Born out of north-eastern Trinidad in 2002, North East Stars may be young as a professional club but has outdone its fellow Pro League clubs off the pitch in 2010-2011.
On the pitch the ‘Grande Stars’ performed as well under rookie coach Shurland David capturing the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and finished runner-up in the Toyota Classic and FA Trophy—not bad for a club who only pulled itself back together just before the start of the season after opting out of the 2009 season under the directive of club President Darryl Mahabir.
North East Stars, winner of the League in 2003 and FA Trophy in 2004, didn’t enjoy a seventh position on the Digicel Pro League Championship standings with 27 points in 2010-2011, the same as San Juan Jabloteh but behind with a lesser goal difference.
However off the pitch, the Stars soared over its fellow Pro League clubs with various social projects ranging between safe sex awareness to brightening the Chaguanas Home for the Elderly February 2011 in collaboration with DIRECTV’s Rock, Paper, Scissors TV documentary series.
Stars’ 2010-2011 projects also included a visit to the Senior Citizens Home Sangre Grande in July 2010, Treat Her Like a Lady, domestic violence awareness in August 2010, visits to the Casa de Corazon Children’s Home in Sangre Grande in September 2010.
But the wasn’t all, in December DIRECTV North East Stars teamed up with Soca Warriors Online(socawarriors.net) in a gift collection drive which was followed-up by a Children’s Christmas Extravaganza(December 2010) and a football tournament for small clubs in north-eastern Trinidad with the Final played on New Year’s Day.
Last Wednesday the club hosted its 2010-2011 awards function at Woodford Café, Movie Towne attended by TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene.
In his address, Skeene commended the club saying, “First of all want to thank people like (Stars’ CEO) Brent Sancho and DIRECTV for encouraging Darryl Mahabir back into the Pro League.
“North East Stars is the Pro League,” he said in a hearty voice.
“North East Stars epitomizes what the board and especially the (TT Pro League) chairman (Mr. Larry Romany) wants to see happen at all of the clubs in the Pro League.
“There is no Pro League without community and I want to encourage (Stars’ Operations Director) Kevin (Harrison) and Brent Sancho to continue to lead the way in terms (of the club’s) outreach programmes.
“Football is the mechanism and the tool in which we not only qualify for a World Cup but create a developed human capital of Trinidad and Tobago which is our youths.
“North East Stars is an important club to the chairman and I seeing that players like Arnold Dwarika and Shurland David in the fold as part of management. We also see Brent Sancho for instance, who has so much to give. Too many times we see people in football who do not understand what the players have been through and what they need, because they themselves have not been a part of the process.”
Skeene ended by urging DIRECTV North East Stars to now move on to higher heights and probably one day be to top club in CONCACAF region.
DIRECTV North East Stars may be preparing to begin its 2011-2012 season pre-season, but the front office staff has revealed a food collection drive scheduled for the first weekend in June to be distributed to lesser fortunate homes and is looking for the public’s support.
Anyone wishing to assist TT Pro League club DIRECTV North East Stars in its June 2011 Food Collection Drive can contact Stars’ events coordinator Khaty Ann Martin at 374-5968.