Caledonia AIA's goalscoring defender Kareem Joseph and veteran midfielder Stephan David have both signed new two-year deals with the Morvant/Laventille based club.
Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz confirmed the contract extensions this week—ending weeks of speculation and recent media reports that the players were heading for rival clubs CLICO Jabloteh and Joe Public respectively.
Joseph who was voted Caledonia's MVP for 2009 will enjoy his 10th year at Caledonia having joined the club back in 2000 at age 17, when Caledonia first entered the then Trinidad & Tobago Professional Football League.
Speaking on Joseph's decision to stay with the club, Caledonia AIA Administrator, Ricarda Nelson said, “Kareem has literally grown up in the club. We have seen him grow from a teenager, to a man and now a father as well.
“He had a wonderful season scoring some very important goals for us while being a stout defender. And we are very happy that he has decided to stay with Cale.”
Commenting on his new deal, Kareem Joseph told www.ttproleague.com, “I am delighted to spend my tenth anniversary with the club and community that I love so much. I remember starting off as a rookie back in 2000 in the Pro league with guys like Conrad Smith (now at Joe Public) and Sergihno Sandy (overseas) and Densill Theobald.
“I have seen the club become more stable thanks to the inputs of our sponsors NLCB, Neal & Massy and the Sports Company. And my focus now is to help the club win titles for 2010 for our community and sponsors,” ended Joseph.
Nelson was also delighted over Stephan David’s decision to stay with the club.
“The club has a lot of respect for Stephan David,” she said. “He is a model professional who always gives a hundred percent to the club on and off the field. The league needs more players like Stephan who has integrity, commitment and takes his job seriously,” added Nelson.
David was voted as Caledonia’s Most Disciplined Player for 2009 and was also voted joint Best Midfielder with Densill Theobald.
“I am very comfortable here at Cale,” said David who preferred to remain loyal to Caledonia. “And they have always treated me with great respect over the years that I’ve been at the club. I also prefer to earn the right to play in the CONCACAF Champions’ League by getting Caledonia there rather than joining another club.
“I know it’s going to be a tough 2010 season but with the football we are capable of playing, I am looking forward to it,” ended David.