Williams reiterates government’s support for football
Tuesday September 23, 2008
by Elwin Francis
Minister with responsibility for Sports & Youth Affair Winston Williams has re-affirmed the government of Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to the development football in the twin-island nation. Williams made the pledge once more while speaking at the official opening to mark the start of the 2008/09 Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s (ABFA) domestic season at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) on Saturday.
Although he didn’t give an amount, Williams said the government spent more money on football in Antigua and Barbuda within the past year than on any other time in the history of the country during the nation’s preparation and participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Curacao and Cuba. “I am indeed delighted, on behalf of the government to re-affirm our strong support for football. At no time in the history of this country has more monies been expended on football than this year and I am sure sometime last year,” Williams said. “The government has gone way above its quota, but we continue to do it because it is necessary because when you consider football is our choice of weapon, we want to ensure our young people are taken care of.”
Williams said the government is also taking the initiative to have every major football field across the island properly fenced and lighted in its efforts to continue meet the needs of the nation’s young people. “And that is why every football field in this country will be properly fenced and we will ensure that lights are on every field so that when you get home in the afternoons, rest yourself, then go out and play in the evenings,” Williams said. The Minister of Sports also challenged the Everton “Batow” Gonsalves-led ABFA executive to start a professional team in Antigua and Barbuda.
“Mr. President (Gonsalves) I wish to make it clear as well that you and your general secretary (Gordon ‘Banks’ Derrick) and the rest of your executive should begin to make plans for a pro-team in Antigua and Barbuda,” Williams said. "The time has come for us to put our feet where our mouths are. We can top any team and I am convinced – after the match against Cuba – that Antigua and Barbuda has what it takes to go the distance. “And the government will do all in its power to make sure that the necessary funds are found.”
FA announces national football team … Players ready for Digicel Caribbean Cup
Tuesday September 23, 2008
Saju N’galla
Yesterday, the St. Kitts/Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) released the names of the players who have been selected to play on the national team in the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
The players are Julani “Lani” Archibald, Delroy “Bombers” Delaney, Kareem “Ka” Mitchum, Javin “Para” Mitchum, Thrizen “Jamas” Leader, Shashi Isaac, Keithroy “Keith” Richards, Stephen “Weapon” Clarke, Earl “Ebo” Jones, Irandy “Randy” Byron, Orlando “Ack” Mitchum, Errol O’Loughlin, Tiran “Zezu” Hanley, Ian “Rumpy” Lake, Zevon “Dull” Archibald, George “Yellow man” Isaac, Jevon “Tusty” Francis and Rovan “Sherbs” Wigley.
The team’s officials are Sylvester Fraser, manager; Platini Clarke, assistant manager; Orrin Hughes, goalkeeper coach; Samuel Phipps, assistant goalkeeper coach; Lester Morris, coach; Jeffery Hazel, assistant coach; Lenny Lake, team analyst and Michael Wadsworth, acting technical director.
Tomorrow, the St. Kitts/Nevis grouping of the Digicel Caribbean Cup will start at Warner Park. The other countries in the grouping are Barbados and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and tomorrow St. Kitts/Nevis will go up against the BVI. Friday, the BVI will then battle Barbados and Sunday, St. Kitts/Nevis take on Barbados.
St. Kitts/Nevis are expected to advance by winning all of their matches. Coming off a devastating loss to Belize earlier this year, the St. Kitts/Nevis squad is anxious to redeem itself this week. President of SKNFA Peter Jenkins gave his assurance that the St. Kitts national squad has undergone intense training.
The football association marketed the matches as part of the Silver Jubilee Independence celebrations, so thousand are expected to attend the games in an explosion of national pride. The matches start 7 p.m. on each day.
Sugar Boys defeat BVI
Friday September 26, 2008
St. Kitts/Nevis defended their home turf in a dominating fashion, beating the British Virgin Island (BVI) 4-0 Wednesday night at the new Warner Park Stadium. The victory certainly sent out a strong message to Barbados, the other team in group D, that they intend to ensure all host countries of the opening groups of the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships (DCC), advance to stage two.
The Sugar Boys were in rampaging form as they dominated the match from start to finish. St. Kitts/Nevis could have easily won the encounter by a much wider margin. The Sugar Boys had many missed chances, at least four being one-on-one opportunities with BVI goalkeeper and captain, Montgomery Butler, who in the estimation of St. Kitts' head coach Lester Morris, was the most valuable player of the losing side.
Butler’s heroics between the uprights ensured the score line was not larger as he nullified a number of ominous runs by the St. Kitts/Nevis strikers, after his defence buckled under the constant pressure. The first 10 minutes of the game saw both sides scratching around seeking to wrest the advantage, but the fans did not have to wait for too long to celebrate, for after 15 minutes of exchanges, Jevon Francis gleefully accepted a well taken corner by captain George Isaac to fire his shot past Butler, easing the tension that was building up among the fans.
The Sugar Boys thereafter imposed their will on the BVI team and were holding possession of the ball for longer periods; at one time setting up camp in the BVI half for about 20 minutes. In the 25th minute, Captain Isaac fed the ball to Francis halfway in the BVI half only to see the latter put the ball straight to Butler. A couple of minutes later, Francis sent another fine pass that saw Orlando Mitchum breaking clear of the high BVI defence but indecision on the part of Mitchum saw BVI’s Venton James catching up with him to dispossess him while he was yards away from the goal.
Jason Lake of the home team again was set up with the ball and embarked on another enterprising run which looked like goal number two but Butler again capitalised on indecision to spoil the effort. Zevon Archibald took matters into his own hands in the 31st minute from another enterprising attack and did not wait to enter the box, letting off a well-placed shot from the top of the box above the arc to the far post to put his country 2-0 up. Five minutes later, Francis went wide of the uprights again as St. Kitts continued their dominance over BVI, who looked very weak up front, never threatening the home team’s defence and goalkeeper, Julani Archibald to any extent.
BVI, which boasts a number of players from other Caribbean countries: Jamaica, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Guyana among others, made their first change after 36 minutes, Raul Ettienne making way for Randy John. The score line remained unchanged up to the break and on resumption BVI came out attacking, reeling off quite a few shots to the St. Kitts goal, the most threatening sent Kittitian goalie Archibald stretching to his left as he brought off a good save, the resulting corner was just the second of four the BVI would enjoy in the entire match.
St. Kitts soon got back into their dominant stride as they held the ball at will, swinging it from side to side but again going wide of the mark when scoring opportunities were created. Seven minutes into the second half, Butler was called into action, blocking the ball with both hands from a point blank shot. Unfortunately, the ensuing rebound was blasted past him by his own teammate, Venton James, to the utter amazement of his colleagues.
The heat was turned up by the home team once again and, between the 60th and 70th minute of play, was concentrated in their opponent’s attacking third creating chance after chance but it was Butler spoiling the show for them. Sealing the deal in the 77th minute to cap a fine win was Jevon Francis. The victory places St. Kitts at the top of the table with three points.
The British Virgin Islands will have to come strong against Barbados tonight in the second game of the group with the final match up which will bring the curtains down on stage one of the 2008 Digicel Caribbean Championships between the host and Barbados set for Sunday.
Jones: I'm in
Published on: 9/26/08.
IT'S OFFICIAL!
Incumbent president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Ronald Jones will be seeking to retain that position when the association's annual general meeting comes off at Solidarity House on Sunday. Jones said yesterday in a release that he was responding to calls by several clubs and people in the football fraternity not to step aside, since his departure would not be in the best interest of the sport and would serve to delay the implementation of several developmental programmes.
Jones is being challenged for the presidency by Sherlock Yarde who recently criticised his performance and that of the present BFA executive council. The long-standing sport administrator, who is also Minister of Education and Human Resources, said yesterday he was amazed at the extent to which people seeking office spent time on "personality rather than on programmes" for the development of the sport. Jones said young people needed the support of Government to make the sport more viable and that he was ideally placed to articulate on behalf of football and other sports.
While some have questioned Jones' dual position as a politician and a sport administrator, many have pointed to Trinidad and Tobago's politician-cum-football guru Austin "Jack" Warner as an example of the twin interests serving to push football forward.
Jones has received overwhelming support from the executive council of the BFA. In a media release Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the council, BFA senior vice-president Hally Haynes threw their support behind Jones. Haynes noted that during the last three terms of office, Jones provided "sound and incisive leadership in the management of football in this country". "He has represented Barbados at CONCACAF and FIFA meetings with distinction. He is well respected and admired in the international football arena," the release said.
According to the executive members, Jones took over the presidency of the BFA in 1998 during "one of the most challenging periods in the history of Barbadian football". However, they noted Jones was able to use his skills, knowledge and abilities to turn around the fortunes of football in Barbados. (WG)
Digicel wishes footballers well
BARBADOS' senior national footballers were given a rousing send-off by team sponsors Digicel prior to leaving for St Kitts-Nevis for the Group D matches in the Digicel Caribbean Championships. Digicel's marketing executive Tamita Griffith said her company was confident Barbados would do well in their group matches.
"We wish the management and team the best of luck when they tackle the British Virgin Islands (tomorrow) and host country St Kitts and Nevis (Sunday). We are throwing our full support behind them and are confident that Barbados will advance out of Group D," she said.
Digicel hosted some of the players in its Swan Street store last Friday, where fans and well-wishers got the opportunity to meet, greet and interact with them before their departure. The mobile telecommunications company also presented all the national footballers and team management with mobile handsets.
Squad
Bentley Springer, Adrian Chase, Jonathan Straker, Omar Archer, Barry Skeete, Andre Daniel, Rohan Hall, Bryan Neblett, Brian Gay, Donovan Lavine, Richard Lavine, Angus Doyle, Jeffrey Williams, Romell Burgess, Mario Harte, Riviere Williams, Norman Forde (captain) and Ramuel Miller (vice-captain).
EDIT: for general info in light of recent thread ... players in bold have Argentina playing experience
Officials – Levere Richards (head of delegation), Stephen Reid (manager), Rudy Lovell (assistant manager), Thomas Jordan (coach), Jerry Skeete (assistant coach/trainer), Aldo Babb (medic), Antonio Brandford (equipment manager). (EZS/PR)
Klass meets with SVB vice-president behind close doors
BY Calvin Roberts
Friday September, 26, 2008
Embattled president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass met and had a closed door meeting with vice-president of the Suriname Football Federation (SVB) Ronald Koorendijh over the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) order that the GFF must repay to the SVB expenses incurred during the SVB national team’s visit to Guyana in June.
Koorendijh arrived in Guyana yesterday to hold discussions with Klass and according to a source, the meeting was held last evening but Stabroek Sports was unable to gather any details from the meeting as the GFF remains tight-lipped even refusing to acknowledge that there was indeed a meeting. Then, the Suriname national team here to engage Guyana in a return fixture of their 2010 World Cup qualifying match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, were provided with unsatisfactory accommodation and resorted to another hotel for meals and swimming pool service.
The expenditure incurred by this move was borne by the SVB who contacted the world governing body (FIFA) on the issue. This led to an order by FIFA that the GFF reimburse the SVB.
However, a reliable source informed Stabroek Sports that the GFF head, Klass had made an offer to the SVB vice president Koorendijh. Koorendijh, the source said might have to relay the offer to the SVB before a decision is made. According to information, the matter would have to be settled today as the GFF head Klass will be leaving Guyana today. It is not clear whether Klass, an accountant by profession, is leaving on football or work related matters but information reaching this newspaper is that there might possibly be another meeting between Klass and Koorendijh today before the GFF boss wings out of Guyana.
