2008 TT Pro League
# 2008 TT Pro League

The 2008 TT Pro League was the tenth season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of ten teams took part in the league, with San Juan Jabloteh the defending champions. The season began on 5 April and ended on 29 November, with the conclusion of the Lucozade Sport Big Six.

Ma Pau were admitted as a new club into the league and would be based in Woodbrook. After one season upon their return to the Pro League, Police withdrew with the intention of returning for the 2009 season. The Superstar Rangers decided to change the name of the club to St. Ann's Rangers to increase community awareness.

The first goal of the season was scored by San Juan Jabloteh's Peter Byers against Ma Pau in the sixth minute of the first game on 5 April. Devorn Jorsling, who also scored on the first day, went on to claim the Golden Boot with a season high 21 goals. Josimar Belgrave of St. Ann's Rangers scored the first hat-trick of the season against Tobago United on 3 May, having scored a season high four goals in the match.

Following the regular season, San Juan Jabloteh, W Connection, Caledonia AIA, Joe Public, North East Stars, and United Petrotrin all qualified for the Lucozade Sport Big Six. However, Jabloteh and W Connection were 20 points clear of third place, Caledonia AIA, before the competition began. The league was won on the final day of the season, when the San Juan Kings used a draw over W Connection to defend their crown and win their fourth Pro League title. Having finished as the league champion and runner-up, San Juan Jabloteh and W Connection both qualified for the 2009 CFU Club Championship.

After the season, North East Stars withdrew from the Pro League, citing the state of their home ground, Sangre Grande Recreational Ground, for the past few years as the cause to sit out the 2009 season. The Sangre Grande Boys stated that they fully intend to return to the Pro League following needed repairs and improvements to the ground.

## Changes from the 2007 season

The following changes were made since the 2007 season:

* There were a number of changes to the clubs competing in the 2008 season.
   * Ma Pau, based in Woodbrook were admitted into the league as an expansion club.
   * Police withdrew from the league after commissioner Trevor Paul issued a directive to ban lawmen from participating in sporting activities.
   * Superstar Rangers changed the name of the club to St. Ann's Rangers to increase community awareness.
   * San Juan Jabloteh signed a three-year partnership with Celtic of the Scottish Premier League.
      * The agreement allows the two sides to develop greater commercial value, youth and coach development, and create opportunities for the transfer of players.
   * WASA, the 2007 National Super League champions, applied for Pro League admission. The club was not admitted as they were unable to meet Pro League standards.

## Teams

### Team summaries

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Manager | Captain |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Caledonia AIA | Morvant/Laventille | Larry Gomes Stadium | 10,000 | Jamaal Shabazz | Sheldon Emmanuel |
| Defence Force | Chaguaramas | Hasely Crawford Stadium | 27,000 | Kerry Jamerson | Anton Pierre |
| Joe Public | Arouca | Marvin Lee Stadium | 6,000 | Derek King | Dale Saunders |
| Ma Pau | Woodbrook | Hasely Crawford Stadium | 27,000 | Ronald La Forest | Lorne Joseph |
| North East Stars | Sangre Grande | Sangre Grande Ground | 7,000 | Miguel Hackett | Anthony Haynes |
| San Juan Jabloteh | San Juan | Hasely Crawford Stadium | 27,000 | Terry Fenwick | Trent Noel |
| St. Ann's Rangers | San Juan | Hasely Crawford Stadium | 27,000 | Anthony Streete | Errol McFarlane |
| Tobago United | Bacolet | Dwight Yorke Stadium | 7,500 | Peter Granville | George Dublin |
| United Petrotrin | Pointe-à-Pierre | Palo Seco Velodrome | 10,000 | Leon Carpette (c) | Romauld Aguillera |
| W Connection | Point Lisas | Manny Ramjohn Stadium | 10,000 | Stuart Charles-Fevrier | Elijah Joseph |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | Table |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ma Pau | Expansion team | Expansion team | Expansion team | Expansion team | Ronald La Forest | 5 April 2008 | Pre-season |
| North East Stars | James McLean | Resigned | 18 December 2007 | 6th (2007) | Kenrick Elie | 10 March 2008 | Pre-season |
| North East Stars | Kenrick Elie | Sacked | 5 May 2008 | 10th | Clint Marcelle | 20 May 2008 | 10th |
| Joe Public | Michael McComie | End of caretaker contract | 31 July 2008 | 5th | Keith Griffith | 12 August 2008 | 5th |
| North East Stars | Clint Marcelle | Sacked | 10 September 2008 | 7th | Miguel Hackett | 16 September 2008 | 7th |
| United Petrotrin | Brian Williams | Sacked | 12 September 2008 | 6th | Leon Carpette | 12 September 2008 | 6th |
| Joe Public | Keith Griffith | Resigned | 1 November 2008 | 4th | Derek King | 3 November 2008 | 4th |

## Regular season

### Competition table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | W Connection (A) | 27 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 18 | +35 | 61 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 2 | San Juan Jabloteh (A) | 27 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 55 | 23 | +32 | 61 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 3 | Caledonia AIA (A) | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 42 | 38 | +4 | 41 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 4 | Joe Public (A) | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 47 | 36 | +11 | 40 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 5 | North East Stars (A) | 27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 34 | +2 | 40 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 6 | United Petrotrin (A) | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 42 | −8 | 37 | Qualification for 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six |
| 7 | St. Ann's Rangers | 27 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 50 | 52 | −2 | 34 | |
| 8 | Defence Force | 27 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 28 | |
| 9 | Ma Pau | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 33 | 63 | −30 | 25 | |
| 10 | Tobago United | 27 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 25 | 63 | −38 | 13 | |

* ↑ Team disbanded after season.

## Lucozade Sport Big Six

### Competition table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | San Juan Jabloteh (O) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 13 |
| 2 | W Connection | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 |
| 3 | North East Stars | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 7 |
| 4 | Caledonia AIA | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 |
| 5 | Joe Public | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 2 |
| 6 | United Petrotrin | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 2 |

### Results

Round 1 :

| Home team | Score | Away team |
| - | - | - |
| Joe Public | 0–0 | North East Stars |
| Caledonia AIA | 0–0 | W Connection |
| San Juan Jabloteh | 2–0 | United Petrotrin |

Round 2 :

| Home team | Score | Away team |
| - | - | - |
| San Juan Jabloteh | 1–0 | Caledonia AIA |
| North East Stars | 2–3 | W Connection |
| United Petrotrin | 1–1 | Joe Public |

Round 3 :

| Home team | Score | Away team |
| - | - | - |
| North East Stars | 3–2 | Caledonia AIA |
| United Petrotrin | 1–2 | W Connection |
| San Juan Jabloteh | 2–1 | Joe Public |

Round 4 :

| Home team | Score | Away team |
| - | - | - |
| Joe Public | 0–1 | W Connection |
| North East Stars | 1–3 | San Juan Jabloteh |
| United Petrotrin | 2–2 | Caledonia AIA |

Round 5 :

| Home team | Score | Away team |
| - | - | - |
| W Connection | 0–0 | San Juan Jabloteh |
| North East Stars | 4–1 | United Petrotrin |
| Joe Public | 1–2 | Caledonia AIA |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | San Juan Jabloteh (C) | 32 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 63 | 25 | +38 | 74 | 2009 CFU Club Championship Second round |
| 2 | W Connection | 32 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 59 | 21 | +38 | 72 | 2009 CFU Club Championship First round |
| 3 | North East Stars | 32 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 47 | Team disbanded after season |
| 4 | Caledonia AIA | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 48 | 45 | +3 | 46 | |
| 5 | Joe Public | 32 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 42 | |
| 6 | United Petrotrin | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 39 | 53 | −14 | 39 | |
| 7 | St. Ann's Rangers | 27 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 50 | 52 | −2 | 34 | |
| 8 | Defence Force | 27 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 28 | |
| 9 | Ma Pau | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 33 | 63 | −30 | 25 | |
| 10 | Tobago United | 27 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 25 | 63 | −38 | 13 | |

* ↑ Following the season, North East Stars withdrew from the Pro League for the 2009 season.

### Positions by round

* Leader
* 2009 CFU Club Championship First round
* Qualification to 2008 Lucozade Sport Big Six
* Team disbanded after season

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for the tenth round of matches, but then postponed and played between rounds 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for round 16.

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| San Juan Jabloteh | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| W Connection | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| North East Stars | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Caledonia AIA | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Joe Public | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| United Petrotrin | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| St. Ann's Rangers | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Defence Force | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Ma Pau | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Tobago United | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |

## Season statistics

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Peter Byers for San Juan Jabloteh against Ma Pau, (5 April 2008).
* Last goal of the season: Sean Cooper for North East Stars against United Petrotrin, (29 November 2008).
* First own goal of the season: Karlon Murray (San Juan Jabloteh) for Ma Pau, (5 April 2008).
* First penalty kick of the season: Kennedy Hinkson (scored) for United Petrotrin against North East Stars (5 April 2008).
* First hat-trick of the season: Josimar Belgrave (St. Ann's Rangers) against Tobago United, 19', 33', 49', 90' (3 May 2008).
* Most goals scored by one player in a match: 4 goals
   * Josimar Belgrave (St. Ann's Rangers) against Tobago United, 19', 33', 49', 90' (3 May 2008).
* Widest winning margin: 10 goals
   * Tobago United 0–10 Defence Force (23 October 2008)
* Most goals in a match: 10 goals
   * Tobago United 0–10 Defence Force (23 October 2008)
* Most goals in one half: 5 goals
   * Tobago United v Defence Force (23 October 2008) 0–5 at half-time, 0–10 final.
   * W Connection v St. Ann's Rangers (30 October 2008) 3–0 at half-time, 6–2 final.
   * North East Stars v Defence Force (1 November 2008) 2–3 at half-time, 3–3 final.
* Most goals in one half by a single team: 5 goals
   * Tobago United v Defence Force (23 October 2008) 0–5 at half-time, 0–10 final.

**Top scorers**

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Devorn Jorsling | Defence Force | 21 |
| 2 | Kerry Baptiste | Joe Public | 18 |
| 3 | Josimar Belgrave | St. Ann's Rangers | 15 |
| 4 | Roen Nelson | Joe Public | 14 |
| 5 | Kendall Velox | Caledonia AIA | 12 |
| 6 | Nigel Codrington | Caledonia AIA | 11 |
| 6 | Collie Hercules | Tobago United | 11 |
| 8 | Jonathan Faña | W Connection | 10 |
| 8 | Trent Noel | San Juan Jabloteh | 10 |
| 8 | Anthony Wolfe | North East Stars | 10 |
| 8 | Kevon Woodley | United Petrotrin | 10 |

**Hat-tricks**

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Josimar $Belgrave^4$ | St. Ann's Rangers | Tobago United* | 1–5 | 3 May 2008 |
| Sean Cooper | North East Stars | Ma Pau* | 1–4 | 23 September 2008 |
| Devorn Jorsling | Defence Force | Tobago United* | 0–10 | 23 October 2008 |
| Roen Nelson | Joe Public* | St. Ann's Rangers | 6–0 | 6 November 2008 |
| Roen Nelson | Joe Public | Ma Pau* | 0–4 | 11 November 2008 |

* * Home team score first in result
* $^4$ Player scored four goals

### Discipline

* First red card of the season: Michael Woods for Caledonia AIA against St. Ann's Rangers, (5 April 2008).

## Awards

### Annual awards

The 2008 TT Pro League awards distribution took place on Super Friday, 8 May 2009, prior to the 2009 season's opening match at Marvin Lee Stadium.

Having won the Pro League and Big Six titles, San Juan Jabloteh was named the Team of the Year for the second time. Having led the San Juan Kings to their fourth league championship, Terry Fenwick won his first Manager of the Year award. Midfielder Trent Noel was named the Player of the Year; receiving the award for the first in his career. After recording 21 goals, Defence Force's Devorn Jorsling received the Golden Boot. In addition, North East Stars was named the Most Disciplined Team of the Year. Neal Brizan, won his second consecutive Referee of the Year award and Boris Punch was named the Match Commissioner of the Year.

| Award | Winner |
| - | - |
| Player of the Year | Trent Noel (San Juan Jabloteh) |
| Manager of the Year | Terry Fenwick (San Juan Jabloteh) |
| Golden Boot | Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force) |
| Team of the Year | San Juan Jabloteh |
| Most Disciplined Team of the Year | North East Stars |
| Referee of the Year | Neal Brizan |
| Assistant Referee of the Year | Joseph Pierre |
| Match Commissioner of the Year | Boris Punch |
