FOR San Juan Jabloteh FC, one of the oldest professional clubs in Trinidad and Tobago, success is not merely about winning matches and lifting trophies.
In its 50 years of existence, Jabloteh has won than its fair share of trophies, including four TT Pro League titles, FA trophies, First Citizens Cups, Digicel Pro Bowls, a CFU Club Championship crown and a Toyota Cup.
However, the beautiful game provides an opportunity for Jabloteh, founded in May 1974, to leave a meaningful impact beyond the football field.
[caption id="attachment_1136791" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A plaque on the wall of San Juan Jabloteh's headquarters in Santa Cruz. - Photo by Stephon Nicholas[/caption]
Long-standing administrator and club director Phillip Fraser, in a recent interview at the club's headquarters in Santa Cruz, said one of the main aims of Jabloteh was to "serve the community, mainly under-privileged youths of the community."
"They (the club founders) developed a senior team, but at the same time wanted to ensure the youths are taken care of.
"The whole objective is to maintain that connection with the (San Juan) community. We have not lost sight of that objective. I always feel proud of that. That has extended to the East-West corridor, but the objective is there. We still hold strongly to that."
The name Jabloteh is derived from the French word Diablotin, which means devil bird, or oil bird, which is found in the caves at Asa Wright Nature Centre and now on the recently redesigned club crest.
[caption id="attachment_1136777" align="alignnone" width="600"] Jabloteh director and former chairman Jerry Hospedales -[/caption]
Co-founder of the club Jerry Hospedales told Newsday said he's "thoroughly satisfied" with the growth of the club and never envisaged them challenging at the Caribbean level.
He said the club has always been welcoming to people who have the club's interest at heart.
"We started as an amateur operation. When football went semi-professional in the early 1990s we formed the San Juan Sports and Cultural Organisation in 1995. This was formed by people from San Juan who migrated out of the area and were in business or close to business and could bring their experiences they would have learned."
He said that organisation was used to raise funds and helped brought San Juan to semi-professional and professional football."
Other founders of the club included Peter Rajkumar, Ricardo Hospedales, Vijay Bhaggan, and Prakash Bhaggan.
Jerry Hospedales said, "We emphasised youth football from very early and we had this foundational base of young people always, and this is what we are doing now."
[caption id="attachment_1136790" align="alignnone" width="1024"] San Juan Jabloteh chairman Nirad Tewarie with a jersey of former player Collin Samuel. - Photo by Stephon Nicholas[/caption]
New chairman of the club Nirad Tewarie told Newsday a youth-centric approach is the key to Jabloteh's sustainability and successes. He said the club does not charge a fee for players to train.
"We rely heavi
