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1
Football / Re: Copa America Thread
« on: March 25, 2024, 05:48:17 AM »
Warriors star Levi Garcia rues misses vs Canada - Put the blame on me.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).


SOCA Warriors star striker Levi Garcia took responsibility for the team’s disappointing 2-0 loss against Canada in the Copa America play-in game in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday.

T&T conceded two second-half goals (61st and 90th+1) as they failed in their final chance to qualify for the 2024 Copa America. Garcia has been in prolific form with his club, AEK Athens, in Greece, bagging 13 goals to put his team top of the playoff standings. However, he was unable to replicate his club form on Saturday.

T&T coach Angus Eve employed a defensive strategy to start, with Garcia leading the line with some support from midfielder Ajani Fortune. Garcia had two quality chances to score, one in each half, but failed to ripple the net.

The chance in the first half was a golden opportunity to give TT the lead from a counter in the 18th.

After a neat give-and-go, Garcia was played through on goal, but he struck his left-footed shot just wide of the target with just the goalie to beat.

The second chance, with T&T trailing 1-0 in the 85th, came when Garcia combined with substitute Real Gill and was slipped through on goal, but he failed to get power or direction on the shot, which was easily saved by Canada goalie Maxime Crepeau.

T&T had another good chance to take the lead in the first half when left back Andre Raymond pinched the ball off a Canada player and raced into the box, but his left footer also flashed wide. Garcia acknowledged that he was not clinical in front of goal.

Speaking to TT Football Association media, he said, “I came here to deliver and unfortunately, I was not that sharp today. I took responsibility for those chances and I took responsibility for lots of things because I know what the team expects from me. Hopefully, I can also learn from these mistakes and move forward.”

Any criticism he receives, Garcia said he is willing to accept. “I will take any amount of pressure that I will receive after this game, but what I can say is that I will learn from it and continue to move forward.”

The striker thanked his teammates for their spirit. “Before the game all I asked the guys was to compete and fight. I am really proud of the guys. Unfortunately, the game did not go our way and we have a lot to learn and hopefully in the future we will learn from our mistakes.”

Garcia said the loss will be on his mind for a long time. “This one is going to hurt for a while. I came here just recovering from injury and I made a lot of sacrifices and I came here and I tried my best. I gave everything for the team, but my best was not enough today. The boys’ best was not enough today, but for sure we are going to learn from this and move forward, but this one is going to hurt for a while.”

He asked the fans to not give up on the Soca Warriors. “We are really working hard and we really want them to stay behind us. That 12th man is so important. We have been longing for this type of support for years and what we have been receiving is amazing, and hopefully it could continue and that type of energy could stay positive.”

Soca Warriors head coach Angus Eve said the plan to sit back and counter worked. He was happy with the effort his players showed. “I thought for the most part the game plan went well,” Eve said. “We created some really good chances...I think we acquitted ourselves well and we had some really good chances, we could have scored first. It maybe would have settled us down, but I thought all in all it was a great performance.”


2
Football / Re: Copa America Thread
« on: March 24, 2024, 12:29:11 AM »
Soca Warriors' Copa dreams end after 2-0 loss to Canada.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


TRINIDAD and Tobago’s men’s football team’s dreams of advancing to the 2024 Conmebol Copa America tournament were dashed on Saturday, when they fell to a 2-0 loss to Canada in their one-off play-in match at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

With the winner of the high-stakes encounter earning a spot in group A of the Copa America tournament alongside Chile, Peru and reigning World Cup champions Argentina, a lot was on the line in a physical battle that saw the teams going into halftime scoreless.

As expected, T&T coach Angus Eve set his team up in a defensive 5-4-1 shape, with Shannon Gomez and Andre Raymond operating as wing backs, and the returning Ajani Fortune the closest midfielder to lone striker Levi Garcia on the attacking front. T&T conceded a total of 14 corners in the encounter. But from open play, the Soca Warriors seemed to have a fair measure of the opposing attack as they created few glaring opportunities from the run of play.

In fact, the Greek-based Garcia arguably had the best chance for either team in the first period after being released by a searching Fortune pass in the 18th minute. On his favoured left foot, though, Garcia sent his low shot agonisingly wide of Maxime Crepeau’s goal. Garcia also had a chance to grab an elusive goal for T&T late in the second half, but his spurned first-half effort was his team’s best opening in the game.

With Bayern Munich flanker Alphonso Davies at the heart of the majority of Canada’s play, they tried their best to break the Soca Warriors down with clever combination plays in the final third. Tajon Buchanan blazed an effort over the bar after being teed up by Davies, while dangerous forward Jonathan David curled a right-footed shot just wide of the mark after receiving a pass from the Bayern Munich wide man in the 22nd minute.

Four minutes later, Canadian striker Cyle Larin sent a tame effort on goal after neat play down the left side. David then forced a fine save from Soca Warriors custodian Denzil Smith with a firm drive from long range in the 28th minute as Fifa’s 50th-ranked team threatened to break T&T’s resistance.

The Warriors’ game plan of exploiting Garcia’s pace on the break was evident, and at the half, they could have considered the job half-done.

Just two minutes into the second half, T&T got another good chance when Raymond flashed a left-footed shot wide of the mark after winning possession in Canada’s defensive third.

After surviving a scare when defender Alvin Jones headed a goalbound flick from David off the line in the 56th minute, Eve showed his intentions when he inserted attacker Reon Moore for central midfielder Andre Rampersad.

Just after the hour mark, the Soca Warriors’ resistance in Frisco was broken, though, as Larin calmly passed a left-footed shot into the net in the 61st minute after getting a neat back-heel flick from Ike Ugbo at the end of a right-side move.

T&T made two more changes of attacking intent in the 81st minute when the diminutive pair of Kaile Auvray and Real Gill came on. Gill almost had an immediate impact on the game in the 85th minute when he worked a slick one-two with Garcia down T&T’s right. However, Garcia’s left-footed effort didn’t have the finesse or power needed to get past Crepeau’s big right hand at the far post.

As T&T desperately surged forward in search of an equaliser, Canada’s own substitute, Jacob Shaffelburg, looked to kill off the contest.

In the 87th minute, Shaffelburg had Smith sprawling with a thunderous left-footed shot which cannoned off the base of the post and out. In the first minute of stoppage-time, though, Shaffelburg was bang on target when he drilled an effort into the roof of the net from close range after a rapid counter-attack from the Canadian team.

Shaffelburg’s goal sparked wild scenes among his teammates, while Eve and the T&T contingent saw their dream of going to Copa America 2024 slowly fade away.

Come June 20, Canada will grace the Copa America stage in a duel with Lionel Messi and his Argentina team. Eve’s Soca Warriors will now shift focus to 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Trinidad and Tobago’s men's football team have missed out on a spot in the 2024 Conmebol Copa America tournament after falling to a 2-0 loss to Canada in a one-off play-in match at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Saturday.

The Soca Warriors team held firm for the opening hour against the Canadians, and even fashioned a couple of great opportunities through their star striker Levi Garcia in either half.

However, Canada got goals from Cyle Larin in the 61st minute and a stoppage-time blast from substitute Jacob Shaffelburg to get the victory and book their spot in the Copa America tournament.

Canada will now join Chile, Peru and reigning Fifa World Cup champions Argentina in group A of the showpiece South American competition.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (5-3-1-1): 23.Denzil Smith (GK); 14.Shannon Gomez (20.Kaïlé Auvray 80), 16.Alvin Jones, 17.Justin Garcia, 2.Aubrey David (captain), 6.Andre Raymond; 15.Neveal Hackshaw (7.Noah Powder 70), 18.Andre Rampersad (13.Reon Moore 56), 8.Daniel Phillips; 19.Ajani Fortune (10.Real Gill 80); 11.Levi Garcia.

Unused substitutes: 1.Christopher Biggette (GK), 21.Adrian Foncette (GK), 3.Ross Russell Jr, 4.Jesse Williams, 5.Robert Primus, 9.Nathaniel James, 12.Kevon Goddard, 23.Judah Garcia.

Coach: Angus Eve

Canada (3-4-3): 16.Maxime Crepeau (GK); 4.Kamal Miller, 5.Joel Waterman, 2.Alistair Johnston; 12.Ike Ugbo (14.Jacob Shaffelburg 70), 7.Stephen Eustaquio (captain) (6.Samuel Piette 90+2), 8.Ismael Kone (3.Luc de Fougerolles 90+2), 19.Alphonso Davies; 17.Tajon Buchanan (15.Mathieu Choiniere 80), 9.Cyle Larin (22.Jacen Russell-Rowe 80), 10.Jonathan David.

Unused substitutes: 1.Dayne St Clair (GK), 18.Jonathan Sirois (GK), 11.Theo Bair, 13.Derek Cornelius, 20.Moise Bombito, 21.Liam Fraser, 23.Liam Millar.

Coach: Mauro Biello

Referee: Marco Ortiz (Mexico)

WATCH

Fortune reflects on 2-0 loss to Canada; anticipates future dates with T&T

Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Extended Highlights | CONCACAF Nations League | CBS Sports Golazo


3
Football / Re: Copa America Thread
« on: March 21, 2024, 01:45:00 AM »
Soca Warrior Real Gill saddened over Harpe Place shooting.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).


SOCA Warriors striker Real Gill, who grew up at Harpe Place, Port of Spain, is saddened over what happened in his community last Saturday where five people were murdered.

Speaking in a Trinidad and Tobago Football Association video, Gill said, "To be honest I can't say what went on, but it's heartbreaking because I am always outside with those same people...even though they say it's a bad community...they always try to push me to be out here."

Gill is in Frisco, Texas with the Soca Warriors as they prepare to play Canada in a Copa America qualifying match on March 23.

"When I heard the news we were now going training...it real hurt."

Gill said he knew one of the victims well. "It had one who was begging me to leave Trinidad and I was telling him it's not my fault I have not left yet, it is through visa problems, the business. To see that I lose him it real bother me...I could use it as a positive way and say I have someone to make it for now."

Gill, 21, encouraged other young men to find something they enjoy doing and follow their dreams. "I want to tell all my other brothers that it have things outside for us to make it in this life that we don't have to be home. I not saying it in a way that the Harpe is a bad place, it is a real good place too because I miss home. It is plenty fun I have with my friends."

Gill, who was signed by United Soccer League's Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC earlier this year, said there is a lot of "talent" in the Harpe.


4
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 21, 2024, 01:43:54 AM »
Queen's Park coach makes police report following football match.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).


QUEEN'S PARK football coach Wayne Sheppard has made a report to the St James Police Station, following an incident that occurred between a referee and Sheppard after a player was badly injured.

Sheppard also reported the matter to the TT Football Referees Association and the TT Football Association.

Sheppard was not pleased with the performance of the referee.

He said, "I want the officials who taking charge of the game to be fit and ready to officiate the game, along with the guidelines that FIFA asked for and one of the things that FIFA said a match official's main duty is, is to protect the players," Sheppard said.

Sheppard said the referee in charge of the match has not been officiating at a high level for years. "That incident that happened to (named player), while everybody saying it's unfortunate, it is something that coming a long time. It is just that (named player) is the unfortunate player that it happened to."


5
Football / Re: Copa America Thread
« on: March 20, 2024, 01:45:45 AM »
Aubrey David sounds battle cry: Soca Warriors ready to die for Copa spot.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


Soca Warriors captain Aubrey David and star attacker Levi Garcia say they and their teammates are ready and willing to put everything on the line in their 2024 Copa America play-in against Canada in Frisco, Texas on March 23.

The winner of the play-in match will advance to the June 20-July 14 Conmebol tournament where they will be placed alongside Chile, Peru and reigning Fifa World Cup champions Argentina in group A.

David, who assumed the Trinidad and Tobago captaincy for the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League A campaign, is determined to lead by example from his centre back position and he has already gone into full warrior mode.

"With it being a one-off game, we have to give everything. We are 90 minutes away from making history and changing our lives forever," David told TT Football Association (TTFA) media.

"That's motivation to give everything, to die basically on the field. Anything can happen. We just need to believe in ourselves and try to make history."

Currently attached to CS Cartagines in Costa Rica, the 33-year-old David is expected to have his hands full against a Canadian attack which includes Mallorca forward Cyle Larin, Lille attacker Jonathan David and electric Bayern Munich flanker Alphonso Davies.

Aubrey said the Soca Warriors have kept together the core of the squad which advanced to the Nations League A knockout stages for the first time, and he also says the current crop of players provides coach Angus Eve with the right blend of experience and youth.

The veteran defender said the Miscellaneous Police FC pair of Adrian Foncette and Robert Primus will help with the team's leadership, while he is also pleased with the returns of Ajani Fortune and brothers Levi and Judah Garcia further afield.

"It's very important for the country and very important for our careers personally and as a team," Aubrey said.

"I think we just need to settle and get focused, and take every day as a step. I think it is a big opportunity for us as a nation to be in the Copa America. It's the biggest thing for us after World Cup (qualification)."

Levi, who has battled numerous injuries during the ongoing season with Greek champions AEK Athens, wants to deliver on the big stage after missing several games in T&T's Nations League A campaign. In the two-legged Nations League A quarterfinals against the US in November, Levi came on as a second-half substitute in the first leg, but was subsequently ruled out for the return leg which saw T&T getting a 2-1 win on home soil at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Now returned to fine form for AEK where he has 14 goals in 20 games in all competitions this season, Levi is motivated to put the red, white and black on his broad shoulders.

"It feels good to be back," Levi said. "It's always a pleasure to represent our country. We know the game that's at stake."

The powerful striker has been utilised as a lone striker in recent times at Eve, but he's also effective as an inverted winger on the right side. Levi said he will be sticking to his strengths in the one-off encounter as there is no time for experimenting.

Most importantly, though, Levi wants to get his mind right for the clash with Fifa's 50th-ranked nation.

"From now, I usually picture myself either scoring or celebrating," Levi said. "I start preparing my mind from now for 90-plus minutes, fighting for every ball. I start seeing myself winning tackles, winning duels, winning everything and trying my best to get the win."

He said he's happy to have his current rhythm, and he said he and his teammates have the opportunity to be the beacon of hope for young men in T&T.

"A lot of people don't know how grateful we are to represent our country. There are a lot of younger guys looking at us for hope and for a way out.

"These types of games and these types of opportunities are what we need to grasp with both hands and try to set the platform right for these guys."

From 4 pm on March 23, Aubrey, Levi and the Soca Warriors will it all on the park as they try to book T&T's first-ever appearance at a Copa America tournament.


6
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 19, 2024, 03:26:02 AM »
Chaves stretchered off after gruesome injury in Tier II match.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).


T&T senior and Under-20 midfielder Michael Chaves of Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) was taken off the field on a stretcher during his team’s fiesty 2-1 loss against MIC Matura ReUnited in the T&T Premier Football League Tier II Division match in the second clash of a doubleheader at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo on Sunday night.

The 17-year-old, who featured for T&T at the recent CONCACAF U-20 Championship Pool D Qualifiers at Mucurapo and then made his senior team debut against Jamaica on March 1 in a 1-0 friendly international loss at the same venue, was stretchered off the field and taken to the St Clair Medical Complex, Port-of-Spain where he underwent successful surgery on the fractured left fibula injury, putting an end to what was a stellar season, which also included representing Fatima College in the 2023 Secondary Schools Football League Premier Division.

Matura ReUnited opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute through Daniel Rose, and in the 31st minute, the visitors doubled their advantage through Andrew Nicome.

However, two minutes later, the Parkites, who were without a number of key players inclusive of the influential Sean De Silva, managed to cut the lead in half when Winston Johnson netted.

But a minute before the half-time whistle both teams suffered a blow when Matura ReUnited’s Kwame Hazel was shown a straight red card by referee Rashby Mc Fie for a crunching tackle on Chaves.

In the second half, the Parkites were unable to make their player advantage count as Matura ReUnited held on for the win to climb to a four-way tie for the second spot, improving to 20 points from nine matches, level with the trio of Harlem Strikers, Central Soccer World and previous leader Petit Valley/Diego Martin United (PVDM) who went under to San Fernando Giants 2-0 in the first match at Mucurapo to trail table toppers Guaya United by one point.

Guaya United rallied from 0-2 down to beat the University of T&T Patriots 3-2 at UTT Campus Ground, O’Meara Road, Arima, in an early match on Sunday.

In the second match at Arima, Defence Force got an own goal from Keithen Carter in the 77th minute to draw 1-1 with Harlem Strikers who went ahead on the stroke of half-time thanks to Elijah Seechan.

Results

Sunday

Defence Force 1 (Keithen Carter 77th o.g) vs Harlem Strikers 1 (Elijah Seechan 45+1)

MIC Matura ReUnited 2 (Daniel Rose 8th, Andrew Nicome 31st) vs QPCC 1 (Winston Johnson 33rd)

San Fernando Giants 2 (Arkido Joseph 40th, Rayon Alleyne 90th) vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin 0

Guaya United 3 (Keston Frontin 39th, Kendes Garcia 78th, Renaldo Mc Intosh 85th pen) vs UTT Patriots 2 (Kevaughn Connell 7th, 19th)

Saturday

Laventille United 3 (Quanlanson Archibald 15th, 90+4, John Belgrave 88th) vs Cunupa Eagles FC 2 (Daniel Diaz 43rd, Jesse Downing 84th)

Bethel SC vs Central Soccer World 2 (Ryan Frederick 36th, Elijah Payne 90th) vs Bethel Utd 1 (Teejay Cadiz 45th)

Police FC 2 (Jameel Perry 80th, Clevon Mc Fee 90+6) vs Club Sando 1 (Gerald Meloney 35th)

Latest TTPFL Tier II standings

Pos Teams P W D L F A Pts
1 Guaya Utd 10 7 0 3 20 14 21
2 Harlem Strikers 11 6 2 3 29 13 20
3 Matura ReUnited 9 6 2 1 24 13 20
4 Central Soccer World 11 5 5 1 15 10 20
5 PVDM Utd 12 6 2 4 20 16 20
6 San F’do Giants 11 6 1 4 19 19 19
7 QPCC FC 10 6 0 4 24 11 18
8 Defence Force 10 4 3 3 25 9 15
9 RC Eagles 11 4 3 4 18 21 15
10 Police FC 9 3 2 4 7 9 11
11 RSSR FC 11 2 2 7 11 30 8
12 UTT 10 2 1 7 20 28 7
13 Laventille Utd 11 2 2 7 17 36 7
14 Bethel SC 6 1 2 3 8 11 5
15 Club Sando 8 1 2 5 10 26 5

RELATED NEWS

Under-20 Soca Warrior Michael Chaves has surgery for fractured leg
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's footballer and Fatima College student Michael Chaves will be sidelined for approximately three-six months after suffering a fractured leg during a TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) match.

The tier-two match was played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field, Mucurapo on March 17.

Playing for QPCC against the visiting MIC Matura United, the 17-year-old Chaves suffered the gruesome injury near the end of the first half, when he was on the receiving end of a rough tackle from Kwame Hazel as he made a run down the right wing. Players from both teams raised the alarm immediately to referee Rashby McPhie, before Chaves was stretchered off and eventually taken to St Clair Medical Centre.

Just before 1 am on March 18, the talented striker had successful surgery after being treated by Dr Sergiy Adonin.

QPCC coach Wayne Sheppard said Chaves suffered a fracture of the left fibula, and he said the outcome could have been worse if the tibia had been damage.

Sheppard said Chaves, described as "one of the best talents" in the local game at present, is in good spirits and he believes he has the mindset needed to bounce back from the injury.

"He's a strong youth. He has a great support system around him," Sheppard told Newsday.

After representing T&T's under-17 men's football team at the Concacaf under-17 championships last year, Chaves showed his worth to local football fans on home soil last month in the Concacaf under-20 men's championship qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium venue.

In T&T's first qualifying match against St Vincent and the Grenadines on February 23, Chaves came off the bench and scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as the hosts grabbed a 3-2 comeback victory. In T&T's next game, against Dominica, two days later, Chaves scored the opening goal in T&T's resounding 5-0 win.

The young Soca Warriors did not advance to the Concacaf under-20 championships, though, as they fell to a 3-0 loss against Canada in their last group game when faced with a must-win situation.

A Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division and national intercol winner with Fatima, Chaves was given his first senior cap by T&T head coach Angus Eve on March 1, when he came on as a second-half substitute for the Soca Warriors against Jamaica in a friendly fixture in Mucurapo.

Sheppard praised his players for the determination and will they showed to return to the field after Chaves' injury. And while he did not put the blame on Hazel, Sheppard said the players were not well protected by McPhie during the contest. Just before Hazel's tackle on Chaves, Sheppard said he and his technical staff were outraged by the nature of tackles by the opposition.

The QPCC coach was eventually red-carded after showing his displeasure with McPhie's handling of the match.

"Every single player who stepped on the field after that injury has my respect. It is not Christmas time in the camp right now for sure, but I must tip my hat...to those boys who went back out there," Sheppard said. "The referee did not have a command of the game at all."

QPCC lost the encounter 2-1, but Chaves' recovery is the most important thing for the Parkites at the moment.

Chaves was set to travel with the City FC team this week for the 2024 Jefferson Cup in the US. Sheppard said Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is one of the many colleges eager to add the young T&T forward to their programme.


7
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 18, 2024, 01:14:15 AM »
Point Fortin Civic tames Army 4-3.
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).


Andre Ettienne scored a long-range stunner after team-mate Ezekiel Kesar's hat-trick to secure a thrilling 4-3 win for Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic over defending champions Defence Force in the feature match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday night.

With the loss, the Army/Coast-Guard combination which captured both league and knockout titles last season stayed third on the 11-club table with 26 points from 14 matches, four adrift of leaders AC Port-of-Spain who have a match in hand as well held to short 2-2 draw by previously pointless Central FC on Friday night, while Miscellaneous Police is second with 28 points following a 1-1 draw with Tiger Tanks Club Sando also on Friday.

At Mucurapo, the clash between Defence Force and Point Fortin Civic got off to a frenetic start with an on-target Hughton Hector free-kick through a five-man wall being brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Christopher Biggette diving low to his right, only for the rebound to fall right into the path of the onrushing Kesar who tucked away the ball into an open net for a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.

A few minutes later Biggette was called into action again, but this time he did much better, diving full stretch to his left to keep out a low drive from Rondell Phillip that was destined for the bottom corner of the goal.

At the other end of the field, in a similar fashion to Civic's opener, a long-range right-footed stinging free-kick from Nathaniel Garcia was parried down by goalkeeper Terrence Lewis and Shaquille Holder was first to react to stab home the rebound to get the Army/Coast-Guard combination on even terms in the 25th minute.

Five minutes later, Holder was tripped over in the 18-yard box by defender Brent Plenty, and from the 12-yard spot, Matthew Woo Ling slotted in a left-footed effort with Lewis going the wrong way for a 2-1 Defence Force lead.

Rivaldo Coryat, was then denied a chance to extend Defence Force's advantage with Lewis keeping out his fierce left-footed blast on the first post smartly kept out by Lewis, and two minutes before the interval, Civic managed to level the match at 2-2 with a bit of fortune when a left-footed effort from former India-based striker Marcus Joseph, took a wicked deflection off of team-mate Kesar, wrong-footing Biggette and into the net to the delight of the southerners for both teams to go into the interval level.

Within two minutes after the restart, the Reynold Carrington-coached Civic regained the lead at 3-2 when a right-sided cross managed to find the feet of an unmarked Kesar who curled a left-footed effort into the far right corner past the full stretch dive of Biggette.

Defence Force's Shaquille Bertrand then headed overbar from a Woo Ling corner to draw Defence Force level in the 67th minute while Isaiah Thompson missed a chance for Civic's fourth goal four minutes later firing onto the base of the right post from less than ten yards out after a weaving solo-run, with Kesar firing the rebound into the side netting from an acute angle.

Three minutes later, Defence Force made Civic pay for that missed effort when a failed attempt at a clearance by defender Justin Cornwall fell to an unmarked Kaihim Thomas, who replaced Bertrand in the 72nd minute, and he hammered home the loose ball to level the match at 3-3.

But there was still another twist to the contest, as after another n0-call for a foul on Woo Ling was waived off by Sobers, the clearance upfield fell to Andre Ettienne in his own half, and after taking two touches on the ball, the latter rifled a shot from about 50 yards over the head of a Biggette who was off his life to nestle into the back of the net to snatch the lead again at 4-3.

The Army/Coast-Guard combination then pushed numbers forward in search of yet another equaliser with Leshawn Roberts heading overbar from about eight yards out to squander his team's final chance, and hand Civic the win.

In the opening match at Mucurapo, Kevon 'Showtime' Woodley netted a second-half brace in the 57th and 75th minute while former national defender Carlyle Mitchell also netted in the 70th in their 3-0 defeat of Eagles FC,

And yesterday, at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Prison Service got goals from Juma Clarence in the 24th, and Trevis Byron in the 91st minute to blank host 1976 FC Phoenix, who entered the match on the back of impressive wins over Defence Force (2-0), and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers (2-1) respectively.

The league now takes an 11-day break for the FIFA International Match Window during which time T&T faces Canada on March 23 in the Copa America Play-in match in Texas, USA from 4 pm.

Weekend's Results

Sunday

Prison Service 2 (Juma Clarence 24th, Trevis Byron 90+1) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 0

Saturday

Caledonia FC 3 (Kevon Woodley 57th, 75th, Carlyl Mitchell 70th) vs Eagles FC 0

Point Fortin Civic 4 (Ezekiel Kesar 8th, 42nd, 47th, Andre Ettienne 85th) vs Defence Force 3 (Shaquille Holder 25th, Matthew Woo Ling 30th pen, Kaihim Thomas 83rd)

Friday

Central FC 2 (Saleem Henry 38th pen, Dominic Douglas 56th) vs AC Port-of-Spain 2 (Che Benny 79th pen, Saydrel Lewis 81st)

Police 1 (Jamal Jack o.g 61st) vs Club Sando 1 (Jamal Jack 79th)

Latest Standings

Pos*Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. AC PoS*13*9*3*1*36*14*30
2. Police*14*8*4*2*29*12*28
3. Defence Force*14*8*2*4*29*16*26
4. L.H. Rangers*14*7*2*5*27*20*23
5. Club Sando*14*6*4*4*20*16*22
6. Prison Service*15*7*0*8*22*30*21
7. Point Fortin Civic*14*5*5*4*22*15*20
8. 1976 Phoenix*13*5*1*7*18*24*16
9. Caledonia FC*14*4*4*6*21*20*16
10. FC Eagles*14*3*4*7*15*21*13
11. Central FC*15*0*1*14*8*57*1


8
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 12, 2024, 11:43:08 PM »
Harlem, QPCC move up.
T&T Express Reports.


DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Petit Valley Diego Martin United (PVDM) were held to a goalless draw by Defence Force but continue to lead Tier 2 of the Trinidad & Tobago Premier Football League (PFL), while Harlem Strikers and Queen’s Park picked up victories on the weekend and moved into second and third, respectively

Harlem Strikers scored half-a-dozen goals, including a second half double from Kareem Baptiste, on the way to a comprehensive 6-1 win over RSSR FC.

Having picked up a sixth win of the season, Harlem Strikers are now just a point adrift of leaders PVDM (30 points), with Queen’s Park third and two points behind the leaders.

Fatima College schoolboys Aidan De Gannes and Michael Chaves scored as QPCC built a two-goal advantage before holding off San Fernando Giants by a 2-1 margin.

Arkido Joseph converted a late penalty for seventh-placed Giants.

TIER 2 RESULTS

PVDM Utd 0 vs Defence Force FC 0

Harlem Strikers 6 (Ishmael Sawyer 36’, Jiron Francis 45+2, Kareem Baptiste 49’ &51’, Jaheim Ashby 79’, Elijah Seechan 78’) RSSR FC 1 (Mamade Guerra 16’)


9
Football / Re: 2024 SSFL Thread
« on: March 12, 2024, 01:44:54 AM »
SSFL Premiership spots still up for grabs.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


Moruga, Blanchisseuse protest questionable wins.

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) has again been asked to decide on which two teams will join St Augustine Secondary in the Premier Division later this year.

On Monday (March 4) and Friday (March 8.) respectively, Miracle Ministries Pentecostal and Signal Hill Secondary Schools both thought they had cemented their places with respective 4-0 and 2-1 victories over Moruga and Blanchisseuse during the Big Five Play-Off of the SSFL but instead, will have to prove their innocence in the protest room first.

The Miracle Ministries and Moruga encounter, played at the Moruga grounds on Monday, was nothing short of convincing for the visitors. However, Moruga representative Andy Joseph is claiming that the Central Zone winner breached the rules of the game by using six substitutions.

According to the laws of the SSFL, teams are allowed to make five substitutes with a sixth only required when a player gets a concussion in a match. Miracle Ministries midfielder Shivon Lalloo was involved in a clash in the first half of play and was subsequently stretchered off the field for what eventually turned out to be a broken arm.

The incident led to the first substitution for Miracle Ministries, who later went on to make five more substitutions afterwards. Joseph said while he recognised that quite a few substitutions were being made, he was not sure they had surpassed the amount required because of the intensity of the game.

Joseph confirmed that a protest was lodged with the SSFL soon after the match, noting that all they want is for the right thing to be done and the rules followed by all teams. Incidentally, if the SSFL rules in favour of Moruga, they will be upgraded to four points and in with a strong chance of sealing one of the spots up for grabs on goal difference.

“I cannot say what the SSFL will decide but they have all the facts in front of them. All I know is that it must be a level playing field for everyone,” Joseph said.

Moruga won the South Zone of the Boys Championship Division by six points but then survived a protest that they had breached the online registration process.

Joseph admitted that his team had been through so much this year, but they will remain strong, having experienced the highs and the lows in the SSFL over the years.

Moruga last played in the Premier Division back in 2022 but was relegated.

Miracle Ministries coach Kern Cupid said while he was asked to say nothing on the matter by his legal representative, he admitted that Lalloo did receive a slight concussion during the clash, in addition to a broken hand.

Like Moruga, Miracle Ministries, the Central Zone champion, also survived a complaint it had breached the registration process. However in its case, the school’s registration documents were not considered an official document from the web page of the SSFL, but rather a copy of registration, which was tantamount to a breach.

Cupid confirmed that both teams were allowed to use six substitutions in the match.

“Our sixth substitution was made in the 91st minute when the score was already 4-0, so it would have been insignificant. What we are working on now, is getting the medical document to confirm that Lalloo did get a slight concussion, which would mean that he was the sixth substitution in the game,” Cupid explained.

Meanwhile, Blanchisseuse is asking for answers as to why Roger Kirk and his cousin Zakiyus Kirk were red-carded in their Big Five showdown with Signal Hill at Signal Hill Ground, which allowed the home team to storm back, scoring two goals in five minutes to win the match and seal a Premiership spot.

Kirk (Roger) sent the Northerners ahead from the penalty spot in the fourth minute. However, Imanhi Forbes levelled the score in the 91st minute before hammering the final nail into the Blanchisseuse coffin in the 95th sending the home team into a frenzy at the thought of a Premier Division berth.

Both Principal Hashim Johnson and manager Kevon Palmer said they didn’t know what happened under referee Keon Yorke’s whistle.

Roger Kirk, after being yellow-carded in the first half, received a second yellow card for allegedly standing over the ball to prevent a quickly taken Signal Hill freekick in the 79th minute.

“The player was walking away from the ball on orders from the referee when he was given his second yellow card,” Palmer said. “In the second sending off, Kirk (Zakiyus) received consecutive yellow cards for a foul and the use of abusive language to the referee.”


10
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 12, 2024, 01:43:22 AM »
Police edge Prisons 1-0, move within two points of TTPFL leaders AC PoS.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


THE title race in the 2023/24 Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) season continues to heat up, and Miscellaneous Police FC (27 points) regained second spot in the standings on Sunday when they got a slender 1-0 win against Prisons FC at the Arima Velodrome.

With the win, the lawmen moved ahead of the third-placed Defence Force (26 points) on the table and moved to within two points of leaders AC PoS (29 points) who were inactive on the weekend.

Though they created clear-cut chances in the second half and tested Prisons goalkeeper Aaron Enill and his backline, Police’s goal came via an own goal by defender Seon Thomas in the 61st minute. Police playmaker Joevin Jones found space on the right side and delivered a peach of a cross into the area as he searched for striker Anthony Wolfe, but it was Thomas’ inadvertent touch that took the ball past Enill and into the back of the net to give Police the advantage.

Just before Police’s game-clinching goal, Enill was called into action in the 56th minute when he made a pair of point-blank saves to deny winger Kwesi Allen at the back post after the Prisons defenders failed to deal with a backward header by left back Kemuel Rivers. Police only held a one-goal lead in the game, but they assumed a firm grip of the contest with superior possession and rarely looked troubled by the Prisons outfit at the other end. Prisons struggled for fluidity on the hard, dry surface and relied mainly on set pieces to try and break Police down.

In the 74th minute, Police nearly doubled their lead after Enill rushed off his line to thwart a right-side attack. With Enill absent from the goal frame, a Prisons defender made a brilliant block on the goal-line to deny a fierce drive from outside the 18-yard box by Police playmaker Jabari Mitchell. In stoppage time, Police custodian Adrian Foncette ensured all three points were locked up when he made an acrobatic fingertip save to keep out a long-range effort by substitute Sean Bonval which seemed destined for the top corner.

In Sunday’s other late TTPFL match, Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic and Eagles FC (formerly Cunupia FC) played to a goalless draw at Mahaica Sporting Complex, Point Fortin.

Despite the defeat to Police, Prisons (18 points) stayed in sixth spot on the 11-team table. Point Fortin (17 points) and Eagles (13 points) are seventh and tenth respectively.

TTFPL tier one standings:

Team*GP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1.AC PoS*12*9*2*1*34*12*22*29
2.Police FC*13*8*3*2*28*11*17*27
3.Defence Force FC*13*8*2*3*24*12*12*26
4.La Horquetta Rangers*14*7*2*5*27*20*7*23
5 Club Sando*13*6*3*4*19*15*4*21
6.Prisons FC*14*6*0*8*20*30*-10*18
7.Point Fortin Civic*13*4*5*4*18*12*6*17
8.1976 FC Phoenix*12*5*1*6*18*22*-4*16
9.Caledonia*13*3*4*6*18*20*-2*13
10.Eagles FC*13*3*4*6*15*18*-3*13
11.Central FC*14*0*0*14*6*55*-49*0.


11
Football / Re: Levi Garcia Thread
« on: March 11, 2024, 01:47:06 AM »
Eve wants AEK star Garcia firing ahead of Copa play-in.
By Andrew Gionnetti (T&T Newsday).


AEK ATHENS leading goal-scorer Levi Garcia scored his third brace of the season on Sunday, coming on as a late substitute to helping the team return to the summit of the table, with a 4-0 away win over Lamia in round one of the Greece Super League playoffs.

Garcia had missed two of his club's last three games with a slight injury, and was subbed off at halftime on February 28 against Giannina. His return for the playoffs was a welcome addition and he was introduced in the 78th minute with his team leading 2-0. The T&T forward took just ten minutes to score with a stunning individual effort.

Athens goalkeeper Cican Stankovic initiated a counter-attack, sending the ball long towards the right flank, just beyond the middle of the pitch, for Garcia. The T&T forward shrugged off his defender before bringing the ball under control with an immaculate first touch. He then blew past another player as he drifted inside and towards goal, before executing a fierce left-footed drive from just outside the box into the top of the net.

He scored again deep in stoppage time to add the icing on the cake for AEK Athens, who sit two points ahead of PAOK FC.

Garcia now sits third in the Greek Super League goal-scorers chart, with 13 goals in 13 matches. Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos leads with 15 goals but featured in eight more matches than Garcia this season.

Garcia’s return to partial fitness and immediate goal-scoring form kept his name fresh on the tongues of T&T fans and head coach Angus Eve, who is seeking to narrow his shortlist of players for the crucial March 23 Copa America play-in game against Canada in Texas.

“We’re cautiously optimistic about Levi maintaining his form, and hopefully staying injury-free,” Eve told Newsday in a telephone interview on Sunday.

Garcia has had injury problems this season and missed the majority of T&T's Concacaf Nations League campaign. He has not played for T&T since coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 first-leg defeat to the United Stated in the Nations League, last November.

However, once fit, he has impressed in front of goal in almost all of his Super League appearances.

“As you know, we haven’t really played with Levi (recently),” Eve said, “And we do have a number of players who are playing (consistently).”

Eve did acknowledge Garcia’s contribution, saying, “When not injured, Levi has been in tremendous form for his club and we would only hope that he can maintain that level of intensity and match fitness that we can have with our ranks.”

He said he will not consider Garcia an automatic starter, even at full fitness, out of respect for other players vying for selection.

“Everyone has to fight for their place and once they maintain their fitness and their match fitness, which are two different things, they have the opportunity to play for the country.”

Newsday asked Eve whether there might be reluctance from some, including AEK Athens, to release a recently injured player for national duty.

He said the TT Football Association and team management have a respectable relationship with national team players’ clubs, and does not experience such problems.

“We’re fortunate that, as a staff – the administrative manager, myself, Mr Richard Piper and Dr (Akash) Dhanai – we have relationships with the medical staff of every team, especially those players who have injury issues. We liaise with them, we get reports from them, we submit reports to them.”

He said he understands Jong PSV’s Dante Gilbert has increased his playing time after returning from injury, along with Judah Garcia, Levi’s younger brother of AEK Athens B.

“We keep abreast of all the players,” Eve said, “by communicating with them individually, the coaches and, for the injured ones, our medical department deals with them.

“We work in synchronisation with the clubs.”

RELATED NEWS

Levi Garcia nets screamer for Athens in return from injury.
By Andrew Gionnetti (T&T Newsday).


AEK ATHENS leading goal-scorer Levi Garcia snatched a swift pair of goals on his return from a short-term injury, helping the Greek Super League leaders to a 4-0 away win over Lamia on Sunday.

Garcia was introduced in the 78th minute and took just ten minutes to score and give Athens a 3-0 lead with a stunning individual effort.

Athens goalkeeper Cican Stankovic initiated a counter-attack, sending the ball long towards the right flank, just beyond the middle of the pitch, for Garcia to control. The T&T forward shrugged off his defender before bringing the ball under control with an immaculate first touch. He then blew past another player as he drifted inside and towards goal, before executing a fierce left-footed drive from just outside the box into the top of the net.

Garcia, who bagged his first goal of the season against the same opponent in a 3-0 home win in November, put the icing on the cake with his second goal deep in stoppage time.

The T&T men’s national team winger now sits third in the Greek Super League goal-scorers chart, with 13 goals in 13 matches. Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos leads with 15 goals but featured in eight more matches than Garcia this season.

Garcia’s return to fitness and immediate goal-scoring form, after missing two weeks of action, will come as welcome news for T&T national men’s team coach Angus Eve and fans, ahead of T&T’s March 23 clash against Canada, both teams’ last chance of qualification for the 2024 Copa America in the United States.


12
Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread
« on: March 11, 2024, 01:44:12 AM »
1976 Phoenix dampen Rangers’ league title hopes.
By Andrew Gionnetti (T&T Newsday).


La Horquetta Rangers’ stumbled again in their quest for TT Premier Football League supremacy, in matchweek 15, on March 10, after they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to 1976 FC Phoenix, their second defeat to the same opponents this season.

Rangers were outwitted in the first half, as Phoenix came out with intent, scoring within ten minutes when their star forward Jariel Arthur connected with a superb header from a pin-point cross by Mickaeel “Jem” Gordon from the right flank. Arthur, scorer of Phoenix’s last goal in a 4-0 first-leg win over Rangers this season, and the winner against Defence Force last month, took his tally to four goals for the campaign.

Phoenix went on to control the balance of the first period, allowing Rangers a solitary shot off target.

The hosts, however, returned to the second half with aggression, immediately introducing attackers Kadeem Corbin and Tyrone Charles, the latter entering the pitch with four goals in his previous three outings.

Corbin scored two minutes after the restart, after which Rangers took control of the contest and were seemingly en route to complete the turn-around.

Phoenix, however, capitalised on a rare second-half attack and regained their lead against the run of play, with a half-hour to play.

Trevin Caesar collected a pass towards goal and with just goalkeeper Jabari Brice to beat, cleverly threaded the ball through his legs and into the goal.

Brice clattered Caesar in the process and received a yellow card for the infringement, while the goal stood.

Rangers continued to control the match and forced Phoenix’s shot-stopper Duvaughn Daniel to make several key saves.

In a later kick-off, Morvant Caledonia United held a 1-0 lead against rock-bottom Central FC at half-time. The match concluded after press time.

Two other matches were scheduled for Sunday, with Prison Service FC taking on Police, and Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic facing Eagles FC.

On Saturday, Defence Force responded to a series of poor performances to sneak a 1-0 win over Club Sando, with Rivaldo Coryat scoring in the 41st minute.


13
Football / Re: 2024 SSFL Thread
« on: March 11, 2024, 01:42:44 AM »
Blanchisseuse blame 'dubious calls' for loss to Signal Hill, fracas erupts in SSFL Big 5 game.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


The Secondary Schools Football League's (SSFL) Big 5 playoffs came to a dramatic end on March 8, with Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School and Signal Hill Secondary booking their spots in the 2024 premier division alongside Big 5 winners St Augustine Secondary.

The final day of the Big 5 playoffs was not without drama, though, as the game between North championship winners Blanchisseuse Secondary and Signal Hill came to an end in a distasteful manner in stoppage-time when players and fans from both teams squared off on the field in Signal Hill, Tobago.

Needing a win to clinch premier division qualification, the hosts got the crucial three points courtesy of two stoppage-time goals from defender-turned-striker Imanhi Forbes as they got a dramatic 2-1 win to spoil Blanchisseuse's promotion hopes.

With emotions and the stakes of the "history-making" contest on a high, "dubious calls" by referee Keon Yorke were in the spotlight and led to the clash between players and fans, according to Blanchisseuse manager Kevon Palmer.

Blanchisseuse, who only needed a draw to book their premier division spot, took a 1-0 lead through their talisman Roger Kirk early in the first half. However, Kirk was sent off in the second half for a second bookable offence when he delayed the taking of a Signal Hill set piece. Blanchisseuse finished the game with nine players, as Zakiyus Kirk was sent off in the dying stages of the game for abusive language.

Moments after Forbes' second goal, which saw Signal Hill leapfrogging Blanchisseuse in the standings, fans and players from both teams squared off as the visitors made their displeasure clear.

Palmer said the incident lasted for roughly five to ten minutes before being quelled, and he couldn't recall if the final whistle was blown to call off the game.

"That was not the ending either side wanted. Both schools have since condemned the behaviour (from the fans and players)," Palmer told Newsday.

The Blanchisseuse manager said the players have been left devastated and distraught.

"We have been playing for 21 years and we have been waiting for this moment," Palmer said. "A lot of brothers, cousins and aunts (of these players) have represented the school and they came out in their numbers to support.

"We understand that you win and you lose some. If we are to lose, we want to lose fairly."

Palmer said Blanchisseuse principal Hashim Johnson will advise the school on their next course of action concerning Friday's match. He said Blanchisseuse are also monitoring and awaiting the SSFL's decision on the Big 5 match between Miracle Ministries and Moruga Secondary on March 4, which saw the former school making a total of six substitutes in their 4-0 win.

SSFL president Merere Gonzales said he's hopeful the league can make a judgment on either situation in the coming week, though he says the referee's report from the Signal Hill and Blanchisseuse game had not reached him up to press time on March 9.


14
Football / Re: 2024 SSFL Thread
« on: March 06, 2024, 08:06:13 AM »
Scarborough run riot vs Five Rivers, retain girls' Big 5 crown.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


Scarborough Secondary put in a dominant performance in the girls' Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Big 5 final on March 5, as they beat East zone champions Five Rivers Secondary by a 6-0 margin at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago to retain their 2022 title.

The Big 5 final was originally scheduled for November 15, 2023, but the students from Five Rivers and Scarborough were almost made to wait four months before they could have one last dance for national supremacy due to several postponements.

Fresh from their participation in the Secondary Schools Track and Field (SSTF) national championship two weeks ago, Scarborough's star pair of J'Eleisha Alexander and Talia Martin both shone brightly in the Big 5 final as the visiting Five Rivers team looked out of their depth in Bacolet. Both Alexander and Martin made their Trinidad and Tobago women's team debuts for coach Richard Hood's squad during the women's Gold Cup qualifying campaign last year, and their quality was just too much for the opposition to handle.

Roughly 68 seconds into the contest, Player-of-the-Match Martin opened her account with a finish from a tight angle after playing a one-two with Alexander in the attacking third.

In the 16th minute, Martin made it 2-0 for Scarborough when she slammed home from close range at the end of an electric solo run which saw her dancing past at least four Five Rivers players after receiving a throw-in on the left flank.

Five Rivers did little to trouble their opposition, and the Big 5 final was a foregone conclusion by the halfway stage as Scarborough stormed out to a comfortable 5-0 lead.

Alexander, the 2022 SSFL MVP, came to life near the half-hour mark when she scored a pair of goals within the space of a minute. In the 30th minute, Alexander saw her long-range free kick deflected into the net by Five Rivers defender Ahmeeda Bowman.

Seconds later, Alexander scored with a deft left-footed volley after Martin breached the opposition defence with a searching lofted pass.

With Alexander and Martin having already filled their boots, Scarborough midfielder Kaleah Duke got in on the act to score her school's remaining goals in the one-sided finale.

In the 40th minute, Duke left the Five Rivers goalkeeper clutching at straws with a firm long-range hit that nestled into the bottom corner. And on the hour-mark, Duke displayed her finesse to the Bacolet crowd when she curled a right-footed shot into the top corner after receiving an unselfish pass from a charging Martin.

They were made to wait much longer than expected, but Scarborough Secondary are the girls' Big 5 champions for a second straight campaign.


15
Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Jamaica Games (1 & 3 of March-2024)
« on: March 04, 2024, 02:16:22 AM »
Soca Warriors draw blank again in Jamaica friendly.
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday).


THE Soca Warriors failed to score yet again in the second friendly against the Reggae Boyz on Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima.

After losing the first friendly 1-0 on Friday, T&T and Jamaica played to a goalless draw, as national men’s coach Angus Eve prepares for the March 23 Copa America qualifying match against Canada.

Eve made wholesale changes to the starting line-up, following the defeat to Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, introducing goalkeeper Denzil Smith, Ross Russell Jr, Kevon Goddard, Michel Poon-Angeron, Nathaniel James, Duane Muckette and John-Paul Rochford to the starting line up, after they played no role in Friday’s fixture.

Alvin Jones, Jamal Jack and Kaile Auvray, all of whom made cameo appearances in the previous match, also started on Sunday.

Liam Burns, Michael Chaves, Kai Moos, Kai Garvey, all of whom made their debut on Friday, were left out, along with Adrian Foncette, Nathaniel Garcia, Josiah Trimmingham and Justin Sadoo.

Robert Primus, 33, perhaps signalled a long-term return to the T&T set-up, having been the only player to start in both matches.

Though generally sturdy in defence, T&T struggled to find a breakthrough throughout the entire first period, and enjoyed the better of the limited chances on either side of the park in the second period.

James put the ball in the back of the net with a low left-footed strike moments before half time, after being played through on goal, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag for an offside.

Jamaica then had a chance to take a lead shortly after the half-time break, when Shaniel Thomas nearly capitalised on a poor headed clearance from Ross Russell Jr, but his strike was saved confidently by Smith.

T&T’s nifty winger Auvray created a chance in the 58th minute, successfully taking on Jamaica’s fullback before passing the ball across the face of the goal, eluding everyone, including James.

Coventry City’s Justin Obikwu, who started on Friday, came off the bench and caused Jamaica some problems. Obikwu shrugged off two Jamaican defenders in the 79th minute and nearly beat the Jamaica stopper, who was forced off his line to punch the ball clear.

Both matches, though far from exciting, allowed Eve a glimpse of about 60 players shortlisted for selection for the one-off fixture versus Canada. The winner of the fixture in Fresco, Texas, will take one of two remaining spots available for the Copa America championships, being hosted in the US from June 20-July 14.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-3-3): 22.Denzil Smith (GK) (1.Christopher Biggette [GK] 62); 16.Alvin Jones (captain), 5.Jamal Jack, 12.Robert Primus, 3.Ross Russell Jr; 10.Duane Muckette, 6.Kevon Goddard (15.Rhondel Gibson 46), 8.Michel Poon-Angeron (23.Justin Sadoo 85); 14.John-Paul Rochford (11.Justin Obikwu 72), 9.Nathaniel James (17.Kaihim Thomas 77), 20.Kaïlé Auvray (18.Shervohnez Hamilton 88).

Unused substitutes: 21.Adrian Foncette (GK), 2.Liam Burns, 7.Mickaeel Jem Gordon, 13.Kai Garvey, 19.Kai Moos, 24.Michael Chaves.

Coach: Angus Eve

Jamaica (4-2-3-1): 23.Shaquan Davis (GK) (captain); 3.Kyle Ming, 5.Richard King, 2.Joel Cunningham, 22.Emelio Rousseau; 4.Romario Guthrie, 6.Jashaun Anglin; 7.Andre Fletcher, 11.Shaniel Thomas, 8.Alex Marshall; 20.Jason Wright.

Substitutes: 1.Jayden Hibbert (GK), 9.Fabian Reid, 10.Justin Dunn, 12.Devonte Campbell, 13.Kemar Foster, 14.Sue-Lae McCalla, 15.Ricardo Thomas, 16.Jamone Shepherd, 17.Garth Stewart, 18.Shamour Smith, 19.Stephen Young, 21.Kaheim Dixon.

Coach: Heimir Hallgrimsson.

WATCH Match Highlights


16
Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Jamaica Games (1 & 3 of March-2024)
« on: March 03, 2024, 04:37:30 PM »
Line-up

22.Denzil Smith, 2.Alvin Jones, 3.Ross Russell Jr, 5.Jamal Jack, 6.Kevon Goodard, 8.Michel Poon-Angeron, 10.Duane Muckette, 12.Robert Primus, 14.John Paul-Rochford, 20.Kalie Auvray, 9.Nathaniel James.

Subs

1.Christopher Biggette, 21.Adrian Foncette, 23.Justin Sadoo, 18.Shervohnez Hamilton, 19.Kai Moos, 15.Rhondel Gibson, 17.Kaihim Thomas, 24.Michael Chaves, 13.Kai Garvey, 11.Justin Obikwu.


17
Colin Wharfe vs Kieron Edwards: TTFA presidency a two-horse race.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


THE next president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association will be either TT Premier Football League CEO Colin Wharfe or Eastern Football Association president Kieron Edwards.

This was confirmed on Thursday as both administrators were the only presidential candidates to present slates to the normalisation committee, before Wednesday’s midnight deadline.

Wharfe confirmed his candidacy on deadline day and made public his fellow candidatures on Thursday. The TTFA elections will be held on April 13.

Joining him in the race for the vacant executive positions are T&T Defence Force Colonel Keston Charles (first vice-president), Renee John-Williams (second vice-president), Huey Cadette (third vice-president), Colm De Freitas, Richard Mason, Lee Davis, Riaz Ali and Makan Hislop (all ordinary members).

John-Williams is the daughter of late former TTFA president David John-Williams and a W Connection director, who took a one-year sabbatical from the ongoing 2023/24 season. Cadette is a TT Super League (TTSL) and Tobago Football Association board member and manager of TTPFL tier one club 1976 FC Phoenix.

Additionally, Davis is TTSL president and tier one Prison Service manager while Mason is on the TTPFL executive committee. Hislop is a former T&T footballer and De Freitas heads City FC (formerly QPCC Football Academy).

Wharfe’s announcement said that leading up to his candidacy, he held “intense discussions, with the objective of bringing together a quality team to run the affairs of T&T football.”

It read, “This team has been diligently put together to cover the key areas necessary to achieve what we all desire, that is, progress for football.”

On Tuesday, Edwards confirmed a nine-member slate, entitled Team Progressive, to contest the elections.

Edwards will be gunning for the presidential post alongside Colin Murray (first vice-president), TT Football Referees Association (TTFRA) president Osmond Downer (second vice-president) and former TTSL president Jameson Rigues (third vice-president).

Alicia Austin, Andrew Boodhoo, Allan Logan, Ryan Nunes and Shelton Williams will complete Edwards’ slate as ordinary members.

Before the deadline, Southern Football Association (SFA) president Denis Latiff and Veterans Football Foundation of TT (VFFoTT) president Selby Browne pulled out of the presidential race.

The normalisation committee, in its capacity as the electoral committee, will appoint independent people to oversee the election process.

In accordance with the new TTFA statutes, the 12 TTPFL tier one clubs that contested in its inaugural season, along with last season’s top six TTPFL tier two clubs – excluding Police FC – will all be afforded two votes in the elections.

Each of the six regional associations and the TT Women’s League Football also have two votes.

The remaining associations such as beach soccer, coaches, futsal, referees, Primary Schools Football League, Secondary Schools Football League and the VFFoTT all have one vote each.

In March 2020, the Bureau of the FIFA Council removed the then William Wallace-led TTFA executive and appointed a normalisation committee after they found extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with massive debt and a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity.


18
Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Jamaica Games (1 & 3 of March-2024)
« on: March 03, 2024, 01:03:39 PM »
Soca Warrior ‘Natty’: Jamaica friendly a good test for Trinidad and Tobago.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


Attacking midfielder Nathaniel James hailed Trinidad and Tobago’s two practice matches against Jamaica as good preparation ahead of their March 23 single-game playoff against Canada, in which the winner qualifies for the 2024 Copa America.

The Soca Warriors host a locally based Reggae Boyz outfit at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday, from 3pm, and at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Sunday, from 4pm.

Both matches serve as preparation ahead of the anticipated Canada clash.

James, 19, plies his trade in the Jamaican top-flight with Mount Pleasant FC, and said the visitors have a worthy crop of players, who will prove a good test for T&T.

“They (Jamaica) are a good opponent. They are a quality team even though it’s local players. I play in their league and I think a lot of them have good quality so it’s good preparation for us to play against them. I feel good about it,” he said, after a training session at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Thursday.

T&T’s Jamaica-based trio of James, midfielder Kaile Auvray and defender Josiah Trimmingham returned home for the two practice matches.

Soca Warriors head coach Angus Eve announced the 26-man squad on Wednesday, which also included some new faces to the setup.

Among them are two new foreign-based recruits – Canadian League One midfielder Kai Garvey (Simcoe County Rovers FC) and English League Two forward Justin Obikwu (Coventry City).

Uncapped players such as Under-20 forward Michael Chaves (QPCC), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Rhondel Gibson (Eagles FC), Liam Burns (AC Port of Spain) and Kai Moos (Club Sando) were also selected.

The remaining players all hail from the TTPFL tier one and includes regulars such as Duane Muckette, John-Paul Rochford, Nathaniel Garcia, Michel Poon Angeron, Denzil Smith and Christopher Biggette among others.


19
Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Jamaica Games (1 & 3 of March-2024)
« on: March 03, 2024, 12:59:19 PM »
Eve selects new Soca Warrior recruits for Jamaica friendlies.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


SOCA Warriors head coach Angus Eve has announced a 26-man roster for this weekend’s two practice matches against Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on March 1 (3pm) and Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on March 3 (4pm).

Among them are two new foreign-based recruits – Canadian League One midfielder Kai Garvey (Simcoe County Rovers FC) and English League Two forward Justin Obikwu (Coventry City).

Joining them are Jamaica-based forward Nathaniel James and midfielder Kaile Auvray (both of Mount Pleasant) and defender Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay Utd).

Also breaking into the senior team was in-form Under-20 forward Michael Chaves (QPCC), who concluded his U20 Concacaf Championship campaign on Tuesday.

Uncapped players such as Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Rhondel Gibson (Eagles FC), Liam Burns (AC Port of Spain) and Kai Moos (Club Sando) were also selected.

The remaining players all hail from the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) tier one and includes regulars such as Duane Muckette, John-Paul Rochford, Nathaniel Garcia, Michel Poon Angeron, Denzil Smith and Christopher Bigette among others.

On the composition of his squad, Eve was pleased to welcome some new faces to the setup, having recently lost out on winger Reon Moore (Pacific FC/Canada) and forward Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm/USA), who both attained contracts abroad.

He also rued recent injuries to several TTPFL players such as AC Port of Spain’s Isaiah Leacock and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers’ Isaiah Lee and Daniel David.

Eve also confirmed he planned to include U20 stars Lindel Sween and Rio Cardines in the roster but the former picked up an injury during the Concacaf Championships while Cardines had returned to English club Crystal Palace, on Wednesday.

On the composition of the squad, Eve said, “We had a mini camp over the Carnival period where we saw some new players and we wanted to see them in a real match environment, and now this is an opportunity for them to get proper match practice so we could see them play.

“We have some new players. Unfortunately, some of them got injured in the last couple games in the TTPFL matches so they’re not here right now”.

The new recruits, he said, will use this weekend’s matches as a good opportunity to stake a claim going into the Copa America playoff.

T&T play Canada in a one-match playoff on March 23 at the Toyota Stadium in Texas, USA, where the winner advances to the Copa America Group A, alongside FIFA World Cup champions Argentina, two-time champions Peru and Chile.

Eve was pleased that his talent pool continues to grow as they gear up for the crucial Canada clash. He also thanked former national coaches Dennis Lawrence and Stephen Hart for being the catalyst in him bringing on Obikwu and Garvey respectively.

“When these types of coaches recommend people you must take a look at them. We’ve seen tapes of them and this is our opportunity to see them live,” he added.

Additionally, the availability of the Jamaican-based trio came after their league postponed matches for a period.

For Friday’s match, no fans will be allowed to view the match due to a setup being done at the venue for Carifta trials this weekend. However, spectators can view Sunday’s match at Larry Gomes Stadium at a cost of $50.

T&T Squad

Goalkeepers – Denzil Smith (Club Sando), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Christopher Biggette (Defence Force)

Defenders – Alvin Jones (Police FC), Jamal Jack (Club Sando), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Robert Primus (Police FC), Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay FC), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Ross Russell Jr (La Horquetta Rangers)

Midfielders – Duane Muckette (AC PoS), John-Paul Rochford (ACPoS), Justin Sadoo (Defence Force), Kaile Auvrau (Mount Pleasant), Kai Moos (Club Sando), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Liam Burns (AC PoS), Nathaniel Garcia (Defence Force), Michel Poon Angeron (AC PoS), Kai Garvey (Simcoe County Rovers), Rhondel Gibson (Club Sando), Kaihim Thomas (Defence Force)

Forwards – Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant), Jem Gordon (1976 Phoenix FC), Justin Obikwu (Coventry City), Michael Chaves (QPCC)

RELATED NEWS

Eve to try different Warriors line-up for 2nd Reggae Boyz friendly.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s football team have another go at the Reggae Boyz, for the second time in three days, in a friendly contest at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Sunday, from 4pm.

The Angus Eve-coached T&T squad hope to fare better this time around having lost the opening match 1-0 at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday.

Both matches are being used as preparation for T&T’s single-game playoff against Canada, on March 23 at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The winner advances to this year’s Copa America tournament and will be grouped alongside FIFA World Cup winner Argentina and two-time Copa champions Chile and Peru.

So far, no other official practice match is scheduled for T&T ahead of the playoff.

In Friday’s friendly, which comprised mostly locally-based players from T&T, five foreign-based youngsters and five senior team debutants, a 58th minute goal from Jamaican teenager Kahiem Dixon separated the two at the final whistle.

Despite expressing satisfaction with the team’s first performance, in the post-match press conference on Friday, Eve said a different line-up will be used for the second match.

Eve’s men comprised mainly of TT Premier Football league tier one players, three Jamaica-based players – Nathaniel James, Kaile Auvray and Josiah Trimmingham – and two new foreign-based recruits, Canadian League One midfielder Kai Garvey (Simcoe County Rovers FC) and English League Two forward Justin Obikwu (Coventry City).

Also getting a run for the first time was Under-20 forward Michael Chaves (QPCC), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Rhondel Gibson (Eagles FC), Liam Burns (AC Port of Spain) and Kai Moos (Club Sando).

Garvey, on debut for T&T, said, “It felt like a dream come through, walking out the stadium into the grass, I couldn’t stop smiling thinking about my family watching me. It’s a lot of hours to get an opportunity like this so I just thank God.”

“I feel as though we really did well in the first half. It’s a fight in this climate and weather. We had plenty of chances, unfortunately we didn’t put them away and in the second half we paid the price. But we move on to the next game. I love the fight of the players. It’s a very big community here.”

Unlike the first match, which was a closed-door affair, Sunday's outing is open to the public with a $50 admission fee.

T&T’s 26-man squad

Goalkeepers – Denzil Smith (Club Sando), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Christopher Biggette (Defence Force)

Defenders – Alvin Jones (Police FC), Jamal Jack (Club Sando), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Robert Primus (Police FC), Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay FC), Shervohnez Hamilton (Club Sando), Ross Russell Jr (La Horquetta Rangers)

Midfielders – Duane Muckette (AC PoS), John-Paul Rochford (ACPoS), Justin Sadoo (Defence Force), Kaile Auvrau (Mount Pleasant), Kai Moos (Club Sando), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Liam Burns (AC PoS), Nathaniel Garcia (Defence Force), Michel Poon Angeron (AC PoS), Kai Garvey (Simcoe County Rovers), Rhondel Gibson (Club Sando), Kaihim Thomas (Defence Force)

Forwards – Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant), Jem Gordon (1976 Phoenix FC), Justin Obikwu (Coventry City), Michael Chaves (QPCC)


20
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 28, 2024, 03:59:04 PM »
TTFA apologises to fans left outside Hasely Crawford Stadium.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).


THE TT Football Association (TTFA) apologised to fans after scores of them were left outside the Hasely Crawford Stadium on February 27.

A media release from the TTFA after the match ended said, "Trinidad and Tobago Football Association would like to offer our apologies to all fans who were not able to access the Concacaf Men's Under-20 qualifier between T&T and Canada on Tuesday 27 February 2024 due to safety and control challenges at the entrance gate."

A lack of fire officers led to the issue.

The TTFA has launched an in-depth review and said it would ensure the necessary steps are taken to "facilitate a smooth and friendly fan experience at our upcoming (senior) friendly versus Jamaica and World Cup qualifiers beginning in June at home to Grenada."

The TTFA thanked the fans for showing up.

"There were patrons with tickets who were allowed entry on Tuesday evening and we thank you for your overwhelming support as the crowd...is the largest recorded at a home Under-20 qualifier, surpassing even the matches in 2009 when T&T qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

"We would like to thank the fans once again for their tremendous support over the recent matches."

If any ticket holders did not get the opportunity to show their tickets to enter the match on Tuesday night, the TTFA said the physical and/or unscanned digital tickets will be valid for the men's senior football friendly versus Jamaica on Sunday at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar from 4 pm.

This reporter arrived at the stadium at half-time to see fans being told nobody else would be permitted into the Mucurapo venue.

People kept relatively calm, but some openly stated their disappointment.

Aggravated fans could only cool down by buying drinks and popcorn from vendors trying to capitalise on a sale.

While fans remained outside, seats in the stadium remained empty. Newsday was reliably informed that the covered stands were almost full, but only a few hundred people were in the uncovered section, where there was space for all those outside to get a seat.

Over 7,000 attended the match at the stadium, which has a capacity of over 20,000.

Canada won the match 3-0 and T&T's dream of qualifying for the 2024 Concacaf Championships ended on Tuesday.

RELATED NEWS

Fans turned away from stadium at T&T U-20 vs Canada match.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).

SCORES of football fans were frustrated on Tuesday night as they were turned away by officials at the entrance of the Hasely Crawford Stadium for the Concacaf Under-20 Championship qualifying match between Trinidad and Tobago and Canada.

This reporter arrived at the venue at half-time to see fans being told that nobody else would be permitted in the Mucurapo venue.

Patrons were told that because of a limited number of fire officers, they could not allow more fans to enter.

People kept relatively calm, but some openly stated their disappointment.

Aggravated fans could only cool down by buying drinks and popcorn from vendors trying to capitalise on a sale.

While fans remained outside the seats in the stadium remained empty. Newsday was reliably informed that the covered stands were almost full, but only a few hundred people were in the uncovered section with space for all those outside to get a seat.

Canada won the match 3-0 as T&T's dream of qualifying for the 2024 Concacaf Championships ended on Tuesday.


21
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 28, 2024, 03:56:34 PM »
Trinidad and Tobago U-20 coach Haynes: Canada made us uncomfortable.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


Trinidad and Tobago's qualification run towards this year's Concacaf under-20 men's championship and the subsequent 2025 Fifa under-20 World Cup came to a halt on Tuesday night, when they were defeated by a 3-0 margin by Canada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Needing a win to surge past Canada in group D and advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship in Mexico, coach Brian Haynes's young Soca Warriors squad were outplayed by their opponents before a healthy crowd of over 7,000 – a record attendance for an under-20 football qualifier on home soil, according to the TT Football Association (TTFA).

Haynes was delighted by the support his team received, but disappointed the campaign came to an end after three games within a five-day span. Haynes said Canada's style of play took T&T out of their comfort zone and he felt his charges were not sufficiently prepared for the pivotal top-of-the-table clash.

"We as a group needed to work a little bit differently and a little bit harder, but it didn't work out," Haynes said at Tuesday's post-match briefing. "I don't blame the players in any way. I needed to prepare the team better and I didn't have enough time to do that (after the second match)."

After T&T's resounding 5-0 win over Dominica in their second group match on Sunday night, Haynes said he and his staff needed to devise a plan to outwork, outplay and outscore a "formidable" Canadian team.

Tuesday's game saw a return to the starting XI for Russel Francois, Derrel Garcia, Levi Jones and influential playmaker Lindell Sween, who hobbled out of T&T's 3-2 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday night, just before the halftime whistle, with a calf issue. Haynes said Sween was not 100 per cent fit, but he felt the San Juan North Secondary student's inclusion would give T&T the best chance to "go and try and make a run for it."

There was also tinkering with T&T's set-up, with Crystal Palace youth player Rio Cardines shifted from his attacking midfield position to a more reserved right-back spot.

Haynes said Cardines' shift in role was designed to help T&T strengthen the defensive side of their game, and he said the young Soca Warriors "were prepared to defend first and then go and take our chances."

After just ten minutes, the visitors put a dent in T&T's plot when Myles Morgan swept home a right-side cross with ease to silence the red-clad crowd in the stands.

Canada didn't add any further goals in the first half. With T&T sitting deep in their own half, though, Canada dictated the tempo and looked at ease with Christian Greco-Taylor seamlessly pulling strings with dangerous passes and crosses from his left back position.

"We had to change our system of play. We normally play a 4-2-3-1. But because they play with five players high, we had to change to a 4-1-4-1, a formation we have not played on a regular basis," Haynes said. "When you don't play something on a regular basis, it's hard to adjust right away."

Similar to the first half, Canada breached T&T's defence early in the second half when Santiago Lopez slammed in a shot past Ailan Panton at the end of a flowing move in the 54th minute.

Haynes tried to switch up the game with a few substitutions, but T&T rarely had meaningful forays into the opposition half or penalty area.

The Canadian team, which came together just days before the tournament, were in cruise control on foreign soil and put the game well beyond T&T's reach in the 79th minute, when Kevaughn Tavernier rolled into an empty net to make it 3-0 after a mix-up at the back between Francois and Panton.

"When you are uncomfortable, you try to do things that you can't really do. We gave away the ball a lot in open play and we missed our mark at times," Haynes said. "It was difficult, because it was not a system we were (accustomed to) training and playing, and we had one day to prepare for it. Because (Canada) were playing it on a consistent basis, it made things easier for them."

The TTFA appointed Haynes on November 1, 2023 on an initial six-month basis. He said TTFA technical director Anton Corneal will advise on his possible continuation in the programme, but is willing to build on the foundation established with the current group.

On his overall assessment of the team picked for the qualifiers, Haynes said he was pleased with the 21-man group, despite not having a more hands-on role during the screening phase.

"There were players who were selected through different screening processes. I didn't do that, but I trusted Anton Corneal and his staff to do that before I got here." he said.

"That is not a cop-out. I think there were very good players selected. Going forward, that's the process we will use, and I'm okay with that. I was not upset with anybody who was not picked."

Haynes' staff includes assistant coaches Gilbert Bateau, Marvin Gordon and Shawn Cooper, who was head coach of T&T's under-17 team at last year's Concacaf under-17 championship.

He said TTFA technical director Anton Corneal will advise on his possible continuity in the programme, but he is willing to build on the foundation which has been established with the current group.

On his overall assessment of the team picked for the qualifiers, Haynes said he was pleased with the 21-man group despite not having a more hands-on role during the team's screening phase.

"There were players who were selected through different screening processes. I didn't do that, but I trusted Anton Corneal and his staff to do that before I got here." he said.

"That is not a cop out. I think there were very good players selected. Going forward, that's the process we will use and I'm okay with that. I was not upset with anybody who was not picked."

Haynes' staff includes assistant coaches Gilbert Bateau, Marvin Gordon and Shawn Cooper, who served as head coach of T&T's under-17 team at last year's Concacaf under-17 championship.


22
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 28, 2024, 01:28:28 AM »
Masterful Canada beats T&T U-20s 3-0 to advance.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


An outstanding performance by the Canadian Under-20 team earned them a 3-0 victory over the T&T counterparts in the Concacaf U-20 World Cup Qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday night.

With the win, Canada advanced as the Group D winner into the other phase of the qualifiers.

A 10th-minute goal from midfielder Myles Morgan handed Canada the advantage, much to the dislike of the fans who flocked to the facility. The T&T team needed to win to progress.

Despite changes coach Brian Haynes made to his starting team, bringing in midfielders Lindell Sween, Derrel Garcia and Levi Jones, their attack seemed muted due to the Canadians' decision to play a close-marking game. The visitors, in fact, took early possession of the game with Morgan, Oumar Diallo, captain Jesse Costa and Santiago Lopez leading an attack that pegged the home team back.

The Canadians might have had another in the 19th as poor T&T marking allowed Diallo to take the ball from centre to the edge of the box before he was brought down by Duhrell Young for a free kick. However, Lopez's fierce low shot crashed against the T&T upright before bouncing out to safety.

The usually attacking Rio Cardines and Michael Chaves were forced to make way for a dominant Canada midfield but still, Sween with a rare chance at goal in the 31st minute hit an overhead shot from a bouncing ball in the box, but it failed to trouble Gregoire Swiderski in the Canadian goal.

Instead, the Canadians could have scored in the 36th. Morgan down the right flank from a previous build-up, quickly centred for Diallo's first-time shot to be saved by goalkeeper Ailan Panton. And when Costa quickly pounced in the rebound, Panton was again in spot to keep it out.

Canada led 1-0 at the half and when the teams returned, T&T's Garcia gave the fans some hope when he raced on to a Sween through ball, however, his shot was deflected wide in 47th.

The Canadians got their second item in the 55th. Another build-up on the right side put Lopez inside the T&T box, and despite being at an acute angle, Lopez's rasping shot beat Panton into the top left corner.

Haynes then sought to strengthen his attack by bringing in Josiah Ochoa in the midfield, but it did not prevent the masterful Canadians from moving three goals ahead.

From another defensive blunder, Canada's Kevaughn Taverrier got a simple opportunity of tapping the ball into an empty net for a 3-0 margin.

The Canadians might have scored more goals in the moment that followed but lady luck was not on their side.

In the earlier game on Tuesday, which bore no significance, St Vincent and the Grenadine (SVG) edged Dominica 3-2.

Frankroy Cain, Kirtney Franklyn and Steven Pierre were the scorers for the SVG team, while the Dominicans got their goals from Ajani Richards and Keeyan Thomas.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Ailan Panton (GK); 7.Rio Cardines, 3.Russel Francois, 4.Cody Cooper (captain), 2.Duhrell Young (5.Lyshaun Morris 59); 8.Abayomi George, 6.Levi Jones (15.Josiah Ochoa 55); 13.Michael Chaves (19.Malachi Webb 78), 10.Lindell Sween (14.Tyrell Moore 78), 11.Derrel Garcia; 9.Larry Noel.

Unused substitutes: 18.Bryan Gafiuk (GK), 21.Makaya Taylor (GK), 12.Jeremiah Cateau, 16.Akil Henry, 17.Jaden Williams, 20.J’lon Matthews.

Coach: Brian Haynes

Canada (3-1-3-1): 1.Gregoire Swiderski (GK); 15.Adam Pearlman, 6.Lazar Stefanovic, 3.Christian Greco-Taylor (14.Ethan Schilte-Brown 83); 4.Alessandro Biello; 10.Jesse Costa (captain), 8.Jeevan Badwal, 20.Santiago Lopez (17.Kevaughn Tavernier 68); 2.Theo Rigopoulos (12.James Cameron 83), 21.Myles Morgan (19.Tavio Ciccarelli 61), 9.Oumar Diallo (11.Kimani Stewart-Baynes 46).

Unused substitutes: 16.Ivan Pavela (GK), 18.Nathaniel Abraham (GK), 5.Sergei Kozlovskiy, 7.Tiago Codinha, 13.Mattei Schiavoni.

Coach: Andrew Olivieri

Referee: Shavin Greene (Guyana).

RELATED NEWS

Canadians down Trinidad 3-0 to qualify for CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
By The Canadian Press.


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad And Tobago - Canada booked its ticket to the CONCACAF U-20 Championship with a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, completing a perfect 3-0-0 run in Group D qualifying play.

The young Canadians outscored their opposition 15-0 across their three games at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Myles Morgan, Santiago Lopez and Kevaughn Tavernier scored for Canada, which was up 1-0 at the break and had chances to add to that lead throughout a chippy game that saw some full-blooded challenges from the host side.

"Job done, that's the first thought in my mind," said Canada coach Andrew Olivieri.

"Maybe we made it look a little bit easy (at the tournament) at moments but it wasn't easy," he added. "The boys really put in an effort. I'm really excited about some of the young boys coming through."

Morgan opened the scoring in the 10th minute, capping a long passing sequence that ended with Jeevan Badwal finding the former Toronto FC academy player behind the defence in front of the goal. The ball was so good Morgan knocked it in without breaking stride.

Morgan, currently on trial with a team that Olivieri declined to identify, scored a hat trick in Canada's opening 8-0 win over Dominica on Friday.

Lopez made it 2-0 in the 54th minute, roofing a powerful shot past Trinidad goalkeeper Ailan Panton, whose mother Wendy Fitzwilliam was Miss Universe in 1998.

Tavernier, a Forge FC forward who turned 18 on Saturday, added to the lead in the 79th minute, knocking home a Kimani Stewart-Baynes cross with Panton out of position.

CONCACAF U-20 qualifying runs through Saturday across five venues in Central America and the Caribbean. Twenty-seven teams have been split into three groups of five and three groups of four with only the six group winners advancing to the main CONCACAF championship July 19 to Aug. 4 in Irapuato and Celaya, Mexico.

Olivieri said the plan is to get the team together in advance of the CONCACAF competition. But that comes with a cost for cash-strapped Canada Soccer.

"It comes at the cost of preparing other age-groups but this is the one we've targeted," he said.

The U.S., Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic have received byes into the CONCACAF main tournament.

The four semifinalists qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Canada has not taken part in the FIFA U-20 soccer showcase since it hosted the event in 2007.

Canada went into Tuesday's game with a healthy edge in goal difference, meaning it would qualify with a win or a tie.

Guyana referee Shavin Greene showed four yellow cards to Trinidad players for some ugly challenges.

Lopez had a couple of good scoring chances for Canada in the first half, hitting the goalpost with a free kick and then chipping just wide after a Trinidad turnover. Lopez is with Pumas UNAM in Mexico.

Morgan exited in the 61st minute replaced by Tavio Ciccarelli, who had a hat trick of his own in Canada's 4-0 win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday. Ciccarelli is with Sheffield United's under-18 team in England.

Lopez came off in the 68th minute after receiving treatment on the field.

The Canadians outshot their opposition 63-4 (26-3 in shots on target) in their three outings. The host Soca Warriors edged St. Vincent 3-2 and blanked Dominica 5-0.

Canada won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in 1986 and 1996 and reached the round of 16 in 2022.




23
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 26, 2024, 12:27:53 AM »
Noel's double leads T&T U-20s past Dominica 5-0.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).


Two goals from striker Larry Noel in the 19th and 36th and a masterful performance from England-based Rio Cardines and Michael Chaves assured T&T's Under-20 team a comfortable 5-0 victory over Dominica Sunday night in Group D of the Concacaf U-20 World Cup Qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.

Chaves, the scorer of the winning goal in their opening match against St Vincent and the Grenadines found himself at the end of an early T&T build-up inside the Dominica goal area, and though pressured by defenders, the Fatima College midfielder made room for himself before hitting past goalkeeper Ronny Lockart for the opener in the third minute.

The young "Soca Warriors", needing to win the encounter for a chance to face Canada in their final match on Tuesday, for a chance to progress as the group winner produced a much-improved performance from their opening game, as coach Brian Haynes made four changes to his team, replacing Lindell Sween, Derrel Garcia, Levi Jones and Russell Francois with Chaves, J'lon Matthews, Josiah Ochoa and Akil Henry.

T&T might have had another goal in the sixth minute when Rio Cardines picked out Noel with a right-side centre, however, the latter could not direct his attempt on goal.

Noel, Chaves and Cardines led a deadly attack for the young Warriors from the start and when they combined again in the 19th minute, T&T got their second item of the match. Cardines, on the right side, tested Lockhart with a powerful low shot that the custodian could only push into the path of Noel to hit into the roof of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Then, Chaves galloped through from a Noel pass for a chance at his second item on the night, but he failed to beat the advancing Lockhart in the 27th minute.

By then, the T&T team had gained control of the match and raced to a 3-0 advantage in the 35th minute when Noel broke the Dominica off-side trap from a long Cardines ball, and he received favour when an advancing Lockhart mistimed the bounce of the ball and it flew over his head, only for Noel to hit the ball into an empty net in the 35th minute.

A minute later, however, Cardines got their fourth of the half when his powerful grounder was kept out by a diving Lockhart. But when it rebounded to him, Cardines made sure by hitting it into the far corner for a 4-0 lead at the halfway stage.

Dominica, beaten 8-0 by the Canadians in their first game, looked a much-improved outfit when the game resumed. In fact, a neat build-up between Tyreese Carbon and Adriel Lawrence almost led to the breakthrough they were hoping for. Lawrence though, after receiving a left-side centre in the 53rd minute, saw his low left-footed shot whisked past Ailan Panton's goal.

Instead, T&T got a golden opportunity to go five goals up as Cardines sent Noel on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Noel was sent flying by the custodian, forcing Honduran referee Jefferson Escobar to point to the penalty spot in the 58th minute.

Noel though saw his kick saved by an outstretched Lockhart.

The Dominicans later came close to their first goal again from a freekick, but Panton pushed wide a curling effort by Ajani Richards in the 76th.

The remainder of the match was entirely dominated by the junior Warriors who got their fifth goal from Garcia in the 81st minute for a comfortable 5-0 victory.

In the earlier match at the same venue, Canada got a hat-trick from Tavio Cuccarelli in the 25th, 54th and 89th minutes and another from Alessandro Biello in the 51st to beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0.

RELATED NEWS

T&T/Canada showdown.
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express).


Trinidad and Tobago set up a winner-take-all showdown with Canada when comfortably winning 5-0 over Dominica for their second victory of the CONCACAF U-20 Men Group D qualifying series, last night, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

But if coach Brian Haynes was looking for an all-round improvement, he would again have been disappointed. The Soca Warriors had a better start that in their previous nail-biting 3-2 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines, where they were down two goals early.

But halftime last night, Trinidad and Tobago had four goals, striker Larry Noel scoring two of them with Michael Chaves and Rio Cardines also netting. Captain Cody Cooper had a downward header cleared off the line. Even within this period of dominance, Trinidad and Tobago only looked comfortable going forward, and prone to error in both midfield and defence. Therefore, Dominica were always in the match and also got their fair share of chances, but had neither the composure nor talent to take any of them.

Earlier yesterday evening, Tavio Ciccarelli (23’, 54’, 89’) scored a hattrick as Group leaders Canada won 4-0 over a stubborn St Vincent and the Grenadines, also for their second win of the tournament after hammering Dominica 8-0 in their opener. Alessandro Biello (51’) also scored.

T&T and Canada are now tied on six points, but the North Americans have a superior goal-difference and would advance if they draw with T&T on Tuesday. The home team need to win.

With just one team advancing out of the group to the Concacaf U20 Championship later this year, and goal-difference a potential issue going into Tuesday’s decisive final match against Canada, T&T head-coach Haynes might have expected T&T to carry on forcefully in the second half. Instead, they were largely flat, allowing Dominica their best period.

Noel even missed a chance to complete his hat-trick by missing a penalty, after he was taken down by goalkeeper Ronny Lockhart, who was red carded. Noel failed to beat substitute goalkeeper Anton Wyke, and even a man up, the junior Soca Warriors failed to take the initiative. Substitute Derrel Garcia scored the only goal of the second half with an explosive shot to make it 5-0 in the 83rd minute.

Earlier, T&T looked on course for a routine win when Michael Chavez netted a right-footer from within the penalty area, giving the home team an explosive start in just the third minute.

Noel put in the rebound, after goalkeeper Lockhart parried Cardines’ initial shot, for 2-0 in the 19th minute. Noel was then given a gift, scoring in an open goal in the 35th minute, after the Dominica goalie raced outside his penalty area and misjudged a bouncing ball. Two minutes later, Cardines converted a fourth, putting in a rebound.

(Teams)

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Ailan Panton (GK); 5.Lyshaun Morris (17.Jaden Williams 59), 4.Cody Cooper (captain) (3.Russel Francois 64), 16.Akil Henry, 2.Duhrell Young; 8.Abayomi George (12.Jeremiah Cateau 57), 15.Josiah Ochoa; 7.Rio Cardines (11.Derrel Garcia 65), 13.Michael Chaves, 20.J’lon Matthews (19.Malachi Webb 46); 9.Larry Noel.

Unused substitutes: 18.Bryan Gafiuk (GK), 21.Makaya Taylor (GK), 6.Levi Jones, 10.Lindell Sween, 14.Tyrell Moore.

Coach: Brian Haynes

Dominica (4-3-3): 12.Ronny Lockhart (GK) [Red card 59]; 3.Malachi Labad, 5.Jaylan Jno Ville (2.Luke Itodo 75), 13.Lyan Edwards, 4.Laquante Alphonse; 7.Roosevelt Coipel (18.Pherel Esprit 66), 19.Yhan Timothy, 8.Dhamario Challenger; 10.Keeyan Thomas (captain) (16.Ajani Richards 75), 9.Tyreese Carbon (1.Anton Wyke [GK] 60), 14.Adriel Lawrence.

Unused substitutes: 21.Dwight Eloi (GK), 6.Jonathan Winston, 15.Dequan Abraham, 17.Jamo Talbert, 20.Shermal Clifton-John.

Suspended: 11.Fabio Drigo.

Coach: Malcolm Bertrand

Referee: Jefferson Escobar (Honduras)

Results

Group A: Nicaragua 8 British Virgin Islands 0; Cuba 2 British Virgin Islands 1

Group B: Guyana 2 El Salvador 2; Suriname 3 Antigua and Barbuda 2

Group C: Guatemala 3 Barbados 1; Aruba 1 Curacao 1

Group D: Canada 4 St Vincent & the Grenadines 0; Trinidad & Tobago 4 Dominica 0

Group E: Cayman Islands 1 Puerto Rico 1; Haiti 4 St Kitts & Nevis 0

Group F: Bermuda 2 Grenada 1; Jamaica 1 Martinique 0


24
Football / Re: Copa America Thread
« on: February 26, 2024, 12:23:15 AM »
Trinidad and Tobago face Jamaica ahead of Copa play-in.
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday).


Trinidad and Tobago's men’s football team will take on the Reggae Boyz next week in two preparation matches ahead of T&T’s Copa America qualifying encounter against Canada on March 23.

The TT Football Association announced the friendlies in a promotional post on its social media pages on Saturday.

The two matches will be played in Trinidad. No further details were disclosed.

T&T played Jamaica three times last year, twice in friendly matches in Montego Bay, before the two met at the Gold Cup in June. The Soca Warriors won the second friendly 1-0 after the first match ended goalless.

The two teams met again in the group stages of the Gold Cup in June with Jamaica easing to a 4-1 victory.

Jamaica were also responsible for sending Canada into the Copa America playoff match, beating them on the away goals rule after the two played to a 4-4 draw on aggregate in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal in November.

T&T also missed out on an automatic place at the 2024 Copa America, losing 4-2 on aggregate to the US, despite winning the second leg 2-1 in Port of Spain.

The winner of the one-match playoff will join Jamaica, USA, Mexico, Panama and either Costa Rica or Honduras as the Concacaf representatives at the Copa America, which will be hosted in the US from June 20-July 14.


25
Cricket Anyone / CPL welcomes new franchise – Antigua/Barbuda Falcons
« on: February 21, 2024, 01:43:35 AM »
Caribbean Premier League welcomes new franchise – Antigua/Barbuda Falcons.
T&T Newsday Reports.


THE newest franchise in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been launched.

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons were officially unveiled during a gala opening ceremony hosted by the franchise owners WORLDWIDE Sports Management Group. Parimatch, the number one global gaming platform, will proudly serve as the title sponsor of the team.

The event was held yesterday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which will be the home of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons when they compete in the 2024 edition of the Republic Bank CPL.

The Falcons will replace the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise.

Krishna (Kris) Persaud, founder and president of WORLDWIDE Sports Management Group, was thrilled as he showcased the new team’s name and the colourful and dynamic logo for the first time to excited guests. Persaud also expressed delight in having the team officially on board for the regional event, which attracts sold-out audiences for matches.

A CPL media release quoted Persaud as saying, “We are brand new; we are here; we are ready...let’s get ready to play. The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons will bring a unique energy and vitality to the Republic Bank CPL. We are ready to fly high and conquer what is before us. We want to establish a winner’s culture within the team and also a culture of winning and success off the field – among every individual associated with this franchise and the amazing fans we will have at our special home base at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in lovely Antigua.”

Persaud was grateful to the Antigua and Barbuda Government for the support.

“What you are witnessing today as we unveil the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, is something truly special and I want to thank the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, who have worked closely with us to bring the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons to life.”

Details on the overall structure of the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and the coaching and management staff for the team will be announced at a later date.

The 2024 Republic Bank CPL will take place from August 28–October 6 with games taking place in Antigua for the first time in ten years.


26
Football / Re: TTFA News Thread.
« on: February 21, 2024, 01:42:32 AM »
TTFA pleased with response on revised Safeguarding Framework and Policy.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).


THE Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) continued its stride towards the protection of children and the vulnerable with the launching of its revised Safeguarding Framework and Policy, at a function held at the Trinidad Hilton on February 2.

FIFA head of Safeguarding and Child Protection Marie-Laure Lemineur was the feature speaker at the launch. She lauded the efforts made by the TTFA and its stakeholders in adopting and enforcing detailed mechanisms to monitor and protect those at risk within the football ecosystem.

“Not long ago the leadership of the TTFA took a very courageous decision to embark on their safeguarding journey. Twenty-four months later, the TTFA has produced one of the most elaborative and complete safeguarding frameworks that I know of,” said Lemineur.

A TTFA statement on Monday said that as of February 16, 139 Academies have been successfully registered and over 1,400 individuals have completed their level one TTFA safeguarding certification.

A further 200 individuals have completed level two certification and 24 individuals have been level three and four TTFA safeguarding licensed.“A key component of the academy registration was the fulfillment of all safeguarding criteria by the club and its officials, coaches and other personnel,” the statement read.

Safeguarding is the action taken to ensure that all vulnerable persons are safe from harm when involved in football. It means proactively doing everything possible to minimize risk and prevent poor practices and abuse.

“This framework ticks all the boxes,” Lemineur added. “It has the interest of the victims and the children at its heart, it defines clear mechanisms in case of incidents, it defines clear procedural rules and sanctions in case of non-compliance, it establishes licensing requirements for clubs, teams and academies and it promotes a culture of transparency and accountability.”

In August 2022, the TTFA signed off on its first version of its Safeguarding Policy and throughout the latter quarter of 2022, the association announced that there would now be a process and system to register academies throughout TT.

The number of registered academies “are a testament to the support of the initiatives and the development of a safeguarding culture throughout the football landscape under the guidance of the TTFA Safeguarding, Player Care and Wellbeing Department,” the statement continued.

The TTFA has been working closely with the FIFA, Concacaf, regional associations (zones), the Secondary School’s Football League, TTFA refereeing department, the Children’s Authority and other stakeholders to ensure that trained and certified safeguarding officers are assigned to the various avenues of the football pathway under a collective approach.

“Our job is to be prepared to address the situation with a victim-centred focus. We can’t do it all alone, we need all of you; football federations, professional clubs, governmental institutions, grassroots, athletes, parents, children, players and other sports organizations, not only football, to create a stronger institutional safeguarding culture,” Lemineur said.

These sentiments were echoed by David Roberts, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Community Development as he complimented the efforts of the TTFA and other national governing bodies (NGB) for taking an active approach towards safeguarding.

Roberts said he was pleased to see representatives from the Tennis Association of TT, TT Golf Association, TT Hockey Board and the TT Karate Association for working with the TTFA to become safeguarding licensed.The revised TTFA Safeguarding Framework and Policy is available via the TTFA website and outlines criteria for the operation of academies, leagues and individuals.

In accordance with the policy, unlicensed clubs, academies, and youth teams are not allowed to work with children, youth players or vulnerable groups on behalf of or under the scope of the TTFA or to participate in TTFA-organised or endorsed tournaments, competitions, or events.

It further states that all persons or organisations that propose to organise any football-related activity involving the training or playing of football matches either recreationally, competitively or for the purpose of scouting, that involves working with children, youth players or vulnerable groups are required to acquire a TTFA event license and or event endorsement. Unlicensed or unendorsed football activities and festivals are not allowed to work with children, youth players, or vulnerable groups on behalf of or under the scope of the TTFA.

“These and other actions in contravention of the Policy are subject to sanctioning by the TTFA,” the statement said.

They also encouraged parents and guardians to utilise only licensed academies/clubs have been vetted by the TTFA to work with children and youth players and have the rights to operate under the TTFA Safeguarding Framework and Policy.


27
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 21, 2024, 01:41:16 AM »
T&T's Makaya Taylor dreams of playing in Europe, wants to emulate Neuer.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


At 15, goalkeeper Makaya Taylor is the youngest member of Trinidad and Tobago's 21-man squad for this month's Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers which will be held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

Born to a Tobago father and a German mother, Taylor has lofty dreams of playing professional football in Europe and he could get his chance to show his worth to local fans when T&T contest group D of the qualifiers against Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Taylor is one of three goalkeepers in coach Brian Haynes' squad alongside the foreign-based pair of Brian Gafiuk and Ailan Panton.

Taylor said working with goalkeeper Jefferson George and his fellow custodians has been amazing, as they "have really helped me improve my standards."

Taylor had a recent training stint with German club Hertha Berlin, but it was curtailed due to injury. The goalkeeper impressed in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) with Speyside Secondary last season, and he has already been scooped up by 2023 national intercol champions Presentation College (San Fernando) for the next school season.

Taylor said he fell in love with the goalkeeping craft as a child, and he enjoyed playing the sport for fun in his earliest years. Now, if he has it his way, he will soon be making another meaningful journey to his mother's homeland.

"I have been going to Germany my whole life. Every summer since I was born, I would travel to Germany in the summertime. And from there, I would go on the community fields and play football," Taylor told TT Football Association (TTFA) media.

"Right now, I am looking to go on trial with clubs in Germany. I really want to play professionally in Europe. That is my dream – being a professional footballer."

Taylor has given himself a high standard to follow, as his favourite goalkeeper is 11-time German Bundesliga winner and World Cup winner, Manuel Neuer.

"The first goalkeeper I really looked up to is (Manuel) Neuer. I love his playing style and his use of his feet. I like the sweeper-keeper style."

In the immediate future, should he get the opportunity between the sticks, Taylor will try and help the young Soca Warriors advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship later this year. Only the group winner will advance from the qualifiers and T&T will have little room for error.

"I think we have a chance of making it out of the group stage. I have total confidence in the squad," Taylor said. "The key is obviously teamwork. We have to work as a team and keep the spirit high.

"It is a pleasure playing with the under-20 national team and I never expected to be here this soon in my life."

T&T open their campaign from 7 pm on Friday against SVG, before playing Dominica and Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively.


(From left to right): TT under-20 men’s football team coach Brian Haynes and goalkeepers Ailan Panton, Makaya Taylor and Brian Gafiuk. Photo courtesy TTFA media. -


28
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 20, 2024, 03:37:24 PM »
Jeremiah Cateau: U-20s Soca Warriors have unfinished business.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).


JEREMIAH Cateau said the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 footballers have unfinished business as they prepare to play in the Under-20 Concacaf Championship qualifiers, which kicks off on Friday.

T&T will play alongside St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Canada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo in Group D of the qualifying tournament. The group winner will advance to the Concacaf Championships.

Cateau, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia said he is excited to be a part of the national team again. Speaking to TTFA media, the midfielder said, “For me, it is nothing short of a blessing to be here again after being with the Under-17s. It’s just another dream come true.

I am hoping I can help this country, help this team as much as I can, do our badge proud, do this country proud.”

Many of the Under-20 players were part of the 2023 Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship held one year ago in Guatemala.

Cateau said the Under-20s feel like a family as many players know each other.

“It’s almost like we had a trial run with the Under-17s. It’s good to get the experience to meet the guys. These guys have become like my brothers. We speak every day, every week, so to be here again obviously it is a blessing, but it feels like we want revenge from last time. We feel like we fell short, but we can go all the way this time with this team.”

Cateau said he wants to make his family in T&T proud. “My mother, my father, definitely my family in Valencia. These people have never been able to see me play throughout my career so now that I am here...it means the world to me that they could finally see me on such a big stage.”

Cateau, who also has family connections in Diego Martin and Barataria, said T&T will approach the tournament one match at a time.

“I love our chances, but as coach Brian (Haynes) has stressed to us we want to take it one game at a time. We don’t want to look forward at all. We want to take on St Vincent, then we will worry about Dominica, then we will worry about Canada.”

Cateau said T&T are sometimes overlooked, but they want to show the world their grit and the talent they possess.

T&T will play St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday at 7 pm.


29
Football / Rio Cardines Thread
« on: February 18, 2024, 01:40:55 AM »
Crystal Palace's Rio Cardines eager for Concacaf challenge with Trinidad and Tobago U-20s.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


English-born flanker Rio Cardines is eager to make his family proud when he represents T&T’s under-20 men’s football team at the Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from February 23-27.

Cardines, 18, who represents Crystal Palace’s youth team in the under-18 English Premier League, played for T&T at last year’s Concacaf under-17 championship after receiving his T&T passport on the eve of the tournament. The versatile Cardines can play either right back or left back and also offers a punch in the final third. He had an eventful start to his T&T career when he received a red card on debut versus Canada’s under-17s in a 3-2 loss at last year’s under-17 championship. Cardines also managed a goal in T&T’s 3-2 loss to El Salvador as they exited at the round of 16 stage.

Earlier this week, Cardines was named as one of seven overseas-based players in coach Brian Haynes’ 21-man squad for this month’s qualifiers. In an interview with TT Football Association (TTFA) media on Thursday, Haynes said the overseas group has lifted the overall standard of his squad.

With T&T starting their campaign against St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) from 7 pm on February 23, Cardines is ready to get down to business.

“It is good to be back. The team is looking forward to the tournament and we are going to take it one game at a time,” Cardines told TTFA media.

“The first game is against St Vincent and we are ready to take it as it comes.”

After playing SVG, T&T will play Dominica and Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively. Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship later this year.

Cardines stressed on the importance of togetherness within the group to navigate the qualifiers.

“I think the whole team is important in these three games. Everyone will play a crucial part,” he said. “There is not one player who is going to stand out. There is not one player who is going to fall short. We are a team and we are going to do everything together.”

The Crystal Palace player, who made the move to the London club at 16, grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. He qualifies to play for the red, white and black through his T&T grandparents and he said playing for his family is his biggest motivation.

“I want to make my family proud. I want to get my family nice things and just make them happy really. That is what it is about,” Cardines said.

“(Wearing the T&T badge) obviously means a lot to me. My family is here.

“My granny and grandad are not with us anymore so I know I am making them proud when they watch down on me. It makes me happy to know they are watching and I am making them proud.”

He said the T&T team will need the backing of the 12th man to take them through the qualifiers.

“I think we need a lot of people to fill out the stadium. We need as many people as we can possibly get. We are going to need it in these games. It will be crucial.”


30
Football / Re: Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.
« on: February 15, 2024, 01:11:35 AM »
Haynes picks 21-man Soca Warrior squad for Concacaf U-20 qualifiers.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).


THE overseas-based trio of Rio Cardines, Derrel Garcia and Larry Noel were among seven overseas players called up to Trinidad and Tobago’s 21-man under-20 squad by coach Brian Haynes for this month’s Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers.

TT, who start their campaign on February 23, are placed alongside Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) in group D which will be contested at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. TT play their first game against SVG, before playing Dominica and group favourites Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively.

Only the winners of the six respective groups will advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship to join Concacaf’s highest-ranked under-20 teams: US, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Haynes’ squad includes as many as 11 players who were members of coach Shawn Cooper’s TT team at last year’s Concacaf under-17 championship. TT managed a third-place finish in the group stage behind Canada and the US, before falling to an exciting 3-2 loss to El Salvador in the round of 16 stage of the tournament.

Cardines and Garcia both scored in last year’s under-17 tournament, with the attacking pair of Lindell Sween and Malachi Webb among TT’s standout performers with two goals apiece. Sween and Webb have both been included in Haynes’ team for this month’s qualifiers, and they will be expected to provide firepower in the attacking third for the young Soca Warriors alongside Tyrell Moore, Crystal Palace’s Cardines and the Spanish-based Garcia.

The 16-year-old Garcia copped the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division title with St Benedict’s College and featured at the beginning of the 2023 school season before making a move to Europe.

Haynes’ team is made up of a number of SSFL standouts and includes former TT under-17 skipper and St Benedict’s midfielder Josiah Ochoa, 2023 SSFL premier division winners Michael Chaves and Jaden Williams, as well as Presentation College San Fernando’s 2023 national intercol winning quartet of Cody Cooper, Abayomi George, Levi Jones and Duhrell Young.

Meanwhile, St Anthony’s College winger Andell Fraser was named as a standby for the tournament.

In friendly action leading up to the qualifiers, TT beat Jamaica’s under-20s 3-2 on January 25, before falling to consecutive defeats against their Jamaican counterparts and a locally based TT senior team.

Despite the losses which showed up his team’s “defensive frailties,” Haynes said he was pleased with the progress his team has made in their preparations for the Concacaf qualifiers.

Canada coach Andrew Olivieri is mindful of TT’s potential threat in group D.

“(TT) are right around the same ranking as us at the under-20 level,” Olivieri told the Canadian Press. “We’re playing at their home, in their country, under their environment so that is an additional challenge.”

(Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Ailan Panton (Darlington Soccer Academy—USA), Makaya Taylor (Presentation College, San F’do/ Brother Ry Academy), Bryan Gafiuk (Victoria Highlanders—Canada);

Defenders:

Akil Henry (Arima North Secondary/ Pro Series), Cody Cooper (Presentation College, San F’do/ Dunstan Williams Academy), Russel Francois (St Anthony’s College/ Trendsetter Hawks), Jaden Williams (Fatima College), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College/ Pt Fortin Civic), Duhrell Young (Presentation College, San F’do/ W Connection);

Midfielders:

Levi Jones (Presentation College, San F’do), Abayomi George (Presentation College, San F’do), Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College/ Point Fortin Youth), Rio Cardines (Crystal Palace—England), Lindell Sween (San Juan North/ Morvant Caledonia), J’lon Matthews (Malick Secondary), Malachi Webb (St Benedict’s College/ Premier SC), Jeremiah Cateau (Southern Soccer Academy), Derrel Garcia (Intercity International Football Academy—Spain);

Forwards:

Michael Chaves (Fatima College/ QPCC), Larry Noel (Salt Lake Community College—USA), Tyrell Moore (unattached).

Standby:

Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College).

Technical Staff:

Brian Haynes (head coach), Marvin Gordon (assistant coach), Gilbert Bateau (assistant coach), Jefferson George (goalkeeper coach), Natalie Charles (medic), John Jerry (equipment manager).

(Canada National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Nathaniel Abraham (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Ivan Pavela (NK Lokomotiva Zagreb—Croatia), Gregoire Swiderski (Girondins Bordeaux—France);

Defenders:

James Cameron (Vancouver FC, CPL), Christian Greco-Taylor (unattached), Sergei Kozlovskiy (CF Montreal Academy), Adam Pearlman (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Theo Rigopoulos (Toronto FC Academy), Ethan Schilte-Brown (Kilmarnock—Scotland), Lazar Stefanovic (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro);

Midfielders:

Jeevan Badwal (Whitecaps FC2, MLS Next Pro), Alessandro Biello (CF Montreal Academy), Tiago Codinha (Twente Enschede—Netherlands), Jesse Costa (VFL Wolfsburg—Germany); Myles Morgan (unattached), Matteo Schiavoni (CF Montreal Academy);

Forwards:

Oumar Diallo (Inter Milan—Italy), Kimani Stewart-Baynes  (Colorado Rapids—MLS), Kevaughn Tavernier (Forge FC, CPL), Tavio Ciccarelli (Sheffield United—England), Santiago Lopez (Pumas UNAM—Mexico).

Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifiers

(Group D - Friday 23 February)

Canada vs Dominica, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

St Vincent and the Grenadines vs Canada, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs Trinidad and Tobago, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs Canada, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.


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