Carlon “Judgement” Hughes and Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings were named as the Most Valuable Players in League One and League Two respectively, as the 2017 Trinidad and Tobago Super League staged its awards ceremony on Wednesday evening. The venue was the Bmobile Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.
Hughes, with a league-leading 30 goals to his name, was a key component in Guaya United’s capture of the league and cup titles. Cummings, the former national midfielder, notched six goals but was a vital member of the Petit Valley/Diego Martin United squad who triumphed in League Two.
Hughes thanked the community of Guayaguayare for their support throughout this season.
“This trophy was well-deserved, for the supporters especially,” he said. “They gave me the inspiration for scoring all these goals. This trophy was for Guaya United.”
Delivering the feature address at the function was League president Keith Look Loy, who promised an improved 2018 season on and off the field.
“We have to grow, and we could only grow if we have an infusion of serious money,” said Look Loy.
He pointed out that former Carib Brewery’s sponsorship and events manager Colin Murray, who serves as an ordinary board member, will assist in that regard.
And Look Loy is hopeful the 2018 season will be televised locally. “I don’t know how we’ll be doing it, but it will be done,” he stressed. “Television brings sponsorship, so we have to be on television.”
He went on to say, “2018 cannot be a repeat of 2017. If we’re merely content to come back and repeat what we’ve done in 2017, then we’re falling behind, not going forward. We have to be better. Ultimately it’s my responsibility to get it done.”
He said the League was able to fulfil his promise of not operating in a deficit which he made before the start of the 2017 season.
“I am pleased to say that we have run this League (with) one sponsor, Bmobile, and through the efforts of the (secretariat) and volunteers, we will complete the year with something like $100,000 in the black,” he declared.
The TT Super League president is also keen to maintain at least one Tobago-based team in the tournament, despite the struggles regarding the inter-island travel services.
Look Loy, who is also the coach of League One runners-up FC Santa Rosa, reflected on the 2017 season, which saw the creation of a new governing body, comprising the membership of all the clubs in the both League One (12) and League Two (seven).
He noted, “We have had great success, not only in my view, but in the view of the board of the TTSL and the players.”
The Super League president boasted, “We have brought crowds back to football. Guaya United may be the chief water-carrier in that respect, but other clubs have done well to return supporters to club football.”
He praised the Ron La Forest-coached Guaya for their League One success. There was also a League One Team of the Year, which was announced at the function.
Super League League One All-Star XI:
Goalkeeper – Kitwana Manning (FC Santa Rosa).
Defenders – Glenton Wolfe (Guaya United), Alfie James (FC Santa Rosa) and Joseph Brown (University of Trinidad and Tobago).
Midfielders – Michael Darko (Cunupia FC), Shaquille Ferrier (Guaya United), Beville Joseph (Guaya United) and Rashad Griffith (FC Santa Rosa).
Strikers – Carlon “Judgement” Hughes (Guaya United), Kevon “Showtime” Woodley (Cunupia FC) and Devon Modeste (Queen’s Park).
RELATED NEWS
TTSL 2017 ends on a high – Team of the season revealed.
ttsuperleague.com.
The Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) brought the curtains down on the inaugural 2017 season with an awards ceremony held at the Bmobile Hospitality Lounge at the Queen’s Park Oval on 13th December.
In the evening’s feature address, TTSL President Keith Look Loy boasted about the TTSL’s financial management, digital marketing and the overall administration from the Secretariat.
“We have achieved a lot of success in 2017,” Look Loy told the gathered audience and media. “From the very beginning, there were people who doubted that we could do what we have done…I believe that the last months of competition have shown that we are fully capable of that.”
“Lots of people now, who don’t necessarily come to to football match, know about the Super League.”
Look Loy also offered his congratulations to the League One champions Guaya United and the ceremony’s three awardees.
“I must give my sincere congratulations to Guaya United…in the end, Guaya had the extra quality on the last day and this is a testament to the quality of our league that it was decided on the last day.”
“I also need to congratulate the three young men to receive these trophies…there is no football without football players and we must not forget that…I need to compliment them,” he continued.
Keron “Ballpest” Cummings was voted as the League Two MVP after returning to his hometown team, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United this season and leading them to promotion to League One with a host of impressive performances.
The glamorous League One MVP award went to none other than the hitman of Guaya United, Carlon “Judgement” Hughes. The ace forward struck fear in opposition defences throughout the season as he racked up an amazing 30 goals.
While from an administrative point of view, Adesh Dwarika was voted as the most outstanding match commissioner.
The ceremony, which was also streamed live online, also catered for the reveal of the TTSL Team of the Season which is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Kitwana Manning – The FC Santa Rosa custodian was commanding between the posts for the “Big Cannons” and appeared in every league match this season, tallying a phenomenal 11 clean sheets. A true shepherd of the defenders in front of him, he is the golden glove winner.
Defender: Glenton Wolffe – Mr Consistent and Captain Fantastic for the champions Guaya United. The rugged left back, who made the move from North East Stars at the start of the season, cemented himself into the hearts of the Guaya faithful and embodied the spirit of the team.
Defender: Alfie James – Joining his goalkeeper in the Team of the Season, is the captain of FC Santa Rosa. The lanky defender does not shy away from his responsibilities and is always up for the challenge. FC Santa Rosa conceded only 16 goals in the league and James was a big reason for that stubbornness at the back.
Defender: Joseph Brown – This imposing young central defender continuously looked the part for UTT in their first season after promotion to League One. Brown is quick and always eager to snuff out danger before it begins.
Midfielder: Beville Joseph – At 36 years of age, many would think that Joseph’s all star days are behind him. However, those individuals would be concertedly wrong. The glue that binds the Guaya United team together, Joseph has used his experience to cleverly dictate the pace of games this season and has even shown up as imperious as ever when called upon to play in central defence.
Midfielder: Shaquille Ferrier – The speed demon of the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground. Before you can blink, this left footed winger would have already raced beyond you. Guaya United is a community based team with players who are tied to the area. Ferrier is by no means any different and rewarded his family and friends in the community with an impressive 8 goals and 4 assists.
Midfielder: Michael Darko – From round 1, this Ghanian midfielder showed that he was ready and able to command the middle of the park in any League One match. Whether it is picking the right pass to free his team mates or even bursting into the box to score one of his 11 league goals, Darko was the heartbeat of a Cunupia FC team that finished the season in blistering form.
Forward: Rashad Griffith – Picking up where his injured team mate Keron Clarke left off, Griffith spearheaded the FC Santa Rosa attack with aplomb. Dangerous with his feet, running in behind or rising like a salmon to head home, Griffith exemplified his threat, by notching 14 goals for the TTSL – League One season.
Forward: Devon Modeste – The timeless wonder. The clever veteran. QPCC’s sole representative in the Team of the Season bamboozled his younger counterparts week in and week out in League One. His composed touch and classy finishing was a sight to behold and he joins Griffith with 14 goals in a very productive season in front of goal for the journeyman forward.
Forward: Kevon Woodley – They call him “Showtime” for a reason! He began the season with Youth Stars in League Two and registered a league high 8 goals for the Tobago outfit before joining the Predators of Cunupia in the mid season transfer window. It id not take him long for him to find his scoring touch in his new team. Nor did it take long for League One fans to see why they call him “Showtime”. The field is his stage and with a bag of tricks as big as Santa’s famous red sack, Woodley wowed crowds as he totaled 10 goals and 7 assists.
Forward: Carlon Hughes – The League One MVP needs little introduction. 30 league goals affords you such luxuries. “Judgement” was passed down onto any and all opposing teams that came eye to eye with the stellar forward. Hughes is the complete centre forward. Boasting a deft touch, a deadly right foot, an accurate left, precise headers, clever movement…the list goes on and on. Top goalscorer by more than double what his his nearest counterparts scored, Hughes displayed enviable variety to his game by also providing 5 assists. A true champion and a toast to Guaya United.
TTSL – League One Team of the Season was selected by the TTSL Editorial Team based on goals, assists, team of the week appearances, match commissioner nominations and coaches nominations.
11