by Derren Joseph

This conversation took place on Thursday 12th November 2009. This was the morning after losing to QRC in a hard fought match that ended in penalty kicks.

Q: The first question has to be how do you feel about yesterday’s game?
A: Mixed emotions really. On the one hand, I cannot help but be proud of the team’s effort. They did play quite well. Our team definitely dominated possession throughout the game. I am proud of them. On the other hand, we just couldn’t get the shots we needed. In that way, I cannot help but be disappointed.
 

Q: Jason, I was very disappointed by that disallowed goal. From where we were sitting, our player seemed to be “on side” not offside. What are your thoughts on it?
A: I do not want to be hard on the match officials but I notice that they didn’t brandish a single card during the game. I admit that I was not standing in a position to see whether that goal stood, so I cannot do anything but trust their judgement. But had that goal stood, we would have definitely won 1-0. Say what – that’s life!

Q: So what is next for us Jason?
A: I was just going over the National Intercol. The message I have is the same one I gave the team in the dressing room after the game. Ironically, because we lost yesterday, we should now have an easier passage through to national quarters. We continue next Tuesday at 3pm when we face the winner of the Tobago game (Mason Hall or Signal Hill). I am optimistic about that game. At 5pm, QRC plays Naparima. Next Wednesday, Presentation College plays the looser of El Dorado v St Augustine, and we expect Presentation to win – especially since the game will be in South.

Then the winner of the East Zone will play Carapichaima. I expect St Augustine to win that game. The following Tuesday would be CIC vs Presentation and if we win, it would then be us vs Naparima. Bottom line is that we could meet up against St Augustine in the National Intercol finals. So all is not lost. At a minimum, we will get through to National Intercol Semis. At a minimum.
 

Q: Yesterday I sat next to my friend Sherwin Forte. We both left in 1991. We remember back in our time, a CIC vs QRC Intercol game could bring in enough fans to fill the entire stadium. Is that your memory as well?
A: When I was in Form 2, I remember the Presentation vs CIC game in the National Stadium back in 1986. The stadium was almost full (editor’s note – highlights of this game are available on YouTube.
There are two reasons for this fall in attendance.Firstly, the format of the competition has changed. So for example, before we could more easily see Mucurapo vs St Augustine and these two teams have big fan bases. Now those teams would meet only if they win in their zone. Zoning has changed Intercol alot.
Secondly, in terms of football, Secondary School football tended to dominate. Nowadays, there is much more football being played. Added to that there is so much football on cable TV as well. So football fans have been drawn elsewhere.
 

Q: What about the support by the student population? Is that steady or is it increasing?
A: It is definitely increasing. As I looked around the Stadium last night, I could see some guys who may have never kicked a ball in their life. They were there because they felt connected with our footballers. They felt connected to the team. I believe that 2007 had a BIG impact but now we are getting used to a level of success. The sentiment and passion is not as heartfelt as 2007, but now our students can hold their heads up high! Football used to be a source of shame. Now we can say that we have beaten every team in our zone this season at some point in time. Every team. These are feel good factors.
 

Q: Ok. So tell me about the future. Strategically, what are the next steps, moving forward?
A: There is room for improvement in terms of organisation of the program. This is my third year in school.
CIC is unique in that we have boys as young as 16 or 17 in Form 6. This means that we have to use players that may be on average, younger than the other schools. We have therefore introduced 14 and 15 year olds to the team. We are looking at ways to ensure that players come through faster. It looks good for the future as we look at our future talent. At the moment, we have 8 or 9 players in the present under 16s who will be ready for the top team next year. Our present line up will only lose 4 players at the end of this year.
 

Q: Given your successes, I am guessing that other schools or clubs may be trying to lure you away. Is that a fair statement?
A: I was recently talking to the Head of Youth Recruitment at Tottenham Hotspur FC about our local players. I have a relationship with them. There will always be opportunities in the UK. I did some work with San Juan Jabloteh FC last year. They are interested in having me back. Yes I had a couple other offers. But I really haven’t looked at other roles seriously. I foresee alot of improvement for us. I want us to have a run of improvement for a number of successive years. Think about St Anthony’s, Mucurapo and Malick. Each of them had a good run. I want CIC to have that too. After this season we will review and see how we can make this happen.
 

Q: You were away from Trinidad for a long time. Are you back permanently now?
A: I was away for 11 years. Yes, I miss the UK but I go back twice per year. I return to visit not just the UK but the continent as well. Last year, I spent time in at Sporting Lisbon for a couple weeks as part of my coaching education. It was enjoyable. So England will always have a special place but Trinidad is home for the foreseeable future.
 

Q: You attended Secondary School at Presentation. When we face them, how does that make you feel?
A: We faced them in the 2007 Quarter Final of Intercol. Interestingly enough the present Principal of Presentation went to Saints! I saw him at the game and we laughed and spoke. But make no mistake, CIC is where my allegiance lies - regardless of whom we play against. So I support Pres in every game. But when they come up against us, they are just like QRC, Fatima, etc, I want to beat them.

Q: Anything else you wanted to say?
A: I wanted to thank TSL for their support over the years. Roger and Nick Gault stuck with us even when we got relegated. Everyone by now understands that there was little or nothing I could have done to stop relegation given the circumstances. But now people understand the level I am at and the potential I bring to the school. We started a journey over the last couple years. As I look forward, I see that next year will be even better and the following year better still. Consistency is key, there are areas to work on. The best is yet to come!