Captain of the national senior women's football team Maylee Attin-Johnson found herself in esteemed company on Friday night as an awardee at the Port-of-Spain City Corporation's Annual Civic Awards and Reception held at Estate 101 in Maraval.
Of the 21 awards, four went to sports–football. Former captains of this country's men's national team: Clayton Morris and Selris "Sellers" Figaro were lauded for their sterling contributions, too.
While Ray Matthews, a warrant officer class 2 with the T&T defence Force, was never called to national duty in his favourite sport that did not deter him embarking in positive community undertaking to hone the talent of budding athletes.
Port-of-Spain Mayor Raymond Tim Kee and members of the council at the Corporation made sure Matthews' work did not go unnoticed.
Apart from his work in the protective services for the past three decades this dedicated solider had been undertaking projects in his community of Belmont for the past 24 years with the aim of bringing about positive changes to the lives of residents.
Projects undertaken by him include children Christmas parties, sporting tournaments and football camps.
Matthews was a member and events co-ordinator of G Dimension Football Club from 2001 -2005, but even before that he proudly hosted a small goal tournament in the Belmont, from 1997 to 2000.
Presently, he served as vice-president of Friend From Around (FFA) which continued hosting sporting and social events within his community in Belmont Zone of the Port-of-Spain Small Goal Champion League, which was in its fourth year.
Meanwhile, Morris, the head coach of the University of T&T football team, was recognised not only for his leadership of the Strike Squad, but a distinguished career which began on the national under-19 team and then to the national senior team for a decade. He served five of those years as captain and led the men in over 100 games. But when he left the field as team leader, he did not leave the spotlight.
The ex-defender went onto guide players on the U-20 and senior teams, nurturing the likes of sport minister and former striker Brent Sancho, Russell Latapy (who elevated to national coach) Dwight Yorke, who wore the captain's arm band during the 2006 Fife World Cup Germany and ex-goal keeper Shaka Hislop, who held pride of place as a footballer commentator at ESPN.
Attin-Johnson, the lone female on the honour roll, had experience as manager of the national U-20 women's team. That was back in 2009. The talented mid-fielder/forward led the senior women's team to a crucial qualifying game against Ecuador at the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Woodbrook, back in December. The match finished 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
Attin-Johnson's score card had been described outstanding racking up 32 goals and assisted her teammates in netting another 15.
Figaro was a member of the national team which played against Haiti in 1973 and lost the sixth Concacaf Championship held in Haiti. Up to today the referee's decision remained controversial. Five years later he was elevated to the post of captain.
During an interview after the awards ceremony, he told the T&T Guardian he felt elated to be honoured.
"The 1974 squad of T&T, leave here and went to Haiti, (and) directly won that tournament. Because of the refereeing they banned that referee for life. Jack Warner and these people who were in charge of the football never take it up and fight and appeal the matter," he said.