Tobagonian Kelshall Alexander says that team spirit from the entire technical staff and players was key to Defence Force capturing the $240,000 winners cheque in the 2015/2016 CNG National Super League Premier Division on Sunday.
The “Teteron Men” went into their final round match against cellar-placed Stokely Vale needing a win to be certain of the title and did so in emphatic style with an 8-2 spanking of the visitors at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, led by a beaver-trick from Josimar Belgrave, a hat-trick by Michael Edwards and one from Christon Thomas.
With the win Defence Force ended its 28-match campaign with 66 points, one more than Guaya United which defeated La Horquetta S.A, 3-1 for the $120,000 runner-up prize and commenting on the title triumph, 42-year-old Corporal Alexander said, “ I don’t think our success cannot be put down to any one individual person, but a total team effort as from the start of the season we all had the same goal in mind and that was to be champions when the season concludes.
Reflecting on the topsy-turvy race with Guaya United which led the table for a considerable amount of time as well during the season, before slipping up, Alexander, a former Defence Force T&T Pro League player said he always had confidence in his team. “We knew Guaya was one of the teams to watch from the start of the season and when they took early lead on the table, we just needed to take it one match at a time and hope that things go our away. “They (Guaya) slipped up and we took full advantage and in the end, won by the narrowest of margins.
Alexander was also full of praise for the contributions made by his senior players in Belgrave, Edwards, Baptiste, Keston Williams, goalkeeper Kevin Graham, Dexter Pacheco, Dexter Thornhill and captain Christopher Durity. He said, “These guys were very important to the team not just on the field of play, but as leaders in the dressing room as well with the wealth of experience they brough from playing at the higher level at national teams and the Pro League.”
“I also depended on them a lot to bring a higher level of discipline to the group as well, because having been part of the Defence Force Pro League title winning teams in the past, they all know what is required to attain success, and it was evident that it trickled down to the rest of the guys in the team, to bring reward.
Despite the inclusion of the experienced players Alexander admitted that it was not all easy as times, because as a former player it was somethings frustrating to see your game plan and instructions not be carried out. He stated, “As an ex-player I have to admit I was tempted at times to put back on my playing gears, but I am normally involved with the training sessions as a player so I was able to let them see first hand, how I wanted things to be done and they responded well on most occasions.”
Looking ahead, Alexander said his players will have the week off before resuming training on February 29 for the T&T Football Association FA Trophy competition. “The FA competition is due to start soon and while the date has not been finalised we don’t want to be caught off guard. So we have to keep our momentum and focus as we want to make a big impact in the tournament as well,” warned Alexander.
In addition to the league crown, Belgrave also captured the “Most Goals” accolade with a stunning 31 goals, while La Horquetta joined Stokely Vale as the two clubs to be demoted to the Championship Division as Real Maracas and Bethel United both picked up points in their contest. 1976 Tobago Phoenix and Matura Re United, which ended third and fourth on the table collected $100,000 and $80,000 respectively.
Results
Sunday:
Police FC 3 (Kareem Perry 28th, 37th, 64th) vs Petrotrin Palo Seco 2 (Brent Garcia 59th, own goal 65th)
WASA FC 3 (Kirth Hutchinson 60th, Gary Glasgow 65th) vs Tobago FC Phoenix 1976 0
Real Maracas FC 3 (Aaron Peters 69th, Marvin Manswell 88th, 90th) vs FC Santa Rosa 2 (Keston Henry 26th, Jean-Paul Aqui-Blanc 56th)
Siparia Spurs 3 (Andy London 61st, 87th, Daniel Garcia 80th) vs Club Sando Moruga 1 (Shakell Louison 29th)
Guaya United 3 (Kheelon Ferrier 11th, Erarlon Thomas 52nd, Carlon Hughes 78th) vs La Horquetta S.A 1 (Keston Jones 16th)
Bethel United 1 (Densyl James 24th) vs Matura Re United 1 (Keryn Vincent 6th)
Defence Force 8 (Josimar Belgrave 37th, 49th, 69th, 80th, Michael Edwards 46th, 63rd, 72nd, Christon Baptiste 83rd) vs Stokely Vale FC 2 (Krishawn Joseph 36th, Travis Winchester 53rd)
Final Standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Defence Force 28 21 3 4 76 33 66
Guaya Utd 28 21 2 5 77 43 65
Tobago Phoenix 28 16 5 8 53 37 52
Matura ReUtd 28 13 7 8 48 49 46
Siparia Spurs 28 12 9 7 61 57 45
WASA FC 28 12 4 12 42 33 40
FC Santa Rosa 28 11 7 10 46 40 40
Marabella Family 28 10 9 9 58 54 39
Police FC 28 11 5 12 57 49 38
Club Sando Moruga 28 11 5 12 48 52 38
Petrotrin Palo Seco 28 7 6 15 47 58 27
Real Maracas 28 8 3 17 37 55 27
Bethel Utd 28 7 4 17 35 55 25
La Horquetta S.A. 28 6 6 16 46 73 24
Stokely Vale 28 3 8 17 30 73 17
RELATED NEWS
Defence Force take aim for fifth straight Super League crown
T&T Newsday Reports.
DEFENCE FORCE completed their successful campaign in the Premiership Division of the CNG National Super League in emphatic fashion on Sunday.
At the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Defence Force annihilated table-proppers Stokely Vale 8-2 to clinch the 2015-2016 title.
Guaya United, the only other team left with a chance to take the title, did their part in defeating La Horquetta SA 3-1 at the Larry Gomes Stadium Training Field, Arima. But they finished on 65 points, one point behind Defence Force.
Both La Horquetta and Stokely Vale will be relegated to the 2016-2017 Championship Division, as they have occupied the last two positions on the 15-team standings. And Queen’s Park, the 2015-2016 Championship Division winners, will be promoted to the 2016-2017 Premiership Division.
At Macoya, Josimar Belgrave registered a beaver-trick while Michael Edwards recorded a hattrick in the one-sided rout.
Belgrave, who topped the scoring chart with 31 goals, found the back of the net in the 37th, 49th, 69th and 80th minutes while Edwards, who was joint third with Guaya’s captain Ryan Stewart with 23 goals, struck in the 46th, 63rd and 72nd minutes on Sunday.
The other goal for Defence Force was scored by Christon Baptiste (83rd).
Stokely Vale, who won three times this season (the lowest of the 15 participants), got a goal apiece from Krishawn Joseph (36th) and Travis Winchester (53rd).
At Arima, Guaya took the lead in the 11th minute courtesy of Kheelon Ferrier but Keston Jones equalised five minutes later. Earlon Thomas restored Guaya’s advantage in the 52nd and Carlon Hughes, the season’s second-highest scorer with 25, scored in the 78th.
Tobago Phoenix FC 1976 finished in third place, despite a 2-0 loss away to WASA FC. Kirth Hutchinson (60th) and ex-Trinidad and Tobago striker Gary Glasgow (65th) got the goals for the hosts, who jumped three places to sixth on the standings.
Fourth-placed Matura ReUnited were held to a 1-1 draw away to Bethel United at the Montgomery Recreation Ground.
Kerrin Vincent gave Matura a sixth minute lead but Densyl James levelled the scores in the 24th.
Police climbed up one place to ninth after a 3-2 win against Petrotrin Palo Seco at the Palo Seco Velodrome. Kareem Perry scored a hat-trick for Police, in the 28th, 37th and 64th, while Palo Seco were reliant on a strike from Brent Garcia (59th) and an own goal (65th).
Andy London scored twice, in the 61st and 87th, as Siparia Spurs took care of 2014-2015 winners Club Sando Moruga 3-1 at the Petrotrin Ground in Fyzabad.
Daniel Garcia (80th) got the other item for Siparia, while Shakell Louison (29th) scored for Club Sando Moruga.
Another team earning a comefrom- behind win were Real Maracas, who got past FC Santa Rosa 3-2 at the Maracas Recreation Ground. Keston Henry (26th) and Jean-Paul Aqui-Blanc (56th) were on target for Santa Rosa but Maracas responded with goals from Aaron Peters (69th) and Marvin Manswell (88th and 90th).
11