Police disconnect TTEC in TT Pro League

Captain Todd Ryan and Kareem Perry got their names on the scoresheet against a Jefferson George-coached TTEC team who were a shadow, in personnel and skill, than the expensively-assembled team of last season.

For financial reasons, TTEC were only able to retain Kern Peters (demoted from the role of team’s captain), fellow defenders Brenton De Leon and Anthony Adams, goalkeeper Akini Adams, midfielders Javed Mohammed, Simeon Augustus and current skipper Keeron Benito from the squad who were the League’s runners-up in their debut season.

And Police, who replaced Kelvin Jones as coach with Richard Hood during the off-season, had the ironic fortunes of fielding two new players – centre-back Karlon “Babylon” Murray from San Juan Jabloteh and striker Keon Quow from W Connection, who was detained during last year’s State of Emergency (SoE).

However, it was Ryan who broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, drilling his penalty to the left of Adams after Vernell Ramirez was bundled over by right-back Marc Hunte.

Adams was virtually the reason why TTEC were not beaten by a larger margin, but he could do nothing to deny substitute Perry from sealing the deal in the 86th minute. The striker collected a fine through-ball from fellow reserve Ricardo Peltier and, on the run, hit home a right-footer from a tight angle.

Following the game, Hood said, “it felt great actually. I thought the team played well. We controlled the game for the most part.

“We had some little problems in the first half but we made some adjustments, after the half-time talk,” he continued. “We came out and completely dominated the second (half). It would have been nice to get a few more goals but I’ll take the two that we got.”

Commenting on the new recruits, Hood pointed out, “I think the guys have shown a lot of discipline. They’re coming out and they’re working hard. “The team is coming together nicely,” he added. “They’re now starting to gel. I’m very pleased where we are at this time.”

He made it clear that Police, unlike previous seasons, will not be on the circuit simply to make up numbers.

“We are here to win, to coin an old phrase, we come to “show what Police can do”. Our mantra this year is to restore pride, the kind of pride that Police had playing in the ‘90s and when I used to play. That’s what we want to bring back to the service this year.”

On Friday, Defence Force pipped St Ann’s Rangers 2-1 while North East Stars overcame Caledonia AIA 3-1. And the scheduled meeting between reigning champs W Connection and newcomers Central FC will take place on October 2.

Central FC are expected to field a team with a number of past and present national players, as well as League veterans, including goalies Marvin Phillip and Shane Mattis (of Jamaica), defenders Corneal Thomas and Kevaughn Connell, midfielders Hayden Tinto, Marvin Oliver, Cyrano Glen, Carey Harris (of Guyana) and Marc Leslie, as well as striker Anthony Wolfe.

League action will take a pause as the First Citizens Cup begins this weekend, with double-headers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium (September 21) and the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella (September 22).