4381
Entertainment & Culture Discussion / Top DJ's !
« on: April 29, 2005, 05:18:59 AM »
Which T&T DJ did you enjoyed listening the most ?
April 28, 2024, 08:48:58 PM
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4382
Football / Barnes: Let football be the distraction from crime.
« on: April 28, 2005, 02:43:55 PM »
Barnes: Let football be the distraction from crime.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
Former England International John Barnes believes that qualifying for the 2006 World Cup will be a powerful tool in eradicating the problem of crime in this country.
Barnes was here over the last few days for the launching of local television football programme “Total Football” held at Trotters Restaurant on Tuesday.
A Jamaican by birth, the Liverpool legend said that football was the perfect distraction for the wayward citizens of a country where the crime rate was becoming out of control.
“ I went to Rwanda in the mid 90s and it was amazing to see what football did to that country and shows how powerful a tool football is. So if Trinidad and Tobago can qualify for the World Cup, it will have an impact on the society, the whole environment and everything else that is this country,” Barnes told TTFF Media.
“Qualifying for a World Cup will definitely have an impact on crime in this country. Football is a wonderful distraction and this is where you tend to get the kids to stray into something that is positive. Football can take the guns away so success in football will have a major impact on Trinidad and Tobago,” added Barnes who played alongside CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
But while it was easy to put words across, Barnes noted that the task ahead seemed like a mountain climb for T&T and as such, total support would have be the order of the day and it must be a long term one.
“It’s a difficult goal at the moment and the most important thing is that the team and the entire country hold that belief that you can qualify for the World Cup. And continuing support is probably the most important thing from the companies, the sponsors, the Government and the man in the street. And after the next World Cup whether you qualify or not, there must continue to be that sort of football because looking back at Jamaica, you could see that drop in interest after Jamaica failed to get to the 2002 World Cup.”
He also had some advice for the “Warriors” as they prepare to get the ball rolling again under new coach Leo Beenhakker.
“The coach is the most important man. You have got to listen to what he says. I know Leo Beenhakker but I didn’t know Bertille St Clair and looking back at Jamaica, unfortunately it took a Brazilian to get the players to do the right thing in terms of being disciplined and committed and playing the right football. Now Leo Beenhakker is a fantastic coach and I’m not saying that the players here are not committed and not trying to work. But with the talent we have here, there is obvious need to do better for ourselves.
“Greece winning the European Championship for me was the biggest plus for the smaller teams like Trinidad because it shows that you don’t need to be the best players but once you have the right attitude and commitment with good guidance then you can achieve anything. And I know what Caribbean football is like where you have certain players more popular and being treated better than others and there might be gaps in the team and this is why you need the entire country, the entire football fraternity and the media as well to come together to make Trinidad and Tobago successful on the football stage. Jack Warner had done wonders for football here and throughout the world as a matter of fact. He has set the stage and I am sure there would be nothing better than seeing this country now get to the biggest stage the game has to offer,” Barnes ended.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
Former England International John Barnes believes that qualifying for the 2006 World Cup will be a powerful tool in eradicating the problem of crime in this country.
Barnes was here over the last few days for the launching of local television football programme “Total Football” held at Trotters Restaurant on Tuesday.
A Jamaican by birth, the Liverpool legend said that football was the perfect distraction for the wayward citizens of a country where the crime rate was becoming out of control.
“ I went to Rwanda in the mid 90s and it was amazing to see what football did to that country and shows how powerful a tool football is. So if Trinidad and Tobago can qualify for the World Cup, it will have an impact on the society, the whole environment and everything else that is this country,” Barnes told TTFF Media.
“Qualifying for a World Cup will definitely have an impact on crime in this country. Football is a wonderful distraction and this is where you tend to get the kids to stray into something that is positive. Football can take the guns away so success in football will have a major impact on Trinidad and Tobago,” added Barnes who played alongside CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
But while it was easy to put words across, Barnes noted that the task ahead seemed like a mountain climb for T&T and as such, total support would have be the order of the day and it must be a long term one.
“It’s a difficult goal at the moment and the most important thing is that the team and the entire country hold that belief that you can qualify for the World Cup. And continuing support is probably the most important thing from the companies, the sponsors, the Government and the man in the street. And after the next World Cup whether you qualify or not, there must continue to be that sort of football because looking back at Jamaica, you could see that drop in interest after Jamaica failed to get to the 2002 World Cup.”
He also had some advice for the “Warriors” as they prepare to get the ball rolling again under new coach Leo Beenhakker.
“The coach is the most important man. You have got to listen to what he says. I know Leo Beenhakker but I didn’t know Bertille St Clair and looking back at Jamaica, unfortunately it took a Brazilian to get the players to do the right thing in terms of being disciplined and committed and playing the right football. Now Leo Beenhakker is a fantastic coach and I’m not saying that the players here are not committed and not trying to work. But with the talent we have here, there is obvious need to do better for ourselves.
“Greece winning the European Championship for me was the biggest plus for the smaller teams like Trinidad because it shows that you don’t need to be the best players but once you have the right attitude and commitment with good guidance then you can achieve anything. And I know what Caribbean football is like where you have certain players more popular and being treated better than others and there might be gaps in the team and this is why you need the entire country, the entire football fraternity and the media as well to come together to make Trinidad and Tobago successful on the football stage. Jack Warner had done wonders for football here and throughout the world as a matter of fact. He has set the stage and I am sure there would be nothing better than seeing this country now get to the biggest stage the game has to offer,” Barnes ended.
4383
Football / Brazilian #10 Gefferson Goulart star in Connection win.
« on: April 28, 2005, 02:31:18 AM »
Defence Force fall to W Connection.
T&T Express Reports.
Defence Force became the latest team to fall under Vibe CT 105 W Connection's seemingly unstoppable march to the T&T Pro League title, when they were outshot 5-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday, in the battle of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition.
At one point, Defence Force looked well on course to spoil the home team's one hundred percent record when taking a 2-1 lead, after Odelle Armstrong's first half double (27th & 33rd) cancelled out Connection's opening item from young Brazilian William Olliviera.
But then, Connection turned on the pressure, and their Brazilian connection took over.
Their #10-wearing Brazilian midfielder Gefferson da Silva Goulart has been in sparkling form since his return from a year of European football with FC Zeleznik. First, he equalised in the 45th minute to see the teams go in 2-2 at the half.
Then, Goulart struck the back of the net again, in the 57th minute, to score his sixth goal of the season, in just five matches.
Ronaldo Viana, the other Brazilian who had a stint with FC Zeleznik, killed off the Army when he scored in the 71st minute, before St Lucian Earl Jean scored the final goal in the 77th to keep W Connection as the only unbeaten team in the league, with a perfect 15 points from five matches.
T&T Express Reports.
Defence Force became the latest team to fall under Vibe CT 105 W Connection's seemingly unstoppable march to the T&T Pro League title, when they were outshot 5-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday, in the battle of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition.
At one point, Defence Force looked well on course to spoil the home team's one hundred percent record when taking a 2-1 lead, after Odelle Armstrong's first half double (27th & 33rd) cancelled out Connection's opening item from young Brazilian William Olliviera.
But then, Connection turned on the pressure, and their Brazilian connection took over.
Their #10-wearing Brazilian midfielder Gefferson da Silva Goulart has been in sparkling form since his return from a year of European football with FC Zeleznik. First, he equalised in the 45th minute to see the teams go in 2-2 at the half.
Then, Goulart struck the back of the net again, in the 57th minute, to score his sixth goal of the season, in just five matches.
Ronaldo Viana, the other Brazilian who had a stint with FC Zeleznik, killed off the Army when he scored in the 71st minute, before St Lucian Earl Jean scored the final goal in the 77th to keep W Connection as the only unbeaten team in the league, with a perfect 15 points from five matches.
4384
Football / New English-boy to try out with Beenhakker’s ‘Warriors’
« on: April 27, 2005, 03:38:09 PM »
New English-boy to try out with Beenhakker’s ‘Warriors’
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
Yet another English-based player could be lining up for this country’s senior national team in the near future. Promising 20-year-old English-born midfielder Christopher Birchall of English League One club Port Vale has accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to join the team in training in order for head coach Leo Beenhakker to have a look at him.
The locating of the 20-year-old Birchall was prompted by Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF before English agent Mike Berry got in contact with Birchall this week to finalize arrangements for him to join the team.
The 5' 9" Birchall is currently negotiating a new contract with Port Vale, the club he has been attached to since age nine.
“A pocket-battleship on the right, Chris has shown some promise coming into the side at the end of last season. His belligerent style, often compared to former Vale star Gareth Ainsworth, has already appeased the fans and Chris has given notice to be a performer to be reckoned with this term.” was what the Port Vale official website stated about Birchall.
So far this season he has six goals in 27 appearances for Vale. His last goal was in a 5-0 win over Barnsley last Saturday and the BBC described the goal the with the following words: “Birchall opened the scoring after exchanging passes with Lee Matthews and smashing home a 25-yard half-volley.”
“It’s just a real privilege to get a chance to try out with the Trinidad and Tobago National team and I am really looking forward to it. To say the truth, I was a bit nervous at first when the call came but now I’m just really anxious to get down to Trinidad and start training with the rest of the boys and hopefully be able to make a contribution to the World Cup effort,” Birchall told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Birchall’s mother, Jennifer, was born in Port of Spain before moving to England where she met the player’s English father. The Port Vale man has lived in England all his life and has never visited these shores.
“I think my mom might be even prouder than I am at the moment. I have heard of Dwight and Shaka and some of the other guys up here. I know Rougier was at Vale. I played against Carlos (Edwards) and Dennis (Lawrence) last night. And well I know Clayton (Ince) is going to take care of me when I get there. Because of the whole Trinidad Connection, it makes it even more exciting but again it’s all serious business when it comes down to the football,” Birchall added.
He travel arrangements have already been sorted out by Warner and he is expected here on May 10.
Beenhakker was briefed on his availability on Tuesday and will have him in the squad for training during next month.
”We need to have everyone and everything on board in our efforts to get to Germany and fittingly the young player will be given a chance to try out with the team and it will be left up to the coach to make the final decision,” Warner stated from London.
Defence Force fall to W Connection.
T&T Express Reports.
Defence Force became the latest team to fall under Vibe CT 105 W Connection's seemingly unstoppable march to the T&T Pro League title, when they were outshot 5-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday, in the battle of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition.
At one point, Defence Force looked well on course to spoil the home team's one hundred percent record when taking a 2-1 lead, after Odelle Armstrong's first half double (27th & 33rd) cancelled out Connection's opening item from young Brazilian William Olliviera.
But then, Connection turned on the pressure, and their Brazilian connection took over.
Their #10-wearing Brazilian midfielder Gefferson da Silva Goulart has been in sparkling form since his return from a year of European football with FC Zeleznik. First, he equalised in the 45th minute to see the teams go in 2-2 at the half.
Then, Goulart struck the back of the net again, in the 57th minute, to score his sixth goal of the season, in just five matches.
Ronaldo Viana, the other Brazilian who had a stint with FC Zeleznik, killed off the Army when he scored in the 71st minute, before St Lucian Earl Jean scored the final goal in the 77th to keep W Connection as the only unbeaten team in the league, with a perfect 15 points from five matches.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
Yet another English-based player could be lining up for this country’s senior national team in the near future. Promising 20-year-old English-born midfielder Christopher Birchall of English League One club Port Vale has accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to join the team in training in order for head coach Leo Beenhakker to have a look at him.
The locating of the 20-year-old Birchall was prompted by Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF before English agent Mike Berry got in contact with Birchall this week to finalize arrangements for him to join the team.
The 5' 9" Birchall is currently negotiating a new contract with Port Vale, the club he has been attached to since age nine.
“A pocket-battleship on the right, Chris has shown some promise coming into the side at the end of last season. His belligerent style, often compared to former Vale star Gareth Ainsworth, has already appeased the fans and Chris has given notice to be a performer to be reckoned with this term.” was what the Port Vale official website stated about Birchall.
So far this season he has six goals in 27 appearances for Vale. His last goal was in a 5-0 win over Barnsley last Saturday and the BBC described the goal the with the following words: “Birchall opened the scoring after exchanging passes with Lee Matthews and smashing home a 25-yard half-volley.”
“It’s just a real privilege to get a chance to try out with the Trinidad and Tobago National team and I am really looking forward to it. To say the truth, I was a bit nervous at first when the call came but now I’m just really anxious to get down to Trinidad and start training with the rest of the boys and hopefully be able to make a contribution to the World Cup effort,” Birchall told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Birchall’s mother, Jennifer, was born in Port of Spain before moving to England where she met the player’s English father. The Port Vale man has lived in England all his life and has never visited these shores.
“I think my mom might be even prouder than I am at the moment. I have heard of Dwight and Shaka and some of the other guys up here. I know Rougier was at Vale. I played against Carlos (Edwards) and Dennis (Lawrence) last night. And well I know Clayton (Ince) is going to take care of me when I get there. Because of the whole Trinidad Connection, it makes it even more exciting but again it’s all serious business when it comes down to the football,” Birchall added.
He travel arrangements have already been sorted out by Warner and he is expected here on May 10.
Beenhakker was briefed on his availability on Tuesday and will have him in the squad for training during next month.
”We need to have everyone and everything on board in our efforts to get to Germany and fittingly the young player will be given a chance to try out with the team and it will be left up to the coach to make the final decision,” Warner stated from London.
Defence Force fall to W Connection.
T&T Express Reports.
Defence Force became the latest team to fall under Vibe CT 105 W Connection's seemingly unstoppable march to the T&T Pro League title, when they were outshot 5-2 at the Ato Boldon Stadium yesterday, in the battle of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition.
At one point, Defence Force looked well on course to spoil the home team's one hundred percent record when taking a 2-1 lead, after Odelle Armstrong's first half double (27th & 33rd) cancelled out Connection's opening item from young Brazilian William Olliviera.
But then, Connection turned on the pressure, and their Brazilian connection took over.
Their #10-wearing Brazilian midfielder Gefferson da Silva Goulart has been in sparkling form since his return from a year of European football with FC Zeleznik. First, he equalised in the 45th minute to see the teams go in 2-2 at the half.
Then, Goulart struck the back of the net again, in the 57th minute, to score his sixth goal of the season, in just five matches.
Ronaldo Viana, the other Brazilian who had a stint with FC Zeleznik, killed off the Army when he scored in the 71st minute, before St Lucian Earl Jean scored the final goal in the 77th to keep W Connection as the only unbeaten team in the league, with a perfect 15 points from five matches.
4385
Football / Leo Beenhakker holds talks with Russell Latapy.
« on: April 27, 2005, 03:33:27 PM »
Leo Beenhakker holds talks with Russell Latapy.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
National Head coach Leo Beenhakker described his first conversation with Russell Latapy as a cordial one after the two men spoke on the telephone on Tuesday evening.
Beenhakker up to Tuesday was unable to get in touch with Latapy but expressed interest in ensuring that he did speak to the former national captain, eventually being able to get hold of him as he tied up final personal business before returning to Trinidad on Friday.
“I was able to have a chat with Russell and we discussed several things which obviously involves the rest of the campaign ahead. I expect there will be further communication and a position will be taken shortly. At the moment the main focus is getting the preparations off and running from Monday. As I have said, the two assistant coaches that I am bringing will have their roles to play and they will of course have a lot to offer the team in terms of preparations and being my assistants,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
The two assistants are Dutchmen Theo De Jonk and Whim Rhizerburg.
Latapy’s management team also made a release on the conversation with Beenhakker.
“The purpose of the conversation was to share philosophies, expectations and Russell's role with respect to the Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team. While the conversation was open and candid, a decision is yet to be taken by Russell and his management team regarding his rejoining the National Football Team, as we need to internalize the position of Russell's role as a player and any other contributions to be made therein. Any decision to be taken would be made against the background of his role, the contributions to be made, as well as, his future in the business of football at a management and coaching level given prevailing opportunities in Europe.”
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.
National Head coach Leo Beenhakker described his first conversation with Russell Latapy as a cordial one after the two men spoke on the telephone on Tuesday evening.
Beenhakker up to Tuesday was unable to get in touch with Latapy but expressed interest in ensuring that he did speak to the former national captain, eventually being able to get hold of him as he tied up final personal business before returning to Trinidad on Friday.
“I was able to have a chat with Russell and we discussed several things which obviously involves the rest of the campaign ahead. I expect there will be further communication and a position will be taken shortly. At the moment the main focus is getting the preparations off and running from Monday. As I have said, the two assistant coaches that I am bringing will have their roles to play and they will of course have a lot to offer the team in terms of preparations and being my assistants,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
The two assistants are Dutchmen Theo De Jonk and Whim Rhizerburg.
Latapy’s management team also made a release on the conversation with Beenhakker.
“The purpose of the conversation was to share philosophies, expectations and Russell's role with respect to the Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team. While the conversation was open and candid, a decision is yet to be taken by Russell and his management team regarding his rejoining the National Football Team, as we need to internalize the position of Russell's role as a player and any other contributions to be made therein. Any decision to be taken would be made against the background of his role, the contributions to be made, as well as, his future in the business of football at a management and coaching level given prevailing opportunities in Europe.”
4386
Football / Rangers worry over Marvin Andrews international games.
« on: April 26, 2005, 05:19:00 AM »
Marvin Andrew's in for keeps.
Rangers Website.[/color]
Marvin Andrews had proved to Alex McLeish that he can play for Rangers for the rest of this season but the Ibrox boss could be facing a club v country row in the summer.
Andrews was diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage in his left knee five weeks ago, but played 82 minutes against Celtic on Sunday and is all set to face Aberdeen on Sunday.
He will not relent on refusing to have surgery to cure the problem but McLeish has praised his bravery and has indicated that he will continue to pick him.
However, there is a potential problem in the summer. Trinidad & Tobago want Andrews for the World Cup qualifiers against Panama on June 4 and Mexico on June 8 but they will also request Andrews for the Gold Cup matches at Miami's Orange Bowl between July 6 and 11 - when Rangers will be on a pre-season training trip.
McLeish said: "Marvin showed on Sunday that he can handle it. Unless something untoward happens, he is available to me again. "I felt he played well and I was pleased with him. He obviously tired near the end and that's why we had to take him off.
"He trained all week and put himself up for selection. Some people have criticised the big fellow for not getting an operation but it's his choice and you have to applaud his faith.
"He has now put himself back in pole position where he was. Bob Malcolm was doing nothing wrong but Marvin gives us a wee bit more presence in different areas."
Beenhakker intends to quiz Rangers over his fitness after he came through most of Sunday's game, as he prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers and a three-week stint at the Gold Cup in the United States.
He told the Scottish Daily Mail: "I was surprised but pleased to hear that Marvin played almost all the game for Rangers on Sunday.
"This week I will contact Jan Wouters [first team coach], who played for me with Holland, to find out about his fitness. "It could depend how much Marvin plays for Rangers between now and the end of the season."
Rangers Website.[/color]
Marvin Andrews had proved to Alex McLeish that he can play for Rangers for the rest of this season but the Ibrox boss could be facing a club v country row in the summer.
Andrews was diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage in his left knee five weeks ago, but played 82 minutes against Celtic on Sunday and is all set to face Aberdeen on Sunday.
He will not relent on refusing to have surgery to cure the problem but McLeish has praised his bravery and has indicated that he will continue to pick him.
However, there is a potential problem in the summer. Trinidad & Tobago want Andrews for the World Cup qualifiers against Panama on June 4 and Mexico on June 8 but they will also request Andrews for the Gold Cup matches at Miami's Orange Bowl between July 6 and 11 - when Rangers will be on a pre-season training trip.
McLeish said: "Marvin showed on Sunday that he can handle it. Unless something untoward happens, he is available to me again. "I felt he played well and I was pleased with him. He obviously tired near the end and that's why we had to take him off.
"He trained all week and put himself up for selection. Some people have criticised the big fellow for not getting an operation but it's his choice and you have to applaud his faith.
"He has now put himself back in pole position where he was. Bob Malcolm was doing nothing wrong but Marvin gives us a wee bit more presence in different areas."
Beenhakker intends to quiz Rangers over his fitness after he came through most of Sunday's game, as he prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers and a three-week stint at the Gold Cup in the United States.
He told the Scottish Daily Mail: "I was surprised but pleased to hear that Marvin played almost all the game for Rangers on Sunday.
"This week I will contact Jan Wouters [first team coach], who played for me with Holland, to find out about his fitness. "It could depend how much Marvin plays for Rangers between now and the end of the season."
4387
Football / Birmingham cancel Dwight Yorke's contract.
« on: April 25, 2005, 07:00:05 AM »
Birmingham cancel Dwight Yorke's contract.
By: Soccernet.com[/color]
Birmingham have cancelled the contract of striker Dwight Yorke by mutual consent after just eight months at the club.
Yorke, 33, is expected to join up with Australian A-League side, Sydney FC, in time for the start of their season in July.
Yorke joined Blues from Blackburn in August in a £250,000 deal and made an encouraging start with goals as a substitute against Charlton and Newcastle.
But the Trinidad and Tobago international made only four Premiership and two Carling Cup starts for Steve Bruce's side.
Bruce intimated during the January transfer window that Yorke could leave to attain regular football, and the arrival of Walter Pandiani meant the former Manchester United star slipped further down the pecking order.
Yorke's spell at the club sparked a row involving club owner David Sullivan after the player was subject of racial abuse from fans when he returned to Ewood Park with City in November.
Sullivan accused Yorke of 'over-reacting' to the situation and more recently hit out at his fellow directors of not publicly supporting him over the issue.
Yorke's spell in England spanned 16 years after he was signed for Aston Villa by Graham Taylor in 1989.
He spent seven successful years at Villa before forming a prolific partnership with Andy Cole at Manchester United - a pairing which also teamed up at Blackburn but not with the same success.
A club statement read: 'Birmingham City Football Club can today confirm that Dwight Yorke's contract has been cancelled by mutual consent.
'Both parties have agreed to terminate the contract so that Dwight can pursue a career in Australia.
'The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Dwight for his contribution to our season and wish him the best of luck for the future.'
Glen likely to join Columbus Crew.
By: Steve Davis - dallasnews.
With Ruiz and Mina on board, it appears Cornell Glen's time in Dallas is over before it got started. The former MetroStars striker and Trinidad and Tobago international came to Dallas in the off-season in exchange for a first-round draft pick.
But he became expendable when FC Dallas acquired Carlos Ruiz. And when Roberto Mina finally showed up after interminable visa delays, the club needed to make a roster move.
Glen, who never played a minute here, wasn't at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Team officials had no comment on his absence, but a league source said the club has arranged a trade with Columbus for a second-round pick and a junior international roster spot. The trade will be completed sometime this week, according to the source.
Mina arrives: Roberto Mina, the Ecuadorian under-23 international targeted months ago, finally arrived Saturday. He was delayed first by FIFA's tricky rules on buying young players, then by work visa snags.
He was at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday in street clothes, not yet available to play.
Team officials expect him to complete a physical Monday and hope to see him Monday evening as the reserves play against SMU at Westcott Field.
Mina's value will be evident later this summer when FC Dallas loses Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson to international play.
Johnson unhurt: FC Dallas fans gasped as Eddie Johnson lay on the turf in obvious pain for about two minutes following after Eddie Pope's awkward 72nd-minute challenge – a foul that earned the well-respected U.S. international defender an immediate expulsion.
Afterward, Johnson said he was faking the injury, hoping to draw the foul.
"I still can't do it as well as him," Johnson said, laughing, and pointing toward teammate Carlos Ruiz.
Shaka Hislop wins PFA special merit award.
By: Soccernet.com
Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop received the PFA Special Merit Award, following his continued involvement with the 'Show Racism The Red Card' campaign.
'I cannot take the credit alone, I was given a great deal of help by a lot of people who have made my job a lot easier,' said the 36-year-old.
'I am very proud of the campaign, considering where we have come from, but just because we have made so many steps forward over the last decade, it doesn't mean that we stop and rest on our laurels, otherwise all that hard work is in vain.'
Shaka Hislop meanwhile wasn't the only T&T player to received an award over the weekend. Falkirk's championship winning season was recognised with their veteran midfielder and Trinidad & Tobago new assistant coach Russell Latapy collecting the First Division Player of the Year award.
The Former Rangers and Hibernian midfielder Russell Latapy is to become assistant coach of the Trinidad and Tobago national team and should arrive in T&T sometime this week. "I love it here at Falkirk and would not have given any other job any consideration at all.
Falkirk player-manager John Hughes, said: "I can understand Russell's position.
"He is a vital part of the way ahead at Falkirk, but I appreciate the call to help his country reach the World Cup finals. "He will be open and honest with us. If he decides to stay in Trinidad, I would wish him every success.
Marvin Andrew's in for keeps.
Rangers Website.[/color]
Marvin Andrews had proved to Alex McLeish that he can play for Rangers for the rest of this season but the Ibrox boss could be facing a club v country row in the summer.
Andrews was diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage in his left knee five weeks ago, but played 82 minutes against Celtic on Sunday and is all set to face Aberdeen on Sunday.
He will not relent on refusing to have surgery to cure the problem but McLeish has praised his bravery and has indicated that he will continue to pick him.
However, there is a potential problem in the summer. Trinidad & Tobago want Andrews for the World Cup qualifiers against Panama on June 4 and Mexico on June 8 but they will also request Andrews for the Gold Cup matches at Miami's Orange Bowl between July 6 and 11 - when Rangers will be on a pre-season training trip.
McLeish said: "Marvin showed on Sunday that he can handle it. Unless something untoward happens, he is available to me again. "I felt he played well and I was pleased with him. He obviously tired near the end and that's why we had to take him off.
"He trained all week and put himself up for selection. Some people have criticised the big fellow for not getting an operation but it's his choice and you have to applaud his faith.
"He has now put himself back in pole position where he was. Bob Malcolm was doing nothing wrong but Marvin gives us a wee bit more presence in different areas."
Beenhakker intends to quiz Rangers over his fitness after he came through most of Sunday's game, as he prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers and a three-week stint at the Gold Cup in the United States.
He told the Scottish Daily Mail: "I was surprised but pleased to hear that Marvin played almost all the game for Rangers on Sunday.
"This week I will contact Jan Wouters [first team coach], who played for me with Holland, to find out about his fitness. "It could depend how much Marvin plays for Rangers between now and the end of the season."
By: Soccernet.com[/color]
Birmingham have cancelled the contract of striker Dwight Yorke by mutual consent after just eight months at the club.
Yorke, 33, is expected to join up with Australian A-League side, Sydney FC, in time for the start of their season in July.
Yorke joined Blues from Blackburn in August in a £250,000 deal and made an encouraging start with goals as a substitute against Charlton and Newcastle.
But the Trinidad and Tobago international made only four Premiership and two Carling Cup starts for Steve Bruce's side.
Bruce intimated during the January transfer window that Yorke could leave to attain regular football, and the arrival of Walter Pandiani meant the former Manchester United star slipped further down the pecking order.
Yorke's spell at the club sparked a row involving club owner David Sullivan after the player was subject of racial abuse from fans when he returned to Ewood Park with City in November.
Sullivan accused Yorke of 'over-reacting' to the situation and more recently hit out at his fellow directors of not publicly supporting him over the issue.
Yorke's spell in England spanned 16 years after he was signed for Aston Villa by Graham Taylor in 1989.
He spent seven successful years at Villa before forming a prolific partnership with Andy Cole at Manchester United - a pairing which also teamed up at Blackburn but not with the same success.
A club statement read: 'Birmingham City Football Club can today confirm that Dwight Yorke's contract has been cancelled by mutual consent.
'Both parties have agreed to terminate the contract so that Dwight can pursue a career in Australia.
'The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Dwight for his contribution to our season and wish him the best of luck for the future.'
Glen likely to join Columbus Crew.
By: Steve Davis - dallasnews.
With Ruiz and Mina on board, it appears Cornell Glen's time in Dallas is over before it got started. The former MetroStars striker and Trinidad and Tobago international came to Dallas in the off-season in exchange for a first-round draft pick.
But he became expendable when FC Dallas acquired Carlos Ruiz. And when Roberto Mina finally showed up after interminable visa delays, the club needed to make a roster move.
Glen, who never played a minute here, wasn't at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Team officials had no comment on his absence, but a league source said the club has arranged a trade with Columbus for a second-round pick and a junior international roster spot. The trade will be completed sometime this week, according to the source.
Mina arrives: Roberto Mina, the Ecuadorian under-23 international targeted months ago, finally arrived Saturday. He was delayed first by FIFA's tricky rules on buying young players, then by work visa snags.
He was at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday in street clothes, not yet available to play.
Team officials expect him to complete a physical Monday and hope to see him Monday evening as the reserves play against SMU at Westcott Field.
Mina's value will be evident later this summer when FC Dallas loses Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson to international play.
Johnson unhurt: FC Dallas fans gasped as Eddie Johnson lay on the turf in obvious pain for about two minutes following after Eddie Pope's awkward 72nd-minute challenge – a foul that earned the well-respected U.S. international defender an immediate expulsion.
Afterward, Johnson said he was faking the injury, hoping to draw the foul.
"I still can't do it as well as him," Johnson said, laughing, and pointing toward teammate Carlos Ruiz.
Shaka Hislop wins PFA special merit award.
By: Soccernet.com
Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop received the PFA Special Merit Award, following his continued involvement with the 'Show Racism The Red Card' campaign.
'I cannot take the credit alone, I was given a great deal of help by a lot of people who have made my job a lot easier,' said the 36-year-old.
'I am very proud of the campaign, considering where we have come from, but just because we have made so many steps forward over the last decade, it doesn't mean that we stop and rest on our laurels, otherwise all that hard work is in vain.'
Shaka Hislop meanwhile wasn't the only T&T player to received an award over the weekend. Falkirk's championship winning season was recognised with their veteran midfielder and Trinidad & Tobago new assistant coach Russell Latapy collecting the First Division Player of the Year award.
The Former Rangers and Hibernian midfielder Russell Latapy is to become assistant coach of the Trinidad and Tobago national team and should arrive in T&T sometime this week. "I love it here at Falkirk and would not have given any other job any consideration at all.
Falkirk player-manager John Hughes, said: "I can understand Russell's position.
"He is a vital part of the way ahead at Falkirk, but I appreciate the call to help his country reach the World Cup finals. "He will be open and honest with us. If he decides to stay in Trinidad, I would wish him every success.
Marvin Andrew's in for keeps.
Rangers Website.[/color]
Marvin Andrews had proved to Alex McLeish that he can play for Rangers for the rest of this season but the Ibrox boss could be facing a club v country row in the summer.
Andrews was diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage in his left knee five weeks ago, but played 82 minutes against Celtic on Sunday and is all set to face Aberdeen on Sunday.
He will not relent on refusing to have surgery to cure the problem but McLeish has praised his bravery and has indicated that he will continue to pick him.
However, there is a potential problem in the summer. Trinidad & Tobago want Andrews for the World Cup qualifiers against Panama on June 4 and Mexico on June 8 but they will also request Andrews for the Gold Cup matches at Miami's Orange Bowl between July 6 and 11 - when Rangers will be on a pre-season training trip.
McLeish said: "Marvin showed on Sunday that he can handle it. Unless something untoward happens, he is available to me again. "I felt he played well and I was pleased with him. He obviously tired near the end and that's why we had to take him off.
"He trained all week and put himself up for selection. Some people have criticised the big fellow for not getting an operation but it's his choice and you have to applaud his faith.
"He has now put himself back in pole position where he was. Bob Malcolm was doing nothing wrong but Marvin gives us a wee bit more presence in different areas."
Beenhakker intends to quiz Rangers over his fitness after he came through most of Sunday's game, as he prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers and a three-week stint at the Gold Cup in the United States.
He told the Scottish Daily Mail: "I was surprised but pleased to hear that Marvin played almost all the game for Rangers on Sunday.
"This week I will contact Jan Wouters [first team coach], who played for me with Holland, to find out about his fitness. "It could depend how much Marvin plays for Rangers between now and the end of the season."
4388
Football / National football manager promises to do his best.
« on: April 25, 2005, 06:10:32 AM »
National football manager promises to do his best.
By: Angela Pidduck - T&T Newsday.
Bruce banking on TT team.
Bruce Aanensen is the new manager of the “Warriors,” Trinidad and Tobago’s National Football Team which is currently attempting to qualify for the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany. A retired director of the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the 57-year-old vice president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, played football and cricket at St Mary’s College, football for Casuals Club, Lantern Giants in the Southern Football Association, Endeavour Club in Montserrat, and the Montserrat National Football Team vs Antigua, Dominica and two English ships. After being sidelined through injury, the keen sportsman turned his hand to assisting with the 1988 CONCACAF Under 16 tournament in Trinidad, and between 1990 and 1992 with management of the Shell Caribbean Cup.
Bruce was one of many in a list of sweeping management changes announced earlier this month by Jack Warner, Special Adviser to the Football Federation, which saw Dutchman, Leo Beenhakker, replacing Tobagonian Bertille St Clair as head coach of the national team. This appointment has come at a good time for Bruce who retired from RBTT on January 31, 2005, as Director Group Human Resources, after eight years in the position. Bruce had also been involved in the bank’s business side as chairman RBTT Caribbean Limited, RBTT Grenada Limited and RBTT Services Limited; and director of RBTT Bank Limited. Managing the “Warriors,” says Bruce, “was an opportunity to come and help to do something for the national team.” He speaks only positively of Jack Warner: “I have been a strong supporter of his over the years, I have always respected his work ethic and also his forthright manner in speaking his mind.
And, I think Jack has single-handedly done more for football in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean than anyone else, by bringing major tournaments to the English speaking Caribbean. He is personally the driving force in bringing improved football to the smaller islands because more tournaments are being played in the Caribbean where they can participate and are not faced with a lack of money to go to Central America tournaments. Also, Jack has gotten FIFA to assist financially in the islands.” Bruce saw this as an opportunity to regain a stronger faith in the national team which to date has not been successful on its “Road to Germany.” “If I can make a contribution to the overall effort then I am happy to do so,” says the father of three adult children and five grandchildren.
He admits to not being too familiar with most of the younger national footballers. “I knew some of the older ones as I was vice chairman of the Organising Committee on the 1989 “Road to Italy” campaign, but did meet them at the recent session with the new coach and I am going to try my best to get them to qualify. “Among the problems is the fact that football in Trinidad now does not have the same spectator attraction of years ago hence the reason why people here don’t know the players on the national team. That was also so to some extent at the beginning of the Road to Italy but once you are winning support swells and escalates.” Bruce is appealing to the media which appears to have lost interest in the national team, to come back on board. “Every single one of them was represented at Beenhakker’s introduction.”
The next qualifying game is against Panama on June 4 in Trinidad, followed by the June 8 game in Mexico. “Every game from here on is a virtual final so we have to find a way to get the population’s support behind the team,” says the new manager. “A win against Panama is absolutely essential at this time to resurrect our hopes of qualification. Right now the new coach is on a visit to England and Scotland assessing the fitness levels of our overseas players. He returns end of April and our first camp starts May 2 at the Centre of Excellence, and camps will continue Monday to Wednesday each week in May.” Bruce and the two assistant managers George Joseph and Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, are already putting together plans as to what needs to be done from now to the end of the game vs Mexico.
“The players have been faced with a lot of recent changes. We need to provide them with an environment which allows them to properly focus on their football, such as accommodation during camps, training and physio equipment, out of pocket allowances so they don’t have to worry about how they are coming to practise and such. They have to have a sense of comfort and be able to relate to the management team so that we also have to very quickly find ways to reach out to them and understand what are some of the problems they may be experiencing in their personal lives that may be affecting their ability to focus on the game.”
Bruce came out of football in 1992, became vice president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club and got very involved with cricket. At the end of 1995, he gave up as VP to chair the club’s Centenary Committee which brought Sri Lanka, who had just won the World Cup, to play two games at the Oval against a past and present WI team. By August 1996 he was back as vice president to new president Willie Rodriguez, and remains VP to this time. In 1998 he managed the club’s cricket team on a one month tour of Australia.
By: Angela Pidduck - T&T Newsday.
Bruce banking on TT team.
Bruce Aanensen is the new manager of the “Warriors,” Trinidad and Tobago’s National Football Team which is currently attempting to qualify for the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany. A retired director of the Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the 57-year-old vice president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, played football and cricket at St Mary’s College, football for Casuals Club, Lantern Giants in the Southern Football Association, Endeavour Club in Montserrat, and the Montserrat National Football Team vs Antigua, Dominica and two English ships. After being sidelined through injury, the keen sportsman turned his hand to assisting with the 1988 CONCACAF Under 16 tournament in Trinidad, and between 1990 and 1992 with management of the Shell Caribbean Cup.
Bruce was one of many in a list of sweeping management changes announced earlier this month by Jack Warner, Special Adviser to the Football Federation, which saw Dutchman, Leo Beenhakker, replacing Tobagonian Bertille St Clair as head coach of the national team. This appointment has come at a good time for Bruce who retired from RBTT on January 31, 2005, as Director Group Human Resources, after eight years in the position. Bruce had also been involved in the bank’s business side as chairman RBTT Caribbean Limited, RBTT Grenada Limited and RBTT Services Limited; and director of RBTT Bank Limited. Managing the “Warriors,” says Bruce, “was an opportunity to come and help to do something for the national team.” He speaks only positively of Jack Warner: “I have been a strong supporter of his over the years, I have always respected his work ethic and also his forthright manner in speaking his mind.
And, I think Jack has single-handedly done more for football in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean than anyone else, by bringing major tournaments to the English speaking Caribbean. He is personally the driving force in bringing improved football to the smaller islands because more tournaments are being played in the Caribbean where they can participate and are not faced with a lack of money to go to Central America tournaments. Also, Jack has gotten FIFA to assist financially in the islands.” Bruce saw this as an opportunity to regain a stronger faith in the national team which to date has not been successful on its “Road to Germany.” “If I can make a contribution to the overall effort then I am happy to do so,” says the father of three adult children and five grandchildren.
He admits to not being too familiar with most of the younger national footballers. “I knew some of the older ones as I was vice chairman of the Organising Committee on the 1989 “Road to Italy” campaign, but did meet them at the recent session with the new coach and I am going to try my best to get them to qualify. “Among the problems is the fact that football in Trinidad now does not have the same spectator attraction of years ago hence the reason why people here don’t know the players on the national team. That was also so to some extent at the beginning of the Road to Italy but once you are winning support swells and escalates.” Bruce is appealing to the media which appears to have lost interest in the national team, to come back on board. “Every single one of them was represented at Beenhakker’s introduction.”
The next qualifying game is against Panama on June 4 in Trinidad, followed by the June 8 game in Mexico. “Every game from here on is a virtual final so we have to find a way to get the population’s support behind the team,” says the new manager. “A win against Panama is absolutely essential at this time to resurrect our hopes of qualification. Right now the new coach is on a visit to England and Scotland assessing the fitness levels of our overseas players. He returns end of April and our first camp starts May 2 at the Centre of Excellence, and camps will continue Monday to Wednesday each week in May.” Bruce and the two assistant managers George Joseph and Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, are already putting together plans as to what needs to be done from now to the end of the game vs Mexico.
“The players have been faced with a lot of recent changes. We need to provide them with an environment which allows them to properly focus on their football, such as accommodation during camps, training and physio equipment, out of pocket allowances so they don’t have to worry about how they are coming to practise and such. They have to have a sense of comfort and be able to relate to the management team so that we also have to very quickly find ways to reach out to them and understand what are some of the problems they may be experiencing in their personal lives that may be affecting their ability to focus on the game.”
Bruce came out of football in 1992, became vice president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club and got very involved with cricket. At the end of 1995, he gave up as VP to chair the club’s Centenary Committee which brought Sri Lanka, who had just won the World Cup, to play two games at the Oval against a past and present WI team. By August 1996 he was back as vice president to new president Willie Rodriguez, and remains VP to this time. In 1998 he managed the club’s cricket team on a one month tour of Australia.
4389
Football / Silvio Spann scores his first goal in Japan.
« on: April 24, 2005, 05:44:30 PM »
Silvio Spann scores his first goal in Japan.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer.
Vibrant Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Silvio Spann opened his scoring account in Japan on Friday when he netted a 66th minute equalizer for Yokohoma FC in a 1-1 draw with Tokushima Vortis in the J-League Division Two action.
Spann, in his first full season with the club, got the vital goal for his club after coming off the bench in the 61st minute to leave them in fifth spot on the table.
Spann joined Coventry City’s Stern John and Kansas City Wizards’ Scott Sealy as the overseas-based pros on the scoresheets this weekend. John netted in City’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth while Sealy got his first MLS goal in the fifth minute in Wizards’ 3-2 loss to San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Also in the spotlight was defender Marvin Andrews who returned to the Glasgow Rangers start team in their 2-1 loss to Celtic on Sunday. Andrews, nursing a damaged cruciate ligament, also had an effort come off the cross bar before leaving the field on 83 minutes.
Spann, was probably the most of the three though as he has been labouring to establish his overseas professional career which started with Perugia in Italy.
On the back of an energetic performance in T&T’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica last month, Spann said he was inspired to continue the good run of form.
“Right now I think it’s too much to describe the feeling having scored my first goal for the season,” Spann told TTFF Media on Sunday.
“I think a lot has paid off after all the hard work because I have waited quite some time to really settle into a team outside of Trinidad and for a while it had been frustrating but with persistence and belief in God, things are finally going good for me.”
Understanding that being the only T&T player based in that part of Asia with former China-based duo Arnold Dwarika and Gary Glasgow now back in Trinidad, would have left him out of Leo Beenhakker’s schedule of meetings, Spann felt it was important that he kept his game up and is hoping that the Dutch-born coach includes him in his plans for the upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifier against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 4 and the clash with Mexico in Monterrey four days later.
“I’m hoping that he would have at least seen the game against Costa Rica so at least he would have some idea of my capabilities. At the end of the day though, I think we all want the best team out there, so whether I’m there or not, I’ll be supporting either way but yes surely I’m looking forward to getting back home for the next match,” Spann said.
The former National Under 23 and St Benedict’s College skipper seemed thrilled on the news of Beenhakker’s appointment.
“I left the weekend after he was announced as coach and I think it was a big piece of news for all of us. To have a coach of his track record coming to work with us is a major plus. With all respect to Coach Bertille (St Clair), the new change is hopefully going to give us the added burst to get to Germany,” Spann ended.
Russell Latapy on Taxi to T&T.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer.[/color]
Scottish-based football Russell Latapy has indicated that he will arrive in Trinidad this week to take up the position of assistant National Senior Team coach as offered by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.
In an article published by the Sunday Herald, it was stated that Latapy underwent his final Scottish A-license assessment on the weekend and was due in Trinidad this week.
“Latapy’s haul of honours includes two championship titles with Porto, but asked if he would eventually move into management with the sense of a playing career unfulfilled, he replies: ‘I make no apologies for the way I’ve lived my life. I’ve worked hard and I’ve played hard. That’s the way life should be lived.
“Maybe I could have gone further as a player if I’d behaved differently, but then I wouldn’t have been the person that I am. I’m happy with my career, and if as a manager I can surpass that I’ll be very happy.Everything that I have in my life is through football. I absolutely love the game. I’m confident I have something to offer in management.” the report stated.
Commenting on the news, Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF, told TTFF Media on Sunday that further discussions were held with Latapy and once he accepted the revised terms and conditions of his contract, then he would definitely be taking up the position. There was no further communication between Latapy and the TTFF on this up to Sunday.
Referring to Latapy’s exit from Rangers and retirement from the T&T team before the TTFF decided to put their latest faith in him, The Herald article added: “Equally, a figure as substantial as (Leo) Beenhakker would not have a patsy foisted upon him. The coach will have checked out Latapy’s character with his old friend Dick Advocaat, and come to the conclusion that it’s worth taking the chance.
So now, four months short of his 37th birthday, Latapy will not only get the top-class coaching opportunity he craves, but also make himself available as a player for the post-season qualifiers against Panama, Mexico and the United States. Trinidad and Tobago are bottom of the six-team pool with just one point from three games, but with three countries having the opportunity to get to Germany next year all is not lost.”
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer.
Vibrant Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Silvio Spann opened his scoring account in Japan on Friday when he netted a 66th minute equalizer for Yokohoma FC in a 1-1 draw with Tokushima Vortis in the J-League Division Two action.
Spann, in his first full season with the club, got the vital goal for his club after coming off the bench in the 61st minute to leave them in fifth spot on the table.
Spann joined Coventry City’s Stern John and Kansas City Wizards’ Scott Sealy as the overseas-based pros on the scoresheets this weekend. John netted in City’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth while Sealy got his first MLS goal in the fifth minute in Wizards’ 3-2 loss to San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. Also in the spotlight was defender Marvin Andrews who returned to the Glasgow Rangers start team in their 2-1 loss to Celtic on Sunday. Andrews, nursing a damaged cruciate ligament, also had an effort come off the cross bar before leaving the field on 83 minutes.
Spann, was probably the most of the three though as he has been labouring to establish his overseas professional career which started with Perugia in Italy.
On the back of an energetic performance in T&T’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica last month, Spann said he was inspired to continue the good run of form.
“Right now I think it’s too much to describe the feeling having scored my first goal for the season,” Spann told TTFF Media on Sunday.
“I think a lot has paid off after all the hard work because I have waited quite some time to really settle into a team outside of Trinidad and for a while it had been frustrating but with persistence and belief in God, things are finally going good for me.”
Understanding that being the only T&T player based in that part of Asia with former China-based duo Arnold Dwarika and Gary Glasgow now back in Trinidad, would have left him out of Leo Beenhakker’s schedule of meetings, Spann felt it was important that he kept his game up and is hoping that the Dutch-born coach includes him in his plans for the upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifier against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 4 and the clash with Mexico in Monterrey four days later.
“I’m hoping that he would have at least seen the game against Costa Rica so at least he would have some idea of my capabilities. At the end of the day though, I think we all want the best team out there, so whether I’m there or not, I’ll be supporting either way but yes surely I’m looking forward to getting back home for the next match,” Spann said.
The former National Under 23 and St Benedict’s College skipper seemed thrilled on the news of Beenhakker’s appointment.
“I left the weekend after he was announced as coach and I think it was a big piece of news for all of us. To have a coach of his track record coming to work with us is a major plus. With all respect to Coach Bertille (St Clair), the new change is hopefully going to give us the added burst to get to Germany,” Spann ended.
Russell Latapy on Taxi to T&T.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer.[/color]
Scottish-based football Russell Latapy has indicated that he will arrive in Trinidad this week to take up the position of assistant National Senior Team coach as offered by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.
In an article published by the Sunday Herald, it was stated that Latapy underwent his final Scottish A-license assessment on the weekend and was due in Trinidad this week.
“Latapy’s haul of honours includes two championship titles with Porto, but asked if he would eventually move into management with the sense of a playing career unfulfilled, he replies: ‘I make no apologies for the way I’ve lived my life. I’ve worked hard and I’ve played hard. That’s the way life should be lived.
“Maybe I could have gone further as a player if I’d behaved differently, but then I wouldn’t have been the person that I am. I’m happy with my career, and if as a manager I can surpass that I’ll be very happy.Everything that I have in my life is through football. I absolutely love the game. I’m confident I have something to offer in management.” the report stated.
Commenting on the news, Jack Warner, special advisor to the TTFF, told TTFF Media on Sunday that further discussions were held with Latapy and once he accepted the revised terms and conditions of his contract, then he would definitely be taking up the position. There was no further communication between Latapy and the TTFF on this up to Sunday.
Referring to Latapy’s exit from Rangers and retirement from the T&T team before the TTFF decided to put their latest faith in him, The Herald article added: “Equally, a figure as substantial as (Leo) Beenhakker would not have a patsy foisted upon him. The coach will have checked out Latapy’s character with his old friend Dick Advocaat, and come to the conclusion that it’s worth taking the chance.
So now, four months short of his 37th birthday, Latapy will not only get the top-class coaching opportunity he craves, but also make himself available as a player for the post-season qualifiers against Panama, Mexico and the United States. Trinidad and Tobago are bottom of the six-team pool with just one point from three games, but with three countries having the opportunity to get to Germany next year all is not lost.”
4390
Football / Andre Toussaint Thread
« on: April 24, 2005, 06:45:19 AM »
Toussaint double as W Connection wins.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Andre Toussaint scored his third and fourth goals of the season as VIBE CT 105 W Connection won for the fourth straight time in the T&T Professional Football League Senior Division.
Toussaint got his double in the first half, while Earl Jean and Dwight Scott added second-half goals to help W Connection to a 4-1 victory over United Petrotrin, in their “South Derby” at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4pm.
It did not take long for the Reynold Carrington coached W Connection to assume the dominant role against the league debutants, as Toussaint opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
The striker gave his team a 2-0 lead going into the interval, when he banged in his second in the 37th minute to join team-mate, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart as the PFL’s leading scorer with four goals.
W Connection continued to dominate on the resumption, but had to wait until the 70th minute for another goal, this time Jean being the scorer.
The “Oilmen” were still recovering from the strike by Jean, when midfielder Dwight Scott headed in the fourth goal in the 74th minute.
Petrotrin’s vice-captain, Larry Mc Donald, made certain that his team got on the score-sheet, when he coolly beat Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from the penalty-spot ,after defender David Atiba Charles was penalised for handling the ball in the 18-yard box.
W Connection moved to 12 points from its our wins, within two of its six-match winning streak in the 1999 campaign, its debut year as a professional club.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, former coach Terry Fenwick, who is expected to take over the role as club coach once more, was on hand to see CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh play to a 1-1 draw with Defence Force.
Defence Force who took the lead in the third minute through a left foot shot from team captain Devon Jorsling. Nigel Pierre levelled the scores in the 12th minute.
Defence Force is now second spot with five points, while Jabloteh, without a win after three matches, is fifth with two points.
In today’s match at Shaw Park from 6 pm, Tobago United, who lost both its matches, 4-3 and 3-2, meet Caledonia AIA Fire. Both clubs will be seeking a first success his season.
Jabloteh U-16s in 3-0 win over Defence Force.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Queen’s Royal College striker Franz Husbands scored a goal in each half, helping CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh to a convincing 3-0 win over Defence Force in the T&T Professional Football League’s Under-16 Division yesterday.
Husbands opened the scoring midway in the first half just before St Mary’s College and national Under-17 midfielder Qian Grovesnor increased the score at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Husbands got the third goal in the second half, sealing the team’s second win from as many matches to keep the San Juan side atop the standings.
Shervon Fredricks was also among the scorers yesterday as he helped himself to three goals for VIBE CT 105 W Connection in a 5-0 drubbing of United Petrotrin at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Fredericks got his goals in the 38th, 65th and 80th minutes while Zerronn Forte (34th minute) and Marvin Manswell (51st) added the others for W Connection—one of three clubs with three points each.
Caledonia AIA/Fire got its first win of the series, thanks to two first half goals from Chuvalos George and Jared Bartholomew, in beating Tobago United 2-1.
George netted in the 32nd minute and Jared Bartholomew scored 12 minutes later while Quinton Williams got Tobago’s reply in the 74th minute.
In the Under-18 Division, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh registered narrow wins to share the lead with four points each.
W Connection edged United Petrotrin 2-1 and Jabloteh eked out a 1-0 win triumph over Defence Force. Tobago United was also in winners’ row, scoring 2-0 over Caledonia AIA Fire.
Yesterday’s PFL Results:
Under-16 Division:
W Connection 5 (Shervon Fredericks 38th, 65th, 80th, Zerronn Forte 30th, Marvin Manswell) vs United Petrotrin 0.
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Franz Husbands 2, Qian Grovesnor) vs Defence Force 0.
Caledonia AIA Fire 2 (Chuvalos George 32nd, Jared Bartholomew 44th) vs Tobago United 1 (Quniton Williams 74th).
Under-18 Division:
W Connection 2 vs United Petrotrin 1.
San Juan Jabloteh 1 vs Defence Force 0.
Tobago United 2 vs Caledonia AIA Fire 0.
Senior Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Nigel Pierre 12) vs Defence Force 1 (Devon Jorsling 4).
W Connection 4 (Andre Toussaint 12, 37-pen, Earl Jean 70, Dwight Scott) vs United Petrotrin 1(Larry Mc Donald 90-pen).
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Andre Toussaint scored his third and fourth goals of the season as VIBE CT 105 W Connection won for the fourth straight time in the T&T Professional Football League Senior Division.
Toussaint got his double in the first half, while Earl Jean and Dwight Scott added second-half goals to help W Connection to a 4-1 victory over United Petrotrin, in their “South Derby” at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4pm.
It did not take long for the Reynold Carrington coached W Connection to assume the dominant role against the league debutants, as Toussaint opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
The striker gave his team a 2-0 lead going into the interval, when he banged in his second in the 37th minute to join team-mate, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart as the PFL’s leading scorer with four goals.
W Connection continued to dominate on the resumption, but had to wait until the 70th minute for another goal, this time Jean being the scorer.
The “Oilmen” were still recovering from the strike by Jean, when midfielder Dwight Scott headed in the fourth goal in the 74th minute.
Petrotrin’s vice-captain, Larry Mc Donald, made certain that his team got on the score-sheet, when he coolly beat Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from the penalty-spot ,after defender David Atiba Charles was penalised for handling the ball in the 18-yard box.
W Connection moved to 12 points from its our wins, within two of its six-match winning streak in the 1999 campaign, its debut year as a professional club.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, former coach Terry Fenwick, who is expected to take over the role as club coach once more, was on hand to see CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh play to a 1-1 draw with Defence Force.
Defence Force who took the lead in the third minute through a left foot shot from team captain Devon Jorsling. Nigel Pierre levelled the scores in the 12th minute.
Defence Force is now second spot with five points, while Jabloteh, without a win after three matches, is fifth with two points.
In today’s match at Shaw Park from 6 pm, Tobago United, who lost both its matches, 4-3 and 3-2, meet Caledonia AIA Fire. Both clubs will be seeking a first success his season.
Jabloteh U-16s in 3-0 win over Defence Force.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Queen’s Royal College striker Franz Husbands scored a goal in each half, helping CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh to a convincing 3-0 win over Defence Force in the T&T Professional Football League’s Under-16 Division yesterday.
Husbands opened the scoring midway in the first half just before St Mary’s College and national Under-17 midfielder Qian Grovesnor increased the score at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Husbands got the third goal in the second half, sealing the team’s second win from as many matches to keep the San Juan side atop the standings.
Shervon Fredricks was also among the scorers yesterday as he helped himself to three goals for VIBE CT 105 W Connection in a 5-0 drubbing of United Petrotrin at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Fredericks got his goals in the 38th, 65th and 80th minutes while Zerronn Forte (34th minute) and Marvin Manswell (51st) added the others for W Connection—one of three clubs with three points each.
Caledonia AIA/Fire got its first win of the series, thanks to two first half goals from Chuvalos George and Jared Bartholomew, in beating Tobago United 2-1.
George netted in the 32nd minute and Jared Bartholomew scored 12 minutes later while Quinton Williams got Tobago’s reply in the 74th minute.
In the Under-18 Division, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh registered narrow wins to share the lead with four points each.
W Connection edged United Petrotrin 2-1 and Jabloteh eked out a 1-0 win triumph over Defence Force. Tobago United was also in winners’ row, scoring 2-0 over Caledonia AIA Fire.
Yesterday’s PFL Results:
Under-16 Division:
W Connection 5 (Shervon Fredericks 38th, 65th, 80th, Zerronn Forte 30th, Marvin Manswell) vs United Petrotrin 0.
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Franz Husbands 2, Qian Grovesnor) vs Defence Force 0.
Caledonia AIA Fire 2 (Chuvalos George 32nd, Jared Bartholomew 44th) vs Tobago United 1 (Quniton Williams 74th).
Under-18 Division:
W Connection 2 vs United Petrotrin 1.
San Juan Jabloteh 1 vs Defence Force 0.
Tobago United 2 vs Caledonia AIA Fire 0.
Senior Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Nigel Pierre 12) vs Defence Force 1 (Devon Jorsling 4).
W Connection 4 (Andre Toussaint 12, 37-pen, Earl Jean 70, Dwight Scott) vs United Petrotrin 1(Larry Mc Donald 90-pen).
4391
Football / Kenwyne goes for strong finish as Leo looks on.
« on: April 22, 2005, 02:45:19 PM »
Toussaint double as W Connection wins.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Andre Toussaint scored his third and fourth goals of the season as VIBE CT 105 W Connection won for the fourth straight time in the T&T Professional Football League Senior Division.
Toussaint got his double in the first half, while Earl Jean and Dwight Scott added second-half goals to help W Connection to a 4-1 victory over United Petrotrin, in their “South Derby” at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4pm.
It did not take long for the Reynold Carrington coached W Connection to assume the dominant role against the league debutants, as Toussaint opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
The striker gave his team a 2-0 lead going into the interval, when he banged in his second in the 37th minute to join team-mate, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart as the PFL’s leading scorer with four goals.
W Connection continued to dominate on the resumption, but had to wait until the 70th minute for another goal, this time Jean being the scorer.
The “Oilmen” were still recovering from the strike by Jean, when midfielder Dwight Scott headed in the fourth goal in the 74th minute.
Petrotrin’s vice-captain, Larry Mc Donald, made certain that his team got on the score-sheet, when he coolly beat Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from the penalty-spot, after defender David Atiba Charles was penalised for handling the ball in the 18-yard box.
W Connection moved to 12 points from its four wins, within two of its six-match winning streak in the 1999 campaign, its debut year as a professional club.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, former coach Terry Fenwick, who is expected to take over the role as club coach once more, was on hand to see CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh play to a 1-1 draw with Defence Force.
Defence Force who took the lead in the third minute through a left foot shot from team captain Devon Jorsling. Nigel Pierre levelled the scores in the 12th minute.
Defence Force is now second spot with five points, while Jabloteh, without a win after three matches, is fifth with two points.
In today’s match at Shaw Park from 6 pm, Tobago United, who lost both its matches, 4-3 and 3-2, meet Caledonia AIA Fire. Both clubs will be seeking a first success his season.
Jabloteh U-16s in 3-0 win over Defence Force.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Queen’s Royal College striker Franz Husbands scored a goal in each half, helping CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh to a convincing 3-0 win over Defence Force in the T&T Professional Football League’s Under-16 Division yesterday.
Husbands opened the scoring midway in the first half just before St Mary’s College and national Under-17 midfielder Qian Grovesnor increased the score at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Husbands got the third goal in the second half, sealing the team’s second win from as many matches to keep the San Juan side atop the standings.
Shervon Fredricks was also among the scorers yesterday as he helped himself to three goals for VIBE CT 105 W Connection in a 5-0 drubbing of United Petrotrin at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Fredericks got his goals in the 38th, 65th and 80th minutes while Zerronn Forte (34th minute) and Marvin Manswell (51st) added the others for W Connection—one of three clubs with three points each.
Caledonia AIA/Fire got its first win of the series, thanks to two first half goals from Chuvalos George and Jared Bartholomew, in beating Tobago United 2-1.
George netted in the 32nd minute and Jared Bartholomew scored 12 minutes later while Quinton Williams got Tobago’s reply in the 74th minute.
In the Under-18 Division, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh registered narrow wins to share the lead with four points each.
W Connection edged United Petrotrin 2-1 and Jabloteh eked out a 1-0 win triumph over Defence Force. Tobago United was also in winners’ row, scoring 2-0 over Caledonia AIA Fire.
Yesterday’s PFL Results:
Under-16 Division:
W Connection 5 (Shervon Fredericks 38th, 65th, 80th, Zerronn Forte 30th, Marvin Manswell) vs United Petrotrin 0.
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Franz Husbands 2, Qian Grovesnor) vs Defence Force 0.
Caledonia AIA Fire 2 (Chuvalos George 32nd, Jared Bartholomew 44th) vs Tobago United 1 (Quniton Williams 74th).
Under-18 Division:
W Connection 2 vs United Petrotrin 1.
San Juan Jabloteh 1 vs Defence Force 0.
Tobago United 2 vs Caledonia AIA Fire 0.
Senior Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Nigel Pierre 12) vs Defence Force 1 (Devon Jorsling 4).
W Connection 4 (Andre Toussaint 12, 37-pen, Earl Jean 70, Dwight Scott) vs United Petrotrin 1(Larry Mc Donald 90-pen).
Liverpool legend John Barnes in Trinidad Tuesday.
T&T Express Reports.
Liverpool legend and former England international John Barnes will be in Trinidad on Tuesday to launch the newest football television programme, Total Football.
Total Football, a production of Caribbean Newsroom, is the first local television production dedicated completely to covering all things football. The programme makes its premiere on CCN TV6 in early June, in time for Trinidad and Tobago's next round of World Cup qualifying matches against Panama and Mexico.
Barnes has accepted an invitation from Caribbean Newsroom to be the feature speaker at the programme's marketing launch, to be hosted at Trotter's Restaurant on Maraval Road, from 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He is being brought to Trinidad courtesy BWIA.
Barnes, one of the biggest names in English football, has strong Caribbean roots, being born in Jamaica in 1963 to a Trinidadian father and Jamaican mother.
Singer Elton John, one-time chairman of English club Watford FC, once described Barnes as his favourite footballer of all time.
Barnes enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame after joining Watford in 1981. He moved to English giants Liverpool at the age of 23 for a then unheard-of sum of £900,000, and justified the high price tage with his wing play and goal scoring that soon brought him an FA Cup and two League Championship medals at the famed English club.
He later also played for Newcastle United and Charlton.
He was twice voted Player of the Year (1988 and 1990) and also represented his adopted country, England, on 79 occasions, scoring 11 goals in the process.
After his retirement in 1999, Barnes worked as an analyst on British television network, ITV, for several years, and currently hosts a weekly football programme, John Barnes Football Night, on ITV's Channel 5.
Host of Total Football and Barnes' cousin, Keith Look Loy, said the choice of Barnes as feature speaker at the programme's launch was easy and almost inevitable.
"He is a famous ex-professional and international player. He is involved with the football media and hosts his own programme. And, of course, he's my cousin and that's another good reason to invite him," said the former national coach.
Total Football's launch will be attended by members of the corporate and diplomatic communities, football officials, current and ex-national players and coaches, and a broad cross-section of the print and electronic media.
News from the 23rd of April 2005.
Kenwyne goes for strong finish as Leo looks on.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/color]
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker has had his fair share of impressive performances to assess recently as some of this country’s United Kingdom based players have hit good form on the home stretch as their respective seasons near end.
Beenhakker witnessed Kenwyne Jones’ strike last Saturday when Stoke City defeated Plymouth 2-0. The former Dutch National Team coach also got feedback of Wrexham’s match against Bristol City in which T&T trio Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam all made appearances. Added to that, Stern John seems to have regained form with his superb solo strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers while Brent Sancho also netted and has regained his first team place in the Dundee side. Scottish-based defender Marvin Andrews is also likely to make a surprise return to the Glasgow Rangers line up for their encounter against Celtic while Brent Rahim has netted two in two for Falkirk Reserves and English-based striker Jason Norville netting five in five for Watford. Beenhakker is expected to be in Scotland this weekend before returning to Trinidad next week to begin his sessions.
Jones said that his first meeting with Beenhakker was an affable one and he was even more pleased to have scored in front of the former Real Madrid coach. He’s hoping to continue his flow of goals when Stoke takes on Clayton Ince’s Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
“He (Beenhakker) met me before the game and we had a few words which really was a get to know each other sort of meeting. I think that was a good idea for him to come over and I think all of the guys will be looking forward to continuing this type of thing,” Jones told TTFF Media on Friday.
“He also said that he was not here just to assess me in the game but still I was glad to have made a good first impression with the goal and hopefully he would have been pleased to see it. I am going all out to finish the season on a high now.”
The former W Connection and St Anthony’s College player said he was well aware that with a new coach at the helm of the “Warriors” it was somewhat now a scenario whereby a new approach could be taken and possibly new faces in the team.
“Obviously being involved since the start of the campaign I would now want to be in until it ends. At the end of the day it’s up to him to pick the players and we can all just perform as best as we could to try to get in the squad. It may seem like another start but in a way it could be good for the team,” Jones added.
The former National Under 20 skipper also touched on recent drop in confidence by his T&T strike mate Stern John, saying that he felt the Coventry City forward simply needed to get himself out of the rough patch.
“Any footballer could go through a bad patch, probably for a week, a month or even for a whole season but it’s all up to how well you can fight yourself out of it. Any player would want their teammates and fans to stick by him and we know what Stern is capable of, so it’s just a matter of him regaining that touch and being confident again,” said Jones.
The towering figure who was signed by Premier League club Southampton before going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and now Stoke City, added that he intends to pull out the benefits from playing on the same team as John and the other more experienced players on the T&T team.
“As a young player coming up you always dream about playing in certain places and at this point maybe I am realizing part of that dream. The aim really is to learn from experienced players like him (John) and Dwight and the others and mix my style with whatever I could pick up from them. There isn’t really any limit to progress at the moment,” Jones ended.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Andre Toussaint scored his third and fourth goals of the season as VIBE CT 105 W Connection won for the fourth straight time in the T&T Professional Football League Senior Division.
Toussaint got his double in the first half, while Earl Jean and Dwight Scott added second-half goals to help W Connection to a 4-1 victory over United Petrotrin, in their “South Derby” at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, from 4pm.
It did not take long for the Reynold Carrington coached W Connection to assume the dominant role against the league debutants, as Toussaint opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
The striker gave his team a 2-0 lead going into the interval, when he banged in his second in the 37th minute to join team-mate, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart as the PFL’s leading scorer with four goals.
W Connection continued to dominate on the resumption, but had to wait until the 70th minute for another goal, this time Jean being the scorer.
The “Oilmen” were still recovering from the strike by Jean, when midfielder Dwight Scott headed in the fourth goal in the 74th minute.
Petrotrin’s vice-captain, Larry Mc Donald, made certain that his team got on the score-sheet, when he coolly beat Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa from the penalty-spot, after defender David Atiba Charles was penalised for handling the ball in the 18-yard box.
W Connection moved to 12 points from its four wins, within two of its six-match winning streak in the 1999 campaign, its debut year as a professional club.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, former coach Terry Fenwick, who is expected to take over the role as club coach once more, was on hand to see CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh play to a 1-1 draw with Defence Force.
Defence Force who took the lead in the third minute through a left foot shot from team captain Devon Jorsling. Nigel Pierre levelled the scores in the 12th minute.
Defence Force is now second spot with five points, while Jabloteh, without a win after three matches, is fifth with two points.
In today’s match at Shaw Park from 6 pm, Tobago United, who lost both its matches, 4-3 and 3-2, meet Caledonia AIA Fire. Both clubs will be seeking a first success his season.
Jabloteh U-16s in 3-0 win over Defence Force.
By: Nigel Simon.[/color]
Queen’s Royal College striker Franz Husbands scored a goal in each half, helping CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh to a convincing 3-0 win over Defence Force in the T&T Professional Football League’s Under-16 Division yesterday.
Husbands opened the scoring midway in the first half just before St Mary’s College and national Under-17 midfielder Qian Grovesnor increased the score at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Husbands got the third goal in the second half, sealing the team’s second win from as many matches to keep the San Juan side atop the standings.
Shervon Fredricks was also among the scorers yesterday as he helped himself to three goals for VIBE CT 105 W Connection in a 5-0 drubbing of United Petrotrin at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
Fredericks got his goals in the 38th, 65th and 80th minutes while Zerronn Forte (34th minute) and Marvin Manswell (51st) added the others for W Connection—one of three clubs with three points each.
Caledonia AIA/Fire got its first win of the series, thanks to two first half goals from Chuvalos George and Jared Bartholomew, in beating Tobago United 2-1.
George netted in the 32nd minute and Jared Bartholomew scored 12 minutes later while Quinton Williams got Tobago’s reply in the 74th minute.
In the Under-18 Division, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh registered narrow wins to share the lead with four points each.
W Connection edged United Petrotrin 2-1 and Jabloteh eked out a 1-0 win triumph over Defence Force. Tobago United was also in winners’ row, scoring 2-0 over Caledonia AIA Fire.
Yesterday’s PFL Results:
Under-16 Division:
W Connection 5 (Shervon Fredericks 38th, 65th, 80th, Zerronn Forte 30th, Marvin Manswell) vs United Petrotrin 0.
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Franz Husbands 2, Qian Grovesnor) vs Defence Force 0.
Caledonia AIA Fire 2 (Chuvalos George 32nd, Jared Bartholomew 44th) vs Tobago United 1 (Quniton Williams 74th).
Under-18 Division:
W Connection 2 vs United Petrotrin 1.
San Juan Jabloteh 1 vs Defence Force 0.
Tobago United 2 vs Caledonia AIA Fire 0.
Senior Division:
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Nigel Pierre 12) vs Defence Force 1 (Devon Jorsling 4).
W Connection 4 (Andre Toussaint 12, 37-pen, Earl Jean 70, Dwight Scott) vs United Petrotrin 1(Larry Mc Donald 90-pen).
Liverpool legend John Barnes in Trinidad Tuesday.
T&T Express Reports.
Liverpool legend and former England international John Barnes will be in Trinidad on Tuesday to launch the newest football television programme, Total Football.
Total Football, a production of Caribbean Newsroom, is the first local television production dedicated completely to covering all things football. The programme makes its premiere on CCN TV6 in early June, in time for Trinidad and Tobago's next round of World Cup qualifying matches against Panama and Mexico.
Barnes has accepted an invitation from Caribbean Newsroom to be the feature speaker at the programme's marketing launch, to be hosted at Trotter's Restaurant on Maraval Road, from 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He is being brought to Trinidad courtesy BWIA.
Barnes, one of the biggest names in English football, has strong Caribbean roots, being born in Jamaica in 1963 to a Trinidadian father and Jamaican mother.
Singer Elton John, one-time chairman of English club Watford FC, once described Barnes as his favourite footballer of all time.
Barnes enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame after joining Watford in 1981. He moved to English giants Liverpool at the age of 23 for a then unheard-of sum of £900,000, and justified the high price tage with his wing play and goal scoring that soon brought him an FA Cup and two League Championship medals at the famed English club.
He later also played for Newcastle United and Charlton.
He was twice voted Player of the Year (1988 and 1990) and also represented his adopted country, England, on 79 occasions, scoring 11 goals in the process.
After his retirement in 1999, Barnes worked as an analyst on British television network, ITV, for several years, and currently hosts a weekly football programme, John Barnes Football Night, on ITV's Channel 5.
Host of Total Football and Barnes' cousin, Keith Look Loy, said the choice of Barnes as feature speaker at the programme's launch was easy and almost inevitable.
"He is a famous ex-professional and international player. He is involved with the football media and hosts his own programme. And, of course, he's my cousin and that's another good reason to invite him," said the former national coach.
Total Football's launch will be attended by members of the corporate and diplomatic communities, football officials, current and ex-national players and coaches, and a broad cross-section of the print and electronic media.
News from the 23rd of April 2005.
Kenwyne goes for strong finish as Leo looks on.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/color]
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker has had his fair share of impressive performances to assess recently as some of this country’s United Kingdom based players have hit good form on the home stretch as their respective seasons near end.
Beenhakker witnessed Kenwyne Jones’ strike last Saturday when Stoke City defeated Plymouth 2-0. The former Dutch National Team coach also got feedback of Wrexham’s match against Bristol City in which T&T trio Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam all made appearances. Added to that, Stern John seems to have regained form with his superb solo strike against Wolverhampton Wanderers while Brent Sancho also netted and has regained his first team place in the Dundee side. Scottish-based defender Marvin Andrews is also likely to make a surprise return to the Glasgow Rangers line up for their encounter against Celtic while Brent Rahim has netted two in two for Falkirk Reserves and English-based striker Jason Norville netting five in five for Watford. Beenhakker is expected to be in Scotland this weekend before returning to Trinidad next week to begin his sessions.
Jones said that his first meeting with Beenhakker was an affable one and he was even more pleased to have scored in front of the former Real Madrid coach. He’s hoping to continue his flow of goals when Stoke takes on Clayton Ince’s Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.
“He (Beenhakker) met me before the game and we had a few words which really was a get to know each other sort of meeting. I think that was a good idea for him to come over and I think all of the guys will be looking forward to continuing this type of thing,” Jones told TTFF Media on Friday.
“He also said that he was not here just to assess me in the game but still I was glad to have made a good first impression with the goal and hopefully he would have been pleased to see it. I am going all out to finish the season on a high now.”
The former W Connection and St Anthony’s College player said he was well aware that with a new coach at the helm of the “Warriors” it was somewhat now a scenario whereby a new approach could be taken and possibly new faces in the team.
“Obviously being involved since the start of the campaign I would now want to be in until it ends. At the end of the day it’s up to him to pick the players and we can all just perform as best as we could to try to get in the squad. It may seem like another start but in a way it could be good for the team,” Jones added.
The former National Under 20 skipper also touched on recent drop in confidence by his T&T strike mate Stern John, saying that he felt the Coventry City forward simply needed to get himself out of the rough patch.
“Any footballer could go through a bad patch, probably for a week, a month or even for a whole season but it’s all up to how well you can fight yourself out of it. Any player would want their teammates and fans to stick by him and we know what Stern is capable of, so it’s just a matter of him regaining that touch and being confident again,” said Jones.
The towering figure who was signed by Premier League club Southampton before going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and now Stoke City, added that he intends to pull out the benefits from playing on the same team as John and the other more experienced players on the T&T team.
“As a young player coming up you always dream about playing in certain places and at this point maybe I am realizing part of that dream. The aim really is to learn from experienced players like him (John) and Dwight and the others and mix my style with whatever I could pick up from them. There isn’t really any limit to progress at the moment,” Jones ended.
4392
Football / Panama coach cautious of 'Warriors'.
« on: April 21, 2005, 04:19:28 PM »
Panama coach cautious of 'Warriors'.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/color]
Panama coach Jose Hernandez has warned his team against being over confident coming into their next 2006 World Cup Qualifying encounter against Trinidad and Tobago slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Panamanians have come a long way since their 6-0 drubbing from T&T in the semi final stage of the qualifiers back in 2000. That game saw Dwight Yorke netting a hattrick in his first game as captain of the senior team and the Sydney FC man and his “Warriors” are expected to be all fired up for the upcoming encounter.
But Hernandez said his side will take a serious approach come June 4.
“I always try to instill the idea in my players that no team is more important than any other. We're on a mission where there are no stronger or weaker sides. It's like our approach to friendlies, we take them as seriously as a competitive match. It's undeniable that players will be more fired up against some teams, but I try to remain above that kind of thing so that we don't fall into the trap of over-confidence,” he told FIFAWorldCup.com.
As to his thoughts on Leo Beenhakker taking charge for the first time against Panama, Hernandez added : “We're well aware of his record as a coach and there's no doubting that he's got what it takes to lead a national side. But it's something which doesn't concern me or my team. I can't say any more than that really.”
Panama is coming off a 1-1 draw with Mexico in their last qualifier which pushed them to two points, one more than T&T. A win though for T&T could push them level on four points with third-placed Guatemala and Costa Rica if those two were to lose their matches to Mexico and United States respectively.
”Now is not the time to change anything that we've done so far. Our work is based on belief in ourselves, the will to win and hope. It's just a matter of reaffirming those ideas. It's not about changing them.”
Such words may have strong meaning for Beenhakker as well but without doubt, he may instill change in the team’s approach as well more belief in the players and the fans.
“A lot of people see me as possibly the saviour which I can’s say much about but what I can promise you is 39 years of experience and an ability to help turn this team around and make it a competitive one for the rest of this competition. We have the same chance as any other team at this stage despite the recent results ad we have to look at that and take full advantage of what we have in front of us. I have seen the recent games involving Trinidad and Tobago as well as the other teams and we surely must do the work to push ourselves up the table. We are capable of getting it done,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
The Dutch-born coach has been in close touch with TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips over the planning and assessment of the current Senior team and preparations. He is expected to continue his visits in the UK by stopping in Scotland this week where Dundee-based Brent Sancho, Kelvin Jack, Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel play their trade as well as Glasgow Rangers’ Marvin Andrews and Falkirk duo Russell Latapy and Brent Rahim who netted his second consecutive goal by way of a diving header for Falkirk Reserves in a 3-0 win over Greenock Morton earlier this week.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/color]
Panama coach Jose Hernandez has warned his team against being over confident coming into their next 2006 World Cup Qualifying encounter against Trinidad and Tobago slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Panamanians have come a long way since their 6-0 drubbing from T&T in the semi final stage of the qualifiers back in 2000. That game saw Dwight Yorke netting a hattrick in his first game as captain of the senior team and the Sydney FC man and his “Warriors” are expected to be all fired up for the upcoming encounter.
But Hernandez said his side will take a serious approach come June 4.
“I always try to instill the idea in my players that no team is more important than any other. We're on a mission where there are no stronger or weaker sides. It's like our approach to friendlies, we take them as seriously as a competitive match. It's undeniable that players will be more fired up against some teams, but I try to remain above that kind of thing so that we don't fall into the trap of over-confidence,” he told FIFAWorldCup.com.
As to his thoughts on Leo Beenhakker taking charge for the first time against Panama, Hernandez added : “We're well aware of his record as a coach and there's no doubting that he's got what it takes to lead a national side. But it's something which doesn't concern me or my team. I can't say any more than that really.”
Panama is coming off a 1-1 draw with Mexico in their last qualifier which pushed them to two points, one more than T&T. A win though for T&T could push them level on four points with third-placed Guatemala and Costa Rica if those two were to lose their matches to Mexico and United States respectively.
”Now is not the time to change anything that we've done so far. Our work is based on belief in ourselves, the will to win and hope. It's just a matter of reaffirming those ideas. It's not about changing them.”
Such words may have strong meaning for Beenhakker as well but without doubt, he may instill change in the team’s approach as well more belief in the players and the fans.
“A lot of people see me as possibly the saviour which I can’s say much about but what I can promise you is 39 years of experience and an ability to help turn this team around and make it a competitive one for the rest of this competition. We have the same chance as any other team at this stage despite the recent results ad we have to look at that and take full advantage of what we have in front of us. I have seen the recent games involving Trinidad and Tobago as well as the other teams and we surely must do the work to push ourselves up the table. We are capable of getting it done,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
The Dutch-born coach has been in close touch with TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips over the planning and assessment of the current Senior team and preparations. He is expected to continue his visits in the UK by stopping in Scotland this week where Dundee-based Brent Sancho, Kelvin Jack, Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel play their trade as well as Glasgow Rangers’ Marvin Andrews and Falkirk duo Russell Latapy and Brent Rahim who netted his second consecutive goal by way of a diving header for Falkirk Reserves in a 3-0 win over Greenock Morton earlier this week.
4393
Football / No jealousy over Yorke salary: Sydney boss.
« on: April 21, 2005, 06:24:01 AM »
No jealousy over Yorke salary: Sydney boss.
Dwight Yorke.
Sydney FC (AP) coach Pierre Littbarski says his players have responded positively to the signing of high-profile English Premier League striker Dwight Yorke.
Yorke has been signed from Birmingham City and will arrive in Australia one month before the A-League season starts in August.
The 33-year old is reportedly being paid $49,300 a week by Birmingham.
Littbarski admitted that Yorke's two-year deal was far more more lucrative than that offered to other members of the Sydney squad, but said his arrival would not cause any tension.
"I think they feel very professional and there isn't, I didn't think that much jealousy, and I think they are very excited about his arrival," Littbarski said.
"The good players, they know the line between entertaining and delivering, so expectations are high. But I think he can solve that and he can add a few good things to our team," he said.
Formerly with Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, Yorke is a creative striker who has scored 122 goals in the English Premier League.
Rangers will miss Andrews - Rae.
Sportinglife.
Marvin Andrews.
Rangers midfielder Alex Rae believes his team will "badly miss" defender Marvin Andrews against Celtic on Sunday.
The Trinidad and Tobago international defender is battling to prove his fitness after refusing to undergo surgery to repair cruciate ligament damage because of his belief in faith-healing.
Manager Alex McLeish has considered throwing the 29-year-old into action to combat the threat of Hoops striker John Hartson despite insisting that Andrews goes for an operation.
Rangers are two points behind Celtic with five games remaining in the Bank of Scotland Premier League title race but the odds appear to be stacked against a sensational Andrews comeback in the final Old Firm game of the season.
Rae said: "It's been shocking and we have missed him badly in terms of height and dominance in the air.
"I do feel for him. He is absolutely fantastic and the sooner he is back the better for everybody concerned.
"It takes a lot of character and even though he has been injured he has still come in with his big beaming smile."
But whatever the outcome at Ibrox on Sunday, the former Wolves midfielder believes both Celtic and Rangers will drop points between now and the end of the campaign.
Rae said: "It's a massive game for us, without a doubt.
"It will be a really tough one for us but we will be going out determined to get the result we require.
"The Old Firm derbies have been brilliant this season, nip and tuck all the way, but it would be great to get another victory under our belts.
"Celtic games are great to play in and everybody is looking forward to Sunday's game.
"The league is so tight at the moment and I think it will go down to the wire.
"The teams below us are all fighting for a European place and we are going for the championship so it's been a good league to be a part of this year.
"It's a crucial game for us but I still genuinely believe both sides will drop points between now and the end of the season. I think there will be a few twists and turns ahead but hopefully we can finish the season on a high."
Rae has revealed that he has been inundated with ticket requests from family and friends - including former Rangers target Paul Ince.
"People are clamouring for tickets as usual and that's just the family," he added.
"And hopefully I'll have a few people coming up from England for the game.
"Some players I used to play with are interested. I spoke to Paul Ince and he wants to come up.
"He hasn't been to an Old Firm game before so he doesn't know what he's letting himself in for.
"I think Rangers were actually interested in Incey when he was leaving Inter Milan so it would be great to show him what he's missed."
Dwight Yorke.
Sydney FC (AP) coach Pierre Littbarski says his players have responded positively to the signing of high-profile English Premier League striker Dwight Yorke.
Yorke has been signed from Birmingham City and will arrive in Australia one month before the A-League season starts in August.
The 33-year old is reportedly being paid $49,300 a week by Birmingham.
Littbarski admitted that Yorke's two-year deal was far more more lucrative than that offered to other members of the Sydney squad, but said his arrival would not cause any tension.
"I think they feel very professional and there isn't, I didn't think that much jealousy, and I think they are very excited about his arrival," Littbarski said.
"The good players, they know the line between entertaining and delivering, so expectations are high. But I think he can solve that and he can add a few good things to our team," he said.
Formerly with Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, Yorke is a creative striker who has scored 122 goals in the English Premier League.
Rangers will miss Andrews - Rae.
Sportinglife.
Marvin Andrews.
Rangers midfielder Alex Rae believes his team will "badly miss" defender Marvin Andrews against Celtic on Sunday.
The Trinidad and Tobago international defender is battling to prove his fitness after refusing to undergo surgery to repair cruciate ligament damage because of his belief in faith-healing.
Manager Alex McLeish has considered throwing the 29-year-old into action to combat the threat of Hoops striker John Hartson despite insisting that Andrews goes for an operation.
Rangers are two points behind Celtic with five games remaining in the Bank of Scotland Premier League title race but the odds appear to be stacked against a sensational Andrews comeback in the final Old Firm game of the season.
Rae said: "It's been shocking and we have missed him badly in terms of height and dominance in the air.
"I do feel for him. He is absolutely fantastic and the sooner he is back the better for everybody concerned.
"It takes a lot of character and even though he has been injured he has still come in with his big beaming smile."
But whatever the outcome at Ibrox on Sunday, the former Wolves midfielder believes both Celtic and Rangers will drop points between now and the end of the campaign.
Rae said: "It's a massive game for us, without a doubt.
"It will be a really tough one for us but we will be going out determined to get the result we require.
"The Old Firm derbies have been brilliant this season, nip and tuck all the way, but it would be great to get another victory under our belts.
"Celtic games are great to play in and everybody is looking forward to Sunday's game.
"The league is so tight at the moment and I think it will go down to the wire.
"The teams below us are all fighting for a European place and we are going for the championship so it's been a good league to be a part of this year.
"It's a crucial game for us but I still genuinely believe both sides will drop points between now and the end of the season. I think there will be a few twists and turns ahead but hopefully we can finish the season on a high."
Rae has revealed that he has been inundated with ticket requests from family and friends - including former Rangers target Paul Ince.
"People are clamouring for tickets as usual and that's just the family," he added.
"And hopefully I'll have a few people coming up from England for the game.
"Some players I used to play with are interested. I spoke to Paul Ince and he wants to come up.
"He hasn't been to an Old Firm game before so he doesn't know what he's letting himself in for.
"I think Rangers were actually interested in Incey when he was leaving Inter Milan so it would be great to show him what he's missed."
4394
Football / Villa vs The Pros.
« on: April 21, 2005, 04:21:29 AM »
Villa vs The Pros.
By: Joel Villafana - ttproleague.[/color]
This Week---North East Stars Striker Jerren Nixon.
Villa—Jerren what does football really mean to you?
Nixon—It means everything-its my whole life-its what I live for.
Villa—Last season you were the league’s top goal scorer, have you set yourself any specific goals this season?
Nixon—Well obviously I would love to do better than last year and achieve more and I assure you once the opportunity arise, I will do my best to try and improve on last season’s performance.
Villa—What did it mean for you personally and for North East Stars to win the league last season?
Nixon—It certainly meant a lot for the people of Sangre Grande, it is the first time a football team coming from the area achieved such an honour.
Well for me personally it meant a whole lot to be able to come back home and help North East Stars achieve so much—it really was a great feeling.
Villa—North East Stars got off to a losing start this season going down to W Connection 4-0—What went wrong?
Nixon—Well although you go to win every game you play, you just can’t—football is a funny game, and since I have been at North East Stars that was the worst game we have played—everyone played badly, but even a champion team is entitled to one bad game and I hope that was ours and we move on from there.
Villa—Is North East Stars feeling any pressure this season, with everyone coming hard to beat you?
Nixon—Yes there is pressure on us—everyone wants to beat the champion, most of the guys on our team have never really achieved something of this magnitude—so yes there is pressure, but we just have to buckle down and deal with it.
Villa—What do you think are the club’s chances of successfully defending the league title?
Nixon—I see no reason why we can’t do it again, basically we have the same team, we have just lost one player. I believe we can do even better this year; we are also in the Concacaf Club Championships this year and we are eager to impress and prove what a small club from Sangre Grande can do at that level.
Villa—Jerren, looking at the defence of the league title—where do you thing the league title will come from?
Nixon—Well I don’t believe anyone is a real threat to us, I think our biggest threat is ourselves—If we go into our games thinking we have already won it, then we are in trouble. We have to approach each game with a certain amount of respect for everybody and then play hard to win—we are very much capable of matching and beating every team in the league.
Villa—How do you compare the standard of the T&T Pro League to some of the League’s you have played in Switzerland and Scotland?
Nixon—Since I have been here—every year the standard just seems to be getting better and better and the only thing the League’s in Europe have over us is proper organization—but they can’t beat us with skill. However, I hope and pray one day the T&T Pro League will be one of the top leagues in Concacaf—that’s my vision.
Villa—Which player do you admire the most in the Pro League?
Nixon—David Atiba Charles of W Connection
Villa—Which player do you admire most internationally?
Nixon—Chelsea’s Frank Lampard
Villa—Have you been thinking about life after football—Any plans?
Nixon—Of course, right now I have already set up a business selling phone accessories, which my wife is handling so I can concentrate on football and when I am finished playing, I have some other ventures in mind.
Villa—Jerren, you have played all over the world and achieved quite a bit—you have come back home and led North East Stars to the League and F.A. Cup titles—what is your motivation to continue playing?
Nixon—My motivation is my wife, she has always instilled in me since I have come back home, that I need to give something back to Trinidad and Tobago’s football—the people of Trinidad and Tobago have never really gotten an opportunity to see me play at the highest level. The North East Stars club is also a big factor, I want to continue to see them moving forward.
Villa—Are you still enjoying your football?
Nixon—Yes of course—I wouldn’t be playing if I weren’t enjoying it—the day I stop enjoying it I would hang up my boots.
Villa—Have you considered coaching in the future?
Nixon—Yes ever since I was growing up, coaching is something I have always wanted to do—but I am now 32 years old, and I still feel I have some more to offer on the field of play for now.
Villa—Do you still have the desire to represent Trinidad and Tobago?
Nixon—Once I am playing football professionally, I will always have that desire to represent my country—that’s every footballer dream.
Villa—Do you think you still have what it takes to play at the international level?
Nixon—Yes, definitely.
Villa—What do you think are the chances of this current Trinidad and Tobago team to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany?
Nixon—Once everybody comes together and everyone has the same goal and desire—our chances are as good as any.
Villa—What are your thoughts on a foreign coach leading Trinidad and Tobago?
Nixon—For me it doesn’t matter if the coach is foreign or local, once he is equipped ton carry us to a World Cup—my job is to play.
By: Joel Villafana - ttproleague.[/color]
This Week---North East Stars Striker Jerren Nixon.
Villa—Jerren what does football really mean to you?
Nixon—It means everything-its my whole life-its what I live for.
Villa—Last season you were the league’s top goal scorer, have you set yourself any specific goals this season?
Nixon—Well obviously I would love to do better than last year and achieve more and I assure you once the opportunity arise, I will do my best to try and improve on last season’s performance.
Villa—What did it mean for you personally and for North East Stars to win the league last season?
Nixon—It certainly meant a lot for the people of Sangre Grande, it is the first time a football team coming from the area achieved such an honour.
Well for me personally it meant a whole lot to be able to come back home and help North East Stars achieve so much—it really was a great feeling.
Villa—North East Stars got off to a losing start this season going down to W Connection 4-0—What went wrong?
Nixon—Well although you go to win every game you play, you just can’t—football is a funny game, and since I have been at North East Stars that was the worst game we have played—everyone played badly, but even a champion team is entitled to one bad game and I hope that was ours and we move on from there.
Villa—Is North East Stars feeling any pressure this season, with everyone coming hard to beat you?
Nixon—Yes there is pressure on us—everyone wants to beat the champion, most of the guys on our team have never really achieved something of this magnitude—so yes there is pressure, but we just have to buckle down and deal with it.
Villa—What do you think are the club’s chances of successfully defending the league title?
Nixon—I see no reason why we can’t do it again, basically we have the same team, we have just lost one player. I believe we can do even better this year; we are also in the Concacaf Club Championships this year and we are eager to impress and prove what a small club from Sangre Grande can do at that level.
Villa—Jerren, looking at the defence of the league title—where do you thing the league title will come from?
Nixon—Well I don’t believe anyone is a real threat to us, I think our biggest threat is ourselves—If we go into our games thinking we have already won it, then we are in trouble. We have to approach each game with a certain amount of respect for everybody and then play hard to win—we are very much capable of matching and beating every team in the league.
Villa—How do you compare the standard of the T&T Pro League to some of the League’s you have played in Switzerland and Scotland?
Nixon—Since I have been here—every year the standard just seems to be getting better and better and the only thing the League’s in Europe have over us is proper organization—but they can’t beat us with skill. However, I hope and pray one day the T&T Pro League will be one of the top leagues in Concacaf—that’s my vision.
Villa—Which player do you admire the most in the Pro League?
Nixon—David Atiba Charles of W Connection
Villa—Which player do you admire most internationally?
Nixon—Chelsea’s Frank Lampard
Villa—Have you been thinking about life after football—Any plans?
Nixon—Of course, right now I have already set up a business selling phone accessories, which my wife is handling so I can concentrate on football and when I am finished playing, I have some other ventures in mind.
Villa—Jerren, you have played all over the world and achieved quite a bit—you have come back home and led North East Stars to the League and F.A. Cup titles—what is your motivation to continue playing?
Nixon—My motivation is my wife, she has always instilled in me since I have come back home, that I need to give something back to Trinidad and Tobago’s football—the people of Trinidad and Tobago have never really gotten an opportunity to see me play at the highest level. The North East Stars club is also a big factor, I want to continue to see them moving forward.
Villa—Are you still enjoying your football?
Nixon—Yes of course—I wouldn’t be playing if I weren’t enjoying it—the day I stop enjoying it I would hang up my boots.
Villa—Have you considered coaching in the future?
Nixon—Yes ever since I was growing up, coaching is something I have always wanted to do—but I am now 32 years old, and I still feel I have some more to offer on the field of play for now.
Villa—Do you still have the desire to represent Trinidad and Tobago?
Nixon—Once I am playing football professionally, I will always have that desire to represent my country—that’s every footballer dream.
Villa—Do you think you still have what it takes to play at the international level?
Nixon—Yes, definitely.
Villa—What do you think are the chances of this current Trinidad and Tobago team to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany?
Nixon—Once everybody comes together and everyone has the same goal and desire—our chances are as good as any.
Villa—What are your thoughts on a foreign coach leading Trinidad and Tobago?
Nixon—For me it doesn’t matter if the coach is foreign or local, once he is equipped ton carry us to a World Cup—my job is to play.
4395
Football / Hinkson’s double sets up Petrotrin’s first win in PFL.
« on: April 21, 2005, 04:10:09 AM »
COREY RIVERS, left, of Defence Force battles with KENDALL VELOX of National Quarries North-East Stars during their third round 2005 T&T Professional Football League Senior Division match at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on Tuesday night. The match ended 0-0. Photo: Anthony Harris...
Hinkson’s double sets up Petrotrin’s first win in PFL.
By: Nigel Simon.
Kennedy Hinkson, a forward, scored a second-half double as league debutants United Petrotrin held off a late challenge from Tobgao United to record a 3-2 win in the 2005 T&T Professional Football League Senior Division competition at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, on Tuesday night.
Having lost its opening match to Defence Force by default after the club reported that its bus broke down while enroute to the match venue at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday. The “Oilmen” were eager for a positive showing in front of their southern supporters, and they did not dissapoint, although it took 61 minutes to break down the oposition’s defence.
Hinkson got the first goal in the 61st minute and Willan Garcia made it 2-0 ten minutes later. Hinkson found the net again in the 80th minute for his second goal of the match for a 3-0 Petrotrin lead.
After losing its opening match to reigning champion team National Quarries North-East Stars 4-0 last weekend, Tobago United got a life-line when Michael Bailey scored in the 83rd minute to reduce the deficit 1-3.
Noel Williams, last year’s top scorer in the Under-20 Division added a second goal for the Tobagonions on the stroke of full-time, as the match ended in the newcomers’ favour.
At the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, VIBE CT 105 W Connection also got three second-half goals to cool off Caledonia AIA/Fire 3-0 for a third straight win.
The win by W Connection pushed the team point tally to a maximum nine from three matches having defeated defending champion National Quaries North-East Stars (4-0) and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh (2-1) in previous matches. Caledonia remained with one point after two matches—the same as 2002 and 2003 winner Jabloteh.
Defence Force stayed second on the table, but only by goal-difference over NE Stars after the teams battled to a 0-0 draw in the second match at Malabar.
Tuesday’s T&T PFL Senior Division results:
W Connection 3 (David Atiba Charles 57th, Earl Jean 60th, Kendall Davis 66th) vs Caledonia AIA Fire 0.
Utd Petrotrin 3 (Kennedy Hinkson 61st, 80th, Willan Garcia 71st) vs Tobago United 2 (Michael Bailey 83rd, Noel Williams 90th).
Defence Force 0 vs North East Stars 0.
PFL Senior Division standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
W Connection 3 3 0 0 9 1 9
Defence Force 2 1 1 0 3 0 4
North East Stars 3 1 2 1 4 7 4
United Petrotrin 2 1 0 1 3 5 3
Caledonia AIA/Fire 2 0 1 1 0 3 1
San Juan Jabloteh 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
Tobago United 2 0 0 2 5 7 0
PFL Senior Division leading scorer:
4—Gefferson Goulart (W Connection).
2—Andre Toussaint (W Connection), Noel Williams (Tobago United), Kennedy Hinkson (United Petrotrin).
1—Anthony Wolffe, Kayode Mc Kinnon, Jerren Nixon, Fabian Garcia (North East Stars); Ashford Legerton, Dwayne Jack, Michael Bailey (Tobago United), Angus Eve (San Juan Jabloteh), Earl Jean Kendall Davis, David Atiba Charles (W Connection), Willan Garcia (United Petrotrin).
TV-6 Video Highlights.
W Connection coach Reynold Carrington praises players for dream start.
By: Joel Villafana.[/color]
All credit must go to the players—these are the sentiments of W Connection’s Head Coach Reynold Carrington. Vibe CT 105 W Connection raised eyebrows throughout the local football fraternity with their astounding start to the 2005 T&T Pro league season.
The ‘Savonetta Boys’ has sounded a serious warning to the chasing pack, as they established a 5 point lead at the top of the standings, receiving maximum points from their 3 games.
They have so far disposed of the Defending Champions North East Stars (4-0), their arch-rivals San Juan Jabloteh (2-1) and defeated Caledonia AIA/Fire (3-0).
Head Coach Reynold Carrington told ‘ttproleague.com’ that the players on the team must be highly commended as they are mainly responsible for the fantastic start W Connection has made to the 2005 season.
“We worked hard in our pre-season, and we told the guys they needed to improve in certain areas of our game both in attack and in defence, if they want to win the league this year, all the players have responded to the call and we are now reaping the early rewards,” said Carrington.
Reflecting on their most recent victory over Caledonia AIA/Fire, the former National Captain, says, “It was a well calculated game, we knew we could not take Fire for granted as they have a pretty strong squad with the likes of Stokely Mason, Kerwyn Jemmott and former W Connection striker Titus Elva, so we did not extend ourselves in the first half, but in the second half we stepped up and got the job done.”
W Connection finished runners up to North East Stars in the race for the league title last year, but according to Reynold Carrington, this year winning the league is their top priority.
“We haven’t won the league for the last two to three years and this year we have placed the league title as one of our major goals, of course as the defending Pro Bowl and FCB Cup Champions, we will be fighting hard to win all the knockout competitions—but make no mistake, we want the league title back badly.
4396
Football / Stern John: Stick by me T&T.
« on: April 21, 2005, 04:10:05 AM »
Stern John: Stick by me T&T.
Playing Away with Lasana Liburd.
For much of the 2004/05 football season, Stern John felt as though his world was caving in.
Sold by Birmingham City, the club he helped into the England Premier League, only to be unappreciated by his new League Championship employers, Coventry City. Within five months, he worked with four different bosses at club and international level-a fifth, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, was just appointed Trinidad and Tobago coach-while he dropped reluctantly from the Premiership to the League Championship and is danger of a further fall into League One.
His nadir came at the start of the month when national coach Bertille St Clair was sacked after a disappointed World Cup qualifying run, which coincided with John's goal drought, while he returned to Coventry to find new signing Shaun Goater entrenched in his place.
Worse still, John heard whispers that his starting spot with Trinidad and Tobago was under intense scrutiny.
Pride stung, he responded with his best goal this season and possibly his finest strike since his dazzling effort against West Ham in Birmingham's maiden Premiership campaign when turned Czech defender Tomas Repka and drilled past England international goalie David James.
John's solo effort on Saturday, in which he turned the Wolverhampton defence inside out before guiding home with the outside of his foot, earned Coventry a 2-2 draw that can be crucial to their efforts to stave off relegation.
Rather than celebrate with ecstatic fans and teammates, John strode to the corner flag with chest swollen. One suspects he felt he was vindicating his own talents as much as rescuing a proud club.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be a master of the "siege mentality". The world hates us, he supposedly tells his gifted squad, so let's throw it back in their faces.
John is a keen exponent of the art. He can be inspired when wounded.
"It is one of the best ways to answer my critics," he said, as he explained his goal "celebration". "Since I have been here, I have been up and down with the fans. Today they hate me, but tomorrow they love me.
"I was really emotional today when I scored because I believe I am one of the players who should be playing every week in this team."
Murmurs of dissatisfaction from his homeland cut him even deeper.
"I am a proven goal scorer so I don't have to prove anything for anybody," said John, last Saturday. "All strikers have goal droughts but it is up to fans and even the Federation to stick by me. Look at (Ruud) van Nistelrooy who is a world-class player and top goal-scorer for Manchester United. He came back and can't hit the back of the net, but Alex Ferguson is a good manager and still has the confidence in him because he knows he can win you games.
"Those are the kind of players you need to leave on the pitch. I mean you hearing all kinds of rumours about drop this one and drop that one and I think everybody getting too hasty.
"They just need to relax and let the new coach just do his job."
Van Nistelrooy scored twice in United's FA Cup win over Newcastle on Sunday-the day after John ended his own barren spell.
John needs only point to his impressive 56-goal international tally, which is the most ever by a Trinidad and Tobago player and the 11th highest on FIFA's record, to prove his own case. His record surpasses that of luminaries like Brazilians Romario (54) and Zico (52) as well as England's Sir Bobby Charlton (49).
There is a paradoxical element to John's argument, though. For on Saturday, he set out to dominate the opposing defence and terrorised his markers at every opportunity, which culminated in his dazzling strike. It was miles from his performances for much of the year when he lived off scraps in the opposing penalty area.
John recognises this too.
"At Coventry and for Trinidad, we don't create that much as a team so maybe I need to create more for myself," he said. "Normally I hold the ball up and play it wide and get into the box but the service is not coming. So I think I need to have something extra in my locker to pull a surprise and take on defenders and get a shot off.
"If I try to play post-up, sometimes I go through the whole game and don't get a shot. So I have to go back to the old Stern John."
The ability to spot your mistake, correct it and not own up for being at fault in the first place is typical in the world of professional sport.
Like Trinidad and Tobago's cricket phenomena Brian Lara answering critics, who claimed that he is not doing his talent justice, by buckling down for a big score without seeing the irony in his response.
As an athlete in the pressurised world of pro sport, self-doubt is suicide and motivation is gold dust.
At 16, John had to play as a defensive midfielder to break into the national under-17 team and, even then, had to settle for a place among the substitutes.
Three years later and as a striker, he was the linchpin of a more talented under-23 squad and broke into the senior squad alongside the likes of idol Dwight Yorke and Leonson Lewis.
For every setback, John emerged stronger and cockier. British writer Josephine Hart once said that damaged people are dangerous because they know they can survive.
John has done it before and is confident that he will rise again.
At just 28, it is likely that he will take his national scoring record, which he began building nine years ago, into the realms of absurdity.
It is difficult, almost ridiculous, to contemplate a national squad without John's predatory presence.
But, if you think he needs a kick up the backside, don't hesitate. He will be the better man for it.
Just don't mean it, of course.
Playing Away with Lasana Liburd.
For much of the 2004/05 football season, Stern John felt as though his world was caving in.
Sold by Birmingham City, the club he helped into the England Premier League, only to be unappreciated by his new League Championship employers, Coventry City. Within five months, he worked with four different bosses at club and international level-a fifth, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, was just appointed Trinidad and Tobago coach-while he dropped reluctantly from the Premiership to the League Championship and is danger of a further fall into League One.
His nadir came at the start of the month when national coach Bertille St Clair was sacked after a disappointed World Cup qualifying run, which coincided with John's goal drought, while he returned to Coventry to find new signing Shaun Goater entrenched in his place.
Worse still, John heard whispers that his starting spot with Trinidad and Tobago was under intense scrutiny.
Pride stung, he responded with his best goal this season and possibly his finest strike since his dazzling effort against West Ham in Birmingham's maiden Premiership campaign when turned Czech defender Tomas Repka and drilled past England international goalie David James.
John's solo effort on Saturday, in which he turned the Wolverhampton defence inside out before guiding home with the outside of his foot, earned Coventry a 2-2 draw that can be crucial to their efforts to stave off relegation.
Rather than celebrate with ecstatic fans and teammates, John strode to the corner flag with chest swollen. One suspects he felt he was vindicating his own talents as much as rescuing a proud club.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be a master of the "siege mentality". The world hates us, he supposedly tells his gifted squad, so let's throw it back in their faces.
John is a keen exponent of the art. He can be inspired when wounded.
"It is one of the best ways to answer my critics," he said, as he explained his goal "celebration". "Since I have been here, I have been up and down with the fans. Today they hate me, but tomorrow they love me.
"I was really emotional today when I scored because I believe I am one of the players who should be playing every week in this team."
Murmurs of dissatisfaction from his homeland cut him even deeper.
"I am a proven goal scorer so I don't have to prove anything for anybody," said John, last Saturday. "All strikers have goal droughts but it is up to fans and even the Federation to stick by me. Look at (Ruud) van Nistelrooy who is a world-class player and top goal-scorer for Manchester United. He came back and can't hit the back of the net, but Alex Ferguson is a good manager and still has the confidence in him because he knows he can win you games.
"Those are the kind of players you need to leave on the pitch. I mean you hearing all kinds of rumours about drop this one and drop that one and I think everybody getting too hasty.
"They just need to relax and let the new coach just do his job."
Van Nistelrooy scored twice in United's FA Cup win over Newcastle on Sunday-the day after John ended his own barren spell.
John needs only point to his impressive 56-goal international tally, which is the most ever by a Trinidad and Tobago player and the 11th highest on FIFA's record, to prove his own case. His record surpasses that of luminaries like Brazilians Romario (54) and Zico (52) as well as England's Sir Bobby Charlton (49).
There is a paradoxical element to John's argument, though. For on Saturday, he set out to dominate the opposing defence and terrorised his markers at every opportunity, which culminated in his dazzling strike. It was miles from his performances for much of the year when he lived off scraps in the opposing penalty area.
John recognises this too.
"At Coventry and for Trinidad, we don't create that much as a team so maybe I need to create more for myself," he said. "Normally I hold the ball up and play it wide and get into the box but the service is not coming. So I think I need to have something extra in my locker to pull a surprise and take on defenders and get a shot off.
"If I try to play post-up, sometimes I go through the whole game and don't get a shot. So I have to go back to the old Stern John."
The ability to spot your mistake, correct it and not own up for being at fault in the first place is typical in the world of professional sport.
Like Trinidad and Tobago's cricket phenomena Brian Lara answering critics, who claimed that he is not doing his talent justice, by buckling down for a big score without seeing the irony in his response.
As an athlete in the pressurised world of pro sport, self-doubt is suicide and motivation is gold dust.
At 16, John had to play as a defensive midfielder to break into the national under-17 team and, even then, had to settle for a place among the substitutes.
Three years later and as a striker, he was the linchpin of a more talented under-23 squad and broke into the senior squad alongside the likes of idol Dwight Yorke and Leonson Lewis.
For every setback, John emerged stronger and cockier. British writer Josephine Hart once said that damaged people are dangerous because they know they can survive.
John has done it before and is confident that he will rise again.
At just 28, it is likely that he will take his national scoring record, which he began building nine years ago, into the realms of absurdity.
It is difficult, almost ridiculous, to contemplate a national squad without John's predatory presence.
But, if you think he needs a kick up the backside, don't hesitate. He will be the better man for it.
Just don't mean it, of course.
4397
Football / Marvin Andrews could be back against Celtic.
« on: April 20, 2005, 03:36:23 PM »
Marvin Andrews could be back against Celtic.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
National Senior team coach Leo Beenhakker may get an earlier than expected chance to see defender Marvin Andrews in action after Glasgow Rangers announced on Wednesday that he could be in for a remarkable comeback on Sunday against Celtic.
Andrews has been nursing a damaged cruciate ligament in his left knee which needs surgery but he has insisted that he could return to fitness naturally which gave Rangers boss Alex McLeish recent headaches. But having removed a brace this week and back in light training, McLeish said once Andrews could prove his fitness then he would be in the line up.
"It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend. He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks. So we have to consider these elements. But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him," McLeish told reporters in Scotland.
”Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely,” he added.
Andrews missed the last two matches against Costa Rica and Guatemala but wants to play in the upcoming match against Panama slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He explained to TTFF Media that he was unable to comment on the current situation regarding his injury.
Beenhakker has started his visits to some of T&T’s UK-based players and their respective club managements and will no doubt be hoping to catch Andrews in action.
“It is my intention to meet with as many of the players in the Leagues overseas as well as with their managers and even the team medics because we need to know how things are at the moment,” Beenhakker.
Another one of T&T’s Scottish-based defenders Brent Sancho said that the support for Andrews has been remarkable.
“I think a lot of people were disappointed when he picked up the injury like the fans and his teammates. But people also want to see him get well and maybe they have been hoping that he would go ahead and do the surgery but he’s made a decision and hopefully things will work out well. I think the club wants him back before too long and we definitely want him fit again for the national team because the games coming up are extremely vital and we need everyone possible to be on board,” Sancho told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Meantime, Jimmy Nicholl, the man who signed Andrews to his first deal at Raith Rovers, believes that it could be risky if he plays on the weekend.
“If he looks and feels good in training, gets through all the tests and all match-related stuff, then I am sure he will be trying to convince Alex to play him,” Nicholl said on Wednesday. “I am sure Alex will be thinking that he could do with him and what would happen if the worst comes to the worst. It is a huge belief and if those things include ignoring medical people then good luck to him. You are really putting your faith to the test there but that`s just typical of Marvin.
”I brought him to Raith and his determination shone through and now he is determined to do well at Rangers.We all know what his beliefs are but to have an injury of such an extent is a difficult one for Alex,” Nicholl stated.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
National Senior team coach Leo Beenhakker may get an earlier than expected chance to see defender Marvin Andrews in action after Glasgow Rangers announced on Wednesday that he could be in for a remarkable comeback on Sunday against Celtic.
Andrews has been nursing a damaged cruciate ligament in his left knee which needs surgery but he has insisted that he could return to fitness naturally which gave Rangers boss Alex McLeish recent headaches. But having removed a brace this week and back in light training, McLeish said once Andrews could prove his fitness then he would be in the line up.
"It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend. He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks. So we have to consider these elements. But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him," McLeish told reporters in Scotland.
”Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely,” he added.
Andrews missed the last two matches against Costa Rica and Guatemala but wants to play in the upcoming match against Panama slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He explained to TTFF Media that he was unable to comment on the current situation regarding his injury.
Beenhakker has started his visits to some of T&T’s UK-based players and their respective club managements and will no doubt be hoping to catch Andrews in action.
“It is my intention to meet with as many of the players in the Leagues overseas as well as with their managers and even the team medics because we need to know how things are at the moment,” Beenhakker.
Another one of T&T’s Scottish-based defenders Brent Sancho said that the support for Andrews has been remarkable.
“I think a lot of people were disappointed when he picked up the injury like the fans and his teammates. But people also want to see him get well and maybe they have been hoping that he would go ahead and do the surgery but he’s made a decision and hopefully things will work out well. I think the club wants him back before too long and we definitely want him fit again for the national team because the games coming up are extremely vital and we need everyone possible to be on board,” Sancho told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Meantime, Jimmy Nicholl, the man who signed Andrews to his first deal at Raith Rovers, believes that it could be risky if he plays on the weekend.
“If he looks and feels good in training, gets through all the tests and all match-related stuff, then I am sure he will be trying to convince Alex to play him,” Nicholl said on Wednesday. “I am sure Alex will be thinking that he could do with him and what would happen if the worst comes to the worst. It is a huge belief and if those things include ignoring medical people then good luck to him. You are really putting your faith to the test there but that`s just typical of Marvin.
”I brought him to Raith and his determination shone through and now he is determined to do well at Rangers.We all know what his beliefs are but to have an injury of such an extent is a difficult one for Alex,” Nicholl stated.
4398
Football / Marvin Andrews springs surprise.
« on: April 20, 2005, 05:36:16 AM »
Exclusive! Eck Gives Marvin Hint.
By: Lindsay Herron - Rangers FC.
Marvin Andrews could be ready for a remarkable comeback against Celtic on Sunday but manager Alex McLeish admits it is a "long shot".
The Caribbean defender has been diagnosed as needing surgery to cure cruciate ligament damage in his left knee after suffering the problem against Dundee on March 13.
He has refused an operation and insists he can return to fitness naturally.
Andrews played 45 minutes of reserve football on March 30 and his knee stiffened up which suggested he would not play again this season.
However, he has been in light training and if he could prove his fitness it would be a massive boost ahead of the Old Firm showdown.
McLeish said: "It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend.
"He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks.
"So we have to consider these elements.
"But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him."
Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely.
Dwight Yorke backs Bosnich comeback.
AAP News.
Dwight Yorke believes troubled close friend Mark Bosnich will benefit from his own public's warmth if he re-launches his career in Australia.
Bosnich claims he has recovered from the cocaine addiction that saw the former Socceroos goalkeeper sacked by English premier league Chelsea in January 2003 and banned for nine months.
The 33-year-old has revealed plans to return to home city Sydney to mend strained ties with his parents while making a possible comeback for an A-league club.
Yorke, best man at Bosnich's doomed wedding to model girlfriend Sarah Jarret, says his former Manchester United team-mate would be wise to come home.
"I've been best man at Mark Bosnich's wedding and of course I know him very well," said Yorke after arriving in Australia to discuss a possible move to new A-league side Sydney FC.
"We have a history together as friends and I'm sure the Australian people will welcome Mark back to football with open arms."
"He's been through a very difficult time, but I'm sure if there's an opportunity there he will want to come back to where he belongs."
Bosnich helped Aston Villa win two league cups in the 1990s but his career has never been far from controversy.
In 1996, he made a Hitler salute to Tottenham Hotspur supporters, a club that has a traditionally sizeable Jewish following while representing Villa at London's White Hart Lane.
After tensions heightened between him and former Villa manager John Gregory, he moved to Manchester United but within weeks of his move he was arrested after an incident at a lap-dancing club.
During his time at United he was diagnosed with clinical depression before the positive drugs test in December 2002 left his club and international career in ruins.
Bosnich says he's now clean of drugs and allegations of violence that ruined his marriage.
That stance is backed by Yorke, whose playboy lifestyle has never left him far from the headlines in British tabloid newspapers.
In 1998, both he and Bosnich were embroiled in a video tape scandal with several women.
But Yorke is focussing only on the future and said: "I'm sure he can make a comeback."
"He's a very determined person and if he gets his head right and is determined to get back on the football scene, there's no better person than Mark Bosnich to get back to where he belongs."
"I've seen him out in London but I've not been as close as I would like too for certain reasons."
"But he knows that there is always a friend on the phone or there for him whenever he needs me."
Newly-appointed head coach Pierre Littbarski has spoken to gathered media of his desire to turn Sydney FC into the "best club in the A-League".
Littbarski, a former World Cup winner with Germany, was presented as Sydney's boss for their inaugural A-League campaign at Star City Casino on Saturday morning.
He expressed his excitement about the job at hand and said he will use both his playing expertise and his knowledge as a coach in Germany and Japan, where he coached in the J-League's inaugural season.
"I think Australia now and Japan then are very similar," said the 44-year-old.
"They started something new and everyone was wondering if it would work and if it would be successful and look at it now."
"The former JEF United and Yokahama boss said, Japan has a very strong league and the national team is 18 in the world."
"I would like to help, through Sydney, build up the Australian League and then the National Team will become stronger also." "I have experienced that in Japan and I know the problems that the club (Sydney FC) has and will have and I would like to help."
By: Lindsay Herron - Rangers FC.
Marvin Andrews could be ready for a remarkable comeback against Celtic on Sunday but manager Alex McLeish admits it is a "long shot".
The Caribbean defender has been diagnosed as needing surgery to cure cruciate ligament damage in his left knee after suffering the problem against Dundee on March 13.
He has refused an operation and insists he can return to fitness naturally.
Andrews played 45 minutes of reserve football on March 30 and his knee stiffened up which suggested he would not play again this season.
However, he has been in light training and if he could prove his fitness it would be a massive boost ahead of the Old Firm showdown.
McLeish said: "It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend.
"He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks.
"So we have to consider these elements.
"But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him."
Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely.
Dwight Yorke backs Bosnich comeback.
AAP News.
Dwight Yorke believes troubled close friend Mark Bosnich will benefit from his own public's warmth if he re-launches his career in Australia.
Bosnich claims he has recovered from the cocaine addiction that saw the former Socceroos goalkeeper sacked by English premier league Chelsea in January 2003 and banned for nine months.
The 33-year-old has revealed plans to return to home city Sydney to mend strained ties with his parents while making a possible comeback for an A-league club.
Yorke, best man at Bosnich's doomed wedding to model girlfriend Sarah Jarret, says his former Manchester United team-mate would be wise to come home.
"I've been best man at Mark Bosnich's wedding and of course I know him very well," said Yorke after arriving in Australia to discuss a possible move to new A-league side Sydney FC.
"We have a history together as friends and I'm sure the Australian people will welcome Mark back to football with open arms."
"He's been through a very difficult time, but I'm sure if there's an opportunity there he will want to come back to where he belongs."
Bosnich helped Aston Villa win two league cups in the 1990s but his career has never been far from controversy.
In 1996, he made a Hitler salute to Tottenham Hotspur supporters, a club that has a traditionally sizeable Jewish following while representing Villa at London's White Hart Lane.
After tensions heightened between him and former Villa manager John Gregory, he moved to Manchester United but within weeks of his move he was arrested after an incident at a lap-dancing club.
During his time at United he was diagnosed with clinical depression before the positive drugs test in December 2002 left his club and international career in ruins.
Bosnich says he's now clean of drugs and allegations of violence that ruined his marriage.
That stance is backed by Yorke, whose playboy lifestyle has never left him far from the headlines in British tabloid newspapers.
In 1998, both he and Bosnich were embroiled in a video tape scandal with several women.
But Yorke is focussing only on the future and said: "I'm sure he can make a comeback."
"He's a very determined person and if he gets his head right and is determined to get back on the football scene, there's no better person than Mark Bosnich to get back to where he belongs."
"I've seen him out in London but I've not been as close as I would like too for certain reasons."
"But he knows that there is always a friend on the phone or there for him whenever he needs me."
Newly-appointed head coach Pierre Littbarski has spoken to gathered media of his desire to turn Sydney FC into the "best club in the A-League".
Littbarski, a former World Cup winner with Germany, was presented as Sydney's boss for their inaugural A-League campaign at Star City Casino on Saturday morning.
He expressed his excitement about the job at hand and said he will use both his playing expertise and his knowledge as a coach in Germany and Japan, where he coached in the J-League's inaugural season.
"I think Australia now and Japan then are very similar," said the 44-year-old.
"They started something new and everyone was wondering if it would work and if it would be successful and look at it now."
"The former JEF United and Yokahama boss said, Japan has a very strong league and the national team is 18 in the world."
"I would like to help, through Sydney, build up the Australian League and then the National Team will become stronger also." "I have experienced that in Japan and I know the problems that the club (Sydney FC) has and will have and I would like to help."
4399
Football / Petrotrin rescue South football.
« on: April 19, 2005, 02:52:51 AM »
Petrotrin rescue South football.
By: Mervyn Stewart.
Football fans in South Trinidad are smiling once again with the recent return of United Petrotrin to the top echelon of Trinidad and Tobago football for the 2005 T&T Pro League season.
Following the downward slide of southern football in recent years and the exit of Starworld Strikers from the ProLeague, there was a widespread belief that football in South was finally dead and buried.
With Strikers closing their doors, it meant for the first time in decades that no team from South Trinidad would have been playing at the highest level.
Many football fans saw that as a tragedy and a tremendous setback for a region that was once the heart of football in the Caribbean.
United Petrotrin established themselves as one of the top local teams in the 1990s when national oil companies Trintoc and Trintopec merged their operations into a single enterprise.
Before that, Trintoc ruled the roost in local football, capturing all the major titles on more than one ocassion. Founder and long-serving manager of the Trintoc team during that period was Richard Brathwaite, who currently works for CONCACAF and is the former T&T national team manager.
Brathwaite said Petrotrin deserves the highest praise for this initiative.
South Trinidad has a rich tradition in sport, especially in football and this should be used to alleviate some of the serious social problems affecting the region, particularly among the youths, said Brathwaite. "It is good to see Petrotrin keeping the legacy alive," stated Brathwaite.
Several former national players are also involved with the United Petrotrin team, including Brian Williams, Clayton Morris, Philbert Jones, Dexter Francis and Larry Joseph.
The "Oil Squad" are sheduled to play their first game in the 2005 Pro League today against Tobago United at the Hasley Crawford Stadium. Petrotrin's first scheduled game against Defence Force last Staurday was postponed after the new team's transport broke down.
Head coach Brian Williams said he expected his young squad to give a good account of themsleves.
"We are focused on the future and we have several Under-20 players in the squad. We started preparations a bit late and the team is not as prepared as we would like to be, so we will approach the game with caution. But the players are keen to do well and they have been working hard in training,"Williams told the Express.
W Connection aims to topple Caledonia AIA Fire.
By: Nigel Simon.
Unbeaten W Connection goes in search of win number three from as many matches in T&T Professional Football League Senior Division, when they meet Caledonia AIA Fire.
The match, one of three scheduled for today kicks at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, from 5pm and will be followed by a match between Defence Force and defending champions National Quarries North East Stars two hours later.
United Petrotrin, who failed to show for its match against Defence Force last Saturday, will hope to get travelling arrangements right this time around as host to Tobago United at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, in the day’s other match from 5pm. CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, the 2003 and 2004 league winners is on a bye.
The Stuart Charles-Fevrier coached W Connection is expected to welcome back defender David Atiba Charles from injury anmd will be oozing confidence, having beaten two main rivals already this season, NE Stars (4-0) and Jabloteh (2-1).
AIA/Fire, on the other hand had a 0-0 result in its only match of the season, against Jabloteh, and eager to build on that showing after being on a bye in the second round. Caledonia is determined to make some waves this season—they have only one real injury concern ahead of the match, deceptive attacking midfielder Randy Ramcharan is out with a knee injury. But National midfielder Densill Theobald, though not yet fully match-fit is expected to come off the bench for Fire.
In W Connection’s two wins, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart (four goals) and Andre Toussaint (two goals) did all the scoring and both will be looking to continue their form. North East Stars rebounded from a 4-0 bashing from W Connection to register a 4-3 triumph over Tobago United.
Guyanese-born coach James Mc Lean, must therefore be happy with his strikers in the last match but less so with the defence which has conceded seven goals in two matches following the departure of Charles Pollard to Jabloteh in the off-season.
Stars and Defence Force are both on three points after the latter was awarded three points for a default win against league new-comers United Petrotrin, who failed to show for their match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in the previous round.
Stars will surely be tested by a youthful and talented Defence Force front-line, headed by Kevon Carter and Devon Jorsling, and not forgetting in-form national player Anton Pierre.
United Petrotrin under the supervision of ex-Strike Squad players Clayton Morris and Brian Williams, meanwhile will be eager for a good showing in front of a home crowd against a rejuvenated Tobago United line-up.
The seven teams in the league will compete over three rounds of competitions (18 matches).
In addition to the league competition, the clubs will also battle for top honours in the First Citizens Bank Cup, Pro-Bowl, and two new competitions the Pro-League Classic and the Big-Six.
There will also be competition in the Under-16 and Under-18 Divisions, while friendly matches will be arranged in the Under-14 age-group for the clubs.
Today’s Fixture (Tuesday April 19):
United Petrotrin vs Tobago United @ Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, 5pm.
Caledonia AIA Fire vs W Connection @ Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 5pm.
Defence Force vs North East Stars @ Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 7pm.
NB: Defence Force award 3-0 win and three points for default win over United Petrotrin.
By: Mervyn Stewart.
Football fans in South Trinidad are smiling once again with the recent return of United Petrotrin to the top echelon of Trinidad and Tobago football for the 2005 T&T Pro League season.
Following the downward slide of southern football in recent years and the exit of Starworld Strikers from the ProLeague, there was a widespread belief that football in South was finally dead and buried.
With Strikers closing their doors, it meant for the first time in decades that no team from South Trinidad would have been playing at the highest level.
Many football fans saw that as a tragedy and a tremendous setback for a region that was once the heart of football in the Caribbean.
United Petrotrin established themselves as one of the top local teams in the 1990s when national oil companies Trintoc and Trintopec merged their operations into a single enterprise.
Before that, Trintoc ruled the roost in local football, capturing all the major titles on more than one ocassion. Founder and long-serving manager of the Trintoc team during that period was Richard Brathwaite, who currently works for CONCACAF and is the former T&T national team manager.
Brathwaite said Petrotrin deserves the highest praise for this initiative.
South Trinidad has a rich tradition in sport, especially in football and this should be used to alleviate some of the serious social problems affecting the region, particularly among the youths, said Brathwaite. "It is good to see Petrotrin keeping the legacy alive," stated Brathwaite.
Several former national players are also involved with the United Petrotrin team, including Brian Williams, Clayton Morris, Philbert Jones, Dexter Francis and Larry Joseph.
The "Oil Squad" are sheduled to play their first game in the 2005 Pro League today against Tobago United at the Hasley Crawford Stadium. Petrotrin's first scheduled game against Defence Force last Staurday was postponed after the new team's transport broke down.
Head coach Brian Williams said he expected his young squad to give a good account of themsleves.
"We are focused on the future and we have several Under-20 players in the squad. We started preparations a bit late and the team is not as prepared as we would like to be, so we will approach the game with caution. But the players are keen to do well and they have been working hard in training,"Williams told the Express.
W Connection aims to topple Caledonia AIA Fire.
By: Nigel Simon.
Unbeaten W Connection goes in search of win number three from as many matches in T&T Professional Football League Senior Division, when they meet Caledonia AIA Fire.
The match, one of three scheduled for today kicks at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, from 5pm and will be followed by a match between Defence Force and defending champions National Quarries North East Stars two hours later.
United Petrotrin, who failed to show for its match against Defence Force last Saturday, will hope to get travelling arrangements right this time around as host to Tobago United at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, in the day’s other match from 5pm. CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, the 2003 and 2004 league winners is on a bye.
The Stuart Charles-Fevrier coached W Connection is expected to welcome back defender David Atiba Charles from injury anmd will be oozing confidence, having beaten two main rivals already this season, NE Stars (4-0) and Jabloteh (2-1).
AIA/Fire, on the other hand had a 0-0 result in its only match of the season, against Jabloteh, and eager to build on that showing after being on a bye in the second round. Caledonia is determined to make some waves this season—they have only one real injury concern ahead of the match, deceptive attacking midfielder Randy Ramcharan is out with a knee injury. But National midfielder Densill Theobald, though not yet fully match-fit is expected to come off the bench for Fire.
In W Connection’s two wins, Brazilian Gefferson Goulart (four goals) and Andre Toussaint (two goals) did all the scoring and both will be looking to continue their form. North East Stars rebounded from a 4-0 bashing from W Connection to register a 4-3 triumph over Tobago United.
Guyanese-born coach James Mc Lean, must therefore be happy with his strikers in the last match but less so with the defence which has conceded seven goals in two matches following the departure of Charles Pollard to Jabloteh in the off-season.
Stars and Defence Force are both on three points after the latter was awarded three points for a default win against league new-comers United Petrotrin, who failed to show for their match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in the previous round.
Stars will surely be tested by a youthful and talented Defence Force front-line, headed by Kevon Carter and Devon Jorsling, and not forgetting in-form national player Anton Pierre.
United Petrotrin under the supervision of ex-Strike Squad players Clayton Morris and Brian Williams, meanwhile will be eager for a good showing in front of a home crowd against a rejuvenated Tobago United line-up.
The seven teams in the league will compete over three rounds of competitions (18 matches).
In addition to the league competition, the clubs will also battle for top honours in the First Citizens Bank Cup, Pro-Bowl, and two new competitions the Pro-League Classic and the Big-Six.
There will also be competition in the Under-16 and Under-18 Divisions, while friendly matches will be arranged in the Under-14 age-group for the clubs.
Today’s Fixture (Tuesday April 19):
United Petrotrin vs Tobago United @ Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, 5pm.
Caledonia AIA Fire vs W Connection @ Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 5pm.
Defence Force vs North East Stars @ Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 7pm.
NB: Defence Force award 3-0 win and three points for default win over United Petrotrin.
4400
Football / Sydney FC signs Dwight Yorke.
« on: April 17, 2005, 07:30:44 AM »
Marvin Andrews could be back against Celtic.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
National Senior team coach Leo Beenhakker may get an earlier than expected chance to see defender Marvin Andrews in action after Glasgow Rangers announced on Wednesday that he could be in for a remarkable comeback on Sunday against Celtic.
Andrews has been nursing a damaged cruciate ligament in his left knee which needs surgery but he has insisted that he could return to fitness naturally which gave Rangers boss Alex McLeish recent headaches. But having removed a brace this week and back in light training, McLeish said once Andrews could prove his fitness then he would be in the line up.
"It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend. He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks. So we have to consider these elements. But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him," McLeish told reporters in Scotland.
”Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely,” he added.
Andrews missed the last two matches against Costa Rica and Guatemala but wants to play in the upcoming match against Panama slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He explained to TTFF Media that he was unable to comment on the current situation regarding his injury.
Beenhakker has started his visits to some of T&T’s UK-based players and their respective club managements and will no doubt be hoping to catch Andrews in action.
“It is my intention to meet with as many of the players in the Leagues overseas as well as with their managers and even the team medics because we need to know how things are at the moment,” Beenhakker.
Another one of T&T’s Scottish-based defenders Brent Sancho said that the support for Andrews has been remarkable.
“I think a lot of people were disappointed when he picked up the injury like the fans and his teammates. But people also want to see him get well and maybe they have been hoping that he would go ahead and do the surgery but he’s made a decision and hopefully things will work out well. I think the club wants him back before too long and we definitely want him fit again for the national team because the games coming up are extremely vital and we need everyone possible to be on board,” Sancho told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Meantime, Jimmy Nicholl, the man who signed Andrews to his first deal at Raith Rovers, believes that it could be risky if he plays on the weekend.
“If he looks and feels good in training, gets through all the tests and all match-related stuff, then I am sure he will be trying to convince Alex to play him,” Nicholl said on Wednesday. “I am sure Alex will be thinking that he could do with him and what would happen if the worst comes to the worst. It is a huge belief and if those things include ignoring medical people then good luck to him. You are really putting your faith to the test there but that`s just typical of Marvin.
”I brought him to Raith and his determination shone through and now he is determined to do well at Rangers.We all know what his beliefs are but to have an injury of such an extent is a difficult one for Alex,” Nicholl stated.
News from the 17th of April 2005.
Sydney FC signs Dwight Yorke.[/size]
Sydney FC (SBS) chairman Walter Bugno has revealed his club has secured the most significant signing of the A-League by completing the capture of Birmingham striker Dwight Yorke.
Bugno told tribalfootball.com from the team's tour base in Dubai that their marquee target had signed a two-year-deal.
"We're very happy to confirm that Dwight Yorke has signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC, beginning from the 1st of July," he said, delighted at the signing of the Trinidad & Tobago international.
"We're delighted to sign Dwight after several months of negotiations. His trip to Sydney last week was very telling."
"The Sydney FC fans played a massive part in convincing Dwight to join us. The response he received from the Sydney public over the two days he was there made a big, big difference."
Yorke will not be available for the Club World Championship qualifiers next month but will link up with Sydney FC in June when his current deal with Blackburn expires.
"We were competing with a rival club from the UAE for Dwight - and a late offer also came in from Qatar," Bugno added.
"But the thought of playing for Sydney FC after the reception he received really swung it for us - and we're delighted."
Yorke is 33-years-old and has played Premiership football for Aston Villa, Blackburn, Birmingham and Manchester United, where he won the treble of the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999.
Yorke is the seventh highest goalscorer in the English Premier League, scoring 122 goals in 348 matches in one of the most exciting leagues in world football. The only players to score more goals in the premiership are Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and Thierry Henry.
The Trinidad and Tobago striker played for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City but it was his three seasons at Manchester United that made him a household name all over the world.
During Manchester United’s historic treble in 1999 he was the Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 18 strikes as Manchester United won the European Champions League with a memorable 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the final.
“People dream about playing in the Premier League and playing Champions League and Dwight Yorke has not only played in both but he has won both of them,” Bugno said.
W Connection make it two-in-two.
T&T Newsday Reports.
W Connection got late goals from Andre Toussaint and Gefferson Goulart to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, in the second round of the T&T Pro League yesterday. Defending champs North East Stars held off a determined effort from Tobago United to prevail 4-3 at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground while the scheduled fixture between Defence Force and United Petrotrin, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, was cancelled.
Jabloteh’s captain/assistant coach Angus Eve gave a reminder to the national technical staff when he put his squad ahead in the 62nd minute before Toussaint levelled the scores for the ‘Savonetta Boys’ in the 83rd. Four minutes later, the Brazilian-born Goulart notched his fourth goal this season, to guarantee full points for Connection. Anthony Wolfe opened the scoring for North East in the 15th minute before fellow midfielder, Guyanese Kayode McKinnon doubled the lead in the 31st.
The hosts seemed assured of the win when veteran striker Jerren Nixon found the back of the net in the 43rd but the Tobagonians reduced the deficit with goals from strikers Noel Williams (45th) and Ashford Leggerton (49th). Midfielder Fabian Garcia put North East 4-2 up in the 58th before ex-national defender Dwayne Jack trimmed the lead in the 72nd. But North East’s defenders withstood all that Tobago could throw at them and held out for the win.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
National Senior team coach Leo Beenhakker may get an earlier than expected chance to see defender Marvin Andrews in action after Glasgow Rangers announced on Wednesday that he could be in for a remarkable comeback on Sunday against Celtic.
Andrews has been nursing a damaged cruciate ligament in his left knee which needs surgery but he has insisted that he could return to fitness naturally which gave Rangers boss Alex McLeish recent headaches. But having removed a brace this week and back in light training, McLeish said once Andrews could prove his fitness then he would be in the line up.
"It's a long shot. Marvin started some light training this week but I would still say it's a long shot that he would play this weekend. He still has to show that he is suffering no pain or reaction from that. At the same time there is a fitness issue as well because he has been out for three weeks. So we have to consider these elements. But if Marvin looks the part this week then it's possible we will consider him," McLeish told reporters in Scotland.
”Andrews has been a rock for Rangers this season and there is little doubt that his return would be very timely,” he added.
Andrews missed the last two matches against Costa Rica and Guatemala but wants to play in the upcoming match against Panama slated for June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He explained to TTFF Media that he was unable to comment on the current situation regarding his injury.
Beenhakker has started his visits to some of T&T’s UK-based players and their respective club managements and will no doubt be hoping to catch Andrews in action.
“It is my intention to meet with as many of the players in the Leagues overseas as well as with their managers and even the team medics because we need to know how things are at the moment,” Beenhakker.
Another one of T&T’s Scottish-based defenders Brent Sancho said that the support for Andrews has been remarkable.
“I think a lot of people were disappointed when he picked up the injury like the fans and his teammates. But people also want to see him get well and maybe they have been hoping that he would go ahead and do the surgery but he’s made a decision and hopefully things will work out well. I think the club wants him back before too long and we definitely want him fit again for the national team because the games coming up are extremely vital and we need everyone possible to be on board,” Sancho told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
Meantime, Jimmy Nicholl, the man who signed Andrews to his first deal at Raith Rovers, believes that it could be risky if he plays on the weekend.
“If he looks and feels good in training, gets through all the tests and all match-related stuff, then I am sure he will be trying to convince Alex to play him,” Nicholl said on Wednesday. “I am sure Alex will be thinking that he could do with him and what would happen if the worst comes to the worst. It is a huge belief and if those things include ignoring medical people then good luck to him. You are really putting your faith to the test there but that`s just typical of Marvin.
”I brought him to Raith and his determination shone through and now he is determined to do well at Rangers.We all know what his beliefs are but to have an injury of such an extent is a difficult one for Alex,” Nicholl stated.
News from the 17th of April 2005.
Sydney FC signs Dwight Yorke.[/size]
Sydney FC (SBS) chairman Walter Bugno has revealed his club has secured the most significant signing of the A-League by completing the capture of Birmingham striker Dwight Yorke.
Bugno told tribalfootball.com from the team's tour base in Dubai that their marquee target had signed a two-year-deal.
"We're very happy to confirm that Dwight Yorke has signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC, beginning from the 1st of July," he said, delighted at the signing of the Trinidad & Tobago international.
"We're delighted to sign Dwight after several months of negotiations. His trip to Sydney last week was very telling."
"The Sydney FC fans played a massive part in convincing Dwight to join us. The response he received from the Sydney public over the two days he was there made a big, big difference."
Yorke will not be available for the Club World Championship qualifiers next month but will link up with Sydney FC in June when his current deal with Blackburn expires.
"We were competing with a rival club from the UAE for Dwight - and a late offer also came in from Qatar," Bugno added.
"But the thought of playing for Sydney FC after the reception he received really swung it for us - and we're delighted."
Yorke is 33-years-old and has played Premiership football for Aston Villa, Blackburn, Birmingham and Manchester United, where he won the treble of the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League in 1999.
Yorke is the seventh highest goalscorer in the English Premier League, scoring 122 goals in 348 matches in one of the most exciting leagues in world football. The only players to score more goals in the premiership are Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and Thierry Henry.
The Trinidad and Tobago striker played for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City but it was his three seasons at Manchester United that made him a household name all over the world.
During Manchester United’s historic treble in 1999 he was the Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 18 strikes as Manchester United won the European Champions League with a memorable 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the final.
“People dream about playing in the Premier League and playing Champions League and Dwight Yorke has not only played in both but he has won both of them,” Bugno said.
W Connection make it two-in-two.
T&T Newsday Reports.
W Connection got late goals from Andre Toussaint and Gefferson Goulart to earn a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, in the second round of the T&T Pro League yesterday. Defending champs North East Stars held off a determined effort from Tobago United to prevail 4-3 at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground while the scheduled fixture between Defence Force and United Petrotrin, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, was cancelled.
Jabloteh’s captain/assistant coach Angus Eve gave a reminder to the national technical staff when he put his squad ahead in the 62nd minute before Toussaint levelled the scores for the ‘Savonetta Boys’ in the 83rd. Four minutes later, the Brazilian-born Goulart notched his fourth goal this season, to guarantee full points for Connection. Anthony Wolfe opened the scoring for North East in the 15th minute before fellow midfielder, Guyanese Kayode McKinnon doubled the lead in the 31st.
The hosts seemed assured of the win when veteran striker Jerren Nixon found the back of the net in the 43rd but the Tobagonians reduced the deficit with goals from strikers Noel Williams (45th) and Ashford Leggerton (49th). Midfielder Fabian Garcia put North East 4-2 up in the 58th before ex-national defender Dwayne Jack trimmed the lead in the 72nd. But North East’s defenders withstood all that Tobago could throw at them and held out for the win.
4401
Football / Stern is back.
« on: April 17, 2005, 06:22:03 AM »
Stern is back.
Playing Away With Lasana Liburd.[/color]
Chest swollen and chin elevated, Trinidad and Tobago international striker Stern John strode to the corner flag yesterday at the Highfield Road Stadium as if he were moving through his own living room.
John cocked his head as though listening to a radio and smirked in recognition of a tune he liked.
It was the sound of nearly 20,000 animated supporters roaring in delight at a valuable goal that secured a last-gasp 2-2 draw for Coventry City at home to Midland rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, in a crucial League Championship fixture.
The goal was John's ninth of the season and kept the "Sky Blues" two points above the relegation zone. But he felt particularly pleased with the manner in which he crafted the equaliser.
For a player who reserves his best work for inside the opposing 18-yard box, John's solo effort was an eye-catching reminder that he can still enact a dazzling surprise. Just as poignantly, John promised Trinidad and Tobago and Coventry fans they would see a more direct approach from now on.
"I need to go back to my old game," said the 28-year-old striker. "Since I came to England, they want me to play off the ball to the flanks and get in the box while I am accustomed to doing my turns and taking on defenders.
"So I just have to get back to my old self."..
He could not have picked a worse time as far as Wolves manager and former England boss and midfield star Glenn Hoddle was concerned.
"It was a bitter pill to take," said Hoddle, in the post-match press conference. "It should have been enough. Two-one should have been enough. Them two points would have been vital for us to end on a high."
Wolves are in 13th place and have no chance of being promoted this season but Hoddle's six-month deal with the club ends next month and the team are probably playing for his job.
It seemed sufficient motivation from the opening whistle as Wolves carved up an opportunity after just nine seconds, only for Colin Cameron to drag his shot wide of the far post.
The match was still not a minute old when Coventry responded in like fashion as Lloyd Dyer released forward Dele Adebola, who was equally wasteful from inside the penalty area.
Wolves did go ahead in the 15th minute when the unmarked Leon Clarke headed in a left side Lee Naylor free kick but, again, Coventry matched them as, two minutes later, Gary McSheffrey won and converted a penalty for the home team.
Coventry were spirited but second best in terms of quality as Wolves midfielders Sefi Olofinjana and veteran Paul Ince, formerly of Manchester United and Inter Milan, dictated the pace of the game.
Coventry manager Mickey Adams introduced John midway through the second half but things got worse as Naylor's speculative effort took a cruel deflection to send the visitors ahead in the 79th minute.
John's head dropped, but only for a second. There was something different about the former El Dorado school boy yesterday.
He swapped his gold boots for a more old fashioned black pair and, more tellingly, his performance reminded of a more prolific era.
He refused to leave his fate up to the whims of the Coventry midfielders.
"At Coventry, and for Trinidad, we don't create that much as a team so maybe I need to create more for myself," he said. "If I try to play post-up and give and go, sometimes I go through the whole game and don't get a shot. So I have to go back to the old Stern John."
He got his reward in the final minute when Wolves winger and Korean international Seol conceded possession inside his own half with a careless flick and Michael Doyle quickly picked out John.
Thirty yards from the opposing goal, John spun and ran straight at Wolves right back Mikkell Bischoff who, until then, had put in a flawless performance.
John teased with a lowered shoulder and Bischoff picked the wrong channel to police as the Trinidadian neatly stepped inside the defender.
Wolves stopper Jody Craddock backed off as though expecting John to pass to a teammate, but again the visitors misread his intentions.
Craddock was already inside his own box with John still dancing towards him before he realised his mistake and offered a feeble tackle. John stepped outside the disoriented Craddock and opened his body to stab the ball into the far corner.
Highfield Road exploded and John swaggered towards the corner flag with his chest puffed out as though he were on a catwalk.
"It is one of the best ways to answer my critics," said John. "I was really emotional today when I scored because I believe I am one of the players who should play every week on this team. But I just have to keep working hard.
"I hope I can get two or three goals again this season and hopefully my goal today would put me back into the frame." Coventry's relegation battle just got more interesting.
Playing Away With Lasana Liburd.[/color]
Chest swollen and chin elevated, Trinidad and Tobago international striker Stern John strode to the corner flag yesterday at the Highfield Road Stadium as if he were moving through his own living room.
John cocked his head as though listening to a radio and smirked in recognition of a tune he liked.
It was the sound of nearly 20,000 animated supporters roaring in delight at a valuable goal that secured a last-gasp 2-2 draw for Coventry City at home to Midland rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, in a crucial League Championship fixture.
The goal was John's ninth of the season and kept the "Sky Blues" two points above the relegation zone. But he felt particularly pleased with the manner in which he crafted the equaliser.
For a player who reserves his best work for inside the opposing 18-yard box, John's solo effort was an eye-catching reminder that he can still enact a dazzling surprise. Just as poignantly, John promised Trinidad and Tobago and Coventry fans they would see a more direct approach from now on.
"I need to go back to my old game," said the 28-year-old striker. "Since I came to England, they want me to play off the ball to the flanks and get in the box while I am accustomed to doing my turns and taking on defenders.
"So I just have to get back to my old self."..
He could not have picked a worse time as far as Wolves manager and former England boss and midfield star Glenn Hoddle was concerned.
"It was a bitter pill to take," said Hoddle, in the post-match press conference. "It should have been enough. Two-one should have been enough. Them two points would have been vital for us to end on a high."
Wolves are in 13th place and have no chance of being promoted this season but Hoddle's six-month deal with the club ends next month and the team are probably playing for his job.
It seemed sufficient motivation from the opening whistle as Wolves carved up an opportunity after just nine seconds, only for Colin Cameron to drag his shot wide of the far post.
The match was still not a minute old when Coventry responded in like fashion as Lloyd Dyer released forward Dele Adebola, who was equally wasteful from inside the penalty area.
Wolves did go ahead in the 15th minute when the unmarked Leon Clarke headed in a left side Lee Naylor free kick but, again, Coventry matched them as, two minutes later, Gary McSheffrey won and converted a penalty for the home team.
Coventry were spirited but second best in terms of quality as Wolves midfielders Sefi Olofinjana and veteran Paul Ince, formerly of Manchester United and Inter Milan, dictated the pace of the game.
Coventry manager Mickey Adams introduced John midway through the second half but things got worse as Naylor's speculative effort took a cruel deflection to send the visitors ahead in the 79th minute.
John's head dropped, but only for a second. There was something different about the former El Dorado school boy yesterday.
He swapped his gold boots for a more old fashioned black pair and, more tellingly, his performance reminded of a more prolific era.
He refused to leave his fate up to the whims of the Coventry midfielders.
"At Coventry, and for Trinidad, we don't create that much as a team so maybe I need to create more for myself," he said. "If I try to play post-up and give and go, sometimes I go through the whole game and don't get a shot. So I have to go back to the old Stern John."
He got his reward in the final minute when Wolves winger and Korean international Seol conceded possession inside his own half with a careless flick and Michael Doyle quickly picked out John.
Thirty yards from the opposing goal, John spun and ran straight at Wolves right back Mikkell Bischoff who, until then, had put in a flawless performance.
John teased with a lowered shoulder and Bischoff picked the wrong channel to police as the Trinidadian neatly stepped inside the defender.
Wolves stopper Jody Craddock backed off as though expecting John to pass to a teammate, but again the visitors misread his intentions.
Craddock was already inside his own box with John still dancing towards him before he realised his mistake and offered a feeble tackle. John stepped outside the disoriented Craddock and opened his body to stab the ball into the far corner.
Highfield Road exploded and John swaggered towards the corner flag with his chest puffed out as though he were on a catwalk.
"It is one of the best ways to answer my critics," said John. "I was really emotional today when I scored because I believe I am one of the players who should play every week on this team. But I just have to keep working hard.
"I hope I can get two or three goals again this season and hopefully my goal today would put me back into the frame." Coventry's relegation battle just got more interesting.
4402
Football / Pro League set to work along with Beenhakker’s ‘Warriors’
« on: April 16, 2005, 04:35:41 PM »
Pro League set to work along with Beenhakker’s ‘Warriors’
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker is hoping to have the support of the Pro League and its clubs as he sets out to prepare the best possible team for the remaining 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches and he can expect just that according to League Chief Executive Officer Dexter Skeene.
Beenhakker met with some of the League’s stakeholders earlier this month including club and League officials to give them an idea on his plans which included having access to selected players from the Pro League clubs for three day live-in camps weekly from the first week of May leading up to the qualifier against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 4.
“I have met with the people involved in the League and they were quite surprised to hear some of the things that I discussed which obviously outlined ways in which they could play a role in the preparation of the team,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
“While several of the players who have been in the squad play abroad, there is still that need to have your players from the Local League because if you look back you would realize that some of your guys outside made their way up from the Professional League here and some home-based players are currently in the national team. What I want is to have access to these home-based players without there being conflict with the clubs here and I have plans to have them in live-in camps during the weeks leading up to our first game against Panama,” the former Dutch National Coach added.
The likes of Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards, Hector Sam, Jason Scotland, Clayton Ince formerly of Defence Force, Silvio Spann and to a lesser extent Kenwyne Jones (W Connection), Conrad Smith (Caledonia Fire) and Cornell Glen (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh) have all come out of the Pro League since its inception in 1999. Currently midfield workhorse Angus Eve, Densill Theobald, Cyd Gray, Anton Pierre, Keyeno Thomas, Kerry Baptiste, Michael Celestine, Derek King, Jerren Nixon, Nigel Pierre and Atiba Charles among others are still part of Pro League clubs.
“The number of players who train and play for the national team who are currently part of the Pro League shows that there is need for cooperation between both parties and to hear the Coach’s plans and the League’s willingness to work along with is promising and the results from this will be seen over a period which hopefully will climax at the end of the campaign with a World Cup qualification,” Eve said from a home-based player’s perspective.
Because of Beenhakker’s request and his early attempts at establishing an understanding with the Pro League, Skeene revealed on Friday that already some adjustments have been made to the fixtures to accommodate the National team.
“That first meeting was very cordial and we at the Pro League are committed to working together with the Coach and the TTFF for benefit of football and the World Cup effort,” Skeene said.
“We don’t expect unreasonable demands but the League is aware that if Trinidad and Tobago qualifies for a World Cup will also reflect well on the League. As such we have reviewed our schedule and we should be able to allow him if not the requested three days, at least two and a half days per week to have the players at his disposal. As the CEO of the League, having been a past national player and knowing what it takes at that level, I will do my utmost best to ensure that the clubs cooperate to assist Beenhakker’s programme to create a winning situation on both ends,” Skeene stated.
Skeene added that he was optimistic in the early stages of the season saying that new sponsors will be on board with further details to be announced in due time.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker is hoping to have the support of the Pro League and its clubs as he sets out to prepare the best possible team for the remaining 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches and he can expect just that according to League Chief Executive Officer Dexter Skeene.
Beenhakker met with some of the League’s stakeholders earlier this month including club and League officials to give them an idea on his plans which included having access to selected players from the Pro League clubs for three day live-in camps weekly from the first week of May leading up to the qualifier against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 4.
“I have met with the people involved in the League and they were quite surprised to hear some of the things that I discussed which obviously outlined ways in which they could play a role in the preparation of the team,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media.
“While several of the players who have been in the squad play abroad, there is still that need to have your players from the Local League because if you look back you would realize that some of your guys outside made their way up from the Professional League here and some home-based players are currently in the national team. What I want is to have access to these home-based players without there being conflict with the clubs here and I have plans to have them in live-in camps during the weeks leading up to our first game against Panama,” the former Dutch National Coach added.
The likes of Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards, Hector Sam, Jason Scotland, Clayton Ince formerly of Defence Force, Silvio Spann and to a lesser extent Kenwyne Jones (W Connection), Conrad Smith (Caledonia Fire) and Cornell Glen (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh) have all come out of the Pro League since its inception in 1999. Currently midfield workhorse Angus Eve, Densill Theobald, Cyd Gray, Anton Pierre, Keyeno Thomas, Kerry Baptiste, Michael Celestine, Derek King, Jerren Nixon, Nigel Pierre and Atiba Charles among others are still part of Pro League clubs.
“The number of players who train and play for the national team who are currently part of the Pro League shows that there is need for cooperation between both parties and to hear the Coach’s plans and the League’s willingness to work along with is promising and the results from this will be seen over a period which hopefully will climax at the end of the campaign with a World Cup qualification,” Eve said from a home-based player’s perspective.
Because of Beenhakker’s request and his early attempts at establishing an understanding with the Pro League, Skeene revealed on Friday that already some adjustments have been made to the fixtures to accommodate the National team.
“That first meeting was very cordial and we at the Pro League are committed to working together with the Coach and the TTFF for benefit of football and the World Cup effort,” Skeene said.
“We don’t expect unreasonable demands but the League is aware that if Trinidad and Tobago qualifies for a World Cup will also reflect well on the League. As such we have reviewed our schedule and we should be able to allow him if not the requested three days, at least two and a half days per week to have the players at his disposal. As the CEO of the League, having been a past national player and knowing what it takes at that level, I will do my utmost best to ensure that the clubs cooperate to assist Beenhakker’s programme to create a winning situation on both ends,” Skeene stated.
Skeene added that he was optimistic in the early stages of the season saying that new sponsors will be on board with further details to be announced in due time.
4403
Football / Pick Your Team.
« on: April 16, 2005, 07:19:05 AM »
Who would win ?[/b]
A - UK Pros.
____________________Shaka Hislop___________________
Kenwyne Jones__Marvin Andrews__Ian Cox__Brent Sancho_
Carlos Edwards__Brent Rahim__Dwight Yorke__Derek Phillips
______________Stern John______Jason Scotland________
B - Local Pros A Team.
__________________Clayton Ince__________________
Keyeno Thomas__Atiba Charles__Anton Pierre__Ian Gray_
Angus Eve__Aurtis Whitley__Densill Theobald__Nigel Daniel
______________Nigel Pierre____Jerren Nixon__________
C - USA & Aisan Pros.
_____________________Kelvin Jack____________________
Anthony Rougier__Nigel Henry__Avery John__Marlon Rojas___
Conrad Smith__Silvio Spann__Arnold Dwarika__Leslie Fitzpatrick
____________Scott Sealy_______Cornell Glen____________
D - U-23 & U-20 Combine.
___________________Jan Michael Williams____________________
Kareem Smith__Anthony Noreiga__Makan Hislop__Anton Joseph___
Kerry Baptiste__Kendell Jagdeosingh__Keon Daniel__Michael Celestine
________________Hayden Tinto_____Kevin Crooks_____________
E - Misc Pros.
____________________Andre Charles_____________________
Ricky Shakes__Errol Charles__Dennis Lawrence__Lyndon Andrews
Colin Samuel__Andre Boucaud__Kerwin Jemmott__Gary Glasgow
_____________Hector Sam________Jason Norville___________
F - Local Pros B Team.
___________________Daurance Williams_____________________
Corey Rivers__Dwayne Jack__Larry McDonald__Jose Luiz Seabra____
Josh Johnson__Kurt Williams__Travis Mulraine__Andrei Pacheco____
_______________Noel Williams_____Anthony Wolfe____________
* - Some players had to be mixed to make up teams.
A - UK Pros.
____________________Shaka Hislop___________________
Kenwyne Jones__Marvin Andrews__Ian Cox__Brent Sancho_
Carlos Edwards__Brent Rahim__Dwight Yorke__Derek Phillips
______________Stern John______Jason Scotland________
B - Local Pros A Team.
__________________Clayton Ince__________________
Keyeno Thomas__Atiba Charles__Anton Pierre__Ian Gray_
Angus Eve__Aurtis Whitley__Densill Theobald__Nigel Daniel
______________Nigel Pierre____Jerren Nixon__________
C - USA & Aisan Pros.
_____________________Kelvin Jack____________________
Anthony Rougier__Nigel Henry__Avery John__Marlon Rojas___
Conrad Smith__Silvio Spann__Arnold Dwarika__Leslie Fitzpatrick
____________Scott Sealy_______Cornell Glen____________
D - U-23 & U-20 Combine.
___________________Jan Michael Williams____________________
Kareem Smith__Anthony Noreiga__Makan Hislop__Anton Joseph___
Kerry Baptiste__Kendell Jagdeosingh__Keon Daniel__Michael Celestine
________________Hayden Tinto_____Kevin Crooks_____________
E - Misc Pros.
____________________Andre Charles_____________________
Ricky Shakes__Errol Charles__Dennis Lawrence__Lyndon Andrews
Colin Samuel__Andre Boucaud__Kerwin Jemmott__Gary Glasgow
_____________Hector Sam________Jason Norville___________
F - Local Pros B Team.
___________________Daurance Williams_____________________
Corey Rivers__Dwayne Jack__Larry McDonald__Jose Luiz Seabra____
Josh Johnson__Kurt Williams__Travis Mulraine__Andrei Pacheco____
_______________Noel Williams_____Anthony Wolfe____________
* - Some players had to be mixed to make up teams.
4404
Football / Now might be a good time to approach Brazil for a tune up ?
« on: April 15, 2005, 06:14:30 AM »
Brazil settle for friendly against Guatemala.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - After rejections from Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador, Brazil turned to Guatemala for a friendly on April 27 in Sao Paulo.
Brazil originally wanted to play rivals Argentina on that date, but the Argentine federation pulled out after a request from its clubs. Uruguay and Ecuador were invited as replacements, and also declined the offer.
The match against Guatemala - third in CONCACAF's World Cup qualifying group - is scheduled to be played at the 40,000-seat Pacaembu stadium, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said on its Web site yesterday.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he will not call Brazil's top stars from European clubs, and will use an improvised squad of players from Brazilian teams.
Brazil is saving its 'A' team for the World Cup qualifiers, on dates reserved by FIFA when clubs are required to cede their players. The five-time world champions face Argentina on June 7 in Buenos Aires.
Champions League the key for Dwight Yorke.
By: Peter Anastassi.
Dwight Yorke has jetted into Dubai where he will be in final talks with UAE champion Al Ahli. With the transfer window closed since January 31, Yorke is said to be reluctant to sign for a Dubai based club due to the fact that he wont be able to participate in the Dubai league and only the Asian Champions League.
Al Ahli, Dubai's champion side is said to be offering Yorke a sizeable deal to his agents SFX. However, Yorke is believed to be favouring Sydney as a more suitable place for his young family to grow up in and he was quite impressed with the training facilities and professionalism Sydney FC offered.
Yorke is believed to have told Sydney FC officials that he will make a decision on Friday after examining both Al Ahli and Sydney FC bids. Yorke has made it clear financial gains are not his number one priority. Instead ensuring he plays at a strong league in his final years after a glittering career in England.
With Sydney FC on a pre-season tour of the UAE, Sydney officials will learn quickly if Yorke will be wearing a Sydney FC shirt or not.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - After rejections from Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador, Brazil turned to Guatemala for a friendly on April 27 in Sao Paulo.
Brazil originally wanted to play rivals Argentina on that date, but the Argentine federation pulled out after a request from its clubs. Uruguay and Ecuador were invited as replacements, and also declined the offer.
The match against Guatemala - third in CONCACAF's World Cup qualifying group - is scheduled to be played at the 40,000-seat Pacaembu stadium, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said on its Web site yesterday.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he will not call Brazil's top stars from European clubs, and will use an improvised squad of players from Brazilian teams.
Brazil is saving its 'A' team for the World Cup qualifiers, on dates reserved by FIFA when clubs are required to cede their players. The five-time world champions face Argentina on June 7 in Buenos Aires.
Champions League the key for Dwight Yorke.
By: Peter Anastassi.
Dwight Yorke has jetted into Dubai where he will be in final talks with UAE champion Al Ahli. With the transfer window closed since January 31, Yorke is said to be reluctant to sign for a Dubai based club due to the fact that he wont be able to participate in the Dubai league and only the Asian Champions League.
Al Ahli, Dubai's champion side is said to be offering Yorke a sizeable deal to his agents SFX. However, Yorke is believed to be favouring Sydney as a more suitable place for his young family to grow up in and he was quite impressed with the training facilities and professionalism Sydney FC offered.
Yorke is believed to have told Sydney FC officials that he will make a decision on Friday after examining both Al Ahli and Sydney FC bids. Yorke has made it clear financial gains are not his number one priority. Instead ensuring he plays at a strong league in his final years after a glittering career in England.
With Sydney FC on a pre-season tour of the UAE, Sydney officials will learn quickly if Yorke will be wearing a Sydney FC shirt or not.
4405
Football / Tobago United open vs North East Stars.
« on: April 15, 2005, 05:16:10 AM »
Tobago United open vs North East Stars.
Tobago News.
The unavailability of the Dwight Yorke Stadium last Saturday forced the tournament committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League to reschedule Tobago United opening game against the Defence Force.
Tobago United is now schedule to be in action in the second round of action in Trinidad on Saturday.
Head coach Peter Granville could not confirm their opponents because he said he had not received their schedule from the League's committee as yet.
However he said that he believed that they will be playing North East Stars who were bombed out by Vibes 105 W Connection 4-0 in their opening game, the defending League Champions North East Stars has attracted a major title sponsor. The Sangre Grande based outfit will now be known as National Quarries N.E. Stars. National Quarries Company Limited has signed a three (3) year deal with the T&T Pro League and FA Cup Champions North East Stars.
Despite a very poor performance in the 2004 Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League, Tobago United, the island only professional team had the satisfaction of copping the Most Disciplined Team award.
Head coach Peter Granville received the award on behalf of his club at the League's Awards Ceremony in Trinidad last Saturday. The club which finished in the cellar position on the eight team standing received $116,000 as their prize monies.
The club under 20 outfit also mounted the prize rostrum to receive their prize for finishing third in their division while their prolific goal scorer Noel Williams collected the prize for the most goals. He scored 32 goals for the season.
Coaching School waiting on expulsion.
Tobago News.
Up to press time St Clair Coaching School had received no official word from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation on their response to their expulsion from the National Super League.
Coaching School were expelled from the league for failing to show for their game against Falcon Crest in Trinidad recently.
However, Coaching School officials who were surprised by the harsh decision wrote the Federation asking them to fully investigate their expulsion. The School is claiming that their representative Janice Walker had verbally informed Tournament Committee chairman Lennox Watson who is also chairman of the Disciplinary Committee that handed down the decision that they would not be able to fulfill their engagement because of the unavailability of confirmed reservations. Coaching School still had two games outstanding and could have top the six team table when the decision was made.
Meanwhile, St Clair's Coaching School, one of the most prominent football academies in the country will convene its Annual General Meeting for the 2005-2006 term tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m.
The venue for this important meeting is St Clair Coaching School recreation facility at Daniel Trace, Carnbee. Main item on the agenda is the election of officers. Outgoing officers, who are eligible for re-election are:- President-Ignatius Trim, Vice-President Linvol Wilkinson, Secretary-Nadeen Caesar, Treasurer-Carmen Smith and Public Relation Officers-Janice Walker and Ronnie Stanley.
Tobago News.
The unavailability of the Dwight Yorke Stadium last Saturday forced the tournament committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League to reschedule Tobago United opening game against the Defence Force.
Tobago United is now schedule to be in action in the second round of action in Trinidad on Saturday.
Head coach Peter Granville could not confirm their opponents because he said he had not received their schedule from the League's committee as yet.
However he said that he believed that they will be playing North East Stars who were bombed out by Vibes 105 W Connection 4-0 in their opening game, the defending League Champions North East Stars has attracted a major title sponsor. The Sangre Grande based outfit will now be known as National Quarries N.E. Stars. National Quarries Company Limited has signed a three (3) year deal with the T&T Pro League and FA Cup Champions North East Stars.
Despite a very poor performance in the 2004 Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League, Tobago United, the island only professional team had the satisfaction of copping the Most Disciplined Team award.
Head coach Peter Granville received the award on behalf of his club at the League's Awards Ceremony in Trinidad last Saturday. The club which finished in the cellar position on the eight team standing received $116,000 as their prize monies.
The club under 20 outfit also mounted the prize rostrum to receive their prize for finishing third in their division while their prolific goal scorer Noel Williams collected the prize for the most goals. He scored 32 goals for the season.
Coaching School waiting on expulsion.
Tobago News.
Up to press time St Clair Coaching School had received no official word from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation on their response to their expulsion from the National Super League.
Coaching School were expelled from the league for failing to show for their game against Falcon Crest in Trinidad recently.
However, Coaching School officials who were surprised by the harsh decision wrote the Federation asking them to fully investigate their expulsion. The School is claiming that their representative Janice Walker had verbally informed Tournament Committee chairman Lennox Watson who is also chairman of the Disciplinary Committee that handed down the decision that they would not be able to fulfill their engagement because of the unavailability of confirmed reservations. Coaching School still had two games outstanding and could have top the six team table when the decision was made.
Meanwhile, St Clair's Coaching School, one of the most prominent football academies in the country will convene its Annual General Meeting for the 2005-2006 term tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 a.m.
The venue for this important meeting is St Clair Coaching School recreation facility at Daniel Trace, Carnbee. Main item on the agenda is the election of officers. Outgoing officers, who are eligible for re-election are:- President-Ignatius Trim, Vice-President Linvol Wilkinson, Secretary-Nadeen Caesar, Treasurer-Carmen Smith and Public Relation Officers-Janice Walker and Ronnie Stanley.
4406
What about Track & Field / Talent Aplenty !
« on: April 15, 2005, 02:56:15 AM »
Talent Aplenty ...but don't let it go to waste.
By: Mervyn Stewart.
Jamil James.
Kelly-Ann Kaylene Baptiste, born in Plymouth, Tobago, found herself the recent toast of the 2005 Carifta Games when she clinched the sprint double for Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of the mighty Jamaicans.
The 18-year-old Louisiana State University (LSU) freshwoman first clocked 11:39 seconds in winning the girls' under-20 100m dash and returned next day at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago to defy the odds in running back on Jamaica's Anneisha McLaughlin on the home stretch to get up in 23:25 seconds to add the 200m crown to her haul.
Baptiste currently has a personal best of 11:39 secs in the century event and 23:22 in the half-lap, which she set in Barbados in 2003.
Kelly-Ann, who believed that the 200m was her better event, felt that she has improved tremendously in the 100m due in part to her local coaches, Gerard and Wade Franklyn, and her coach at LSU, Dennis Shaver.
The Tobago youngster has her sights firmly set on the next Olympic Games in Beijing, China, by which time she hopes to get her times down to 10:7 in the 100 and 22:2 in the 200m.
Renny Quow.
Britany Camille Maxim St. Louis, at the tender age of 16 years, has already brought glory to her land of birth by capturing double gold medals in T&T's record-breaking Carifta effort of 36 medals-including 13 golds-at this year's hosting of the Games.
The young Arima lass first captured gold in the under-17 400m event in 54.79 seconds before going on to anchor T&T's Under-17 4x400m squad to their gold medal run of three minutes, 44:05 seconds.
St. Louis has a personal best of 54:67 seconds in the one-lap event, which she established in Mexico last year, and with her being eligible for three more Carifta Games, she expects to bring further glory to T&T.
She lists obtaining an athletic scholarship as one of her goals within the next two years with the intention being to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games.
Rhonda Avion Watkins was another Carifta double gold medallist and one who seems to have a bright future ahead of her.
This quiet-spoken field athlete has always attracted attention because of her aggressive demeanour when it comes to sports. Whether it is the bar in the high jump or the pit in the long jump, she approaches it with a fierce determination with the will to not just to succeed, but to be the best.
The 17-year-old Bishop Anstey High School student, who resides in Diego Martin, showed exactly what stuff she's made off when she leapt 6:29 metres to take girls' under-20 gold in the long jump, before returning to establish a new national junior record of 1:82 metres in the high jump.
It was the second time in two months she was setting a new mark in the high jump as just last month at the Carifta trials she erased the 18-year- old mark of 1:80m when she cleared the bar at 1:81m.
Renny Nick Quow was born in Morvant and now resides in Scarborough, Tobago, where he's a student at Scarborough Secondary School.
Quow led a Trinidad and Tobago 1-2 in the boys' under-20 400 metres when he proved to be too strong for team-mate Jamil James in clocking 46:61 seconds to his compatriot's 46:81.
Renny is definitely one to keep on the right track and he intends to sharpen his skill abroad as he's due to migrate to the USA with his mother after completing his exams in June.
Kervin Joachim Morgan, 15, is another young bright athlete with immense potential.
He raised a lot of eyebrows when he annihilated his rivals in the boys' under-17 400m final in an impressive 48:15 seconds with his nearest rival returning 49:40.
At the tender age of 15, the Diego Martin lad seems to be heading in the right direction and is one to expect greater things from in the near future.
Seventeen-year old Annie Antoinette Alexander of San Juan, produced a big 14:62 metres effort enroute to gold in the girls' under-20 shot put event at the Games. What was impressive about Alexander's efforts was that she was the only thrower to go beyond 14 metres as she also had a 14.32m effort with her first throw.
With a personal best of 15.74 metres set in June last year at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mexico, Alexander is eager to improve on her ability and she looks forward to picking up the hammer throw in the USA since Tobago at present does not have the necessary facilities to accommodate that event.
Garvin Nero slammed the field in the boys' under-17 3,000 metres event, coming home to loud cheers from his supporters.
Nero, who clocked nine minutes, 15:92 seconds in his gold medal romp, hit the finish a full 15:63 seconds ahead of the silver medallist, who clocked 9:33:55.
Young Garvin should continue to stretch his rivals and with the right handling can prove to be a strong contender for future honours in local distance running.
Natoya Baird produced Carifta gold in a discipline that has not gotten much exposure in Trinidad and Tobago. Baird, who emerged victorious in the girls' open pentathlon, accumulated 3, 286 points in the five events that comprise this discipline.
In taking top spot she was 160 points ahead of second-placed Sasha Joyce of the Bahamas, and with her intention to pursue an athletic schol, she intends bringing about a lot more exposure to this discipline to local field athletes.
Jamil Junior James is only 18-years-old and is currently on a scholarship at the University of South Carolina, USA. He has the ability to possibly be one of the best quarter-milers that this country has ever produced.
James looked all over a winner in the under-20 400 metres until Quow found another gear and denied him the gold medal. Not to be outdone, he anchored boys' under-20 4x100 metres relay squad to victory.
Trevor James, former 1976 Olympian and head coach of T&T at the Carifta Games, is also the father of Jamil and he believes his son definitely has what it takes to spring a surprise at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Jamil's resume speaks for itself since he had the distinction of bringing home bronze in the 200 metres at last year's World Junior Championships in Italy.
Cadajah Kemba Spencer, 14-year-old wonder and one of the most improved athletes in training, is a form three student at the Academy of the Seven day Adventist. She runs the 100, 200 and 400 metres events. She represented Trinidad at both the Under-11 and Under-13 Games in Martinique and Jamaica. And at the Carifta Games, Cadajah ran the third leg in the girls' under-17 4x400 relay. making up a lot of ground before handing over the baton in a good position to Britany St. Louis. She played a significant part in T&T's "4x400" gold medal run.
T&T's lone Olympic gold medallist, Hasely Crawford, was impressed with Cadajah's performance and said he believed she should be placed in a five-year programme since she had immense potential and natural ability, which once properly harnessed, could return rich dividends.
With such a wealth of talent at T&T's disposal it would be a crying shame if all these athletes who brought Carifta glory to the twin-islands are left to either fall by the wayside or ply their trade for a adopted country.
The time to invest in them is now. There's no better time than the present.
By: Mervyn Stewart.
Jamil James.
Kelly-Ann Kaylene Baptiste, born in Plymouth, Tobago, found herself the recent toast of the 2005 Carifta Games when she clinched the sprint double for Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of the mighty Jamaicans.
The 18-year-old Louisiana State University (LSU) freshwoman first clocked 11:39 seconds in winning the girls' under-20 100m dash and returned next day at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago to defy the odds in running back on Jamaica's Anneisha McLaughlin on the home stretch to get up in 23:25 seconds to add the 200m crown to her haul.
Baptiste currently has a personal best of 11:39 secs in the century event and 23:22 in the half-lap, which she set in Barbados in 2003.
Kelly-Ann, who believed that the 200m was her better event, felt that she has improved tremendously in the 100m due in part to her local coaches, Gerard and Wade Franklyn, and her coach at LSU, Dennis Shaver.
The Tobago youngster has her sights firmly set on the next Olympic Games in Beijing, China, by which time she hopes to get her times down to 10:7 in the 100 and 22:2 in the 200m.
Renny Quow.
Britany Camille Maxim St. Louis, at the tender age of 16 years, has already brought glory to her land of birth by capturing double gold medals in T&T's record-breaking Carifta effort of 36 medals-including 13 golds-at this year's hosting of the Games.
The young Arima lass first captured gold in the under-17 400m event in 54.79 seconds before going on to anchor T&T's Under-17 4x400m squad to their gold medal run of three minutes, 44:05 seconds.
St. Louis has a personal best of 54:67 seconds in the one-lap event, which she established in Mexico last year, and with her being eligible for three more Carifta Games, she expects to bring further glory to T&T.
She lists obtaining an athletic scholarship as one of her goals within the next two years with the intention being to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games.
Rhonda Avion Watkins was another Carifta double gold medallist and one who seems to have a bright future ahead of her.
This quiet-spoken field athlete has always attracted attention because of her aggressive demeanour when it comes to sports. Whether it is the bar in the high jump or the pit in the long jump, she approaches it with a fierce determination with the will to not just to succeed, but to be the best.
The 17-year-old Bishop Anstey High School student, who resides in Diego Martin, showed exactly what stuff she's made off when she leapt 6:29 metres to take girls' under-20 gold in the long jump, before returning to establish a new national junior record of 1:82 metres in the high jump.
It was the second time in two months she was setting a new mark in the high jump as just last month at the Carifta trials she erased the 18-year- old mark of 1:80m when she cleared the bar at 1:81m.
Renny Nick Quow was born in Morvant and now resides in Scarborough, Tobago, where he's a student at Scarborough Secondary School.
Quow led a Trinidad and Tobago 1-2 in the boys' under-20 400 metres when he proved to be too strong for team-mate Jamil James in clocking 46:61 seconds to his compatriot's 46:81.
Renny is definitely one to keep on the right track and he intends to sharpen his skill abroad as he's due to migrate to the USA with his mother after completing his exams in June.
Kervin Joachim Morgan, 15, is another young bright athlete with immense potential.
He raised a lot of eyebrows when he annihilated his rivals in the boys' under-17 400m final in an impressive 48:15 seconds with his nearest rival returning 49:40.
At the tender age of 15, the Diego Martin lad seems to be heading in the right direction and is one to expect greater things from in the near future.
Seventeen-year old Annie Antoinette Alexander of San Juan, produced a big 14:62 metres effort enroute to gold in the girls' under-20 shot put event at the Games. What was impressive about Alexander's efforts was that she was the only thrower to go beyond 14 metres as she also had a 14.32m effort with her first throw.
With a personal best of 15.74 metres set in June last year at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mexico, Alexander is eager to improve on her ability and she looks forward to picking up the hammer throw in the USA since Tobago at present does not have the necessary facilities to accommodate that event.
Garvin Nero slammed the field in the boys' under-17 3,000 metres event, coming home to loud cheers from his supporters.
Nero, who clocked nine minutes, 15:92 seconds in his gold medal romp, hit the finish a full 15:63 seconds ahead of the silver medallist, who clocked 9:33:55.
Young Garvin should continue to stretch his rivals and with the right handling can prove to be a strong contender for future honours in local distance running.
Natoya Baird produced Carifta gold in a discipline that has not gotten much exposure in Trinidad and Tobago. Baird, who emerged victorious in the girls' open pentathlon, accumulated 3, 286 points in the five events that comprise this discipline.
In taking top spot she was 160 points ahead of second-placed Sasha Joyce of the Bahamas, and with her intention to pursue an athletic schol, she intends bringing about a lot more exposure to this discipline to local field athletes.
Jamil Junior James is only 18-years-old and is currently on a scholarship at the University of South Carolina, USA. He has the ability to possibly be one of the best quarter-milers that this country has ever produced.
James looked all over a winner in the under-20 400 metres until Quow found another gear and denied him the gold medal. Not to be outdone, he anchored boys' under-20 4x100 metres relay squad to victory.
Trevor James, former 1976 Olympian and head coach of T&T at the Carifta Games, is also the father of Jamil and he believes his son definitely has what it takes to spring a surprise at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Jamil's resume speaks for itself since he had the distinction of bringing home bronze in the 200 metres at last year's World Junior Championships in Italy.
Cadajah Kemba Spencer, 14-year-old wonder and one of the most improved athletes in training, is a form three student at the Academy of the Seven day Adventist. She runs the 100, 200 and 400 metres events. She represented Trinidad at both the Under-11 and Under-13 Games in Martinique and Jamaica. And at the Carifta Games, Cadajah ran the third leg in the girls' under-17 4x400 relay. making up a lot of ground before handing over the baton in a good position to Britany St. Louis. She played a significant part in T&T's "4x400" gold medal run.
T&T's lone Olympic gold medallist, Hasely Crawford, was impressed with Cadajah's performance and said he believed she should be placed in a five-year programme since she had immense potential and natural ability, which once properly harnessed, could return rich dividends.
With such a wealth of talent at T&T's disposal it would be a crying shame if all these athletes who brought Carifta glory to the twin-islands are left to either fall by the wayside or ply their trade for a adopted country.
The time to invest in them is now. There's no better time than the present.
4407
What about Track & Field / $20M price tag for... Modern sports complex at UWI.
« on: April 14, 2005, 06:42:27 AM »
$20M price tag for... Modern sports complex at UWI.
By: Walter Alibey - T&T Newsday.
A spanking new state-of-the-art facility incorporating various sports including track and field, cricket, rugby, football and hockey is currently under construction at the University of The West Indies Campus in St Augustine and officials are targetting September as the completion date. Dr Iva Gloudon, Director of Sport and Physical Education at the Campus stated further that a well, expected to produce about 30,000 gallons of water per minute, is being dug to provide water to the different sporting disciplines during the course of the year.
Dr Gloudon said also the facility is expected to cost the University approximately $20 million, but she feels such an institution is necessary to fulfil the University’s goal of producing well-rounded individuals to face the challenges of the world. An ex-hockey standout and captain, Dr Gloudon expressed the view that the idea of the facilities coming to the campus has been a long-time dream of hers for the past 14 years. Since her completion of tertiary level education in the United States, Dr Gloudon has been at the UWI campus striving for sport development. Not surprisingly the first-class UWI-Spec facility which houses a number of different sports disciplines including basketball, netball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and squash was her brainchild.
She told Newsday completion of the cricket field which is called the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground is part of the first phase of the project along with the track and field facility situated to the South of the campus. She noted the cricket ground is up to International Cricket Council (ICC) standard with the grass being farmed at Wallerfield and put down by Contractors Terra Forma. Dr Gloudon also said the contractors are expected to lay the grass for a number of facilities for the Cricket World Cup 2007 venues, including the stadium in Guyana and another in St Lucia. Officials are also completing the construction of an outdoor nets for batsmen and bowlers just to the east of the facility.
Gloudon said she expects the Sir Frank Worrell Ground to be the venue for practice sessions for two top teams in the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2007, in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago will host India as the seeded team in the group which is the “Brown Package,” which will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval. The other teams are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and a team from a non-test playing nation. The fourth team is currently in a play-off for the final spot in the group here in the sister-isle, Tobago.
Dr Gloudon said the track and field facility will be completed in time for the staging of the second annual UWI Half Marathon which begins in front of the campus. The inaugural marathon which was won by Kenyan John Muriuki last year, will again proceed east along the traffic-free Priority Bus Route to D’Abadie and back. Dr Gloudon said a pavilion which will include changing rooms as well as a seating capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 supporters is also in the process of construction. It will be built to the west of the cricket field. She said construction of a Rugby field to meet international standards is also on the way, and happily pointed to the completed changing facilities which will cater for students during outdoor activities.
By: Walter Alibey - T&T Newsday.
A spanking new state-of-the-art facility incorporating various sports including track and field, cricket, rugby, football and hockey is currently under construction at the University of The West Indies Campus in St Augustine and officials are targetting September as the completion date. Dr Iva Gloudon, Director of Sport and Physical Education at the Campus stated further that a well, expected to produce about 30,000 gallons of water per minute, is being dug to provide water to the different sporting disciplines during the course of the year.
Dr Gloudon said also the facility is expected to cost the University approximately $20 million, but she feels such an institution is necessary to fulfil the University’s goal of producing well-rounded individuals to face the challenges of the world. An ex-hockey standout and captain, Dr Gloudon expressed the view that the idea of the facilities coming to the campus has been a long-time dream of hers for the past 14 years. Since her completion of tertiary level education in the United States, Dr Gloudon has been at the UWI campus striving for sport development. Not surprisingly the first-class UWI-Spec facility which houses a number of different sports disciplines including basketball, netball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and squash was her brainchild.
She told Newsday completion of the cricket field which is called the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground is part of the first phase of the project along with the track and field facility situated to the South of the campus. She noted the cricket ground is up to International Cricket Council (ICC) standard with the grass being farmed at Wallerfield and put down by Contractors Terra Forma. Dr Gloudon also said the contractors are expected to lay the grass for a number of facilities for the Cricket World Cup 2007 venues, including the stadium in Guyana and another in St Lucia. Officials are also completing the construction of an outdoor nets for batsmen and bowlers just to the east of the facility.
Gloudon said she expects the Sir Frank Worrell Ground to be the venue for practice sessions for two top teams in the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2007, in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago will host India as the seeded team in the group which is the “Brown Package,” which will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval. The other teams are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and a team from a non-test playing nation. The fourth team is currently in a play-off for the final spot in the group here in the sister-isle, Tobago.
Dr Gloudon said the track and field facility will be completed in time for the staging of the second annual UWI Half Marathon which begins in front of the campus. The inaugural marathon which was won by Kenyan John Muriuki last year, will again proceed east along the traffic-free Priority Bus Route to D’Abadie and back. Dr Gloudon said a pavilion which will include changing rooms as well as a seating capacity of 1,500 to 2,000 supporters is also in the process of construction. It will be built to the west of the cricket field. She said construction of a Rugby field to meet international standards is also on the way, and happily pointed to the completed changing facilities which will cater for students during outdoor activities.
4408
Football / Leslie Fitzpatrick to join Marlon Rojas at RSL.
« on: April 14, 2005, 04:50:19 AM »
Leslie Fitzpatrick could be in RSL uniform Saturday.
By: Michael C. Lewis - The Salt Lake Tribune.
Real Salt Lake has had its eyes on dreadlocked midfielder Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick for months. Now, it has its hands on him, too. The Major League Soccer expansion team has signed Fitzpatrick to a contract, and the promising member of the Trinidad & Tobago national team will join his new teammates in training today and could play in RSL's inaugural home game against Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday.
"I love the opportunity that Real Salt Lake has given me," he said, "and I know this will lead to a great relationship. I hope I can contribute, making RSL the best team in Major League Soccer." Though coach John Ellinger and his staff have been scouting the fleet Fitzpatrick since before he began to attract interest from other MLS clubs by performing well against the U.S. national team in a World Cup qualifying match two months ago, the signing comes at a fortuitous time.
Starting midfielder Andy Williams is out for four weeks with a groin injury, and replacement Clint Mathis has not practiced much this week because of swelling in his knee.
Mathis still is expected to start against the Rapids, but his tender condition leaves the midfield on seemingly shaky ground at a time when Ellinger wants to see it play more balls wide in order to get better crosses into the box against Colorado's Joe Cannon - the MLS goalkeeper of the year last season.
"We have the label of 'expansion team,' " Ellinger said, "and there's no question that at times . . we looked like an expansion team" during a loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend. "And we were acting like an expansion team. . . . I think we're too good for that."
RSL and the Rapids still are in search of their first victories. The teams are tied with expansion club Chivas USA at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference, with one point apiece. The 26-year-old Fitzpatrick was an All-American at Columbia University, before playing in the A League and on the Columbus Crew's developmental squad the past few years. He scored two goals in 28 games for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the A League last season, and fills one of the two roster spots RSL had open, following the release earlier this month of Bosnian defender Senad Halilovic. Utah will have a familiar look to him, too.
RSL's Marlon Rojas is a fellow member of the Trinidad & Tobago national team who has played alongside Fitzpatrick in many international games - including the 2-1 loss to the U.S. (and current RSL defender Eddie Pope) in which Fitzpatrick nearly scored on a breakaway that would have given his team the lead.
By: Michael C. Lewis - The Salt Lake Tribune.
Real Salt Lake has had its eyes on dreadlocked midfielder Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick for months. Now, it has its hands on him, too. The Major League Soccer expansion team has signed Fitzpatrick to a contract, and the promising member of the Trinidad & Tobago national team will join his new teammates in training today and could play in RSL's inaugural home game against Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday.
"I love the opportunity that Real Salt Lake has given me," he said, "and I know this will lead to a great relationship. I hope I can contribute, making RSL the best team in Major League Soccer." Though coach John Ellinger and his staff have been scouting the fleet Fitzpatrick since before he began to attract interest from other MLS clubs by performing well against the U.S. national team in a World Cup qualifying match two months ago, the signing comes at a fortuitous time.
Starting midfielder Andy Williams is out for four weeks with a groin injury, and replacement Clint Mathis has not practiced much this week because of swelling in his knee.
Mathis still is expected to start against the Rapids, but his tender condition leaves the midfield on seemingly shaky ground at a time when Ellinger wants to see it play more balls wide in order to get better crosses into the box against Colorado's Joe Cannon - the MLS goalkeeper of the year last season.
"We have the label of 'expansion team,' " Ellinger said, "and there's no question that at times . . we looked like an expansion team" during a loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend. "And we were acting like an expansion team. . . . I think we're too good for that."
RSL and the Rapids still are in search of their first victories. The teams are tied with expansion club Chivas USA at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference, with one point apiece. The 26-year-old Fitzpatrick was an All-American at Columbia University, before playing in the A League and on the Columbus Crew's developmental squad the past few years. He scored two goals in 28 games for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the A League last season, and fills one of the two roster spots RSL had open, following the release earlier this month of Bosnian defender Senad Halilovic. Utah will have a familiar look to him, too.
RSL's Marlon Rojas is a fellow member of the Trinidad & Tobago national team who has played alongside Fitzpatrick in many international games - including the 2-1 loss to the U.S. (and current RSL defender Eddie Pope) in which Fitzpatrick nearly scored on a breakaway that would have given his team the lead.
4409
Football / Densill Theobald Thread
« on: April 13, 2005, 03:15:27 PM »
Densill Theobald fit and waiting on Beenhakker.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
National midfielder Densill “Bleeder” Theobald is making himself fit and ready for the return of Head coach Leo Beenhakker in the first week of May.
Theobald suffered an instep injury during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in February and has been ruled out of action since, missing the two 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. He earlier impressed in the 2-1 loss to the United States.
His foot had been in a cast but he has since resumed training with Caledonia Fire following a rehab treatment with National Team physiotherapist Zeph Nicholas. Midfielder Arnold Dwarika has also recovered from an ankle strain along with Derek King but Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews continues to be plagued by his cruciate ligament injury. He’s currently wearing a brace and undergoing rehab but is firm on his decision to avoid surgery. English-born defender Ian Cox has also recovered from a hamstring pull which ruled him out of the Guatemala match.
Theobald should make a return to action in Tuesday’s Pro league fixture between Fire and Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
“I think I have paid my dues with regards to getting over this injury which came at a very bad time for me. Daily rehab and a lot of rest brought me back to where I am now and I feel pretty good. I’m just looking forward to getting back on the pitch in time for when the new coach arrives,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
The former Malick Senior Comprehensive player has been one of the emerging players of recent and he thinks that the introduction of Beenhakker will spark a revival by the “Warriors”.
“I think we were in the process of getting it together as a team but maybe something was missing and I feel that the coming of the new coach could be the turning point. He’s bringing a lot to the team and I think it’s an exciting period for all of us going into the next set of games. Everyone will be anxious to do well especially with the new coach and the fact that we must get a victory against Panama,” Theobald said. He also feels the fans have a pivotal role to play in the team’s drive for success.
“I was in the stands for the Costa Rica game and you could have sensed that there are people who really want to see the team do well but yet you don’t really get that feeling. The people here are too shy or something when it comes to supporting,” Theobald said with a laugh. “They sit there and they don’t urge you on as you see in other countries and as players that extra push from the fans does make a difference in how we feel out there on the field.”
Apart from the ‘Warriors’ experience, Theobald is also anticipating a move to the overseas professional circuit. With English side Queen’s Park Rangers expressing interest, American MLS side Kansas City Wizards has also joined the teams following him. The Wizards, same side of local striker Scott Sealy, wanted Theobald on trial but had to delay because of his injury. They have maintained their interest and according to the player, they are likely to have him over following the 2005 Gold Cup in July.
Beenhakker would obviously please to have as many of the regular fit players at his disposal come May.
“It’s important that I have access to most if not all because it’s an important process leading up to the game and with me now taking over the team. Apart from getting feedback and seeing what the players have done before, it would be a plus to have everyone around,” Beenhakker said.
Meantime, midfielder Leslie Fitzpatrick returned to Atlanta on Friday and is expected to tie up a new deal in the MLS this week.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
National midfielder Densill “Bleeder” Theobald is making himself fit and ready for the return of Head coach Leo Beenhakker in the first week of May.
Theobald suffered an instep injury during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in February and has been ruled out of action since, missing the two 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. He earlier impressed in the 2-1 loss to the United States.
His foot had been in a cast but he has since resumed training with Caledonia Fire following a rehab treatment with National Team physiotherapist Zeph Nicholas. Midfielder Arnold Dwarika has also recovered from an ankle strain along with Derek King but Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews continues to be plagued by his cruciate ligament injury. He’s currently wearing a brace and undergoing rehab but is firm on his decision to avoid surgery. English-born defender Ian Cox has also recovered from a hamstring pull which ruled him out of the Guatemala match.
Theobald should make a return to action in Tuesday’s Pro league fixture between Fire and Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
“I think I have paid my dues with regards to getting over this injury which came at a very bad time for me. Daily rehab and a lot of rest brought me back to where I am now and I feel pretty good. I’m just looking forward to getting back on the pitch in time for when the new coach arrives,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
The former Malick Senior Comprehensive player has been one of the emerging players of recent and he thinks that the introduction of Beenhakker will spark a revival by the “Warriors”.
“I think we were in the process of getting it together as a team but maybe something was missing and I feel that the coming of the new coach could be the turning point. He’s bringing a lot to the team and I think it’s an exciting period for all of us going into the next set of games. Everyone will be anxious to do well especially with the new coach and the fact that we must get a victory against Panama,” Theobald said. He also feels the fans have a pivotal role to play in the team’s drive for success.
“I was in the stands for the Costa Rica game and you could have sensed that there are people who really want to see the team do well but yet you don’t really get that feeling. The people here are too shy or something when it comes to supporting,” Theobald said with a laugh. “They sit there and they don’t urge you on as you see in other countries and as players that extra push from the fans does make a difference in how we feel out there on the field.”
Apart from the ‘Warriors’ experience, Theobald is also anticipating a move to the overseas professional circuit. With English side Queen’s Park Rangers expressing interest, American MLS side Kansas City Wizards has also joined the teams following him. The Wizards, same side of local striker Scott Sealy, wanted Theobald on trial but had to delay because of his injury. They have maintained their interest and according to the player, they are likely to have him over following the 2005 Gold Cup in July.
Beenhakker would obviously please to have as many of the regular fit players at his disposal come May.
“It’s important that I have access to most if not all because it’s an important process leading up to the game and with me now taking over the team. Apart from getting feedback and seeing what the players have done before, it would be a plus to have everyone around,” Beenhakker said.
Meantime, midfielder Leslie Fitzpatrick returned to Atlanta on Friday and is expected to tie up a new deal in the MLS this week.
4410
Football / Brent Rahim Thread
« on: April 11, 2005, 05:25:05 PM »
Brent Rahim aims to get back in under Beenhakker.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago’s Scottish-based midfielder Brent Rahim is setting his mind on forcing his way back into the National Team under new coach Leo Beenhakker.
That was the indication given by the talented Falkirk player on Friday as he explained the ups and downs of his current season which saw him slip to the bench for Falkirk and out of the National team which he last played for in a 3-0 loss to Mexico in Puebla City.
The 26-year-old celebrated Falkirk’s winning of the Scottish First Division last week alongside countryman Russell Latapy. The win also booked their place into the Premier League for next season but Rahim could be left considering other options as his contract runs out at the end of the season.
“Honestly speaking, this has been a very difficult year for me in terms of playing time. I have been in and out of the Falkirk team and then I got dropped from the national team during the latter part of last year. I have been training and playing regularly with the reserves and getting short runs with the first team but it just hasn’t been good enough,” Rahim told TTFF Media on Friday.
His agent is carded to hold talks with Falkirk next week and Rahim is hoping that there will be some resolution regarding his playing time. Possible moves to Belgium or the German Bundesliga are in the pipeline but Rahim said that the chance of playing in the Premier League with Falkirk could also lead to him signing a new contract once an offer comes through.
“There are possible options but they have said here that new contracts will be on the table for some of the guys and obviously new faces will be coming in for next season. The main thing is I will be better off at a club where I’m getting playing time. Last year turned out tough because I gave a lot of my time to the national team and at the same time the club team was flying high in the League which meant it was always going to be difficult for me to get back into the first team. And then just like that I didn’t get recalled to the National team which came like a kick in the chest for me,” added Rahim, who has been used mostly in a right midfield and wingback position at Falkirk.
“Once there is some sort of compromise which could see me getting back into the first team then I will be happy but if not then I’ll obviously have to move on because the main thing for me now is to get back into first team action.”
The former West Ham United player is hoping to touch base with Beenhakker this month when the Dutchman visits Scotland to meet with T&T’s overseas pros and then possibly return home to get in a few sessions with the team once the chance arises in May. Dundee United striker Jason Scotland is also hoping to get back into the mix. Rahim's return could give Beenhakker options to consider with Silvio Spann, Carlos Edwards, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Arnold Dwarika, Angus Eve, Dwight Yorke and David Nakhid at his disposal.
“I’m thankful for (Bertille) St Clair for giving me the chance to get in the team but it was also disappointing to just get shelved last year,” said Rahim. “Now I’m hoping that I can come back and add something positive to the team under the new coach. I’ve kept on training and I am still willing to come back and give whatever I can in my capacity as a player for the team.”
Rahim, who rose to the spotlight when he made his senior debut in 2000 in a team which included Stern John, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, David Nakhid, Angus Eve, Anthony Rougier, Marvin Andrews and others, is hopeful of having similar impact this time around, stating also that Latapy’s appointment as assistant coach was big news at Falkirk.
“From my understanding, he’s looking forward to coming back home and getting involved in the national team again and it’s been big news at the club here. The new coach obviously is a plus at the moment and I think all of the guys are just waiting on the chance to start working under him and I think Russell is just as enthusiastic as everyone else,” ended Rahim who netted for Falkirk’s Reserves in a 1-1 draw with Greenock Morton on Tuesday.
News from the 14th of April 2005.
Densill Theobald fit and waiting on Beenhakker.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
National midfielder Densill “Bleeder” Theobald is making himself fit and ready for the return of Head coach Leo Beenhakker in the first week of May.
Theobald suffered an instep injury during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in February and has been ruled out of action since, missing the two 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. He earlier impressed in the 2-1 loss to the United States.
His foot had been in a cast but he has since resumed training with Caledonia Fire following a rehab treatment with National Team physiotherapist Zeph Nicholas. Midfielder Arnold Dwarika has also recovered from an ankle strain along with Derek King but Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews continues to be plagued by his cruciate ligament injury. He’s currently wearing a brace and undergoing rehab but is firm on his decision to avoid surgery. English-born defender Ian Cox has also recovered from a hamstring pull which ruled him out of the Guatemala match.
Theobald should make a return to action in Tuesday’s Pro league fixture between Fire and Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
“I think I have paid my dues with regards to getting over this injury which came at a very bad time for me. Daily rehab and a lot of rest brought me back to where I am now and I feel pretty good. I’m just looking forward to getting back on the pitch in time for when the new coach arrives,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
The former Malick Senior Comprehensive player has been one of the emerging players of recent and he thinks that the introduction of Beenhakker will spark a revival by the “Warriors”.
“I think we were in the process of getting it together as a team but maybe something was missing and I feel that the coming of the new coach could be the turning point. He’s bringing a lot to the team and I think it’s an exciting period for all of us going into the next set of games. Everyone will be anxious to do well especially with the new coach and the fact that we must get a victory against Panama,” Theobald said. He also feels the fans have a pivotal role to play in the team’s drive for success.
“I was in the stands for the Costa Rica game and you could have sensed that there are people who really want to see the team do well but yet you don’t really get that feeling. The people here are too shy or something when it comes to supporting,” Theobald said with a laugh. “They sit there and they don’t urge you on as you see in other countries and as players that extra push from the fans does make a difference in how we feel out there on the field.”
Apart from the ‘Warriors’ experience, Theobald is also anticipating a move to the overseas professional circuit. With English side Queen’s Park Rangers expressing interest, American MLS side Kansas City Wizards has also joined the teams following him. The Wizards, same side of local striker Scott Sealy, wanted Theobald on trial but had to delay because of his injury. They have maintained their interest and according to the player, they are likely to have him over following the 2005 Gold Cup in July.
Beenhakker would obviously please to have as many of the regular fit players at his disposal come May.
“It’s important that I have access to most if not all because it’s an important process leading up to the game and with me now taking over the team. Apart from getting feedback and seeing what the players have done before, it would be a plus to have everyone around,” Beenhakker said.
Meantime, midfielder Leslie Fitzpatrick returned to Atlanta on Friday and is expected to tie up a new deal in the MLS this week.
News from the 12th of April 2005.
‘Warriors’ mindful of World Cup goal.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer[/size]
With training expected to resume in the first week of May, several of this country’s senior footballers have expressed enthusiasm in beginning work under recently appointed head coach Leo Beenhakker.
But several have also moved in to ensure that the camaraderie in the team remains in light of the current change up in management of the team.
Beenhakker, an experienced professional by all means, said it was important that he and his new staff be able to maintain an understanding throughout the team pointing out that at no time should those concerned lose sight of the ultimate goal which is getting to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
”We are all here to get a job done and to accomplish that goal and I am certain that we are all professional enough to know what is required to achieve this,” Beenhakker said last week.
Coventry City striker Stern John realizes that his on-field form is most important to him at this time but he is also aware that team spirit is a main factor for the “Warriors”.
“Right now we must be careful about how these new developments come into play. The results in this round so far was not what any of us hoped for and maybe because of that, changes have been made and we must live with that and see how best we can use it to our advantage,” John said. “It’s sad anytime you have to see your old coach (Bertille St Clair) and Manager (Richard Braithwaite) getting the axe because over a period you develop something with them outside of just football. But at the end of the day, changes are made for betterment and we have a coach now with a good track record and hopefully we can all make this work under him.
Like John, Dwight Yorke, Marvin Andrews, David Nakhid and Shaka Hislop who have all worn the captain’s armband, all feel the same over the current scenario.
Andrews, currently nursing a knee injury received support from Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish who said on the weekend that he would not count on playing Andrews again despite his refusal to undergo surgery. Andrews couldn’t comment but maintained high hopes for the “Warriors”.
Yorke meantime, in the midst of contract discussions, said that he still wants to see T&T to Germany in 2006.
“I’m sure my future will be revealed soon. There are a lot of things in the pipeline and it’s no secret that I’ve wanted to play in the middle east. There are a few offers there on the table and I just have to consider which direction I really want to go for the remainder of my career. I feel strong at the moment and I’m looking to have another two years. I’ve also certainly dedicated the next year or so to Trinidad and Tobago’s football and try to get this team to the next World Cup,” Yorke told TTFF Media.
And while Russell Latapy tasted Scottish First Division success with Falkirk on the weekend, he’s still having fun as a player. "My body will determine how long I’m able to keep playing. I still enjoy playing, I love it. I love getting up and going in for training every day, so as long as I can handle it physically I’ll play. In saying that I don’t want to get to the stage where I’m not doing the team or myself any justice. If it got to that point I would just chuck it, but I’m having fun at this present time,” Latapy told Scottish reporters on Thursday.
Beenhakker is expected to begin his meetings with this country’s European-based pros this month before returning to take up duties here in the first week of May.
Jack Warner chairs CONCACAF Ex-Co meeting.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
The CONCACAF Executive Committee met for the first time in 2005 at the offices of the CONCACAF General Secretariat in New York City on Friday.
The meeting began with a presentation of New York City’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games by members of the bidding committee including Donna De Verona. The presentation was well received by the CONCACAF Executive Committee, which unanimously supported New York City’s candidacy for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Under the Chairmanship of CONCACAF President, Jack Warner, the Committee then received reports on all past, current and future competitions in addition to departmental reports covering all aspects of the Confederation’s activities.
Following reports of projectiles being thrown by spectators onto the field of play and toward officials and players, most recently during the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup match between Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) and CF Monterrey (MEX) on Wednesday (7 April), the CONCACAF Executive Committee affirmed its determination that clubs be held responsible for the actions of their supporters within stadiums. The Committee further emphasized the intention of CONCACAF to make full use of the penalties and sanctions at its disposal in dealing with such incidents.
The Committee was advised that the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) plans to hold a CFU Congress at the time of the next FIFA Congress, which is being held in Marrakech, Morocco from 9-11 September 2005. The CFU Congress will deal specifically with a proposal from the Jamaican Football Federation to go it alone in terms of the negotiation of TV rights associated with key events.
The Committee also heard that CONCACAF had been approached by UNICEF to form an alliance between the two organizations aiming to use the potential of the sport of football to promote the work of UNICEF and encourage the effective involvement of football in the delivery of UNICEF’s programs with children across the CONCACAF region. The Committee unanimously supported a proposal to work with UNICEF on an exclusive basis, as CONCACAF’s nominated partner, to provide more focused activities in pursuit of good causes.
The Committee also unanimously supported a proposal for the recently appointed CONCACAF Technical Director, Keith Look Loy, and the Director of Development, Richard Braithwaite, to coordinate efforts and work closely to produce a realistic and focused development program for CONCACAF for further consideration.
Finally the CONCACAF Executive Committee welcomed the news that Ms. Kerri Ann Alleyne has been appointed to the position of Deputy General Secretary of CONCACAF for the Caribbean Zone. Ms. Alleyne, who spent four years as the CFU Events Coordinator before being appointed as the CFU General Secretary, becomes the first woman ever to hold this or any similar such position within the CONCACAF family. The position of CONCACAF Deputy General Secretary (Caribbean Zone) was previously held by Mr. Harold Taylor, who has now been appointed as FIFA’s Development Officer for the Caribbean. The Committee thanked Mr. Taylor for his tireless and ongoing work and his lifelong commitment to football.
Issued By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago’s Scottish-based midfielder Brent Rahim is setting his mind on forcing his way back into the National Team under new coach Leo Beenhakker.
That was the indication given by the talented Falkirk player on Friday as he explained the ups and downs of his current season which saw him slip to the bench for Falkirk and out of the National team which he last played for in a 3-0 loss to Mexico in Puebla City.
The 26-year-old celebrated Falkirk’s winning of the Scottish First Division last week alongside countryman Russell Latapy. The win also booked their place into the Premier League for next season but Rahim could be left considering other options as his contract runs out at the end of the season.
“Honestly speaking, this has been a very difficult year for me in terms of playing time. I have been in and out of the Falkirk team and then I got dropped from the national team during the latter part of last year. I have been training and playing regularly with the reserves and getting short runs with the first team but it just hasn’t been good enough,” Rahim told TTFF Media on Friday.
His agent is carded to hold talks with Falkirk next week and Rahim is hoping that there will be some resolution regarding his playing time. Possible moves to Belgium or the German Bundesliga are in the pipeline but Rahim said that the chance of playing in the Premier League with Falkirk could also lead to him signing a new contract once an offer comes through.
“There are possible options but they have said here that new contracts will be on the table for some of the guys and obviously new faces will be coming in for next season. The main thing is I will be better off at a club where I’m getting playing time. Last year turned out tough because I gave a lot of my time to the national team and at the same time the club team was flying high in the League which meant it was always going to be difficult for me to get back into the first team. And then just like that I didn’t get recalled to the National team which came like a kick in the chest for me,” added Rahim, who has been used mostly in a right midfield and wingback position at Falkirk.
“Once there is some sort of compromise which could see me getting back into the first team then I will be happy but if not then I’ll obviously have to move on because the main thing for me now is to get back into first team action.”
The former West Ham United player is hoping to touch base with Beenhakker this month when the Dutchman visits Scotland to meet with T&T’s overseas pros and then possibly return home to get in a few sessions with the team once the chance arises in May. Dundee United striker Jason Scotland is also hoping to get back into the mix. Rahim's return could give Beenhakker options to consider with Silvio Spann, Carlos Edwards, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Arnold Dwarika, Angus Eve, Dwight Yorke and David Nakhid at his disposal.
“I’m thankful for (Bertille) St Clair for giving me the chance to get in the team but it was also disappointing to just get shelved last year,” said Rahim. “Now I’m hoping that I can come back and add something positive to the team under the new coach. I’ve kept on training and I am still willing to come back and give whatever I can in my capacity as a player for the team.”
Rahim, who rose to the spotlight when he made his senior debut in 2000 in a team which included Stern John, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, David Nakhid, Angus Eve, Anthony Rougier, Marvin Andrews and others, is hopeful of having similar impact this time around, stating also that Latapy’s appointment as assistant coach was big news at Falkirk.
“From my understanding, he’s looking forward to coming back home and getting involved in the national team again and it’s been big news at the club here. The new coach obviously is a plus at the moment and I think all of the guys are just waiting on the chance to start working under him and I think Russell is just as enthusiastic as everyone else,” ended Rahim who netted for Falkirk’s Reserves in a 1-1 draw with Greenock Morton on Tuesday.
News from the 14th of April 2005.
Densill Theobald fit and waiting on Beenhakker.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
National midfielder Densill “Bleeder” Theobald is making himself fit and ready for the return of Head coach Leo Beenhakker in the first week of May.
Theobald suffered an instep injury during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in February and has been ruled out of action since, missing the two 2006 World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. He earlier impressed in the 2-1 loss to the United States.
His foot had been in a cast but he has since resumed training with Caledonia Fire following a rehab treatment with National Team physiotherapist Zeph Nicholas. Midfielder Arnold Dwarika has also recovered from an ankle strain along with Derek King but Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews continues to be plagued by his cruciate ligament injury. He’s currently wearing a brace and undergoing rehab but is firm on his decision to avoid surgery. English-born defender Ian Cox has also recovered from a hamstring pull which ruled him out of the Guatemala match.
Theobald should make a return to action in Tuesday’s Pro league fixture between Fire and Vibe CT 105 W Connection.
“I think I have paid my dues with regards to getting over this injury which came at a very bad time for me. Daily rehab and a lot of rest brought me back to where I am now and I feel pretty good. I’m just looking forward to getting back on the pitch in time for when the new coach arrives,” Theobald told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
The former Malick Senior Comprehensive player has been one of the emerging players of recent and he thinks that the introduction of Beenhakker will spark a revival by the “Warriors”.
“I think we were in the process of getting it together as a team but maybe something was missing and I feel that the coming of the new coach could be the turning point. He’s bringing a lot to the team and I think it’s an exciting period for all of us going into the next set of games. Everyone will be anxious to do well especially with the new coach and the fact that we must get a victory against Panama,” Theobald said. He also feels the fans have a pivotal role to play in the team’s drive for success.
“I was in the stands for the Costa Rica game and you could have sensed that there are people who really want to see the team do well but yet you don’t really get that feeling. The people here are too shy or something when it comes to supporting,” Theobald said with a laugh. “They sit there and they don’t urge you on as you see in other countries and as players that extra push from the fans does make a difference in how we feel out there on the field.”
Apart from the ‘Warriors’ experience, Theobald is also anticipating a move to the overseas professional circuit. With English side Queen’s Park Rangers expressing interest, American MLS side Kansas City Wizards has also joined the teams following him. The Wizards, same side of local striker Scott Sealy, wanted Theobald on trial but had to delay because of his injury. They have maintained their interest and according to the player, they are likely to have him over following the 2005 Gold Cup in July.
Beenhakker would obviously please to have as many of the regular fit players at his disposal come May.
“It’s important that I have access to most if not all because it’s an important process leading up to the game and with me now taking over the team. Apart from getting feedback and seeing what the players have done before, it would be a plus to have everyone around,” Beenhakker said.
Meantime, midfielder Leslie Fitzpatrick returned to Atlanta on Friday and is expected to tie up a new deal in the MLS this week.
News from the 12th of April 2005.
‘Warriors’ mindful of World Cup goal.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer[/size]
With training expected to resume in the first week of May, several of this country’s senior footballers have expressed enthusiasm in beginning work under recently appointed head coach Leo Beenhakker.
But several have also moved in to ensure that the camaraderie in the team remains in light of the current change up in management of the team.
Beenhakker, an experienced professional by all means, said it was important that he and his new staff be able to maintain an understanding throughout the team pointing out that at no time should those concerned lose sight of the ultimate goal which is getting to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
”We are all here to get a job done and to accomplish that goal and I am certain that we are all professional enough to know what is required to achieve this,” Beenhakker said last week.
Coventry City striker Stern John realizes that his on-field form is most important to him at this time but he is also aware that team spirit is a main factor for the “Warriors”.
“Right now we must be careful about how these new developments come into play. The results in this round so far was not what any of us hoped for and maybe because of that, changes have been made and we must live with that and see how best we can use it to our advantage,” John said. “It’s sad anytime you have to see your old coach (Bertille St Clair) and Manager (Richard Braithwaite) getting the axe because over a period you develop something with them outside of just football. But at the end of the day, changes are made for betterment and we have a coach now with a good track record and hopefully we can all make this work under him.
Like John, Dwight Yorke, Marvin Andrews, David Nakhid and Shaka Hislop who have all worn the captain’s armband, all feel the same over the current scenario.
Andrews, currently nursing a knee injury received support from Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish who said on the weekend that he would not count on playing Andrews again despite his refusal to undergo surgery. Andrews couldn’t comment but maintained high hopes for the “Warriors”.
Yorke meantime, in the midst of contract discussions, said that he still wants to see T&T to Germany in 2006.
“I’m sure my future will be revealed soon. There are a lot of things in the pipeline and it’s no secret that I’ve wanted to play in the middle east. There are a few offers there on the table and I just have to consider which direction I really want to go for the remainder of my career. I feel strong at the moment and I’m looking to have another two years. I’ve also certainly dedicated the next year or so to Trinidad and Tobago’s football and try to get this team to the next World Cup,” Yorke told TTFF Media.
And while Russell Latapy tasted Scottish First Division success with Falkirk on the weekend, he’s still having fun as a player. "My body will determine how long I’m able to keep playing. I still enjoy playing, I love it. I love getting up and going in for training every day, so as long as I can handle it physically I’ll play. In saying that I don’t want to get to the stage where I’m not doing the team or myself any justice. If it got to that point I would just chuck it, but I’m having fun at this present time,” Latapy told Scottish reporters on Thursday.
Beenhakker is expected to begin his meetings with this country’s European-based pros this month before returning to take up duties here in the first week of May.
Jack Warner chairs CONCACAF Ex-Co meeting.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
The CONCACAF Executive Committee met for the first time in 2005 at the offices of the CONCACAF General Secretariat in New York City on Friday.
The meeting began with a presentation of New York City’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games by members of the bidding committee including Donna De Verona. The presentation was well received by the CONCACAF Executive Committee, which unanimously supported New York City’s candidacy for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Under the Chairmanship of CONCACAF President, Jack Warner, the Committee then received reports on all past, current and future competitions in addition to departmental reports covering all aspects of the Confederation’s activities.
Following reports of projectiles being thrown by spectators onto the field of play and toward officials and players, most recently during the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup match between Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) and CF Monterrey (MEX) on Wednesday (7 April), the CONCACAF Executive Committee affirmed its determination that clubs be held responsible for the actions of their supporters within stadiums. The Committee further emphasized the intention of CONCACAF to make full use of the penalties and sanctions at its disposal in dealing with such incidents.
The Committee was advised that the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) plans to hold a CFU Congress at the time of the next FIFA Congress, which is being held in Marrakech, Morocco from 9-11 September 2005. The CFU Congress will deal specifically with a proposal from the Jamaican Football Federation to go it alone in terms of the negotiation of TV rights associated with key events.
The Committee also heard that CONCACAF had been approached by UNICEF to form an alliance between the two organizations aiming to use the potential of the sport of football to promote the work of UNICEF and encourage the effective involvement of football in the delivery of UNICEF’s programs with children across the CONCACAF region. The Committee unanimously supported a proposal to work with UNICEF on an exclusive basis, as CONCACAF’s nominated partner, to provide more focused activities in pursuit of good causes.
The Committee also unanimously supported a proposal for the recently appointed CONCACAF Technical Director, Keith Look Loy, and the Director of Development, Richard Braithwaite, to coordinate efforts and work closely to produce a realistic and focused development program for CONCACAF for further consideration.
Finally the CONCACAF Executive Committee welcomed the news that Ms. Kerri Ann Alleyne has been appointed to the position of Deputy General Secretary of CONCACAF for the Caribbean Zone. Ms. Alleyne, who spent four years as the CFU Events Coordinator before being appointed as the CFU General Secretary, becomes the first woman ever to hold this or any similar such position within the CONCACAF family. The position of CONCACAF Deputy General Secretary (Caribbean Zone) was previously held by Mr. Harold Taylor, who has now been appointed as FIFA’s Development Officer for the Caribbean. The Committee thanked Mr. Taylor for his tireless and ongoing work and his lifelong commitment to football.