Leonson, Rahim and Maylee among stars for Wired868 fixture on Saturday

No more licks!

Former “Strike Squad” star Leonson Lewis is promising to end a two-year losing streak for the Wired868XI veterans on Saturday in the fourth annual Wired868 Football Festival from 3 pm on Saturday January 2 at the UWI SPEC ground in St Augustine.

Photo: Former "Strike Squad" star Leonson Lewis (far left) gets excited after his goal in the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at UWI SPEC. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Former “Strike Squad” star Leonson Lewis (far left) gets excited after his goal in the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at UWI SPEC.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Wired868 will again tackle an Invitational XI, organised by former national player and FA Trophy winner Darin Lewis, in the feature event, which kicks off at 3.30 pm.

The Football Festival brings together former national youth and senior players from different eras in a spirit of fun and camaraderie and also gives football fans and Wired868’s readers a chance to join the lime.

Admission is free and there will be entertainment from a house DJ as well as a bouncy castle and miniature golf for children.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national women's team captain Maylee Attin-Johnson met her match with ex-W Connection stand-out Earl Jean at the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at UWI SPEC. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago national women’s team captain Maylee Attin-Johnson met her match with ex-W Connection stand-out Earl Jean at the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at UWI SPEC.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“(The Wired868 Football Festival) is always fun because you play with a lot of talented players and against a younger bunch of skilful players,” Lewis told Wired868. “The competition is close and always fun.”

Lewis will again be partnered by former Strike Squad teammates Clayton Morris and Hutson Charles, Portugal 1991 World Youth Cup duo Anthony Sherwood and Roger Henry, ex-St Lucia and W Connection star Earl Jean and former 2007 and 2009 World Youth Cup coach Anton Corneal.

But Wired868 have also added former UK-based professional and Caribbean Cup winner Anthony Rougier and Women Soca Warriors captain Maylee Attin-Johnson to their ranks.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Arnold Dwarika (top) drives home his country's opening goal in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica. (Copyright AFP 2015)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago attacker Arnold Dwarika (top) drives home his country’s opening goal in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica.
(Copyright AFP 2015)

At the other end, Lewis’ Invitational XI includes former national stand-outs Brent Rahim, Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow, Ancil Elcock, Women Soca Warriors midfielder Janine Francois and World Cup 2006 squad player David Atiba Charles.

Wired868 is grateful to sponsors Cascadia Hotel, Toyota, All Sport Promotions, Massy Stores and Carib for again contributing to this fun event.

Sport Minister Darryl Smith, “Soca Warriors” coach Stephen Hart and Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams are among the special guests for the Football Festival. And at least one of the trio will play.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (left) enjoys a light moment with assistant coach Derek King before kick off against Nicaragua in Port of Spain. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (left) enjoys a light moment with assistant coach Derek King before kick off against Nicaragua in Port of Spain.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

But they will have to pull their weight.


“We plan to win but bringing a new goalkeeper into our squad and also some new defensive players,” said Lewis, with a laugh. “Our team always scores goals. But we also concede a lot of soft goals as well!”

Photo: Wired868 player and 1991 World Youth playmaker Anthony Sherwood (right) in action during the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at the UWI SPEC grounds in St Augustine. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Wired868 player and 1991 World Youth Cup playmaker Anthony Sherwood (right) in action during the 2015 Wired868 Football Festival at the UWI SPEC grounds in St Augustine.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
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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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30 comments

  1. Lol. Fellahs always want to play and nobody wants to lime. The thing is those fellahs are very competitive and planned their thing long time.
    The players plan the playing squad more than I do. But anyone can bring their boots to give themselves a chance. 😉

  2. Joey we will use you with your flag to direct the players to the field. You not good at playing. ??

  3. Lasana Liburd can i get ah small sweat bro i dont only wave flag

  4. Lasana Liburd Arin flies in tonight so make sure Maylee Johnson and or another friend gets in touch with her to get her out to this festival. Cheers and good luck

  5. Gordon you took very long to bust them files with Uncle Earl, so Lasana did not pick you. Lasana is a serious Manager. ???

  6. Haha. I’m managing Nigel. I usually take a small sweat. But it is about the real players first!

  7. Lasana, yuh coaching de side, or yuh only like tuh run yuh mouth on Facebook? LOL.

  8. Sherdon you qualify. You worked with Ex-nationals.

  9. Looking forward to another fun time!

  10. I now understand the selection criteria … talent & skill. Definitely not getting the call up… Lol

  11. Gone were the days when recreational players used to get call up boi hahaha

  12. “(The Wired868 Football Festival) is always fun because you play with a lot of talented players and against a younger bunch of skilful players,” Leonson Lewis told Wired868. “The competition is close and always fun.”

  13. How Speng eh select me boy …. Lolol

  14. Yep. Sorry you’re missing this one Norris. But we will be back in 2017 for sure.

  15. Well Jan 2, so I am already saying this year.

  16. Congratulations Lasana. Keep the product alive. Sorry I am missing it this year.

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