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When corporate commitment meets community passion, the result can be transformative. And few partnerships in Trinidad and Tobago illustrate that better than the bond between Bess Motors Limited and the Marchin Patriots Sports Club. What began as a sponsorship in 2020 has evolved into a relationship built on trust, shared purpose, and belief in the power of sport to unite and uplift. That partnership was reaffirmed recently at Bess Motors’ new headquarters in Charlieville, where the company renewed its full sponsorship of the club for the 2026 season and beyond. At the ceremony, Marchin also announced a new club president in Ian Maharaj and captain, Evin Lewis. Mayor of Chaguanas Faiq Mohammed hailed the partnership as an example of what can be achieved when business and community work hand in hand. “Bess Motors didn’t just put a logo on a jersey,” he said. “They put their heart behind a cause—youth development, teamwork, and the pride of Chaguanas.” Since Bess Motors aligned with the Patriots, the club has risen from a struggling community team to one of the nation’s top cricket sides, capturing League, 50-over, and T20 titles. But beyond the silverware, the partnership’s impact runs deeper. The Patriots have built an academy serving more than 75 boys and girls—giving young people in Chaguanas a sense of belonging, discipline, and direction. At the ceremony, Aidan Maharaj, a youngster himself, speaking on behalf of Bess Motors, said the company’s motivation extends beyond the cricket field. “Supporting this club is more than a business decision,” he explained. “It’s an investment in people, in discipline, in opportunity, and in the positive spirit that sport brings to our youth.” That sentiment was echoed by Dr Colin Neil Gosine, MP for Chaguanas West, who described the partnership as “a model of corporate and community collaboration.” He noted, “Bess Motors didn’t just provide funding—they provided belief, structure and stability. The results speak for themselves.” Outgoing club president Adrian Ali, whose leadership helped revive the Patriots, said the partnership changed everything. “When we had nothing—no uniforms, no income—Bess Motors stayed. They believed in a small village side with a dream,” he recalled. “That belief turned Marchin from a struggling team into a national contender.” Today, the Marchin Patriots are more than a cricket club—they are a community institution that continues to inspire pride across Chaguanas. For Bess Motors, their logo represents not just sponsorship, but a promise to keep investing in people, passion, and purpose—proof that when business and community move together, everyone marches forward. From Spoilers to Patriots Long before the trophies, sponsorships, and polished facilities, there was Spoilers Sports Club—a small village team founded in the late 1960s by cricket lovers in Marchin. That humble beginning would one day give rise to Bess Motors Marchin Patriots. Outgoing president Ali traced the club’s roots during his farewell address. “It began in the late 1960s under the name Spoilers Sports Club,” he said. “It was a true village and family side built on love for cricket and community. Everybody knew everybody—if you didn’t, you’d meet them at a match, by the bar, or at a cook.” For decades, Spoilers dominated zonal cricket, producing players who went on to represent bigger clubs such as Comets and Wanderers. Yet, the community’s pride never faded. Even when resources ran out and players drifted away, Marchin’s cricket culture endured. By the time Ali took over, the club was on the brink of collapse. Through sheer determination, and later with the support of Bess Motors, Marchin was rebuilt and re-branded. Today, the Patriots boast one of the strongest grassroots cricket structures in the country, including an academy with more than 75 boys and girls. Their rise from a village side to Premiership powerhouses stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of community sport. The Marchin Patriots’ story is, at its heart, a story of persistence—of generations who refused to let their club die, and of a partnership that turned a legacy of love for cricket into a platform for the future. The man with the Marchin master plan For Ali, stepping down as president of the Bess Motors Marchin Patriots Sports Club was as emotional as it was proud. His decade-long journey from local cricketer to transformational leader is one that reads like a case study in community sport leadership. Ali took charge at a time when the club--then a struggling community side--had lost its structure, sponsors, and players. “When I came in, the club had no sponsors, no uniforms, just pride and passion,” Ali said. “We depended on love for the game and belief in each other.” Alongside club stalwart Ricky Rampersad, Ali kept the team alive through determination and small contributions until a turning point came in 2020, when Bess Motors Limited joined as sponsor. “Bess Motors didn’t just become sponsors-- they became believers,” Ali said. “Their faith turned Marchin from a struggling club into a national contender.” The results were remarkable. Under his leadership, the Patriots rose through the divisions, capturing the league, 50-over and T20 titles at the Premiership II level before moving into Premiership I and finishing as national 50-over champions in 2024. Ali’s impact went beyond trophies. He helped create a structure for youth development, community engagement and long-term sustainability. “Everything I learned about leadership, teamwork and resilience, I learned right here,” he reflected. Now serving as a director at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Ali continues to advocate for corporate investment in grassroots sport. “When we invest in clubs like this one, we’re not just producing players—we’re building discipline, opportunity and pride,” he said. Though no longer president, Ali promised he’ll still be around—perhaps still “toting water,” as he joked, or fighting for a spot in the starting line-up if available—as the Marchin Patriots begin their next chapter under new leadership.
