Leroy DeLeon, The Fan Club Coach of the Month for February, has steered the once struggling Point Fortin Civic (9-3-7, 30 points) out of the bottom half of the 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League championship, climbing as high as third position although currently occupying fourth position, 15 points away from leaders Central FC (14-3-3, 45 points).
But the 67-year-old Trinidad and Tobago sports hall of famer and football legend explains that winning matches or titles isn’t his main focus for the remainder of the season.
Instead, DeLeon, who was installed as interim coach at the start of February following a sudden exit by coach Reynold Carrington, said, “If we win a game it’s fine but I’m putting things in place for next season when we (Civic) will be a force to be reckoned with.”
DeLeon, without the services of suspended defenders Andre Ettienne, Garyl Doldron and Glen Sutton for their involvement in a brawl with Police FC on February 27, 2015, will be put to a tough test as coach when he leads Civic out on Friday 20 March from 8 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium against second-placed and reigning DPL champions DIRECTV W Connection (12-4-3, 40 points), the side that he defeated 2-1 on his debut as interim coach on February 3.
Since then DeLeon has led Civic to league wins over St. Ann’s Rangers (4-1), Defence Force (2-1), Police FC (3-1), Caledonia AIA (3-1) and San Juan Jabloteh (5-1), only losing against league leaders Central FC (1-0) and tied with North East Stars (1-1).
It was a complete turnaround by a side that “lacked discipline and motivation” and was struggling near bottom despite boasting quality players such as ace goal-scorer Marcus Joseph, experienced and gifted midfielder Andre Toussaint, hard tackling skipper Andre Ettienne and Trinidad and Tobago shot-stopper Marvin Phillip.
Carrington, 44, led Civic, on debut in the professional league, to a commendable fourth position finish in the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League, but at the time of his walkout, he left the club in seventh position with just 11 points midway through the current 2014-2015 season with only three (3) wins, two (2) draws, and six (6) defeats.
DeLeon’s feat of three consecutive wins in the month of February gave him the edge over Central FC and two-time TFC Coach of the Month this season, Zoran Vranes, for the TFC Coach of the Month for February.
“It’s nice but it wasn’t something that I was look for,” DeLeon said over his TFC Coach of the Month – February accolade.
“This is not about me; this is about what I can do for the young men. So far they have received it very well. They have started respecting and believing in what I am trying to teach them. I’m doing this because I love it. I’ve coached in America, I’ve coached all over, and I’m happy that I can come back here and help out my neighbourhood.”
DeLeon, who had a 16-year professional career between 1967 and 1983 in the United States with various clubs including San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders in the North American Soccer League (NASL), and is the father of Nick DeLeon, a midfielder attached to Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit DC United, credited an involuntary turnaround in attitude by players for Civic’s recent rise.
“[Our players’] attitude now towards the game gave them confidence in their abilities,” said DeLeon. “What I normally do in practice is try to break one bad habit. I try to improve on that every session and let them know why I am breaking that habit; and why it’s bad.
“So far it is surprisingly good. We are taking it one game at a time and looking forward to next season. There were problems with the respect and the discipline factors; they were bad habits I had to immediately break. [For instance] I told (our) players, ‘your decision is your decision to not come to practice’. I will tell them, ‘I respect it but I don’t agree with it.’ But when I make my decision and it affects their pockets they have to respect it,” concluded DeLeon.
Also on Friday, seventh placed Police (7-5-8, 26 points), will tackle third placed North East Stars (9-4-7, 31 points) in the first match of the double header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 6 pm, before W Connection attempts to close the gap on leaders Central.
Police head coach Richard Hood will be without a total of seven players. Kaaron Foster, Noel Williams, Jasimar Ashers, Shaquille Nesbit and third choice goalkeeper Theon Browne are serving suspensions for their involvement in the brawl with Civic, while defender Karlon Murray and forward Kareem Freitas are suspended through card accumulation just as North East Stars’ midfielder Jeromie Williams.
The Round Three Match Day Five action will continue on Saturday with Central FC against fifth placed Defence Force (9-2-8, 29 points) from 4 pm at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium bottom of the table St. Ann’s Rangers (0-1-19, 1 point) will face eight placed Caledonia AIA (5-4-10, 19 points).