VOL.4
THE
JAN. 2, 2014 | The official Central FC monthly magazine
FA Trophy Heartbreak again: FINALS REVIEW
Christmas Food No-Nos for a Footballer Shark Centre Circle:
MARVIN OLIVER SHARKS BRING CHRISTMAS JOY!
Holiday Edition
www.centralfctt.com
“I cannot imagine the grief that Akeem’s family is currently enduring but, to them, I say: Be proud.Not just because Akeem was a wonderful human being; or because he was a gifted footballer. But because he was one of the best ambassadors that Trinidad & Tobago ever produced.” -Kevin Harrison Central FC Operations Manager
In memory of Akeem Adams 1991-2013
FOLLOW
Holiday Edition
CENTRAL
FC @CentralFCTT
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A Z IN E
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CHIEF EDITOR Amiel Mohammed DESIGN EDITOR maya wilkinson
MA G
FEATURES EDITOR NORRIS FERGUSON
TEAM
PRODUCTION TEAM AMIEL MOHAMMED Shane Stanford
Photography KENDAL MATAMORO www.wired868.com WRITERS Amiel Mohammed KWAME WEEKES KEVIN HARRISON
ONTENT
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Sharks Bring Christmas Joy! Monthly Review 2014...What Can We Expect? Supporters Club FA Cup Finals Review Rest In Peace, Akeem Shark Tales Shark Centre Circle: Marvin Oliver Shark Fin Scoop Stats Central Football Wise Transfer Window Quotes to the Editor
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sharks bring
christmas C
joy!
entral FC brought Christmas joy to the faces of many families in the central community during the festive season. We began our Christmas parcel collection at the start of December. Players and staff stood outside supermarkets such as JTA Supermarket and California Supermarket and collected donations of tinned and non perishable items. These items were then packaged and donated to needy families in the California (Couva) community. “The community really got behind the collection” said 18 year old goalkeeper, Javon Sample. “We asked shoppers on the way into the Supermarket to purchase an extra item, and they deposited it in our barrel on the way out.” “Everyone was supportive” said 19 year old striker, Dwight Quintero, who is Central F.C.’s top scorer this season. “If they didn’t deposit an item, they made a cash donation. Virtually everybody gave something.” Midfielder Shem Alexander further added, “the people at the supermarket were great. They donated cases of drinks and packs of biscuits and, of course, gave us permission to work in front of their store. It’s great to see the whole community working together.” Our collection efforts were also greatly boosted by the support of Happi Foods, ADM Ltd (Rainbow brand of products) and Hi-Lo Supermarket. 5
Sabena Ali, marketing manager of ADM Ltd stated, “this is a great initiative by Central F.C. and we are very pleased to support their hard work. Community initiatives such as these bring people together and helps to ensure that those who are less fortunate can share a little joy during the holidays” On Monday 23rd December, the players and staff loaded the hampers onto a truck supplied by our official club sponsor SIS, and began our festive journey through California. The children in the community were extremely excited and received autographs on playing cards from the players as well as other Central FC merchandise. The week before, we even partnered with SIS to distribute hundreds of toys to children in the central community. SIS continue to show how a corporate organization can partner with a sports club to benefit the people of T&T. We hope that these are merely the first steps towards the development of our relationship with the people in the central region and look forward to bringing more smiles to the faces of those in need.
View our hamper and toy distributions here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5EJYWR_pZ0&feature=youtu.be
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FFN0UrsC5U&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share
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A L L P h oto S c o u r t e s y o f f ootball & sat i r i c al n e ws w e bs i t e : www . w i r e d 8 6 8 . c o m
REVIEW
Holiday Edition
MONTHLY T
wo years...two finals...same cup. After a cup run that had seen its fair share of ups and downs, the “Couva Sharks” pushed through to reach its second FA Trophy finals. Unfortunately, this cup eluded us once more after being defeated 6-5 on penalties against W Connection in a pulsating encounter at the Ato Boldon Stadium. (See Finals Review on page 15). After overcoming FC Santa Rosa and U.T.T . in the previous round, many suggested that drawing St. Mary’s College (CIC) in the next round was quite fortunate. The eventual 5-0 scoreline in favour of us certainly did not disprove those initial suggestions. The school boys put up a brave fight but simply seemed outclassed by their professional opponents. A Winchester double and a solitary item from Keon Trim saw the “Sharks” well ahead at the half before Darren Mitchell and Hector Sam added further gloss to the victory just before full time. The “Saints” did threaten on the counter and can lay claim to having some very promising players such as captain Myles Yorke and Rashad Hyacinth. Attacking midfielder Trim popped up yet again in the following match against Petrotrin Palo Seco to send us through to the semi-finals against Malabar FC. It was a hard fought 0-1 victory at the Palo Seco Recreational Ground. Malabar FC had to wait though, as the Couva derby with W Connection in the league took precedence at the forefront of player’s and staff’s minds. We had been the only team to beat the “Savonetta Boys” all season so the encounter was being heavily billed. This match was a cagey, tense affair filled with calculated thrusts and counter thrusts. 8
It took a lone 78th minute item from substitute Stefano Rijssel to steal all 3 points for W Connection following a defensive blunder. The festive schedule did not allow for much time to tend to our wounds though. A mere four days later we faced Malabar FC in the semi finals of the FA Trophy. Super League team Malabar are known for their attacking prowess and they certainly showed it by racing to 2-1 lead at the half via a brace from skilful striker Gorian “Ratty” Highley. Johan Peltier, who had been our best player, turned his markers and unleashed an excellent finish into the top corner just before Highley’s second. All out attack was the name of the game in the second half. The “Sharks” were missing the calm solidity of captain Oliver who had gone off injured in the first half. The medical staff continued their busy night as well when defender Keion Goodridge suffered bruised ribs after clattering into the posts while performing a miraculous goal line clearance. With time ticking down, Jamal Jack ensured that Goodridge’s efforts were not in vain. 9
He placed a shot beyond the sprawling Malabar keeper following a free kick from Jan-Michael Williams. Williams was second fiddle in that move but adopted the role of star in the subsequent penalty shoot out. He saved one penalty and saw Malabar hit the bar twice as we prevailed 3-2 in the shoot out. Our defensive frailties showed yet again in the final match of 2013 against St. Ann’s Rangers. It took an 88th minute header from Jason Marcano from a Johan Peltier cross to finally decide a thrilling encounter. The final score was 3-2 courtesy a crisp volley from Keon Trim and a composed penalty from Marvin Oliver before Marcano’s header. That penalty meant that Oliver has now equalled his goal tally from last season. (3 goals). Rangers’ first goal however was controversial to say the least. Duran Dilworth appeared well offside when he turned the ball past Williams but all protests were waved away. Peltier didn’t let that decision undermine him and was instrumental in the come back, to ensure that we ended the year on a winning note. 10
2014 “W
What can we expect?
e hope that we will improve on our good performances from 2013 and turn some of those good performances into trophy winning performances. We also would like to see more work done in the community and continue making Central FC into a national brand to provide an outlet to the youngsters in T&T.” - Brent Sancho (Managing Director)
“W
e are looking to continue to build the Central FC brand and take it to new heights. We hope to bring across a major team to spend their pre season training here in T&T. It is our hope that this will encourage a few hundred of their supporters from Europe to come down as well, so that we can help to boost sports tourism in this country. We would also like to get the Central FC brand more regionalised; recognized across the Caribbean. We are hoping to get a major kit supplier to compliment our improvements to the website and merchandising. We also have “Treat Her Like A Lady” again and a plethora of community events throughout the year. So there is a lot to look forward to and be positive about off the field. We just hope that the team can compliment that with their on the field performances.” - Kevin Harrison (Operations Manager)
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Holiday Edition
T
he quality of goals, the brief intervals be-
tween them and the conversion of 11 out of 12 penalties after a 2-2 draw are testimony to a gripping FA Cup Final which could only be topped off by a spirit of sportsmanship displayed between neighbourhood rivals, Central FC and DIRECTTV W Connection, at the Ato Boldon stadium. Only the final penalty by Darren Mitchell was missed, costing Central the game, and ushering in an eruption of celebration from the Connection players whose team was awarded $50, 000 for the victory. Central won $30, 000 as the runners up in the competition. 15
For Connection, team captain Gerard Williams, Mekeil Williams, Celio Da Silva Santos, Hashim Arcia, Joevin Jones and his younger brother, Alvin Jones successfully converted their penalties against former “Savonnetta Boys� goalkeeper, Jan Michael Williams. As for Central, Jason Marcano, Marvin Oliver, forward Dwight Quintero, and defenders Akeem Benjamin and Jamal Jack all scored until the sixth by Darren Mitchell. Mitchell stared motionlessly at the top corner of the old onion bag in Ato Boldon Stadium, wishing the ball had dipped under the upright instead of hitting it. In a show of good sportsmanship, he was consoled by some W Connection players before Central skipper Marvin Oliver could get a hold of him to bring him back to his teammates.
FA CUP FINALS REVIEW
The game was well balanced between the two teams to produce an entertaining game. Connection had a close call in the 21st minute when Oliver directed a header toward goal only to see it soar over the upright by a few inches. However, Connection’s teenager Jomol Williams was first to mark the score sheet after connecting with a cross from right-back Alvin Jones to head it into the top corner, beating goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams. The Sharks answered a mere three minutes after when Dwight Quintero’s rocket deflected off Connection’s Mekeil Williams. The deflection proved too much for keeper Sylvester and the score was again levelled at 1-1 until the half-time whistle.
In the 56th minute, Quintero was at it again in Connection’s penalty area. Jason Marcano lobbed a beautiful pass into Quintero’s path before Quintero was fouled by Christian Viveros. Central captain, Marvin Oliver, confidently converted the penalty to give Central the 2-1 lead. No team gave the other a chance to maintain a lead for long. Only seven minutes after Oliver’s penalty, Connection striker Neil Benjamin and eventual MVP of the match met a pass across the area by Hashim Arcia and finished in style with a chip over an advancing Jan Michael Williams to tie the game at 2-2. 16
Benjamin’s pace and on and off the ball movement made him a little hot to handle throughout the entire game for Central’s defence. He deserved the MVP award. Central did not play the game on full strength,
however. Regular left-back, Keion Goodridge, who started for all of the team’s games this season, was not played in the FA final as a result of a bruised rib injury from their semi-final game. Marvin Oliver also sported a wrist injury. W Connection coach, Stuart Charles Fevrier, commented that “it’s never easy to play against (Central’s) style of play because as a defender the ball is coming at you, and you always have to be battling… When you playing Central, what is important is your mental attitude because they are a team that fights all the time.” Despite the loss, Central FC, the youngest team in the Pro League, can hold their heads high for reaching the final of the oldest football competition in Trinidad and Tobago for both years since their inception and for giving veteran W connection a good run for their money. -Kwame Weekes 17
, e c a e P n i t s Re Akeem
F
ormer T&T international and Ferencvarosi footballer, Akeem Adams passed away on Monday 30th December 2013 at the Varosmajori Heart Clinic in Budapest. The 22 year old suffered a massive stroke on the preceding Saturday that resulted in bleeding in his brain and left him comatose. Approximately three months ago, he suffered a massive heart attack after training at his Hungarian top flight club. His condition worsened and his left leg had to be removed because of circulation problems. Akeem was fitted with a mechanical heart and doctors were optimistic about his chances of receiving a heart transplant before the new year. However, due to the slow recovery of his left leg, the transplant had to be delayed. The doctors did not believe that his body was strong enough to survive the surgery. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, he was fully responsive and optimistic that he would soon be given a natural heart. He spent most of his days watching football on television and spending time with his mother, Ancilla Dick and brother Akini Adams. Ferencvarosi flew them out to be at Akeem’s bedside and has supported the Adams family by covering all medical expenses.
21
Unfortunately tragedy struck again for Akeem as he suffered a severe stroke that his doctors say were a consequence of his original trauma. His mother and brother were then given the opportunity to say their goodbyes and take him off life support. But in an amazing twist, they decided to give this young warrior a little more time and leave it up to faith for a miracle. It was not long after though, that Akeem took the difficult decision out of their hands as he passed away naturally. We will always remember this brave warrior. He is a former player and friend to many, including our own Central FC and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.
“L
et’s build on 2013 just like we built on 2012. When we first came out, we made a
cup final. This year we made two cup finals, won one and lost one. Going into 2014, I think we have a bright future but the only thing I have to say is that hard work does not come easier. You have to set your goals and work but I think we have a bright future ahead. -MARVIN OLIVER
Shark Tales
MARVIN OLIVER
SHARK CENTRE CIRCLE
15
V
eteran midfielder Marvin Oliver has been a mainstay in the Central FC line since joining the club in 2012. Many may be surprised that the 38 year old has started 100 % of the Sharks’ matches this season but Oliver has grown accustomed to defying adversity. In what he describes as a massive career, he maintains that football has always been great to him. “From where I am here, playing at the age of 38, if you look around the league you don’t see any of my peers still playing professional football for some reason or another. But I’m still here for the love of the game.” Oliver certainly has had a long and extraordinary career. It all began in Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan in the San Juan Jabloteh youth set-up. The young Oliver went to school in the community at Barataria Junior Secondary and San Juan Senior Comprehensive and has always held an appreciation for where he comes from. He later joined the Caledonia AIA youth system and went on to represent the T&T national U-21 team in Puerto Rico in 1993.
From there he migrated to the USA and began playing the sport that he loved in a completely different setting. “It was a massive lift to me, apart from being a footballer but as a person as well. I played a lot of community football which is what we would call minor league. I would represent T&T in a version of a Caribbean Cup. We won it in 1994/1995 for the first time. I played with some great players like Brian Williams and Hutson Charles who came up. We had a very strong team.”
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Holiday Edition
“From where I am here, playing at the age of 38, if you look around the league you don’t see any of my peers still playing professional football for some reason or another. But I’m still here for the love of the game.”
The cultured midfielder then went on to sign his first professional contract with the Staten Island Vipers in 1998/1999. The Vipers served as a feeder club for local MLS team Metrostars but unfortunately paperwork restrictions prevented him from moving to the MLS. The optimist in Oliver kept him motivated and he moved to the Ft Lauderdale Lions which was a huge team in Miami, filled with Caribbean nationals. Majority of the players were Jamaicans and Oliver found it difficult at first but not for long. “Me being from T&T was tough. Not necessarily to be accepted overall but to be accepted as a key player on the team” said Oliver.” We know that T&T and Jamaica have a competitiveness so I had to win them over and they had to win me over.” He described his experience with the Lions as magical. They won all the competitions in Florida. He even boasts that he won the golden boot trophy in the Copa Lati27
-na which featured players from different Latin and Central American countries. In the midst of all these accolades, the dreadlocked Oliver harboured a burning desire to represent the national team. He moved back to Trinidad in the hope that playing locally would improve his chances of getting a call up. It was tough going upon his return because clubs were reluctant to sign him after being away for so long. He then decided to join his local community team; Crab Connection, for more than just the love of the game. “ I wanted to do something for the community. I wanted to raise the awareness because a lot of stuff was going on in 2004, especially the crime situation. Playing with them probably resulted in me being black listed because I was not playing with a pro team at the time. But my view was that once you are good enough, you should be selected. I stood my ground and they never invited me back. But I didn’t let that dampen me.”
He finally got his chance at a Pro League team when he joined North East Stars for a brief stint. However it wasn’t until he rejoined one of his boyhood clubs, Caledonia AIA in 2007, that we really began to see the best of the midfield maestro. Caledonia went trophy-less that season but Oliver’s commanding performances earned him the title of Pro League Player of the Year. He takes great pride in this award because the league boasted high quality players who had just been involved in the 2006 World Cup. The once unwanted midfielder was now a prized commodity and when the Terry Fenwick led Jabloteh came calling, Oliver could not refuse. Oliver went on to say, “ I was a huge admirer of Terry because of how I saw things were done in the States. His methods were totally different from what local coaches do here. We had our ups and downs. Nothing personal. I think he made a tremendous change in my life and the way I viewed the game. How I prepare myself, the way I view my team mates and contribute to the game. That is not just playing, but also in the coaching aspect. And that’s why I stick with him where ever he goes.” He spent four years at Jabloteh including winning the league title in 2008. After which he still he refused to hang up his boots. So when Brent Sancho called him to offer him a role in the Central FC project, he sprung at the fresh challenge. Within the Central FC set up, he is one of the more experienced players in a very youthful set up and it is a role he relishes. “ As an experienced player I think that just my presence out there contributes a lot. The thing I have with the young guys, is it’s not just in football alone. In social life throughout the country and the world, they should learn from us. They should model themselves, not totally, but basically like us. They should do things that we do; punctuality in training, always be present, work hard and just strive for that goal.“ It is that wisdom and calmness on and off the pitch that has made Marvin Oliver an important cog with the “Couva Sharks.” He has been moulded and motivated by each trial he has faced. Forced to stay on the team bus in certain towns because he wasn’t allowed into certain restaurants, the dredlocked midfield general never waned. He remained grounded and credits icons such as Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Bob Marley as his inspiration. His legs may not allow him to bomb forward and score as many goals as he used to but his reading of the game and appreciation for life is second to none.
28
KEON TRIM
shark fin
scoop Shark: What is your ambition for Central FC? Keon: To win every trophy that’s possible and score as many goals as possible in the process. Shark: Who is your closest friend in football? Keon: Akeem Benjamin aka Battery. We live in the same area. Shark: Who is your favourite athlete outside of football? Keon: Usain Bolt and Lebron James. Lebron because he comes from a traditional background and attain the stature he has now is special.
Name: Keon Trim Position: Attacking midfield Age: 29 Hometown: Laventille Shark: What is your favourite team? Keon: Real Madrid Shark: Who is the player do you model your style after? Keon: I honestly don’t know, but I admire Cristiano Ronaldo Shark: What is your favourite food? Keon: Lasagne Shark: What is your personal ambition? Keon: To get at least 20 international caps and to become a coach of a professional team. And of course to own by own home, car and have a family. 29
Shark: What is your favourite pastime? Keon: I am just up and down all over with Terry (Fenwick). Working with Football Factory which Terry owns. I do a lot of coaching and football related activities. I should also be starting to help with the distribution of food cards along with Ministry of Social Development and the Honourable Minister, Vernella Alleyne-Toppin. Shark: What is your favourite cartoon character? Keon: Sponge Bob Shark: What is your prediction for the 2014 World Cup? Keon: I would like Brazil to win but at the same time I believe that the Germans would win because of the depth of the team. top class European players, best in nearly every position. Shark: What is your most memorable game played? Keon: The Intercol finals in 2002 when we (St. Anthony’s College) beat Naparima College 6-0 at the Hasley Crawford Stadium. I think that was probably the biggest win in a finals.
STATS CENTRAL TT PRO LEAGUE TABLE Statistics as of Match Day 8
TEAM PLAYED W Connection FC 7 Police Force 8 Defense Force 7 Central FC 7 North East Stars 7 Caledonia AIA 7 Point Fortin 7 San Juan 7 St Ann’s Rangers 7
WINS 6 4 4 3 3 2 3 2 1
DRAWS 1 1 0 2 1 3 0 0 0
LOSSES 0 3 3 2 3 2 4 5 6
GOAL DIFFERENCE +14 +3 +1 +2 +2 +4 -4 -6 -16
POINTS 19 13 12 11 10 9 6 6 3
CENTRAL SEASON STATS PLAYER GOALS SCORED Dwight Quintero 10 Rundell Winchester 9 Keon Trim 4 Darren Mitchell 3 Marvin Oliver 3
CLUB HISTORY Club History Biggest Win: 5-0 vs T&TEC – 16/03/2013 – TT Pro League Worst Loss: 1-5 vs Defence Force – 16/11/2013 – Toyota Classic All-time leading goal-scorer: Rundell Winchester – 14 goals 30
FOOTBALL
WISE
Christmas Food No-Nos for Footballers. Healthy Nutrition for Young Footballers PART 2
In our last issue, Kevin Taitt, Bsc. gave us advice on maintaining a balanced diet. Today, we wanted to put more focus on the things footballers should minimise or just avoid altogether to stay healthy. We’re bombarded in media with the notion that carbohydrates are a bad thing. Why is that? Carbohydrates are not bad in themselves but they are not to be overdone. The reason you sport a perpetual pot-belly is not to be blamed on carbs but on taking in more carbohydrates than your body requires for its level of activity. All unused carbohydrates are converted to glycogen and stored in the body as fat. If you want to have enough energy for your sport while maintaining a lean figure, find the right balance between activity and carbohydrate consumption. Balance is key. How do supplements factor into this balance? As has been repeated many times over, a balanced diet will provide all your nutritional requirements so most supplements are expensive and unnecessary for the average footballer. There are a ton of iron supplements out there, but it is recommended that you have your iron levels checked by a doctor before consuming them, because too much iron can be toxic. Taking high doses of vitamin A and E and beta-carotene supplements can cause cell damage instead of preventing it so it is advised you choose food first. Vitamin C doses as high as 2000 mg can cause diarrhoea. For the fully grown footballer, muscle will be built from training more than extra protein. Supplements are therefore not necessary. Too much protein can actually lead to dehydration and excess protein is also stored in the body as fat. Stick to meats, eggs, nuts, peanut butter, and tuna for the protein needed to build and maintain muscle. Supplements should ideally only be taken where there is a deficiency. It is advised that you consult a doctor before taking any. There are a lot of wife’s tales and myths in sport. They say that drinking alcohol can increase performance by making you more confident. What do you have to say? Wife’s tales indeed! The disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. Alcohol consumption immediately before or during activity has a detrimental effect on performance, even though it reduces feelings of insecurity, tension and discomfort. It may cause the athlete to believe that he/she is performing better. Some athletes incorrectly believe that because it contains carbohydrates they can load up to improve their performance. Perceptual motor performance, gross motor skills, balance and coordination are affected by alcohol consumption. It should not be used to hydrate immediately after exercise because instead of replacing the fluid that your body has lost, the alcohol makes you lose fluid faster, thereby resulting in insufficient fluid replacement and can lead to dehydration. Alcohol also has adverse effects on blood glucose and glycogen levels. 31
A significant portion of the football world was shaken up when our very own Akeem Adams suffered a “massive” heart attack at the young age of 22. The cause is uncertain at the time, but it is a good reminder to all of the importance of taking care of our hearts. What do you advise? I’ll keep it simple. Choose foods with healthy fats, limit foods high in saturated fat, and avoid foods with trans-fat altogether. Good fats—monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—lower disease risk. Bad fats—saturated and, especially, trans-fats—increase disease risk. Foods high in good fats include vegetable oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn), nuts, seeds, and fish. Foods high in bad fats include red meat, butter, cheese, and ice cream, as well as processed foods made with trans-fat from partially hydrogenated oil. The key to a healthy diet is to choose foods that have more good fats than bad fats—vegetable oils instead of butter, salmon instead of steak—and that don’t contain any trans-fat. Fried foods are included in the list of “bad fats” so as good as doubles might taste on a Sunday morning after church, leave it alone. Thanks again to Kevin Taitt, Bsc. for the advice. There is always more to learn, however, so you should not stop here. Also, don’t just read. Make the dietary decisions today that will benefit you tomorrow. Eat well. Train hard. Improve. -Kwame Weekes
TRANSFER
I
WINDOW
f you ever played football management games on your p.c. such as Championship Manager, I’m sure you have felt that you would love the opportunity to be Head Coach of a football club. Buying and selling players, picking the starting line up and issuing motivational half time team talks. I’m also sure that during your quest for success, you had to drop one of your favorite players or even sell him on. Never an easy task, but in order for your team to move forward, these decisions have to be made. I remember several years ago having to release Brent Sancho from my team as he just wasn’t getting a game in front of my defenders, Ashley Cole, Jamie Carragher, John Terry and Glen Johnson! It may only be a computer game, but I felt disloyal and guilty for selling my friend Sancho!
But reality is not a game. One of the most exciting and heartbreaking times of year at a football club is the transfer window. The Pro League winter transfer window opened on December 26th and immediately Central F.C. was active. In fact, General Manager Norris Ferguson actually updated the FIFA ITC system at 7pm on Christmas Day (which was midnight of 26th December in Switzerland where FIFA are based!) The ITC system is a global football information exchange which is used to register international player movements. It also ensures that each transfer of registration is legal as both teams are required to upload information: the player’s former club has to confirm his release before the new club can successfully register him. Because the system requires the uploading of the player’s new contract, his I.D. and his release from his previous club, this ensures that both clubs and the player are aware of the transfer. But the excitement of acquiring new players is measured by the heartbreak of releasing existing players. A club always has a finite budget and it is usually a case of “out with the old, in with the new.” Sometimes players want to leave their club, but usually player’s contracts expire and aren’t renewed or a club has to ask a player to leave. In both instances, the club is rejecting the player and this is the hardest part. 33
This December, the decision was taken to release Toric Robinson, our Jamaican midfielder who arrived from USA in the summer. Toric is a real professional and has been a pleasure to have at the club. Although Toric has played the majority of Central F.C. games this season, Head Coach Terry Fenwick wanted to acquire a more attacking midfielder. Of course, obtaining an increase in budget would have allowed us to keep Toric and bring in some new blood, but, of course, this is not Championship Manager and there are no new funds available. In these instances, a player can always refuse to leave. After all, he has a contract and is within his rights to stay until that contract expires. However, one constant in football: footballers want to play. If Toric had remained, he may well have sat in the stands watching football until the summer. Another constant in football: players don’t like watching from the stands! The short career of a footballer means that spending six months without being selected can seriously damage your career. In most cases, players will understand their options (while, of course, not being happy about the decision) and decide to pursue their career at a new club. This decision was slightly easier for Toric as he had left his wife back in New York and was obviously missing her. We wish Toric every success in his career and thank him and all of our other former Sharks for their contribution to building the Central F.C. brand. Meanwhile, we continue you the task of not just adding to our squad, but improving the quality. We are slowly working towards a squad that is made up of solid internationals and sprinkled with exciting young talent. Central F.C.’s stated intention is to achieve Champions League football. To do this, we must attract the top players available in T&T as well as spot emerging talents who can be developed to compete for the national team, as we have with Darren Mitchell and Rundell Winchester. So, as we enter 2014, you can expect to see some new, but well known names appear on our roster. But also pay attention to those youngsters because, like Chucky and Winny, this time next year they may also be household names!!
UP THE SHARKS!!!!!!! -Kevin Harrison
“i
think that the Christmas hamper distribution is a fantastic initiative. It’s nice to see local sportspeople, who so many young people look up to and aspire to be like, get involved in giving back to our disadvantaged communities. Christmas time, regardless of what your religious beliefs are, is a time that inspires goodwill and it’s great to see a local sports club taking the time to actually get involved in a charity drive such as this.”
*
“g
reat job with the support and the love the Central organization is giving to the people of that community. Keep up the great work. You are a shinning light of what greatness is all about and how endless the possibilities can be.”
*
“c
ongrats to Central for bringing some cheer....... always good to see kids smiling!”
*
“k
eep spreading the blessing Central,,and many more in return to your football team and families.”
*Courtesy the Soca Warriors Online Forum:
(http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?board=2.0 )
quotes for the
editor
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE
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