In front of a packed stadium where spectators were at the edge of their seats as they watched the heated match against Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens, Anthony Patrick, Waterhouse’s coach, was honoured as the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Star Coach for round three, during half-time of Monday Night’s second leg semi-finals at the Anthony Spaulding Complex.

Under his leadership, the Waterhouse Football Club (WFC) has won 14 games and drawn six, totalling 20 undefeated matches in this season’s Red Stripe Premier League. There is no question why Anthony Patrick was named the CHEC Star Coach. This is the first time since the inception of the programme, that one man has won this title twice in a row as he was also awarded for his outstanding performance as Waterhouse’s head coach for round two of this year’s season.

If 20 unbeaten games weren’t enough, Patrick went on to lead his team in a victorious finish with three wins at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship in Haiti as Waterhouse triumphed in matches against Moengotapoe, of Suriname; Mirebalais, of Haiti and Caledonia AIA, of Trinidad. The CFU is the qualifying tournament for the CONCACAF Champions League from which teams are then eligible to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.

After the CFU Patrick commented that this Championship was a new experience for most of the players and having the exposure of seeing professionals engaged in the sport further fuelled the team’s decision to play as one united body.

Having won eight out of 11 games in round three, it was evident that Patrick had scored with a whopping $150,000 as CHEC’s Star Coach for rounds two and three.

He commended the efforts of the players and the assistant coaches and said that he intends to split the prize money in a way that will keep everyone happy.

“This programme is definitely a morale booster, knowing that there is this kind of reward for our hard work,” remarked Patrick.

The numbers speak for themselves with such an impressive track record, especially since Patrick assumed the role of head coach just five months ago. So what is his secret?

“You have to give your players the freedom to express themselves,” remarked Patrick. “Give them the freedom to show their talent, don’t let them hold back or be afraid.”

In addition to the Star Coach for each round, every month an outstanding player is chosen to be the CHEC Starballer based on the following criterion: the number of games played in the season, positive impact on an individual’s team, disciplinary record, goals scored, and goal shut outs (goalkeepers).

Each CHEC Starballer is presented with a commemorative plaque and a cash prize of $30,000.

The Waterhouse Football Club is certainly on a roll as their goalkeeper Richard McCallum was named the CHEC Starballer for the month of April.

McCallum is a national player, but had suffered injuries which prevented him from playing for the entire season. However, Patrick brought him back in the game before the close of round two and McCallum has not stopped shining. As one of the more senior players, having been a member of the team for 12 years, McCallum does his part in motivating and pushing his teammates to work even harder.

–>