Former national stand-out Leroy De Leon was named the Player of the Past Half Century in the sport of football by the Secondary Schools Football League during its 2015 awards ceremony which took place at Naparima College, Auditorium, San Fernando.
De Leon, a former St Benedict’s College star player was joined in the spotlight by Everard “Gally” Cummings of Fatima College fame and former coach of the T&T Strike Squad, Jan Steadman (St Benedict’s) Warren Archibald (St Benedict’s) Steve David, Bobby Sookram and Wilfred Cave (ST Benedict’s College), Dr Alvin Henderson and Ian Bain (CIC) together with Roger Duprey (Fatima) and Ellis Sadaphal and Rolph Clarke of QRC were honoured for period reviewed in the SSFL’s history.
In his acceptance remarks, De Leon said, “It is with great humility that I accept this award. It was a hard road. My dad never wanted me to play sports. He wanted me to be like a doctor, whatever. That wasn’t in my DNA at all. There was an old movie, The Sound of Music and there was a line by Julie Andrews which went like this: For somewhere in my youth and childhood, I must have done something good.”
The event was to mark the SSFL 50th anniversary and De Leon used the opportunity to urge the nation’s young athletes to allow their pursuits of higher education and excellence in sport be the match made in heaven.
“Please fulfill your dreams academically. You have to marry the two: books and sports. It will never leave you. Dedication, respect for yourself, respect others and most of all enjoy what the heck you do.”
Former national skipper and ex-Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke was honour for his sterling contribution to the league in the 80s, alongside former national coach Russell Latapy, as well as retired national players Leonson Lewis, Hutson Charles and Marvin Faustin.
Clayton Morris, another former national captain was the toast for his contribution to the SSFL during the 70s under the John Donaldson Technical Institute banner, while ex-Malick Secondary Comprehensive’s Arnold Dwarika was reward as one of the star’s during the 90s.
SSFL 50th ANNIVERSARY AWARDS
Female Players from 2000 to 2014
Kerdie Johnson (St. Aug), Kayla Taylor (Debe), Maria Shade (Debe) Karyn Forbes (Signal H), Avanell Isaac (St. Aug), Nadia James, (Malick) Anastasia Prescott, (Malick) Maylee Attin Johnson, (D/Martin C) Allana Burgen, (Malick) Ayans Ruussell, (El Do E) Dernell Mascall (Moruga) Cecile Hinds (P/ville), Stephinie Beam (Debe), Ahkeela Mollon, (UCB) Analise Cummings (ST. Aug), Naomi Guerra (ST. Aug), Patrice Superville (P/ville), Patrice Campbell (Eldo), Kennya Cordener (Signal Hill)
Goalkeepers—Linfah Jones (Debe), Candice Edwards, (Signal Hill) Kimika Forbes (Scarborough),
BOY COACHES OF THE 50 YEAR PERIOD
Bertile St. Clair Signal Hill Secondary—14 titles
Nigel Grosvenor St. Anthony’s College—12 titles
Muhammad Isa San Fernando Technical Institute—9 titles
Kenneth Franco Malick Secondary 9 titles
Kenny Thomas St Augustine 6 titles
Leonard Curtain Queen’s Royal College 5 titles
Michael Grayson St. Augustine 5 titles
GIRL COACHES OF THE 30 YEAR PERIOD
Stephen Smart Malick Secondary 15 titles
Arnold Murphy Debe Secondary 12 titles
Desiree Sargeant St. Augustine 6 titles
Six Pioneer Schools who started the Colleges League which became the Secondary Schools Football League in 1976 are:
North South
St. Mary’s College St. Benedict’s College
Queen’s Royal College Naparima College
Fatima College Presentation College
SSFL NATIONAL OFFICERS LONG SERVICE AWARDS
Roy Jagroopsingh—President, & Vice President —eight years (posthumous)
Ormond Gabriel—General Secretary Treasurer —20 years (posthumous)
Ewing Davis—President—17)years (longest serving president)
Azaad Mohammed Khan—General Secretary Treasurer twenty 23 years
Anthony Creed—President & Vice President—19 years
1960s: Leroy De Leon (St. Ben), Warren Archibald (St. Ben), Steve David (St Ben),Bobby Sookram (St. Ben), Wilfred Cave (St. Ben) Dr. Alvin Henderson (CIC), Ian Bain (CIC), Everard Cummings (Fat), Roger Duprey (Fat Col), Ellis Sadaphal (QRC), Jan Steadman (ST. Ben) Rolph Clarke (QRC)
1970s: Richard Chinapoo (Trin Col), Wayne Lewis (Belmont BS), Ron La Forest (Belmont BS), Garnet Craig (Fat Col), Leroy Spann (Sando Tech), Vernon Skinner (Trin Col), Ian Clauzel (E. Mucurapo S), Luciano Woodley (CIC), Clayton Morris ( John Don Inst), Peter Mitchell (Sando Tech) Neil Williams (CIC).
1980s: Russell Latapy (Tranquility Government/ San Fernando Tech), Garth Pollonais (St. Aug S), Dwight Yorke (Signal Hill S), Timothy Haynes (Arima Sec), David Nakid (CIC), Angus Eve (E Muc Sec), Clint Marcelle (E Muc Sec), Hutson Charles (E Muc Sec), Marvin Faustin (San Fern Tech), Leonson lewis
(San Fern Tech),
1990s: Arnold Dwarika (Malick S), Mickey Trotman (Arima S), Carlos Edwards (St. Anth), Anthony Sherwood (Pres S/F), Wesley Webb (St Ben), Shawn David (Malick), Jeron Nixon (St Aug), Ivan Sampson (St Ben), Shaun Boney (El Do E), Marvin Oliver (San Juan N), Cornell Glenn (E Muc), Gary Glasgow (Malick) Kerwyn Jermott (Malick) Stern John (El Do E)
2000s: Ataullah Guerra (E Muc), Shahdon Winchester (Naparima Coll), Devorn Jorsling (Malick Secondary), Kenwyn Jones (St Anth), Nkosi Blackman (St Benedict’s), Jerol Forbes (Naparima College), Kevin Molino (East Mucurapo Secondary), Elijah Manners (San Juan North), Jamal Gay (El Dorado East), Elton John (St Augustine), Kevon Neaves
(St Anthony’s)