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“I gave up any big dreams of playing for an international team when I broke my ankle a second time. I was playing for [Superstar] Rangers when it happened the first time [and] I didn’t get the right therapy after the cast was taken off. So I had to take care of it for myself.
“I couldn’t afford the proper physical therapy, so it didn’t heal right. Then when I got the second break in the same place the doctor informed me that if I broke it a third time that would be the end of my football career.”
Clever, versatile and a fine dribbler, Police FC utility player Christon Thomas is one of the TT Pro League’s stand-out players. In truth, every time he crosses that white line, Thomas is risking his own health for the sport he loves.
The 29 year old former Trinidad and Tobago youth team international spoke one on one with Wired868 about how he is getting on:
Jabloteh won 3-2.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
When were you born?
I was born on the 5th of December 1987.
What is your home town?
I am from St Ann’s.
What school did you attend?
My first school I attended was St Ann’s RC, then I went on to Belmont Secondary and after to Mucurapo Senior Sec.
How do you describe yourself as a person?
I am a very quiet person who loves my family, especially my daughter. I don’t talk much and I am very respectful of others.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
What is something most people do not know about you?
I am a police officer and in my life I never disrespected anyone. I have a great sense of self-control and I am not easily distracted. This is so because life taught me a very important lesson: that you never know who is who, so respect everyone.
What do you enjoy doing in their free time?
Playing with my daughter and playing and watching football with my friends in the community.
Who is your favorite player?
Lionel Messi of course. (Smiles) He is such a great dribbler when he has that ball, it is like magic.
What pushes you to succeed?
Football is who I am. It defines me and that’s what pushes me to succeed. I have never played football to gain fame nor an international contract. I play because it is my life. I grew up in a communal home with several other family members [and] football gave me the freedom and the space I needed to breathe. So when my parents went to work, I played football in the St Ann’s grounds across the road from us. And I still do actually.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
What was your earliest football memory?
It was playing with my Uncle’s team called The Patriots. His name is Curtis Bateau. I was about 12 and if you saw me that day: this little fellas dribbling though all of the other team. (Smiles) It was great fun.
My first contract in the Pro League came with [San Juan] Jabloteh. I was too young to sign so my parents signed [and] I got a stipend for playing. I also played for Superstar Rangers [and] we won out our division in the North Zone that year.
Who was your most important coach?
That would be my football coach in Mucurapo, Mr Selris Figaro. The last thing he said to me was “stay healthy.” I didn’t understand it at first but, now I am in the Pro League, [I know personal health and diet] it is very important.
What makes you stand out as players?
My dribbling skills with the ball is what make me unique. There are others who can dribble the ball but I have my own style.
(Courtesy Nicholas Bhajan/Wired868)
What is your ambition in the game?
I gave up any big dreams of playing for an international team when I broke my ankle a second time. I was playing for Rangers when it happened the first time [and] I didn’t get the right therapy after the cast was taken off. So I had to take care of it for myself. I couldn’t afford the proper physical therapy, so it didn’t heal right.
Then when I got the second break in the same place, the doctor informed me that if I broke it a third time that would be the end of my football career. But I play on because I love the game so much… When I am not playing, I feel lost. (Pauses) I know the risks and I am putting thing in place [for that].
What was your best moment in football so far?
That would have to be when I was playing for Rangers and we played against Caledonia at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and within seconds of the start of the match I scored the first goal. We ended up drawing the game but I cannot forget that moment.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
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Tricky player…his level of space awareness allows him to get into great positions to slot goals, and dribble out of difficult situations
Good crosser too.
Well finally my police team beat up the great W- Connection, and well done Christon Thomas that scored the goal against them earlier tonight that took the game to penalties because it ended 1- 1 and it was a done deal, my police team won the game and of course because of my $ 1000 incentives, well we will be ready for our next victims and I cannot wait to meet Central F. C. in the finals, and hard luck my baller for life Earl Jean hahahahaha
Good fight today…mango, was a great battle…good luck to police in the semi’s…rest for the young lads,it was a tough long season…rest !rest! rest! Now…
Yes man I really enjoyed the young lads on your team especially with their touches and their fitness compared to my police officers and if the game was about 30 more minutes your team would have been the winners but as you and I know that experience is also the key in winning games but doh tell nobody eh, I always enjoy watching W- Connection play the football and that is because of my Brazilian Prof Stuart Charles Fevrier and yourself my baller for life. Blessings.
Thanks man..
Talented player!
Well don’t Even get me started on them big idiots they are the biggest hypocrites in the world
And the thing about it meh friend Dion Sosa these individuals like the ex corrupted Sports Minister , Stern John, Anthony Rougierre, Saunders, and others who have or had professional teams in the league that also ply their trade in the real professional teams abroad and also played for some of the professional teams in our sweet country eh, knows how it felt to be paid and be treated as professional players eh, and they continues to exploit our players and I should include our new Coach Dennis Lawrence who also once played professionally abroad so I am waiting to see if he doesn’t defend our players and have the right things done for them in order to be very successful. Them really good yes
These clubs sit on their asses and do nothing but as soon as a foreign club interested in the player he suddenly worth plenty money
Lasana Liburd knows his football we who talk and live for football know his worth he is a very good player and a good man thanks for this article he belongs in the archives of unsung hero and hugely underated
He shouldn’t have had to give up his dreams on an injury easily treated. T&T sports organizations need to be held accountable…
It is really, really hard for athletes here.
I agree and I am so frustrated. Our sportsmen & women need to talk up, be forceful, and demand proper support. It’s great to participate for the love of whatever sport meets their fancy but come on! How long is this type of disregard going to continue?
Most athletes are in their prime before their 30th birthday. By the time they learn the political ropes, they are already in the twilight of their career.
We have to help them as much as we can.
Well the problem as you and I know is that many of our players cannot even read nor write and just wants to play the football even for free and a box of chicken and chips and a red solo, and the owners knows that, so they will continue being taken advantage of and continue to be exploited, and every team should also have a players representative who really cares about our players and their welfare and that person should really be the Coach because they are the ones that will perform and win for them to give him the glory that they look forward to as Coaches. Them really good yes.
Many a times I watch Christon play and wonder if he isn’t worth a shot in at least a Pro League all star team. I never knew about his injury problems.
Clubs need to do more to get qualified physios around. They are cheating their players otherwise. It is wrong to ask players to put their health on the line and then not take care of them.
Alyuh see what I am speaking about eh, when I read these type of stories it just really breaks my heart, hence the reason why I will continue to call for the Players Association to be up and running in our sweet country to protect our players, just imagine he broke his ankle a second time while playing for StAnns Rangers FC and the owner didn’t see it fit to make certain that he got the proper therapy and he was one of his franchise players but if he had make it professionally abroad eh, the owner would have gotten big, big, cash for him Steeuuppss. Them really good yes.