed inside the area after making a smart run on the left and whipping over a cross which found James who headed past goalkeeper Graham for the advantage.

Ma Pau had a much better showing in the closing stages of the first half causing a couple stirs for Caledonia when Anthony Wolfe had to be brought down by Nuru Abdallah Muhammed in the 34th minute and three minutes from the break he headed over from a deep cross.

Ma Pau failed to double their advantage in the 58th minute after goalscorer Dwane James struck the far upright and the rebound was spilled wide by Rennie Britto.

One minute later Caledonia failed to level the scores when Velox was fed a great cross from the left but the veteran attacker directed his shot at goalkeeper Shane Mattis who gathered comfortably.

And when the match looked set for a 1-0 score in favour of Ma Pau in injury time the forecast changed when midfielder Reshad Wint picked up a direct red card by referee Neil Brizan for a challenge on Kerry Daniel two minutes after coming off the bench.

Daniel who also made a his appearance in the second period then pulled the scores level 1-1 in injury time with a low shot from distance which slipped just inside the upright to beat a fully stretched Mattis to send the match into extra time.

But after 30 minutes of extra time both sides failed to net the winner forcing the match to be decided on penalties.(Randy Bando, Dec 2,2009)

Caledonia AIA (6) 1—1 (5) Ma Pau SC
Dwane James 39’ ; Kerry Daniel 90’+

Penalties

Caledonia AIA (6)                  Ma Pau SC (5)
Randolph Jerome (scored)     Anthony Wolfe (scored)
Kareem Joseph (scored)        Shandel Samuel (scored)
Walter Moore (missed)          Lyndon Andrews (scored)
Stephan David(scored)          Curtis Gonzales (scored)
Kerry Daniel (scored)             Meikel Williams (missed)
Abdallah Phillips (scored)       Rennie Britto (scored)
Marcus Ambrose (scored)       Sayid Freitas (saved)                                

Caledonia AIA—Kevin Graham, Charles Pollard (capt.), Stephan David, Kareem Joseph, Ryan Stewart, Nuru Abdallah Muhammed (Yellow), Walter Moore (Yelow), Marcus Ambrose, Kendall Velox (Kerry Daniel 64th), Randolph Jerome, Akim Armstrong (Akim Parris 73rd).

Coach—Jamal Shabaaz.

Ma Pau SC—Shane Mattis, Lyndon Andrews (capt.), Rennie Britto, Anthony Wolfe, Sayid Freitas, Kerry Noray (Aquil Selby) (Yellow), Curtis Gonzales (Yellow), Kevin Molino (Reshad Wint 88th) (Red), Meikel Williams, Dwane James, Trevin Caesar (Shandel Samuel 46th).

Coach—Michael McComie.

Full FA Trophy quarterfinal round results

Caledonia AIA (6) 1—1 (5) Ma Pau SC
Kerry Daniel 90’+ ; Dwane James 39’

Joe Public (EFA) 0—6 Joe Public (Pro League)
Kerry Baptiste 27’, 54’, 71’, 76’, Seon Powers 31’, Dinelvi Tinto 72’ (own goal)

Valtrin SC 1—5 W Connection
Nathan Lewis 41’ ; Hughton Hector 2’, 30’, 86’ Christian Viveros 56’, Jose Diaz 79’

Siparia Spurs 1—3 United Petrotrin
Dave Collins 63’; Luis Lima 35’, Gary Glasgow 64’, Kennedy Hinkson 82’

The TT Pro League, in partnership with sponsors Digicel and First Citizens, has embarked on a new project geared at building relationships between clubs and communities with the acronym “HOPE” which was launched on Wednesday afternoon.

HOPE (Helping Others is a Priority Everyday) will take form of a competition which highlights several areas that Pro League clubs Bmobile Joe Public, San Juan Jabloteh, Caledonia AIA or Morvant/Laventille, W Connection, Ma Pau SC, Defence Force, United Petrotrin, FC SouthEnd, St Ann’s Rangers and Police FC are required to become involved.

The activities will be divided into two components—welfare and youth development. (Some of which are listed below)

The first edition of the HOPE project will run between December 2009 and March 2010, and clubs must be involved in at least two(2) activities to become eligible for prize monies with the winner taking away $20,000.00(donated by Digicel) and second place $10,000.00(donated by First Citizens).

A committee comprising various stakeholders will also be selected to judge the competition.

Speaking at the launch held at First Citizens Corporate Centre, Queens Park East in Port of Spain, a delighted TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene explained, “The Pro League views football as the tool which can be utilized to transform and positively affect communities. In addition, we know that it is critical to involve the various communities in order to make the Pro League viable, sustainable and profitable.

“The intention is to deliver not only game day revenue and a fan base which will provide other offshoots to earn revenue, but also a crowd which brings the right type of atmosphere at the matches to inspire players to play at a higher level while striving to attain new heights.

“Most importantly, football plays such an important part in the psyche of the average Trinbagonian that we intend to use it as a medium to assist with the improvement of social and moral problems facing the society at present, in addition to engaging and stimulating the interest in football and the TT Pro League,” he said.

“We are of the view that the involvement of the communities is critical to the success of the game and the athletes,” said Wendy Alleyne, Sponsorship and Promotions Manager of Digicel(Trinidad and Tobago Limited) as she spoke on behalf of her company at the launch.

“It is with this vision that has led Digicel to be the proud sponsor of the TT Pro League’s community development programme, HOPE, which would allow our footballers to assist with the social and moral problems being faced by their various communities and at the same time build a sense of belonging with the members of their communities,” Alleyne continued.

Digicel and fellow sponsor, First Citizens will also use HOPE, the community development programme to educate communities with financial seminars among other community building initiatives.

Dale Mohammed, Community Relations Officer of First Citizens said that his company applauds the initiative put on by the League. He also added, “Apart from our $10,000.00 in prize money, this will give further hope to communities.”

The TT Pro League also used the opportunity to donate $13,000 to the “Football for a Cause” which was presented to Avanelle Hector-Joseph of Is there not a Cause.(TT Pro League Release, Dec 2,2009)

Welfare Activities
•Visits to local health facilities to interact with patients
•Visits to homes for the aged to uplift the morale of the residents
•Clean-up day in relevant areas to bring a sense of pride to the communities
•Create awareness for e.g. AIDS, drug free life, crime prevention, literacy
•Visits to persons with disabilities to show caring side of football clubs
 
Youth Development Activities
•Hosting of football camps by clubs utilizing professional players and coaches
•Visits to schools in respective areas by players and coaches
•Youth competition organized by clubs for U-11 teams
•Literacy Programme to promote reading for youths