BALMAIN
CENTRAL FC really suck at football chants.
But they were the best professional football team in Trinidad and Tobago for the 2014-2015 football season.
The “Couva Sharks” won the Digicel Pro League title on Tuesday night after getting second half goals from Atualla Guerra (68th minute) and Willis Plaza (87th) near the very end, for a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over North East Stars at Ato Boldon Stadium.
They later celebrated with a season-ending after party at New Settlement ground in Chaguanas.
At the end, England-born Terry Fenwick, Central head coach paid tribute to Serbian Zoran Vranes who was in charge for all but the final three matches, when Fenwick was re-instated after his return from an unsuccessful coaching stint in Belgium. Fenwick was seen motioning for Vranes to join the celebrations.
“There been a great job done here and first and foremost I would like to thank Vranes for the terrific job all season,” stated former England defender Fenwick. “I brought him down out of the stands because he deserved it. He has been here for a long period of the season. I came in, and got them over the line at the end.
“It’s our first league championship and a huge thing for Central FC,”Fenwick added.
“The boys have been head and shoulders above the rest of the league all season and thoroughly deserved it. The rest just come second.”
Central ended the season with 17 victories from 23 matches played and 55 points, at least three more than second-placed W Connection can manage, even if they win their final match against San Juan Jabloteh tomorrow night.
Earlier, dethrone champions W Connection trailed Police in the seventh minute through Makesi Lewis, who shot low down the middle before Connection scored a late winner and a similar 2-1 victory over a highly-competitive Police team—who had both coach Richard Hood and trainer Brian Headley sent off by referee Rodfin Harris.
Hasim Arcia (44th & 90th) got both W Connection goals equalising at 1-1 before the half, scoring in an open goal and then got the winner near the very end, with a low shot to the far corner. Trailing Central by six points with a huge goal-difference, Connection need to win their final two matches of the season by huge margins and hope Stars also beat Central FC.
Connection did themselves no favours, hitting the woodwork three times through Jerrel Britto, Jomal Williams and Neil Benjamin—all of whom also had incredible misses on the night. Police, who fielded one of their best squads of the season, also hit the frame twice and could have won a fiercely contested match as well.
Likewise, when national Under-20 midfielder Neveal Hackshaw tricked T&T national goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams with a low shot to the near post, the Stars “Grande” led 1-0 after just four minutes.
Afterwards, Stars mainly fell back, apart from industrious work from lone striker Kennedy “Shortman” Hinkson up front and the ever-dangerous Keron Cummings in support. But Central mainly laboured to break the bunker, although having the lion’s share of possession. And Stars goalie Cleon John also came up with at least three saves, including a point-blank flying effort to stop a sure Sean De Silva goal.
Central only equalised in the 68th when Guerra guided the ball to the far corner, and Plaza got some help from his lazy marker who he turned easily and blasted the winner late in the match. Thus began the celebrations and the continuation of the mundane chant–the English influence of owner Kevin Harrison and coach Fenwick, both Britons—quite obvious.