Trinidad & Tobago's San Juan Jabloteh (pictured) will play in the first round of the Caribbean Club Championship from March 8-12, 2017, in Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. (Photo: CA-Images)
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent & the Grenadines -- San Juan Jabloteh has played in two previous editions of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League and will start on the road to a third Wednesday, when it squares off against Flames United (Sint Maarten) in the 2017 Caribbean Club Championship’s Group E opener at Victoria Park.
The Trinidadian power has one win in 10 all-time SCCL games, but its ambition to compete against the region’s best carries on ceaselessly.
“As a team, we always strive to play at the top level in and outside of our country,” said head coach Keith Jeffrey. “To be in the grouping of the CFU, it’s an accomplishment that we haven’t done since 2010. In the past we have been victorious in this competition and we want to return to the glory days lifting the CFU trophy once again.
“We look forward to crossing the first hurdle in St. Vincent and going as far as we can go by God’s grace.”
San Juan Jabloteh was founded in 1974 and has captured 18 domestic trophies, including four league titles. In 2003, it earned its first and only Caribbean club title. The San Juan Kings participated in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 editions of the SCCL, posting their only win against visiting San Francisco FC, 3-0, on August 6, 2009.
“We have always been at the top level, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but the Caribbean at length,” Jeffrey noted.
The 53-year-old’s love for the club runs deep.
“As the coach/technical director of San Juan Jabloteh, I played with [the club] since as a youth for many years,” he finished. “I later left the team to join the Police service of Trinidad & Tobago, but my passion was always football and San Juan Jabloteh was my team, so I later returned to team where I now coach the senior/pro team and to me that is a major accomplishment.”
Another accomplishment would be if Jeffrey can guide San Juan Jabloteh back to the CONCACAF Champions League,
2017 CARIBBEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round, Group E
San Juan Jabloteh Schedule (all games at Victoria Park – Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
March 8, 2017: v Flames United (Saint Maarten)
March 10, 2017: v CS Moulien (Guadeloupe)
March 12, 2017: System 3 (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
