Messages

61

Football / REMAINDER OF CONCACAF U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP CANCELED

« on: April 27, 2009, 02:53:32 PM »

2 games late!

REMAINDER OF CONCACAF U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP CANCELED, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DECIDER POSTPONED DUE TO SWINE FLU CONCERN

 

NEW YORK (Monday, 27 April 2009) – Due to the growing concerns about the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer announced Monday that the remainder of the confederation’s Under-17 Championship in Tijuana has been cancelled and the second-leg of the CONCACAF Champions League™ finals has been postponed.

Mexican authorities previously had closed schools in Mexico City and on Monday extended that decision nationwide. Based on the actions of the Mexican government, CONCACAF responded to safeguard the health of players, officials and fans.

Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and the USA all had clinched berths the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2009, and were to play the semifinals on Wednesday with the championship and third-place match scheduled for Saturday. The four semifinalists will advance to the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria from 24 October - 15 November.

The second-leg of the CONCACAF Champions League™ finals between CD SC Cruz Azul (MEX) and Atlante FC (MEX) was to be played Wednesday in Cancun, but that game now will be delayed until Tuesday, 12 May at 9 p.m. local (10 p.m. EDT). Atlante leads the two-game title series 2-0 from its opening win in Mexico City last Wednesday.

The CONCACAF Beach Championship in Puerto Vallarta, scheduled to begin Wednesday and continue through Sunday, is under review with a final decision expected Tuesday.
 

62

2010 World Cup - South Africa / DRAW FOR WORLD CUP TICKETS

« on: April 23, 2009, 08:19:33 AM »

I know the draw for WC tickets was held in London on April 15, and FIFA indicated that they will notify awardees by the end of April. Lo and behold this morning I see my card charged by FIFA. Anyone who requested tickets in advance had such luck?

63

Football / Re: T&T vs Costa Rica set for Dwight Yorke Stadium

« on: April 16, 2009, 11:32:09 PM »

I may be mistaken somewhere along the way, someone please educate me. When FIFA was in the country to accredit stadia for WCQ before the Hex was the Dwight Yorke accredited? I remember so much noise was made to have the HCS in shape because it would have failed, etc.

64

Football / Cheer up Warrior fans.

« on: April 07, 2009, 08:59:32 PM »

Cheer up Warrior fans.
By: Lasana Liburd (T&T Express).

So maybe you mouthed off a bit too much to your United States friends before kick off for Trinidad and Tobago's last 2010 World Cup qualifier and felt silly after our embarrassing 3-0 loss.

Or perhaps you are starting to feel like you planned that trip to South Africa a tad too early.

Cheer up football fans because there are still many reasons for you to happily proclaim "I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I love football".

After all, our only defeat of the hexagonal stage did come on April 1. It was a bit crude from the "Soca Warriors" but which one of us is not guilty of a bad joke?

It was the national team's first loss this year, their teenaged counterparts will play the opening fixture of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and veteran captain Dwight Yorke will return to international duty, two games early, to face Costa Rica at home on June 6.

Still not convinced? Here are nine more reasons why all is not doom and gloom for Trinidad and Tobago football fans:

1) Marvin Phillip: Trinidad and Tobago have not had a goalkeeping crisis since Michael Maurice made a surprise return to international action in 1996. Maurice is the present goalkeeping coach and he will not have to do a fitness test anytime soon. Veteran Clayton Ince, a fine servant for his country, plans to remain an active player until his 40th birthday, but talented young pups like Jan-Michael Williams and W Connection custodian Marvin Phillip are sure to put him to pasture long before then.

2) Playmakers-in-waiting: Two years from now, Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA's Akim Armstrong, Ma Pau's Sherron Joseph, CLICO San Juan Jabloteh's Ataullah Guerra or the under-20 pair of Leston Paul and Sean de Silva will surely make supporters shake their head in disbelief that the country was ever so reliant on an ageing Russell Latapy.

3) Khaleem Hyland: Oh, so you can't wait two years, huh? Well, consider the Belgium-based "man child" as the first installment on our future. The last time a Trinidad and Tobago teenager faced the best the CONCACAF had to offer with such swagger was 1989. That kid's name was Dwight Yorke. Nuff said.

4) Russell Latapy: While the little giant is still able to lace up his boots, we would be silly not to take full advantage. So why doesn't the T&T Pro League kick off already?! Even at 40, Latapy can still bring a touch of inspiration to the international stage. But his appearance in the domestic competition should be an even bigger benefit to local football. Hands up if you can't wait to see Caledonia AIA this year.

5) Elton John: The controversial bard ruffled some feathers, a few years ago, as some Tobagonians protested the Englishman's inclusion at the Plymouth Jazz Festival. Apparently they were concerned that John's fingers over the keyboard might be a call to arms for the gay community. I'm not suggesting that T&T coach Francisco Maturana is squeamish about the "alternate lifestyle" but the unfortunately named Jabloteh player Elton John is the only guy in the country who hasn't got a shift at right back-and he can play a bit.

6) Akeem Adams: The number of right backs used by the Warriors is starting to outnumber the ticket scalpers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Clearly Maturana has stopped searching where the left back position is concerned, though. Might we suggest some more auditions for that spot as well, Senor? Perhaps we can look at young Adams again. Would be nice to have a left back who doesn't look as timid as an extra in a horror movie.

7) Kenwyne Jones: The tall, cocky self-made striker and the country's most high-profile player has been the target for grumbles recently. Maybe he really is ready to take up the mantle from Stern John then, who scored at a rate of two goals per boo-and he was booed a lot. Anyone but me saw a link between the dodgy coloured streaks in Jones' locks and his sudden fallibility?

For God's sake Jones, look at how well Djibril Cisse's career has gone since he began experimenting with peroxide-dumped by Liverpool and ignored by France. Hair dye is for losers. Just say "no"!

8] Jason Scotland: The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) named him as their best player for 2008. Really? Maturana played him in just eight from 28 games in 2008 and infamously preferred a schoolboy to the Swansea hot shot when England visited last June. Maybe Scotland was an unnamed third party in the armband-gate scandal that got Densill Theobald dropped last year. Perhaps "Scotty" broke Maturana's favourite Shakira CD. Or maybe the coach is suspicious of strikers who actually score goals.

Come to think of it, the last suggestion might explain why Cornell Glen (11 goals from 11 starts and seven substitute appearances in the last year) cannot get a game these days.

9) April 9: Okay, so I could only manage eight. Maybe the TTFF can give a ninth reason why local fans should be cheerful. April 9 seems as good a day as any for a pick-me-upper.

65

Football / Re: April 9, D-day for Maturana

« on: April 02, 2009, 08:10:51 PM »

Guess it's because Mr Warner is going to be in Egypt for the next few days.

66

Football / April 9, D-day for Maturana

« on: April 02, 2009, 08:03:07 PM »

April 9, D-day for Maturana
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian)

The fate of Soca Warriors coach, Colombian Francisco Maturana and his technical staff which includes assistant coach/player Russell Latapy, is to be the main topic of discussion at a T&T Football Federation (TTFF) emergency technical meeting on April 9.

The meeting is expected to take place at Concacaf’s Port-of-Spain office and will be chaired by T&TFF special advisor and Concacaf president, Jack Warner.
Those expected to be in attendance are members of the Soca Warriors technical staff and other executive members of the local Federation, as Maturana’s tenure as coach comes under scrutiny.

This has been occasioned by the Warriors’ embarrassing 3-0 defeat by the United States of America in their Concacaf Final Round Qualifier in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday night, leaving this country at the bottom of the six-team group on two points, the same as El Salvador. The USA tops the table with seven points followed by Costa Rica (6) Honduras (4) and Mexico (3) with seven matches still to be played by each team.

The Special Adviser when asked to comment on Wednesday night display replied : “I think it was way below expectations of a team that is aspiring to be among the qualifiers for the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year.” “My concern is that we are not getting the required results. Results are all that matter at the moment and we have to start getting the right ones from the next match”, he said.

Maturana, who has come in for earlier criticism from the local media and coaches alike, has twice taken his homeland to the World Cup Finals and will be buoyed by the fact that T&T also had one point after three matches in 2005 when Dutchman Leo Beenhakker took over the reigns from Bertille St Clair and led T&T to Germany in 2006.One local club manager who prefers to remain anonymous said that the only good thing with the team’s situation is that there are two full months before the next match against Costa Rica at home June 6. T&T is also ‘away’ to Mexico on June 10.

“Whether it’s a coaching change or wholesale changes in the team, it’s clear that something has to be done.” The local club manager who has led his club to a host of local and regional triumphs was adamant that the national coach had no idea which was his best team. He added : “I can’t imagine we are three matches into the final phase of qualification and our coaching staff still does not know their best squad yet.”

Asked to comment on the performance against the Americans, the well respected manager and freelance commentator said : “It was pathetic and more than that, there are still more questions than answers in terms of our team selection.” “The funny thing is that we were playing poorly but up until the USA scored its second goal midway into the second-half, we were just a goal away from being level in the match.”

Questions must also be raised in terms of how we used our substitutes as I saw no problems why Russell Latapy did not introduce himself just as he did against Honduras.” “The introduction of striker Jason Scotland for Keon Daniel also meant we had three similar players up front with Stern John and Kenwyne Jones up front. “Our three strikers were all playing the same way, with their backs to the goal.”

“Christopher Birchall and Clyde Leon were the two defensive midfielders used, but when Birchall was replaced by Hyland, it left Leon with a lot more responsibility and that’s when the Americans scored their other goals.” “The three goals we conceded against USA all came via our wingbacks. I can’t understand why we have a guy who went to the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Anthony Wolfe playing as a right back and then you replace him during the match with a guy (Makan Hislop) who has played as a central defender for all his life.”

With regards to the coach he said, “All I could tell you is that I feel coach Maturana has been given many chances while some players like Trent Noel have not got a chance at all.” “This is the final round of qualification. Everything counts here and now is decision time, whether its with the staff or players. Terry Fenwick, a former England international and coach of T&T Pro League club, Clico San Juan Jabloteh was also of the opinion that Maturana still does not know his best team.

“Whether the coach remains in the job or not is not my decision, but what I can say is that as a team I have seen much better organisation and discipline by some teams in the Pro League than what was offered by the Warriors on Wednesday night. “We were very, very. poor in too many areas, added Fenwick who has led Jabloteh to back-to-back Pro League club titles. “I think our team selection on the night left a lot of people, including myself. flabbergasted.”

67

Football / Re: Roll Call - Everybody reach home safe?

« on: April 02, 2009, 07:44:14 PM »

home safe. nice meeting everyone

68

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs USA game (01-Apr-2009).

« on: March 19, 2009, 09:20:54 PM »

Ramada too!

69

Football / Re: Squad named to face Honduras.

« on: March 19, 2009, 09:13:36 PM »

But wait wasn't there a TTFF press release saying that Marvin Andrews has been recalled for Honduras and USA? Madness!

70

Football / Re: Salvadoran Government to pay players $10,000 dollars a goal.

« on: February 11, 2009, 11:51:58 AM »

with panday scoffing JW's HCU $1 million contribution, I hope he offers it to the squad tonight for a victory.

71

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs USA game (01-Apr-2009).

« on: February 06, 2009, 10:23:39 AM »

Staying at Ramada across from the parking lot. Got room at $72.00/night

72

Football / NASHVILLE’S LP FIELD TO HOST U.S.-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (April 1)

« on: February 03, 2009, 04:05:26 PM »

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

NASHVILLE’S LP FIELD TO HOST U.S.-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER ON APRIL 1

U.S. Men’s National Team Returns to Tennessee for the Second Time;
Match to be Broadcast Live on ESPN2 and Galavision

CHICAGO (Feb. 3, 2009) — FIFA World Cup qualifying will go to Nashville, Tenn., for the first time as the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Trinidad & Tobago at LP Field on April 1 at 6:45 p.m. CT in the second of five home qualifiers on the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision, and fans can follow online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker.

Tickets ranging in price levels from $20 to $70 go on sale to the public Friday, February 6, at 10 a.m. CT through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Central Tennessee (including Macy’s, Kroger, and FYE), as well as the LP Field ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages which include a premium ticket, a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits), are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.

As a sponsor of U.S. Soccer, Visa® is pleased to offer all Visa cardholders access to an advance ticket sale for this match before the sale to the general public. This advance sale takes place at ussoccer.com starting Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. CT until Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 a.m. Visa will be the only payment method accepted through the Visa presale and is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer. Terms and conditions apply.

"We are very excited to be playing such an important World Cup qualifying match in Nashville," said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley. "We have had very good experiences there, both in 2006 before the World Cup and during qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games. LP Field is an excellent facility, and we look forward to tremendous support from the fans.”

The U.S. has never lost to Trinidad & Tobago on home soil, the unblemished record including a 3-0 win in Bridgeview, Ill., on Sept. 10, 2008, during the semifinal round. After clinching a final round berth, the U.S. sent a less experienced team to Port of Spain the following month, where Trinidad & Tobago turned the tables, snatching a 2-1 victory. The U.S. controls the overall series, 14-2-3, and has a 9-1-2 record against the Soca Warriors in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

The match will be the third for a full U.S. National Team in Nashville. In 2004, the U.S. Women’s National Team beat Canada 1-0 in a preparation match before the 2004 Olympic Games. Two years later, the U.S. Men’s National Team faced Morocco on May 23, 2006, prior to the FIFA World Cup in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 26,141 fans.

In April of 2008, the venue hosted the knockout round of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament, where the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team defeated Canada in the semifinals to become one of two teams from the region to qualify for Beijing.

The U.S. is looking ahead to their opening match of the final round of FIFA World Cup qualifying against archrival Mexico on Feb. 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, which sold out in 90 minutes. The match, the first of 10 games in the final round commonly referred to as the ‘hexagonal,’ will kickoff at 7 p.m. ET, and fans can watch the match live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and Univision, or listen on the Futbol de Primera radio network.

73

Football / Re: Final warm up before El Salvador clash.

« on: February 02, 2009, 03:59:41 PM »

I must say I like the sound of things ahead of the Feb 11 game. We are in contact with foreign pros and their clubs; head coach off to do scouting of opponent; assistant coach taking in UNCAF tournament...we seem to have learned a thing or two from previous campaigns.

74

Football / Jabloteh face Pro League exit

« on: February 01, 2009, 10:41:49 PM »

Jabloteh face Pro League exit
By WALTER ALIBEY Monday, February 2 2009
TT Newsday

THE FUTURE of CLICO San Juan Jabloteh in the T&T Pro League is uncertain following last Friday’s announcement by the company’s executive chairman Lawrence Duprey, that the group had been plunged into bankruptcy due to the global recession currently being faced.

Government have since agreed to bail-out the financially strapped CL Financial conglomerate which is expected to run well into billions of dollars.

The Government has also acquired the company’s 55 percent shares in Republic Bank and has taken control of Methanol Holdings, CLICO, CLICO Investment Bank (CIB), CMMB and British American.

Yesterday, a member of the team’s staff who wished to remain anonymous expressed the view that the club is in real trouble.

The club which receives a support base from the San Juan Sports and Cultural Club has been solely dependant on the CL Financial group for survival, but it is unsure of whether the asset- rich Clico will be able to continue the sponsorship thereafter.

It is said that the club receives a monthly financial package of $350, 000 which is used to pay expenses, including players’salaries and other bills.

The Jabloteh club consists of the Pro League team, a reserve team, under-18, 16, 14 teams, a youth development clinic, women’s football team and two netball teams.

A reliable source also told Newsday that the pro-league outfit currently has about 50 people employed.

Jerry Hospedales the club’s chairman revealed that all attempts will be made to ensure that the club stays in the pro league.

“The club is 35 years old and therefore we have to look at ways and means of keeping it afloat.

“There are lots of people who depend on the club” Hospedales said. According to the Jabloteh boss, “Until we know exactly what is happening, then will be able to say what steps we can take to help the club.”

He added “We have to sit down and analyse the situation carefully.”

Meanwhile the T&T Pro League called an emergency meeting for tomorrow to try and deal with the possible exclusion of the club from the competition.

Already the league has been struggling with the possible exits of Sangre Grande team North East Stars and St Ann’s Rangers.

75

Football / USA bidding for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

« on: January 29, 2009, 09:24:53 AM »

Details to be released in a Press Conference on February 2.

CHICAGO (Jan. 29, 2009) – U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati will discuss the Federation’s intentions to submit a simultaneous bid to FIFA for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups on Monday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. ET. Gulati will also introduce the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee.

FIFA set Monday, Feb. 2, as the deadline for federations to submit the official paperwork expressing their interest to bid for either or both of the competitions. FIFA emphasized that at this initial stage in the bidding process, the only requirement is for countries to be able to demonstrate their ability to host a sporting event as large as the FIFA World Cup.

76

Football / Warner: I will leave no stone unturned for 2010.

« on: December 29, 2008, 11:12:12 PM »

Warner: I will leave no stone unturned for 2010.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).

TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner is once again insisting that he will “leave no stone unturned” in his efforts to assist this country in its attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Warner made comments to this effect as he sowed up the new deal with local football darling Russell Latapy to join the T&T Senior Team Technical Staff and the Federation as Assistant Coach.

As he looked ahead to 2009, Warner emphasized the importance of T&T’s qualification for South Africa.

“I will leave no stone unturned. The biggest hurdle I will face is a lack of funding and I have to bear that burden. But I promise you that even that I will have to overcome,” Warner told TTFF Media.

“I think that we have to prove to the world that our qualifying in 2006 was not by accident.  Secondly we in a sense have a historical right to be in South Africa. In a real sense we have some historical roots in that continent and it’s only fair that if this is the first World Cup there in a hundred years and who knows when else there will be a World Cup there… then we should be there.”

“Russell is capable of doing excellent work at this level. He knows he will be judged at what he does. I told him once he performs well then we can see him as a future role for him head coach of Trinidad and Tobago and he was very happy about that.  This must be looked as a stepping stone … a kind of apprenticeship for the ultimate which is the head coach position. We have had Beenhakker, Maturana and  Rijsbergen and if the time is coming soon when we will have one of our own… then so be it and I am very happy about this,” Warner added.

“Football is his life and therefore if he sees the need to assist other national teams from time to time then I am quite sure he will.”

“I think what has been revealed is the fact that Latas’ objective and mine were in sync. He had a strong desire to come on board as quickly as possible and  I had a similar desire in terms of what Mr (Oliver) Camps had asked me to do to get this thing settled. I want to say that because our objectives were in sync and our desires were the same it didn’t take too long for us to close the gap on our differences wherever they existed.

“We spoke at length on the team and I saw a very mature Latapy… a different Latapy. I saw a technician at work. He was able to identify some of the problems that are still bedeviling the team which he will addressed. He was given every belief that his role would not be cosmetic …that he will have a very authoritative role in the team and that all levels there will be consultations and collaborations. Therefore having been given that assurance he left very happy and in fact so did I,” Warner concluded.

Warner revealed some of the plans for the Team’s preparations.

“The national team will be leaving in two weeks for Argentina where they will have an extensive training camp where they will also play against a couple top rated clubs before heading to El Salvador. We are also in the discussions stage for matches against Nigeria and Portugal. We are not yet settled on them but we are in discussions and I am hopeful that it will come through,” Warner said.

Latapy: I will play if I have to.

Russell Latapy says he’s committed to doing whatever is necessary to take Trinidad and Tobago to a recognized level in world football even if it means having to wear the number 10 shirt on the pitch to get to South Africa.

Latapy was speaking as he completed final discussions with the TTFF on Monday prior to his flight back to Scotland. He is expected back in Trinidad in early January to take up his duties as Assistant Coach.

“If it means I have to play too along with my role as the assistant coach… then I will do it and whatever is necessary to help the team attain the success we are all trying to achieve,” Latapy  told TTFF Media.

“My honest opinion is that we have underachieved. I think we have a lot of talent there and we can obviously do a lot better than the results have shown lately. I think it’s not difficult things that we need to do to get an improvement. It’s the understanding of  the game, players understanding their roles and organization. I believe if we can get these things right it will take our performance up a level.

So I’m actually looking forward to working with some of these young players. Watching them having come back for the last three games it’s hard to correct some of their mistakes in a short space of time. But  correcting these mistakes is getting them to understand why they are making these mistakes. I think if I work with them from a day to day basis then I can help them understand that which will improve them as players and all together the performance of the team,” Latapy added.

VIDEOS

View Warner's comments
View Latapy's comments


Photo shows Warner presenting Latapy with a bMobile Blackberry phone on Monday)

77

Football / Re: Latapy officially on board Senior Team staff.

« on: December 29, 2008, 06:24:02 PM »

would have thought that part of his mtg with JW would have included a sitdown with the present head coach as a critical part of any coaching team is compatibility and shared vision. With latas analysis of "lack of organization and cohesiveness", the first message being sent is a stab at the current staff ...hope the plan is to rebuild the staff around latas' analysis and not have him as a voice in the wilderness and a fractured coaching staff before the WCQs begin.

78

Football / Re: Hexagonal dates announced

« on: November 22, 2008, 12:01:28 PM »

I like the fact that we playing the greatest threats to the 3rd spot (Honduras & Costa Rica) at home first. Grab 6 points from those 2 games and we will be in the driver's seat for at least 3rd place.

79

Football / T&T players reject Warner offer.

« on: November 20, 2008, 10:04:45 PM »

T&T players reject Warner offer.

English barrister Michael Townley and several "Soca Warriors" yesterday rubbished suggestions from FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser Jack Warner that financial settlements were reached with the "majority" of 2006 World Cup players regarding their bonus dispute.

The Express can confirm that the TTFF will make payments to World Cup team captain Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards, Clayton Ince, Jason Scotland and Densill Theobald, who were not a part of the legal action taken against the body.

Thirty-two-year-old Scotland-based defender Marvin Andrews, who has been without a club since May, has broken ranks with the rebels and would settle, while there is speculation that Scotland First Division winger Collin Samuel will do likewise.

But the remaining 14 squad members, according to Townley, are "prepared to stand the course" and rejected a sum understood to be $186,000 (US$30,000) per player.

Townley's clients are Shaka Hislop, Kelvin Jack, Ian Cox, Cyd Gray, Atiba Charles, Brent Sancho, Avery John, Chris Birchall, Aurtis Whitley, Evans Wise, Anthony Wolfe, Cornell Glen, Kenwyne Jones and Stern John.

The TTFF have been at odds with 16 players from their 23-man World Cup squad since October 2006 when they offered $5,644.08 each to the players, who were verbally promised half of all revenue from the country's Germany adventure.

Most of the Warriors refused and hired Townley who led them to a victory over the TTFF in the London-based Sports Dispute Resolution Panel in May 2008.

The arbitration body ordered the TTFF to open their accounts for scrutiny, so as to ascertain what the players are owed, but Warner attempted to offset their judgment as he met with several World Cup players at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port of Spain on Monday and told the media, two days later, that the dispute was over.

 "We have come to the dawn of a new era through the initiative of Peter O' Connor...to settle the outstanding dispute since 2006," said Warner, on Wednesday. "Today we have done just that and we have agreed to a settlement out-of-court figure, which the majority of players have agreed to and which sum we shall pay today or in a couple days time."

Townley denied Warner's claim.

"There is not any inkling of truth to his claim of a settlement," said Townley. "I have spoken to my clients and they said they have not settled and I have never been involved with settlement talks with Mr Warner or his lawyers.

"There was a meeting at the Crowne Plaza on Monday night with Mr Warner and (TTFF general secretary Richard) Groden where a settlement was offered but not accepted."

Gray, Sancho, Hislop and John (A) confirmed they did not accept Warner's offer and knew of no one, apart from Andrews, who had done so. The Express was told by an anonymous source that Samuel also chose to end the protracted legal battle with the TTFF.

"We deserve more than that," said Gray, who played in Wednesday's 3-0 2010 World Cup qualifying win over Cuba. "I didn't agree with it so I didn't accept it."

Sancho, who has not been selected to represent his country since the World Cup, agreed.

"After coming this far along and after what we have won in the arbitration court," he said, "the offer put on the table is absurd."

Six months ago, when the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel ruled in favour of the Warriors, Townley requested an interim payment of $44 million from the TTFF, which he described as "a tiny fraction of what the players are due based on the limited information made public by TTFF".

Warner's latest offer, on Monday, is $41 million short.

"I think the offer is not sufficiently generous," said Townley.

It seems that the majority of his clients agree.New twist in World Cup bonus battle.

More than half of Trinidad and Tobago's 2006 World Cup squad could face a fresh legal battle in their bonus dispute with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).

English barrister Michael Townley, who is the instructing attorney for 15 members of the historic 23-man squad, told the Express that the TTFF made an application to bring the case before the Trinidad and Tobago High Court. A decision is expected from the local courts on January 7, 2009.

In May 2008, the London-based Sports Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP) ruled in favour of the players and ordered "sufficient inspection" of the TTFF's accounts. Townley described the TTFF's alleged new legal posturing as an attempt to circumvent the decision of the arbitration body.

"It is an attempt to distance themselves from the judgment in the UK," said Townley. "We intend to resist it on the grounds that once an arbitration rule is made it is final and binding.

"It will go one of two ways--either the High Court in Trinidad will accept jurisdiction and there will be a retrial or they will not accept on the basis that there is an arbitration ruling which is binding and we will return to London."

Townley declined the opportunity to reveal the legal figures incurred by the "Soca Warriors" thus far but it is expected to easily exceed half a million dollars in local currency. The TTFF are believed to have paid at least double that sum.

Om Lalla, the instructing attorney for the TTFF, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The bonus battle looked set for local courts last year after the players refused to accept that the TTFF's offer of $5,644.08 each, which was made in October 2006, fairly represented their share of World Cup revenues.

The TTFF requested that the battle be taken to the London arbitration instead and the players agreed. Six months ago, the SDRP decided in favour of the Warriors.

"It appears to be the case that the TTFA has yet to provide an account to the applicants which complies with its contractual obligations under the commercial revenues-sharing agreement," stated arbitrator Ian Mill QC. "Obviously, I hope that the effect of this decision will be that a proper account will expeditiously be rendered, together with the payments shown as due by that account; and sufficient inspection of the TTFA's records to enable the applicants reasonably to be satisfied that they have received that to which they are entitled.

"In that context, I should observe that any agreement entered into prior to qualification for the World Cup finals but which resulted in revenues accruing to the TTFA in consequence of qualifying should be disclosed by the TTFA to the applicants (even if the TTFA would wish to argue before me on another occasion that the agreement is not one in whose revenues the applicants are entitled to share)."

Townley, who requested an interim payment of $44 million from the TTFF in May, is anxious to begin a court-ordered examination of the Football Federation's accounts. He alleged that the process has been delayed by the TTFF's insistence on a second opinion from the local courts first.

Source: By: Lasana Liburd (T&T Express)

80

Football / Royalians, Mucurapo draw goalless.

« on: September 25, 2008, 05:40:07 PM »

Royalians, Mucurapo draw goalless.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).

Time failed to separate the top two in the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League North Zone yesterday, with Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive and Queen's Royal College (QRC) playing to a hard-fought goalless draw on Fatima Ground, Mucurapo Road.

Mucurapo now have 14 points from seven matches, a point ahead of the unbeaten Royalians. Both teams took turns dominating yesterday, but Mucurapo had at least three clear opportunities to win the match.

The result left the league table unchanged, as third-placed Fatima College (11 pts) drew 1-1 with cellar-placed Malick Senior Comprehensive.

Yesterday's other North Zone game saw St Mary's College also up to 11 points after edging St Anthony's College (10 pts) by a 2-1 margin.

In the main match, QRC kept Mucurapo pinned back in defence for much of the first half, but Mucurapo turned it on in the second session and controversially had a goal disallowed near the end.

Kevin Molina, the Mucurapo captain, appeared to have won the game in the dying minutes when tucking home Terrence Clarke's square pass from the centre of goal.

Kareem Joseph, the very capable QRC keeper, had kept his team in the match earlier, but had no answer to Molina's well-placed shot.

Excited Mucurapo supporters were jumping around when the match referee ruled that Molina was offside.

Molina should have put Mucurapo ahead mere seconds before the disallowed goal when he led a quick counter-attack out of his own team's penalty area.

Molina was clear through the QRC defence and facing just keeper Joseph, but his low shot across the face of goal just missed the far corner.

Robust Mucurapo striker Clarke was also clear of the QRC defenders as the first half came to a close, then checked his step and put a powerful shot into the side-netting.

Even when they were on top in the first half, QRC's best efforts were restricted to just a couple of free-kicks from captain Jerrel Britto, who had a constant marker at his side.

Britto's free-kicks went close both times, but without forcing Mucurapo goalkeeper Michael Duff into a save.

Yesterday's SSFL Scores:

North Zone

Malick 1 vs Fatima 1

St Anthony's 1 vs St Mary's 2

Mucurapo 0 vs QRC 0

East Zone

St Augustine 0 vs Arima 1

San Juan 1 vs Toco 0

Trinity East 1 vs Hillview 0

South Zone

Princess Town 2 vs Vessigny 3

Pres San Fernando 0 vs Naparima 1

St Benedict's 1 vs Siparia 1

Central Zone

Marabella 0 vs Presentation Chaguanas 0

Preysal 0 vs Carapichaima 5 (Neil Woodroffe 2, Phillip Wickham, Micheal Reneaud, Kevon Wilson)

Waterloo 5 vs Chaguanas 1San Juan win seven in a row.
T&T Newsday Reports.

Defending East Zonal champs San Juan secured their seventh successive triumph in the BGTT Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) as action continued yesterday.

San Juan took care of the visiting Toco 1-0 at Bourg Mulatresse, San Juan to move a step closer towards retaining their zonal crown. The other games in the East ended with 1-0 results, as Trinity East defeated Hillview at Trincity while the “Dial Dynamos” Arima pipped hosts “Green Machine” St Augustine.

Reigning Central Zone title-holders Carapichaima continue to lead second-placed Waterloo by seven points after both teams registered comfortable victories. Carapichaima mauled Preysal 5-0 in the second of back-to-back matches at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva while Waterloo showed no mercy on the visiting Chaguanas, prevailing 5-1.

The earlier game at Couva saw Presentation Chaguanas held to a goalless draw by the table-proppers Marabella. Similar to Carapichaima, defending South Zonal champs Naparima continued their unbeaten run when they edged Presentation San Fernando 1-0 in the opening game of a double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

Naps hold a seven-point cushion over Vessigny, who got the better of hosts Princes Town 3-2, while, in the other contest at Marabella, third-placed Siparia and the struggling St Benedict’s battled to a 1-1 draw. Mucurapo maintained their lead in the North Zone after they were held to goalless draw by second placed QRC at the Fatima Ground.

Third-placed Fatima and cellar-placed Malick finished their duel at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo with a 1-1 tie while St Mary’s moved up to fourth spot after edging hosts and defending zonal champs St Anthony’s 2-1 at Westmoorings. Games in all five zones will be contested tomorrow.

81

Football / Stern John Is Back

« on: September 23, 2008, 07:55:57 PM »

Stern John Is Back
Trinidad Guardian
Wednesday, September 24th


T&T 22-man Squad

Clayton Ince, Marvin Phillip, Dennis Lawrence , Avery John,Keyeno Thomas, Cyd Gray, Makan Hislop ,Aklie Edwards, Julius James, Dwight Yorke, Clyde Leon, Russell Latapy, Keon Daniel, Chris Birchall, Khaleem Hyland, Carlos Edwards, Anthony Wolfe, Collin Samuel, Andre Toussaint , Cornell Glen , Stern John and Darryl Roberts.

 

National senior football team Head Coach, Francisco Maturana has finalised a 22-man squad for this country’s upcoming two World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala on October 11 in Guatemala City and four days later against United States at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

And, included in the list are recalled striker Stern John, midfielder Chris Birchall, forward Collin Samuel and veteran goalkeeper Clayton Ince.

The upcoming encounters, which will be preceded by a friendly international against Dominican Republic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 8, will also see the duo of Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke in the team.

Latapy was this week appointed as player/coach and has been named in the 22-man roster. ‘Latas’ along with all the other overseas-based players will join the home-based players in a live-in camp at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on October 6 prior to the match against the Dominican Republic.

The rest of the squad for the two matches includes Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards, Cornell Glen, Khaleem Hyland, Julius James, Avery John, Andre Toussaint and Darryl Roberts among others.

Midfielder Aurtis Whitley and Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones have not been included as both players have still not recovered from their respective injuries.

The T&T team will depart for Guatemala City on October 9, spend one day there before the match on October 11. The players and coaching staff will return to Port of Spain immediately following the match on a charter flight.

TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner announced that President George Maxwell Richards has accepted an invitation to travel to Guatemala City on the charter along with 120 fans to witness the encounter. That flight arrives there on the eve of the match.

Warner said: “We have arranged for the charter which will carry the President of the Republic as well as the TTFF President Oliver Camps and a group of fans to witness the game and then return with the team that same night.”

The match officials for T&T vs Guatemala are: Referee – Mauricio Navarro (Canada), Assistant 1 - Hector Vergara (Canada) and Assistant 2 – Darren Clark (Canada). The match commissioner is Dave Fredericks from the Cayman Islands and Jamaican Peter Prenderast is the referee assessor.

For the T&T/USA match, Costa Rican Walter Quesada is the match referee with Honduras’ Roberto Giron and Costa Rica’s Oswaldo Luna to serve as the assistants.

The T&T/Guatemala encounter will also be aired live on CNMG Channel 6 as well as on Radio 105 FM and I95.5FM

82

Football / The fall of Mr Simoes

« on: September 14, 2008, 12:50:07 AM »

The fall of Mr Simoes

Saturday, September 13, 2008
Jamaica Observer

Job security doesn't count for much when you are an international football coach. That is probably one reason such people are paid so much.

Even so, most Jamaicans and very probably Mr Rene Simoes himself were taken aback at his dismissal as technical director of Jamaica's football.

In retrospect though, the writing was on the wall. Football fans will recall that Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the man who dropped the axe, has long insisted that Jamaica should always seek to field its strongest available team. 

Indeed, it was the expressed position of Captain Horace Burrell in explaining the decision to fire Mr Simoes' predecessor Mr 'Bora' Milutinovic late last year that among other faults, the latter had been cavalier in the selection of Jamaican teams. The feeling then was that "experimental" team selection had led to a number of defeats for the Reggae Boyz, triggering a headlong drop in the FIFA rankings.

So it was then that football watchers were puzzled by the decision of Mr Simoes - who so gloriously guided Jamaica to the 1998 World Cup in France - to ignore the claims of several experienced, overseas-based professionals as he entered the second phase of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. Readers will note that Jamaica are drawn in the so-called 'Group of Death' with powerful Mexico, Honduras and Canada. Only two can go forward to the final qualifying Group of Six which will determine the CONCACAF representatives for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, so there could be no room for error. To borrow from Jamaican folk culture "as yuh slip, yuh slide".

A 1-1 draw against Canada in that country was a fair start. The Jamaican management and coaching staff would surely have recognised that defeat against mighty Mexico at high altitude in the famous Azteca was the overwhelmingly likely result. The hope was that in Honduras, Jamaica would have at least matched the performance in Canada. Things looked good up to half-time with the Reggae Boyz holding at 0-0.

But then injury forced the withdrawal of central defender Mr Jermaine Taylor and suddenly the risky selection policy of Mr Simoes was cruelly exposed. Without an experienced replacement for Mr Taylor, the coach brought in a midfielder, Mr Jevaughn Watson, in only his second game at the international level and pulled back Mr Tyrone Marshall from central midfield to central defence.

The team lost its form and compactness in defence and Honduras would score two unanswered goals.

With three home games remaining, there still remains an outside chance that Jamaica can qualify for the final qualifying group. But by choosing to terminate his services at this point, Captain Burrell sent the clear message that he no longer trusted the judgement of the Brazilian.

We will probably never know all the reasons for Mr Simoes' decision not to bolster his squad with more hardened and seasoned players. In the end it may simply have had to do with personality.

We recall making the point in March shortly after his arrival, that Mr Simoes was entering a football arena that was very different from the one he found in the 1990s. Back then there were almost no home-bred Jamaicans playing professionally. As a result Mr Simoes developed an understandingly paternalistic relationship with a largely home-based squad. 

Currently, we are told that more than 50 home-bred Jamaicans play professionally abroad. It was an entirely new challenge and we wondered how Mr Simoes would cope. Sadly, he didn't.

83

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 11, 2008, 06:21:10 PM »

Not a word...not a hand gesture. The entire bench was frozen as if they were admiring the americans play. I kept watching him from the press box to see if he would pull somebody on the bench and talk to them so that may have indicated a 2nd substitution...and I still waiting. But then again, it may have been difficult for the players to understand his english with Sam's Army singing loud for the entire match.

84

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 08:03:16 PM »

signing off from Toyota Field. Something aint right...I hope pancho getting a JW call tonight

85

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs USA Game (10-Sept-2008).

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:53:26 PM »

that deserves an automatic sub.

86

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:48:32 PM »

No movement on TT bench. Apparently Pancho is contented or nobody on the bench is worth putting in an attempt to get at least one goal.

87

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:31:46 PM »

Fuentes is in the perfect location filming, he's right in line with the TT 18yard box. So the defense could se de shit they playin!!

88

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:28:09 PM »

just looked at the ESPN 'live' feed and realized that its like 15 seconds behind the live action.

89

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:26:49 PM »

They need Tallest. Nobody in defense seems tobe reading the plays.

90

Football / Re: Warrior Nation LIVE at Toyota Field

« on: September 10, 2008, 07:24:55 PM »

only look offside because the defense was playing lazy and lacked coordination. Greater sense of urgency this half.