Defence Force forwards Devorn Jorsling and Richard Roy each secured keys to a new Toyota Yaris after they were revealed as the respective Digicel TT Pro League players of the year for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, when the league held an awards function for the past two seasons at Capital Plaza, Port-of-Spain, on Monday night.
Jorsling was the man of the night, receiving a total four personal accolades: Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Forward for 2011 and the Golden Boot for 2011 and 2012.
Roy, meanwhile, picked up the Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Forward and joint Golden Boot winner for the 2012 season.
“It was critical that we decided to ensure that all the various aspects of the running of the league were paid and that we were able to ensure that competition was running successfully,” said TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene for the belated awards function.
“So the time is right at present, and we saw it fit that we have a celebration for both years because it is important to celebrate not only life, but our achievements,” said Skeene.
Defence Force, champion of the Digicel Pro League Championship in 2011 and favourite for this year’s title, was named Team of the Year for 2011 and its coach, Ross Russell, Coach of the Year.
And, for the 2012 season, reigning Caribbean Club Champions Caledonia AIA deservingly grabbed Team of the Year. The Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and First Citizens Cup winners had the FA Trophy and Caribbean title to boast while its coach at the time and present T&T co-head coach Jamaal Shabazz received the Coach of the Year award.
But overshadowing the flashy trophies distributed on Monday night were two Toyota Yaris vehicles, one grey and one white, on display at the entrance of the ballroom.
“As a footballer, when you can set goals and achieve them it’s a great feeling,” said Jorsling after the official presentation of the cars were made to teammate Roy and himself.
The T&T international added: “It’s also a great achievement for football in the country that a player can receive a car and I’m grateful for the work of the people like Mr Skeene and the other people in the backroom for getting sponsors on board to donate a prize like this.”
However, Jorsling and Roy weren’t the first to ever receive vehicles from Player of the Year supporting sponsor Toyota T&T Limited. Former MVPs Marvin Oliver, Trent Noel and Kerry Baptiste also received Toyota cars in the past.
“When I look back at some of the achievements in my career, I must say that I did an okay job from playing in the savannah in Morvant to achieving Player of the Year in the top league in the Caribbean and winning a vehicle.”
“It’s a great feeling,” said Jorsling.
But, what motivates the consistently sharp forward?
“I use simple things as motivation,” said the 29-year-old. “I saw that no other player has ever won the golden boot more than once in the Pro League. I won it in 2010-2011 then had a stint in the US (with Orlando City). I came back and my motivation factor was to be the top goalscorer in Trinidad again.”
After wrapping up a season with the United Soccer League (USL Pro) club, Orlando City, in 2011, Jorsling joined home-town club Caledonia on a short stint in which he joined Roy as joint top scorer and helped the Morvant-Laventille club win two knockout titles along with qualifying for the CFU Club Championship, before returning to the Defence Force.
Now, Jorsling, who also won the Golden Boot in 2008, is in the running to win another Most Goals award with 19 league goals already this season and chased by North East Stars forward Cornell Glen (16 goals).
“You just have to remain humble and focused,” shared Jorsling. “You can’t get cocky. This is just a car and there are bigger things you can achieve. This being the year of the (Concacaf) Gold Cup I just have to keep working hard.”
Roy meantime, said winning the Player of the Year for 2012 “didn’t come as a shock.”
The 25-year-old said, “I know I performed well (last season) and I was confident that I was getting the car this afternoon.”
Jorsling praised Roy saying, “Richard Roy and myself are good friends off the field, and in the team we have what is called friendly rivalry. I think my stint in the US was a blessing in disguise for him, and he got to flourish knowing he was the main guy and didn’t need to be under my wing again. I was proud to see that he led the line last season for Defence Force and achieved what he had to. I hope that he can now remain focused.”
Former League players Angus Eve, Dean Pacheco and St Lucian Earl Jean were among special awardees having served as players and now as coaches, while Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Roberts received a Servant of Sport Award and Long Service Awards went to Paul Regis and Frank Sealy.
Honour roll
2010-2011 Senior Awards
Digicel Pro League Champions – Defence Force
First Runner-Up – Caledonia AIA
Second Runner-Up – San Juan Jabloteh
Player of the Year – Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
Leading Goal Scorer – Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
Coach of the Year – Ross Russell (Defence Force)
Team of the Year– Defence Force
Most Outstanding Goalkeeper – Cleon John (San Juan Jabloteh)
Most Outstanding Defender – Corneal Thomas (Ma Pau SC)
Most Outstanding Midfielder – Trent Noel (Joe Public)
Most Outstanding Forward – Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
Lucozade Sport Goal Shield – North East Stars
First Citizens Cup – Joe Public
Toyota Classic – Ma Pau SC
Digicel Pro Bowl – Joe Public
Most Disciplined Team – St Ann’s Rangers
Referee of the Year – Neil Brizan
Assistant Referee of the Year – Dion Neil
Match Commissioner of the Year – Norris Ferguson
Team Administrator of the Year – Raymond Mc Lean
2011-2012 Senior Awards
League Champions – W Connection
First Runner-Up – T&TEC FC
Second Runner-Up – Caledonia AIA
Player of the Year – Richard Roy (Defence Force)
Leading Goal Scorer – Richard Roy (Defence Force) - Devorn Jorsling (Caledonia AIA)
Coach of the Year – Jamaal Shabazz (Caledonia AIA)
Team of the Year – Caledonia AIA
Most Outstanding Goalkeeper – Jan Michael Williams (W Connection)
Most Outstanding Defender – Nuru Abdullah Muhammad (Caledonia AIA)
Most Outstanding Midfielder – Ataullah Guerra (Caledonia AIA)
Most Outstanding Forward – Richard Roy (Defence Force)
Lucozade Sport Goal Shield – Caledonia AIA
First Citizens Cup – Caledonia AIA
Toyota Classic – W Connection
Digicel Pro Bowl – Defence Force
Most Disciplined Team – W Connection
Referee of the Year – Neil Brizan
Assistant Referee of the Year – Cindy Mohammed
Match Commissioner of the Year – Boris Punch
Team Administrator of the Year – Raymond Mc Lean
2011 Youth Division Awards
U-13 Division
League Champion – W Connection
First Runner-Up – San Juan Jabloteh
Second Runner-Up – Joe Public
Most Valuable Player – Jesse Joseph (Joe Public)
Leading Goal Scorer – Isaiah Hudson (W Connection), Jesse Joseph (Joe Public)
Under-15 Division
League Champion – W Connection
First Runner-Up – San Juan Jabloteh
Second Runner-Up – St Ann’s Rangers
Most Valuable Player– Yafeu Rougier (W Connection)
Leading Goal Scorer – Yafeu Rougier (W Connection)
Under-17 Division
League Champion – Joe Public
First Runner-Up – San Juan Jabloteh
Second Runner-Up – W Connection
Most Valuable Player – Keron Matthews (Defence Force)
Leading Goal Scorer – Arvin n Youth Match Commissioner of the Year – Shari Beharry
Team Administrator of the Year Award – Debie-Ann London (W Connection)
2012 Youth Division Awards
U-14 Division
League Champion – San Juan Jabloteh
First Runner-Up – W Connection
Second Runner-Up – St Ann’s Rangers
Most Valuable Player – Renaldo Francois (San Juan Jabloteh)
Leading Goal Scorer– Judah St Louis (W Connection)
U-16 Division
League Champion – St Ann’s Rangers
First Runner-Up – W Connection
Second Runner-Up – San Juan Jabloteh
Most Valuable Player – Akeem Garcia
Leading Goal Scorer – Akeem Garcia
U-18 Division
League Champion – W Connection
First Runner-Up – North East Stars
Second Runner-Up – T&TEC FC
Most Valuable Player – Neil Benjamin (W Connection)
Leading Goal Scorer – Akeem Roach (W Connection)
Youth Match Commissioner of the Year Award – Cassie Moore
Team Administrator of the Year Award – Debie-Ann London