Rutter to keep Jabloteh No 1

CL FINANCIAL San Juan Jabloteh’s senior football team coach Steven Rutter has set his sights on maintaining his club’s position as one of the premier local and regional clubs. The 41-year-old Englishman was appointed coach of the team on June 1. “There are two reasons for me coming down here —  one is to try to ensure that Jabloteh remains as one of the top clubs locally and regionally and two, to improve the structure of youth football within the club.” Rutter was a resident of Somerset in England before replacing countryman Ricky Hill, who left the club for personal reasons after one season in charge of the back-to-back T&T Pro League and CONCACAF Club champs.

A holder of the UEFA Advance Coaching Licence from the English Football Association, Rutter held two CONCACAF courses at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Tunapuna, which he said enhanced his familiarity of Trinidad and Tobago conditions. But he countered: “It is a different experience from coaching in Europe and it is now a learning curve for me.” What is his view of the game in TT? “The general perception is that there’s massive amount of individual talent but not a massive amount of structure as well,” remarked Rutter. He added that players on the local circuit are easily carried away by their fans and supporters alike. A father of two, Rutter’s family is yet to relocate to Trinidad and, in fact, may not do so anytime soon as his wife is a partner in a law firm in her native England.

On his work so far with Jabloteh, Rutter stressed they are not having a disastrous season. “It’s just that the other clubs have improved by a long way. The league is more competitive,” he said. “From our point of view, we’ve got to raise our standards. When I came in, I had to evaluate the strength of the squad, I think we’re just starting to gain a sense of continuity,” Rutter said. Finally, has Rutter adapted to the Trinidad and Tobago lifestyle? “I think I’m quite flexible in that respect,” he replied, “I’m used to seeing different cultures. “I’m not used to working under fluid structures where there are lots of interruptions for international matches but I had to get used to that,” the affable Englishman said.