Brazilian Coach Marcos Tinoco has promised to lift the bar at United Petrotrin in his debut season at the Pro League level.
In the past United Petrotrin have copped the Lucozade Sport Big Six(2005) and Toyota Classic(2006) titles under then coach Brian Williams. However the last two seasons saw the Oilmen finish without silverware to their name and sixth in the 2008 League Championship. But this year Tinoco aims at much bigger successes.
“So our aim this year is to get trophies, win competitions and of course we are looking to getting into the CFU [Club Championship] and perhaps CONCACAF which would bring exposure for our local players as well,” continued the former Tanzania National Youth coach.
Petrotrin have sounded their intent this season signing some of Trinidad and Tobago’s big names in football and for the first time, a foreign coach—Tinoco.
Former T&T internationals Aurtis Whitley, Cyd Gray, Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow and Stokley Mason have all been signed by the Oilmen in their quest for 2009 Pro League supremacy.
Tinoco was also privileged to a two-week pre-season camp in Columbia back in March ahead of the 2009 season which is scheduled to kick off on April 28.
“It’s coming along very nice,” said Tinoco on his pre-season preparations.
“We’ve been together for almost two months, so preparations have been coming along very good. We have made a trip to Columbia as part of our pre-season and the team has really surprised me over there. It was early in our pre-season and our team lacked a bit of fitness but we performed very well in a few practice matches played in Columbia.”
Petrotrin played matches against First Division club El Retino FC(1-1), Athletico Medellin(lost 3-1), Universidad National De Antioguia(won 0-2) and Envigado FC(1-1) while in Columbia.
“We are confident ahead of the season. We know that there is still a lot to do. So we are working on the tactical aspect of the game right now.”
“I have done research on all the top leagues here. I watch a few (CFU) Champions matches played here in Trinidad and I can say that [T&T] football is above the rest of the Caribbean and we have a couple good teams. It [Pro League] will be a tough competition. Of course we will always have to play for our wins and we know that we will face some big problems in the League,” added Tinoco.
“It’s difficult to say where we will finish but I can say that we will do the best to win. We are not here just to participate,” concluded the Petrotrin coach.