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In 1976, Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive was born, built on 6.34 acres of land situated along Mucurapo Road, St. James, Port-of-Spain. It was the first and only Comprehensive school to be constructed in the capital city, and its door opened in January 1977.
1984
The early days and weeks in the life of Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive were difficult but exciting. There was a certain joy in the feeling that we were building something new. We were part of a revolution in education. (Vibrations 1984 p.15).
Electrical Installation teacher and staff member from 1976-2016
“The Senior Comprehensive model was a new concept in secondary education in Trinidad and Tobago and most teachers were excited; in fact we felt that we were pioneers in the new Comprehensive system, where traditional academics and technical vocational education were now being taught in the same environment.”(2016)
1986-2016.
The school’s teams continually dominated the Secondary School Netball League. In 1987 they won the Champions of Champions title and followed this up in 1990 with Individual and Team Shooting awards. Afeisha Noel collected both the MVP and Most Goals awards for the 2002-2003 season and the following year Corisia Blugh captured the MVP and Best Defensive player awards as she inspired the team to the over-17 title.
1986-2016.
Between 1986 and 1989 the girl’s team won the Five-a-Side, League and Knockout competitions while the boys placed 3rd in the League but were victorious in the Knockout format. 2004 saw the girls play unbeaten and emerge as National Champions with Afeisha Noel capturing the MVP award for the Champions of Champions tournament and Corisia Blugh the MVP for the League. In 2014 the boys won the North Zone U-17 Division and placed 2nd in both the North Zone U-15 and U-20 Divisions. From this team, 2 players earned North Zone and overall MVP awards and 4 players earned selection onto a North Zone ‘All Star’ team.
1986-2016.
Under the guidance of Coach Antonio Greenidge, the school’s U-19 team finished as runners up in the North Zone League and Knockout Competitions in 1989. Cricket has continued to grow steadily over the years at Mucurapo and recent seasons have brought significant rewards. The U-19 team won a hat-trick of North Zone League titles from 2012-2014 as well as successive Knockout Trophies in 2012 and 2013. This was crowned with promotion into the Championship Division of the SSCL at the end of the 2014 season after an absence of many years from this division. That season also saw East Mucurapo take home a total of 20 individual and team awards at the North Zone Awards Ceremony due to the hard work and dedication of the U-14, U-16 and U-19 teams. At present, the U-19 team continues to play in the Championship Division, having maintained their high level of performance over the past 2 seasons.
1986-2016.
The 1989 season saw the school win several races in the POS Zonal and then Secondary School National Championships. This was highlighted by the Victrix Ludorum title which went to Bernadine Thomas after her victories in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m events. In 2004, Carlan Arthur blazed a trail of glory for Mucurapo, winning the 800m and 1500m events at the Zonal Championships. He then went on to be adjudged the Most Outstanding Athlete at the National Championships and followed that accolade by winning the one-mile event and placing 3rd in the 800m at the Southern Games, again earning the title Most Outstanding Performer. On the international stage, he competed at the prestigious Penn Relays, finishing 7th in his event and at the 2003 CARIFTA Games, where he won the Gold medal in the 1500m race and Bronze in the 800m. In 2014, East Mucurapo won the Zonal Long Jump and 5000m titles, following this up in 2015 by placing 1st in the Mayaro 5x1k relay race as well as winning the U-18 and Over-20 categories in the Savannah 5k race.
1986-2016.
A Girls’ Football Competition was introduced on a National level as an experimental tournament in 1988. As such, a ‘Mucurapo Combined’ team comprising of girls from both the Junior and Senior Comprehensive schools was formed to take part in this competition. In 1989 and 1990, under the guidance of Coach Hugh Hope, the team placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the League format and were runners up in 1989 and semi-finalists in 1990 in the Knockout format of the competition. In later years, one of our most talented female footballers, Jemilia Mathin, was a standout during 2000-2003, emerging as the school’s top scorer and earning a call to the National team in 2002.
1986-2016.
In the realm of boys’ football, “Compre” was a constant force to be reckoned with. 1988 saw the school emerge as North Zone Champions for the first time in its 12-year history, scoring more goals than any other team in the Secondary School’s League that season. The school secured a hat-trick of North Zone league titles from 2004-2006 and was again crowned League champions in 2008. During this span they also secured the North Zone Intercol title in 2004, 2008 and 2014. The pinnacle of their success came in the form of National Intercol Titles in 2008 and 2014, with the latter being particularly special since the team had endured a difficult season and suffered relegation from the Premiership Division. Many a Mucurapo footballer has gone on the represent the red, white and black of Trinidad and Tobago at the highest level. The famous ‘Strike Squad’ that came within a point of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 1990 had in its ranks Hutson Charles and Kelvin Jones, and they were followed over the years by Angus Eve, Dale Saunders, Ross Russell, Durance Williams, Kerry Baptiste and Christian Baptiste. Most recently, ex-Mucurapo players Kevin Molino, Alvin and Joevin Jones (sons of Kelvin Jones), Khaleem Hyland, Atullah Guerra, Kevin Williams and Keron Cummings have all been selected for National duty. The former player that stands out, however, must be Cornell Glen, who was a member of the 2006 World Cup squad and played in all 3 of Trinidad and Tobago’s group games, coming within a whisker of scoring against Sweden when his shot cannoned off the cross bar. Such is the deep love and enduring nature of the Mucurapo spirit that both Dale Saunders and Ian Clauzel are now part of the coaching staff at EMSS.