Love and Football 23: Molino and T&T football stars deliver Christmas cheer

Love and Football, a charity football match established by Trinidad and Tobago football stars Kevin Molino and Sheldon Bateau in December 2016, made its first return since the Covid-19 pandemic on 23 December, with a host of recognisable personalities on the field and on the sidelines.

The event began in 2016 as a matter of bragging rights between Molino’s Carenage community and Bateau’s St Ann’s hometown—with players and guests asked to bring non-perishable items to be distributed in the two neighbourhoods.

At the Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field on Saturday, St Ann’s went unrepresented as Bateau—the captain of Belgium second division team SK Beveren and a young father—was unable to organise his troops.

However, Morvant, Diego Martin and Santa Cruz faced off with Carenage in what was now a four-team competition organised primarily by Kick Off Promotions. (Bateau represented the eventual winners, Carenage.)

Dexter Pacheco, director of Kick Off Promotions and a former Defence Force player and coach, offered feedback on the event.

“It wasn’t a sold-out event—but as a charitable event, it was a success,” Pacheco told Wired868. “We got over 40 hampers with hams and turkeys and so on prior to the 23rd. And in terms of getting more stakeholders on board, we met with many persons [even on the day of the event] who want to invest going forward.”

Over the Christmas period, hampers will be distributed to homes within the various communities with the team leaders, expected to be Molino, Curtis “Boyo” Gonzales, Devorn Jorsling and Keron “Ballpest” Cummings, expected to help identify recipients.

On Saturday evening, though, the spectacle was the football with a range of past, present and future standout players—from current St Anthony’s College captain Aalon Wilson-Wright and TTPFL rising stars like Che Benny, John-Paul Rochford, Real Gill and Tyrese “Boy Boy” Bailey to seasoned pros like Joevin Jones, Marvin Phillip, Carlyle Mitchell, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Khaleem Hyland, and iconic retirees like Trent Noel, Kerry Baptiste, Kareem “Tiny” Joseph and Jorsling.

Among the couple of hundred spectators on the sidelines were former international football standouts like David Nakhid, Jason Scotland, Jerren Nixon, Ancil Elcok, Ron La Forest and Hayden Tinto and West Indies T20 great Dwayne “DJ” Bravo.

At stake was the Clyde Leon Trophy, in honour of the beloved former Soca Warriors and W Connection midfielder, who died from a heart attack in April 2021, at the age of 37.

Diego Martin (also including Petit Valley) got the first win of the night, as Cummings scored in a 1-0 triumph over Morvant.

Cummings had the likes of Kadeem Corbin, Ross Russell Jr, Adrian Foncette and Rochford for company. Morvant, with Benny pulling the strings, were laden with veterans like Jorsling, Abu Bakr and Kaydion Gabriel—but they lacked the oomph in the final third.

Santa Cruz, led by former two-time World Youth Cup defender “Boyo” Gonzales, could not keep out the star-studded Carenage team as they also lost 1-0.

Bailey’s goal was decisive for a Carenage squad that included Tyrone Charles, Alvin and Joevin Jones, Triston Hodge, Mekeil Williams, Carlyle Mitchell and, of course, Molino.

And, in the final, Charles curled home the winner from distance to see Carenage return as champs.

Molino, who featured in Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup title win earlier this month, said he felt honoured by Saturday’s turnout.

“I’m grateful and thankful to be in your presence,” Molino told players and spectators, at the launch of the event. “[…] A lot has been going on in our country and it’s so emotional for me. We’ve lost loved ones.

“[As sportsmen] we have the platform to unify and bring people together and I’m so grateful as a human being to say that and I think some of you all here [think] the same.

“Fans, families, loved ones—we’re here to spread love and togetherness.”

The 33-year-old attacker thanked the referees and sponsors, including Scorch 101.1 FM, the Sports Company of TT (SporTT), Mastermind Jamal, Traxion and BSL Ltd.

Pacheco made special mention of SporTT’s involvement, which went beyond providing a venue to tents and financial sponsorship.

“When [SporTT] saw the project, they were excited and they came on board to help on a larger scale,” he said.

Love and Football 2023 kicked off before 6pm with face-painting and bouncy castles, while the football activities started at roughly 6.30pm. The festivities were in full swing even at 11pm.

“This event will be much, much bigger next year,” said Pacheco. “In terms of marketing, we’ll start [advertising] earlier. Next year’s going to be huge.”

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