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Mr. Lance Moore (1940-2020) Naparima First Eleven 1954-58 Kelvin Shah: "Very sorry to hear the sad news about Lance (The Engine). We were classmates for 5 years at Naps, and were seatmates for a long time. My sincere sympathy goes out to his family." Fred Thornhill: "Lance was a teammate in 1954, a friend and in later years gave me physio to relieve the pain of old sport injury. My sympathy to his family." [At the end of Fred's History of Intercol (above), Fred lists Lance as his choice for centre-forward in an imaginary best-of-the-years NC football team]. Harold Hosein: "I remember competing against him on sports day 1954 when I had him beaten for 110 yds of a 220 yd race - until I heard a snorting on my right at about 30yd from the finish, and he just blew me away. Great guy. Respect, love and peace, bro." Fayad W. Ali: "Lance had a small gym. I used to go there and do a little workout. He had a steam room as well and many were the back massages he gave me. Did you know Lance wrote a health book? He gave one to the Naparima library." Junior Yamin Ali: "We played Cricket for the Ist XI and his skill in all aspects of the game was exceptional. However he was never one to brag or show off and he always encouraged his team mates.It was obvious to all that he was well brought up by his adoring parents. My brother, Dick, broke his leg playing against him in a keenly contested House Football game and Lance used to visit us occasionally with his Dad, a giant of a man, to see how Dick was getting along. His sense of humour used to have my mother in stitches.... in Donaldson street I would call in to his metal fabrication shop, just off Cipero St. He would often see my father, his Sports Master for many years, and always had time for an old talk. I envied his talent and virtuosity which came so naturally easy to him." Arnim Cozier: "I came to Naps only in 58 from Iere where I was on their football team, which was fairly good at the time although not invited to Intercol. Several of that Iere team went on to play first class football later. We had played Naps a friendly on Lewis St ground in 57 and gave them a lot of trouble. When I arrived at Naps, Lance came to me and told me I had to play for the side. He was the best player I had ever played with, most unselfish, and he went on to play for Trinidad after college. He was a so-so calypsonian too." Milton Moonah: The San Fernando Government School Boys: Bing Dymally, Ashton Chambers, Mark Popplewell, Kelvin Shah, Junior Yamin Ali, and I, Milton Moonah started at Naps in 1953, the same year as Lance. Over the years we had Sports Days, Cricket matches, Soccer games, House League matches and Calypso singing contests and many other extra curricula activities. We salute Lance and pay tribute to his many accomplishments over his time at Naps. Lance was always great to hang out with. In 1970, I met up again with Lance in Toronto at Thorncliff Park on the Leaside grounds, with fellow Trinis at a practice session of the Iere Soccer club organized by Anthony Skerrit. Lance was most encouraging... By that time Lance had had knee operations and wasn't playing competitively any more. We stayed in touch over the years through the Lanternites Soccer Club, and the Naparima Alumni Association Canada NAAC (Toronto), where he won all the table tennis championships whenever he competed. My favourite memory goes back to 1958 Naps Sportsday at Skinner Park. We had an invitational 100yd dash in front of the grandstand. Lance Moore, Wendell Motley, myself and some younger runners were in the lineup. As the starters pistol sounded we were even over the first 10-15yds. Then Mottley went into gear and beat us all by about 25yds. Lance was second and I remember his smiles and hugs for Wendell at the end of the race, with picong saying next year we will be better prepared for the run, so come back for licks. Such was the likes of a fierce competitor, a gentle and quiet leader, and a great friend. RIP our friend. Stanley Algoo: "Lance entered Naps in 1B and I in 1A in the same year so it was easy to follow his starring sportsman role for Naps, during our collateral years. Seems there was no sport at which he did not excel, table tennis, cricket, soccer… The last one he heroically gave us hope that we could “win next year.” I believe he made the senior inter col football team as early as form 2, toiling against giant sized opposition, and when he grew up to dominate the team, allowed us the consolation that against Pres: Lance Moore was dey fadder! We never won inter col in my days at Naps, but Lance always gave us hope that we might, a heavy burden for anyone to bear once, let alone for your whole college career. Arnim I do remember that pass he threaded to you when you buried it in the back of the net past a futile dive by Durity, the Pres goal-keeper." Rabindranath Maharaj: "He is a wonderful vignette from the past and contributed to our experience growing up. When I entered Naps he was the biggest known footballer there and also vied for the title of the biggest comic. We have fond memories and when I lived at St. Clement's I had to take the bus at Harris Promenade, by the Gandhi statue, to get home. Lance took the same bus as a horde of us did, at the same place, since he traveled to Princes Town. We sat on the statue pedestal or leaned on the chains. Man, Lance provided fun and relief with his jokes and sponge ball in hand, entertaining us while we waited. Zainool Mohammed from Jordan Hill was his partner in crime. Met Lance once in the late 80's in Sando but he did not know me as a Nap's student of his day, only as de wedderman. I praised him then, and do so now. Who, from our time, can forget Lance, the Naparima hero? RIP Lance." |
