The Miscellaneous Laventille United Football club members were honoured at an Awards Ceremony held at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday evening for its achievements in its inaugural year involved in National club football.

The club, founded by Cedric Hazelwood, presented a senior men’s team now called Miscellaneous Laventille United to participate in the Northern Football Association First Division in 2016 following a partnership with the Miscellaneous Group in September. This followed after the company’s CEO Sham Mohammed took a special interest in the talent coming out of Laventille during a Football 7s tournament sponsored by the Miscellaneous Group and staged at the St Paul Street Recreational Ground in conjunction with the Inter-Agency Task Force Hearts and Minds Programme earlier this year

Hazelwood said that being able to see players and supporters from communities that were at some point warring with each other, turning up at matches supporting one cause and one team was the biggest achievement for him.

“They all came together to support one team and for me and all of us here, this is a major success because of this programme,” Hazelwood added.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: Laventille United players bow their heads in prayer at the opening of the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

“What we have seen here is a transformation that was not happening before in spite of the different projects that were tried by the Ministries. We are thankful for all they have tried but I am delighted to see that this football programme is making positive change.

“People from the different areas are now coming together at the football field and backing each other. It is something fresh and enlightening for us to see away from all the warring and criminal activities that have plagued our image over the years,” Hazelwood stated.

Shaun Fuentes, who hosted the ceremony, is a partner of the Miscellaneous Laventille set up and he lamented the success of the programme so far which saw the team formed after a participation in the Miscellaneous Football 7s tournament at St Paul Street, Port of Spain in August.

“The members of the squad come from various areas within Laventille, from Beverly Hills, St Paul Street, John John, Snake Valley, Mentor Alley, Block 22, Higher and Lower Picton, Soogrim Trace to Despers Centre and other areas,” Fuentes said in his address.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: (From Left to Right) MVP Brad Clifton, Top Goalscorer Kareem Charles, Most promising player, Richard Hannaway (rep.) and most dedicated player Dalone Murrell, display their winnings during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

“Now the 25-members of the current club are finding a way to break down barriers, coming together from several areas in Laventille.The stage is now set for Laventille United to continue to grow, expand and put the community in a positive light through football and other enriching community engagements,” stated Fuentes, who is also the communications manager at the TTFA.

Mohammed also pledged continued support for the team and will see to the expansion of the team’s backroom staff and other technical support for the 2017 season.

Hazelwood said that being able to see players and supporters from communities that were at some point warring with each other, turning up at matches supporting one cause and one team was the biggest achievement for him.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

“I am proud to stand here to say to say that we have reached this stage in Laventille where over the last few years we know that every day was a murder on the street, around our homes. The government’s ministries tried a lot of programmes in Laventille to curb crime and it never really worked. I think it had more crime. Since we started on August 1st, with the support of Miscellaneous Group and its CEO Sham Mohammed, we have seen a lot of improvements and achievements in Laventille.

“This is something great where, as mentioned by Mr Fuentes earlier on, we could have players from different parts of Laventille coming together to play football which is something that can bring the whole world together.

This was the right vehicle to use to break down the barriers in Laventille. We had players bringing supporters from their communities who were at once warring against each other. They all came together to support one team and for me and all of us here, this is a major success because of this programme,” Hazelwood added.

“We are committed to the work ahead because it helps us send a positive message throughout Laventille and the rest of the country,” he added.

The club has set up for youth development with teams in the Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 categories.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: Laventille United Head Coach Cedric Hazelwood delivers a Certificate of Appriciation to his team’s title sponsor’s CEO, Sham Mohammed, during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.

Tue. Dec. 20th 2016: during the Laventille United Football Club, awards ceremony 2016, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge, Mucorapo. LUFC was formed in 2016 and entered the Northern Football Association First Division, claiming second and earning promotion to the Premier Division. the team is comprised strictly of players from the Laventille community. Photo: Allan V. Crane/CA-images.