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Offline Tallman

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Damani Richards Thread
« on: February 14, 2013, 05:29:42 AM »
Defender Damani Richards key piece to Union building defensive depth
By Dave Zeitlin (MLSsoccer.com)


Of the many differences between former Union manager Peter Nowak and current boss John Hackworth, one seems to be their philosophies on building defensive depth.

Whereas Nowak once went into a season with less than a handful of natural defenders on his roster, Hackworth is steadily acquiring talented backups at every position along the backline.

One of the last pieces to that puzzle appears to be acquisition Damani Richards, a true left back who figures to slot in behind midfielder-turned-fullback Gabriel Farfan.

“The team really needed a left back,” Richards said after a recent training session, “and I’m going to work really hard to make sure that’s covered.”

A tall player that’s strong on his left foot and likes to attack, Richards fits the mold as to what Hackworth was looking for on his bench. At the same time, however, Richards is something of a long-term project; he’s only 18-years-old and, like Union teammate Keon Daniel, hails from Trinidad & Tobago.

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« Last Edit: September 14, 2016, 05:08:54 PM by Tallman »
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Offline Sam

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Re: Defender Damani Richards key piece to Union building defensive depth
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2013, 05:48:56 AM »
Its amazing that Philly Uniom could find and use 3 of T&T's left footed players and at senior level we cant or refuse to find even one, apart from Daniel who duck de national team because ah sure is something they do him but de TTFF not saying it.

When Shabazz done with T&T football we go only have Caledonia and Guyanese born playing for T&T.

« Last Edit: February 14, 2013, 05:51:30 AM by Sam »
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Offline Tallman

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Union waives Damani Richards
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2013, 01:06:39 PM »
Philadelphia Union waive midfielder Alex Mendoza and outside back Damani Richards
By Jonathan Tannenwald (philly.com)


As the March 1 deadline to cut the Union's roster down to 30 players looms, the team started making moves Wednesday morning. Two players are out the door: midfielder Alex Mendoza and left back Damani Richards.

Both players came to the Union with pedigrees of consequence.

Mendoza spent the last few years on the roster of Mexican powerhouse UNAM Pumas. He was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pa., and grew up in the City Islanders' acacdemy. So his signing on January 24 helped give the Union's roster another shot of local flavor.

But Mendoza's preferred position, central midfield, is the one where the Union have the most depth. Roger Torres, Michael Farfan and Michael Lahoud all were ahead of Mendoza on the depth chart – and that's before you get to defensive-oriented players such as Amobi Okugo and Brian Carroll.

Richards' departure is a bigger surprise, given the Union's lack of depth at left back. The Union announced the Trinidadian's arrival on January 19, the day after the SuperDraft.

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« Last Edit: February 20, 2013, 01:38:12 PM by Tallman »
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Offline Cocorite

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Re: Defender Damani Richards key piece to Union building defensive depth
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2013, 01:25:23 PM »
Surprise! Surprise!

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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Defender Damani Richards key piece to Union building defensive depth
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2013, 01:50:37 PM »
the MLS  boy i tell you ... he get injured the get rid of him .. .. Europe fellas .... get a good agent
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/sh8SeGmzai4</a>

Offline Tallman

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Damani Richards convalescing
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2013, 09:00:16 PM »
Damani Richards convalescing
By Michael Bullock (pennlive.com)


Defender Damani Richards, the 18-year-old from Trinidad & Tobago who has yet to appear in a game for the City Islanders, underwent surgery nearly two weeks ago (June 21) in Philadelphia to repair several tears in his abdominal and pelvic areas.

The 6-0, 175-pound Richards, who was signed by the Union in mid-January and released just before the regular season began, arrived in Harrisburg several weeks later with the injuries to his core apparently already in play yet undiagnosed.

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Offline Cocorite

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Re: Damani Richards convalescing
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2013, 10:39:52 PM »
Get well soon Damani
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Offline Big Magician

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Re: Damani Richards convalescing
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2013, 04:06:41 PM »
yes...all the best
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Offline Tallman

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Re: Damani Richards Thread
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2016, 05:10:21 PM »
Former national U-20 defender Damani Richards arrested on gun and ammo charges
By Rickie Ramdass (T&T Express)


An ex-international and Pro-League footballer was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 when he appeared before a Port of Spain Magistrate on Wednesday charged with three criminal offences including possession of a firearm and several rounds of ammunition.

In addition to the two firearm-related offences, Damani Richards, 21, was also charged with having 44 grammes of marijuana in his possession while at a house located at Upper Powder Magazine, Cocorite,

Officers of the Western Division allegedly found the items in his home on Tuesday.

Richards, who is the son of one of the men charged with the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, was not called upon to plead when he appeared before Magistrate Adrian Darmanie in the Fourth (A) Court given that all three charges were laid indictably.

The accused is a former member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team and also played for two teams in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS) league. He was accused of having in his possession, the drugs, a nine-millimeter handgun and 10 rounds of ammunition.

Attorney Karunaa Bisramsingh, who stood in his defence submitted that her client had no previous or pending matters before the court. The police prosecutor agreed that Richards had no previous or pending matters before the court.

Based on the attorney's submissions, Magistrate Darmanie proceeded to grant the bail bond with a condition that the accused report to the St James Police Station every Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

It was uncertain if Richards was able to secure the bail bond up to yesterday evening. He will next appear in court on October 12.
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Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Damani Richards Thread
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2016, 05:17:49 PM »
Ex-T&T and MLS defender Damani Richards, 21, allegedly held with loaded firearm
By Lasana Liburd, Wired868.


Three years ago, former Trinity College student Damani Richards seemed a good bet for a successful career as a top flight footballer. Instead, he could feasibly end up facing the local courts, after he was allegedly held by the Western Division Task Force with a loaded firearm and a quantity of marijuana at his Cocorite home.

Richards was a key member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team in 2012. And, in January 2013, was sold to fans of United States Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit, Philadelphia Union, as a stabilising figure for their roster and a terrific long term investment.

Within a year’s time, due to injury, Richards was waived by Union and third division US team, Harrisburg City Islanders. And, after a brief stint with local Pro League club, Caledonia AIA, he lost his motivation, quit the game and disappeared from the football scene.

Today, instead of being featured on ESPN, Richards was a target of scorn for “Beyond The Tape” host Inspector Roger Alexander, who cooed about the arrest of a “Pro League footballer”.

In truth, Richards quit the Pro League two and a half years ago and Morvant Caledonia United technical director, Jamaal Shabazz, suggested that he might have stayed out of trouble if he remained on the football field.

Shabazz was displeased too that the media had unfairly tainted the local top flight football competition.

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« Last Edit: September 14, 2016, 05:44:35 PM by Tallman »

Offline Tallman

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Sancho: Aspiring footballers in need of $$ encouragement
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2016, 11:10:32 AM »
Sancho: Aspiring footballers in need of $$ encouragement
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday)


WHILE FORMER Soca Warrior and Minister of Sport, Brent Sancho, has dubbed the recent arrest of ex-national Under-20 footballer, Damani Richards, for gun and ammunition charges unfortunate, he believes that there are several other young sportsmen who may be seeking similar alternatives due to the current economic downturn facing Trinidad and Tobago currently.

Richards, who also had a stint with two teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), was granted $150,000 when he appeared before a Port of Spain Magistrate on Wednesday following his arrest at a house in Cocorite on Tuesday.

Sancho, who represented the red, white and black at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, was saddened by the recent news but admitted that this country’s economic situation may trigger youngsters to veer in the wrong direction. However, he called on TT Pro League clubs and the Government to implement further measures to ensure our sportsmen and women remain committed to their budding careers.

“A lot of these young players are very in touch in their community and country in a criminal aspect,” he said. “Once we continue to short sleeve our sporting personnel and glorify the man on the street, like what is currently happening in TT, this is going to continue to be a challenge. More aggressive government legislation and approaches are needed. I would be surprised if the unfortunate situation that has happened to Richards is the only one because there are others on the cusp, simply because some Pro League clubs are hanging on for dear life because of the financial challenges facing them now.” Sancho indicated that at one point Richards did come under the radar of interest for his club, Central FC. But, he now questions the roles that professional clubs play in its community and how important the role is.

“The clubs can only do so much up to a point,” he added. “Not every man and young woman in this country is scholastically inclined.

There are some who are only athletically inclined and some who still have the archaic notion that everybody has to be a doctor or lawyer. It is very unfortunate that there are no mechanisms in place to bait corporate TT to invest even more in our young social fabric.” The former national defender though, credited the Governments of past and present, who through subventions have done a tremendous job. He however, believes that an expected cut in subventions would have had a major impact in the ability to employ young people.

“I still feel there is so much more to be done,” Sancho continued.

“Countries like Panama and the Dominican Republic have made the corporate world invest in young people. I have also realised that the budget on September 30 also talks about adding more taxes to cigarettes and alcohol.

I would like to see some of this money going back into sports to further interest and get more young people into sports.

“I grew up in a ‘hot spot’ area and I can say that there is a direct correlation between young people engaging in sports and criminal activities. When we had our young people heavily involved in our football teams there was a direct diminishing of crime in the area.

But once sport is lessened, negative changes tend to take place,” the former national player concluded.
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

 

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