Topics

1

2010 World Cup - South Africa / Sepp Blatter's nephew behind Fifa hospitality tickets

« on: April 15, 2010, 02:41:34 AM »

Same crap different world cup

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/15/fifa-hospitality-tickets-sepp-blatter


If you can afford to pay $1,500 (£970) for a Fifa business seat at England's opening World Cup match against the USA, then the Zurich-based company that was controversially awarded the rights to resell hospitality tickets for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups would like to hear from you.

The appointment of Match Hospitality, which won the right to sell packages in an open tender in 2007, raised eyebrows because of the involvement of Sepp Blatter's nephew Philippe. The company of which he is president and chief executive, Infront Sports & Media (which also has the host broadcaster contract for 2010 and 2014), is a minority shareholder in Match Hospitality. It paid a reported £75m for the rights to sell hospitality but has found it tough going during the global recession and expects to just break even on the 2010 tournament.

The biggest shareholder is Byrom plc, a Manchester-based firm established in 1991 by the Mexican brothers Jaime and Enrique Byrom, who had links with Blatter's predecessor, João Havelange. They first became involved in providing ticketing services to Fifa for the 1986 Mexican World Cup and have since come to dominate the provision of ticketing, accommodation, travel and hospitality services to Fifa and other sporting events including the Ryder Cup.

A separate subsidiary, Match Services, has the service contract for accommodation and ticket sales for South Africa. After coming under fire from organisers in Japan and South Korea over its role in selling tickets for the tournament, Match has been blamed by the media for keeping prices high, because it reserved swaths of rooms and flights at 2007 prices. Hotels and airlines feared if they did not sign up to Match's programme they would miss out on the promised World Cup bonanza.

It has since relinquished all but 600,000 of the 1.9m bed nights it originally reserved and this month South African Airways cancelled its contract with Match for the 45,000 flights it had reserved. A spokesman for Match Hospitality said yesterday that the "vast majority" of hotel rooms released were located "in other countries, in South Africa but away from the host cities, outside of the World Cup period, or in types of accommodation that prove to be unpopular (eg timeshare)". Match's 41,000 air passengers have been rebooked with other carriers, he said.

Nor does Match accept that the hospitality prices are prohibitively expensive for a long haul World Cup in a developing country. A spokesman said that prices were pegged at 61% of the level of comparable packages in Germany, in recognition of higher travel costs.

2

Football / World Record throw in....

« on: January 20, 2010, 02:55:02 AM »

wow !

video :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8468951.stm


A PE teacher from West Yorkshire has broken a world record with the longest-ever football throw-in.

Danny Brooks, 28, launched a ball 49.78m (163ft) - half the length of a football field - with his unusual gymnast-style flip throw.

Mr Brooks, who teaches at Brooksbank School Sports College in Elland, said he got the idea after watching Stoke player Rory Delap's long throw-ins.

The previous record of 48.17m (158ft) was set by Michael Lochner in 1998.

Mr Brooks's method involves him taking a run-up and somersaulting with the ball in his hands before throwing it.

The technique is legal in football matches because he has two feet on the ground at the time of the throw.

'Bit of a surprise'

Mr Brooks told BBC News: "I started off as a gymnast from a young age and I also did my football as well.

"The original idea was to put the two together and see what I can get from it."

Mr Brooks said Delap's throw-in style had "reignited my interest in it to see if I can get anywhere near he can".

The amateur footballer said he had used his throw-ins in matches.

But he added: "I don't like to do it too often but it is a bit of a surprise to the opposition.

"They don't really like it that much."

3

Football / Frustrated Indonesia fan becomes late sub in Oman defeat....

« on: January 07, 2010, 11:00:29 AM »

too bad he couldnt finish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trgQ2EK8HhE

4

Football / David Villa signals time right to make move to Premier League

« on: December 23, 2009, 08:30:10 AM »

niceeeeeeeeeeeee


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article6965770.ece

After flirting with several English clubs in the past, David Villa is eyeing up a move to the Barclays Premier League. The Valencia striker has had a change of heart after failing to secure a transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid last summer and is finally ready to leave Spain, a message that will be received with interest in the boardrooms of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

As a lightning-fast forward with a rare eye for goal, Villa’s skills remain as compelling as ever, but his circumstances have changed. In an interview with The Times, the 29-year-old admits for the first time that he is willing to move abroad and is ready for a challenge beyond the two giants of Spanish football, which was not the case when Chelsea made a £36 million bid last summer.

“Quite simply, I rejected the possibility of moving abroad at that moment because there were issues that would not allow me to leave my country . . . my wife was pregnant and it didn’t seem right to leave,” he said.

“I like the Premier League a lot. It’s the league I follow the most along with La Liga and I’ve got a lot of friends playing there.

“There are a lot of globally important teams there that play very good football.”

Despite his frustrations at the start of the season, Villa has maintained his outstanding form in front of goal and his 12 goals in 14 league games show that his professionalism prevents his disappointment from affecting his performances.

This has not gone unnoticed by Europe’s top clubs, who are already aware that, with 35 goals in 54 appearances as a full international with Spain, Villa scores goals whatever the circumstances.

“I have a duty to Valencia, it’s my club: the one that pays my wages and with whom I have a contract,” he said. “This summer they’ll have a look at things, analyse them and in time we’ll see what happens.

“All I can do now is stay relaxed, try and score as many goals as possible and have a good a season as possible, as much as with my club as with the national team.”

Valencia have admitted that they need to find about £40 million by the end of next summer to remain solvent — reports claim they have more than €700 million (about £620 million) in debt — and that they must listen to offers for Juan Manuel Mata, David Silva and Villa.

Consequently, the striker is preparing his young family for a move: his English is improving and he is engaging in frequent conversations with Spanish friends, including players and journalists, who have already made the move abroad.

However, Villa’s willingness and capacity to adapt to another country have been questioned by some of his closest allies in the Valencia squad. A senior player said: “He [Villa] needs friends around him. He needs to joke, be understood, be listened to and feel secure in his comfort zone.”

Villa is quick to disagree. “That’s not true. I think that’s said because of what happened in the summer when I rejected a move to another league. I’m someone who left home at 21 years of age to be with my wife and I’ve always been a long way from my family — and I really don’t see them all that often. I’m a survivor.

“Adapting to a new language, to the football, it’s all part of being a footballer. Having said that, I’m comfortable here, calm, happy; I show that better out on the pitch than in front of a microphone.

“We’re still a long way off from the months of June and July, and when they come around we’ll analyse the situation then.”

There may be another twist to this story in March, when the contract runs out with his representative, José Luis Tamargo. Countless agents have been in touch with the player, promising him the best deal out of a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Tamargo has been contacted by the decision-makers at Chelsea, Manchester City, United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the past two years, but the list of realistic potential suitors in England has been reduced to just three.

Chelsea would love to partner Villa with Drogba, but know that a move in January is impossible, while a transfer embargo is likely to prevent a summer move. Manchester City have been willing to push for him in the recent past, but their project has, until now, not been attractive enough for the player.

Manchester United have also registered an interest, but have never followed it up with an offer.

Villa believes that there has never been a better time for the best English clubs to make their move for one of the very best Spanish players around. “Maybe quite a few years ago, Spanish players were reluctant to leave La Liga for another league,” he said.

“But that’s all changed now. There are very important players, a showcase of Spanish footballers playing for Premier League clubs; and there are players in other leagues, lesser leagues, as well.

“I think that the Spanish footballer has changed in this aspect in the last few years.”

5

Football / Footballer claims he was chased by a ghost.............

« on: December 17, 2009, 09:42:33 AM »

Oh gawdddddddddddddddddddddddddd....

http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/features/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151397215

Footballer claims he was chased by a ghost
If you asked a policeman about the excuses people use, they would probably tell you that they have heard them all.

But a Peruvian footballer looks like he might have come up with a completely new one.

Carlos 'Kukin' Flores, a midfield star with Inti Gas Deportes, told police he was being chased by a ghost when he was stopped for running naked through the streets.

Flores, who in the past has admitted to having issues with cocaine, eventually admitted that he had been "engaging with dirty ladies" and that he came up with the ghost line to try and hide the truth from his wife.

Flores said: "I didn't want my wife to be suspicious about ladies so I just told her it was a ghost. She failed to believe me."

The midfielder also denied the incident had anything to do with his previous cocaine problems, he added: "This was nothing like that. I just had a bad day."

6

2010 World Cup - South Africa / I supporting the biggest Island in the World Cup

« on: December 09, 2009, 03:32:34 AM »

Go Australia !!!!
People discount this team that qualified first for the world cup top of their group. I looking for them to cause an upset !

7

Football / Hand of Gold: Football and politics in Argentina

« on: August 20, 2009, 04:06:52 AM »

good thing FIFA doesnt allow politics and football to mix......unless of course they making coin off it:

From the economist:

BETWEEN them, Argentina’s president, Cristina Fernández, and her husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner, have nationalised their country’s post office, its airline and the private pension system. Now, it seems, it is the turn of football to come under the state’s aegis. This week the Argentine Football Association was poised to accept an offer of $154m from the state television channel for the rights to transmit this season’s matches. The association’s president, Julio Grondona, unilaterally ripped up a contract lasting until 2014 under which Torneos y Competencias (TyC), a private broadcaster and partner of the Clarín media group, paid $70m a year for the lion’s share of the broadcasting rights.

Nobody disputes that Argentine football is a mess. Many of the brightest Argentine stars play for much bigger salaries in Europe, so many clubs field teams made up of youths and veterans. Despite this transfer income, mismanagement and corruption mean that many of the clubs are shouldering big debts, including $8m in unpaid wages to players and $80m in taxes. That prompted Mr Grondona, who has ruled Argentine football with an iron hand for 30 years, to threaten to suspend indefinitely the new season’s kick-off, scheduled for August 14th.

The Kirchners fared poorly in a legislative election in June. Ms Fernández’s government lost its majority in the lower house of Congress, while Mr Kirchner was humiliated by coming second in the election for deputies in Buenos Aires province. Opponents claim that the new television deal was crafted personally by Mr Kirchner to restore his political fortunes.

First, he would be seen as the saviour of the season, as well as the man who put football on free-to-air television (though cable, on which TyC is available, is widespread in Argentina). Second he would strike a blow against the Clarín group, whose newspaper has been critical of him. TyC’s president claims that Mr Kirchner persuaded Mr Grondona to switch the contract at a late-night meeting, and says he will sue the association. Officials later denied that the meeting took place.

Football and politics have rarely been far apart in Argentina. When the World Cup was held there in 1978, the country’s then military junta is alleged to have arranged to bribe an opposing team to ensure Argentina’s progress and eventual victory. To curry public favour, the junta also stooped to abolishing relegation when popular teams were threatened with demotion to a lower league.

Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, built his reputation by successfully running Boca Juniors, one of the capital’s two big clubs. Such jobs are hotly contested, despite the clubs’ poor financial state. Buenos Aires is plastered with posters for rival candidates in an election for the presidency of River Plate, Boca’s big rival. Whoever wins may now command a bigger pot of television money—courtesy of the taxpayer.

8

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / UK TRIBE Ignite London

« on: August 17, 2009, 06:07:21 PM »

Hello all,
UK TRIBE ignite is this Saturday in Hammersmith London

Any forum members can contact me for tickets.

9

Football / Lawrie Sanchez what a good coach can do for a country !

« on: December 17, 2008, 06:16:28 AM »

Fellas there has been loads of talk about players and the coach and who to blame etc etc.

I just wanted to bring up the case of Lawrie Sanchez who took over Northern Ireland (pop. 1.7 million) in Jan 2004 ranked 124th in the world and had not scored for 1,298 minutes or won a game for three years. When he left they were 27th in the world. This included beating england 1-0 a draw 1-1 against Portugal and a 3-2 win over Spain.

His player base is very similar to ours in terms of depth and I would venture to say we have more talented players. I sincerely belive a good coach is key unless you are Brazil and a team can still produce results without much coaching due to the sheer quality of players.

Blame the players if you want but look at what a good coach did for a country very similar to ours in size etc.

10

Football / Jack Warner spoof interview

« on: September 26, 2008, 01:44:17 PM »

don't know if this was posted before

Jack warner spoof interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2eQ7UDBMak

11

Football / Calyton Ince new tactic ...goalkeeper in the wall

« on: September 23, 2008, 08:53:20 AM »

On Scoccer Am this weekend (3 hour football show on Saturday mornings) they highlighted Clayton Ince's new techinique.
In the Bristol Rovers vs Walsall game Bristol got a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and Clayton Ince went into the wall. The ball actually went past the wall and was cleared off the line by a defender. so the programme rang him up to ask why he did that, so he said that as he could use his arms he would be more effective in the wall !
Certainly a different take on things but I dont think it will catch on

12

Football / Linesman gives goal that never was !

« on: September 23, 2008, 08:41:02 AM »

check dis out. linesman assistant refereee gives a goal that never happened

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tsva_watford-reading-no-goal_sport

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7628234.stm


The Football League has ruled out replaying Saturday's controversial game between Watford and Reading.

Assistant referee Nigel Bannister mistakenly awarded Reading's first goal in the 2-2 draw after the ball had gone wide of the post.

Royals boss Steve Coppell said he would not object to a replay but Watford said they were not seeking another game.

The League's chief operating officer Andy Williamson confirmed the decision to award the goal was final.

"The laws of the game give no discretion in these matters," said Williamson. "The referee's decision regarding whether a goal is scored or not is final and binding.



Royals captain Murty demands help for refs
"Given this explicit position, the League cannot intervene."

The 'goal' was registered as an own goal by Watford's John Eustace.

He thought his side had been given a goal-kick after a corner had hit him and gone out of play before being hooked back in by Reading's Noel Hunt.

Assistant referee Bannister advised referee Stuart Atwell to give the goal, to the horror of the Watford players.

 The linesman has decided it's a goal. I've asked him about it and he said it was an optical illusion

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd
Watford said they would accept any Football League verdict but highlighted their unhappiness with the standard of refereeing in the Championship.

"During the course of last season alone Watford were subject to six major decisions which saw the issuing of red card, 50% of which were subsequently rescinded," said the Watford statement.

"The club will abide by any Football League decision, but remains deeply disappointed at the standards of professional officiating it was exposed to in this fixture."

 Everyone makes mistakes

Reading winger Stephen Hunt

Before the League made the decision Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann had told BBC Radio 5 Live that he believed replaying the game would set a dangerous precedent.

For their part Watford said they wanted to know if the yellow cards given to their players in the row following the decision to give the goal would stand.

The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB) released a statement after reviewing the incident.

"It is clear that the ball did not cross the goal-line between the goalposts," it said.

"According to the Laws of the Game, the decision of the referee, regarding facts connected with play are final and that includes whether a goal is scored or not.

 606: DEBATE
Had to send a letter to the FA after the worst decision in football history. Reading players all knew this was a farce even the manager knew it and did nothing!

Tom_Fullery 

"The referee cannot change that decision once the game has been restarted.

"Football is a human game played at a fast pace where mistakes are made by players and match officials alike.

"We regret this error of judgement and will now work with the officials concerned to determine how this occurred in an attempt to minimise such mistakes in the future."

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll said the decision was inexplicable and had sympathy for the Watford players and manager, Aidy Boothroyd, who was sent to the stands after remonstrating with the officials.

Poll told BBC Radio 5 Live: "This is the most bizarre situation I've ever seen in 40 years watching football and 27 years refereeing.

"I heard about it then watched the highlights thinking 'it can't be how it's described', but it is. He (Bannister) has got a clear view of it. It's completely inexplicable.


"The referee must be respected, obviously, but in such circumstances, as a player, how do you not lose your temper?"

After the match, Boothroyd told BBC London 94.9: "I went to see the referee and in fairness to him, although he wasn't brilliant today, you can't blame him if there's a guy in his ear telling him it's a goal.

"The linesman has decided it's a goal. I've asked him about it and he said it was an optical illusion.

"I saw the ball go out for a goal-kick and my centre-half has put his hand up and asked for the goal-kick and for some strange reason a goal has been given."

Boothroyd rejected the idea that the Reading players should have allowed Watford to score following the error.

"I don't expect players to take things into their own hands. It's not up to them," he added.

"If someone stops you in a car park and gives you a present you don't say no do you?" 
Watford's players confront the officials after the controversial goal

Coppell also played down the emphasis on the players to take action.

"The responsibility is not with the opposition to right a wrong. It is up to the officials to get it as right as they can," said Coppell.

Reading winger Stephen Hunt was bemused by the decision but tried to alleviate the blame from referee Atwell.

Hunt said: "It was a screamer! No, it was probably the worst decision I have ever witnessed.

"We can't do anything about it. It's not our mistake, but what can you do? You can't say 'no ref, it wasn't in'.

"He seemed all right. He's a young referee. But after this he'll probably be sitting at home next week.

"I've had him before and he's been all right. It was just a bad day at the office. He talks, he respects you and you respect him.

"I can understand Watford's frustration, but everyone makes mistakes."

13

Football / Paraguay's remarkable progress

« on: September 17, 2008, 04:40:51 PM »

I doh feel so bad losing 2-0 to them (and one was a own goal !)


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2008/09/paraguays_remarkable_progress.html

Eight rounds out of 18 have been played in South America's World Cup qualifying campaign, and sitting pretty at the top of the table are Paraguay. Four points clear, they are well on course for a fourth consecutive appearance in the finals.

Their progress is truly remarkable. I have visited Paraguay on several occasions. The place and the people have a certain serene charm, but one of the abiding impressions is of mangy dogs snoozing on shattered paving stones.

Of the 10 countries in the continent only Uruguay has a smaller population, and only Bolivia is poorer. And yet Paraguay are able to outperform a football-crazy country like Colombia, which has a population almost eight times larger.


Paraguayan football has always been able to count on fighting spirit. The game brings out the warrior in the people, who knit together naturally to build teams feared all over the continent for their durability.

This, though, has always been the case. In recent times Paraguay's progress has been based on adding more things to the mix.

Their youth development work has been good, with players coming up through the ranks of the Under-20s into the senior side. The local championship became more competitive when the number of teams in the first division was reduced, while staging the 1999 Copa America led to a slight decentralisation of the game, with the entire top flight no longer clustered around capital city Asuncion.

And in this current campaign, Paraguay have also benefited from having a foreign coach keen to implement new ideas.

Gerardo Martino from Argentina has introduced more attacking ambition to go with Paraguay's customary resilience.

At first he tried to move too quickly - a surprising error, because he had coached top clubs in the country and should have known what to expect.

His mission was to get the side playing in the opposition's half, imposing themselves on the game. In his first competitive match in last year's Copa America his team beat Colombia 5-0, and Martino was not happy. It was a counter-attacking triumph, and not at all the tactical approach that he was searching for.

The problem really became apparent when Paraguay had their keeper sent off right at the start of the quarter-final against Mexico. The back three were caught between Martino's desire for them to push up and play high, and their own instinct to defend on the edge of their penalty area. Mexico danced through the confusion to win 6-0.


Defeat made Martino more pragmatic. He reverted to a back four and made a virtue of his players' versatility. For tough away games his full-backs have stayed deep and covered. At home they bomb forward and supply crosses. He has midfielders who can mark or create as the situation demands. And, unlike some of his predecessors, Martino can call on a talented and aggressive group of strikers.

The prince among them, of course, is Roque Santa Cruz, who helped set up both goals in last Tuesday's 2-0 win over Venezuela. It is perhaps surprising that his success at Blackburn has not been followed up with Premier League clubs looking at other Paraguayan players.

The Mexican league has certainly caught on. Of Paraguay's squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers, nine are based in Mexico, and some of the others have had spells there.

One who readily comes to mind as theoretically being suited to the English game is midfielder Cristian Riveros, currently with Cruz Azul. Away to Argentina, in the absence of the normal holding midfielder, he did a good marking job on Juan Riquelme.

Three days later at home to Venezuela it was back to normal service - he passes off either foot and has the dynamism to keep popping up in the box. He scored his third goal of the campaign and his 7th in 33 internationals.

With his mix of warrior spirit, talent and versatility Riveros is an appropriate symbol of Martino's Paraguay, and would not look out of place on the pitches of the Premier League.

14

Jokes / Patrick's choice

« on: September 11, 2008, 05:54:28 AM »

While on his morning walk, Prime Minister Patrick Manning falls over, has a heart attack and dies (Oh what a sweet fantasy) because the the ambulance hit a pot hole and had to stop to change a blown out tyre and the accident and emergency dept at his nearest hospital is too understaffed to treat him in time.

 
So his soul arrives in Heaven and he is met by Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. 'Welcome to Heaven,' says Saint Peter, 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a P.N.M. around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you.'
 
'No problem, just let me in; I'm a good Christian; I'm a believer,' says Patrick.


'I'd like to just let you in, but I have orders from God. He says that since the implementation of his new HEAVEN CHOICES policy, you have to spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven. Then you must choose where you'll ive for eternity.'

'But I've already made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven,' replies Manning.
 
'I'm sorry but we have our rules,' Peter interjects. And, with that, St Peter escorts him to a lift and he goes down, down, down ....all the way to
 Hell.


The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a lush golf course. The sun is shining in a cloudless sky. The temperature is a perfect 22C. In the distance is a beautiful club-house. Standing in front of it is John O Hallaran and thousands of other Socialist luminaries who had helped him out over the years --- Francis Prevatt, etc.

 

All the P.N.M. Leaders were there. Everyone laughing, happy, and casually but expensively dressed.
 
They run to greet him, to hug him and to reminisce about the good times they had getting rich at the expense of 'suckers and peasants.'

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

 

The Devil himself comes up to Manning with a frosty drink, 'Have a tequila and relax, Patrick!'

'Uh, I can't drink anymore; I took a pledge,' says Manning, dejectedly.

'This is Hell, son. You can drink and eat all you want and not worry and it just gets better from there!'
 
Manning takes the drink and finds himself liking the Devil, who he thinks is a really very friendly bloke who tells funny jokes like himself and pulls hilarious nasty pranks, kind of like the ones the P.N.M.pulled with their master strokes on Education, Immigration, Food prices, Tough on Crime promises, Health plans, Traffic etc


They are having such a great time that, before he realises it, it's time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves as Manning steps on the lift
and heads upward..
 
When the lift door reopens, he is in Heaven again and Saint Peter is  waiting for him. 'Now it's time to visit Heaven,' the old man says, opening the gate.

 

So for 24 hours Maning is made to hang out with a bunch of honest, good-natured people who enjoy each other's company, talk about things other than money and treat each other decently. Not a nasty prank or short-arse joke among them. No fancy country clubs here and, while the food tastes great, it's not caviar or lobster. And these people are all poor.

 

He doesn't see anybody he knows and he isn't even treated like someone special!
 
'Whoa,' he says uncomfortably to himself. CalderHart,Saith, and Julien never prepared me for this!'

The day done, Saint Peter returns and says, 'Well, you've spent a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Now choose where you want to live for Eternity.'

With the 'Deal or No Deal' theme playing softly in the background, Manning reflects for a minute ... Then answers: 'Well, I would never have thought
 I'd say this -- I mean, Heaven has been delightful and all -- but I really think I belong in Hell with my friends.'
 
So Saint Peter escorts him to the lift and he goes down, down, down, all the
 way to Hell.

 

The doors of the lift open and he is in the middle of a barren scorched earth covered with garbage and toxic industrial wasteland, looking a bit  like the eroded, rabbit and fox affected Australian outback, but worse and more desolate. He is horrified to see all of his friends, dressed in rags and chained together, picking up the roadside rubbish and putting it into black plastic bags. They are groaning and moaning in pain, faces and hands black with grime.
 
The Devil comes over to Manning and puts an arm around his shoulder.' I don't understand,' stammers a shocked Manning, 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a club-house and we ate lobster and caviar and drank tequila. We lazed around and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and everybody looks miserable!'

The Devil looks at him, smiles slyly and purrs, 'Yesterday we were campaigning; today you voted for us!

15

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / UK Tribe Launch Saturday August 23rd

« on: July 29, 2008, 10:53:08 AM »

UK Tribe presents the launch of Trinidad Carnival 2009 Birds of a feather…….right here in London, PM if you want tickets.......

16

Football / Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?

« on: July 28, 2008, 03:10:12 AM »

sound familiar ?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7526005.stm


This weekend Nigerian football fans are in for a treat as Manchester United and Portsmouth play a one-off friendly in the capital Abuja.

 
Nigerians are mad for the Premiership, not so crazy about their own leagues

But while the popularity of the Premier League grows, it seems to be at the expense of the Nigerian domestic league.

Observers say the future is bleak for Nigerian football, with all its brightest stars being drawn to Europe, while its own clubs wither and die, watched by fewer and fewer people.

The coach of FC Abuja says the league officials need to change the time of their matches to avoid Premiership fixtures.

"Whenever we play at the same time as an Arsenal game, nobody shows up," says Abdu Maikaba.

Shrinking crowds

Attendances are already very low.

In a country of 140 million people, where crowds will stop and watch amateurs playing in the park, professional league games struggle to get more than 20,000 paying fans to come on match days.

  If they can make it so we can play on a day before or after Arsenal, that would be a start

Abdu Maikada
Coach, FC Abuja

 

Tony Collins, a Manchester United fan from Anambra State in South Eastern Nigeria said he was really excited about Sunday's game.

"I like Man Utd because they're winners. Actually I like any club that wins in Europe. Nigerians like winners, we're simple people. Nigerian clubs? Can you really compare? They're rubbish, I don't waste my time with that."

Only one or two teams have the following to sell out their home grounds, says Ismaila Lere, sports editor at the Daily Trust newspaper.

"When you look at the stadiums you'll find that the stands are virtually empty, while the bars and the joints that have satellite TV are full. People will pay to watch the Premier League on TV but not to watch Nigerian football live," he says.

The trouble started back in the early 1990s, he says.

Economic reforms meant many teams went bust and were not able to pay their players.

Those players started looking towards Europe for employment.

Initially, they went to Italy and Germany.

Obsession

Most Nigerians first got wind of the Premier League when Celestine Babayaro joined Chelsea in 1997.

"In the 1980s, I was the only person in my area who was watching English football," Mr Lere says.

 
This is a rare chance to see Kanu play in Nigeria

Now Nigerians are, like most of the world, obsessed with the English Premier League.

But in Nigeria the obsession is now going too far - after the Champions League final in May, seven people in Nigeria died in clashes between Manchester United and Chelsea fans.

It is the only thing most people will watch.

The only thing young players want to do is get to Europe.

"When a player won't even be paid £1,000 ($2,000) per month in Nigeria, but can get £1,000 a week in Europe, what do you expect?" says Tukur Babangida, Chairman of Kano Pillars, this year's champions in Nigeria's top league.

He says that players moving to Europe is a good thing.

"Young people are inspired by the Premier League, it spurs them on to play, and the money the teams get when they move to Europe is good for the clubs."

'Globalisation'

But Mr Lere disagrees.

He says the corruption rife in the Nigerian league means that money never gets to clubs' coffers.

"There is no accountability in the sport here. Players won't see the balance of their salaries and transfer fees go straight into people's pockets."

  The governor told his own team to lose by four goals

Ismaila Lere
Nigerian sports journalist

 

The coach of Kano Pillars resigned at the end of this winning season, sick of the corruption.

Clubs are run by state governments and are viewed as the personal possession of the state governor.

Match-fixing is rife, Mr Lere says.

In one instance, the governor of one state asked another to throw a key match.

"The second governor told his team to lose by four goals," says Mr Lere.

It is little wonder that people do not bother watching Nigerian league football.

If current trends continue, everyone will support a Premier League team and forget about their local sides, Mr Lere says.

"Its part of globalisation. Football is not immune to that."

Supporters do not seem to care that the sides they support are not Nigerian.

"You can see I'm an Arsenal fan by the hat on my head," says Godwin Sunday, a 27-year-old labourer in Abuja.

He and his friends play football in their lunch break with a soft deflated ball and bare feet or broken shoes.

"I won't be going to the match on Sunday but I never miss a Premier League match," he says.

"Would I go to a Nigerian game? No. The Arsenal are too much better."

Abu Maikaba says the Nigerian Football League need to change their schedule urgently.

"If they can make it so we play on a day before or after Arsenal, that will be a start."

17

Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Anyone have this song ?

« on: June 25, 2008, 07:55:58 AM »

Born to Shine by Carole Addison.

or know where I could get it ?

tanks

18

Jokes / Adam and Eve Are from Trinidad

« on: June 24, 2008, 03:25:43 AM »

A German, a Frenchman, an Englishman, and a Trinidadian went to an Art  museum and were
spending some time in front of the painting of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. After
observing the painting for a while an intrigued observer asked the four men where they thought
Adam and Eve's origins could  be from.
 
The German said: 'Look at the perfection of their bodies. She with her slender and well formed
figure and he with that athletic body and bulging muscles. There is no doubt they must be of
German origin.'
 
Immediately the Frenchman reacts! 'C'est impossible! One can clearly see the eroticism that is
exuding from both figures... She so feminine? he so masculine... and both so aware of the impending
temptation... They must be French!'
 
 Shaking his head in disagreement, the Englishman comments: 'Oh No, Chaps It can't be! Note the
serenity on their faces, their delicate pose, the sobriety in their gestures. They could only be English.'
 
After a few more seconds of contemplation the Trini exclaims: 'Nah, I doh  agree with ANY of alyuh!
Watch de picture good nah man. Dey naked cause they cyah afford clothes or shoes. Dey eh have no
shelter cause a house too expensive. Dey eh have no electricity or water. But dey eh protesting cause
 dey STILL think dey in Paradise!?? Clearly, dey is two PNM supporters from Trinidad...!!!'
 

19

Jokes / Where did the white man go wrong ?

« on: June 19, 2008, 07:20:06 AM »

Indian Chief, "Two Eagles," was asked by a white government
official, "You have observed the white man for 90 years.
 You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The official continued, "Considering all these events, in your opinion,
where did the white man go wrong?"

The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute
and then calmly replied. "When white man find land, Indians
running it. No taxes, No debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver,
clean water; women did all the work, Medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having sex."

Then the chief leaned back and smiled. "Only white man dumb enough to
think he can improve system like that."

20

Football / Are Warners days numbered ? (de sequel)

« on: June 18, 2008, 03:23:35 PM »

As posted by Kentsoulman before it get mash up !

Theres so much information and conjecture on these pages sometimes, it can be difficult to see a clear picture of whats happening. Part of the reason for this is Warners superb handling of the media.

Everytime over the last month that Jack has taken a serious hit, he has distracted everyone with strategies, fantasies, lies and sheer childishness.

I just wanted to clarify the situation in a seperate thread so I can see if I'm seeing this all correctly.

ARBITRATION

1) TTFF chose arbitration in London rather than court in T&T. (They didn't suggest CAS because they knew the players wouldn't go there, so to achieve their aim of keeping it out of T&T court they went for London)
2) TTFF sent no witnesses to defend their case.
3) The players lawyer had to pay £6,000 of TTFFs fees.
4) TTFF have yet to provide the arbitrator with acceptable accounts.
5) The arbitrators decision is binding and enforceable in te T&T court.
6) The players were (apparently) awarded 50% of gross income.
7) As TTFF have admitted certain incomes, the players should be able to claim 50% as an interim payment.
8] This means that ay any time, TTFF could be ordered to pay at least US$1million within 14 days by T&T court, or face bankruptcy.

Gary Hunt

1) Like him or loathe him, Hunt is standing up to Warner.
2) Hunt will support football, but he won't be Jacks bitch. Show your accounts to receie more funding. A perfectly correct way for government to do business.
3) Stadium hiring fees have remained the same for 20 years. Tell me what you can buy today that is less than double the price of 20 years ago. Previous ministers should be critisised for this, not Hunt.
4) Everybody says the stadiums need upgrading. It makes sense to take proceeds from matches to do this, rather than T&T supporters paying twice - once through taxes, then again through ticket prices.
5) If TTFF make so much from ticket sales, where did the money go? And why did they still need handouts?
6) There is no financial reason to play home matches abroad. It is purely POLITICAL pointmaking by Warner. This has nothing to do with football. Warner is waging a war or his party.
7) Warners constituents should write to complain about Warner and make it clear they will not vote for him next time.
8] Supporters of Warners party should speak out in the press because Warner could lose them the next election with his games.
9) Unfortunately FIFA are too wimpish to critisise Warner. But he's clearly mixing politics with football.

National Squad

1) We will never know if Maturana is any good. There is too much interference from Warner.
2) The reason T&T lost on sunday was due to morale and self belief. They have the talent, but that final edge is missing.
3) TTFF are totally incapable of putting on a national team match. I have never seen such a poor build up. Waving a Trinidad handkerchief? No music for the anthem? No fireworks or stage show? Wrong kit? Very amateur, and a sign of the contempt for T&T supporters.

I am shocked and amazed that ANYBODY on this site can still defend Warner. It is true he has done much, but he could have done so much more. He acts like he's the country's top statesman, but he's behaving like a little boy.
The days those accounts come out, he will be finished. He has no TTFF money to play with now and the repercussions are showing. He won't give the blacklisted players a chance. He won't make sensible financial decisions, but would rather make political points.

He's being attacked from all sides. The players and the courts. The supporters. The government.

Its all about those accounts. And do we really believe that a top multinational company like KPMG take 2 years to add up a few million dollars? They handle companies with turnover in the billions. The only reason there is a delay is that TTFF haven't supplied all of the information. Because if they do, the arbitrator will see those figures. And Gary Hunt will have a solid reason not to give out any more money.

Perhaps the T&T Tax people should be putting pressure on TTFF?

Interesting days ahead, people.

21

General Discussion / office worker goes mad

« on: June 09, 2008, 09:41:32 AM »

this is quality

http://www.break.com/index/office-worker-goes-absolutely-insane.html

22

Football / Porto lose Champions League place .....bribery

« on: June 04, 2008, 08:06:15 AM »

dam !!!!!!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7435898.stm

Porto lose Champions League place 
 
Portuguese champions Porto have been excluded from next season's Champions League over alleged bribery of referees in the 2003/04 season.

The allegations relate to Porto's 2-0 win against Estrela da Amadora and their 0-0 draw with Beira Mar.

Porto won their domestic title and the Champions League in 2003/04 under their former coach Jose Mourinho, who has not been mentioned in any allegations.

The club has already confirmed it will appeal against Uefa's decision.

Porto won their domestic title in 2004 by eight points from runners-up Benfica.

Last month, they were found guilty by the Portuguese league of fixing the two league matches in question.

As a result Porto were docked six points, but they decided not to appeal against that decision on the grounds the club had a substantial lead in the league.

The punishment did not affect final standings as Porto still won last season's title for the third time in a row, 14 points ahead of Sporting Lisbon.

However, the club's president Jorge Pinto da Costa has appealed against a two-year suspension and he will go to trial in a civil lawsuit by Porto prosecutors.

Boavista were relegated to the second division for their part in the match-fixing.

The affair, which came to light in April 2004, also resulted in five referees being suspended for periods between two-and-a-half and six years.

The referees were found guilty of accepting the offer of prostitutes after matches, while in once case an official received 2,500 Euros prior to a match.    

 

23

Football / Fifa vote for limit on foreign players

« on: May 30, 2008, 03:22:15 AM »

FIFA really figure they are the law unto themselves, they have no way this happening, this would be the re writing of EU law.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article4031314.ece


Football's world governing body today voted in favour of the "six-plus-five" rule, which would put a limit on the number of foreign players each team could field.

Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, has said he hopes the controversial rule will be in place by the 2012-13 season. His vision appears to be a step closer following the overwhelming backing at Fifa's annual congress in Sydney, Australia. The rule would limit every team to only five foreign players in their starting XI.

Blatter has pointed to the Premier League's dominance in this season's Champions League as as example of why his organisation must implement the idea, despite legal concerns from the European Union.

Stressing Fifa would proceed "within the limits of the law", Blatter said this week: "It's to make sure that there is better balance in the competitions and not only three or four teams in a league of 18 or 20 are fighting to be the champion and all the others are just there to not be relegated.

"At the end of the Champions League in Europe you have in the quarter-finals four teams of the same association; in the semi-finals three of these teams. Then in the final you are surprised that you have two teams of the same association?

"We want to bring some remedies and this is the six-plus-five rule's objective."

Despite Fifa backing the plan, the European Union has already indicated it would contravene European laws. "We are giving the red card to the six-plus-five rule," Europe's commissioner for equal opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, said.

Fifa's controversial proposal is different from a "home-grown players" rule proposed by Uefa, European football's governing body.

Uefa defines home-grown players as team members who, regardless of age or nationality, have been trained by their club or by another club in the national association for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

The Commission has approved the Uefa arrangement because, says Brussels, it contains no player conditions based on nationality.

Spidla said: "Compared with the intentions announced by Fifa to impose the so-called '6-plus-5 rule', which is directly discriminatory and therefore incompatible with the EU law, the "home-grown players" rule proposed by Uefa seems to me to be proportionate and to comply with the principle of free movement of workers."

"Inside the congress of Fifa today we had sunshine on different items, important ones," Blatter said. "Because today we were somewhere in the crossroad between the interests of clubs and national teams, and the congress of Fifa has given very clear indications of where we have to go.

"Together with the chairman of Fifa's football committee, Mr Franz Beckenbauer, and Michel Platini, we come to this resolution. The congress was very happy in a result of overwhelming majority, with 155 votes in favour and five against. 155 yes and five no. It is an overwhelming support to this resolution.

"The Fifa president has asked, together with the Uefa president, to explore - and explore is not to discuss, it's to go in depth - within the limits of the law.

"The application of such a system would start only at the end of 2010 and we would start progressively with four, five and six.

"Even if it is necessary, because we have had Manchester United winning the European Champions League with six players eligible for the Great Britain team at the beginning of the match, so we are not far away.

"Chelsea had four. Zenit St Petersburg, when they played Glasgow Rangers, they had up to seven. Glasgow had four or five.

"We are not far away from a situation. Speaking about it is illegal? For whom? For when? If there is a law, a law can be amended.

"I have already now a meeting with the speaker of the European parliament - chairman as we say, but you say in the British version, the speaker - on June 5 in the afternoon in Brussels, as he said, to explore now the ways.

"If he says to explore the ways, it's not to say 'stop it', so you see we're on the right track."

24

General Discussion / How far would you go before turning back ?

« on: May 29, 2008, 08:51:42 AM »

I would make about 20 feet   

 http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1438490562

25

Jokes / Young Jack

« on: May 22, 2008, 10:12:25 AM »

Young Jack bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. When the farmer drove up the next day, he said, 'Sorry boy, but I have some bad news... de donkey is on my truck, but he dead.'

Jack replied, 'Well den, just give meh my money back.' The farmer said, 'I cyah do that. I went and spent it already.' Jack, 'OK then, just unload the donkey anyway.' The farmer asked, 'What yuh gonna do with him?'

Jack said, 'I going to raffle him off.' To which the farmer exclaimed, 'You cyah raffle off a dead donkey!' But Jack, with a big smile on his face, said 'Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody that he dead.'

A month later the farmer met up with Jack and asked, 'Wha happen with dat dead donkey?'

Jack said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars a piece and made a huge profit' Totally amazed, the farmer asked, 'Didn't anyone complain that yuh had stolen their money because you lied about the donkey being dead?'

And jack replied, 'The only man who found out about the donkey being dead was the raffle winner, when he came to claim his prize. So I gave him his $2 back plus $200 extra, which is double the going value of a donkey, so he thought I was a great guy.'

Jack grew up and eventually became "special advisor to TTFF", and no matter how many times he lied or how much money he stole from the people of Trinidad, as long as he gave them back some of the stolen money, most of them thought he was a great guy.

26

General Discussion / Nuburgring Germany, just got back

« on: May 22, 2008, 05:04:15 AM »

Yeah yeah, just got back from Nubergring went to race my bike on the greatest circuit ever.... 13 miles with 73 bends. It was amazing and also one of the most terifying experiences ever !
If you ever that way make sure and go visit you will see every hot car and bike ever made in one place !

stop on motorway, five Trini's went



at barriers to go on track



on track



great paint job



took a lap in this as a passenger when we had a break



from inside porsche

27

Football / Joey Barton is jailed for assault

« on: May 20, 2008, 07:57:17 AM »

dumb ass mo fo............


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7409943.stm

Joey Barton was jailed for six months
Premier League footballer Joey Barton has been jailed for assault and affray.

Barton, 25, was arrested in Liverpool on 27 December 2007 after he was involved in a confrontation outside a McDonald's restaurant in the city.

The Newcastle and England midfielder, from Widnes, admitted the charges last month but reporting restrictions were only lifted on Tuesday.

Sentencing him to six months in jail, Judge Henry Globe QC said it was a "violent and cowardly act".

The court heard how Barton had been on a Boxing Day night out with his brother, cousin and other friends in Liverpool city centre.

Barton's cousin, Nadine Wilson, 27, of Childwall, Liverpool, and his brother Andrew Barton, 20, of Foxbank Road, Widnes, also pleaded guilty to their part in the assaults.


Barton had drunk 10 pints of lager and five bottles of lager during the night, before going to a McDonald's restaurant on Church Street.

The group got into a heated discussion with some youths inside the restaurant, before leaving and walking up Church Street towards Bold Street. 

The Barton group was involved in some verbal exchanges with others before the attack happened.

Joey Barton was caught on CCTV knocking an unidentified man to the ground. He then straddled him and punched him four or five times as his cousin threw food at the victim before the Premier League player punched him up to 15 times more.

Minutes later, the midfielder attacked a 16-year-old, punching him and leaving him with broken teeth.

Judge Globe told him: "Without doubt, the most serious of the three offenders is you.

"You were restrained by others but ignored them and acted in an extremely violent and aggressive manner."

He added: "You have a high profile as a footballer and you know that draws attention to you. Yet you drank to excess and behaved in an aggressive, disgraceful manner."

Barton was also ordered to pay £2,500 to the youth whose teeth were broken.

Originally from Huyton, Merseyside, he began his football career with Manchester City in 2002.

Barton was sold by them to Newcastle United in June 2007 in a £5.8m deal, four months after he had made his full international debut for England.

His club said in a statement: "Newcastle United notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton at Liverpool Crown Court today.

"The club is considering the verdict and will be making no further comment at this moment."

TIMELINE: BAD NEWS BARTON
2004 February: First red card for Manchester City
April: Storms out of City ground after being dropped
July: Criticised by manager for sparking mass brawl in pre-season friendly game
December: Stubs cigar into eye of team-mate Jamie Tandy at Christmas party (fined six weeks' wages)
2005 May: Involved in 2am road accident, injuring pedestrian
July: Altercation with teenage fan during Asian tour (fined eight weeks' wages)
2006 September: Drops shorts in direction of Everton fans during game (police take no action)
2007 November: FA probe tackle on Dickson Etuhu after Barton's move to Newcastle but no action
December: Describes Newcastle fans as "vicious"
2008 May: Jailed for assault

28

Football / Trinidad's new shirt why isnt the team wearing it ?

« on: May 14, 2008, 05:58:24 AM »

if the below is our new shirt how come we are still wearing the old ones ?

just asking cause I dont want to buy it and find I rocking some fraud shirt !



The new one: New Shirt

29

Football / Ac vs Inter Milan.......my pictures

« on: May 12, 2008, 04:48:14 AM »

Went to the derby last week and here are some pictures....

this is a paving of a bull and the fans go and put the heel on the balls on spin twice for a good luck so now they have a hole in the ground 



outside a stand selling all the scarfs and flags



AC Milan end



Inter end



game pic



half time



after game




out after, thats Pele who plays for Inter and for Portugal

30

Football / Eriksson sacked by Man City !

« on: April 29, 2008, 05:58:52 PM »

cheese on bread !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7370698.stm

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.

Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.

The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.

Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.


The Thai billionaire was at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday to watch his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Fulham.

Afterwards, he held a meeting with Eriksson and told him he would be dismissed after their final two games of the season.

"Sven reacted calmly, as usual, but he was very surprised and disappointed," the source told BBC Sport.

"He doesn't want to leave the club and will not resign. He loves working with the players and his work at Manchester City has only just begun."

City confirmed that Eriksson would be in charge for the final two games of the season, away at Liverpool and Middlesbrough, but made no comment about what would happen in the summer.

Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he expected them to leave City at the end of the season.


"We will be here for the two last matches. They probably think that we haven't done a good enough job", said Grip.

"Sven will receive new offers soon I'm sure."

Eriksson took over as City manager five weeks before the start of the season and the team occupied third spot in the Premiership in November.

However, their form has faltered badly since Christmas and they now lie ninth, having won just four of their last 15 games.

"The team has not been playing as well as it should have or getting the right results since Christmas," said the source.

"But overall it has been a good season. Thaksin agreed a five-year plan with Sven in the summer and the target for the first year was to finish in the top 10."


Shinawatra bankrolled eight summer signings at a cost of more than £46m shortly after buying the club, but BBC Sport understands he has had no direct contact with Eriksson in the second half of the season.

"They met several times personally at the start of the season and then nothing," said the source.

"Sven has had a list of players he wants to sign next summer for several weeks, but he hasn't been able to get the go-ahead to get them.

"He talks to (City chief executive) Alistair Macintosh, but things break down when he then goes to the chairman."

The City players are understood to have reacted with a mixture of shock and anger when Eriksson told them he would be leaving.

Last week, City defender Micah Richards said in his BBC Sport website column that the players were "100% behind" Eriksson.

"I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City," said Richards.

Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.

It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.

Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.

Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".