PHILLIP FRASER, the livewire behind San Juan Jabloteh and San Juan North Secondary youth teams for many years, was awarded the Humming Bird silver medal for Education and Sport at the National Awards ceremony at President’s House on Republic Day, Tuesday.
Fraser was also a Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) first vice-president, and took over as interim president after ex-president William Wallace was successfully elevated to president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association in 2020.
Celebrating the long-serving administrator, was San Juan Jabloteh on its Instagram page.
Jabloteh stated: “Your receipt of the Humming Bird Medal Silver for Education and Sport is a testament of the contributions you have made to developing the youth of our communities. We salute you for your meritorious service to our nation’s development.”
Despite being born and raised in Penal, there is no doubt that Fraser is a “Sa-Juaaa” man.
“Even though I born in Penal, grew up in Penal, and still return to Penal, I feel (in) the community of San Juan, Santa Cruz, my whole life was bedded there.”
Fraser is specially known for his involvement with the San Juan Jabloteh organisation. He joined them in 1998, became a director in 2006 and took the chairman’s role from Jerry Hospedales in 2018, until finally handing over the reins in 2024.
“It’s a great joy for me and it’s a great joy to the community, especially in San Juan and Santa Cruz area that I serve,“ Fraser said of his award.
Fraser also appreciated the outpouring of love he has received from the community since, and was thrilled that his son flew in from Maryland, USA, especially for the presentation.
“Everybody is elated and they say it is well deserved,” stated Fraser, who thanked whoever nominated him.
“A lot of youths who are now older, have reached out to me,” Fraser noted. “Even from the (United) States I getting calls. They say well deserved; well-done.
“They know I have been there working in the trenches with the youths and going way beyond the call of duty, and not studying any kind of thank you, because most of my work is charitable work,” he said.
Asked to describe his role with Jabloteh, Fraser revealed that since 2016, he had been balancing the management of all aspects of the club, sometimes working with very limited resources. He also thanked founder and former chairman Hospedales for putting a lot of faith in him.
“I have been managing the entire operation from the youth programme to the senior team, onto the netball for Jabloteh. It is a great responsibility when you have to manage little funds, but try to make everybody comfortable.”
His involvement with schools football has also seen him have a major role with San Juan North Secondary, as team manager.
He is also thankful for the role he was allowed to play in the SSFL.
“I want to thank the people of the San Juan and Santa Cruz area for giving me the opportunity to serve, especially San Juan North Secondary School which I am still connected to,” Fraser said. “I really also raise my hats to the SSFL also.”
SOURCE: T&T Express