Trinidad and Tobago will say goodbye to a 1950s football treasure when Allan "Caracas" Joseph is laid to rest today at the San Juan RC Church from 9.30 a.m.
The elder Joseph was the first of a football family of five, including late Austin, Tim Joseph, and Sedley.
His lone sister, Semoy, is the wife of former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies cricketer Andy Ganteaume, also a notable footballer.
Joseph was a successful captain for Maple Sports Club, Ganteaume remembered, sweeping football titles for four consecutive years, from 1950-53, including the FA Trophy.
This feat was repeated by Sedley for the same club years later.
"He (Allan) was a general sportsman. Football was his best game," said Ganteaume yesterday. "But he also won the club (Maple) tennis tournament. He was a better than average batsman, and a horse racing enthusiast."
A stint with the national football team which travelled to England in the 1950s was also on Joseph's resume, according to Mrs Ganteaume, with good success in midfield.
"They called him 'Caracas' because he used to head the ball. He was always very interested in the game. He liked sports...played some tennis, played billiards as well, and he played a bit of cricket, but he was a lazy cricketer," she related fondly.
During his early career, Joseph went to Venezuela along with three other Trinidadians, Nathaniel "Natty" Sealy, Neville "Watty" Douglas and Claude Morris to play professional football.
Once a right winger, he returned to T&T playing in central midfield.
Joseph was a father of five and lived in Trincity with his daughter Charlene until his death.
Following the funeral service, he will be laid to rest at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery in Port of Spain.