Forward Brent Sam of San Juan North Secondary School was adjudged the boys Player of the Year, while midfielder Ray-ann Montano of Fyzabad Secondary School took home the girls Player of the Year accolade when the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) held its 2015 Awards Ceremony at the Auditorium at Naparima College in San Fernando on Saturday afternoon.
The players had the honours bestowed upon them in the presence of veterans footballers who were honoured at the SSFL marked its 50th anniversary.
Also, witnessing the proceedings were of the student athletes captured the spotlight were Darryl Smith, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Anthony Creed, the SSFL president Anthony Creed, Everard “Gally” Cummings, former national coach Everard “Gally” Cummings and Angus Eve, a former national football captain and Naparima coach.
St Augustine Secondary took home the First Citizens award in the east zone league Championship Division for girls; Diego Martin Central Secondary (north zone) Fyzabad Secondary (South zone) and Scarborough Secondary (Tobago).
Meanwhile, Fyzabad Secondary lifted the Big Four title also sponsored by First Citizens. Naparima College banked the $23,000 cheque and the BGTT trophy in the Premier Division, and deposited another $8,000 as winner of the Coca-Cola Intercol National champs.
Interviewed, Sam, the Player of the Year boys said it was his first such honour under the SSFL banner and it meant a lot. “In life, when I reflect, I could show my kids that I achieved and they can better it,” he said. Interestingly, it was not an award he had set out to achieve last season. His mission back then was to surpass his 2014 rank as the top goal scorer with 22 goals.
Sam, a forward said, “I tried to achieve it, but unfortunately I fell short by seven goals. I performed well in some of the games, not as well as I wanted to perform.” Even though Sam copped this prestigious award he was hard on himself being the perfectionist he was. “I was hard on myself because I wanted to go and break my own record, however, in 2016, I will be moving on as I look to play professional football,” he said.
The Honour Roll
2015 All Star Team Girls:
Player of the Year:
Ray-Ann Montano
Goal Keepers:
Shamika Rocastle, Fyzabad Secondary
Milikah Didier, Bishop’s Anstey East
Defenders:
Tamara Johnson, Fyzabad Secondary
Jahra Thomas, Fyzabad Secondary
Jacel Forde, Bishop’s Anstey East
Lakita Halls, Scarborough Secondary
Malak Marcelle, Diego Martin Central Secondary
Ranae Ward, Bishop’s Anstey Port-of-Spain
Midfielders:
Krystal Preddie, Fyzabad Secondary
Collette Morgan, Fyzabad Secondary
Ray-Ann Montano, Fyzabad Secondary
Akila Crawford, Diego Martin Central Secondary
Jeneal Lawrence, Scarborough Secondary
Naomi Guerra, St Augustine Secondary
Forwards:
Aaliyah Charles, Scarborough Secondary
Renrique Primus, Fyzabad Secondary
Kader Louison, Fyzabad Secondary
Jalene Sobers, Bishop’s Anstey East
Kaydeen Jack, Diego Martin Central Secondary
Top Five Players:
Tamara Johnson, Fyzabad Secondary
Ray-Ann Montano, Fyzabad Secondary
Kader Louison, Fyzabad Secondary
Jacel Forde, Bishop’s Anstey East
Aaliyah Charles, Scarborough Secondary
2015 All Star Team Boys
Player of the Year:
Brent Sam
Goalkeepers:
Denzil Smith, Shiva Boys Hindu College
Jadel Poon Lewis, Queen’s Royal College
Defenders:
Joshua Marshall, St Augustine Secondary
Taryll Coutou, St Benedict’s College
Nicholas Thomas, Naparima College
Keston Julien, Presentation College, San Fernando
Adrian Constantine, Queen’s Royal College
Anderson Toussaint, Naparima College
Stephon Smith, Naparima College
Midfielders:
John-Paul Rochford, Queen’s Royal College
Kareem Riley, Presentation College, San Fernando
Tryell Emmanuel, Shiva Boys Hindu College
Isaiah Hudson, Naparima College
Michael Basdeo, Naparima College
Shane Sandy, Naparima College
Jesse Joseph, St Augustine Secondary
Forwards:
Demitri Dunkley, Queen’s Royal College
Shamar Ravello, St Benedict’s College
Kathon St Hillaire, St Anthony’s College
Brent Sam, San Juan North Secondary
Jared Dass, Naparima College
Kerri Mc Donald, Speyside High School
Top Five Players:
Tyrell Emmanuel, Shiva Boys Hindu College
Isaiah Hudson, Naparima College
Shane Sandy, Naparima College
Brent Sam, San Juan North Secondary
Jared Dass, Naparima College