Having parted ways with the Fire Services after the completion of the 2005 season, Caledonia AIA have found themselves in transition and are now in a rebuilding mode.
Coach Jamal Shabbazz has lost no less than ten(10) players from last season through the split with Fire Services and to say the least the Morvant/Laventille based club has lost a vital source of income.
Nevertheless, because of his never say die attitude, Jamal Shabbazz has soldiered on and has been able to secure the backing of a brand new team sponsor, and in 2006 the boys from Caledonia will be known as Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA Fire.
Caledonia placed 3rd behind W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh in the League competition last year and would be hard-pressed to improve coming into the new season with a number of challenges.
Coach Jamal Shabbazz has admitted the exodus of the Fire Services has certainly affected the club, “The merge with the Fire Services gave us some stability in terms of our financial status and we were able to build on it last season and we will certainly miss that aspect and we have also lost a number of key players.”
Commenting on the sponsorship of Neal and Massy, the National Womens Coach says, “While it is a big help, they are only funding a percentage of the team’s budget, and they can never really take the place of the Fire Services and the role they played, but we are grateful to Neal and Massy and we hope the relationship grows in the future.”
Shabbazz is however, still talking tough, despite his team’s many challenges, he is still determined the team will give a good account of themselves, and he says outside of remaining in the top three in the League—he wants to be in at least 3 of the knockout finals.
“As a team we really felt left out—when we did not go all the way in the Cup games, we missed the atmosphere and this year we want to be part of that, so while we want to do well in the League, we will be focusing on the knockout competitions very seriously.”
Now having lost the bulk of his team from last season, Jamal Shabbazz decided to go back to the community—and according to the former national goal-keeper this was a plus.
“We were able to source some useful talent in the Morvant/ Laventille community, the likes of Junior Spencer, a talented young striker and a sturdy left back in Marcus Ambrose, we were also able to pull some good local players from the U.S. who are now finishing school, like a young attacking midfielder in Judah Alexander, and a big defender by the name of Stephen Cruikshank.”
Shabbazz also hit the local market and was able to attract some local players—he snatched, North East Stars Striker Kendall Jagdeosingh and W Connection’s striker Jason Cudjoe.
Also in Caledonia’s mix will be at least 2 Colombians—a defender by the name of Julio Cesar Delarosa and a goal-keeper named Johny Cardona.
All in all, Jamal Shabazz feels he has found the right mix of youth and experience—as returning from last season is Uz Taylor who is the only surviving member from the Fire Services merger, as well as experienced goal keeper Michael Woods, Caledonia’s prodigal son Conrad Smith who has returned after finishing the season with Jabloteh last year, and two young developing players from last season in striker Devon Modeste and midfielder Stephan David.
Due to the transition period, Caledonia’s pre-season preparation did not go as well as coach Shabbazz would have wanted, he told us, “We have been very unsure in early part of the pre-season, so we did not play the sort of practice matches we intended to, however, there is still a week or so to go and we hope to get it together before the start of the season and I believe as the season gets started we will grow from strength to strength, but it will take some time for the guys to get accustomed to each other and also get accustomed to playing at the Pro League level.”
Mr. Shabbazz added however, “One of the good things is that the bunch of guys we have here are eager to do well—while we don’t have the big names in the local game, but most of the team are tactically, technically and physically ready for the challenge—and I strongly believe we can compete with any of the so called big names in the League—remember, the game is not played on paper, its played out on the pitch, and having finished 3rd last year the boys are motivated to do even better.”
Caledonia has lost national midfielder Densill Theobald, Dale Simon and Anthony Haynes, three players who both played big roles last season—Simon has gone back to Tobago United and United Petrotrin has snapped up Anthony Haynes, while Densill Theobald has moved on to Falkirk FC in Scotland
Shabbazz says while the loss of some of the key players in his line up are not with the club this year—he is not overly worried—because in his estimation the team is stronger up front—with the likes of new strikers Kendall Jagdeosingh, Judah Alexander and Junior Spencer—and the Caledonia coach is promising goals.
TEAM PROFILE
Head Coach—Jamal Shabazz
Assistant Coach—Jerry Moe
2005 Achievements—Placed 3RD in the League competition.
Last season’s top goal scorer—Devon Modeste -7 goals
New Players—Steven Cruikshank, Junior Spencer, Marcus Ambrose, Johny Cardona, Julio Cesar Delarosa, Judah Alexander, Sterling Arjune, Kareem Joseph
Registered squad of players
Captain-Sheldon Emanuel
Goalkeepers—Michael Woods and Johny Cardona
Defenders—Sheldon Emanuel, Sterling Arjune, Julio Delarosa, Mc kensie Caddette, Stephen Crukshank, Marcus Ambrose.
Midfielders—Dale Simon, Uz Taylor, Conrad Smith, Stephan David and Kareem Joseph.
Forwards—Abdullah Phillips, Devon Modeste, Kendall Jagdeosingh, Anthony Thomson, Junior Spencer and Hayden Tinto.