Club Sando attacking midfielder Akim Armstrong has pipped other top performers to scoop his second Wendy’s Pro League Player of the Month this season, taking the gong for October.
Armstrong, who won the honour for July, rallied the most votes for October, narrowly pipping such players as Defence Force’s Curtis Gonzales and Central FC’s Sean De Silva.
“Again, full credit goes to my teammates, the coach, and the rest of the staff,” said the 29-year-old Armstrong. “I am only a piece of the puzzle and we have worked together as a team.
“This season Club Sando have quality all around the pitch. We have a very competitive team and there is always the possibility to win whosoever takes the field for Club Sando. We have quality players such as Tyrone Charles and Kevon Piper among the senior players and even much younger guys like Nicholas Thomas and Michael Basdeo.”
Armstrong, who moved from Morvant Caledonia United to Sando this season continues to prove an essential member of coach Angus Eve’s team and his performances during October saw the team win three, draw one and loss one in all competitions.
Armstrong, who has done well in the false-nine position this season, scored a double over Morvant Caledonia in a 3-1 quarter-final win of the First Citizens Cup and scored the equalising goal in a 1-1 league draw with W Connection to keep the Oranges in the hunt for a CONCACAF qualifying spot.
His performances during the month of October also included converting an opening goal from the penalty in a 4-2 league win over Point Fortin Civic and opening the scoring in his team’s 5-0 league win over San Juan Jabloteh.
“My [newfound] inspiration comes from my family,” explained the Sando star, who along with girlfriend Danielle James, welcomed their son Giovanni Armstrong into this world last Christmas day.
That Christmas present he said, changed a lot in his life and has made him a lot more focused.
Club Sando (25 points) trail Pro League leaders North East Stars (36 points) by eleven points with three regular league games left, but Eve’s side are two points adrift of second-positioned W Connection and still within a top-two league finish which qualifies teams to the Caribbean Club Championship which serves as the qualifying tournament to CONCACAF tournaments such as the CONCACAF Champions League and recently formed CONCACAF League.
Sando will face Police FC from 3:30pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in one three rescheduled league matches on Sunday but must first take on Point Fortin Civic from 6pm on Friday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the third-place match of the First Citizens Cup before holders Defence Force and W Connection battle in the 2017 title match from 8pm.
In Sunday’s other rescheduled league matches, San Juan Jabloteh will host W Connection from 4pm at Barataria Oval and Central FC must visit Point Fortin Civic from 5pm at Mahaica Oval.
“It’s no secret that qualifying for the Caribbean Club Championship – CONCACAF qualifiers – is our (Club Sando) main goal this season,” added Armstrong. “But we would also like to win a Cup for Club Sando because the club have never done anything major since coming into the Pro League.”
Sando’s last hope of lifting a title this season will come in the Pro Bowl which is expected to begin later this month.
Wendy’s Pro League Player of the Month Season 2017
Cleon John (MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers) – June
Akim Armstrong (Club Sando) – July
Glenroy Samuel (Morvant Caledonia United) – September
Akim Armstrong (Club Sando) – October
First Citizens Cup 2017
(Friday 17 November 2017)
Third-place
Point Fortin Civic vs Club Sando, 6pm, at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Final
Defence Force vs W Connection, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
Trinidad and Tobago Pro League 2017
(Sunday 19 November 2017)
Rescheduled Round Two Match Day Six fixtures
Police FC vs Club Sando, 3:30pm, at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection, 4pm, Barataria Oval.
Rescheduled Round Two Match Day Three fixture
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC, 5pm, at Mahaica Oval.