Shortage of Caucasian, Indian footballers worry ‘Tiger’ Phillips

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR of the Trinidad and Tobago football team Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips has described the T&T Pro League as “very important” for the development of football in Trinidad and Tobago. Phillips was speaking at the Pro League award ceremony at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna on Friday night.

The former national goalkeeper, who was appointed technical director in late January, called on the players to work on their ball-possession skills and their defensive awareness if they are to succeed at the highest level. The lanky Phillips emphasised five areas which needs to be addressed in the game locally — the development of coaches; the players’ diet and nutrition; the roles of all footballing bodies; the role of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) in terms of developing the technical skills of the players; and the shortage of players of Caucasian and East Indian descent.

While calling on the coaches to be professional, “not only in terms of the game on the field but in terms of player development as well,” Phillips encouraged the players to be serious about themselves, especially with regards to their education. He said coaches are always looking for smart players, who can read and write and analyse situations. Also speaking at the function were league chairman Larry Romany and Earl Nesbitt, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Based on their success in the youth divisions, W Connection took the lion’s share of prizes, including the Under-15 and U-17 divisional and knockout titles, the U-20 divisional title and the Most Disciplined Team.

Guyanese striker Randolph Jerome of North East Stars, with 26 goals, was the leading goalscorer in the senior division while the respective U-15, U-17 and U-20 accolades went to the Connection trio of Aaron Downing (35 goals), Gorean Highley (16 goals) and Jason Marcano (34 goals). Another Guyanese, North East Stars’ captain and defender Charles Pollard was adjudged “Most Valuable Player” in the senior division; Marcano was the MVP of the Under-20s and Jabloteh’s Ricky Hill named “Coach of the Year.”