As his son lay on his death bed, Beetham Gardens football coach Michael Paul made a promise to him not to forsake the children of Beetham Gardens in the area of sports, mainly football which unites the world. Paul, an administrator, has maintained his son's last wish, sharing his football skills with hundreds of children in the community that has been blemished over the years with crime, guns and drugs. For Paul, 2011 has proven to be the most frustrating as scores of children who attend the 30-year-old football academy P&D Soccer School, have been losing direction, discipline and guidance, making his job twice as hard with each passing day.
In his 30 years of coaching, Paul said this year was the most frustrating since he haD been forced to take up the slack where parents have neglected or failed. "Sometimes you feel like giving up. But if you neglect these children, where will they go? What will they become?" he asked. P&D is managed by Paul, 60, and his friend and coach Sheldon De Freitas, of Beetham Gardens. The school currently has 13 students-12 males and one female. Things have been so bad that Paul has contemplated throwing in the towel on many occasions. But when he reflects on his 19-year-old son Shannon, who died in 2004 after battling with bone cancer in his knees, he remembered the commitment that he gave to him to help the Beetham youths.
Shannon, who made T&T's under-13 team, lived for football, a sport that unites the world during World Cup. Paul spoke about Shannon, a robust young man who was reduced to a shadow of himself after falling ill with cancer. During his last moments with his family, Shannon pleaded with his father not to give up on the children in Beetham Gardens and Laventille. He felt that sports was one of the ways to propel children who come from areas that have been tainted by negativity. Describing Shannon as a mighty warrior, Paul said his son had a deep yearning to live, but God snatched him from his family.
"Everything happened so fast. In a minute his life was taken from us. My son gave so much to his community in the area of football that he did not want to see the young ones, especially those who are underprivileged fall astray. "I promised not to let him down. This is what he would have wanted." Three days for the week, Paul and De Freitas would leave their families to spend time imparting their football skills and offer training sessions to children between the ages of seven to 13. The students train at the Laventille Sporting Complex. Many of them have gone on to represent schools in the secondary schools football leagues.
"Our students were so focused that quite a number of them advanced to the national level," Paul stated. During the 30 years he has served the children in his community, Paul admitted that all the coaching lessons were done free of charge. The academy also provides footballs, gear, refreshments and equipment for each child without cost. Through fund-raising events, the academy also provides field trips and academic training to ensure students are well rounded. "We forked out thousands of dollars from our pockets without asking for anything in return. All we ask is that the children fulfil their potential and be an asset to society."
Due to the economic climate, Paul said it had been difficult making ends meet. Now, Paul is asking corporate T&T to help support a child. He explained that because of the geographical area in which they operate, "We are positioned at the bottom of the economic ladder." Paul is also pleading with parents to dedicate more time to their children; to discipline and groom them. This, he said, would help the academy to run smoother and would achieve greater results for the community.