Last Friday’s FA Cup triumph by Caledonia AIA may seem like just another average victory for the Morvant/Laventille-based club.
There were around 1,000 fans at the Ato Boldon Stadium for the final, no major prize winnings and no motorcade to celebrate the team’s 2-0 win over Central FC. At least there was live coverage on WI Sports.
But for national team midfielder Keyon Edwards, a goalscorer in the final, the achievement by the club means a whole lot to Caledonia and its neighboring communities. Edwards has lost close family members and friends through gang-related crimes while his teammate Ataullah Guerra lost a brother to gunshots a few weeks ago, and on the same Friday evening, a Caledonia youth player on his way to the Couva venue was sitting next to a man who was shot and killed in a moving car. Former under-23 player Aquil Selby also received multiple gunshot wounds earlier this year.
It’s a case now where failure to stay within borderlines could cost a man his life.
“This victory means more than just winning a football match for us,” said Edwards.
“This is a way of me and my teammates showing the people that you could make something of yourself through playing football. Not everybody’s going to end up on the winning team but at least it’s an honest way towards doing something positive,” he said.
“Doing it twice was nice for us and we dedicate this win to the people of Caledonia, Morvant, Laventille, Sea Lots...those in the ghetto areas who want to live a good life and to show the others that crime is not the answer,” added Edwards.
He also dedicated the win to Guerra, who has been on trial in search of a new contract in Europe.
“Right now Ataullah has to be strong and just make things happen out there. He has lost another brother and we want him to make it out there for his family and for himself,” said Edwards.
Whitecaps hold onto Mitchell
National defender Carlyle Mitchell could end up staying at MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps following a devastating Achilles tendon injury to club captain Jay DeMerit which could see the player miss the entire MLS season, which started last week.
Mitchell, who made only two appearances for Vancouver’s first team last season was set to go on loan with NASL side FC Edmonton, but was kept back after DeMerit’s injury six minutes into the season opener against Toronto FC.
The T&T international’s travel plans to Edmonton have been “delayed.”
“I think there’s still a chance that might be possible,” he said in a TEAM 1410 radio interview. “But right now, obviously we need to have Carlyle here.”
Mitchell played for T&T at the 2012 Caribbean Cup Finals as well as the recent friendly with Peru and is expected to be a member of the team for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup in the USA.
Bentick credits TTFF personnel for youth development
Former national under-20 and under-17 defender Uriah Bentick is currently in search of a club after his stint with MLS club Philadelphia Union ended last month. Bentick was selected during the College Supplemental Draft following standout seasons for Liberty University but was later released with six other players.
The future still looks promising for the player who took time recently to encourage local players to work hard and aim to make national youth teams on their way to greater accomplishments.
Bentick said his days as a youth player under the likes of T&T Football Federation (TTFF) technical director Anton Corneal were crucial towards his development.
“At the national team level, I look back now and I truly appreciate the opportunity I had to be coached by Anton Corneal, Hutson Charles and Zoran Vranes. There are a lot of other local coaches (they know themselves) that deserve credit and I want to publicly say thanks and that I am very grateful for their time and efforts,” Bentick said.
“It is also very important for me to mention mangers Mr Chris De Silva, Ms Cheryl Abraham and Mr Norris Ferguson. These coaches and managers all played a significant role in my life both on and off the field,” Bentick stated, adding mention of Anthony Wickham of Trendsetter Hawks and Nigel Grosvenor.
Corneal: T&T’s chances even at U-17 Finals
T&TFF technical director Anton Corneal expects this country’s under-17 men’s team to be competitive and thinks they are in with a good chance of advancing in the Concacaf final round of qualifiers in Panama City next month.
Corneal, manager Chris Gouveia and TTFF president Raymond Tim Kee attended Tuesday’s draw in Panama City and also participated in a Concacaf workshop there.
T&T will open against Canada on April 6 and meet Costa Rica two days later for the right to qualify for the quarterfinals and one of four spots at this year’s Fifa U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
“It’s a pretty good draw. We know both countries and we’ve been up against them before. Hopefully, we can get it right for the two games. I think we stand a very good chance of coming out of the group and getting to the quarterfinals and from there anything can be possible. We have just under a month to finalise our team and complete our preparations for the tournament,” Corneal said.
Shaun Fuentes is the media officer for the TTFF/Soca Warriors—Follow him on Twitter @ProLook2006
Source: www.guardian.co.tt