2012–13 TT Pro League

TT Pro League

Season	2012–13
Champions	Defence Force 3rd Pro League title 22nd T&T title
CFU Club Championship	Defence Force Caledonia AIA
Matches played	84
Goals scored	273 (3.25 per match)
Top goalscorer	Devorn Jorsling (21 goals)
Biggest home win	Defence Force 8–0 Rangers (4 January 2013)
Biggest away win	T&TEC 0–7 W Connection (10 November 2012)
Highest scoring	Defence Force 8–0 Rangers (4 January 2013)
← 2011–12 2013–14 →

The 2012–13 TT Pro League season (known as the Digicel Pro League for sponsorship reasons) was the fourteenth season of the TT Pro League, the Trinidad and Tobago professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. A total of eight teams contested the league, with W Connection the defending champions.^[1] The season began on 14 September 2012 and ended on 10 May 2013 with the crowning of Defence Force as the league champion.

Speaking on the number of clubs in the Pro League prior to the start of the season, CEO Dexter Skeene stated in an interview that he feels the country's best footballing interests are served by an eight-team league.^[2] On 30 June 2012, San Juan Jabloteh announced that due to financial constraints the club suspended their football operations. As a result, the four-time Pro League champion, San Juan Kings, did not participate for the first time in the league's history.^[3] In response, a new club established by Brent Sancho to represent the Central region of the country, Central FC, was formed and officially applied for Pro League membership on 25 July 2012.^[4] The club is officially based in California and plays its home games in Ato Boldon Stadium. Central was admitted into the league on 6 September 2012 and became the 21st team to compete in the Pro League.^[5]

The first goal of the season was scored by two-time Golden Boot winner Devorn Jorsling of Defence Force against St. Ann's Rangers in the thirty-second minute of the first game on 14 September 2012.^[6] Bevon Bass of T&TEC scored the first hat-trick of the season as the Electricity Boys defeated St. Ann's Rangers 3–2 on 20 October 2012.^[7] Jorsling went on to claim an unprecedented third Golden Boot award after leading the league with 21 goals scored for Defence Force.

On 6 May 2013, Defence Force secured the TT Pro League championship following a Caledonia AIA 2–1 loss to Central FC in Couva. The league title was the Teteron Boys' second in three seasons and marked their third Pro League title overall.^[8] Consequently, Defence Force and Caledonia AIA, having finished as runners-up, earned places within the 2014 CFU Club Championship.^[9] Following the season, T&TEC withdrew from the league citing financial struggles to field a professional football club.^[10] The Electricity Boys became the seventh team to leave the league in the previous four years.

Changes from the 2011–12 season

The following changes were made since the 2011–12 season:

• A new competition was introduced to open the Pro League season. The Charity Shield will contest the defending league champions and the winner of the previous year's Pro Bowl.
  • If the league champion also wins the Pro Bowl competition, then the Charity Shield will be contested by the top two teams in the previous league season.^[11]
• Clubs have the option to postpone their scheduled match if the club stands without three or more players on international duty.^[12]
• There were a number of changes to the clubs competing in the 2012–13 season.
  • San Juan Jabloteh suspended their football club operations and withdrew from the league.^[3]
  • After ending its two-year sponsorship with North East Stars, DirecTV and W Connection agreed to an undisclosed deal on 13 July 2012 to sponsor the Couva-based club.^[13]
  • Central FC, a new club based in the Central region of the country, officially applied for membership into the league on 25 July 2012.^[4]
    • The California-based club was officially admitted into the league on 6 September 2012 and intends to play its home matches in Ato Boldon Stadium.^[5]

Teams

Team summaries

Caledonia

Defence

Police

Rangers

T&TEC

NE Stars

Central FC

W Connection

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Location of the 2012–13 TT Pro League teams

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	Jerry Moe	Stephan David
Central FC	California	Ato Boldon Stadium	10,000	Terry Fenwick	Marvin Phillip
Defence Force	Chaguaramas	Hasely Crawford Stadium	27,000	Ross Russell	Corey Rivers
North East Stars	Sangre Grande	Sangre Grande Ground	7,000	Angus Eve	Cleon John
Police	Saint James	Hasely Crawford Stadium	27,000	Richard Hood	Todd Ryan
St. Ann's Rangers	San Juan	Hasely Crawford Stadium	27,000	Dean Pacheco	Devon Modeste
T&TEC	San Fernando	Manny Ramjohn Stadium	10,000	Dexter Cyrus	Sylvester Teesdale
W Connection	Point Lisas	Manny Ramjohn Stadium	10,000	Stuart Charles-Fevrier	Elijah Joseph

Player transfers

Further information: List of Trinidadian football transfers 2012–13

Managerial changes

Main article: List of TT Pro League managers

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Table	Incoming manager	Date of appointment	Table
Central FC	Expansion team				Graham Rix	13 August 2012[14]	Pre-season
Police	Kelvin Jones	Sacked	29 August 2012	6th (2011–12)	Richard Hood	29 August 2012[15]	Pre-season
T&TEC	Dexter Cyrus	Sacked	11 September 2012	2nd (2011–12)	Jefferson George	11 September 2012[16]	Pre-season
T&TEC	Jefferson George	Resigned	10 November 2012	8th	Dexter Cyrus	22 November 2012[17]	8th
Caledonia AIA	Jamaal Shabazz	Signed by Trinidad and Tobago	27 November 2012[18]	1st	Jerry Moe	27 November 2012	1st
Central FC	Graham Rix	Mutual consent	21 December 2012[19]	6th	Terry Fenwick	3 January 2013[20]	6th
St. Ann's Rangers	Dean Pacheco	End of contract	30 June 2013	7th	Gilbert Bateau	1 July 2013[21]	Post-season

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Defence Force (C)	21	14	4	3	52	21	+31	46	2014 CFU Club Championship First round
2	Caledonia AIA	21	13	3	5	53	27	+26	42
3	W Connection	21	11	5	5	45	19	+26	38
4	North East Stars	21	10	8	3	32	17	+15	38
5	Central FC	21	8	6	7	31	32	−1	30
6	Police	21	3	7	11	25	43	−18	16
7	St. Ann's Rangers	21	2	7	12	22	49	−27	13
8	T&TEC	21	2	2	17	13	65	−52	8	Team disbanded after season[a]

Updated to match(es) played on 10 May 2013. Source: TT Pro League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:

1. T&TEC withdrew from the league citing financial struggles to cease its football operations prior to the 2013–14 season.

Positions by round

	Leader
	2014 CFU Club Championship First round
	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
Defence Force	3	3	6	3	2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Caledonia AIA	7	7	5	2	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
W Connection	5	4	3	1	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	4	3	3	3	4	3	4	3	3	3
North East Stars	1	2	2	4	4	3	4	4	4	4	4	3	4	4	4	3	4	3	4	4	4
Central FC	4	1	1	5	5	5	5	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Police	2	5	4	6	7	6	6	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
St. Ann's Rangers	6	8	8	7	6	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
T&TEC	8	6	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8

Updated to match(es) played on 10 May 2013. Source: TT Pro League

Results

Matches 1–14 Home \ Away CAL CEN DEF NES POL RAN TEC WCO Caledonia AIA 5–2 4–2 1–3 3–1 2–1 6–0 0–0 Central FC 3–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–3 2–1 0–3 Defence Force 5–1 3–0 3–3 3–1 8–0 3–2 5–1 North East Stars 0–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 Police 1–5 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–2 2–0 2–5 St. Ann's Rangers 2–4 1–3 1–2 0–0 3–3 2–3 1–2 T&TEC 0–6 1–1 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 0–7 W Connection 1–1 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 Updated to match(es) played on 6 March 2013. Source: TT Pro League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 15–21 Home \ Away CAL CEN DEF NES POL RAN TEC WCO Caledonia AIA 0–0 3–0 4–1 Central FC 2–1 4–2 5–0 2–2 Defence Force 3–0 0–1 4–0 North East Stars 3–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 Police 0–2 0–2 3–0 0–5 St. Ann's Rangers 1–1 0–3 1–1 T&TEC 0–5 2–0 0–4 W Connection 0–1 4–0 0–1 3–0 Updated to match(es) played on 10 May 2013. Source: TT Pro League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Scoring

• First goal of the season: Devorn Jorsling for Defence Force against St. Ann's Rangers, 14 September 2012.^[6]
• Last goal of the season: Jerwyn Balthazar for Defence Force against T&TEC, 10 May 2013.^[22]
• First own goal of the season: Daneil Cyrus (W Connection) for Defence Force. (21 December 2012)^[23]
• First penalty kick of the season: Richard Roy (scored) for Defence Force against St. Ann's Rangers, 14 September 2012.^[6]
• First hat-trick of the season: Bevon Bass (T&TEC) against St. Ann's Rangers, 5', 29', 42' (20 October 2012)^[7]
• Most goals scored by one player in a match: 4 goals
  • Peter Byers (Central FC) against T&TEC, 41', 59', 80', 86' (16 March 2013)^[24]
• Widest winning margin: 8 goals
  • Defence Force 8–0 St. Ann's Rangers (4 January 2013)^[25]
• Most goals in a match: 8 goals
  • Defence Force 8–0 St. Ann's Rangers (4 January 2013)^[25]
• Most goals in one half: 6 goals
  • Defence Force v W Connection (21 December 2012) 0–0 at half-time, 5–1 final.^[23]
• Most goals in one half by a single team: 5 goals
  • Defence Force v W Connection (21 December 2012) 0–0 at half-time, 5–1 final.^[23]
  • T&TEC v North East Stars (6 May 2013) 0–0 at half-time, 0–5 final.^[26]

Top scorers

See also: Top TT Pro League goal scorers by season

Rank	Player	Club	Goals[27]
1	Devorn Jorsling	Defence Force	21
2	Cornell Glen	North East Stars	16
3	Kevon Carter	Defence Force	10
	Joevin Jones	W Connection	10
5	Devon Modeste	St. Ann's Rangers	9
6	Peter Byers	Central FC	8
7	Josimar Belgrave	Defence Force	7
	Keyon Edwards	Caledonia AIA	7
	Kareem Joseph	Caledonia AIA	7
	Andrei Pacheco	W Connection	7
	Shahdon Winchester	W Connection	7

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of TT Pro League hat-tricks

Player	For	Against	Result	Date	Ref(s)
Bevon Bass	T&TEC*	St. Ann's Rangers	3–2	20 October 2012	[7]
Josimar Belgrave	Defence Force*	North East Stars	3–3	20 October 2012	[28]
Ataullah Guerra	Caledonia AIA	T&TEC*	0–6	3 November 2012	[29]
Keyon Edwards	Caledonia AIA	Police*	1–5	9 November 2012	[30]
Kevon Carter	Defence Force*	St. Ann's Rangers	8–0	4 January 2013	[25]
Shahdon Winchester	W Connection	Central FC*	0–3	5 January 2013	[31]
Cornell Glen	North East Stars*	T&TEC	3–1	15 February 2013	[32]
Joevin Jones	W Connection	Police*	2–5	22 February 2013	[33]
Marvin Lee	St. Ann's Rangers	Police*	3–3	27 February 2013	[34]
Peter Byers^4	Central FC*	T&TEC	5–0	16 March 2013	[24]
Devorn Jorsling	Defence Force*	Central FC	3–0	5 April 2013	[35]
Neil Benjamin	W Connection*	Defence Force	4–0	6 May 2013	[26]
Andrei Pacheco	W Connection	Police*	0–5	10 May 2013	[36]

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

Discipline

• First yellow card of the season: Jason Marcano for St. Ann's Rangers against Defence Force, 14 September 2012.^[37]
• First red card of the season: Glen Sutton for T&TEC against Caledonia AIA, 3 November 2012.^[38]
• Most yellow cards in a single match: 8
  • North East Stars 0–0 Central FC – 5 for North East Stars (Kareem Moses (2), Glenton Wolfe, Jeromie Williams & Elijah Manners) and 3 for Central FC (Wesley John, Johan Peltier & Darren Mitchell) (6 March 2013)^[39]
• Most red cards in a single match: 3
  • Defence Force 3–0 Central FC – 1 for Defence Force (Keston Williams) and 2 for Central FC (Marvin Phillip & Wesley John) (5 April 2013)^[35]

Awards

Monthly awards

Month	Manager of the Month		Player of the Month		Ref(s)
	Player	Club	Manager	Club
September/October	Jerry Moe	Caledonia AIA	Devorn Jorsling	Defence Force	[40]

References

1. "Trinidad and Tobago - List of Champions". Radek Jelínekm, Hans Schöggl and RSSSF. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
2. "Pro League given grounds for optimism". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
3. "Financially starved Jabloteh pulls out of League". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-07-03. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
4. "Sancho launches Central FC". Central FC Media. 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
5. "Central FC joins Pro League; Jabloteh misses out". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
6. "Sam sizzler fails to thwart Army's "Ro-Jo" combination". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
7. "Bass reconnects T&TEC with hattrick against Rangers". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
8. "Defence Force finally celebrates winning the 2012-2013 Digicel Pro League title". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
9. "CFU pots Connection, Caledonia for CONCACAF Champions' League qualifiers; Caribbean Club Champions Cup to be revisited next year". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 25 April 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
10. Vinode Mancham (13 May 2012). "T&TEC pulls plug on cricket, football teams". Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
11. "Charity Shield to kick off Pro League". T&T Express Staff. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
12. "Army, Connection chase lead in Digicel Pro League". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-12-14. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
13. "DIRECTV partners with W Connection". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
14. "Central FC unveils head coach Graham Rix". Central FC Media. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
15. "Hood takes over as Police coach". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
16. "George installed as T&TEC Head Coach". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
17. "Cyrus to the rescue at T&TEC". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
18. "Shabazz named as joint-Head Coach of Warriors". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
19. "Fenwick is back; ex-Jabloteh coach takes over at Central". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
20. "Fenwick returns to the top flight, joins Central FC". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-01-05. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
21. "Gilbert Bateau takes over from Pacheco as Rangers Head Coach". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
22. "Champs Defence Force signs off on Pro League in style". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
23. "D/Force hammers Connection 5-1". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
24. "Central's Byers routs T&TEC; Stars hold Police". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
25. "Leaders Defence Force crush depleted Rangers 8-0". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
26. "Benjamin trick ruins Defence Force's Digicel Pro League Championship celebrations". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
27. Inshan Mohammed. "2012/13 Pro League Fixtures". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
28. "Defence Force holds Stars in six-goal thriller". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
29. "Caledonia clobbers T&TEC to top Pro League". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
30. "Caledonia, D/Force maintain winning ways". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
31. "Winchester tricks Central; Connection spoils Fenwick's return". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
32. "Defence Force edges Connection; Glen tricks T&TEC". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
33. "Jones hat-trick heats up League chase". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2013-02-23.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
34. "Lee tricks Lawmen in goal rush". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
35. "Champs-in-waiting: Ten-man Defence Force stuns Central". Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com). 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
36. "Connection holds on for 3rd spot; Stars just behind by lesser goal difference". Lasana Liburd (Wire868.com). 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
37. "Army edge Rangers in League opener". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
38. "Caledonia leaps to the top after trashing T&TEC 6-0". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
39. "Stars, Central grab a point each in stalemate". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
40. "Jorsling, Moe grabs respective Digicel Player, Coach of September/October". Randy Bando (TTProLeague.com). 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-11-19.

External links

• Official Website
• Soca Warriors Online, TT Pro League