They were known as the foreign team in local football—as their line up was filled with Brazilians, Colombians, St. Lucians and Jamaicans—but this year more than half of the 2005 T&T Pro League Champions Vibe CT 105 W Connection line up will be local.
According to Technical Director Stuart Charles Fervier—2006 is the dawn of a new era at the Couva based club.
“Everyone knows when W Connection started to play professional football—we had a number of foreigners in our team—but over the years the club has been paying special attention to its youth programme—and this year we are proud to have sixteen(16) of our youth players come through the ranks and have now been promoted to senior professionals.”
In 2006, the likes of, Nickcolson Thomas, Jan Michael Williams, Kendall Davis, Clyde Leon, Andre Pacheco, Benton De leon, Dwight Scott, Hughtun Hector, Kern Cupid, Devon Drayton, Matthew Bartholomew, Kerwyn Beckles, Aaron Downing, Jeren Johnson and Shane Calderon were all part of W Connection’s youth system and they will all be part of the League Champions line up in 2006.
Stuart Charles Fervier says his forces are ready to defend their League title, which they won comprehensively last season—and Mr. Fervier claims despite the youthful outlook of the team—Connection will be coming stronger than ever.
The backbone of the team is still there and W Connection’s technical staff believes they have found the right mix of experience and youth and the St. Lucian born coach feels assured that the group of youngsters will carry the mantle.
W Connection will be without inspirational midfielder Gefferson Goulart, the Brazilian player has left the club for Buscan Park in South Korea.
Coach Stuart Charles Fervier also may have to ponder not having his captain and main striker Earl Jean as well as key defender David Atiba Charles, as the both players are currently in China on trials and the possibility exists they may stay for the entire season.
As far as Connection’s pre-season preparation—the ‘Savonetta Boys’ began back in January and they have been training six days a week—and with just over two weeks to go to the start of the new season—the technical staff is hoping to travel on an overseas camp before they begin their title defence.
Coach Fervier recognizes the pressure on his squad to perform, having obliterated their opponents last season and win the League so impressively—but the St. Lucian born coach is not expecting his team to be as dominant this season.
“I really don’t expect us to be that dominant this year, for the simple fact that such a performance hardly happens back to back—however, I am confident we have what it takes to win the League again,” said Fervier.
He dismissed the notion, that without Gefferson Goulart this season, W connection will be less potent, saying, “Of course we will miss Gefferson, he was our main offensive organizer—but we have replacements, I always believe when one star falls another rises—and we have talented players that will fill the role.”
Despite the bulk of the team will be local, the Couva-based outfit will have its fare share of foreigners—one of the club’s veterans, St. Lucian defender Elijah Joseph is still in the ranks—Brazilian midfielders Ronaldo Viana, Jose Luis Seabra and William Silva De Oliveira will also be in the mix, as well as Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa and Nigerian Stanley Okechukyu.
According to the Head Coach, W Connection will never ever do away with foreign players, “We always want to have an international flair at the club, and we believe foreign players will help with the development of our local players.”
Connection have also snapped up Jabloteh’s Michael Celestine and Devon Mitchell for the 2006 season.
W Connection will enter the 2006 season, hoping to successfully defend the League title, the First Citizens Bank Cup and the Toyota Classic.
Team Profile
Technical Director—Stuart Charles Fervier
Coach—Leonson Lewis
2005 Achievement—League champions, Winners of the FCB Cup, Toyota Classic Knockout competitions.
Last Season’s Top Goal Scorer—Earl Jean and Gefferson Goulart-14 goals
New Players—Michael Celestine and Devon Mitchell.
Registered Squad of Players
Captain-Earl Jean
Goalkeepers—Alejandro Figueroa, Jan Michael Williams
Defenders— Elijah Joseph, David Atiba Charles, Brenton De Leon, William De Olliviera, Lyndon Diaz, Christopher Harvey and Nickcolson Thomas.
Midfielders—Hughtun Hector, Andrei Pacheco, Dwight Scott, Jose Luis Seabra, Clyde Leon, Michael Celestine and Ronaldo Vieana.
Forwards—Shane Calderon, Kendall Davis, Earl Jean, Devon Mitchell, Stanley Okechukyu, and Andre Toussaint