Garcia named Premier League’s Top Player
Garcia named Premier League’s Top Player
National Team and Defence Force defender Justin Garcia was named the TT Premier League Tier 1 Player of the Year at the League’s Awards Ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel, Port of Spain on Friday night.
Garcia was also adjudged the Defender of the year for his exploits in guiding his club to the League and Knockout titles.
Nathaniel James’s 15 goals for Tiger Tanks Club Sando in the inaugural season of the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) last season were good enough to win him the golden boot and the Forward of the Year honours.
Tier-one champions Defence Force and Tobago’s 1976 FC Phoenix – winners of the second tier and entrants for the upcoming season – saw their players win the lion’s share of individual awards.
James, who helped Club Sando to a third-place finish last season, earning him a contract in Jamaica, was unable to seal a hat-trick of individual awards, though.
James, who is currently in Jamaica, was singled out by Minister of Sports and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis as a “solid example of determination.”
Delivering the feature address, Cudjoe-Lewis, said it would be “remiss of me if I didn’t mention Nathaniel James.
“He (scored) the winning goal against Curacao just a few weeks ago – Mr James, I want to say to you … on behalf (of the nation) we say sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.
“But I have just one request,” she quipped, “please don’t leave the action for so late in the game.”
James, 19, made his national team debut against Curacao in September, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute and scoring a free-kick just five minutes later to win the match.
With respect to his recent form and transfer to Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA, Cudjoe-Lewis said, “I think you are one more solid example of determination and dedication to your craft that will only result in tremendous success. You are also a role model .”
Christopher Biggette, a recent addition to the senior men’s national team squad, was named the tier-one’s best goalkeeper of the season, ahead of national team back-up Denzil Smith of W Connection, and 39-year-old AC Port of Spain’s Marvin Phillip, who recently announced his international retirement.
Lloyd Andrews of Defence Force was also awarded coach of the season. Nigel De Souza, head coach of 1976 FC Phoenix, won the Tier Two equivalent.
AC Port of Spain’s Duane Muckette was named the midfielder of the year.
Colin Wharfe, CEO of the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL), says the league will submit a report to FIFA next week, with data to support a marked return of spectators and corporate sponsors to the top two tiers of football in the country.
Wharfe celebrated the league’s inaugural season on Friday when the TTPFL hosted its awards ceremony for the two tier league competition at Trinidad Hilton.
“(I am here to) assure you that sometime towards the backend of next week, a full report of the season will be presented to the minister (of sport), to FIFA and to you guys so you understand in detail what the last season was about …”
The season kicked off in March and ended on October 10, with Defence Force winning tier one and 1976 FC Phoenix dominating tier two.
Wharfe said the league made significant progress with regard to recommendations made by FIFA.
“We have a lot more work to do to deepen the social and economic integration of our clubs within their communities,” he said, “but we are heartened by our overwhelmingly positive feedback from our social media followers and match attendees.
“In conjunction with our various stakeholders, we plan to leverage the inroads we made this season to fulfill our mandate of discovering and developing the wealth of talent with which we are blessed.”
He said the league based its success on the advances made on the objectives set out by the TT Football Association for the league, including helping to restore stakeholder trust in the sport.
“In that regard, we had an investment by FIFA and the government, as well as Concacaf, both in cash and in kind. Corporate (TT) has begun to return, and you will see that with the naming of some of the clubs. And we hope to accelerate that process into the new season.”
He said data from the report will also reflect a return of fans to the sport, both at venues and via broadcast media.
Eighty-three matches were broadcast on Sportsmax, while over 50 were streamed on FIFA’s website.
Wharfe said social media was also a crucial marketing platform used to promote the league. But while he noted a wide “reach,” the actual engagement from social media users was insufficient and should be seen as an area to explore in the coming season.
Match day attendances, he also said, were also considerably higher than the league projected.
“For those of us who have been around the Pro League (in 2018/2019) when it was ending, there were very few people in the stadia, so we had a very conservative expectation with respect to the crowd and (attendances this season) exceeded every expectation.
He said a FIFA-administed “post-mortem” identified areas in which the league made progress and others where it fell short.
Among the areas identified were: the need to improve marketing at the league and club levels; increase human capital in finance and operations; fill the position of an independent integrity officer; and institutional strengthening at the club level.
He said the three areas have been filled and will become active in the league moving forward.
Wharfe, a retired accountant, said times of change “require strong leaders to be the catalysts for helping team members to understand and buy into the transformation.
“The TTPFL,” he said, “will persevere in providing a balance of leadership, guidance and safety nets…
“FIFA, the normalisation committee and the government have told us that time and time again. But we need to learn to fish.”
The league, he added, will continue to work with clubs by providing a healthy support system to help them “reengineer their operations” and achieve their social and business objectives.
“Robust reforms will engender astute management, leading to greater accountability and transparency.”
Wharfe’s address followed that of head of the TTFA normalisation committee Robert Hadad, who commended Wharfe’s leadership.
He said the awards were a testament of the hard work and dedication shown by the fans, players, clubs, officials and administrators.
“(Wharfe) has been unwavering in his drive to ensure the league is a success and governed according to process and corporate best practice.”
He said the committee had its “battles” with the clubs at first.
“But I must say, I’ve enjoyed working with the clubs,” said Hadad.
Sports Minister Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis delivered the feature address, during which she described the normalisation committee as more “harmonised” in comparison to previous administrations.
She warned that the government was no longer willing to spend taxpayers’ funds recklessly and was satisfied that the current body and the league were taking steps towards financial sustainability.
1976 FC Phoenix’s ace forward Mickaeel “Jem” Gordon walked away with three honours to his name, picking up the Forward of the Year, the Golden Boot (with eight goals) and the Player of the Season awards.
His teammate Devaughn Daniel earned the goalkeeper of the year award, while Erick Charles of Petit Valley Diego Martin United and Sean de Silva (QPCC) were named the best defender and midfielder. Daniel and de Silva were also nominated for the Player of the Season awards.
The TTPFL said coaches of all teams were invited to make selections for the awards. The next TTPFL season will kick off on November 24, with the notable absence of long-time TT and Caribbean club giants W Connection.
Honour Roll
Tier 1
Goalkeeper of the Season: Christopher Biggette (Defence Force) (winner), Marvin Phillip (AC Port of Spain), Denzil Smith (W Connection).
Defender of the Season: Justin Garcia (Defence Force) (winner), Josiah Trimmingham (Tiger Tanks Club Sando), Randanfa Abu Bakr (AC Port of Spain).
Midfielder of the Season: Duane Muckette (AC Port of Spain) (winner), John-Paul Rochford (AC Port of Spain), Justin Sadoo (Defence Force).
Forward of the Season: Nathaniel James (Tiger Tanks Club Sando) (winner), Ataulla Guerra – Terminix La Horquetta Rangers), Brent Sam (Defence Force).
Player of the Season: Justin Garcia (Defence Force) (winner), Nathaniel James (Tiger Tanks Club Sando), Duane Muckette (AC Port of Spain).
Golden Boot: Nathaniel James (Tiger Tanks Club Sando).
Coach of the Season: Lloyd Andrews (Defence Force).
Tier Two
Goalkeeper of the season: Duvaughn Daniel (1976 FC Phoenix) (winner), Dillon King (QPCC), Cleon John (Police FC).
Defender of the season: Erick Charles (Petit Valley Diego Martin Utd) (winner), Javon Williams (1976 FC Phoenix), Jeremiah Bristol (1976 FC Phoenix).
Midfielder of the season: Sean de Silva (QPCC) (winner), Bringsluck Nche (Petit Valley Diego Martin Utd), Trevin Caesar (1976 FC Phoenix).
Forward of the Season: Mickaeel Gordon (1976 FC Phoenix) (winner), Isaiah Leacock (Harlem Strikers), Jason Devenish (QPCC).
Player of the Season: Mickaeel Gordon (1976 FC Phoenix) (winner), Duvaughn Daniel (1976 FC Phoenix), Sean De Silva (QPCC).
Golden Boot: Mickaeel Gordon (1976 FC Phoenix).
Coach of the Season: Nigel De Souza (1976 FC Phoenix).
