TT Caribbean Futsal kings

IT was probably the first capacity audience the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre had seen since its establishment in late 2003, and with good reason too, as Trinidad and Tobago Futsal team was scheduled to play Guyana in the final of the Caribbean Football Union Preliminary Futsal Qualification Tournament on Friday evening. Trinidad and Tobago goal-keeper Kevin Graham, a member of Joe Public FC, worked hard for his first clean sheet of the tournament as the home side whipped Guyana 5-0 to crown themselves champions. The earlier fixture, a third place play-off  between Netherland Antilles of Group A and Suriname who finished second in Group B failed to stir the sea of red that sat restlessly waiting for the main event. Suriname were runaway 9-3 winners of this game.

When referee Ibrahim Brohim blew the final into action shouts of relief permeated the buzz of a crowd which was peopled by a wide cross-section of the national community including senior national coach Bertille St Clair. The first half of the match was a feeling out process, as both teams tried the opposing keepers and tested each other’s pace. Guyana had a couple good chances during the 20-minute half but none of them changed the scoreline which stood at 0-0 with just a few seconds to half-time. Though he came off the bench in all of Trinidad and Tobago’s matches, Kevin “Bellies” Peters has played a key role everytime he was called upon, and on Friday it would be no different, as he utilised the free flowing style the home team has become known for, to make it down court and score the game’s first goal with four seconds remaining. The Trinidad and Tobago supporters had enough time to calm down after erupting into rapturous celebrations but the damage had already been done, the arena was now a wall of sound and the second half could not come soon enough.

When the game resumed Guyana returned to the court with a renewed sense of urgency and tried to draw the game into their breakneck speed but with Peters, the people’s champion, present they weren’t allowed this luxury. In the 31st minute after a series of passes and smooth possessional play, Peters slipped a precise pass to Marvin “Tiny” Lee, who,  with his back to goal and three defenders showing interest rolled off an effective screen to shoot the ball low to the right of  the Guyana goalkeeper. Peters would again be involved when Trinidad and Tobago picked up their third goal as he worked himslef through the Guyana defence, faked a pass, which drew the Guyana keeper and his nearest marker out of position, before slipping the ball into a vacant net in the 33rd minute.

At this point Guyana were mentally out of the game and did not notice Peters and fellow trickster Nkosi Gabriel running the clock down with their dribbling antics which had some supporters rolling in the aisles. When they finally lifted their heads Trinidad and Tobago had them trapped. As soon as the Guyanese attackers pressured the Trinidad and Tobago defence, the ball was slipped to Ako James who made it four with a finish characteristic of the dreadlocked player in the 39th minute. Guyana began to grasp wildly for some consolation, but their valiant efforts would only be rewarded with another Trinidad and Tobago goal in the next minute by Colin Joseph, following a well played ball from James which left the striker with a wide open first post and he made no mistake to add his name to the score sheet.

The victory was the perfect end to an unbeaten run by Trinidad and Tobago  who were rallied by the tremendous support they received, superb direction under head coach Clayton Morris, assistant coach Hutson “Barber” Charles, trainer Daniel Cumberbatch and manager Ronald Brereton. Suriname had a regal air about them not only because they fielded some fairly matured players but also because of their magical touch and excellent composure under pressure. R Zebeda put them ahead in only the third minute in the third place play-off and they never looked back from that point. Netherland Antilles attacked but while Suriname got their second goal from A Doesburg whose shot was deflected into the goal by Antilles defender Curly Poppen in the 9th minute.

The Surinamers got their third goal in the 10th minute when W. Feller hit  a well-placed rocket-like shot for  his first , and C Sama-an made it 4-0 in the 13th before Feller scored his second, another long range effort in the 17th and S. Elam scored in the 19th minute to give Suriname a 6-0 cushion at the half time break. Netherland Antilles pulled a goal back through Clifford Braafhart in the 21st minute but Sama-an restored the six goal advantage for Suriname a minute later. Clifford Pauletta gave Netherland Antilles hope with goals in the 23rd and 25th minutes, but Zebeda again in the 28th and Feller in the 36th kept the goals flowing to the Suriname victory. For his performance in the final and during the tournament, Peters was awarded the Most Valuable Player accolade, a plaudit which was well received by supporters who spilled onto the court to join their team as they received their gold medals and the trophy.