CENTRAL FC, the Digicel Pro League leaders, surprised the local football community on Wednesday when they announced the return of Terry Fenwick to “the Sharks” as coach.
The Englishman, who led Central FC on an unbeaten 17-match run last season, departed to Belgium in the summer to take charge of CS Vise. However, the Belgian club ran into financial difficulties and Fenwick opted to leave the club and return to Trinidad.
“The club faced several challenges after Director of Youth and Women’s Football, George Romano suffered a stroke,” said Central FC manager Kevin Jeffrey, in a media release issued yesterday. “Naturally, losing George temporarily has left a huge gap to fill. Given his outstanding record of youth development, the board wanted Zoran Vranes to have more input in that area.”
Jeffrey said that it was impossible for Vranes to coach five teams and oversee the clubs plans to develop a youth academy.
“When the board saw that Terry was available, it seemed a perfect fit. Terry knows eighty percent of the players very well, so there would be no transitional period, he’ll hit the ground running.”
Vranes, who built a solid reputation coaching the national Under-17 and Under-20 teams, has had a successful season at Central FC lifting the First Citizens Cup, Rawle Fletcher Cup and Akeem Adams Cup and spending the majority of the season on top of the Pro League.
“Zoran has done a remarkable job at Central this season,” said Jeffrey. “He’s a favourite with the players, staff and supporters and is very much part of the fabric of Central FC. I know that he relishes his new appointment as technical director and will lead the way in developing the next generation of Central FC and national team players. His passion is with developing young players and his temperament and approach suit the role perfectly.”
Meanwhile, the Couva-based club announced the Central FC Chuck E Cheese Easter Camp, in association with the Mayor of Chaguanas Gopaul Boodhan, which will take place at Lange Park from April 7-10. The camp will cater for children between the ages of six and 12.
Registration takes place on Tuesday at 9 am, at a cost of $300 per person.
“We are delighted to partner with Chuck E Cheese and the Mayor of Chaguanas in this camp,” said Jeffrey. “It will see the launch of a weekly Central FC Chuck E Cheese coaching school at Lange Park as well as a free “Soccer Sircus” which will visit areas throughout the Central regions on Saturday afternoons.”
Jeffrey applauded Chuck E Cheese for their support of the camp and coaching school. “We’re expecting Chuck E Cheese to visit the camp in person as well as many of Central FC players, so it will be a lot of fun for the kids."