Lewis attract Swedish interest.
By: Flex Mohammed.Former Naparima College stand-out, Fabien Lewis might very well see his career start at a nation that Trinidad and Tobago actually have to play in next years World Cup. Lewis, a former national under 17 and under 23 player might favor his chances playing in Sweden come early next year if he decides to take up the opportunity to play for the undisclosed Swedish club that have shown interest in having him join the club. The trial is schedule for February 2006 and was arranged by none other than yours truly. All information will not be disclosed until further notice.
Fabien presently attends College in the United States and during his tenureship there he has been named Defensive player of the year, All Rookie, All Conference, and all Region teams.
Lewis told the SW Online, "I will love to play professional in Europe because I think it is every youth player dream to do so." "It is also a stepping stone for better things to come, whether its a small club or not, you get recognise in some aspect. "I will be making some serious considerations about the move."
Lewis, a quick rough central defender, saw action in only three games this season for his College team after he tore his calf muscle. Nevertheless, he is fully healed and will be looking forward to playing a lot in Trinidad over the Christmas break and in the process hoping to catch the eye of T&T coach Leo Beenhakker. His desire is to represent T&T at the higest level. "My dream is to help T&T make another World Cup and be consistent at world level. "Whether I make the T&T squad now or in the future I will always give my all to my beloved T&T, Fabien ended."
Fabien was the captain of the Naparima College team that won two intercol titles in 1999 and 2000. He played alongside talents such as Teba McKnight, Joel Bailey, Jerol Forbes and Jace Peters. He revealed that Jan Steadman and Brian Williams were the two persons who inspired him to be his best. "Jan really liked me as a player and was always my mentor".
Both Silvio Spann and Lewis won the under 20 national championship with W Connection in 2000 and 2001.
When he first moved to the US on a scholarship he was also summoned by then national coach Hannibal Najjar in December 2003 to trial with the T&T team. Unfortunately, he couldn't make much of his invitation because of College commitments. He was a member of T&T under 23 team under former coach
Rene Simoes
Tony Rougier's return brings success.
T&T Newsday Reports.[/size]
United Petrotrin ended their football season on a victorious note when the Oil Squad defeated North East Stars 1-0 on Saturday last to clinch the Professional Football League "Big Six" tournament sponsored by Lucozade Sports.
The signalled a remarkable turnaround for the south-based team which spent much of the season at the bottom of the standings.
However the arrival of veteran Peter Prosper and former national captain Tony Rougier saw an instant revival in the team's fortunes and a string of victories.
Rougier was also given the captain's armband and his inspirational leadership was very important in spearheading the United Petrotrin into winner's row.
Since Rougier's return United Petrotrin has beaten all the leading teams including W Connection, Defence Force, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh and now North East stars.
In an interview, Rougier expressed his delight at the team's recent success.
"It is really great to be back in the south and leading United Petrotrin to victory" Rougier said. "I began my career many years ago with the famous Trintoc team and in those days we beat everybody at home and throughout the Caribbean," he said. The stocky defender also said he came back to play for the southerners so that he could help south football and give something back to my community.
He pointed out that there are some talented youngsters in the deep south but they lack experience. Rougier said he was happy to take up the captain’s role, which would give him a chance to give the youths some guidance. "Together with Peter (Prosper) we were able to get them to believe in themselves and understand the way of life of a professional footballer," he added.
He described the standard of play in the Professional League as better than he had expected which made him really work hard in the matches he played. Rougier said if the league continues to progress like that, then it will be a very competitive tournament in the near future.
Asked whether his recent good form was a signal of his readiness to return to the national team, Rougier said it was always a pleasure for him to play for his country and therefore he made myself available whenever he was asked, whether he was in Scotland, England or China.
"I am in very good shape and if I am invited I will do my best as always. I played several matches in the early part of the campaign and I think I made a positive contribution to getting us to Germany, and therefore it would be nice to continue the journey right to the end," he said.
Only recently Rougier attended the CONCACAF Elite Player Development Workshop at the Centre of Excellence and later promised to get into coaching when he hangs up his boots.
He told Newsday that he wanted to work with youngsters especially in his hometown of La Brea. "Football is not only a game. It is a way of life and it can have a very positive effect on young people," he claimed. Rougier emphasised he wanted to help the young people reach their potential, since they have a lot, but only need the necessary guidance.
Latapy: Germany “All the way ?
By: Ruggy Bairn.[/size]
Until very recently, Russell Latapy had been on retired, through his own choice, from International Football and representing his native Trinidad and Tobago. After well over one hundred caps, and a glittering career for the Soca Warriors, he’d felt it was time to hand over to the younger guys.
That didn't stop hundreds of emails arriving at his respective clubs since he stepped down, begging him to return and pull on the red and black again. Falkirk FC received countless emails from Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed beyond, during the recent campaign for qualification for Germany ’06, and finally, the wee man relented.
Why though? Russell was happy to explain, "There were a number of factors that convinced me to return to International Football. The first thing was that because of the social state of Trinidad, we needed something to happen to unify the Country and everybody knows that there's nothing like sport – and success at sport “that can unify a Country. That was one of the main reasons. However, that wasn't all, it was a combination of reasons, including the fact that I hadn't been home for a while and it was an opportunity to get over there to see friends and family, as well as get on the park again. Finally though, I had contemplated going back for quite some time and I'd had a conversation with Dwight (Yorke) and he had said that there was a real possibility that we could actually qualify. He'd seen the teams involved and was convinced we could get through. We needed a bit more experience and creativity and he kind of pleaded with me to come back and give it one last shot for two games, which were the matches with Guatemala and Costa Rica. If we'd lost those two games we were out, but it so happened that we won one and lost one.
"Which, of course, meant that T&T still had a strong chance. Whilst that was the case, there was no chance Russell wasn't staying on further than the original two matches planned, and he laughed heartily as he elaborated, "Well, then I thought ok, I'll go back again because there are only two more games and we'll see where it goes. We won those two as well, so we got into the play offs, and it was only two more again! It just kept going, two and two and two! So here we are and we managed to get there."
Of course, it was publicised in the build up to the second match against Bahrain, that Russell and the Socas had missed out on qualification 16 years ago for Italy by one goal. And how much sweeter that must have made it for Russell as that final whistle went signalling the culmination of a roller coaster ride that lasted a decade and a half. However, Russell remained dignified and was extremely sympathetic to Bahrain, "We can understand the disappointment that Bahrain felt, they came to Trinidad and did all the hard work and got the away goal. It was just like what happened to us in that campaign, because if we'd have drawn we'd have been there.
That sympathy was despite being the target, along with Dwight Yorke, of a reign of missiles from the stands as Russell tried to take a late corner. Not that it fazed the magician, Nah, it wasn't scary. I've been in hostile atmospheres and difficult places before, and you just concentrate on the football. That's the way the game is, it means so much to the fans. If you go to places like Fenerbahce or Galatasary, the atmospheres are a lot worse. I told the younger guys on the pitch at the time not to get involved; we were leading one nil, they want to put you off your game, keep the concentration. The bottom line was we did, and we're going to Germany and they're not.
The flight was 13 1/2 hours from T&T to Bahrain. The return trip was 19 hours (7 1/2 hours from Bahrain to Madrid, 3 hours layover, 8 1/2 hours from Madrid to T&T). A four hour drive is exhausting for most people, so how did Russell cope with that, “People thought it was more difficult for Bahrain to go to Trinidad then come back, but because of their financial circumstances, the majority of the team were in the Caribbean a week to ten days in advance so they had plenty of time to overcome their jet lag and acclimatise. Going there was the same for both teams, they left a couple of hours before us and to be honest, the T& T FA did brilliantly for us by chartering a flight allowing us to get there as soon as we could have done which was a big help.
Russell went on, "We always had a chance, despite the distance. A big difference between this squad and that of '89 is the experience. Back then the majority of the boys were playing locally, and didn't have much experience of the continental game, or of travelling distance. This time, most of the players are in Europe and it's a big help to us with the players playing at a high level week in week out. The big contingent from the UK also helps because we see each other more often and know each other's game.
So the draw was made last night and hosted by that footballing legend, Heidi Klum Unfortunately, print deadlines meant this piece was produced prior to Ms Klum picking out the balls, but did Russell fancy anyone – in footballing terms “in particular? I haven't really given that much thought to be honest, it’s just fantastic to be there. As we've mentioned as a team we don't want to be there purely to make up the numbers, we want to do the best we can and showcase our talents. Obviously if we had a choice, we would prefer to get some less fancied teams as it gives us a better chance of progression. Unfortunately, because we're not a seeded team that is not going to happen. I think though, because a few of the boys play in England, we're more familiar with the English game, so that might not be too bad. Having said that the're a fantastic team with great talent so it would be hugely difficult.
There will be a pretty decent contingent of Scottish fans following the Socawarriors to the World Cup, with no fewer than five Scottish based players likely to be involved in the squad. How they'd like to see England pop out of the hat next to T&T, but Russell and his team mates are just grateful for the support, 'It would be absolutely fantastic if some Scottish fans, and particularly Falkirk fans made that journey. It would mean so much to me and the other Scottish based boys. The thing about the World Cup is that it's a showcase and it brings different cultures together. I think the culture of the West Indies and Scotland are not too dissimilar, happy go lucky people, and that would be a fantastic thing if we could get the fans to join up and unify people of different cultures. I really enjoyed the fact that a couple of Falkirk representatives joined us in Trinidad and Bahrain, and I think they enjoyed it, as would any Scot.
Finally, of course, THE question. Is this the swansong? Hopefully not, At 37, I know realistically that I cannot continue forever. I love playing the game and as long as I'm having fun I'll carry on. I've said before though, that my body will determine when I have to stop. I'd like to play on next year if I’m fit enough, but I don't want to cheat the Club, the fans and especially the manager because he gave me an opportunity, and no doubt that has helped me actually get to the World Cup because I'd considered packing it in before John came in for me. I am eternally grateful to Yogi and Falkirk for that, but I can’t ruin it by playing on if I'm not fit. However, all being well, I have the desire and if my body allows me to continue I will, if not, that'll be it and I go out on a high. Watch this space though, I’ll see how I am after the World Cup.
Watching we will be; in Germany and afterwards. I'm sure everyone hopes to see Russell in the navy blue again next season, and it goes without saying that when he pops up on the big screen in Germany with "Russell Latapy “ Falkirk (SCO) as the caption, the chests will swell with pride!
Keep up to date with T&T news at the National Team website and forum, located at
www.socawarriors.net
News from the 15th of December 2005.Blackpool's Murphy hopes for T&T try out.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
Blackpool striker John Murphy has written to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation indicating his eligibility and willingness to play for the "Soca Warriors."
Murphy contacted TTFF Media, following a notice on its official website for eligible players interested in playing for T&T, and indicated that he found out his mother is of Trinidadian parentage and currently holds a T&T passport. The mail was sent on December 9 and it appears that Murphy only found out the link to T&T through his mother after the news broke that England would be facing the "Soca Warriors.
T&T head coach Leo Beenhakker has since been informed and could possibly have a look at the player in the English League One.
Murphy is decribed as a big strong centre forward, typically old fashioned who is powerfully built and strong in the air.
"I think I could make a good addition but I can only prove this if I have some means of showing this," Murphy told TTFF Media. Murphy is a former Chester City player and scored ten goals for Blackpool last season.
