The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Charity Shield (known as the Digicel Charity Shield for sponsorship reasons) was the inaugural edition of the Charity Shield, which was a football match that opened the 2012–13 TT Pro League season. The match was played at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on 8 September 2012, between the winners of the previous season's Pro League and Pro Bowl competitions. The match was contested by the 2012 Digicel Pro Bowl winners, Defence Force, and the champions of the 2011–12 Pro League, W Connection. The Savonetta Boys won the match 2–0 with goals from Shahdon Winchester and Joevin Jones, who was later named the Man of the Match.
The winners of the Charity Shield, W Connection received TT$10,000 donated to a charitable cause of choice. It was announced that the charitable cash prize would be given to the captain of W Connection, Jan-Michael Williams, to offset medical expenses for his fiancée Candice Worrell. Worrell was brutally assaulted while being relieved of her mobile phone in January 2012 and was comatose for nearly three months. Additionally, part proceeds generated from the gate receipts will also go towards introducing the "Read to Rise" Primary Literacy Program to a school within W Connection's community.
Pre-match
Entry
Defence Force qualified by winning the 2012 Digicel Pro Bowl, beating Caledonia AIA 5–2 in the final at Hasely Crawford Stadium. Defence Force beat San Juan Jabloteh 6–0 and T&TEC 2–0 en route to the final. The 2012 victory was the Teteron Boys''' first Pro Bowl triumph and consequently gained a berth in the 2012 Digicel Charity Shield.
W Connection qualified for the inaugural Charity Shield by clinching the TT Pro League title in the 2011–12 season. W Connection made a moderate start to the league season, having trailed T&TEC by seven points following the first round conclusion. However, a rise in form in December and January meant they rose to within one point behind leaders T&TEC after the Electricity Boys recorded just two wins from seven matches in the second round of fixtures. W Connection recorded a draw against T&TEC on 23 March to remain within two points of the leaders heading into the last match day. Needing just a draw from their last league match on 29 March to be crowned champions, T&TEC fell 3–2 to Caledonia AIA after W Connection defeated Police 8–1. The league being decided by a single point was the closest finish since Joe Public and W Connection in 2006 and ensured the Savonetta Boys'' their second TT Pro League title and fourth top-flight league title overall since 2000.
Match
Details
GK 18 Jan-Michael Williams (c)LB 6 Kemuel Rivers CB 5 Elijah JosephCB 3 Akeem BenjaminRB 13 Kern CupidLM 29 Jomal Williams CM 8 Clyde LeonCM 36 Joevin JonesRM 7 Rennie Britto FW 14 Hashim Arcia FW 40 Shahdon WinchesterSubstitutes:GK 22 Aquelius SylvesterDF 4 Daneil CyrusMF 12 Gerard Williams MF 16 Andre Quashie MF 25 Christian ViverosFW 17 Andrei Pacheco FW 31 Jerrel BrittoManager: Stuart Charles-Fevrier
GK 1 Kevin GrahamLB 21 Aklie EdwardsCB 5 Devin JordanCB 20 Rodell ElcockRB 14 Corey Rivers (c)DM 8 Curtis Gonzales LM 17 Ross Russell Jr. CM 15 Jerwyn Balthazar CM 11 Kevon CarterRM 12 Josimar Belgrave CF 10 Devorn JorslingSubstitutes:GK 25 Sheldon ClarkeDF 3 Keston WilliamsDF 4 Marvin JonesDF 6 Michael Edwards MF 18 Sean Narcis MF 19 Dexter PachecoFW 9 Richard Roy Manager: Ross Russell
Man of the match Joevin Jones (W Connection)
Match rules 90 minutes Penalty shoot-out if scores level after 90 minutes Seven named substitutes No maximum on number of substitutions
See also 2011–12 TT Pro League 2012 Digicel Pro Bowl
References