Dwight Yorke calls for full go as next camp begins.
By: Shaun Fuentes.
Trinidad and Tobago senior team captain Dwight Yorke is calling on all fans to fill the Hasely Crawford Stadium to ensure that this country goes out in full force for their 2006 World Cup qualifying match against Panama on June 4.
Yorke made the call going into the final two weeks before the clash which will see the “Warriors†coming up against the Bermuda National Team in a warm up at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 6:30pm on Wednesday, same kick off time as the June 4 encounter.
The Sydney FC striker, left for England on Friday to take care of personal matters and has assured head coach Leo Beenhakker that he will be back for the final training camp ahead of the Panama game. With Yorke leaving, Beenhakker will see the arrival of Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Dundee’s Brent Sancho and goalkeeper Kelvin Jack who all come in on Tuesday as well as English-born defender Ian Cox who arrives here on Sunday. Columbus Crew striker Cornell Glen is unavailable for the upcoming camp.
Yorke explained the current process the team is undergoing under Beenhakker and his role in it as captain.
â€There is a new system that we have been working on and there are some new players in the team who he has to look at. We as players also need to get to know these new ones better . We haven’t got a lot of time but this gives us something to work on. There is a good spirit in the team and it’s my duty as captain and as the senior player on the team to make sure the moral of the players is up and encourage them to be as positive as possible,†Yorke told TTFF Media.
The former Manchester United frontman commented on his upcoming long journeys from Australia to home, saying it will not affect his commitment to the country.
“It doesn’t affect anything at all. Once the coach wants me as captain, that is a responsibility. In terms of my club, that is another exciting thing in my career. At 33, this is an exciting time for me and I’m really looking forward to it. Where my commitment for Trinidad and Tobago stands, there’s no question that I am going to be here as long as I am wanted or selected for the team.â€
A member of the 1989 “Strike Squadâ€, Yorke was asked to compare the current squad with other National teams he has played on to which he replied that the “Warriors†of today certainly possess what is required to get to Germany.
â€There is generation upon generation. You look at players and people say the Strike Squad was a much talented team but I’m not going to get into that. We are a team right now and I am sure these are the best possible players that Trinidad and Tobago have to offer at this present time.
“We have to believe in what we want and what the manager wants us to do. If we focus and believe in what he’s doing, I think that we certainly have a lot of talent here that can get us through to Germany. It’s not in black and white and we know how difficult it is but I’m sure once we get the right result against Panama, it puts us back into the thick of things and I have no doubt that will give us the encouragement. You guys have to play a positive role from the Press and not be negative towards the team. I call upon you to be positive and certainly the people that come out here (Alianza Lima game) all go away being disappointed but if we can get everybody to come here on the 4th of June and we can have one big go, I am sure we can pull it off,†Yorke ended. The Squad for the live-in training camp which starts with a session at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Monday is as follows:
TnT Squad:
Keepers:
Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra), Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Duarance Williams (San Juan Jabloteh).
Defenders:
Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Avery John (New England Revolution), Marlon Rojas (Real Salt Lake), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Ian Cox (Gillingham) Glenton Wolfe (National Quarries NE Stars), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham).
Midfielders:
Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Real Salt Lake), Brent Rahim (un-attached), David Nakhid (Al Mabarrah), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA Fire), Christopher Birchall (Port Vale) Carlos Edwards (Luton Town).
Forwards:
Gary Glasgow (un-attached), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Stern John (Coventry City), Hector Sam (Wrexham).
Standbys.
Anthony Wolfe, Arnold Dwarika, Derek Phillips, Jan Michael Williams.
W Connection, Jabloteh to contest Pro Bowl final.
By: Mervyn Stewart - Express.[/size]
T&T Pro League leaders Vibe CT 105 W.Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh earned the right to contest the T&T Pro Bowl final with victories over Defence Force and Tobago United in their semi-final match-ups at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella last Friday.
In the most interesting encounter of the night, a virtual North-South clash, W Connection easily got past Defence Force 4-0 after the teams were deadlocked 0-0- at the halftime interval.
During the first session, the boys from Savonetta created the most chances, Ronaldo Viana, with only goalkeeper Cleon John to beat, kicking over the bar in the 23rd minute, then two minutes later prolific goalscorer Andre Toussaint's low right footer just missed the post with the keeper looking on hopelessly.
Connection's hard-tackling opponents only looked like scoring in the 39th minute when Devon Jorsling, from six metres out, hit the post, with keeper Alejandro Figueroa going the wrong way.
Immediately after the resumption, the Southerners went in search of the deciding goal and with just two mintes gone, Toussaint missed a penalty, kicking straight to the keeper after captain Earl Jean was brought down by Kenrick Saunders in the 18-metre box.
The Connection coach immediately decided that Toussaint had had enough and he was substituted.
The lads in green and white continued to bombard their rivals' goalmouth and substitute Shane Calderon could have given the Southerners the lead but, with only keeper John in the way, he kicked wide in the 54th minute.
The Army then mounted a counter-attack and almost snatched the lead when Jorsling's right side corner, taken with his left foot, skimmed the bar and defender Atiba Charles headed it out of danger.
Then when it looked like it would be a goaless draw, after 59 minutes of play, William Oliveira fired in a low powerfull drive from just outside the box, giving keeper John no chance and handing the Southerners a 1-0 lead in the closely-contested affair.
Three minutes later, WConnection increased the advantage as substitute Calderon made no mistake with a neat shot from about ten metres out after a through pass from Gefferson Goulart.
Viana made it 3-0 in the 64th when he blasted home after a back-heel from Goulart, putting the game out of the reach of their Northern rivals.
Fourteen minutes from time Defence Force were reduced to nine men when referee Neil Brizan gave defender Kenrick Saunders marching orders for his second bookable offence. Before that, skipper Kelshall Alexander was also shown the red card for a second offence.
In the 86th, Earl Jean brought the crowd to their feet with a superb overhead shot which looked like the "Play of the night" or "goal of the day".
Good defending by the in-form Charles, Elijah Joseph, William Olliveira and Viana cut out any chances that the Army had of scoring.
After the encounter, victorious coach Reynold Carrington said his players put in a lot of hard work and are getting well-deserved results.
"It is now important we go out there and bring home this important trophy next weekend against our arch-rivals Jabloteh," added Carrington.
In the opening game of Friday's double-header, Jabloteh demolished Tobago United 5-0 in a very one-sided affair.
National striker Aurtis Whitley opened the scoring in the 26th and two minutes later it was 2-0 when Kerry Noray netted. And a minute before the half-time interval it was 3-0 when Nigel Daniel blasted home.
Jabloteh went away leading 3-0 and two minutes after the resumption, Nigel Codrington made it 4-0 then in the 66th Josh Johnson easily beat the keeper.
The two powerhouses in T&T football, W Connection and San Juan Jabloteh, will battle for the $50,000 winner-take-all prize at stake in the Pro Bowl at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
Pro Bowl Quarter-Final Results:
San Juan Jabloteh 5 (Aurtis Whitley 26th, Kerry Noray 28th, Nigel Daniel 44th, Nigel Codrington 47th, Josh Johnson 66th) vs Tobago United 0.
W Connection 4 (William Oliveira 59th, Shane Calderon 62nd, Ronaldo Viana 64th, Earl Jean 86th) vs Defence Force 0.
News from the 21st of May 2005.
Stern: It’s like judgment day on June 4.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
“It’s a massive game … more like judgment day for us in terms of the World Cup.â€
That’s how Coventry City striker Stern John described the upcoming June 4 World Cup qualifier against Panama as he gulped down a couple Cold water-filled Coconuts with teammates following Friday morning’s training session at the Larry Gomes Stadium training pitch.
John and his teammates sweated it out at the same time TTFF bosses spearheaded by Special Advisor Jack Warner were meeting with TSTT officials to launch a Text Message initiative to raise funds for the “Warriors.â€Â Ian Thrush, Vice President of Marketing for TSTT revealed that the TSTT is attempting to raise over TT$1 million per match over the next seven qualifying matches in hope of totaling TT$9 million which will go towards the team’s “Journey to Germany†campaign. Fans are being encouraged to text the message “Go Team†to the number 4625 with each message costing TT$1. Once each fan sends the message twice per game, it will raise $1 million and nine million over the seven games, according to Thrush. Warner praised the initiative, adding that the campaign would cost close to TT$21 million.
Back up at the Larry Gomes Stadium, John got his first full session under head coach Leo Beenhakker after previously taking a run out on the morning of the friendly with Alianza Lima last Wednesday.
The former Birmingham City man arrived home last Tuesday but was not in the squad for the live-in camp after requesting a short-time off which Beenhakker only just allowed. But now John was running hard with the rest of the “Warriors†as Beenhakker put them through their paces under the sweltering heat. With the exception of the local-based pros involved in Friday’s Pro Bowl action and the US-based pros who returned to their clubs for action on Saturday, the rest of players were involved as the Dutchman conducted a 90-minute session.
Beenhakker was informed that El Salvador is unable to travel to T&T for Wednesday’s friendly international because of Hurricane Adriane. The TTFF were left seeking other opponents including Paraguay and Norway among other teams without success. Eventually, it was agreed that Bermuda will now face T&T at the HC Stadium from 5:30 pm on Wednesday. Bermuda drew 2-2 with El Salvador in their last World Cup qualifying match in June 2004 and were edged out 4-3 on aggregate.
With confirmation of the new opponent, the likes of Densill Theobald, David Nakhid, Hector Sam, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence, Kenwyne Jones, Brent Rahim and others were extending themselves during the session as Beenhakker and his assistants stressed on ball possession.
“Keep the ball… get it over, that looks much better now,†Beenhakker’s commanding voice came over. On the other side of the field, de Jong shouted “Don’t point at him if you lose the ball, it’s not about him only, you lose it as a team and you win it back as a team.â€
John ended the English Championship League season on a high to finish with 12 goals in 28 matches which helped Coventry avoid relegation. He’s well aware that fans are eager to see him to break his T&T scoring drought with his last goal coming in a 2-1 win over Haiti in February. Out of the last ten matches John has scored in, T&T have won seven dating back to his goal in a 2-1 loss to Egypt last year.
“I know some things have been said about me because I haven’t scored for the country in a while but I don’t want to say too much right now. Just like I did at Coventry coming down the end of the season, I will try and let my football do the talking. In the end my goals helped the club stay up and hopefully from now on my scoring can count in getting the country to the World Cup,†John told TTFF Media. “The coach has already settled in and he has shown good qualities and I think once we stick to instructions and we work hard as a team then we can definitely pull this off starting with a win against Panama. He has stressed that having good players don’t necessary mean we have a good team and the players have this on their minds now which is why I think a lot of effort is being made to make it right. For this next game versus Panama we need a full stadium of red as well,†John added.
Kevin Nelson crying for T&T chance.
Tobago News.
Kevin Nelson who has been playing professional football in Canada for the last four years returned home and is now crying for an opportunity to showcase his talent to newly appointed national team head coach Leo Beenhakker.
The former Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive player who was a member of the national Under 17 and Olympic Under 23 teams told the Tobago News that he submitted his resume to Leo Beenhakker and the National team technical staff but was informed that they had already selected 25 players and he will not be able to join the camp.
The talented striker who has played in over 100 games in the Canada Professional League scoring 71 goals and winning numerous goal scoring and MVP awards believes he can make a meaningful contribution to the national team's quest for a World Cup berth.
Nelson noted that he has also played in 20 International games at CFU and CONCACAF level.
Nelson said that he thought that because Beenhakker was new to the region he felt he would have wanted to have a look at any or all players who might be able to contribute but he was surprised at Beenhakker's and the technical staff response. Prior to returning home Nelson had a try-out with Sydney FC but when the club officially signed professional footballer Dwight Yorke he was told that they did not need another striker.
Nelson is presently training with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh where he hopes to sign a contract to play in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League and he is still hopeful and determined to join the national team for a try out.
Meanwhile, Ashley McMillan, former Phoenix and Tobago footballer recently returned to Canada for his third stint in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.
Mc Millan will line up with the Hamilton Thunder this time around and he is hoping to impress his new boss Italio Ferrari who has links with the Toronto Lynber that compete in the American A League.
He is hoping that he will get an opportunity to move to the American League.
For various reasons, McMillan previous stints in Canada did not work out but he is hoping that he will be more successful this time.
Prior to securing his contract with Hamilton Thunder Mc Millan had a try out with Sydney FC but he lost out when Dwight Yorke came into the picture as he was told that the team only needed one more striker.
