San Juan Jabloteh Technical Director Terry Fenwick says that the melee between clubs chasing after players from his club is clear testament of player development over the years.
“All of the players that have been chased after at the moment are former Jabloteh players,” he explained.
“Joe Public’s successes last season came with Kerry Baptiste and Trent Noel, both former players at our club.
“Now we see Ma Pau in the hustle for our players. Ma Pau have come in for Lester Peltier, Elton John, Joel Russell and Devon Jamerson. Former players Keyeno Thomas and Cyd Gray along with Mikeil Williams and Kevin Molino are also there and that’s evidence of what we have done over the years which I’m pleased by,” continued the multiple League winning coach.
Fenwick is back on the job with Jabloteh after missing last season after financial problems faced by the club.
The former England international and Jabloteh coach will conduct an advanced screening session on Saturday 6 February at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar before pre-season begins on February 19 and is confident of having a championship winning team in time for the 2010 season.
“I’ve got a different eye from coaches in Trinidad. I’ll pick out players that aren’t seen by other coaches and bring them to the right standard,” he added.
“We are not looking to do anything but win the League this season. I’m just looking at the melee that’s going on with clubs like Joe Public and Ma Pau. I’ve already got an exceptional squad and quietly on with my job at Jabloteh.”
Fenwick added that he is astonished over statements made by Ma Pau that they are a development club.
“Ma Pau are contesting that they are a development club, but they have signed a few guys that are over 30. And they’ve also signed seven or eight players that are already seasoned players,” explained Fenwick.
The Jabloteh coach assured that his club will have seven or eight players in youth development on their senior roster and we will still be on top of the class this season.
Fenwick blames mismanagement for Petrotrin pullout.
United Petrotrin FC may have announced its withdrawal from the TT Pro League’s 2010 season more than a week ago, however the disappointment is still alive and will remain that way in the southwest region for a long time said returning San Juan Jabloteh Technical Director Terry Fenwick.
Fenwick a former England international and multiple (Digicel) Pro League championship winner watched the entire 2009 season as a spectator and sometimes tv host after his San Juan based club failed to secure wages for his services.
Fenwick witnessed his club fail to defend back-to-back League championships—which he won as coach—under stand-in coach Earl Jean. He also witnessed Bmobile Joe Public grab an amazing five titles, three of which he won the previous year.
And most disappointing, according to the former Portsmouth and Northampton Town manager, the underwhelming performances by United Petrotrin that failed to make the Big Six round.
“They spent a lot of money that should have given them the League title last season,” Fenwick said who rejoined Jabloteh following the 2009 season. “But they didn’t even make the Big Six.”
Fenwick added, “It was gross incompetence by the management and a clear misunderstanding of how football works.
“They hired (Brazilian coach) Marcos Tinocos and handed him players. It was clearly poor management by United Petrotrin and now they have pulled out.”
United Petrotrin equipped with Tinoco and his staff, along with high profile players such as Arnold Dwarika, Cyd Gray, Ian Gray, Aurtis Whitley, Gary Glasgow, Nigel Pierre, Nigel Daniel, Devon Caseman and Stokely Mason all on ‘rumored’ high salaries had a disappointing 2009 season.
With more resources that were available to former coach Brian Williams and even a preseason trip to Colombia, the ‘Oilmen’ flopped with a seventh position finish in the Digicel Pro League next to 30 points.
“They have done much better with Brian Williams,” said Fenwick. “He (Williams) had done well in the development of young players during his time at the club and it’s a huge disappointment for Petrotrin and the southwest part of Trinidad.
“Petrotrin is supposed to be about national development and now they are out of the League,” ended the dissapointed Englishman.
United Petrotrin FC’s TT Pro League history
2009—7th
(Marcos Tinoco)
2008—6th
(Brian Williams)
2007—7th
(Brian Williams)
2006—8th Toyota Classic Trophy (Brian Williams)
2005—6th
Lucozade Sport Big Six (Brian Williams)