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Steups! For the second straight year, the Wired868 XI lost in its Football Festival by a solitary goal.
The Darin Lewis Invitational XI stole bragging rights yesterday with a 6-5 win over a decidedly more mature Wired line-up at the UWI SPEC ground in St Augustine.
Darin “Speng” Lewis turned in a MVP performance while Conrad Smith—still an active CNG National Super League (NSL) player for Barrackpore United by the way—was influential for the guest team, which also included Germany 2006 World Cup and Portugal 1991 World Youth Cup goalkeeper Clayton Ince, 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinalist Ancil Elcock, 2001 and 1997 Caribbean Cup champion Gary Glasgow and former national utility player Nigel Daniel.
Ince, Elcock and Glasgow have a combined eight Caribbean Cup titles between them!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Wired868 were led by the former “Strike Squad” quartet of Clayton “JB” Morris, “Marvellous” Marvin Faustin, Hutson “Barber” Charles and Leonson Lewis, who is the only player to score in all four editions of the Football Festival.
The Portugal 1991 World Youth Cup duo of Anthony Sherwood and Roger Henry wore Wired868’s colours as well. And there was some international assistance from England’s 1986 World Cup defender Terry Fenwick, ex-St Lucia and W Connection stars Earl Jean and Eligah Joseph and former Brazilian midfielder and Connection player Jose Seabra.
We tried to add the ages of Wired868’s players and our calculator froze!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
But thanks to “Women Soca Warrior” leader Maylee Attin-Johnson, Defence Force (NSL) captain Chris Durity and record Pro League scorer Devorn Jorsling for lending some fresh legs as well as returning participants like physiotherapist Gregory Seale, SPORTT Company board member Jason Louis Julien, television personality James Saunders and others.
Special mention too for our non-playing guests who included Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coaches Stephen Hart and Derek King, Guyana coach and Morvant Caledonia United founder Jamaal Shabazz, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams, Veterans Footballers Association vice-president Selby Browne and flag man Joey “Posh” Richardson.
And a big thanks to our announcer and ex-FIFA referee Merere Gonzales and sponsors: Cascadia Hotel, Toyota, Carib and Massy Stores.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Saunders conceded three goals and then went upfield and scored twice. No, we don’t have any video footage to prove it. But it was good enough for the “Spirit of Wired868 Award”, which is a weekend for two at Cascadia and a Wired868 hamper.
While Lewis stole the MVP title, which also included the prize of a weekend for two at Cascadia.
There was a special presentation too for “Soca Warriors” supporters Eugene Todd and Peter Cumberbatch, who received framed photographs from Wired868 for their unstinting support of the boys in red, black and white.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Here is some more of the action through the lens of our photographer Allan V Crane:
My ball!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Winged wizard?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Keeper!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
But then the Darin Lewis XI started to work their obeah…
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
The opposition continued to get progressively younger…
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
And the age gap started to tell…
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Desperate times called for desperate measures…
But why isn’t Gary Glasgow (right) more concerned?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Referee takes sides.
To be honest, it didn’t take long.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
TV rights…
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
But there was no stopping Darin’s men.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
He who lives and runs away…
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Laps for everbody under 50!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
MVP Speng!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Where did we lose it, skipper?
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
And will somebody please tell James Saunders that the match is over?!
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to view more photographs or visit the Wired868 official Facebook page.
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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.
Lol that tackle was reckless and worthy of a yellow card Gregory Seale lol ?? Rhonique Alexander
?
We had to let them know they were in a game however we could Greg! 🙂
Yuh understand! Iz jus so???
Lmao! Justified… James Saunders like he forgot he was in a game… Maybe u shud rethink your Gk nxt yr Lasana Liburd so my pal gregzzz don’t have to put in these sort of tackles??? … James looked better in attack lol
Jefferson George and James Baird didn’t show and we had to pull James from the commentary booth… And James get the Spirit of Wired868 Prize eh! Again! Hahaha…
Lol James Baird do better! Shoot for the stars James Saunders… MVP next year for him Lasana Liburd..Im rooting for u saunders lol?
Doh try that Janine! You hope James in midfield next year so you could run at him! We not taking that basket! Lol.
How much trophy you want James?!
Lolol Touché @lasana u reading my game plan lol??
Hahaha… We buying youth next year yes. We will talk to your agent Janine. Don’t tell Darin! Lol.
Speng is my agent tho lol I will try to keep ur game plan private but it will be tuff?
Im sorry guys something came up or i would have been there! Im sure James did good.
:-/
Lol. James was brilliant in the first third and he scored twice in the last third. The middle third was pressure tho. Lol.
LMAO ?
James Saunders you represent for the keepers…. Lol. Well done lad. Sorry could not make it
Judging from the pictures, everyone had a great time.
As always. ?
Lasana,
I apologize profusely for not attending.
I CAN’T PUT THE REASON HERE BUT I WILL EXPLAIN WHEN I SEE YOU.
Seems that I really missed a great deal of fun from seeing these pics.
(JAMES SCORED TWO????????)
Wayne
No problem Wayne. You will give me that story! And I expect you and Bullets next year for sure!
As for James Saunders, the man had a memorable evening. Haha.
I want to thank Wired868 for the invitation and a wonderful evening well spend at the Football Festival it was well organize and fun, also for the token of appreciation.
We always love recognizing people who are making positive contributions. ??
Keep it up!
Janine ‘Jan’ Francois watch Greg ?
Was great fun watching all the personalities from the sidelines… God willing I’ll never miss a Wired868 football festival!
I guess the secret weapon in Jorsling didn’t materialize as you hoped lol
He was a secret to me as well. Hope Defence Force management knows I didn’t put their player in harms way!
Well he probably wanted the Wired868 Football Festival on his CV.
Well, it was his first appearance and he scored…
right foot too lol
Sorry I could not be there Lasana Liburd, but will be there next year.
Haha! Sorry I missed it! “We tried to add the ages of Wired868’s players and our calculator froze!” Something similar went thru my mind when I saw the first pic of James Saunders on the turf…;)
nice Lasana
Good stuff Lassana 🙂
Great show Lasana. I am convinced that I have to come out of retirement to ensure victory next year.
More Blessings In Your Future Endeavours Lasana Liburd…#ContinueKeepingUsWired⚽?????❤??!!!
Thanks for everyone who came out! For those who didn’t… Maybe we will see you next year. But it was great fun again!
Looks like I really missed out but I had some family comittments that came up unexpectantly…next year for sure God spare life.
Sorry I missed it!
Next time 😉
Yeah! I had a deadline to meet