Goalkeeper Coach Jefferson George has been installed as new head coach of T&TEC FC for the 2012-2013 TT Pro League season.
The 33 year old welcomes the opportunity with both hands saying, “It’s not new to me.”
“My specialty is goalkeeping,” said the former W Connection goalie. “…but I’ve coached before at Joe Public as assistant to Michael McComie. I also have qualifications with my UEFA B and the English FA Level 2.”
George fills the position left vacant following the unconfirmed sacking of Coach Dexter Cyrus back in April.
In May, assistant coaches Reynold Carrington and Desmond Bailey took over as caretakers of T&TEC FC for the Digicel Pro Bowl competition—the final knockout on the League’s calendar—in the absence of Cyrus reaching the semi-final round where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Defence Force.
But Cyrus, who enjoyed success at the Super League level finishing second in 2009 and winning the Super League and knockout in 2010, made headlines on debut in the Pro League.
With a boosted squad and staff, Cyrus led the ‘Electric Boys’ to a second place finish in the Digicel Pro League.
T&TEC (39 points) finished one point shy of winners W Connection (40 points)—a remarkable accomplishment for the former Trinidad and Tobago international on debut as coach in the T&T top tier football.
Cyrus also guided T&TEC to the Finals of the First Citizens Cup and Toyota Classic finishing second on both occasions.
George, who served as goalkeeper coach to Cyrus, will be assisted by assistant coach Bailey and team trainer Adarryl John. Peter Mohan continues as Team Manager, Lester Lal as team coordinator, and Roger Ryan and Gregory Haynes as team physiotherapists.
Meantime player/assistant coach Clayton Ince, Carrington and physiotherapist Ian Dore have been cut from the technical staff.
Jefferson George at a glance
School: Princess Town Senior Comprehensive (1994-1997)
Playing Career
Clubs: Fire Service FC (1998), W Connection (1999-2004)
International: T&T U-20, U-23
Goalkeeping Coaching Career
Club: W Connection (2004 player/goalkeeper coach – 2005 goalkeeper coach), Joe Public (2006-2008 goalkeeper coach/assistant coach), Ma Pau SC (2009 player/goalkeeper coach), T&TEC FC (2010)
International: T&T Men’s U-20, U-23 and Senior, T&T Women’s U-17
T&TEC adapts to changes.
In 2011, T&TEC FC joined Trinidad and Tobago’s top flight football—the TT Pro League—after winning the Super League and Super League knockout competitions the previous year.
Its objective was to follow up on the successes in the second tier of T&T football by attempting to win the Digicel Pro League Championship, although being on debut.
The club signaled its intention at the beginning by boosting its roster and technical staff with players and coaches carrying Pro League and international experience. In the end, T&TEC finished just a point away from glory after an exciting season.
The ‘Electric Boys’ finished the season with 39 points in second, behind winner W Connection (40 points) and deserved every bit of credit under Head Coach Dexter Cyrus.
It wasn’t by luck that the former T&T international had such a run including reaching the Finals of the First Citizens Cup and Toyota Classic in the process. Cyrus built his way from the bottom up, winning the South Football Association (SFA) title, finishing runner-up in the 2009 Super League and winning the title a year later.
One point away from winning the Digicel Pro League Championship in 2011-2012 left one question on everyone’s mind. What can T&TEC FC achieve in 2012-2013?
However that thought faded when state owned-T&TEC (Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission) under new management, placed a budget cut on the Sports Club—pulling the plug on external resources.
External additions such as player/assistant coach Clayton Ince, assistant coach Reynold Carrington, physiotherapist Ian Dore and players Kerry Baptiste, Marvin Phillip, Marcus Joseph, Aubrey David, Jayson Joseph, Coneal Thomas, Kurlon Ferguson, Vurlon Mills and Akeem Adams were no longer attached to T&TEC FC following last season.
Cyrus was the first to go when the club suspended his services in April following the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield knockout tournament.
“The team is now made up of in house players, players who work with T&TEC,” explained new Head Coach Jefferson George.
George who served as goalkeeper coach last season added, “We are still with a decent team.”
The former W Connection, Joe Public and Ma Pau SC goalkeeper coach listed his roster as having goalkeepers Akini Adams and Darryl Francis, Timothy John, Kern Peters, Brenton De Leon, Angus John, Husani Thomas, Brent Beam, Marc Hunte, Cebastian Bailey, Brent Garcia, Keeron Benito, Simeon Augustus, Anthony Noriega, Daniel Garcia, Tigana Sparks, Desta Francis, Eustace Darius, Bevon Bass, Sylvester Teesdale, Willian Garcia, Gerron Mc Knight, Javed Mohammed, Glen Sutton and trainer/player Adarayll John.
However this time around, the club’s aspirations are quite unassuming.
“We had to actually change our objective [down to] just keeping our presence in the Pro League,” said George. “The issue with players was outside our hands. It was a management decision.
Last year, based on the preparations and resources, we could have set high outcome goals finishing in the top three. Now our first objective is to get the players to enjoy the game again and see how best we can have them prepared.”
He added, “My challenge now is to motivate the players, have them set personal goals and get energized to play, because they first thought that we weren’t playing this season.”
T&TEC will kick off its 2012-2013 season on Saturday 15 September against Police FC from 5pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Round One Match Day One.