20 year old defender, Dwight Pope, scored in the 6th minute of the Toyota Classic match against Joe Public to overcome The Sharks’ perceived disadvantage at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Saturday night.
The fixture had raised complaints from the California based team because the venue, Joe Publics artificial surface at Marvin Lee Stadium clearly gave the Super League club an advantage.
“The shocking thing about this issue is; not only was a supposedly neutral draw compromised, but that it appears that nobody can see the ramifications” said Central F.C. Operations Director, Kevin Harrison.
“The competition rules clearly state that there is not necessarily home advantage for teams drawn first.
They also state that a factor in the awarding of venues is the leagues desire to maximise the numbers of supporters attending the games. While we fundamentally support these concepts, how can we then be carded to play a game where the second drawn team is at home? It makes no sense.”
The Central F.C. players, who were determined to play the game wherever it was staged, clearly have set their sights on a second trophy this season, and exploded into action. In a game that The Sharks totally dominated, Joe Public had no chance of using their knowledge of the artificial surface to their advantage. It was a poor game for goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams to use as preparation for the forth coming clash between T&T and Jamaica, as he hardly touched the ball and had no saves to make.
Central F.C. squandered many clear chances, with Dwight Quintero looking lively up front. But it was the introduction of his strike partner, Rundell Winchester, in the 62nd minute that produced the destruction of Joe Public. Within 2 minutes of his appearance, the “Quinchester” partnership produced the second goal, with the two 19 year olds combining.
Winchester, who has again been selected for the national squad for the upcoming Jamaica games, is looking more like the all round strike partner that Kenwyne Jones has been looking for. With his blistering pace and his ability to find a team mate when at high speed down the flanks, Winny could build a partnership with Jones that may provide a handful for any of the regions defenses.
Winchester stated his claim for a starting place against Jamaica with his own strike three minutes later, to prompt the question: is this the deadliest strike force in the Pro League?
“One remembers classic strike partnerships such as the Blackburn S.A.S. – Sutton and Shearer or, of course, our own Dwight Yorke’s partnership with Andrew Cole at Manchester United.” said Harrison.
“And, of course, we’ve seen the deadly Defence Force partnerships combining Jorsling, Carter and Roy. But you have to remember that Winny and Quinny are both only 19. I can’t think of a formidable strike partnership like “Quinchester” where both players were under 20.
But despite their overwhelming victory, Central F.C. intends to continue their complaint surrounding the choice of venue. “We will play at any reasonable venue, including Marvin Lee Stadium. But we will write to the Pro League’s competitions committee to express our concern.”
Said Harrison “Whenever Joe Public are drawn as an away team, using whatever criteria you choose, they cannot compete at Marvin Lee Stadium where they have a clear perceived advantage. This is just plain common sense. There was a very simple solution, but our concerns were totally ignored. If we aspire to be a league of international reputation, we must ensure that we deal with issues correctly and a proper format is followed to deal with such issues.”
Harrison also hit out at the lack of venues available to professional football. “We clearly have huge problems” he said.
“We have the F.A. Trophy just beginning, the Toyota Classic underway and school football reaching it’s climax, yet we only have Ato Boldon, Marvin Lee and Hasely Crawford available. Julia Baptiste at the Pro League does a magnificent job under the circumstances, shuffling fixtures, sometimes at short notice. Praise must also be give to the grounds man at Ato Boldon Stadium, which is taking a real pasting in the wet conditions. Mr John, the stadium manager, is trying to accommodate as must as possible, but I’m sure he’d prefer to see less football at the moment!”
20 year old defender, Dwight Pope, scored in the 6th minute of the Toyota Classic match against Joe Public to overcome The Sharks’ perceived disadvantage at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Saturday night. The fixture had raised complaints from the California based team because the venue, Joe Publics artificial surface at Marvin Lee Stadium clearly gave the Super League club an advantage.
“The shocking thing about this issue is; not only was a supposedly neutral draw compromised, but that it appears that nobody can see the ramifications” said Central F.C. Operations Director, Kevin Harrison.
“The competition rules clearly state that there is not necessarily home advantage for teams drawn first. They also state that a factor in the awarding of venues is the leagues desire to maximise the numbers of supporters attending the games. While we fundamentally support these concepts, how can we then be carded to play a game where the second drawn team is at home? It makes no sense.”
The Central F.C. players, who were determined to play the game wherever it was staged, clearly have set their sights on a second trophy this season, and exploded into action. In a game that The Sharks totally dominated, Joe Public had no chance of using their knowledge of the artificial surface to their advantage. It was a poor game for goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams to use as preparation for the forth coming clash between T&T and Jamaica, as he hardly touched the ball and had no saves to make.
Central F.C. squandered many clear chances, with Dwight Quintero looking lively up front. But it was the introduction of his strike partner, Rundell Winchester, in the 62nd minute that produced the destruction of Joe Public. Within 2 minutes of his appearance, the “Quinchester” partnership produced the second goal, with the two 19 year olds combining.
Winchester, who has again been selected for the national squad for the upcoming Jamaica games, is looking more like the all round strike partner that Kenwyne Jones has been looking for. With his blistering pace and his ability to find a team mate when at high speed down the flanks, Winny could build a partnership with Jones that may provide a handful for any of the regions defences.
Winchester stated his claim for a starting place against Jamaica with his own strike three minutes later, to prompt the question: is this the deadliest strike force in the Pro League?
“One remembers classic strike partnerships such as the Blackburn S.A.S. – Sutton and Shearer or, of course, our own Dwight Yorke’s partnership with Andrew Cole at Manchester United.” said Harrison. “And, of course, we’ve seen the deadly Defence Force partnerships combining Jorsling, Carter and Roy. But you have to remember that Winny and Quinny are both only 19. I can’t think of a formidable strike partnership like “Quinchester” where both players were under 20.
But despite their overwhelming victory, Central F.C. intends to continue their complaint surrounding the choice of venue.
“We will play at any reasonable venue, including Marvin Lee Stadium. But we will write to the Pro League’s competitions committee to express our concern.” Said Harrison “Whenever Joe Public are drawn as an away team, using whatever criteria you choose, they cannot compete at Marvin Lee Stadium where they have a clear perceived advantage. This is just plain common sense. There was a very simple solution, but our concerns were totally ignored. If we aspire to be a league of international reputation, we must ensure that we deal with issues correctly and a proper format is followed to deal with such issues.”
Harrison also hit out at the lack of venues available to professional football. “We clearly have huge problems” he said. “We have the F.A. Trophy just beginning, the Toyota Classic underway and school football reaching it’s climax, yet we only have Ato Boldon, Marvin Lee and Hasely Crawford available.
Julia Baptiste at the Pro League does a magnificent job under the circumstances, shuffling fixtures, sometimes at short notice. Praise must also be give to the grounds man at Ato Boldon Stadium, which is taking a real pasting in the wet conditions. Mr John, the stadium manager, is trying to accommodate as must as possible, but I’m sure he’d prefer to see less football at the moment!”
Central F.C. now look forward to playing Defence Force, who they defeated last month in the First Citizens Cup Final.
As a tribute to T&T’s armed servicemen who fell during armed conflict, Central F.C. will be wearing a red, white and black uniform in their F.A. Trophy clash, and will present a wreath of remembrance to Defence Force before their Toyota Classic encounter.
“As much as we sometimes get over passionate about football” said Harrison “We have to put things into perspective. Trinidad & Tobago servicemen lost their lives fighting to free the world from oppression. We should not take our freedom for granted and we should never forget their sacrifice.”
Harrison added about the fixture: “The army is always a tough game. They’ve had a shaky start to the season, but you can never write them off. Both defences will have to be on top form, as T&T’s deadliest striking partnerships will be on duty that night!”