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91

Football / Bertille urges public to support Warriors

« on: April 01, 2005, 02:00:38 AM »

-Kern De Freitas


Friday, April 1st 2005
 
 
 Deposed national football coach Bertille St Clair has urged the Trinidad and Tobago public to continue to support the team.

In what was his last media conference as coach of the "Warriors", St Clair felt that the fans should give their continued support to the team, which he said still had a great chance to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, despite a poor start to the final round, with just one point from three matches.

"The guys have recognised that they didn't give the kind of performance that we deserve (against Guatemala last Saturday). I know people would say they see it on television, but the boys played well. They gave up some soft goals. Most of the time you would say I am making excuses.

"What we need to do...and I'm asking the public to rally behind the team. The team is not Bertille St Clair-the team is Trinidad and Tobago.

"If you look at the game (against Guatemala)," he said, "we lost that one by five goals and we didn't deserve that. In the game against the USA we could have come back in the last few minutes and equalised."

In a shake-up of the technical staff by the T&T Football Federation yesterday, St Clair was removed as coach, a position that will now fall to Dutchman Leo Beenhakker.

Former national captain Russell Latapy will join the squad in the capacity of assistant coach, along with David Nakhid, another former skipper.

Last month, Latapy had turned down a request by the TTFF to join the squad as a player, instead offering his services to the technical team.

"I believe that I would best serve my country as a coach. This is not an attack on the current head coach (Mr St Clair) or his staff, but the reality is that my eventual retirement from playing is definitely approaching," the 36-year-old Latapy had said.
 

92

Football / Warriors go for broke

« on: March 30, 2005, 02:49:13 AM »

COACH Bertille St Clair took personal control of organising Trinidad and Tobago's defence and midfield in yesterday's final training session ahead of today's all-important 4.30 p.m. meeting with Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.

While the T&T cadet band rendered a sweet version of Shurwayne Winchester's "Dead or Alive 2005", St Clair supervised his team, whose efforts may very well go down in flames should they fail to pick up points at home today after defeats at the hands of the United States and Guatemala in their previous outings.

St Clair divided his squad into three units yesterday-defensive, midfield and offensive-and he worked with the defensive line-up, before the midfield team of new captain Dwight Yorke, Angus Eve, Silvio Spann and Leslie Fitzpatrick joined the structure.

At the back, St Clair tried both the lanky Dennis Lawrence and Anton Pierre at the stopper position as replacements for injured Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, with Lawrence seeming to get the nod.

While Brent Sancho, Atiba Charles and Keyeno Thomas jostled to fill the man-marking positions, at all times Carlos Edwards and Marlon Rojas occupied the flanking defensive positions, indicating that St Clair was opting once more for the 3-5-2 system.

It will be no surprise to see England-based Yorke in the attacking central midfield position after yesterday's session, while both Eve and Spann vied for the defensive midfield roles.

T&T assistant coach Ron La Forest took charge of the attacking unit of Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Hector Sam and speedy Cornell Glen-the only addition to the squad that was hammered 5-1 by Guatemala last Saturday.

The loss to Guatemala has left the T&T Warriors bottom of the CONCACAF final round standings and looking to pick up their first points today.

Assistant coach David Nakhid said as a result of the latest defeat, the Warriors have had to reassess their approach in several areas before meeting Costa Rica. He was also quite pleased by the response of the players following Saturday's setback and is optimistic about doing well today.

He felt Trinidad and Tobago had sufficient time to put together a good performance against the Central American visitors.

"The onus is on us to have a positive result. Sometime when you lose as heavy as 5-1 it can be a blessing in disguise," said Nakhid, adding they had also worked hard to be ready for Costa Rica.

"It's not as though we have just come from Guatemala and begun planning for Costa Rica with just two days to go. We have been planning what we have to do against Costa Rica some time now," he pointed out.

The Costa Rican squad arrived in Trinidad at 5 p.m. on Easter Monday. They had a morning session yesterday and were also due to have another at the Stadium last night.


Teams:

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO-Shaka Hislop, Clayton Ince, Marlon Rojas, Nigel Henry, Dennis Lawrence, Brent Sancho, Atiba Charles, Anton Pierre, Keyeno Thomas, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Angus Eve, Carlos Edwards, Silvio Spann, Stern John, Dwight Yorke, Nigel Pierre, Hector Sam, Kenwyne Jones, Cornell Glen


COSTA RICA-Christian Badilla, Carlos Castro, Walter Centeno. Pablo Chinchilla, Leonardo Gonzalez, Carlos Hernandez, Andy Herron, Luis Marin, Gilberto Martiniez, Alvaro Mesen, Roy Myrie Jose Porras, Oscar Rojas, Geiner Segura, Douglas Sequeira, Alonso Solis, Michael Umana, Harold Wallace, Paulo Wanchope, Whayne Wilson

93

Cricket Anyone / From Sobers to Lara

« on: March 30, 2005, 02:47:15 AM »

History, as the historians are fond of saying, has an uncanny knack of repeating itself. Even cricket history. And the present plight of Brian Lara in relation to his place on the West Indies team is the most recent example.

Rewind to the year 1970. India is due to visit the West Indies. Garfield Sobers is the West Indies captain. But would the tour come off as scheduled?

Not if Guyana's President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, used his power to ban entry to his country of Garfield St Aubyn Sobers. For Burnham issued an edict:

Sobers, the West Indies captain, would not be allowed past into Guyana unless he first apologised for taking on a coaching assignment in Southern Rhodesia, today's Zimbabwe.

Faced with the challenge of multi-racialism at a time when white supremacy was the rule in neighbouring South Africa, Ian Smith, the Prime Minister, declared independence from Britain, and set up a government that was a carbon copy of the detested apartheid policies then in force in Capetown.

It was in this setting that Smith invited Sobers to take up a coaching assignment in Southern Rhodesia. He would coach black youngsters. Sobers said "yes" and set off a storm of disapproval in the West Indies and among the newer nations in the world of cricket.

In a column that I wrote in this newspaper at that time, I commented: "The whole trouble with Gary Sobers is that he doesn't give a damn about anything, except, of course, playing cricket. Otherwise how could the West Indies cricket captain be so utterly insensitive to say the things he has been saying about Rhodesia and to pose happily shaking the hand of Ian Smith whose attitude to his fellow Rhodesian blacks is well known?

"How could Sobers admit that he played before white only audiences and give the foolish excuse that black people in Rhodesia are not interested in cricket but in football?

"How dare he boast that Ian Smith has invited him to visit Rhodesia any time and he would be welcome?"

The India tour was in jeopardy. Talk was that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had expressed her concern.

It was no doubt due to this and the determined Burnham stance that our Prime Minister, Eric Williams, got into the act. He drafted a letter of apology addressed not to Burnham but to the West Indies Board for Sobers to sign:

"When I was invited to play cricket in Rhodesia, I thought of only two things-my love of cricket and my hope that I would be able to contribute to greater West Indian dignity.

"I had not realised the deep feelings of the West Indian people in this issue of Rhodesia. I have since learned of the wider international issues involved on the question of Rhodesia.

"If I had known or thought of these matters before going, I would never have gone to Rhodesia. If another opportunity came my way to go to Rhodesia, I would not now accept it."

Wes Hall, the great West Indies fast bowler who was on a coaching assignment in this country, was asked to take the letter to Sobers for him to sign. He agreed and flew off to Bridgetown. Sobers signed and the crisis was over.

The late Jamaica Prime Minister, Michael Manley, refers to this incident in his book A History of West Indies Cricket. He described Sobers as "politically unconscious" adding:

"To say there was an uproar in the Caribbean is comprehensively to understate what took place. Caribbean political leadership in government, in opposition, and of course in the lunatic fringe, found one voice in which to denounce Sobers for going to Ian Smith's rebel, racist nation.

"When Sobers became aware of the reaction to his visit he was aghast. It had simply not occurred to him that he had done something wrong.

Manley commended Sobers's apology as "patently sincere", adding: "A grateful Caribbean grabbed the apology with both hands. He was, after all, the first complete Caribbean folk hero, after George Headley.

"The thought that he might be lost as a consequence of a political gaffe was intolerable. For the great majority, the incident was forgiven and promptly forgotten."

Sobers had another response for his fans and his critics. In the Georgetown test against India, he scored 108 in the second innings in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 170 runs with Charlie Davis who scored 125. Sobers also took three wickets for 72 runs in the India first innings. The match ended in a draw.

And so we come to Brian Lara 35 years later with the Georgetown test against South Africa coming up and the likelihood, he would not be representing the West Indies this series.

Charlie Davis's brother, Bryan, in his comment in the Easter Catholic News bowled a bouncer at Lara: "Had it not been for Lara's involvement with C&W in a personal contract he signed two years then all these problems would not have taken on the intensity that they have.

"Lara," Davis adds, "has a lot to answer for and no matter what a wonderful player he is, and he's truly the best, no man is an island and no individual is greater than the game he plays."

I say with the calypsonians: Sans humanite!

94

Football / Let's rescue our beloved football

« on: March 30, 2005, 02:45:53 AM »

On March 21 I attended my first Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards ceremony hosted by the new organisers, First Citizens Bank. The evening was a gala one which I enjoyed, sitting in comfort at Queen's Hall, in the company of my wife.

The event caused me to wonder about football's chances of winning this award for a second time because it has been more than 30 years since I copped the title of Sportsman of the Year 1974 after my nomination as most valuable player in the Concacaf World Cup qualifying tournament in Haiti in which Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras competed. Trinidad and Tobago was also denied the opportunity of going to the World Cup finals in Germany then.

When I saw there were no nominees for football, I became even more concerned and couldn't help but ask Dave Lamy, a member of the FCB Sports Foundation panel, "Why weren't there any nominees for football, male and female?'' He answered, "Gally, there hasn't been any for the last two years.''

His answer made me realise the extent of the fragmentation of Trinidad and Tobago's football. I sat there wondering what magic can I pull out of my bag of tricks to bring this game back to where we were in 1989, so at least we can have a serious competitor for the beautiful new award displayed that night.

I couldn't believe, though, that during addresses delivered by Terry Young Sing, chairman of the FCB Sports Foundation and Roger Boynes, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, not a word or a good wish was mentioned in terms of the Trinidad and Tobago World Cup football team even though we are currently in contention for a place in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Thanks to Lystra Lewis's contribution to sports the FCB Sports Foundation panel decided to honour her by donating the Lystra Lewis Award for sportsmanship and luckily football won that night for the empathy displayed by young Matthew Ramirez of St Augustine Senior Comprehensive to his defeated opponent in an Intercol final.

The time is now for those people who say they really like this game and care about the future of football to come together and rescue this beautiful game so we could produce the high quality of players we had in days gone by. In the interim there could be a system where all the leagues nominate their player of the year and an independent panel could select a nominee for player of the year to the FCB Foundation. Football is the most popular sport in T&T and should have a nominee every year in this prestigious event.

I wish to congratulate Candice Scott and George Bovell III for their magnificent achievements, and the FCB Sports Foundation for maintaining the high standard of this award ceremony. Let us hope next year football's chances will be better.

Everald "Gally'' Cummings

Former national coach

95

Football / NOTHING BUT A VICTORY SAY'S ST.CLAIR

« on: March 30, 2005, 02:43:07 AM »

BY NIGEL SIMON

The T&T Warriors host Costa Rica in a crucial day three CONCACAF final round 2006 World Cup qualifier today, in full knowledge that only a win will keep its chances alive for a place in Germany when both teams take the field is at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, from 4.30pm.

Also today, Panama faces Mexico in Panama City from 10.30pm (TT time) and USA hosts Guatemala from 9pm (TT time) in Birmingham, Alabama in the two other CONCACAF matches.

After two rounds, Mexico winners of two matches by 2-1 margins, heads the six-team table with six points, followed by Guatemala, 5-1 victors over T&T on four points. USA and Costa Rica both have three points.

Panama, the Warriors’ next opponent in June, is fifth with one point from a draw against Guatemala, while T&T lies bottom of the table, pointless.

It is a desperate situation, one that calls for a herculean effort today against one of the group’s strongest teams. The fans are getting impatient and look forward to a major effort.

Being at home might just be the atmosphere the Warriors needs to play the kind of football coach Bertille St Clair says his team is capable of.

A third defeat, would put the Warriors almost out in the cold and may well signal the end of coach St Clair time in charge.

On the Brian Lara Promenade yesterday during an autograph session hosted by team’s sponsor, TSTT, St Clair admitted that his team was under pressure to get points on the board.

“There’s no question about it right now. We need a win and that is final.” St Clair said.

“In the matches before we have always gone for a win, but we have nothing to show up to now and there reaches a point when only a win will be accepted.

“We have already dropped six points in two matches, so it’s very crucial that we put on a good performance and get something out of the match with Costa Rica.”

Though the expectation of local supporters is at an all-time low following a disappointing Caribbean Football Union Digicel campaign and the two qualifying defeats, St Clair still feels that it’s not time to press the panic button.

“We recognise we have put ourselves in a difficult situation, but we know what lies ahead and the guys still feel that they can qualify.

“It’s important that the country gets behind the team and show the kind of the support that we are getting here today on the Promenade at the match tomorrow.”

The task of the Warriors is not an easy one against a Costa Rica team T&T has failed to beat in 10 previous World Cup qualifiers.

In four visits to T&T for World Cup matches, Costa Rica has beaten T&T three times, 2-0 in 2001, 1-0 in 1996 and 1-0 in 1965, while T&T earned a 1-1 draw on home soil in 1989.

T&T’s two wins against Costa Rica in 16 meetings have both come in CONCACAF Gold Cup matches by 2-1 margins, and today St Clair hopes he can build on those wins.

A major concern for him will be his defence, which has conceded seven goals in two matches and, once again, will be without Marvin Andrews, who also missed the Guatemala outing, through injury to the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Like Guatemala, the Costa Ricans are also expected to play a quick short passing game which may cause St Clair to make a few changes in his leaking defence, while up front, Dallas Burn striker Cornell Glenn, who has recovered from the ankle injury which forced him to miss the last match, is back to bolster the attack.

Among at least four changes in the Costa Rican squad which defeated Panama 2-1 are Jose Luis Lopez, who was red-carded in the last match and forward Froylan Ledezma, who walked out of the team on Sunday. Paula Wanchope of Spanish League side Malaga will lead the attack.

Prior to his team’s training session yesterday Costa Rica’s technical director Jorge Luis Pinto said: “We have come out of a very important win where we played before no fans and the three points was vital for us.

“But we know that T&T will be very hard to play against now, because they want to prove that they can come back from that loss in Guatemala. It’s not easy to lose so heavily and I expect them to be very tough”

Teams to be selected from:

Costa Rica: Christian Badilla, Carlos Castro, Walter Centeno, Pablo Chinchilla, Leonardo Gonzalez, Carlos Hernandez, Andy Herron, Luis Marin, Gilberto Martiniez, Alvaro Mesen, Roy Myrie Jose Porras, Oscar Rojas, Geiner Segura, Douglas Sequeira, Alonso Solis, Michael Umana, Harold Wallace, Paulo Wanchope, Whayne Wilson

T&T team: Shaka Hislop, Clayton Ince, Dennis Lawrence, Kenwyne Jones, Atiba Charles, Keyeno Thomas, Anton Pierre, Marlon Rojas, Brent Sancho, Silvio Spann, Nigel Henry, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Angus Eve, Carlos Edwards, Dwight Yorke, Nigel Pierre, Hector Sam, Cornell Glenn, Stern John


Current Concacaf Standings

Teams P W D L F A Pts

Mexico 2 2 0 0 4 2 6

Guatemala 2 1 1 0 5 1 4

USA 2 1 0 1 3 3 3

Panama 2 0 1 1 1 2 1

Costa Rica 2 1 0 1 3 3 3

T&T 2 0 0 2 2 7 0 

96

Football / so r we goin to da chat room 4 an interavtive chat durin da game ?

« on: March 26, 2005, 06:20:31 PM »

or is it the same thread from felx or da old site ?

97

What about Track & Field / Carifta Games start today

« on: March 26, 2005, 12:13:27 PM »

As expected, Store Bay was a popular liming spot yesterday, the first day of the long holiday weekend. And visitors and locals alike will continue to flock to the beaches here in Tobago, over the next few days. But for lovers of track and field, there is only one place to be this Easter weekend the Dwight Yorke Stadium, in Bacolet.

The newly-refurbished stadium is the stage on which the best young athletes in the region will perform today, tomorrow and Monday. And fittingly, a Tobagonian is expected to emerge as one of the stars of Carifta 2005. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago head coach Trevor James is expecting double gold from the Plymouth athlete in the girls under-20 sprints.

"I think Kelly-Ann Baptiste is ready to take on anyone in this particular meet at the 100 and 200. I'm looking for a double, and I'm looking for Kelly-Ann to walk away with three medals at this particular meet, the 100, the 200 and the 4x1."

The head coach is also expecting good performances from his son Jamil James and Tobago quarter-miler Renny Quow. They are expected to square off against each other in tonight's boys under-20 400m final.

"Trinidad and Tobago can look forward to an interesting toss-up going down the stretch with those two athletes."



Baptiste will see action today, in the girls under-20 100m dash, while the boys under-20 century will feature Marcus Duncan.

"That field right now is hot," (Trevor) James told the Express, yesterday. "Marcus is competing against (Renaldo) Rose from Jamaica and (Daniel) Bailey from Antigua, so we'll get an opportunity to see Marcus putting his best foot forward.

"We have a lot of good youngsters," the head coach continued. "We're hoping Kervin Morgan can pull off a double in the 200 and 400. Monique Cabral is finding her best foot these days. And Rhonda Watkins will be her normal self. We expect gold from her in the high jump, and we're looking for gold too in the long jump."

Today, Morgan will compete in the boys under-17 400m, Cabral is expected to face the starter in the girls under-20 100m and Watkins will defend her girls under-20 long jump title.

Pilar McShine, Annie Alexander, Natoya Baird, Peter Carter, Britney St Louis, Sade St Louis, Janelle Clarke, LaTasha Roach, Marsha Louis, Jurnelle Francis, Keston Bledman, Shermin Lasaldo, Precious Rogers, Hileen James, Jervon John, Jamie Payne, Zwede Hewitt, Garvin Nero, Sherwin Stapleton, Mikhail Matthews, Shirlon Scott, Emmanuel Stewart, Kerticha John, Sandino Nero, Kellon Marshall, Kerron Brown and Dwayne Nicome are also expected to be in action, today, for the host nation.

Baptiste and (Jamil) James are the Team T&T co-captains. Baptiste is a student at Louisiana State University, while Jamil is a student at University of South Carolina.

"They'll be meeting with the team to share not only their own personal experiences abroad," the elder James explained, "but also the importance of us performing at a high level at this particular meet, and what the meet means to the people here in Trinidad and Tobago."

The head coach said that the 69-member T&T team is capable of surpassing the country's best-ever haul of 32 medals. That feat was accomplished at the 1998 Games, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port-of-Spain.

"What I am looking forward to from T&T is more gold medals. And if we can get more gold medals, hopefully we'll pick up more silver and bronzes along the way."

The first session starts at 9.50 this morning. And the opening ceremony is scheduled for four p.m.

98

Football / Wanted - World Cup points for Warriors

« on: March 25, 2005, 02:34:10 AM »

T&T’s Anton Pierre gets in a tackle on American Eddie Lewis during their first leg final round World Cup qualifier at Queen’s Park Oval On February 9. The USA won the match 2-1.

BY NIGEL SIMON

Needing some urgent points to keep their campaign alive, T&T’s Warriors will play two matches within the next week that could well determine whether or not they will get to Germany and the World Cup finals in 2006.

Earlier this week, coach Bertille St Clair called up 20 players for a week-long training camp in Miami ahead of Saturday’s qualifier against FIFA 70th-ranked Guatemala.

The list includes goalkeeper Shaka Hislop of English Premiership side Portsmouth, Birmingham City's Dwight Yorke and Stern John currently of Coventry City. The trio all played in T&T's first final-round loss 1-2 to the USA on February 9.

The coach has also called Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Dundee's Brent Sancho, Wrexham duo Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam, and the Japan-based Silvio Spann.

St Clair will be hoping his minor stars can secure the side's first points on Saturday, at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.

The match will be a tough test for the only remaining Caribbean side in the six-team CONCACAF finale as the Central Americans have rated attacking players in the Los Angeles Galaxy duo of Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz and Guillermo Ramirez.

T&T's Miami training camp was initially supposed to include a friendly match against Honduras, but that was cancelled when the teams were recently drawn in the same group for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

But despite a poor start to the campaign and an upcoming clash against a significantly improved Guatemala, who drew 0-0 with Panama in their opener, St Clair is in an optimistic mood.

Costa Rica will host Panama at San Jose’s Estadio Ricardo Saprissa while the day two encounters on Sunday will conclude with Mexico at home to the USA at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.

Day three on March 30, will pit Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, while the USA will host Guatemala at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and Panama will be at home to Mexico at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium.

Current Concacaf standings

Teams P W D L F A Pts

Mexico 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

USA 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

Guatemala 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

Panama 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

Costa Rica 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

T&T 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

Remaining CONCACAF World Cup qualifying final round match dates:

Match Day 2

26.03.2005: Cost Rica vs Panama, 6 pm; Guatemala vs T&T, 8pm.

27.03.2005: Mexico vs USA, 8 pm.

Match Day 3

30.03.2005: T&T vs Costa Rica, 4.30pm; USA vs Guatemala, 7 pm; Panama vs Mexico, 8.30 pm.

Match Day 4

04.06.2005: T&T vs Panama, 4.30pm; Guatemala vs Mexico, 7 pm; USA vs Costa Rica, 5.30 pm.

Match Day 5

08.06.2005: Panama vs USA, 8.30 pm; Costa Rica vs Guatemala, 8 pm; Mexico vs T&T, 7 pm.

Match Day 6

17.08.2005: Guatemala vs Panama, 8 pm; Mexico vs Costa Rica, 9 pm; USA vs T&T, 8 pm.

Match Day 7

03.09.05: Panama vs Costa Rica, 8 pm; T&T vs Guatemala, 4.30pm; USA vs Mexico, 7.30 pm

Match Day 8

07.09.2005: Mexico vs Panama, 6 pm; Guatemala vs USA, 6 pm; Costa Rica vs T&T, 6pm.

Match Day 9

08.10.2005/09.10.2005: Panama vs T&T; Mexico vs Guatemala; Costa Rica

Match Day 10

12.10.2005: USA vs Panama; Guatemala vs Costa Rica; T&T vs Mexico

Head-to-Head (T&T vs Guatemala)� 

T&T vs Guatemala (GUA)

7 Played 7

3 Won 2

2 Drawn 2

2 Lost 3

6 Goals 8

08-DEC-96 Los Amgeles Guatemala vs T&T 2:1(1-1) FIFA WC 1998 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

06-OCT-96 PoS T&T vs Guatemala 1:1 (1:1) FIFA WC 1998 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

03-SEP-89 PoS T&T vs Guatemala 2:1 (1:1) FIFA WC 1990 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

20-AUG-89 Guatemala Guatemala vs T&T 0:1(0:0) FIFA WC 1990 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

10-DEC-73 Port-au-Prince T&T vs Guatemala 1:0(1:0) FIFA WC 1974 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

20-NOV-68 Guatemala T&T vs Guatemala 0:0 FIFA WC 1970 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

17-NOV-68 Guatemala Guatemala vs T&T 4:0(1:0) FIFA WC 1970 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

Head-to-Head (T&T vs Costa Rica)

T&T vs Costa Rica (CRC)�  � 

10 Played 10

0 Won 8

2 Drawn 2

8 Lost 0

3 Goals 19

01-SEP-01 PoS T&T vs Costa Rica 0:2 (0:2) FIFA WC 2002 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

28-MARS-01 San Jose Costa Rica vs T&T 3:0 (0:0) FIFA WC 2002 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

21-DEC-96 Cartago Costa Rica vs T&T 2:1 (1:1) FIFA WC 1998 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

01-SEP-96 PoS T&T vs Costa Rica 0:1(0:0) FIFA WC 1998 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

11-JUN-89 San Jose Costa Rica vs T&T 1:0 (1:0) FIFA WC 1990 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

28-MAY-89 PoS T&T vs Costa Rica 1:1(0:0) FIFA WC 1990 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

28-APR-85 San Jose Costa Rica vs T&T 1:1 (0:1) FIFA WC 1986 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

24-APR-85 San Jose T&T vs Costa Rica 0:3 (0:1) FIFA WC 1986 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

07-MARS-65 PoS T&T vs Costa Rica 0:1(0:1) FIFA WC 1966 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

21-FEB-65 San Jose Costa Rica vs T&T 4:0 (1:0) FIFA WC 1966 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF

99

Football / CONCACAF Final Round Qualifying continue this weekend

« on: March 23, 2005, 02:54:56 AM »

22.3.05 - The CONCACAF Final Round of World Cup Qualification continues with Match Dates 2 and 3 taking place during the final week of this month.
Match Day 2 will have Costa Rica (0-1-0, 0 Points) greeting Panama (0-0-1, 1 Point) in a closed door encounter, ordered by FIFA, at San José’s Estadio Ricardo Saprissa on Saturday, 26 March, while Trinidad & Tobago (0-1-0, 0 Points) visits Guatemala (0-0-1, 1 Point) at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Ciudad de Guatemala. The Match Day 2 concludes on Sunday, 27 March when Mexico (1-0-0, 3 Points) host the USA (1-0-0, 3 Points) at the Estadio Azteca in Ciudad de México.

Match Day 3 on 30 March has Costa Rica visiting Trinidad & Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, while the USA greets Guatemala at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, and Panama host Mexico at the Estadio Rommel Fernández.

captured from www.concacaf.com

CONCACAF CONFIRMS FINAL ROUND FIXTURES FOR MATCH DATES 4-8
CONCACAF confirmed the fixtures for the CONCACAF Final Round of World Cup Qualification Match Dates 4 through 8 that will run from 4 June – 7 September 2005.

Details on the final fixtures, Match Dates 9 & 10 that are scheduled for 8 & 12 October 2005 respectively, in which all games have to be played simultaneously, will be announced later this year.

The top three finishers from the CONCACAF Final Round will advance directly to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, while the fourth-place finisher will compete in a home-and-away playoff against fifth-place finisher of the Asian Football Confederation, for one of the last berths into the FIFA event. These games will take place in November 2005.

2006 CONCACAF WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – FINAL ROUND
Match Day 2
26.03.2005: San José, COSTA RICA; Estadio Ricardo Saprissa (18:00)
COSTA RICA – PANAMA
R: Marco RODRIGUEZ (MEX)

26.03.2005: Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA; Estadio Mateo Flores (20:00)
GUATEMALA – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
R: Kevin STOTT (USA)

27.03.2005: Ciudad de México, MEXICO; Estadio Azteca (12:00)
MEXICO – USA
R: Rodolfo SIBRIAN (SLV)

Match Day 3
30.03.2005: Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; Hasely Crawford Stadium (16:30)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – COSTA RICA
R: Mauricio NAVARRO (CAN)

30.03.2005: Birmingham, Alabama USA; Legion Field (19:00)
USA – GUATEMALA
R: Ramesh RAMDHAN (TRI)

30.03.2005: Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMA; Estadio Rommel Fernández (20:30)
PANAMA – MEXICO
R: Jose PINEDA (HON)

100

Football / Unstoppable Jabloteh eyes repeat in 2005

« on: March 13, 2005, 11:24:23 PM »

ALL Hail the Young Kings!

They were almost unstoppable during the past season, the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh Under-14 football team which captured all titles on offer in their age group.

The Gwenwyn Cust coached team dominated the Pro League Championship, comfortably winning the league and knockout titles. They also captured the Unit Trust Championship and the National Goodwill tournament in Guyana.

In the T&T Pro League, they defeated all their opponents, including W Connection, North East Stars, Defence Force, Arima Morvant Fire, South West Drillers and Starworld Strikers.

They were brilliantly led by Franz Husbands who scored 25 of the team's 57 goals during the two rounds of the league. The

Jabloteh defence allowed only one goal in the very last game of the league against W Connection which they won 2-1.

Skipper Anthony Sullivan’s team also experienced little problems in the knockout tournament.

After receiving a bye in the quarter-final, they met Arima Morvant Fire in the semis, where they ran away 4-0 winners with Franz Husbands netting a double.

Jabloteh then met W Connection in finals and again the prolific Husbands led them to a 3-0 win, with another double.

The San Juan based youths were not finished yet. They were hungry for more success and in the Unit Trust Championship they displayed their class once again taking away the title.

Micah Lewis stepped up in the absence of Husbands — and led the Jabloteh youths to a 3-0 win over Skhy, and a 4-0 win over Trendsetter Hawks to easily qualify for the knockout phase of the competition.

Coach Cust, the former national player, having already qualified for the next round, rested a few players and suffered the team's only loss in the tournament a 1-3 defeat at the feet of Superstar Rangers but Jabloteh had the last laugh.

In the knockout stages, Lewis continued to score goals at will. He scored two beavertricks and a hattrick as Jabloteh crushed Stokley Vale of Tobago 12-1. They then got past Joe Public 5 - 2 in the semi-finals.

In the grand final, Jabloteh exacted sweet revenge as they beat Superstar Rangers 3-1 to raise the trophy.

The young ‘kings’ rounded off their season in Guyana in a Goodwill Tournament — 'The Desinco Cup,’ edging Suriname 1-0; defeating a Caricom outfit 4-0 and taking care of hosts Guyana 4-1.

Young Lewis ended as the season's top scorer with 26 goals, edging out Husbands who finished with 25 goals.

Overall Jabloteh scored 99 goals and conceded nine.

So what was the secret of their success?

Coach Cust summed it up —dedication, determination and discipline.

Cust said a lot of hard work and patience went into the success. “This season we bonded as a family and the boys began believing in themselves. They were much more focused and hence they performed consistently over the season and the results tells the story."

Cust added the management also played a major role. "Manageress Susan Farrell was like a mother, while assistant coach Gordon Husbands and trainer Arnold Pierre all played their roles as the key factor in our success was unity and teamwork."

The proud 63-year-old coach paid tribute to the team's captain Sullivan describing him as a future leader. "Sullivan really kept the guys together and was a real motivator on and off the field."

While Cust agrees that he will be under pressure to repeat the form they displayed last year—he believes the team will be even stronger in 2005 as the core group of players from 2004 will be back with a few additional players who will be drafted in to further strengthen the squad.

Cust says there is great expectancy and anticipation as they look ahead to the new season. “Not only will we be looking to win every game but we will be focusing on the social development of the young players, developing their mental toughness, preparing them to fit into society, helping them communicate properly and ensuring they have a positive attitude and outlook on life."
 
2004-2005 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

101

Football / CONCACAF receives additional berths to upcoming FIFA World Championships

« on: March 10, 2005, 10:14:19 AM »

8.3.05 - The FIFA Executive Committee, meeting, under the chairmanship of FIFA President Joseph Blatter today in Zurich, Switzerland, decided that CONCACAF will receive additional berths to upcoming FIFA World Championships.
The FIFA Exco, whose membership includes CONCACAF President Jack Warner, CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer and CONCACAF Executive Committee Member Isaac Sasso Sasso, decided that that 2006 FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship in Russia will be a U-20 competition and that the number of participating teams will be increased from 12 to 16. Therefore CONCACAF will get an additional berth, increasing from two to three. The remaining slots were allocated as follows: Host –1, AFC – 3, CAF – 2, CONMEBOL – 2, OFC –1, UEFA – 4.

The FIFA Exco also ratified the number of slots for each confederation at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in China 2007: Host – 1, AFC – 2.5, CAF – 2, CONCACAF – 2.5, CONMEBOL – 2, OFC – 1, UEFA – 5.

The committee announced that Korea Republic will host the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and that the event will increase from 16 to 24 teams. CONCACAF will receive another berth, increasing from three to four for the FIFA event. The other places were allocated among the Confederations as follows: Host – 1, AFC – 4, CAF – 4, CONMEBOL – 4, OFC – 2, UEFA – 4, and one additional place for the confederation of the winning team in the 2005 U-17 tournament.