Stern John - Warrior with the golden boot.
By: Keith Clement (Guardian).[/size]
Germany 2006 The final thrust.
Striker Stern John turned from villain to hero on October 12, when he scored two goals to lead T&T to a 2-1 victory over Mexico in the team’s final Concacaf World Cup qualifying match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
John, who missed a penalty in the 31st minute, redeemed himself in the 42nd minute when he tap in a shot, after the ball rebounded off the upright, following a low and powerful right-footed shot from midfielder Aurtis Whitley, to close the first half 1-1.
The goal was John’s 17th. It made him the country’s leading scorer in World Cup qualifying football.
In his efforts to erase his missed penalty from the minds of local football fans and to keep his critics quiet, he added another goal that gave T&T a 2-1 lead and victory, when he capitalised on a loose ball from outside the penalty area and blasted a left-footer high into the back of the net in the 61st minute. T&T now go into a two-match play-off with Bahrain on Saturday at home to be followed by an away fixture next Wednesday.
During the World Cup 2006 campaign, nine players scored their first World Cup goals for the Warriors. They are Hector Sam, Jerren Nixon, Cornell Glen, Errol McFarlane Jr, Jason Scotland, Densill Theobald and Scott Sealy. McFarlane scored three times.
John, however, accumulated his goals over the 1998, 2002 and current 2006 campaigns. For the 2006 journey, T&T played 17 matches and John scored in eight of them.
He scored doubles against Mexico, Guatemala and St Kitts and Nevis.
He has followed in the path of another great national striker, Steve David, who held the honour for 48 years with 16 goals, following his exploits in the 1974 and 1978 campaigns.
Before John broke into the goal-scoring title race, midfielder Angus Eve started the 2006 World Cup campaign with nine goals, but limited play after the preliminary round saw him gave way to John.
David, who was a member of T&T’s 1974 and 1978 World Cup squads, opened his goal scoring account with a hat-trick when the twin-island Republic hammered Antigua and Barbuda 11-1 in their first qualifying game at King George V Park on November 10, 1972.
The scorer of T&T’s first World Cup goal, however, was Jeff Gellineau who scored in the very first minute of play against Suriname, who lost 4-1.
It was Gellineau’s only World Cup goal.
David, who was said to be very skilful and blessed with kicking power, went on to score against Antigua and Barbuda in the return match, which T&T won 2-1. He then scored the only goal that defeated Suriname on November 30, as T&T played unbeaten in the group.
In the final qualifying round involving Haiti, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and the Netherlands Antilles, David netted a 61st minute item but T&T went down 1-2 to Honduras. He then scored the lone item for his country against Haiti but, again, it was another 1-2 loss.
He scored five goals in the next two matches–one against Mexico who T&T defeated 4-0 and became the first T&T player to attain a beaver-trick scoring all four goals when T&T routed the Netherlands Antilles.
It was Haiti, however, who went to Germany to represent the region with eight points, while T&T finished second on six and Mexico third, also on six points.
David played again in the 1978 qualifiers and scored three more times to climax his career.
Eve was a member of the 1991 World Youth Cup squad that went to Portugal and he made his senior debut also in 1991.
It was not until 1994 World Cup, though, that he made his debut in a campaign that ended in August 1992 when Jamaica defeated T&T and then drew 1-1 in Port-of-Spain.
Eve, a former Defence Force midfielder, scored his first World Cup goal in the 1998 qualifiers when T&T beat the Dominican Republic 4-1 in June 1996. National skipper Russell Latapy scored twice, one being an own-goal.
In the returned match, he scored two in a 8-0 victory.
The former ECM Motown and Defence Force player holds the distinction as being the top goal scorer in the 1995 Shell Cup tournament which T&T won. Eve who held the reigns as national captain in the absence of Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, struck the back of the net six times.
The Carenage-born player who helped Defence Force to the 1995 Semi Professional Football League title with 14 goals, scored six times in the 12 qualifying matches in T&T’s attempt to book a place in Japan/Korea 2002.
T&T’s leading World Cup goal scorers
18 - Stern John
16 - Steve David
11 - Angus Eve
8 - Russell Latapy
6 - Dwight Yorke
5 - Marvin Faustin, Noel Llewellyn, Arnold Dwarika
4 - Marvin Andrews, Hutson Charles
3 - Jerren Nixon, Errol McFarlane Jr, Everald Cummings, Leonson Lewis, Nigel Pierre
2 - Andy Aleong, Leroy Spann, Ray Roberts, Philbert Jones, Kerry Jamerson, Anthony Rougier
1 - Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence, Jason Scotland, Densill Theobald, Scott Sealy, Cornell Glen, Hector Sam, Jeff Gellineau, Alvin Corneal, Bobby Sookram, Leo Brewster, Warren Archibald, Anthony Douglas, Leon Carpette, Selris Figaro, Adrian Fonrose, Anton Corneal, Brian Haynes, Nevick Denoon.
About the Warriors
How broad is your knowledge base on the facts of T&T’s football history? G-Sports Arena is very happy to help you rekindle some lost history.
• T&T’s first World Cup match was Sunday, February 7, 1965 vs Suriname in Port-of-Spain. T&T won 4-1.
• T&T’s 11 World Cup captains—Sedley Joseph, Tyronne de la Bastide, Selwyn Murren, Selris Figaro, Leroy Spann, Michael Maurice, Clayton Morris, Dexter Francis, Russell Latapy, Angus Eve and Dwight Yorke (current).
• Stern John has so far scored the most World Cup goals for T&T (18).
• T&T youngest player was Dwight Yorke at age 17 years, 11 months and 19 days on Sunday October 30, 1988, vs Honduras at Queen’s Park Oval.
• T&T’s widest margin of victory in a World Cup match is 11-1 versus Antigua and Barbuda on November 10, 1972. The widest victory margin ever recorded, however, was 12-0 in a friendly vs Venezuela, in 1971, at Queen’s Park Oval.
• Steve David was the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick. He scored on November 10, 1972 against Antigua.
• Steve David was the first player to score a beaver-trick (vs Netherlands Antilles, December 17, 1973 and Marvin Faustin was the second (vs Guyana, April 17, 1988).
• Two players who became World Cup coaches—Alvin Corneal (played in 1966 qualifiers; coached in 1986 qualifiers) and Everald Cummings (played 1970, 1974 qualifiers; coached in 1990 qualifiers).
• Jeff Gellineau scored T&T’s fastest World Cup goal, first minute in February, 1965 (vs Suriname).
• Alvin Corneal (Feb 1965) and Anton Corneal (May 1988) are the only father and son to score for T&T in a World Cup qualifier.
Stern John's Caribbean dream
By: FIFAworldcup.com.[/size]
It could almost be a quiz question designed to confuse any football fan: 'Which player, currently playing his club football in England, but not in the Premiership, has scored more international goals than Ronaldo, Gabriel Batistuta, Bobby Charlton and Jurgen Klinsmann?'
The answer can be found at Derby County Football Club and their striker Stern John, currently on loan from Coventry City. The 31-year old has scored 64 goals in 89 matches for Trinidad and Tobago and is just 13 goals away from equalling the legendary Pele's tally. But now the charismatic John has Bahrain and a FIFA World Cup™ appearance in his sights – and fans in Port of Spain will be praying he adds to his goals' total against the Asian hopefuls.
FIFAworldcup.com: Your scoring record for T&T is phenomenal – when you made your international debut nearly ten years ago did you think you’d score this many goals?
Stern John: No, but I wanted to! As a striker you love scoring goals, you want to score goals and I believed in my own ability. But I didn't think that I would score this amount. To be honest, I haven't really paid attention to the number of goals I have scored, until I was coming up to the record. But I didn't know how close I was to Pele's total until this interview. That's awesome! That's something that every player would like to do, but feel that they couldn't because Pele is such a legend.
How does it feel to be T&T's record goalscorer?
A goalscoring record is something that no one can take away from you. It's something that I am proud of, it's something that my family and friends are proud of and the joy that I feel right now will be increased providing we qualify for the World Cup. Being Trinidad and Tobago's record goalscorer is an honour, a great honour and it is something that I will cherish throughout my career and for the rest of my life.
It must be great to play in a side that create so many chances for you?
It is. We are a great team when we go forward because we have a lot of skilful players and players who do well whenever they have the ball at their feet. They make it easy for me to put the ball in the back of the net. Sometimes, I feel a little bit harsh on the other players: I get all the glory for scoring, but the guys who I'm playing with are doing most of the hard work for me.
How crucial has the return of Russell Lapaty been for T&T?
He and his return have been very, very important for us. We were struggling to create chances before he came into the team and that put a lot of pressure on myself to make the most of the opportunities I found myself in. Russell can not only create chances, but he can score goals as well, so it is no surprise that the team have been doing better since he has come back.
What's it like playing with Dwight Yorke?
He is a top man. He is one of the best players that I have played with or played against. I think he is still one of the best finishers in the world. He is a great professional who works really hard and he always goes about his job properly. It's great to play alongside him, we have a good understanding and I would like to think that our partnership works well for the team.
How did you feel when you missed the penalty against Mexico in the final qualifier?
Thanks for reminding me! No one would have wanted to be in my boots after that miss. My boots didn't even want to be my boots after that. I felt awful. But I had to put it to the back of my mind quickly and get over it. When you take a penalty you either score or miss. Sounds simple, doesn't it, but the emotions you feel are really powerful. On this occasion, the keeper made a good save and I just had to dig myself out of the hole I wanted to put myself in. To come back and score two goals after the penalty miss and win the game shows the character that we have in this side.
Are you confident going into the play-offs with Bahrain?
Yes we are confident. We don't know much about Bahrain, we are just focusing on ourselves. We don't want to take Bahrain too lightly. It's a massive game for both countries but there is no question of us underestimating them. We do think we are a better team than they are – but now we have to go out there and prove it.
Would you say you were favourites?
I think the general footballing world would consider us as favourites, but in a play-off situation, anything can happen. It's just two games, it's about who wants it more. Now we have to stay focused, forget about all the distractions and the feelings of excitement about playing at a World Cup – we just have to get there by beating Bahrain.
Would you have preferred to play the second leg at home?
Yes, I would have done. In truth, you always want to play the second leg at home, despite what other players and coaches may say. The first game is very important. It sets the tone for the second match. Personally I would have loved to qualify in Trinidad. It is something that we have been trying to do for decades; we came so close in 1989 – we only needed a point and we lost the game against the USA, so that's left a bitter taste in the mouth. However, I suppose that the most important thing is not where we qualify, but qualification itself.
What difference has coach Leo Beenhakker made to the team?
Leo has made a massive difference. He and his staff came in and set their stall out by telling us what they wanted to achieve and how they were going to do it. The players understand him; he understands the players and I think he has done brilliantly. He has been a great influence for me. When I was going through a bit of a drought, he kept his faith in me when the fans didn't and that is something that I will never forget. His appointment has been great for the team and for the country.
Do you think you would have been in this position without him?
I don't think so. When he came in he made a lot of changes and I think we needed that. A lot of the players were too comfortable under the old regime, but now different players have been brought in and we are trying different things. He has tested us and brought the best out of us.
And finally, just how far are T&T away from challenging the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica in the CONCACAF region?
I can see us challenging them and perhaps overtaking them. We have players who are working in the world's top leagues – players just as good as the Costa Rica, Mexico and the USA. What we have to do now is stick together as a team, work hard and keep our discipline. That is the most important thing, especially on the pitch. The USA don't really have a star player – they are just a very good team. We have to copy their example. But if we qualify for the World Cup, things are only going to get better for us.
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