TTFA All Stars and Diplomatic Community Unite Through Football
TTFA All Stars and Diplomatic Community Unite Through Football
Football once again proved its ability to connect people beyond borders as a TTFA All Stars team registered an entertaining 7-2 victory over Diplo FC, a side comprising ambassadors, diplomatic personnel and representatives from several foreign missions, in a goodwill exhibition encounter at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday evening.
The initiative stemmed from discussions held last month between officials of the TTFA and representatives of the Mexican Embassy and was designed as more than just a football match. The event served as a platform to strengthen relationships, promote friendship and cultural exchange, while bringing together members of the football fraternity and diplomatic community in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. It was also part of the start of the World Cup promotional campaign for the Mexican embassy.
The evening reflected football’s ability to create connections and build bridges, with participants sharing not only the football field but also conversations and experiences outside of their traditional professional environments.
The TTFA All Stars squad featured several familiar names from Trinidad and Tobago football history including former national players and 2006 FIFA World Cup members Kenwyne Jones, Cornell Glen, Densill Theobald, Arnold Dwarika, Lyndon Andrews, Yohance Marshall, Shurland David and Jefferson George, along with SPORTT Company Chairman Kester Lendore, Third Vice-President Jameson Rigues, and several friends and officials associated with the organisation.
Also present on the evening were TTFA President Kieron Edwards, Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Derek King, Acting Technical Director Devin Elcock, General Secretary Kareem Paul, First Vice-President Colin Murray, and Board Member Andrew Boodoo.
Representing Diplo FC was a diverse and enthusiastic lineup including:
Ambassador of Mexico Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez
Ambassador of Panama Diomedes Carles
UNDP Coordinator Ugo Blanco
Flavio Gonzalez – Embassy of Mexico
Stuart Shawn – Canada High Commission
Luidgi Harnais – France (Martinique) ACS
Ghani Bettahar – Embassy of Germany
Andres Sanchez – Ecuador
Alfonso Candau – Embassy of Spain
Jeremy Nanton – ACS
Joshua Green – Panama ACS
Manuel Fischinger – Embassy of Germany
Edward Pineda – Venezuela
Juan Sequera – Venezuela
Orlian Carrión – Venezuela
Osleiker Carrión – Venezuela
Alex Atencia – Venezuela
José Félix – Venezuela.
On the pitch, the TTFA All Stars entertained with moments of quality and nostalgia as Glen struck twice, Shane Calderon added one, while Kevon Cornwall produced a hat-trick, helping guide the TTFA team to the victory.
TTFA President Edwards, welcomed the occasion and highlighted the value of strengthening relationships beyond football itself.
“Football has always had a unique ability to unite people from different cultures, backgrounds and professions. This evening was a wonderful example of that. Beyond the result, what was important was the opportunity to build stronger relationships and create friendships through the game that all of us love. We appreciate the Mexican Embassy and everyone involved in helping make this initiative a reality and look forward to continued collaboration in the future,” Edwards said.
Mexican Ambassador Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez also expressed his appreciation for the initiative and the experience of participating at Trinidad and Tobago’s national stadium.
“This was truly a memorable experience. Football is a language that everyone understands and tonight we had the opportunity to strengthen friendships and enjoy ourselves in a wonderful atmosphere. We thank the TTFA for opening its doors to us and creating an event that brought people together in such a positive way,” Morales said.
While the goals and result added to the entertainment, the true success of the evening was perhaps measured in photos, laughter and the relationships strengthened off the field.
This served as a reminder that sometimes the game offers much more than goals and results. Friday’s occasion created an opportunity for people from different backgrounds and countries to connect, enjoy each other’s company through a shared love for football.
