Messages

631

Football / Re: Thread for the (CFU) Club Championship 2012.

« on: June 19, 2012, 07:42:29 PM »

Caledonia beats Barracuda to CONCACAF berth.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).

Second half goals from Radanfah Abu Bakr and substitute Devon Jorsling created another piece of history for Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA tonight in Marabella as the “Eastern Stallions” qualified for the CONCACAF Club Championship with a 2-0 win over Antigua Barracuda in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) semifinals.

Barracuda was fast, energetic and resolute but rarely threatened as Caledonia reaped the rewards for its ambition down either flank.

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632

Football / Re: Thread for the (CFU) Club Championship 2012.

« on: June 19, 2012, 10:38:28 AM »

Connection, Caledonia defend T&T football in CFU semis tonight
… P/Rico and Antiguan clubs in the way at Marabella
By LASANA LIBURD (wired868.com)

“From a Trinidad and Tobago standpoint, we are out of the Olympic and World Cup qualifying campaigns,” said Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA coach Jamaal Shabazz. “So this gives us a chance to still keep in touch with the top teams in the CONCACAF region.
“For us and W Connection, qualification is more than just for our clubs.”
Caledonia AIA and W Connection will figuratively hoist the Trinidad and Tobago flag this evening in Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship semifinal match-ups against Antigua Barracuda and Puerto Rico Islanders from 6 pm and 8 pm respectively at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The winners qualify automatically for the CONCACAF and meet in Thursday’s final at the same venue while the losers meet in a decisive play off on Thursday. Three of the four competing CFU clubs will advance.
The CFU champions will join a three team group that includes United States’ Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Seattle Sounders and Honduran club, Marathon. Seattle employs Trinidad and Tobago under-23 attacker Cordell Cato and US striker Eddie Johnson.
The CFU runner-up will face top Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara and Guatemalan team Xelaju while third place wins a date with England star David Beckham’s LA Galaxy and El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan.
Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier and Shabazz hope a good showing from the two Pro League teams at CONCACAF level can provide impetus for the stuttering local game.
Read More: http://wired868.com/868/index.php/volley/item/187-connection-caledonia-defend-tt-football-in-cfu-semis-tonight

633

Football / USA still doesn't get football; their loss

« on: June 16, 2012, 09:41:53 PM »

USA still doesn’t get football; their loss
By Kirk A Inniss (wired868.com)

The Euro Cup is on. And at the risk of being deemed an idiot, I add, in Europe. In the heart of Brooklyn, the Caribbean Cup is off and running. Across the rest of the footballing world, there’s a sprinkling of World Cup qualifiers.

At the same time, in every nook and cranny of our regular existence, the beautiful game thrives, kept alive by sad, aging dreams and youthful hearts. Football, soccer if you will, is one sport that has over a billion fans, hardy, unwavering, safely settled in its seductive insides. My guess is that such is the power of the beautiful game, there are “summer” evening sweats taking place across the length and breadth of the planet, even in some wintry climes. I kid you not.

Sad as that may seem to those of us smitten by the bug, some countries, though, have managed to remain outside the reach of football’s powerful magic, beyond the pale. For all its potential and its pull, even in America football, or soccer—to avoid confusion, is a sport that resides way down the die-hard fans’ food chain.

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634

Football / TTFF coaches go unpaid as Sport Ministry shrugs

« on: June 13, 2012, 09:26:52 PM »

TTFF coaches go unpaid as Sport Ministry shrugs
… Harford blames Warner’s influence for gov’t snub
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation’s (TTFF) coaches are going unpaid and its debts are mounting as the Sport Ministry’s recent apparent indifference to the local football body threatens to create a crisis within the nation’s most popular sport.

Anthony Harford, chairman of the TTFF’s marketing firm All Sport Promotion, claimed that he submitted an invoice for $3.4 million to the Sport Ministry on 23 May 2012, which was meant to cover expenditure for the men’s Olympic team and women’s Under-17 team. The men’s and women’s teams competed in March and May respectively.

A further budget of $1.1 million was given to the Sport Ministry to take the Under-17 and Under-20 boys’ teams through their respective Caribbean qualifying tournaments.

However, according to Harford, Sport Minister Anil Roberts has not so much as responded to their hand-delivered letters much less fulfilled his alleged promise to the national youth teams.

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635

Football / TTFF ignores Warner and attacks High Court Judge

« on: June 12, 2012, 02:26:50 PM »

TTFF ignores Warner and attacks High Court Judge
… Justice Rampersad asked to leave W/Cup bonus case
By LASANA LIBURD (Wired868.com)

Under the threat of incarceration, Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) General Secretary Richard Groden has refused to sue Works Minister and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner and will instead attempt to cross swords with High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad.

Groden and former TTFF President Oliver Camps were required to respond in writing by 31 May 2012 to an application for contempt proceedings by legal representatives of 13 former Trinidad and Tobago international footballers who participated at the Germany 2006 World Cup.

The contempt charge was brought after Camps and Groden repeatedly fail to file a civil suit against Warner, who acted as the TTFF’s Special Advisor during the FIFA tournament, negotiated the bonus payment scheme with the players and, according to the TTFF, banked all the World Cup-related revenue.

However, Wired868 was reliably informed that, rather than respond to the contempt charge, Groden’s attorney, Derek Ali, submitted an application asking Justice Rampersad to disqualify himself from all further rulings on this case for bias.

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636

Football / Re: Anand: No evidence linking Jack to bribery charges.

« on: June 07, 2012, 03:48:07 PM »

¿Habla ingles, DPP? No lo entiende el AG
(By Wired868)

Is English the first language of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard?
The DPP was unimpressed with Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs' assertion that a police probe into bribery allegations surrounding Warner should be closed and retorted with: "you need to go further with the investigation" and "I have not cleared anybody."
Does everyone get what he is saying?
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan still didn't feel Gaspard was being precise.
Read More: http://wired868.com/868/index.php/good-mornin-neighbour/332-habla-ingles-dpp-no-lo-entiende-el-ag

637

Football / Re: Wired868 examines Warner’s police acquittal

« on: May 30, 2012, 06:40:39 AM »

UPDATED STORY:

Wired868 examines Warner’s supposed police acquittal
... Gibbs, Warner and the PSC deserve sanction
By Lasana Liburd (www.wired868.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's national security bodies revealed a new low this week in terms of organisation, investigative work, communication and, arguably, credibility.

Minister of Works and Infrastructure and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was at the heart of the chaos.

On Monday, the PSC issued a press release which claimed that investigations into bribery allegations against Warner, arising from the scandalous 2011 FIFA presidential elections, had been closed for the past two months.

The PSC, which is chaired by Ramesh Deosoran, informed the public that Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs will take no further action against Warner on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard based on the report given by Gibbs himself.

Gaspard  subsequently denied ever offering such advice.

The PSC release also included several dates, which only further muddied the waters.

The Police Commissioner apparently sent a letter to the PSC on 21 March 2012 informing the latter body that the case was closed.

Coincidentally, on 20 March 2012, I contacted Warner based on new information received on this same case.

Wired868 received a copy of an affidavit sworn by Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) General Secretary Richard Groden, which alleged that he handed Warner an envelope containing a US$40,000 (TTS$243,200) bribe from another former FIFA VP, Mohamed bin Hammam, at his ministerial office and saw him place it in a drawer. Groden also accused Warner of fraudulently representing the TTFF.

So, on March 20, Wired868 asked Warner (among other questions):
"Did you use your post as Transport Minister to facilitate the flow of this money into or out of the country? Did you receive US$40,000 from Richard Groden at your Government office last year? If so, what did you do with the money?"

Warner did not respond and, on March 22, Wired868 published: “TTFF Secretary accuses Warner of collecting bribe.”

But, unknown to us, Commissioner Gibbs allegedly sought to close the case between the time of our letter to Warner and publication of our exclusive report with new information.

Five days after Gibbs' alleged bizarre misinterpretation of Gaspard's advice, Warner was officially appointed to the National Security Council (NSC) on which the Canada-born Police Commissioner is a fellow board member.

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638

Football / Wired868 examines Warner’s police acquittal

« on: May 29, 2012, 08:12:09 PM »

Wired868 examines Warner’s police acquittal.
By: Lasana Liburd (wired868).

There was good and bad news for me today in my professional and personal capacity as a sport writer and football fan.

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first.

The Wired868 online newspaper apparently has a superior investigative team than the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and is more articulate than the Police Service Commission (PSC).

I will attempt to support those two claims later but let me start by bringing you up to speed.

Yesterday, the PSC issued a press release to the old media regarding investigations of bribery allegations against Minister of Works and Infrastructure and ex-FIFA Vice President, Jack Warner.

The PSC, which is chaired by Ramesh Deosoran, wanted the public to know that Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs will take no further action against Warner on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard based on the report given by Gibbs himself.

I hope you did not try to read that aloud while chewing; it was a mouthful.

The aforementioned statement turned out to be all the PSC felt needed to be said on this matter. The biggest international scandal to involve a senior Cabinet Minister in this millennium was treated as flippantly as a broken pipe in Morvant.

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639

Football / DPP denies closing warner case

« on: May 29, 2012, 08:08:08 PM »

DPP denies closing Warner case.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard denied absolving Works Minister and ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner of blame in last year’s international bribery scandal and said he did not ask the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to close its investigations into the Chaguanas West MP.

Rather, Gaspard criticised the police for providing him with “thread bare information and material” on the Warner case.

"There is nothing in it for me to suggest or to see any contravention of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago," Gaspard wrote to the investigating officer, as revealed by CANA News, "that could mean that you need to go further with the investigation because what they supplied to me was insufficient...

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640

Football / Wired868 reveals all about the Centre of Excellence

« on: May 28, 2012, 08:49:08 AM »

Warner lied about Centre of Excellence
… And so did FIFA and CONCACAF Presidents
By LASANA LIBURD (www.wired868.com)

Ex-FIFA Vice President Jack Warner told yesterday’s Sunday Guardian that he does not own the Dr João Havelange Centre of Excellence in Macoya.

Prior to that on Friday, the current Minister of Works and Infrastructure also told CNC3 that the multi-sport complex was a gift from former FIFA President, Havelange, to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), a denial which was published in the Trinidad Express newspaper.

In both cases, Warner was less than honest.

Ever since its construction in 1998, the Centre of Excellence has belonged to Warner; the closest CONCACAF has ever got it to its deed was when the Chaguanas West MP needed a guarantor for a mortgage on the property.

In fact, the facility belongs to the Trinidadian three-times over as the ownership is split between himself and two of his companies, CCAM and Company and Renraw—‘Warner’ backwards—Investments. Warner’s wife, Maureen, is the only other director at both companies.

At last week’s CONCACAF Congress in Budapest, Hungary, the Confederation’s new president, Jeffrey Webb, made a supposedly stunning disclosure when he said that the Centre of Excellence—valued between US$22.5 and US$25.5 million—belonged to Warner.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter further alleged that the venue was improperly signed over to Warner’s family at some point and claimed the governing body would take legal action to reclaim it.

All three parties were, Wired868 can reveal, at best frugal with the truth.

Warner, according to a CONCACAF source, was correct in claiming that the Centre of Excellence was Havelange’s gift to the Caribbean. It is believed that the 96-year-old Brazilian administrator gave Warner US$2 million to start the complex although Wired868 could not verify that figure.

However, Wired868 can confirm that the main piece of property on which the Centre of Excellence now stands was purchased from business magnate and Guardian newspaper owner, Anthony Norman Sabga, on 7 October, 1998 when Sabga and fellow director, Michael Kelvin Mansoor, handed over their shares to Warner and Renraw Limited.

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641

Football / Caledonia and Connection may see little difference in new CFU

« on: May 25, 2012, 10:02:33 AM »

Caledonia, WCFC face awkward CFU test.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com).

There was applause and handshakes all round in midweek at the Boscolo New York Palace Hotel in Budapest, Hungary as Cayman Islands’ Jeffrey Webb and Antigua and Barbuda’s Gordon Derrick officially replaced controversial ex-FIFA Vice President and Works Minister Jack Warner at the helm of the CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) respectively.

Webb and Cuban delegate Luis Hernandez were particularly scathing about the perceived mismanagement and corruption that were a feature of Warner’s reign.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Pro League football representative, W Connection and Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, would get the first taste of the new set-up when they compete in the finals of the CFU Club Championship. Not surprisingly, no one knows when and where the final round will be held yet although that might be decided today.

In their way is the Antigua Barracudas, which is owned by Derrick, coached by the ABFA’s technical director Tom Curtis and managed to secure the right to represent Antigua and Barbuda despite having never played competitively on the island. The Barracudas play in what is effectively the United States third division.

For all the talk of a new era in the Caribbean, Derrick already bears some resemblance to his predecessor, Warner. Connection and Caledonia still remember the challenge of competing with the last CFU president’s Joe Public team while the owner had oversight over referees, fixtures and competition rules and routinely used his influence to poach players.

At the CFU’s semi-final group stage in Trinidad, the Barracudas’ jerseys featured numbers which so closely matched the colour of the shirts that it was virtually impossible for reporters and match commissioners to follow the game.

Match Commissioner Wayne Cunningham admitted that the Barracudas’ outfit was farcical but gave a nervous chuckle when asked if a formal complaint will be made.

There is likely to be similar unease for Connection and Caledonia owners when they meet Barracudas.

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642

Football / Re: Sped up of haters.

« on: November 05, 2010, 09:16:26 PM »

Hello. Actually, regarding the heading "Sped Up", it is not a word play by the writer but the name of a column designed by UWI SPEC.
Writers are invited to write on a topic that they are "Sped Up" about. Hope that helps clear up that point.

643

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:23:55 PM »

Final whistle and Trinidad and Tobago are through to the Digicel Caribbean Cup finals in Martinique where Latapy has been told to win or get lost by Sport Minister Anil Roberts. I paraphrase.
A fairly comfortable victory although still some rungs short of inspiring.
Individually, there were improved performances from the younger players with a decent debut by Ma Pau midfielder Kevin Molino, an accomplished performance by left back Joevin Jones and some flickers of menace from Jamal Gay.

644

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:17:17 PM »

Guyana are playing for a honourable defeat and they are going to get it too.
If ever there was a game for an early exit, this is it. Definitely an inferiority complex by our neighbours.
Arguably deserved though.

645

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:15:05 PM »

While Jorsling has nine goals in this calendar year alone, T&T's most high profile strikers, Kenwyne Jones and Jason Scotland, have four and eight career international senior goals respectively.
Read into that what you will...
To be fair, neither Scotland or Jones played in a Caribbean Cup to my recollection... Am I correct?

646

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:12:24 PM »

86'
Molino is back on and relieves Jorsling who had retreated to take up his duties.

647

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:10:42 PM »

83'
Molino down clutching his right knee and Latapy has already made all his substitutions. Despite the close result, this game lacks the pace and intensity of Trinidad and Tobago's opening group fixture, which was a 6-2 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines.
A bit more thoughtful from Latapy's men but not fluid yet.

648

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:07:36 PM »

That goal was clearly in the making. It came after an exchange down T&T's left side and Beveney's low shot squirmed under Jan Michael Williams.
T&T just one goal ahead now. 2-1.

649

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:05:53 PM »

80'
GOAL Guyana. Shawn Beveney!

650

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:04:35 PM »

77'
Caution for Molino as he tumbles in area over the legs of the Guyanese goalkeeper looking for a penalty. It was Trent Noel who played him in.
Seconds later, Guyana hit the near post through Abrams.
Jan Michael is still praying to get through this unscathed.

651

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 07:01:27 PM »

Anthony Wolfe is a nice, honest player but does anyone else think it is too soon for Russell Latapy's famous shirt to end up on the back of a workhorse?
75'
Shawn Beveney replaces Guyana right flanker Dwain Jacobs.

652

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:59:09 PM »

73'
And there is Theobald's first 20-yarder... Cue cymbals please! Haha. Jorsling tried to make it run across his body and he would have been clear through on goal but Guyana right back Jake Newton was having none of it.

653

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:56:51 PM »

70'
Nurse just wide from inside the six yard box after Cyrus fails to cut out a left side cross... T&T still on course for a clean sheet.

654

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:54:43 PM »

One of Peltier's better performances in my book. There was a bit of variety on the ball and he seemed more attentive to his final ball.

655

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:53:22 PM »

67'
Peltier limps off and is replaced by Keon Daniel.

656

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:47:38 PM »

Latapy's changes were spot on against St Vincent and the Grenadines. The only question is whether it is worth sending someone back on the field for five minutes and then yanking him off.
In any case, it is surely another positive night for Latapy.
61'
8.Dwain Ali replaces Sean Cameron in the centre of the Guyanese midfield.

657

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:44:38 PM »

58'
Anthony Wolfe replaces Joevin Jones who looks to be carrying an injury.

658

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:42:09 PM »

Guyana have never defeated T&T... Certainly not in the era of the iPod at least. And they are a shadow of themselves so far this half with the Warriors firmly in control.

659

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:39:34 PM »

52'
Densill Theobald replaces Clyde Leon. What is it with Russell Latapy and early changes that might have been made during the halftime break?
Not that I am adverse to Theobald getting a run of course.

660

Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Guyana Game (04-Nov-10).

« on: November 04, 2010, 06:37:55 PM »

Only the British Home Office seem to care about the FIFA rankings.
They refused to let Manchester City sign McDonald Mariga because he is from Kenya. Mariga went Inter instead and now has Italian League, Cup and European Champions' League gold medals...
Discrimination harms the perpetrator too!