Mayaro was the recipient of some ‘magic’ two weekends back when Trinidad and Tobago Senior Team Assistant Coach/Player Russell Latapy turned out for Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille against a Mayaro Representative team.
Caledonia used the match in preparations for their 2009 Pro League season which Latapy is expected to be part of.
Latapy thrilled the crowd with his turns, neat flicks and pinpoint passes as he teamed up with Densill Theobald, Abdallah Phillips and Jameel Perry in the Caledonia attack.
Latapy scored in a 4-1 Caledonia win with FA trophy hero Jameel Perry hitting a double and English based striker Judah Hernandez scoring the other item.
Former T&T Youth player Karlon Hughes scored the lone item for Mayaro.
Looking a bit rusty Latapy missed two chances before volleying home a pin point Aballah Phillips cross much to the delight of the three hundred odd Mayaro villagers.
After the game Latapy and Caledonia’s Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz were invited by organizer Oliver Alexander to speak to the Mayaro residents which included players, coaches and football fans.
They complained to Latapy about a feeling of being left out of the national program and pointed to the fact that more recently they had produced Ryan Stewart and Leston Paul, two of the more promising players in the country.
Latapy assured the gathering that he would address their concerns since his main purpose for being in T&T is to help find and develop this country’s talented players. And encouraged the young players to dedicate themselves to the game and make themselves ready for when opportunities become available.
Shabazz echoed Latapy’s sentiments but recalled the Mayaro United of old which sported the likes of Peter Alfred, Cleveland Mendez and Ian Edwards and challenged the Mayaro residents to work together to develop a Mayaro team similar to the one that proved to be a force in local football in the 80’s.