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181

Football / La Brea All Stars Win League Cup

« on: December 08, 2007, 04:26:24 AM »

Newsday article
By WALTER ALIBEY Saturday, December 8 2007

ALUTRINT La Brea All Stars are the winners of the Southern Football Association’s (SFA) League Cup competition.

And according to coach Ainsley Weekes things are being put in place for the team to earn a place in the TT Pro League in 2009.

On Wednesday night at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, the All Stars defeated Siparia Spurrs 2-0 in the final with goals on either side of the half.

The La Brea men seemed to have been having the better of the match in the first 15 minutes of play before being made to struggle to keep off the talented Siparia attackers.

But the match changed tempo when former national defender and utility player Anthony Rougier was introduced in the 35th minute.

The rugged defender replaced Lynsey Sherwood, the former Princes Town striker and immediately helped his team regain control of the match.

La Brea got the opening goal when Rougier fed Ian “Boogie” Williams with a through-ball five minutes before the interval (40th minute).

He eluded the advancing goalkeeper before putting the ball in the back of the net for the lead. Siparia fought to keep off a series of attacks in the final five minutes that followed.

But the one-sided affair that continued after the resumption tilted in the 75th minute through the brilliance of the former national captain, Rougier.

He picked up a loose ball midway in Siparia’s half before threading a pass to Kern Marshall, who like his teammate before, got past the outstretched legs of the Siparia custodian and shot into an open goal.

Coach Ainsley Weekes said the result was an extension of his team’s unbeaten run throughout the season. He said All Stars is the only team to have played unbeaten for the season so far, winning 12 matches and drawing four.

They have been credited with the runner-up position in the league which has been won by Club Sando.

Recently La Brea missed out on a chance to contest the final of the Executive Cup when they were beaten in the semi-final 2-0 by Palo Seco at the same venue.

Weekes said the season has been a good one, having received the full support of the community. He pointed out also that the attitude of the players has been admirable and they deserved to be awarded for it.

“I felt there was a need to get a silverware after the kind of hard work that the team had put in for the entire season,” Weekes said. “I felt that the League Cup was our only other chance at gaining a silverware and I am very happy we won it.”

All Stars also finished second to Club Sando last year but Weekes has said his team will have to win the SFA next year, which will put them in with a chance to contest a play-off for a Pro-League place.

He also credited most of his team’s successes to Rougier who he said gave the guidance and support to the players and him for the season

182

Football / De latest randomness

« on: December 06, 2007, 11:28:42 PM »

**
Romario has been named coach of Vasco da Gama. first match officially at the helm will be January 19 in the Rio Championship.

 Bad news: he jes jes tested positive a couple days ago for a banned substance.

Edit: The subststance is finasteride. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finasteride
Vasco is seeking an early resolution; Romario has said he was treating hair loss.

**
Remember the Chilean bad boy ballers who were banned following a wild night out during the Copa America?

The federation has decided to reduce charges against some of the players. Seems to be a significant correlation between reduction in sanction and de ballers who initiated legal action to halt the federation from acting on the proposed 20 international match ban.

The good news is the reduction and that they will remain in the list of eligibles for national team selection ... NO BLACKLIST ... so 'technically' they will become eligible for selection by Marcelo Bielsa

The bad news is one or two others refusing to sign the deal so dey still banned! FIFA obviously has a training school for national administrators 

**
De Aussies have secured  a Dutch coach in their bid to push for South Africa ... allyuh done know de high esteem in which Dutch coaches are held.

Bad news (for some): They wanted Dick Advocaat. Dey eh get him. He decided to stay in Russia (what a guy!!!) ... @ Zenith St Petersburg? [yuh say where? my point exactly ... must be a lotta rubles] Leh me see Russia or Australia? hmm. Where would Dwight choose? Talk done.

Anyhow, the Aussies went for Pim Verbeek over Omar Troussier (yuh know, Omar de famous itinerant Frenchman who has been aight successful with several African teams and did decently with Japan ... yeah, OMAR! ...  he converted, doh call him Phillipe)

Oh yeah, back to Verbeek ... sound pedigree (kinda like Wim's ... do your homework, I eh go spoon feed allyuh ... anyhow he used to coach de Netherlands Antilles for a patch a couple years back ... anyhow Pim is a Hiddink/Advocaat protege/beneficiary. Keep an eye on him in coming rounds.

**
Dat fella Kia Joorabchian and his MSI dealings in Brazil is BAD NEWS (Tevez and whatshizname Mascherano) plus Pasarella and Sebastian Dominguez ... BAD NEWS because Corinthians' prize for the 'friendship' is demotion to the Brazilian Second Division ... Police in samabaland have discovered serious money laundering in the mix and a host of other bobol

Good news: according to Pele dey jes have to mirror Palmeiras' feat and win de Second Division and come right back up .... meanwhile Kia and de Russian magnate and magnet for trouble, Boris Berezovski have orders of arrest in Brazil ...

**
Dey have a story ah following breaking out of Cali right now ... Colombia ... goes something like this ... (probably won't come as a surprise to anyone familiar with WC 1978)  ...

Cali cartel paid $300,000 to cover part of Carlos Bilardo's salary when he was managing Deportivo Cali in the late 70s and Colombia in the run up to qualifying for WC '82

Dey apparently offered Diego Armando $3,000,000 to play for America (de Cali) ... must have been habit forming ... 

The source is apparently impeccable and documented ... son of Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela and nephew of Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela [do yuh homework!]

Incidentally, the rumours surrounding ARG 6 - PER 0 have persisted over the years and maybe coming to light ... for de young heads, this result allowed ARG to move forward and Brazil to be eliminated from the tournament

jes de tip of de iceberg

183

Football / Slot opens up for 2008 Olympic Games? [Women]

« on: December 05, 2007, 12:27:27 PM »

Who said it was a happy Union?

***
Former sports minister Richard Caborn has angrily hit out at the decision to block an England women's football team competing at the 2008 Olympic Games.
 
England qualified for Beijing through their World Cup campaign in September, but Fifa said they could only take part if all four home nations agreed to it.

But the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Football Associations blocked it.

"We are officially the laughing stock of women's sport throughout the world," Caborn told BBC Sport.

"Some blazers sat around a table, without giving a reason, have denied those footballers a chance to play on the greatest stage they will ever have.

"It is a disgrace that they could not agree among themselves. It is a national scandal.

"That these nearly all-male organisations can deny their women footballers the chance to play in the Olympics is beyond belief."

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs have reasoned that they do not want any involvement in British Olympic teams because they fear it could lead to the end of their separate identity on world football's governing body at some time in the future.

A similar problem is looming over the football teams at the London 2012 Olympics, although there are two British teams entered in the Paralympics to take place in Beijing next year

184

Football / Buy this!!!

« on: November 27, 2007, 09:57:13 AM »

Good read. Good insights about behind the scenes. If yuh love the game, you'll enjoy this book.

Ronaldinho comes across intelligently. Good all round scene. Get a copy. Very recent details.

185

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Come on Feel the Noise, Girls Rock Yuh Boys ...

« on: November 26, 2007, 03:49:40 PM »

Where meh 80s crew? Wha allyuh know bout dat? ;-)

Come on feel the noise
Girls rock your boys
We'll get wild, wild, wild,
Wild, wild, wild

Man well versatile; it aint solely about de dancehall vibe. Although ah wasn't maxed out on Blue Oyster Cult or Iron Maiden. And ah certainly was no where near blasting rock and heavy on Carnival Tuesday ... (what was that placed called again ... was it Mama Mia's?

Anyway, dey jes find de man dead ... read on.

Kevin DuBrow, lead singer of the popular U.S. 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot, has been found dead from unknown causes at his home in Las Vegas, authorities said on Monday.

DuBrow, 52, was found dead at about 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Clark County Coroner's Office said. She said an autopsy was under way on Monday to determine the cause of death.

"I can't even find the words to say," Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali said on his Web site. "Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend, Kevin DuBrow."

Quiet Riot, which was founded in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, shot to the top of the Billboard charts with their smash 1983 album "Metal Health." It sold more than 6 million copies and is considered by many to be the first heavy metal record to top the pop charts.

The album's sales were spurred on by the band's monster hit, "Cum on Feel the Noize," featuring DuBrow's powerhouse vocal, and the song's video, which was played in heavy rotation on MTV.

Quiet Riot's follow-up albums did not sell nearly as well and DuBrow was essentially fired from the band amid the ensuing rancor.

DuBrow regrouped Quiet Riot in the 1990s and the band has since played sporadically, last releasing an album in October 2006

186

Football / South/Central Florida-based: young Brazil coming your way early December

« on: November 24, 2007, 11:16:37 PM »

South Florida massive can see the Brazilian U-15s play in about 2 weeks. Matches will be played in Bradenton/Tampa.

Yuh may have an opportunity to say you saw so and so play when he was a yuteman.

DISCLAIMER: That said, lemme point out that Ronaldinho is the only player from his Brazil U-15 days to strike it large large ... so weigh my enthusiasm accordingly. Only 3 other players from Ronaldinho's U-15 national squad made it to the pro ranks (the 2006 WC keeper Julio Cesar of Inter Milan and probably more famous for marrying Susana Werner (Ronaldo's ex); Jorginho Paulista (played at PSV, Udinese, Boca, Pumas, Lokomotiv; earlier this year Corinthians were looking at him)); and Alexandre Negri(back-up kpr to Julio Cesar then as a U-15, now playing in Cyprus, after a stint in Greece ... also played for Ajaccio, the first French team the great Tresor played for as a pro and in Brazil)

Ronaldinho is a rarity in having played through ALL the age groups in national team colours [in terms of Brazil and internationally.]

Anyway, Brazil has been wukking to try to improve youth retention so who knows, yuh might see a next starboy if yuh make it out to see these yutemen in action ... buh dahs allyuh decision , like yuh din know ...

***
The squad meets next next Thursday to train for 5 days. Will arrive US probably on the 4th December or late December 3.

Will play versus Turkey (December 6), the US(December 8th) and Russia (December 9).

The Brazilian squad features players attached to São Paulo, Fluminense, Corinthians, Mineiro, Gremio and Vasco da Gama among others.

Meanwhile ah vex because our U-15s are relatively inactive when compared to these teams. We haddda step up de investment!!!!

Anyway, this team is largely the same squad that won the South American U-15 Championship a few weeks ago. Scored the most goals of the tournament with 16.

I did a lil digging and it seems that only 2 players from that tournament are not travelling to Bradenton ... Johnathan(forward at Portuguesa) and a yute named Guillerme Lomazzi (midfielder with Goias). Dey travelling with 18 as opposed to the 20 that were at home for the tournament. So is a hardluck for dem 2 yutemen.

This team also won the Fair Play Trophy during the championship ... they  did not have a single player red-carded during 7 competitive matches and received few yellow cards ... so dey already learning valuable discipline ...

Jes sharing de fat. Guidance. Check dem if yuh in that part of the world. 
Names to watch for: Elivelton, Felipe and Gerson (de captain)

***
Nex lil thing ... to borrow a phrase from Dutty ... "little known fact" ... the first time Ronaldinho and Michael Owen played against each other was in March 1995. England v Brazil @ Wembley. U-15 international. England 1- Brazil 0. Goalscorer Michael Owen.

***
So, back to de local scene. if Brazil's investment in 20 U-15 players yielded 4 pros (2 of them keepers); 2 full internationals (one a dem a kpr) and 1 Ronaldinho ... My question is: what is de  state of play and future for our U-15s???

Probably along the same lines and proportion. After all, I used to be at de stadium hardcore when a young Hislop and certain others played.

Whaiz de scene with that INVESTMENT/YIELD RATIO and LOCAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT?

187

Football / Blatter to SA construction workers: Doh F-up de WC!

« on: November 24, 2007, 08:15:11 AM »

Sepp Blatter, the president of world football's governing body Fifa, has urged construction workers in South Africa not to wreck the 2010 World Cup.
 
Blatter said the successful staging of the tournament lay in the hands of those preparing the event's ten stadia.

Blatter spoke to construction workers, who only recently ended a strike, as he visited Durban's Moses Madhida Stadium.

"I told them if they don't work, the realisation of the whole World Cup will be placed under threat," he said.

Construction was halted for nearly a fortnight earlier this month by a strike in Durban while workers have also downed tools in recent weeks at stadiums in Cape Town and the north eastern city of Nelspruit.

Unions had threatened to expand the strikes to cover all World Cup construction projects before a deal on pay and conditions was reached.

But Blatter has now revealed that workers in Durban will receive an end-of-year bonus if they did not strike again, and said he hoped the money-carrot approach will be adopted countrywide.

Blatter said that Durban was ahead of schedule but senior Fifa officials have acknowledged there are concerns that other stadiums, including in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, are slipping.

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said Port Elizabeth could lose the right to be one of the hosts of the 2009 Confederations Cup, the traditional warm-up for the World Cup, because of delays.

Blatter expressed concern last year that he had yet to see "picks and shovels" swinging into action.

Asked if he was worried about the overall rate of progress recently, he replied: "No, no, no. I can say no because it's based on confidence."

Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman Danny Jordaan, who accompanied Blatter on the Durban stadium tour, agreed the stadium issue was the most vital one facing the tournament.

"If we do not have the stadium then we do not have the World Cup," he told reporters.

Jordaan however said it was clear that progress was being made at every venue.

"In every single city we can now see the stadiums emerging out of the ground."

188

Football / Hatem Trabelsi

« on: November 05, 2007, 07:42:22 PM »

Trabelsi agrees to join Al Hilal
By Ibrahim Sannie
BBC Sport 

Tunisian defender Hatem Trabelsi has agreed a deal to join Saudi Arabia giants Al-Hilal.

The 30-year-old was left sweating on his future when released by English side Manchester City at the end of last season.

Despite offers from clubs in France, Germany, Turkey and his native Tunisia, Trabelsi failed to secure a contract because of his huge salary demands.

But, after five months of waiting, the former Ajax defender has agreed a one-year deal with Al-Hilal to push himself back into club action.

Trabelsi will arrive in Riyadh this week for a medical before signing the deal worth US$1million.

"Some clubs in Europe and two big clubs in Tunisia were after me, but I need a fresh challenge at this stage of my career," Trabelsi said.

"I am hopeful I can add something valuable to the squad as a whole, that a competitive side like Al-Hilal will be a great motivation to move ahead with my career."

Trabelsi spent five seasons with Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam before joining Manchester City on a free transfer last year.

He scored 13 goals in his four seasons at Tunisian side CS Sfaxien before clinching the deal to play for Ajax in 2001.

****

Could be an MLS prospect down the road quality wise ... not sure regarding lifestyle ...

189

Football / Venezuela could leave us in the dust

« on: October 21, 2007, 02:04:29 PM »

Many of us viewed the recent Copa America. Based on several considerations, it's my opinion that Venezuelan football is setting itself in a place to exceed our 'brand' in the not so distant future.

For a long time not much attention was paid to the sport there, but the rumblings of change have been taking place.

With the deep pockets there and their immediate neighbors on the continent (esp. Colombia) plus the trickle of some of their youth/senior players overseas ...and local resourcefulness, I won't be surprised if they kind of eclipse us down the road.

 

190

General Discussion / I Confess – Keeping black girl on the side

« on: September 24, 2007, 10:33:52 AM »

More fuel for de fire ...

***************
I Confess – Keeping black girl on the side
Published on: 9/22/07.

As told to Sanka Price

THERE ARE CERTAIN topics people in this country prefer not to speak about. One of these is race, or to put it bluntly, the question of white and black.

As a white Barbadian male I am in a privileged position to discuss this issue and I choose this medium because of the anonymity it gives.

Like so many of my (white) friends, married or otherwise, I have had many affairs with black women.

I have never thought of marrying any of them, and definitely have never thought of fathering a child with any. I do, however, have sex regularly with them.

My confession here should not astound anyone. After all, such affairs have been going on from the time of slavery. But I am admitting it because I enjoy black girls, and hopefully by breaking some ice on the issue, some of the other guys I know who date these girls would come forward and openly admit their preference.

Now, let me give you a run down on my exploits with black girls.

My first intimate encounter with a black woman was when I was 17 and still at secondary school. The young lady (who is married today) was so attracted to me that every time I looked at her all she could do was blush.

As you would expect, in those days we as white and black children hardly mixed socially even though we sat side by side in the same classroom, played on the same teams, and sometimes caught the same bus to get home if for some reason our usual lift was late in coming or just couldn't make it.

Problems dating black  

Therefore you could understand how perplexed I was by her attention. I told my friends and asked them what they thought I should do. The answer was obvious.

The young lady and myself began talking shortly after that. I found her to be a very pleasant person, articulate, and possessing a much sharper intellect than mine.

Indeed, I found her to be capable of conversing on most topics with a fluency that I envied. Like most teens we spent hours on the telephone and courted heavily at school. After a few reports to my friends, however, I stopped. It wasn't funny anymore, because I was beginning to like this girl.

There were problems however. The first one was going out with her in public. Though I liked her a lot, I could not be seen with her.

In those days, every Saturday I went to the Vista cinema with my friends. My sister was dating one of the guys in the group, so if I had demonstrated more than a passing interest in a black girl, my parents would have heard about it and that would have spelt trouble.

The second difficulty I had was keeping my friendship with this girl a secret from my real girlfriend. One of my friends had been dating my girlfriend's sister and he did not particularly like the idea of me having a black girl.

What increased the pressure on me was the constant invitation from my black friend to go with her to the cinema or the beach. Although she did not insist when I said no, I couldn't help but feel guilty.

The fact that my whole world was built around a particular circle of friends made it impossible for me to accept her invitations. I didn't want my friends to think I was getting serious.

Anyway, when the holidays came, we secretly were able to meet each other on the beach and a few other places where we did not meet with too many glares.

She never once asked me to do things she knew would expose our relationship. Best of all, she never mentioned 'our problem' or behaved as if she was better than anyone else, as I find to be the case most times when one starts dating black girls.

It was after I began working that I realised the stupid things I had been told about black people were not true, but nevertheless it did make us white kids feel superior to them.

I remember members of my family, especially my father speaking of their laziness, indifferent attitude, their "thiefing ways" and so on. Because of my interaction with black people, I know those to be myths. A few weeks after starting work at the bank, I was dating the black clerk/typist who worked there. By this time I had my first car, so moving around freely was no headache like before.

Enjoying affair

Unfortunately for me however, this girl turned out to be one who "puts on airs" as the saying goes. She was too interested in dressing well with her hair and face all fancy, and showing off that she had a white boyfriend. Apparently, even her work began to suffer, too, because one day my boss called me into his office to tell me "the facts of life" as he termed it.

It was quite acceptable to have sex with the girl, he said, but I was to make sure that she knew it could not be more serious than that.

In other words I was given the go ahead to fool around, but was to make sure no one got attached. That affair eventually fizzled out.

Presently, I'm having an affair with another black girl. A sweet thing, bright and very versatile as well. I have never had a problem with her, and she knows that I also have a white girlfriend and accepts it.

The truth is that I like her a lot, and this being a different day and age, there are quite a few mixed couples who go around openly now. I however, have not yet found the courage to do so.

I suspect, however, that if my love for this girl grows I may one day find the courage to defy my family and friends and come out in the open and declare my love; but for now, I'm enjoying life as it is. Even if I do end up marrying my white girlfriend, I suppose I'll always have a black girl as a friend.

191

Football / Jamaica U-23s and Barbados U-23s

« on: September 08, 2007, 03:44:54 PM »

U-23s depart for Olympic qualifiers in Aruba
 
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Assistant Sports Editor
Friday, September 07, 2007
 
AT yesterday's final training session at Spanish Town Prison Oval, Jamaica's Under-23 footballers placed special emphasis on ball possession and attacking manoeuvres before departing the island today for Aruba for their first-round Caribbean Olympic Games qualifying tournament.

Coach Wendell Downswell had said publicly he was disappointed with the team's lack of "ball possession", especially in their final friendly against National Premier League outfit Harbour View on Tuesday, despite a 2-0 win.

"There were some aspects that we were pleased with but were disappointed by our ball possession, especially from the defensive third. We have to try to minimise this especially at the international level... we worked on that yesterday (Wednesday) and we did some work on our finishing and decision making," Downswell said yesterday.

He said he intends to continue the work when the team arrives in Aruba ahead of their first game on Sunday against Antigua and Barbuda.

"When we go over there we will intensify what we have worked on... which is ball possession, offensive movements and finishing, so to speak," Downswell said.

The veteran coach and former national forward said he was generally satisfied with the progress of the players after a late start to their final preparations following Hurricane Dean.

"I must commend the players for their positive response after a late start due to situations beyond our control...," Downswell said.

Even though Downswell has been tough with the players as he sought to improve on the team's weaknesses, he was full of praise for their response, their upbeat nature and the coming of age of the Under-20 players who represent 50 per cent of the 18-man squad.

"Overall the players are very upbeat and we are particularly impressed with the Under-20 players... it has been a long time that we have seen so many players making the transition from one level to the other, and this augurs well for us for the 2010 (World Cup) campaign," he argued.

The Under-20 players - members of the Pan Am Games silver medal-winning team - who made the final cut are Edward Campbell, Keammar Daley, Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon, Dwayne Kerr, Dwayne Miller, Obrian Woodbine, Troy Smith and Ajuran Brown.

Jamaica will also face hosts Aruba and Barbados in the week-long tournament as they seek to make an unprecedented appearance at the Olympic Games to be staged in Beijing, China, next year.

The Caribbean qualifying tournament will feature 22 nations from the region in six groups for the first round qualification, and the six group winners will advance to the second round that consists of two three-team groups. Both second-round group winners will progress to the CONCACAF U-23 Final Round Tournament.

The winners of two Central American groups will advance to the CONCACAF tournament, along with two Caribbean teams, Canada, Mexico and USA.

The two second-place finishers from each Central American Group will meet in a home-and-away play-off series with the winners also progressing to the CONCACAF final round, where two teams will qualify to the 2008 Olympic Games.

Jamaica's contingent consists of Carlton Dennis (head of delegation), Wendell Downswell (coach), Sean Samuels (assistant coach/trainer), Juan Pablo Camargo (masseur), Dr Cathy Maddan (team doctor), Howard Bell (team manager).

Squad - Goalkeepers Dwayne Kerr (Reno), Dwayne Miller (Harbour View); defenders Xavian Virgo (Boys' Town), Keneil Moodie (Seba United), Jermaine Taylor (Harbour View), Ajuran Brown (August Town), Troy Smith (Village United), Obrian Woodbine (Reno), Adrian Reid (Portmore United); midfielders Nicholy Findlayson (Reno), Mario Harrison (Reno), Edward Campbell (Village United), Eric Vernon (Portmore United), Ricardo Cousins (Portmore United), Bryan Bayliss (Portmore United); forwards Steven Morissey (Portmore United) Keammar Daley (Meadhaven), Donovan Davis (St George's FC).
Match Schedule:

Date Game Time (Ja)
Sept 9 Antigua & Barbuda vs Jamaica 5:00 pm
Sept 9 Aruba vs Barbados 7:00 pm
Sept 11 Jamaica vs Barbados 5:00 pm
Sept 11 Aruba vs Antigua & Barbuda 7:00 pm
Sept 13 Barbados vs Antigua & Barbuda 5:00 pm
Sept 13 Aruba vs Jamaica 7:00 pm

192

General Discussion / Manning to Valley: "Hoss, ride out!"

« on: September 04, 2007, 11:23:30 AM »

Saw this posted in (article comments section of the Express) in response to Manning wanting Ken Valley to buss it ...

Mr. Valley is correct. In fact, he greatly understates his record. Persons who deal with him quickly recognize that he's a serious, dedicated, and effective representative. I have had occasion to seek his assistance. I was struck by his genuine concern and by the extent of the effort he and his supporting staff routinely make on behalf of dozens of ordinary citizens visiting his Constituency Office seeking help. The ideas for the secret poll and for the $100,000-a-plate dinner have the same paternity — and no validity! May God bless you, Mr. Valley, and grant you the strength and courage to continue your efforts. A grateful Senior Citizen.

As someone asked ... wonder if Manning commissioned a poll on his constituency?

193

Football / U-23 action Grenada (2) v. Barbados (0)

« on: September 04, 2007, 11:10:37 AM »

Match played yesterday ...

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada – Grenada scored an exciting 2-0 victory over Barbados in an Under-23 international football friendly at the Tanteen playing field on Sunday.

Midfielder Kareem Joseph came on in the second half to score with three minutes remaining on the clock after forward Curlan Walcott opened the scoring in the first half.

Walcott, the leading goal scorer in Grenada's current first division championship, converted in the 32nd minute of play from a Barbadian defensive blunder in the 18-yard box.

He tapped a loose ball to the left of the goalkeeper after the Barbadians, impeded to some extent by a soggy playing field, failed to clear the ball. Joseph made the game safe in the 87th minute after Ariel Jacobs lobbed a corner kick into the 18-yard box, creating confusion in the Barbados defence.

Players jostled for ball possession in front of the goal before the ball finally ended on the boot of Joseph who tapped it into the net.

The closest Barbados came to pulling one back was in the middle of the second half when Quincy Atherley and Javon Searles had point blank shots at the goal in rapid succession only to have their efforts denied.

The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the opener of their two-match friendly on Saturday.

Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines will play each other in Kingstown from Friday for a place in the next round.

194

Football / Today's Express Editorial about U-17s

« on: August 10, 2007, 03:39:29 AM »

Building a stellar chain of steel

Friday, August 10th 2007
 
Whatever the age group, qualification for any world competition is an achievement. That is why even before Trinidad and Tobago's National Under-17 football team begins matching its character and skill against the other teams in the FIFA World Cup we continue to commend its achieving of one of the coveted spots.

Both in theory and in practice that was never going to be easy and the team's members had to dig deep into their resources of commitment to prove wrong those of their compatriots who had given up on them during the bleaker parts of their campaign.

The most we can ask of them is that they bring those very resources to the South Korean fields of play, whatever the strength, or otherwise, of their competition. If they do so, they would have matched the most discernible quality of the national senior team's historic World Cup outing last year in Germany.

Once that stellar steel chain becomes the unbreakable link among all the teams that play international football in the name of Trinidad and Tobago this country will be building for the future even as it continues to win plaudits, win or lose, in present ongoing tournaments

*****

Hmmm. Interesting timing.
 

195

General Discussion / Ramesh brother's case bringing de heat to Florida

« on: August 10, 2007, 03:23:48 AM »

http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=13931.0

This excerpt is the only reference I've found regarding the case on the forum:

When informed Africans speak of the lasting legacy of the plantation culture on the Caribbean psyche and the ongoing racism that governs our mainstream media, education system and legal system, people are quite willing to turn their heads and accuse us of being racist or living in the past. Yet here we see, as usual, the divisions between Africans and Indians benefiting whites as it always has. In an article carried on Trinidadandtobagonews.com, the question was raised whether, despite the media polls, the average Trinidadian is in support of the death penalty at all. The point was made that certainly UNC supporters who claim the ruling PNM to be racist and criminal would not support a PNM government having control over lives of so-called criminals, political or otherwise. Certainly, PNM supporters would not support the penalty under a UNC government either for similar reasons. I am certain that people can recall the furore that arose over the hanging of Dole Chadee and his gang and the insinuation that they were executed to prevent links between their activities and the then UNC Attorney General, Ramesh Maharaj from being highlighted. One rumour has it that the then Attorney General promised US authorities to have Dole Chadee and his gang executed in exchange for commuting the death sentence of his brother Krishna Maharaj (who was on death row in Florida) to life imprisonment. Following the execution of Dole Chadee and his gang, his brother's sentence was commuted

Now it seems that the case has nuff traction and CREDIBLE political support.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/6938440.stm

196

Cricket Anyone / Chanders joins Durham

« on: August 09, 2007, 09:09:01 AM »

CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, July 30, 2007 - West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has joined Durham, the English county announced.

Chanderpaul, the mainstay of West Indies' batting, was at the crease for more than 24 hours while averaging 148.66 during England's 3-0 home win in a four-Test series earlier this season.

He also scored 116 not out in the second one-day international at Edgbaston, a match West Indies won as they came from behind to claim the three-match series 2-1.

Chanderpaul, 32, is due to join the squad on Saturday, replacing New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris as one of Durham's overseas players, and will be with Durham until September's inaugural World Twenty20 championship in South Africa.

The north-east county hope he will be available for Sunday's Pro 40 one-day match away to Surrey at Guildford.

Chanderpaul has a Test average of over 46 and Durham hope to gain from his experience when they face Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy one-day final on August 18 - their first showpiece match at Lord's where his West Indies team-mate Daren Powell could be leading the opposition attack.

Durham head coach Geoff Cook said: "Signing a player of Shiv's class is a statement of our intent for the rest of the season.

"He is in exceptional form at the moment and will provide valuable middle-order runs while demonstrating what it takes to be a world-class batsman to some of our younger players.

"With a number of important games and obviously the Lord's final on the horizon, adding Shiv to the squad will give us extra batting options as we strive to make this Durham's most successful season." (AFP)

197

Football / South American Players could mash up de Prem (or not)???

« on: August 06, 2007, 12:45:12 PM »

The article is by Tim Vickery who covers South American ball for the BBC:

Whoever wins this season's Premier League title, the coming campaign could be one which in 20 years time is seen as a landmark in the history of the domestic game.

This could be the season when South American players begin to make the big breakthrough.

All across Europe Brazilians and Argentines can be found tipping the balance and winning the trophies.

But nearly three decades after the arrival of Ossie Ardiles, and despite the odd success along the way, the English fortress has still not fallen.

Part of this, of course, is down to the style of play.

When they come to England, South Americans are aware that the game will be faster and more physical, but the sheer extent of the change usually leaves them shocked.

There are some players who are simply unable to adapt - but there are many who can.

After all, European teams have only ever won the World Cup in Europe.

The South Americans are so adaptable that they have won the competition in every continent in which it has been played.

And if South Americans can consistently star in the German league, there seems little doubt that many of them can make an important contribution in England.

 The great news for Man Utd's Anderson is that rivals Man City have signed two of his compatriots
 
The key difference is that, unlike the rest of Europe, work permit restrictions have limited the amount of South Americans able to come to England. This has a huge impact on their lives off the field.

So often English clubs have bought the player and forgotten the human being. Once training is over they have left their expensive imports entirely to their own devices.

For many South Americans the Anglo-Saxon stress on personal independence is an alien concept.

They need to feel wanted, and, justifiably enough, expect help settling in off the field in a land where they usually don't speak the language.

Elsewhere in Europe this is not such a problem. Help from the club is not so important.

Without the work permit restrictions there is often a group of South American players already in the area who can serve as a welcoming committee for the new arrival.

The globalisation of our game means that English football is finally well on the way to reaching a similar point.

There are now enclaves of South American players getting entrenched in different regions of the country.

A trickle from across the Atlantic appears to be turning into a steady stream.

The most interesting of the new faces is Manchester United's Brazilian teenager Anderson, signed for more than £20 m from Porto.

United are taking a chance. It is a lot of money to spend on a player with one injury-hit season in Portugal behind him, especially as the strength in depth of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad will inevitably limit Anderson's first team opportunities.

But the young Brazilian's potential is quite breathtaking. He has all the skills, a wonderful left foot, pace and strength on the ball, takes responsibility and can find a killer pass at the end of his surging runs.

Chosen as the best player of the 2005 Under-17 World Cup, he has already shown he can carry that kind of form into senior football.

And the great news for Anderson is that even before he has kicked a competitive ball for United his new local rivals have already done him a favour.

Manchester City have gone out and signed two of his compatriots.

Little striker Geovanni is a real gamble. He showed promise at the start of the decade, but has yet to fulfil it.

Midfielder Elano, classy and versatile, should do a sound job for Sven Goran Eriksson - but if his signing is good news for City, it is even better for Anderson.

They were together in Brazil's squad for the Copa America. Now, thrown together in the same, unfamiliar city, they can be expected to help each other settle in.

Anderson, then, will be less isolated off the field - which should help give him the confidence to lose his marker when he crosses the white line.

*****QUESTIONS*****

Got a question about South American football for Tim Vickery? Email him at vickerycolumn@hotmail.com

I've been hearing a lot about Alexandre Pato being dubbed the best young talent in Brazil - is he better than Kerlon, who a while ago was receiving the same kind of recognition?
- Ahmed Osman

Kerlon was a sensation at the South American Under-17 championships more than two years ago, when he scored stacks and goals and revealed his fantastic 'seal dribble' where he runs with the ball on his forehead.

Since then, though, he has really struggled with injury and unfortunately has yet to take his promise through to senior level.

Alexandre Pato, on the other hand, was a star at senior level from the very moment he played his first full game last year just a few weeks past his 17th birthday, so there's no doubt that Pato is well in front.

He is a striker with all the skills of Ronaldo when he first burst on the scene as a skinny 17-year-old - wonderful dribbling, ice-cold finishing, great pace - plus terrific aerial ability.

The top European clubs had him on their wish list, and Milan have just clinched the deal.

Despite the Copa America victory, I still think Brazil have a lot to improve, mainly up front. Vagner Love didn't quite fill that role. Is there a feeling in Brazil that maybe it's time to recall Ronaldo? Or even Adriano?
- Ranjeet Sanghera

In the long term they hope that Alexandre Pato will come through.

In the short term - well, Adriano was briefly called up last season to show him that he's still in the hat.

This is a big year for him - he paid the price for breaking into the Brazil team, going years without holidays, and has also had to deal with off the field problems, but he's young enough to come again.

The Ronaldo situation is very interesting. His form for Milan towards the end of last season shows that he is clearly still motivated.

But it seems that some in the Brazilian FA were not particularly impressed by his conduct during last year's World Cup, when he was the king of the team.

In his favour, though, is the fact that South America's World Cup qualifiers are soon underway.

It is a tough competition, where a fit and in form Ronaldo could still be an asset to the side.

If he has a good start to the season this could be a good story to follow.

198

Football / We need uniforms ...

« on: June 25, 2007, 11:16:58 AM »

Interested in linking with someone who can furnish 20-22 uniforms ASAP. Please enter your bids/quotes/prices here absent shipping costs or PM me if that's your preference. State currency you're operating in. Right now color scheme etc. is irrelevant.

Looking for numbered jerseys ... we could reason about any logos/embroidery etc. separately ... and also indicate whether the GK's stuff factors into your figure.

Guidance.

199

Football / Dimitar Berbatov

« on: February 26, 2007, 10:54:22 AM »

This player keeps catching my eye. Any fans or detractors on the forum?

200

Football / FYI Boston and New York: Upcoming Ireland friendlies

« on: February 05, 2007, 10:41:50 PM »

Ireland to play Ecuador May 23 at Giants Stadium

Then May 26 at Gillette they will face Bolivia.

Copa America prep games for the South Americans.

201

General Discussion / Clive Bradley/ A crying Shame

« on: December 02, 2006, 08:06:31 PM »

A crying shame

In today's Guardian ... article by Atillah Springer

It’s not the fact that they’re Japanese that I have a problem with. The trouble with the story in the last Sunday Express was that two people had to come all the way from Japan to clean Clive Bradley’s grave.

According to the Express‚ source, the two enterprising Japanese are releasing a special edition CD of the late maestro’s best work, the proceeds of which will go towards the upkeep of Bradley’s final resting place.

I wonder how many other graves of those who have passed on to the other side are hidden behind ignominious bush and garbage.

And again I feel to hold my head and bawl because it’s that self-same contempt for who we are that would have us build concrete buildings and belching smoke stacks, rather than the potential of our human resource.

I wonder too how we can stand to call ourselves culture lovers.

Plenty of ole talk about Carnival. Plenty of old talk about a $700 million Carnival Centre. And we are supposed to jump up and say ray, because plenty money being spent means good quality, right?

In the aftermath of that white elephant called Carifesta, one wonders too, when, if ever, we’ll begin to take ourselves seriously.

Thursday morning between the devil and his wife quarrelling weather, a handful of artists made a last-ditch attempt to bring attention to the issue of Government’s plans for a Performing Arts Academy to be built on the Princes Building grounds and not consulting the same artists who have been calling, begging, pleading for a home for the arts for the past 45 years.

It seems that it’s not just on the issue of smelters that the Government takes a contemptuous line of communication.

I suppose it’s not the Government’s fault. It is ours, for not minding our collective business. It is our fault for believing that we are immortal and terribly important. We are the ones who continue to not place a value on our artists and their creations.

I suppose if artists had unions and a well organised lobby they wouldn’t be so shafted on every level, from promoters to gallery owners to the Culture Ministry and their cronies, to radio stations, to other artists themselves.

As usual, it serves the capitalists best that there is no really strong representation, only a handful of entertainment lawyers. And as we party with the stars tonight, Mighty Terror continues to languish in hospital and countless panmen sit in flooding Port-of-Spain drains playing haunting crack notes on phantom steel pans.

Oh, the inhumanity of this place gets to me. That we all seem to be doomed to brutish lives and brutish ends. And when another one goes we will shed our crocodile tears and then wait for someone else to come and clean away the filth we dump on monuments of our ancestors.

And Marcus Garvey’s words come back to me about a people without a history being a tree without roots.

And I wonder again at what gives us the right to act so rootless. So ruthless that young pirate boys stand on city corners peddling Daisy Voisin’s music, not knowing that she died with nothing but her bouquet and her shawl in a broken-down little house in Siparia.

You have to hand it to the Japanese though. That they have such a participatory interest in cultures from around the world. We only need consider the contemporary examples of Junko the ultra-flexible and award winning dancehall queen and Mighty Crown who speak Jamdown creole like they were born in a Kingston 11 tenement yard.

But to translate from their own culture, that reverence for ancestors to embrace our own, well that is more than just a tribute.

It is a wake-up call for those of us who pay only lip service to being culture lovers.

For all our diversity, it seems that we have allowed ourselves to abandon the dead to memories. We are no longer a nation that values our ancestors, even as we hold on tight to ancient and outdated systems of governance and neo-liberal ideas of who has ownership of our natural resources.

We are not a nation of people who value art and artists, even as we remain glued to our tell-lie-visions absorbing someone else’s mythologies.

It is a shame that none of us can live down and a travesty that no-one seems brave enough to rectify.

[/size]

202

Football / Puskas dead @ 79

« on: November 17, 2006, 06:08:45 AM »

Just saw some old footage of him on BBC and some eyewitness accounts of his exploits. A WICKED left foot ...

One lament that stood out in the interview was that it's a shame he died without a penny while there are so many average millionaire ballers today.

83 goals in 84 international appearances ... off to football heaven ...

203

Football / Rooney's future liming pardners

« on: November 08, 2006, 06:05:11 AM »

Wayne Rooney's future limin' bredrin ...

Former England football star Paul Gascoigne has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6128080.stm

Premiership footballer El Hadji Diouf has been arrested over allegations he hit his wife at their home in Bolton.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/6123504.stm

204

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Borat: The Movie ...

« on: November 07, 2006, 12:30:43 PM »

Go see this film!!! ... it's @#*%# outrageous, it's funny, definitely NOT PC .... you'll want to cover your eyes and block your ears ... and then maybe even see it again!

Basic plot is here's a guy pretending to be a foreign journalist doing a documentary about life in the USA for folks back home ... during the course of the movie he meets both the famous and the average joe and well ...

Clip available here:

http://www.boratmovie.com/

San Francisco Chronicle:

The first thing that must be said about "Borat" is that it's screamingly, hysterically, laugh-through-the-next-joke, laugh-for-the-next-week funny. It's so inventive, so rich with comic moments, so outrageous, so shocking and unexpected, and so blithely willing to be offensive that it consistently leaves viewers off balance -- and howling. This is a film by an original and significant comic intelligence.

Boston Globe this weekend:

Borat maneuvers himself into situations with average Americans -- feminists, churchgoers, frat boys, politicians -- and unloads one frag-bomb of political incorrectness after another. All he asks is that we show ourselves to him in our open-hearted, bigoted glory.

...is a comic put-on of awe-inspiring crudity and death-defying satire and by a long shot the funniest film of the year. It is "Jackass" with a brain and Mark Twain with full frontal male nudity.

From filmcritic.com:

Every laugh delivered by this transplanted outsider slowly peels away layers of false niceties and political correctness. On a small motor-home heading to California, three college frat boys divulge that slavery should be brought back and that women, Jews, and Muslims aren't worth a damn. None of the "regular" people interviewed in the film are in on the joke that this is a mockumentary and that Borat is not really the yokel he pretends to be.

Cohen's obsession with the foul and perverse might make for an awkward view for some, but you can never blame Cohen for going too far when most films barely pass the starting line. His use of a tactless, chauvinistic alien thrown into our cultural hodgepodge brings new meaning to thoughtful humor and rethinks satire as an open minefield rather than a target at the end of a sniper rifle.

San Fran Chronicle:

... he is usually able to find some American to agree with him. In fact, Borat's bigotry allows the people around him to let their hair down and chime in. Then the trap snaps shut and they're on 3,000 screens talking, for example, about how in America the minorities have all the advantages

Not every moment succeeds. I could have done without the nude wrestling session he has with his obese traveling companion (Ken Davitian) -- a gruesome sight. But that's the risk a comedian takes when he's walking the line between way out and too far. Also, the jokes about Kazakhstan's poverty have a sour edge. Yet these quibbles are not really offered as caveats but rather as proofs of critical distance, so that when I tell you this is even funnier than Woody Allen's "Scoop," that this is the funniest movie I've seen all year -- by far -- you'll believe it.

205

Football / ACC Tournament - This Week

« on: October 30, 2006, 01:36:50 PM »

 Rank     School      Prev.     W-L-T   
1           SMU          1     14 -  0 -  3   
2          Virginia        2     13 -  2 -  0   
3      Wake Forest    3     14 -  2 -  1   
4     West Virginia   4     14 -  1 -  2   
5         Duke          5     12 -  2 -  1   
6       California        7     11 -  3 -  1   
7      Maryland 8     11 -  3 -  1   
8     Notre Dame    6     12 -  4 -  2   
9     Saint Louis      12     10 -  3 -  2   
10      Clemson       11     11 -  3 -  2   
11     Santa Clara     21     9 -  3 -  4   
12     South Carolina   16     11 -  3 -  1   
13      Lehigh          18     13 -  1 -  1   
14     Kentucky        17     10 -  4 -  2   
15     Monmouth     RV     11 -  3 -  2   
15     Cincinnati       NR     11 -  4 -  2   
17      Towson       20     13 -  1 -  2   
18       UCLA         10     9 -  4 -  2   
19     Harvard        NR     11 -  4 -  0   
20     Indiana          9     11 -  4 -  2   
21    Connecticut    14     10 -  5 -  2   
22     San Francisco   13     10 -  4 -  1   
23      Creighton       24     10 -  3 -  3   
24     Colgate          NR     7 -  2 -  5   
24      Fairfield        15     11 -  4 -  1   
24    New Mexico     25     10 -  3 -  2   
24     Northern Illinois   19     12 -  4 -  1   
24     Old Dominion   25     11 -  4 -  1   

LAST WEEK's RANKINGS ...NSCAA/adidas

The ACC is a tough ride ... anybody plan on attending ... ?

http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-soccer/06-msoc-championship.html

Teams for next year's SSFL players to look at ...