Arouca Beatniks, once a household name in East Trinidad in the sport of football, is returning to prominence after winning three titles this year alone.
Previously a successful campaigner in the Eddie Hart Football League in the Under-14, U-16, and U-19 Divisions under then-coach Eddie Stanford, Arouca Beatniks made major strides by claiming the national Under-17 crown, as well as the East Zone U-17 and Under-20 titles under coach Kerron Hercules, an understudy of Stanford.
Hercules handles duties at the under-17 level at the club and is supported by Quinland O’Brien, who has the responsibilities for the U-20s.
Hercules, once a tidy midfielder at the club, decided to restart the club many years ago in a bid to provide much-needed assistance to many young people hampered by crime and other social ills. He insists the club’s successes to date hinge heavily on the assistance of parents, coupled with a deeply ingrained development system.
This year, the club sought the services of fitness instructor Jamal Jack, who helped in leading the Arouca club to an unbeaten season in the east zone in the under-17 and under-20 divisions and a victory over the Trinity Moka Lions in the national under-17 final at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva, three weeks ago.
According to Hercules, “Last year, September 24th, was the 20-year anniversary since I started back (0:12) at Beatnik Sports Club. Beatniks were originally from Arouca in the early 1980s and 1990s, so I just started something back. I was gifted the chance to start a football team at a young age, and I was guided by Eddie Stanford, so I continued what he started in my community. It has been 18 years since I’ve been doing this with Beatniks Sports Club.”
“Over the years, originally the youth team was founded because in 2018 we had a big team; we had qualified for the Super League at the time, and it was mandated that you must have a youth team if you want to join the Super League, so I went to the principal of Tunapuna Boys RC School, spoke with the principal there and showed him my vision and my ideas and he bought into it. I then went ahead with it, and we got the first set of players from Tunapuna Boys RC.”
He noted further, “These same players won that time as other players joined the club. So, this is why the club has been so successful in the last three years.”
Asked whether there are intentions of starting a senior team, Hercules said, “For some years there has not been any action in the Eddie Hart League, but I do want to start back, as it is a senior team with some guys from the past who are still playing football at the senior level and some of the youths who are 18 years and under. We can provide opportunities for players to get scholarships and for others who can make it to the professional game. Outside of that, I want to keep players active and/or bridge the gap for young people who are facing lives of criminality and those who can make something of themselves in the sport.
In the 1980s and 90s, Arouca Beatniks once trained at Squadron Ground on Henry Street, Arouca; at Garden Village Ground; and at Lopinot Road, Arouca. The team now works out weekly at the Prime Minister Park in Five Rivers.
