Keon Daniel Credits Bertille St.Clair

Posted on March 22, 2008
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Bertille St. ClairTrinidad-based Coaching Schooler Keon Daniel (on loan to United Petrotrin) commented recently on his free-kick ability. Daniel, a former Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive player was reflecting on his performance in the 1-0 win over the Cuscatlecos.

“It’s a trademark thing. Since I was about ten I’ve always tried the free kicks so it comes like a penalty to me now… like a free hit from anywhere around the box. It’s an important part of modern football now. I try to keep working on them all the time,” the 21-year-old Daniel said.

“Over the months I have worked really hard with Petrotrin and trainer Wayne Lawson and as a young player it is paying off. This is a very important year for me. It’s a World Cup campaign year.” he added.

“It’s good to know that Dwight Yorke is the biggest player to come from the island and to wear the number 19 is a big weight to carry but it feels good and hopefully I can deliver.”

Daniel credited former national coach Bertille St Clair for taking an interest in him at a young age. He also felt his training stint at Manchester United in 2005 helped in his development.

“I think he (St Clair) saw potential in me as a youngster. He constantly kept pushing me and I am glad for that. The trip to Manchester was really an eye opener for me. That was a chance to break out… to see the world of football and to see the commitment players have for the game.”

Source: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Foreign-Based Coaching Schooler Jason Nelson Dies in Car Accident

Posted on March 20, 2008
Filed Under Foreign-Based Alums, General | Leave a Comment

Jason NelsonSt.Clair’s Coaching School mourns the loss of Jason “Nello” Nelson who suffered fatal injuries as a result of a severe car accident in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday night (15th March). Jason was the only occupant in the car when it struck a tree.

The 27-year-old was a graduate of Signal Hill Comprehensive School, and grew up in Sherwood Park, Tobago. He worked as a construction inspector in Ft. Lauderdale.

Donations – Jason Nelson Challenge Fund

Jason, the sole bread-winner of his family leaves behind his wife (Leslie-Ann) and two young boys who are very much in need of our support and assistance at this time, and beyond.

In an attempt to make donations as feasible as possible, a deposit-only account has been created at Bank of America to allow access from anywhere within the United States. The goal is to raise $14,600.00 to aid the cost of the funeral ($6,400.00) and upgrades to the home for wheelchair accessibility ($8,200.00).

Bank: Bank of America
Account #: 898011077315
Name: Leslie-Ann Pierre Nelson, 8648 Beekman Drive, Miramar, FL 33025

Note: This account will only be open till July 1st.

If you would like to donate to the family by check/cheque, please mail to the following address:

Leslie-Ann Pierre Nelson
8648 Beekman Drive
Miramar, FL 33025

Makan Hislop Invited for National Team Trials

Posted on February 23, 2008
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Makan HislopCoaching School standout, Makan Hislop, has been invited with two other Tobagonians (Daniel Cyrus and former Coaching Schooler Keon Daniel) to National team trials.

The trials will climax with a friendly against El Salvador in Trinidad (the game is not on the FIFA Calendar) with the aim of giving newly appointed National Head Coach Francisco Maturana a look at the local talent.

Trinidad and Tobago is now ranked at 98th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking and 10th in CONCACAF.

Foreign-Based Lads Distressed 4-1 by Coaching School Locals

Posted on January 13, 2008
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Diego NicholsonSt Clair’s Coaching School local-based men’s senior team made light work of their foreign-based counterparts in their annual ‘Local vs. Foreign-based’ match, held at the school’s ground in Mt Pleasant on Saturday 5th January, 2008

The local outfit triumphed 4-1 with a double from Diego Nicholson and one each from Brian Brown and Sheldon Small. College of Charleston’s (Charleston, South Carolina) 2007 top goal-scorer Kareem Yearwood scored the only item in a losing cause.

Among the foreign-based players on show were Anton Peterkin, Kareem Yearwood, Javon Carrington, MaKan Hislop, Darren and Jerome Toby.

St. Clair’s Coaching School’s men’s team, which finished fourth in the Tobago Football Association League last year will commence preparations for the 2008 season soon after Carnival.

Pan Trinbago Honours Coach St. Clair

Posted on December 18, 2007
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Bertille St. ClairCoach Bertille St. Clair was one of four Tobagonians honoured by Pan Trinbago for their outstanding contribution to the steelband movement last week Saturday evening (December 8th) at the Starlift Pan Theatre on Mucurapo Extension Road, St. James, Trinidad.

The four Tobagonians honoured were Pan Trinbago’s president Patrick Arnold, for being the longest serving president of the steelband body, he has served 11 years so far; Bertille St. Clair, the former national football coach for his 50 years in the steelband movement; Marie Toby, the first female to lead a conventional steelband, leading Bethel’s RBTT Redemption Sound Setters for ten years on the trot; and the late Eric Charles who was awarded posthumously. He was the former head of the Tobago Steelband Organisation and leader of Black Rock’s Katzenjammers, Tobago’s oldest steelband.

The honouring of the awardees was the highlight of the Anthony Williams Award ceremony and President’s Ball. The new Minister of State in the Culture Ministry (Donna Cox) brought greetings from her Ministry and also witnessed the honouring of former Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams.

Anthony Williams, the leader, pan tuner and music arranger for the former Pan Am North Stars was the toast of the evening for his outstanding contribution to the development of the steel pan instrument.

Tobago’s icon Bertille St. Clair was dapperly dressed for the occasion and he recounted his time in the steelband movement this way. “I started to play pan when I was still at school. In those days the steelpan was not as recognised or respected as it is today, so I used to hide and runaway from my home in Friendsfield to the Our Boys pan yard on Fort Street.” When Patrick Arnold, the then founder and leader of Our Boys left Tobago in the early 1960s to spread the pan culture in North America, it was St. Clair who took up the mantle of leadership of Our Boys into a well-disciplined outfit. Smoking was not allowed in the pan tent and band members had to be well dressed at practice sessions in the event of any impromptu engagements.

Under his leadership, Our Boys won a number of Panorama titles. St. Clair noted that “the sweetest of all our Panorama victories was in 1974″. St. Clair recalled what happened back then, “we played a Sparrow calypso in the preliminaries of the competition and made it to the finals, but with four days to go in the competition we heard Shadow’s ‘Bassman’ and decided to change our song and go to the finals. We practiced the song for the four days, spending long hours in the pan tent and won the competition that year”.

St. Clair who is more known for his prowess as a football (soccer) coach also served as the President of the Tobago Steelband Organisation. During his tenure as the steelband president St. Clair led a steelband boycott on carnival day to demand better payment for steelbands. He also recalled how he initiated a cultural festival on Emancipation Day (August 1). “We had a steelband queen competition and calypso and steelband contests,” he added.

Source: The Tobago News

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