Central go six points clear as Fenwick sent off in fiery Pro League return

Say what you like about Terry Fenwick—and most do—but never let it be said that the Englishman does not know how to make an entrance. Central FC’s new old coach began his second term at the “Couva Sharks” with a 3-0 triumph over his former employer, San Juan Jabloteh that was largely overshadowed by chaotic scenes at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.

At the final whistle, spectators witnessed three red cards, referee Crystal Sobers was hounded throughout and Fenwick was ordered to the stands midway through the first half.

Photo: Welcome back! Central FC coach Terry Fenwick (left) was ordered out of the technical area by fourth official Rashby McPhie on his Pro League return against San Juan Jabloteh. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Welcome back!
Central FC coach Terry Fenwick (left) was ordered out of the technical area by fourth official Rashby McPhie on his Pro League return against San Juan Jabloteh.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Business as usual for fiery Fenwick then? Well, not quite.

For once, the Englishman was more victim than antagonist as his return to Trinidad—after a short, disastrous stint in the Belgium lower league—ended in farce and chaos at Macoya.

Central, the club created by Sport Minister Brent Sancho and now run by his special advisor Kevin Harrison, turned its organisation upside down roughly two weeks ago to replace Yugoslav-born coach Zoran Vranes with Fenwick. And then they forgot to register Fenwick.

It meant that Fenwick, who thought he was making his official debut, was unceremoniously ordered out of the technical area as soon as match officials were alerted to the issue.

“It was an oversight,” Harrison told Wired868.

Fair play to Harrison for putting his hand up; but it was a ridiculous error, even at domestic level. The fact that Fenwick was able to start the match on the bench at all suggested Harrison, who is now simultaneously Ministry of Sport advisor and Central operations director, was not the only person asleep on the job.

Photo: Defence Force winger Jemel Sebro (far left) celebrates his strike against W Connection with Devorn Jorsling (far right) and teammates at the Marvin Lee Stadium. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Defence Force winger Jemel Sebro (far left) celebrates his strike against W Connection with Devorn Jorsling (far right) and teammates at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

By the end of the night, though, Harrison must have been quite pleased as the Sharks made the most of Jabloteh’s implosion and a shock 4-1 DIRECTV W Connection loss to Defence Force to move closer to their maiden Pro League title. Central are now six points clear of Connection with three matches remaining although the latter outfit, who are the defending champions, enjoy a game in hand.

Fenwick was not the only debutant in Macoya yesterday. Kelshall Alexander made his first appearance as technical director for Defence Force and might be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss over Connection is about.

The “Savonetta Boys”, who were fresh from their 2015 TTFA FA Trophy final loss to North East Stars, were without injured defender Mekeil Williams and attacker Jerrel Britto and suspended playmaker Hashim Arcia. But that seemed little excuse for their shambolic defending that gifted Defence Force two goals inside the first six minutes.

Only one minute and nine seconds had elapsed when veteran striker Devorn Jorsling, the Pro League’s leading marksman, opened the scoring with an uncontested header from inside the six yard box off a Jemel Sebro cross. And Defence Force received an encore in the sixth minute as midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar, also criminally unmarked, headed in a second from a Kerry Joseph free kick.


Photo: W Connection flanker Aikim Andrews (left) tries to outrun Defence Force stopper Rodell Elcock in Pro League action at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection flanker Aikim Andrews (left) tries to outrun Defence Force stopper Rodell Elcock in Pro League action at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Jorsling got his double in the 41st minute—his 16th league goal of the season—with a fine half volley off another Joseph cross while Jemel Sebro got the Army’s fourth in the second half after an intricate passing move that involved Balthazar and left back Aklie Edwards. Shahdon Winchester’s close ranged finish in first half stoppage time was not nearly enough for Connection.

Fenwick is now within touching distance of local football’s most prestigious trophy without breaking a sweat. Maybe he will even get to sit on the bench next week.

In the covered stands, Vranes sat with arms folded watching the proceedings. While Fenwick stood just in front of the car park so as, presumably, to communicate with his squad despite his lack of credentials. Central was paying two European coaches to not coach its first team.

Insert joke about Harrison’s suitability for the CEPEP portfolio here.

Photo: Central FC coach Terry Fenwick (centre) was forced to follow the action from just in front the Centre of Excellence's parking lot on his Pro League return against San Juan Jabloteh. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC coach Terry Fenwick (centre) was forced to follow the action from just in front the Centre of Excellence’s parking lot on his Pro League return against San Juan Jabloteh.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

But Jabloteh’s indiscipline put Central’s administrative lapse to shame.

For the first 45 minutes, the expensively assembled Central team and Jabloteh’s cut price squad of journeymen competed as equals. Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Ataulla Guerra opened the scoring with a brilliant free kick in the 37th minute.

But, that moment apart, Jabloteh impressed with a mobile and flexible midfield quintet supported well by adventurous right back Garth Thomas. Central had reverted from 3-5-2 to Fenwick’s preferred 4-4-2 formation while defender Jamal Jack started in central midfield in a largely unsuccessful attempt to disrupt Jabloteh’s passing game. Yet it was the “San Juan Kings” who impressed early on.

Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey and his outfit should be a force to reckon with next season as they continue to grow from strength to strength. But, first, Jeffrey must address the disgraceful scenes that occurred in the second half.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Jabloteh utility player Jevon Morris—a man, to borrow a police euphemism, who is well known to the Pro League’s disciplinary committee—was ejected for two violent gestures in the space of three minutes as he raised an elbow at Central’s Jamal Jack and then swung a boot at Jason Marcano’s midsection.

Photo: Referee Crystal Sobers (right) ejects San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Fabian Reid for dissent. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Referee Crystal Sobers (right) ejects San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Fabian Reid for dissent.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Another seven minutes later, Jabloteh lost another player as Jamaican Fabian Reid raged at referee Crystal Sobers for her failure to whistle after he was manhandled by Central’s Kaydion Gabriel.

Reid had a point and Sobers allowed his initial show of dissent. But the Jamaican was ejected when he got into the referee’s face to continue his rant.

Reid is unlikely to have told Sobers anything as imaginative as his teammate, Caleb Sturge, who was also dismissed in the 78th minute after he too felt that the referee failed to spot an infringement on him

Sturge, according to the match commissioner, informed Sobers as to what he would like to introduce to her rear end. And it was not a chair. Pick up lines are apparently not what they used to be.

Seconds earlier, Jack had doubled Central’s lead after a Guerra through pass. And Guerra got the Sharks’ third in the 84th minute following an assist from Willis Plaza.

Photo: Kiss that trophy goodbye, W. Central FC attacker Ataulla Guerra (second from left) scored twice yesterday as the "Couva Sharks" moved a step closer to dethroning Pro League champions W Connection. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Kiss that trophy goodbye, W.
Central FC attacker Ataulla Guerra (second from left) scored twice yesterday as the “Couva Sharks” moved a step closer to dethroning Pro League champions W Connection.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Central might be making room in their trophy cabinet now. Connection need a miracle.

(Teams)

Central FC (4-2-2-2): 21.Jan-Michael Williams (GK); 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 5.Akeem Benjamin, 2.Elton John, 24.Kevon Villaroel; 12.Jamal Jack, 6.Leston Paul (captain); 7.Jason Marcano (8.Sean De Silva 76), 11.Darren Mitchell (19.Nathaniel Garcia 78); 45.Ataulla Guerra, 33.Willis Plaza.

Unused substitutes: 1.Javon Sample (GK), 3.Keion Goodridge, 10.Marvin Oliver, 29.Upston Edwards, 99.Dwight Quintero.

Coach: Terry Fenwick

 

San Juan Jabloteh (4-3-2-1): 30.Shane Mattis (GK); 4.Garth Thomas, 15.Isaiah McIntyre, 24.Adrian Reid, 22.Caleb Sturge [Red card]; 11.Damian Williams (3.Brent Sam 69), 12.Brendon Boucaud (9.Johan Peltier 72), 18.Jevon Morris [Red card]; 17.Fabian Reid [Red card], 10.Kerry Baptiste (29.Tyrone Charles 58); 8.Newton Sterling.

Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 19.Dillon Kirton, 21.Neil Mitchell, 28.Kendes Garcia.

Coach: Keith Jeffrey

 

Referee: Crystal Sobers

 

Pro League results

(Tue Apr 7)

Central FC 3 (Ataulla Guerra 37, 84, Jamal Jack 76), San Juan Jabloteh 0 at the Marvin Lee Stadium;

Defence Force 4 (Devorn Jorsling 2, 41, Jerwyn Balthazar 6, Jemel Sebro 63), W Connection 1 (Shahdon Winchester 45) at the Marvin Lee Stadium;

Point Fortin Civic 2 (Marcus Joseph 22, Weslie John 44), St Ann’s Rangers 1 (Sayid Freitas 14) at the Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Caledonia AIA 1 (Purnell Schultz 86), Police FC 0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium;

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About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

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48 comments

  1. And soon if it didn’t happen already another one of my foreign base Coaches/ Technical Directors will be coming to be the Technical Director of our National team, he was the coach of Weschester University out there in Pennsylvania for many years and always use to call me up to bring a bomb squad team from Brooklyn to compete against his team and other teams in out door and indoor tournaments and he also once represented our national team back in the days so he knows his subject and have plenty experience below is belt I won’t mention his name as yet I will wait patiently until Mr. Live Wire does the introduction when it is a done deal.

  2. Yeah I agree and which was long over due but thanks to Mr. Live Wire and wired 868 and also to my real Foreign Base professional Coaches and administrators eh, we shall surely rise again I am a believer.

  3. I hear yuh Earl Mango Pierre. Good to see some order being established in Trinidad football ah see

  4. Prince Borde yuh just hit the nail on the head eh, and I just like the bacchanal thing to eh, to the point where a certain young fellow in Crooklyn does take it personal and always like to run up his mouth when I am having meh fun on wired to yes. Them really good yes.

  5. Only on wired the coach and owner of the top club comes on and contribute to all this entertainment ah just read. Love it

  6. And if I was the Coach of the police team eh, I wudda pull meh police team from playing in the professional league and who wants to play in the minor league, or in our police interdepartment league, or the northern league eh, they can play because as I always say some police officers have no discipline and knows nutten about professionalism. Them really good yes.

  7. well you know how the football in our professional league does go Mr. Live Wire sometimes we are expecting a team to do well on game day and then they are beaten ent, look at meh police team when W- Connection dropped 6 goals on them eh and the captain of meh police team well cuss up his players because some of them went and play minor league football the day before that encounter with W- Connection eh, in my time when I use to play for meh police team eh, yuh think we were going and play for any minor league team to get $100 dollars eh, and police have a game eh, these nowadays football players really good yes.

  8. Jabloteh really let themselves down though. And W is usually such a solid defensive team. I was speechless.

  9. Excitement always follows Coach Fenwick oui. Lol.

  10. It definitely wasn’t Norris, Mango.

  11. Well I am blaming whoever was the match commissioner eh, and I hope that it wasn’t meh friend Norris Ferguson because he shudda picked that up early before Coach Fenwick went out with the team and sat on the bench . Them really good yes.

  12. Earl Mango Pierre it’s not quite the same. I wouldn’t describe Terry as illegal! But a pass is required to sit on the bench.

  13. Trust but verify boys… first rule of management

  14. I think Terence is referring to the article title Lasana.

  15. So wait North East Stars used and illegal player against W- Connection and won the FA Cup eh, and now Central F.C. used an illegal Coach Fenwick to beat up Jabloteh eh. Them really good yes.

  16. Welcome back Terence William Fenwick! I know you will spice up things now

  17. Kevin Harrison, yes the buck stops with you, but whoever was responsible for the oversight should be fined by the club. And why are the players so disrespectful the the female ref? Is it because she’s not a man and they try to push the boundaries?

  18. I understood that fully Terry. So I said you were ordered out of the technical area but did not say you were shown a red card.
    I explained in the story too that it was not your fault. The incident just offered more intrigue for the match report.

  19. Fourth official and the referee were very nice and courteous, I’ll maybe take them to dinner later this week

  20. You just can’t get the staff these days!

  21. Maybe a correction or follow up explanation Lasana as I was not sent off but rather asked to leave the technical area as CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION had not completed my registration?

  22. Jabloteh really let themselves down though. And W is usually such a solid defensive team. I was speechless.

  23. Lasana Liburd you are correct: The buck stops here! As for pressing business, well there is the small matter of the Caribbean Club Championship next week and Central opened their Chuck E Cheese coaching school at Lange Park yesterday. But, no excuses. Still I’d rather take the licks and open up a 6 point lead with two games remaining, than be perfect and tied at the top with W!!

  24. Adrian Romain I’m not disagreeing with you, Kevin Harrison accepted responsibility, he now have to ask questions about his staff, because they place the head coach in a very embarrassing position. When I saw the headline I wondered what Terence William Fenwick did now because i know he’s a passionate guy when it comes to the game of football. That being said I love watching Central, but as a shift worker i couldn’t be there today.

  25. Jevon Cox I sure we all as humans leave stuff for people to do with that trust that it will be done

  26. Yes you are right Adrian Romain but is Harrison is the “Operations Director” isn’t he?

  27. That’s good to know Adrian. All the same, it didn’t get done. And I don’t think Central FC had much more pressing business to do this last week than to ensure their new coach was ready to lead his team into battle.
    Kevin Harrison, to his credit, did not shirk his responsibility. The leader is always in charge.
    When you delegate, it doesn’t mean you no longer have responsibility. As a leader you are supposed to supervise and set deadlines to ensure that things you assigned to others were done.
    It was an embarrassing situation to put Fenwick into.

  28. I think this has nothing to do with there portfolios at the sports ministry it’s very simple maths at central fc people is given roles and responsibilities there is no way Kevin Harrison needs to be over his staff to get this done its part of the responsibility of the technical management staff and I can assure you knowing him he had this on his white board in the office as emergency …,

  29. They may have being too busy handling the sporting affairs of TnT, however I do hope there isn’t any oversights taking place at the sorts ministry.

  30. It is embarrassing in normal circumstances. Worse so now that everyone is watching Central FC as it has recently supplied the country with its sport minister and his advisor.
    Not that mistakes don’t happen of course.

  31. I read it fully just wanted clarification here very shocked .ll

  32. The answer to your question is within the article, but to save you the trouble, yes.

  33. Why was he sent to the stands Lasana Liburd registration ?

  34. Hahaa couldn’t have said it better myself

  35. lmao…..good one Lasana Liburd

  36. Something in the air at the Centre of Excellence? Probably an appropriate place for anyone to show no respect for the law. 🙂

  37. Three red cards? Wow. The Marvin Lee venue seems to be bringing the worst out of players recently.

  38. Keon Trim, Jevon was actually referring to an incident that had nothing to do with Fenwick.

  39. Wat ever it was, it doesn’t take away his ability 2 bring d best out of players.

  40. “Sturge, according to the match commissioner, informed Sobers as to what he would like to introduce to her rear end. And it was not a chair.” smh…….had a good laugh while wondering what’s wrong with these guys, they need to keep it professional.

  41. Central fc is gonna create history in d CFU. Watch & c folks.

  42. Best coach by a mile in d league doh!

  43. Typical Terry. Jus luv 2 entertain d fans. Lol

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