Jorsling shines as D/Force thump Civic; Caledonia hold Jabloteh

There were two Pro League football fixtures today but three contests.

Defence Force, Point Fortin Civic, Caledonia AIA and San Juan Jabloteh were battling for places within the middle to lower order of Trinidad and Tobago’s domestic top flight competition. The Army/Coast Guard combination cemented their third place with a 4-2 win over Civic while neither Jabloteh nor Caledonia did themselves much favours with a 2-2 draw.

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

However, Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling and Jabloteh attacker Kerry Baptiste were fighting for something far more precious than a forgettable league placing. They are wrestling for immortality.

On a dull Sunday afternoon when most football fans chose to stay at home and nurse heavy lunches, the Pro League’s top two scorers were hard at work.

At the start of the 2014/15 season, the 33-year-old Baptiste was the Pro League’s undisputed scoring champ with 122 goals plundered during a 12-year spell that started with Jabloteh, ignited at Joe Public and also included T&TEC FC and North East Stars before the versatile poacher returned to the “San Juan Kings” last year.

The 31-year-old Jorsling was seven goals behind with 115 items—the bulk scored with Defence Force although he did have one free-scoring season with Caledonia AIA.

Former Trinidad and Tobago international enigma Arnold Dwarika is the only other player to cross the Pro League’s 100-goal mark with 103 items shared between Joe Public, North East Stars, W Connection and United Petrotrin.

Photo: Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling.
(Courtesy Wired868)

But, at the moment, it is Jorsling who holds the distinction as the Pro League’s all-time most prolific marksman and he gave another example of his prowess today with a treble against Civic, which brought his overall tally to 134 league goals. It was his fourth league hattrick of the season and third of this calendar year.

Only Baptiste, Caledonia’s Pernell Schultz and Point Fortin’s Marcus Joseph have managed a league hattrick this season and all three just have one each.

This afternoon was one of mixed successes for Baptiste and Jabloteh. Already missing three players through suspension, Fabian Reid, Jevon Morris and Caleb Sturge, the boys from Bourg Mulatrasse dominated possession for the opening 20 minutes yet trailed from Caledonia’s first real attack.

Caledonia holding midfielder Cristoper Mejia released Nathan Lewis down the right flank and Lewis glided past retreating Jabloteh midfielder Damian Williams to squeeze past goalkeeper Shane Mattis at his near post. Mejia is a Honduran import while Williams and Mattis are both Jamaicans.

The “Eastern Stallions” might have doubled their lead within minutes as Guyana international midfielder Trayon Bobb beat Mattis with a firm downward header only for Jabloteh defender Dillon Kirton to hook an improvised clearance over his own bar from inside the goalmouth.


Photo: Veteran San Juan Jabloteh poacher Kerry Baptiste (second from left) celebrates a strike against St Ann's Rangers last season. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Veteran San Juan Jabloteh poacher Kerry Baptiste (second from left) celebrates a strike against St Ann’s Rangers last season.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Jabloteh made the most of their escape in first half stoppage time when 19-year-old left back Nkosi David, who was drafted into the first team to cover their suspensions, equalised with an unstoppable left footed rocket from the edge of the area.

The identity of Jabloteh’s second scorer was less of a surprise. Tyrone Charles found Baptiste, who now operates as an attacking midfielder, with space inside the opposing area and his finish, as always, was clinical. It was his 131st career Pro League goal.

Jabloteh’s lead lasted just four minutes, though, as Schultz, another Guyana international, buried an equaliser past Mattis from inside the 18-yard box for his 13th league goal this season, which is the joint third highest Pro League tally alongside Central FC’s Ataulla Guerra.

Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey decided to trust in his younger talent for a decisive goal and off came Baptiste and Jamaican striker Newton Sterling while midfielder Neil Mitchell and Trinity College East schoolboy Sean Bonval were introduced.

Williams, like Johan Peltier before him, struck the frame of the goal in the 88th minute while lightening almost struck twice for David, who was a foot wide with a 22-yard effort in the closing seconds. But Jabloteh had to settle for a point.

Photo: San Juan Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey (left) celebrates with the Best Coach trophy from the 2014 Toyota Classic competition. Looking on is Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: San Juan Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey (left) celebrates with the Best Coach trophy from the 2014 Toyota Classic competition.
Looking on is Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

On the bench, Baptiste pouted at his demotion and flung his training jersey on the ground as he watched the final 20 minutes with a scowl.

Jorsling is the man right now.

(Teams)

San Juan Jabloteh (4-2-3-1): 30.Shane Mattis (GK); 4.Garth Thomas, 19.Dillon Kirton, 24.Adrian Reid, 20.Nkosi David; 11.Damian Williams, 12.Brendon Boucaud (28.Kendes Garcia 73); 29.Tyrone Charles, 10.Kerry Baptiste (captain) (21.Neil Mitchell 72), 9.Johan Peltier, 8.Newton Sterling (27.Sean Bonval 77).

Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 3.Brent Sam, 23.Brendon Figuera.

Coach: Keith Jeffrey.

 

Caledonia AIA (4-2-2-2): Shemel Louison (GK); 12.Kareem Joseph (captain), 23.Jamil Joseph, 16.Pierre Hitner, 22.Jameel Neptune; 5.Cristoper Mejia, 26.Nicholas Mercano; 27.Nathan Lewis (30.Domini Garnett 67), Trayon Bobb; 29.Mickaeel Gordon (15.Franz Husbands 67), 28.Pernell Schultz.

Unused substitutes: 34.D’Eandre Villaroel (GK), 25.Anthony Charles, 35.Israel Honore.

Coach: Jerry Moe.

 

Referee: Keilon Bacchus

 

Pro League results

(Sun Apr 12)

Caledonia AIA 2 (Nathan Lewis 18, Pernell Schultz 65), San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Nkosi David 45, Kerry Baptiste 61) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

Defence Force 4 (Devorn Jorsling 37, 66, 73, Kerry Joseph 60), Point Fortin Civic 2 (Andre Toussaint 38, Glen Sutton 52) at Mannie Ramjohn 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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95 comments

  1. And next year 2016 is more licks for wired 868 again. Them really good yes hahahaha

  2. Roneil K Walcott, look at de master tactician’s result over de last three years:
    2015: Wired868 4-5 Brent Sancho Invitational XI
    2014: Wired868 4-10 Earl “Mango” Pierre XI
    2013: Wired868 2-2 Earl “Mango” Pierre XI

  3. Master tactician and journalist lol

  4. If England used David Beckham at right back as an extra weapon, then where would England’s defensive weakness be?
    Beenhakker brought on Evans Wise to run at Beckham and that seemed like a sound decision to me. Problem was Wise didn’t deliver.
    England had two gifted attacking central midfielders on the field. The second we took off a midfield hard man, Gerrard promptly scored.
    We could not afford to go light in central midfield against players of that calibre at the time.

  5. Sometimes when we lose matches we does look for all kinda weird sometimes conspiratorial excuses. We just were not ready to handle de occasion of November 19, 1989. It was an underwhelming performance by de majority of de team, end of story. Fast forward to June 15, 2006. We were going toe to toe with England for the majority of the match, even forcing John Terry into a goal-line clearance to deny Stern John. England’s first goal came because Peter Crouch lost his marker (Dennis Lawrence) and had an easy time out jumping Brent Sancho (pulled locks and all). That knocked the wind out of our sails. A lot of people talk about how Beenhakker shoulda use Latapy in that match. To do what exactly?

  6. Mango, unless there is a hard proof of the Strike Squad having an alcohol fuelled orgy on Nov 18, i wouldn’t repeat that as fact. That is a myth that has been dismissed by the squad.
    I would have started Hutson Charles myself. But then Paul Elliot Allen had done very well in friendlies and the Caribbean Cup in the build up to Nov 19.
    Gally was criticized a lot for selecting Kerry Jamerson at first and that didn’t end up so bad. I wouldn’t blame Gally, women or alcohol for Nov 19.

  7. Yeah and also on my friend George Scoreboard Mathison new TV program “Field of Dreams” eh hosted by our great prolific goal scorer Steve David and panel Everad Gally Cummings, Selby Browne, Maylee Johnson, and the football agent eh, the recent episode eh, the topic was about our World Cup teams eh 74, 89, 2006, and I couldn’t believe what I heard Gally say that he taught that the Don shudda bring on the Magician Laters to put the English players defense on their back feet eh, when the English coach brought on Lennon eh, so that Beckham will get more room to find Crouch eh, I said to myself buh AA is the same thing that Gally did when he didn’t even start my player Hudson Barber Charles eh in 1989 eh, the player who scored vital goals on teams eh even against my American team eh in the first game down there in California eh, so why he eh hush his mouth eh and then when was asked about the team travelling from way down South to play and important game like that eh again he tried to justify that eh, I wish I was there to confront him yes because the TRUTH needs to be told eh, because nothing was mentioned about why some players was allowed to break camp eh the night before the game against the USA to go and party, drink plenty rum and sex down the place eh and the team took almost about 31/2 – 4 hours to get to the Hasley Crawford stadium eh because they spent an hour in the Church eh and the people stopping them on the highway eh and they were travelling in Maxi taxis eh and then they took another 1/2 and hour to get into the stadium eh fuss there was alot of crowd but I really like what the show is all about eh and Lasana Liburd and Nigel Myers needs to be invited to the show because they have plenty facts and the TRUTH about our football and I must also applaud Mr. Selby Browne because he is also a walking football encyclopedia. Them really good yes.

  8. …Well Earl Mango Pierre…according to the TTFA bosses he was not good enough to lead our national senior team

  9. I think they gave Derek King the job and Derek asked Hutson and Hart if they would help. So it wasn’t as if Hutson was demoted in any way.

  10. Yeah and speaking on the coaching business eh, alyuh eh see what they did eh, my player Hudson Barber Charles was the head Coach of our national team at one time eh, and then they sent him as an assistant Coach to Derek Terron King eh, with the youth team eh, and that can only happen in our sweet country. Them really really good yes. steeuupsss

  11. Well Lasana, that is rell garbage about Oliver. Shabazz commit treason, get lock up, and still was made head coach of our men’s and women’s teams. Plus he himself had travel restrictions. Steups!

  12. We won’t be going back to any World Cup eh any time soon until we can beat my American team consistently and that won’t be happening any time soon.thanks to the corrupted TTFA officials who continues to do what that corrupted Jack Warner and his cronies did and that is using the football and our players to make millions of monies and then going to the bank smiling they are not about and will never be about fixing our football. Them really good yes.

  13. …So it seems heading into the WC qualifiers…we have KJ and maybe Rundell Winchester…and coach Hart will be banking on the likes of Molino and Guerra and Hughtun Hector (when he recovers) to burst forward because they all have an eye for goal and rely on Hyland and Boucaud to protect our fragile defence??? Failure

  14. I heard TTFA officials joke about how Oliver was a deportee. So what. They could get a special visa for him to travel there or, if not, he can play everywhere else. Football isn’t only in the US.

  15. If anything, someone like Daniel Carr may be worth a look in the context of the Olympic/Pan-American team, if we are actually going to have one.

  16. Mark Anthony Scott, Daniel Carr is brought up in the British system and, at 21, can’t break into a Championship team. He isn’t good enough for international football. Not yet anyway.
    If he was a left back, I might bring him down to a look. We can give him a ring and put him on ice. But I wouldn’t expect him to help for this campaign.
    Any of the strikers I mentioned would be Championship players if they grew up in that system.

  17. Marvin Oliver was 32 when he made his debut. He played against Guadeloupe and Guyana in 2008, but did nothing of note. Marvin waited too late to immerse himself on the local football scene. There were also non-football related issues at play. He definitely should have represented the country on more occasions.

  18. boy… he is probably one of the best midfielders TNT never had… his aerial prowess boy… that is a dynamic player…

  19. Yeah my player Marvin Oliver apart of representing our youth teams back in the days eh he got 1 cap to play for our national team and that was it.

  20. Oliver has one cap I believe Teflon. He was disrespected by the TTFA when he still had something to contribute.

  21. …Yes Teflon Shawn but i think it was just 1 or 2 games…but i could be wrong

  22. yuh know wah I was wondering the other day… Has Marvin Oliver ever gotten a cap? and if so why was his appearances so few … now he is gone past his prime but I always liked him in the midfield… not wanting to change the flow of this thread tho….. just a question…

  23. …There is a young striker named Daniel Carr who is English with T&T parentage and he says he wants to play for the Soca Warriors…he is just 21…Lasana Liburd do you have any idea if the TTFA has made contact?

  24. hahahahahaha the only team that I will be backing from now on is our Women’s football national team so Canada here I comes in the summer time to see them play in the Pan American games.

  25. The thing is we can’t look at strikers in isolation. For example, KJ’s strength is in the air, but when is the last time we had any players who can deliver quality crosses consistently? Men used to cry down Stern de same way. He too lazy, he hand always on he hips, he does throw away goal etc. Yet still he is our most prolific strike by a mile. We have to be able to integrate what we have. Some strikers are target men, some are predators, some are more direct in their play…it’s not only one type you need to have.

  26. Those would be my picks too Teflon. And if Marcus Joseph is happy to play at midfield when necessary, he gets in too.

  27. Not you Mango. You like football too much. You will suck it up and watch. 🙂
    And I bet you that you jump off your couch when he scores too. Because he will score.

  28. Ok so for looking at the best team for the Gold Cup… Kenwyne is there… but also Jorsling and because Jones is not a flexible or dynamic player use him to his apparent strengths and also use Jorsling for what he is – a poacher… Molino can play around them… and if you cant get 90 out out of him you have guerra and plaza

  29. Well I doh care what nobody say or how many goals KJ has scored in the past two years for our sweet country eh I won’t be looking at our sweet country play in the upcoming Gold Cup or no other time until he follows the footsteps of Carlos Edwards and Birchall and finally hangs up his boots cause I am really tired of the football tabanka.

  30. Hopefully Molino is ready to take over as our offensive leader soon.

  31. …you would think scoring on his debut would help his cause but he didn’t even start the next game and they scored 4…i foresee a move back to Cardiff City

  32. Hopefully Bournemouth will go up and take Kenwyne. But a team gets something like 60 million when they get promoted. That can get them a more exotic striker if they choose.
    So Kenwyne will really need to impress.

  33. ….I saw an article where coach Hart was open to the idea of English-born players with T&T heritage coming into the squad…well WC qualifiers start soon…so he better start to look now

  34. Willis Plaza has good potential. But he has to be fitter and can do some strength work too. I think Plaza is the best bet to replace Kenwyne as Shahdon isn’t where I would expect him to be yet.
    But Plaza needs to get himself in proper condition.

  35. ….I agree Lasana Liburd…and to make matters worse…Jones is almost on the wrong side of 30 and he doesn’t appear to be the type of player that can re-invent himself…so i see him stuck in the English Championship…or even lower

  36. And Jones’ 11 goals came in 17 matches.

  37. All I see is Jorsling screaming, hands outstretched: “.. me coach meeee… pick meeee!!!!”

  38. Earl Mango Pierre, these are the 11 goals that KJ has scored for T&T over the last two years:
    Curaçao (2) – Caribbean Cup
    St. Lucia (1) – Caribbean Cup Qualifier
    Dominican Republic (2) – Caribbean Cup Qualifier
    Jamaica (1) – Friendly
    Saudi Arabia (2) – OSN Cup
    United Arab Emirates (1) – OSN Cup
    Honduras (1) – CONCACAF Gold Cup
    El Salvador (1) – CONCACAF Gold Cup

  39. Kenwyne Jones is Trinidad and Tobago’s only striker who is physically ready for international competition. I don’t think any of the others would even pass a fitness test.
    Also Kevin Molino and Ataulla Guerra aren’t the most charismatic players and we seem to lack a focal point when Kenwyne isn’t playing.
    I would like to get more from Kenwyne too. But I don’t see anyone ready to take over from him yet.

  40. ….Players as well as coaches/clubs have to share the blame Earl Mango Pierre…if a player wants to really get far in football he will put it the work (and then some)…our clubs are still a long long way off from true professionalism…in addition to that the clubs are barely surviving financially…they are just getting by…so some players fall by the wayside because there is no room for them at the Pro League clubs because there are just 8 of them…Not Counting Police and Defence Force…so maybe the aim should be for there to be no less than 15 clubs in the Pro League or else player…and some good players at that…will have to settle for the National Super League and we all know that our National Coach will Not give NSL players much though…hence the reason why it seems we are recycling certain players…It’s not that they are bad…but they are not being pressured for their positions on the National Team

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