Stokely Vale FC who was dethroned after winning the League Championship title for the last three consecutive years, still walked away with the Team of the Year Award at the Tobago Football Association (TFA) prizegiving function hosted at the Dwight Yorke Stadium Conference Room, last Wednesday.
Over two hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($220,000) in prize money was awarded to teams in various competitions for the season which was funded by the Tobago House of Assembly Sports Division and the main sponsors, Digicel. Major recipients were Georgia F.C., $40 000 for winning the Premier Division, 1st runners-up Stokely Vale, $30 000 and Roxborough Lakers, FA Champions, $28,000.
Georgia FC's Rodney Nelson who had a terrific season and was one of the key players behind Georgia's success was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Premier Division, while the man who guided them to the title, Frank 'Kung-Fu' Edwards won the Coach of the Year award and the temperamental Michael Carrington was voted the Zonal Conference's Most Valuable Player.
Harvey Jack, President of the TFA, expressed his disappointment at the fact that the Dwight Yorke Stadium was not available to them for most of the season. This, he said, severely affected their ability to earn revenue. He added, it also resulted in them losing a major sponsor for 2009, Clico Investment Bank, whom he said had agreed to a trial run of advertising during their games at the Stadium this year before committing to 2009. He lauded the Executive members for their support throughout a very turbulent year and encouraged persons with the necessary expertise to vie for important positions in election year 2009 when they host their Annual General Meeting in 2009.
Digicel representative, Michelle Cumberbash, praised the Association for completing a very successful season. She congratulated the T.H.A. for recognizing sports as a stabilizing force in the community and for hosting the recent Tobago Sports Symposium which shows that the country's leaders are concerned about the development of the island's sporting talents.
Councillor Tracy Davidson - Celestine, Assistant Secretary of Sports highlighted some of the initiatives of the Assembly in sports for 2008. She indicated that over $4M was spent for the year in the installation of lights at recreation grounds at Goodwood and Charlotteville and refurbishment work at Plymouth and Canaan. This, she said, showed that her organization was determined to put the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure an improvement in the standard of football and sports in general on the island.
The Assembly's representative pledged the continued support of the Assembly in providing the necessary resources and infrastructure but cautioned the Association that its members must maximise the use these facilities in and out of the season.
Honour Roll:
Under16 Champions - St. Clair's Coaching School - $15,00 & 25 Gold Medals
Big Seven Promotional Playoffs:
1st - Mason Hall Sports and Soccer School - $6,000 and 25 Gold Medals
2nd - Northside Combined - $4,000 and 25 Silver Medals
3rd - 1976 F.C. Phoenix - $3,000 and 25 Bronze Medals
F.A. Cup: Champion - Roxborough Lakers - $20,000
Runner-up - Charlotteville Unifiers - $10,000
3rd - Hills United - $7,000
4th - Black Rock United - $3,000
Premier Division:
Champion - Georgia F.C. - $40,000, Trophy and 25 Gold Medals
2nd - Stokely Vale F.C. - $20,000 and 25 Silver Medals
3rd - St. Clair's Coaching School - $15,000 and 25 Bronze Medals
Leading Goal Scorers:
Conference - Rodney Nelson - Mt Grace United - 26 goals
Premier Division - Kenyon Manswell - Goal City - 21 goals
Most Valuable Player:
Conference - Michael Carrington - Black Rock United
Premier Division - Kerron Phillips - Georgia F.C.
Coach of the Year - Frank Edwards - Georgia F.C.
Team of the Year - Stokely Vale