Former National Team player Richard Chinapoo will arrive in the country on Monday (July 5) for a two-week long training camp with United States-based Under 16 football team Capital Area Soccer Association (CASA) LDC 93-Black summer soccer team.
Chinapoo, a former senior team attacker and ex-member of the New York Cosmos is the technical director of CASA which was formed in 1996 to serve the Pennsylvania area including Lower Paxton, Susquehanna, West Hanover and other surrounding townships.
Chinapoo will travel with a 45-member contingent including players, staff and family members and will play four matches between July 7-14 against Ma Pau FC’s Under 18 team, Jabloteh FC’s U-18 team and SKHY Under 16 team as well as San Juan Senior Comprehensive’s Under 18 team.
“The purpose of the trip was originally for taking the boys to see my home country and play some games. It has turned out to be more than this as the party is up to 45 people.
This includes parents, grandparents and siblings. So, the parents, grandparents and siblings would like to see the country and turn this into a mini vacation. As you can see from the schedule we plan to visit a few places as well as Tobago,” Chinapoo told TTFF Media
He will also keep his eyes out for possible local talent and has intentions to assist the local school for the deaf and the Paralympic organization.
During the team’s stay, the player will also engage on sightseeing visits at Mas Camps and Pan yards in Port of Spain, the Defence Force base in Chaguaramas, Mount St Benedict and in Tobago
“I am open to any player who would like to be an international student with the goal of playing in college and getting an education. If there are any players who are willing to leave home in search of a future, I will try to help that player,” he said.
“We plan to play a match with the School for the Deaf. The players will mix with the kids to make teams and play small sided games. We plan to give out prizes and possibly make a monetary donation to the school.
With the Paralympic Organization they provided us with a list of items we could order for them. This has been completed and the items have been shipped.
We will also have gifts for the kids and may do some work at the location. One of the goals of the trip is for the players to get involved in charity work. The parents want them to achieve and also give back,” he added.
Chinapoo is a 5-time MISL / 4-time National Professional Soccer League all-star, head coach of the 2001 American Conference NPSL Championship Harrisburg Heat, and NPSL Coach of the Year for 2000-2001 and was recently voted as one of the top eleven (11) players in NCAA soccer over the past 50 years.
Match Schedule
Wed, July 7, 9:30am – vs San Juan Senior U-18 (at Bourg Malatresse)
Fri, July 9, 9am – vs Ma Pau U-18 (at Ma Pau training field)
Mon, July 12,4pm – vs Jabloteh U-16 (at Bourg Malatresse)
Wed, July 14,4pm – vs SKHY U-16 (at Trincity)