Big Five: Miracle on Tompierre Trace! MMPHS trounce Moruga to near promotion

Do you believe in Miracle Ministries? Maybe it’s time you did.

Yesterday, Central Zone champions Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (MMPHS) moved within a whisker of Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) history after a commanding 4-0 win away to Moruga Secondary at Tompierre Trace in Moruga.

The result spelt doom for Moruga, who have completed all four of their matches and are rooted at the bottom of the Big Five standings with just one point. The South Zone Championship winners must return to the SSFL’s second tier for the 2024 season.

At the other end, St Augustine Secondary lead the Big Five table with seven points and are already through to the 2024 SSFL Premier Division competition.

MMPHS (five points), Blanchisseuse Secondary and Signal Hill Secondary (both four points) are competing for two spots alongside the “Green Machine”.

On Friday, St Augustine travel to Edinburgh 500 to face MMPHS while Blanchisseuse are away to Signal Hill.

The winner between Blanchisseuse and Signal Hill will qualify alongside St Augustine and Miracle Ministries. A draw would be enough for Blanchisseuse, the North Zone Championship winners, to also seal promotion.

The only scenario in which Miracle Ministries fail to qualify is if they lose by four goals or more to St Augustine and Blanchisseuse and Signal Hill tie in Tobago.

MMPHS head coach Kern Cupid admitted that he was quietly confident.

“I believe that destiny is in our favour and we are one result away from that,” Cupid told Wired868. “Praise to my boys and the work that they put in.”

Cupid, a former TT Pro League standout with W Connection, took over at MMPHS in 2018. In four seasons since, he has three zonal titles (2018 Senior, 2022 Championship, and 2023 Championship)—as he took Miracle Ministries from the SSFL’s third tier to the cusp of the top flight.

A registration error temporarily threatened to deny Miracle Ministries and Moruga their shot of the Big Five and a chance for promotion. Last Christmas, both schools were stripped of their zonal titles before recovering them via arbitration in January.

Yesterday, the pair came head-to-head for the first time. Moruga needed a big win to have a sliver of a chance of salvaging their campaign. A point would not have been disastrous for Miracle Ministries—but, facing leaders St Augustine last, it was important that they got all three.

Moruga sported their customary 4-4-2 system with two wingers and a midfield anchor behind playmaker Russell Lynch. MMPHS countered with a 3-4-3, rather than their customary 4-2-3-1.

“We did our tactical homework with regards to how we played,” said Cupid, who had a staff member scout Moruga in an earlier round.

Miracle Ministries looked to have cover for Moruga’s front five players while the diagonal movement of their own wingers into the channels posed problems throughout for the opposing full backs, who were slow to track inside.

In the fourth minute, MMPHS attacker Judah Chinapoo released flanker Daniel Blacks who was denied only by a last gasp tackle from Moruga left back Keieal Morales and goalkeeper Adriano Baptiste.

Six minutes later, MMPHS midfielder Shevon Lallo and wingback Terriq Thomas combined to again spring Blacks and Baptiste pushed the attacker’s effort behind for a corner kick.

It was Lallo’s last contribution on the ball for the afternoon. In the 16th minute, a firm shoulder challenge by Lynch sent the slighter framed midfielder catspraddling.

Something about the way that Lallo landed and held his forearm horrified the nearby players. His arm was broken!

The game stopped for five minutes as medical personnel attended to the Miracle Ministries player, who subsequently left the venue in an ambulance with his arm in a sling.

During the stoppage, the incensed Miracle Ministries captain, Miqel Samuel, had to be physically restrained by at least four teammates as he tried to confront Lynch.

Referee Gerard Davis took a humane view of what would otherwise have been deemed unsporting conduct and chose to calm the player down rather than book him.

In truth, it was the only time that Samuel lost his composure for the entire afternoon.

A fine reader of the game with decent technique and obvious leadership qualities, Kaiser Samuel oozed Premier Division quality and was the perfect antidote for rampaging Moruga frontman, Akino Sydney.

With Moruga unable to penetrate down either flank, their threat generally came either from Sydney’s perspiration or off defender Diego Philip’s free kicks—invariably won by the talented but often overrun Lynch.

In the 34th minute, Chinapoo got a yard of space in the opposing half and decided to give it a go from near 35 yards. Baptiste was so comprehensively beaten that he might as well have been in San Fernando.

Four minutes later, Baptiste was beaten from distance again—this time, by a cross-cum-shot from an outrageous angle by Miracle Ministries defender Jerrod Modeste.

And, against an opponent who are yet to concede a goal in the Big Five, Moruga were in deep trouble.

Pulling a goal back seemed to be the least of Moruga’s problems whenever MMPHS inverted winger, Blacks, was on the ball. The mischievous attacker seemed to be especially fond of opposing right back Angelo Molino and his trickery prompted spontaneous “ooohs” from the largely partisan home crowd.

In the 65th minute, Blacks’ left-side cross was clumsily handled by Moruga midfielder Trevez Dover inside the box and Chinapoo converted from the spot.

And Blacks wrapped up the score summary in the 81st minute with a volley at the near post off a cross from MMPHS substitute Aaron Clement.

In the 90th minute, Miracle Ministries made their sixth substitution of the game with Damani Phillander joining fellow subs Codrington, Clement, O’Neil Melville, Jadell Henry and Aadie Ramdhanie on the field of play.

There seemed to be no obvious concussion scares in the match, to warrant an additional change. But, even if an error was committed, the fault would lie with Davis’ officiating team—who were also half-hour late for kickoff—and not Miracle Ministries.

“I’m excited [and] very happy for the boys,” said a beaming Cupid, after the final whistle. “The boys just sent a message to our ailing teammate, Shervy. He is happy—he’s in pain but happy!

“The confidence that is flowing through the team right now, I am not over confident—but we are confident the team will do well in the next game.

“The season has been up and down with the arbitration situation, after we deservedly won the title. The storyline I feel is set in our favour in terms of getting our team in the premiership.

“Now, it is relief and happiness at the same time.”

For Moruga coach Kempton Duval, the 2023 season did not produce a fairytale ending.

“The break with the controversy concerning the players not being registered properly—that probably threw us off,” said Duval. “But again, what you put in is what you get out. To me, I believe we weren’t hungry enough and the results showed that in the Big Five.

“We had our chances in the game and we didn’t take them. And, to me, they scored soft goals; and that’s how it goes. But again, Miracle Ministries were more hungry.”

Moruga won the South Zone Championship and National Big Five titles in 2019 under Duval, only to be relegated in their first Premier Division season in 2022.

Now, having won their zonal trophy without tasting Big Five success, they must start the process all over again.

In 2024, Moruga will also have to battle with Pleasantville Secondary who were relegated from the top flight last year.

“2023 is done and dusted, so we look forward to being in the Championship again in 2024,” said Duval. “Hopefully we will be successful to win the South Zone and be in the Big Five again—although it would be a bit more stiff, having Pleasantville in the division now.

“It is a look forward for us. We just have to work harder. We have most of our players remaining in the school, so that’s a plus for us.”

The immediate forecast is rosier for Miracle Ministries Pentecostal, who are on the verge of history.

“We have been at it since 2018—this is something that we aspired to from since we were Senior grade level,” said Cupid. “So, to move from Senior grade to one result from the premiership; I am proud of my staff and our family members and supporters, who have always been here with us. And the Man upstairs.”

By Friday evening, two from Miracle Ministries, Blanchisseuse and Signal Hill will join St Augustine in the promised land. Who do you believe in?

(Teams)

Moruga Secondary (4-1-3-2): 1.Adriano Baptiste (GK); 3.Angelo Molino, 6.Veron Gomez, 5.Diego Philip, 20.Keieal Morales; 15.Trevez Dover (4.Jose Steeling); 8.Terrell Thompson (captain), 10.Russell Lynch, 21.Malique Friday; 7.Quacie Moore (12.Tariq Henry 70), 9.Akino Sydney (13.Shaquane Joseph 70).

Unused substitutes:  11.Josiah Stewart, 16.Trevis Mollineau, 17.Garvey Rostant, 18.Javon Thompson.

Coach: Kempton Duval

Miracle Ministries PHS (3-4-3): 1.Kieron Guy (GK); 5.Jerrod Modeste (34.O’Neil Melville 80), 4.Miqel Samuel (captain), 21.Mathias Squires; 3.Terriq Thomas (16.Jadell Henry 87), 6.Shevon Lallo (7.Keon Codrington 21), 12.Rolando Solomon (17.Aaron Clement 67), 2.Isaiah Mitchell; 15.Daniel Blacks, 9.Jabari Rodriguez (10.Damani Phillander 89), 11.Judah Chinapoo (22.Aadie Ramdhanie 87).

Unused substitutes: 30.Zion Phillips (GK), 13.Jadon Whiskey, 25.Khalil Wickham.

Coach: Kern Cupid

Referee: Gerard Davis

Big Five result

(Monday 4 March)

Moruga Secondary 0, Miracle Ministries PHS 4 (Judah Chinapoo 34, 66 pen, Jerrod Modeste 38, Daniel Blacks 81) at Tompierre Trace.

Upcoming fixtures

(Friday 8 March)

Miracle Ministries PHS vs St Augustine Secondary, 3pm, Edinburgh 500;

Signal Hill Secondary vs Blanchisseuse Secondary, 3pm, Signal Hill;

Moruga Secondary are on a bye.