KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER - BARBARO- FIRED

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro put down

Barbaro lost his battle for life overnight when the Kentucky Derby winner was put down after a major setback in his eight-month long recovery from a broken leg.

Roy Jackson, co-owner of the colt who was injured last May at the Preakness Stakes, told the Philadelphia Daily News that Barbaro was put down after his front legs began to show signs of stress.

Combined with the right hind leg he broke in three places in the 'Run For The Roses' and the left hind leg that developed laminitis during treatment, the pain to the horse was too great to continue the extraordinary life-saving effort.

"He started to have changes in the front feet," Jackson said. "Now we were dealing with all four feet. We were all concurrent on everything that we just don't want the horse to suffer."

Barbaro won the Derby last May by the largest margin in 60 years but broke down barely 200 metres into the second jewel of US horse racing's Triple Crown.

-AFP

 

We know what the bigger picture is' - Lara

'We know what the bigger picture is' - Lara

Though not "100% sure" of his ability to take the field for tomorrow's crucial one-day international at Chennai, Brian Lara cut a confident figure as he assessed his side's current form. With one eye very focused on the World Cup at home in 46 days, Lara stressed on the role of youngsters and the constant need to assess and adjust against the odds.

"We're still very buoyant. The guys are looking forward to the remainder of the series," he told reporters ahead of West Indies' practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. "I think this has always been called a build-up to the World Cup, so whatever we can get out of it - not necessarily results, but in terms of improving different aspects of our game - is important. We shouldn't lose confidence from a series such as this. And even if we were winning, not to leave here over-confident."

It's easy to suggest that West Indies' morale may be down given the 0-2 score line in the four-match series, but Lara thought otherwise: "We are achieving certain things, maybe not in the form of results, but its very optimistic in the dressing-room. We know what the bigger picture is."

For as far back as one can remember, West Indies' batting has revolved around the three senior players - Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Chris Gayle - but Lara denied it was over-reliance. "The batting has definitely improved. Marlon Samuels in Pakistan and the likes of Dwayne Bravo, on a couple of occasions here, have shown that we're trying to improve as far as the matchwinners in the team go - in terms of with bat and ball and the occasional run-out or two.

"It's important to understand that we have a good allround team. We're just trying to get everyone to improve, but of course there are going to be guys well-positioned to do a large part of the job, like Gayle and Chanderpaul and myself, but we have specific jobs for every individual. It's important that they execute it."

Lara did not see the need to change the make-up of the team based on the surface and praised Gayle for the leadership he showed at Cuttack. "It's an exercise for any captain that likes to lead and likes the intricacies of the game. You want to be able to have that kind of situation. I think Chris enjoyed himself a couple days ago, moving around the bowlers, and I think he did a tremendous job. It's only going to develop any captain if he has conditions of that sort."

Despite so much focus being directed towards the Caribbean's first World Cup, Lara refrained from talking strategies. "After this series, we head back to the Caribbean, where we have regional cricket to play, and there's a camp before the World Cup. This particular series is paramount to us before the World Cup. We needed to get some sort of international cricket under our belt, and this is what we're doing at present.

"Having a little break before that is good, too, and I think we can get back well. The way the World Cup is structured, it allows you a couple of practice games, and some against the minnows to get you moving ahead of the main stage. We're well on course as far as our preparation goes. It's just a matter of staying fit, everyone staying together, and having the right group around."

Lara was also eager to point out the aggressive streak in India. "I'm not going to compare what I saw back then [in the ICC Champions Trophy and in Malaysia] but what I can tell you now is that they look hungry. They look like a team desperate for wins. Their results haven't been good in the recent past, and leading up to the World Cup, with a billion people following you, you need to leave them with some sort of hope going into that tournament.

"They were finalists four years ago, and know what they need to do as far as getting their act together goes; they've reshuffled a few players to try and get the right mix come March. I must commend them for the sort of character they've shown over the last week or so, because they were destroyed in South Africa and didn't do too well in the ICC Champions Trophy. India is a team you never take lightly

 

WWW.CRICINFO.COM

 

CFU Release - Warner returns from witnessing Platini's pick

CFU MEDIA RELEASE

Warner returns from witnessing Platini’s pick                                 January  26, 2007

 

CONCACAF President Jack Warner returns home from Dusseldorf, Germany on Saturday after attending the UEFA Congress where he also witnessed the elections for UEFA Presidency which was won by Frenchman Michel Platini on Friday.

 

Hours after witnessing the final of the Digicel Caribbean Cup, Warner headed off to Europe and offered his support for Platini as seen in the photo with the former French star on the eve of the elections.

 

The 51-year-old Frenchman was elected by Europe's 52 national football associations at the 31st Ordinary UEFA Congress in the German city of Dusseldorf on Friday.

 

Platini received 27 votes, while the incumbent UEFA President Lennart Johansson received 23 votes, with two votes invalid. Upon his election, Mr Platini proposed that Mr Johansson become UEFA honorary president after 17 years of outstanding service at the helm of European football.

 

Warner meantime also poured high remarks on the Haitian Football Federation following its team’s success in the Digicel Caribbean Cup.

 

“It is a title that was hard fought and well-deserved as your team played with a passion and determination against some of the best rated teams in the region.  Caribbean football is growing from strength to strength and your team has shown that they continue to grow as the region grows and have not remained stagnant despite the many challenges that you continue to face at home,” Warner wrote to Haitian Federation President Dr Yves Jean Bart.

 

“Please convey my congratulations to the players, the coach and all the members of the technical staff for a fine performance throughout the tournament with best wishes for success at the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.”

 

The CFU President also expressed some satisfaction to the TTFF for the way in which its young team competed at the competition, finishing runners up.

“I wish to congratulate the Senior National Team of Trinidad & Tobago on their fine performances during the recently concluded Digicel Caribbean Competition, the Caribbean’s premier football tournament.

 

“To have emerged as runners up in a competition against ever increasing performances from our Caribbean counterparts is no easy feat for what was a very young and untested team, who had to shoulder the enormous responsibility of following in the footsteps of a World Cup Qualifying Team could not have been an easy task.  The young players, however, gave very creditable performances throughout, with moments of brilliance that augur well for the future of Trinidad and Tobago's football,” Warner added in his letter to the TTFF.

TTFF News - Glasgow aims for consistency ... T&T team leaves on Monday for Panama

Glasgow aims for consistency… T&T team leaves on Monday for Panama

 

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, January 26, 2007

 

Trinidad and Tobago striker Gary Glasgow says he wants to keep wearing the national shirt for at least another three years or so and feels his latest set of performances may have kept him on the mind of national team head coach Wim Rijsbergen.

 

Glasgow netted six goals in five matches to be the top scorer in the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals. But at age 30, set to turn 31 on May 13, the former Kansas City Wizards striker knows he cannot expect to be representing T&T for as long as he may want.

 

“Personally you want to prove people wrong. You always want to do it. Eventually you work hard and get the results to change people’s minds.

 

“That’s something I maybe learnt from Stern as well, As strikers you will always get chances, you will have your of days but you have to keep going because the game is 90 minutes. You just have to wait for the next one and try to put it away.

 

“This loss obviously hurt because we did well for the whole tournament and then we couldn’t get the result before this crowd in the final. It’s minor little mistakes when we could have avoided. We gave up soft goals,” Glasgow added.

 

He intends to keep on scoring for Joe Public as they look to defend their 2006 Pro League title and at the same stay in sight of the national coach.

 

“That’s my goal. I probably have two-three years in me again at this level,” Glasgow said. “Right now I will focus on playing for Joe Public. We have  a good technical staff, a good boss and they believe in us. Hopefully I can have a good season and keep the coach looking at me,” he added.

 

Glasgow is expected to depart with the national team for Panama City on Monday. They also play Costa Rica on February 4. The squad resumed training Friday with standby players Christian Baptiste and Anthony Noreiga rejoining. Striker Kevon Carter was also recalled while US College-based players Makan Hislop and Keeron Benito were scheduled to depart back to their respective colleges and will not make the trip. Defender Osei Telesford is also recovering from an injury while Jan Michael Williams, Kerry Baptiste and Nigel Daniel were released back to their clubs after Tuesday’s game for CFU Club Championship action.

 

Rijsbergen said he hopes to at least have more training sessions with the current group but sees the importance of having a proper mix with the overseas-based players.

 

“Every time we he a group together we try to see what their level is and with this kind of games. We can see if some of the guys can make the next step. Some of them can make the next step, some reach their level and you see whether it’s good or not to play at the international level. If  we see weaknesses then we try to work on it or we look for other guys,” Rijsbergen said. “We try play against international teams where we can improve these guys. Of course this is the same for  every international game and tournament we will face , and the next one is the Gold Cup. Hopefully by the Gold Cup we will have the right players in the right positions for the tournament.”

 

On the subject of continuing training, the Dutchman added “Most of these guys will go back to their clubs. Hopefully we can find a solution where with the local boys we can train maybe once a week. What will happen is they go back to their clubs and they go back to their old rhythm and the rhythm here is not good enough to make the next step,” he added.

 

“So we have to find a new solution with maybe some more international games to get them used to a different level or otherwise  we will have to work on the same thing every time we get together. That’s what I was saying, the experience of the foreign players can lift the level also in training because if you train well then you can play better, there was some improvement of some guys (in the Digicel Cup) and they can make the next step. Wee have some doubts with some but it’s also good,” he concluded.

It Was Credible Performance - Lara

It Was A Credible Performance - Lara

NAGPUR, India - West Indies captain Brian Lara spoke with the media after the first One Day International against India in Nagpur.

Following are excerpts from his responses.

His assessment of the match:
I think it was a very good match, evenly contested. India were a lot more prepared for this encounter than we were, I'm not making any excuses but it's been just 48 hours or so since we arrived here in Nagpur and I think the guys played really well.  (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul showed his class today and I think you saw where we lacked the fight and that was in the field. The opposition scoring 338 runs sort of put the game in their hands. I think we have something to work with, I think it was a credible performance by our team and I expect everyone to settle in to the conditions by the time the second game starts.

On what the turning point was:
I think it was always going to be tough for us to get 339, we had to score beyond a run-a-ball from the very beginning so to get that close was a very good performance. At some point we had to take some risks and I think we needed 150 runs in 15 overs so to get that close with wickets in hand I think it shows that we have something to work with so I can't really pinpoint what the turning point of the match was but I think that the two teams played good cricket, we had a lot of spectators here and I'm sure they are going home very satisfied.

On the Indian opening partnership:
Any team that has an opening stand above a hundred runs, that lays the foundation for something really big especially if they get it at six runs an over or above and that's what was happening out there, you saw this morning (Gautam) Ghambir and (Sourav) Ganguly played really well, unfortunately Ganguly did not go on to get a hundred but he played well and they laid the foundation for what you saw at the end (of the India innings).

On Sourav Ganguly:
He is a player of high class, and you expect performances like that. I know he is eager to get back and show that he should not have been out and you have to give him credit. It means you are mentally strong to come back from such a situation and do well so we know he's capable and batting up there with Ghambir he showed the maturity that is needed.

On the pitch (on which the most runs in an ODI in India was scored):
You expect that it's going to be laid for the batters, that's been the norm in One Day cricket since the time it was invented. I didn't see anything wrong with the pitch, the curator said in the newspapers this morning that it's a belter, over three hundred runs and so be it. We had over six hundred plus runs in a game and at the end of the day we are entertainers and this is what it is all about. We hope in the Caribbean that we have pitches like this and everyone is going to enjoy it and have a good time.

On if in hindsight the decision to bowl first was not the best one:
I don't think so, we are a very good chasing team and to get this close to this total our first game back after some time I thought that it was a credible performance and we have something to work with moving forward. We're quite happy chasing especially if we know the pitch is going to remain the same for the entire game. Marlon Samuels got some turn, Harbhajan Singh got some turn and for the pacers I thought it was a very pedestrian track.

--

TTFF News - Rijsbergen applauds T&T players for gritty game

Rijsbergen applauds T&T players for gritty game

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, January 18, 2007

 

A good win and a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup may have been the end result for Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers on Wednesday evening but the achievement was far from anything close to the real ambitions of the head coach Wim Rijsbergen and his troops.

 

Just ask midfielder Kerwyn Jemmot and his response would be: “It’s good to win an get the man of the match award but this is early days yet. We have a tournament to win and a Gold Cup to go into and then there is a lot of football to play still.”

 

Rijsbergen could only be pleased that his players have a vision towards their upcoming footballing challenges and are not yet showing any signs of complacency after beating off the Haitians at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

 

The head coach still, as always, feels his team have some rough spots to iron out as T&T embarks on the South Africa 2010 qualifying experience..

 

“Haiti is a very good team. They made some changes maybe to rest some of these guys but we tried to pay the game.In the first half and of course we had some good possibilities to score and take this game away.” Rijsbergen said in the post match session.

 

“We failed to score some goals but overall the guys worked hard to solve that. Physically a lot of guys were tired and that is not unusual with three games in a very short period. In the end they forced to a victory and we are a happy with a win and happy with the guys that there were no big injuries. For the rest its good to have a win and we go to the semi final and we have a couple of days that everyone can recover from the three games and will be fit to face the opponent in the semi finals.”

 

He explained the reasoning behind bringing on Dwayne Jack in the second half, adding “It had to do with the changes from them because they have some tall guys and if you see our team in general, we don’t have a lot of players with a lot of height in our team and of course Seon Power, if you see what happened with the goal, it is not every time …. very solid and we made a change to see what we could do with Makan Hislop in that position. We had to make some changes because some of the guys were very tired and it was the same with Baptiste.”

 

Rijsbergen responded to a question about T&T winning but still showing a lot of vulnerability at the back.

 

“I hear this every time in this country… if we win 5-1 then there is a still a lot of work to do. If we pick some guys then we pick the wrong guys so I don’t always listen to anyone anymore. We have a  strategy and we try to do  whatever we have to do. We  have all the experts sitting on the other side. We try to work with the boys and go one direction. In the  end, I explained already, we will try to find to the right mix to face the big opponents and to qualify.

 

“Sometimes you play a lot better than the other time but that is part of trying to get a team together. And sometimes as a coach you are lucky that they  do whatever  you want them to do. But overall the guys tried very hard and there’s nothing I can say about that and of course there will make some mistakes in the future, I am happy with the guys we picked and in the future we will see some different guys but everyone should be proud of these guys,” Rijsbergen continued. He will prepare a team comprising mostly the same current players for a friendly international away to Costa Rica on February 4.

 

He also touched on how the US-based players fitted into his program, adding that he was impressed by Darryl Roberts’ enthusiasm and determination up front.

 

“Some of these American guys are used to a system in the US but you can see some talent. Roberts is a talented boy but he needs work. But has some basic things for a forward… he has speed, he can jump and he’s not afraid to go in… If  you saw the goal… he forced the second goal. If you come with this determination in the game  if you then of course we will love to work with that.

 

“So far we won the first stage but we are aiming for the Cup, It’s a part of trying to develop some new players and it is important that you win games but on the way to 2010 will lose some games and that can be part of the development too.

 

Rijsbergen indicated that he gave Jemmot a full 90 solely to work on his match fitness.

 

“Because if you want t o get fit then you have to play 90 minutes. He was struggling a bit  in the end but  it was good that he has another 90 minutes under his belt.”

 

Glasgow meantime, when asked how he felt leading the T&T strike force, said he simply gave all heart.

 

“It’s easy really… Just play with my heart.. give them 120 percent and the rest will tell the story. It nice to score goals as scoring only helps as you move on  to the next stage. You can use that confidence to go on,” the leading T&T scorer added.

Lord's loses roof as gales hit UK

Lord's loses roof as gales hit UK

Two cars have been hit by a flying section of roof, and their occupants taken to hospital, after Lord's Cricket Ground fell victim to the gale-force winds that have been buffeting Britain all day.

According to eye-witnesses at the ground, a sizeable section of the roof of the Tavern Stand, on the South-Eastern perimeter of the ground, was torn off in the winds and deposited in the neighbouring St John's Wood Road.

One car was fully enveloped by the roof, with the rear window smashed, and the driver is currently being treated for shock at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. The incident occurred at midday on Thursday, and the road remained closed a full three hours later.

That wasn't the only misfortune to befall the ground, as a tree was also blown down in the gales, and is currently wedged between Grove End Road and the Harris Memorial Gardens, behind the pavilion on the eastern side of the ground

 

www.cricinfo.com

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DEFEAT GUYANA

POLLARD BLASTS T&T PAST GUYANA (KFC Cup - Round 2)

- A masterly display of power-hitting from teenager Kieron Pollard spurred Trinidad and Tobago to a comfortable five-wicket victory over defending champions Guyana in their KFC Cup second round match on Wednesday.

The big-hitting Pollard struck a whirlwind 87 in just 64 minutes from 58 balls with seven massive

sixes and six fours, as he hurried his team to victory with 15 overs to spare in a lopsided contest at Queen's Park Oval.

Chasing Guyana's modest victory target of 184, T&T reached 185 for five, with Pollard being dismissed with his team three runs away from victory.

With the Oval venue being given a trial run ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, the fans were treated to a wonderful display of batting by Pollard, who thrilled the crowd with his immaculate timing and awesome stroke-play.

The lanky right hander got off the mark with the first ball he received - hitting a massive six over the long-off boundary from the bowling of off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine.

Pollard reached his fifty with another six over long-off, this time Deon Ferrier was the bowler. His half-century came off 36 balls and 40 minutes and contained five fours and three sixes.

The former West Indies youth batsman continued to dominate the tame Guyanese bowling attack, and as the victory target became nearer, he exploded against left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, hitting the pint-sized bowler for three consecutive sixes.

However, during a persistent drizzle, Permaul had the last laugh when he bowled Pollard off the inside edge.

He shared in two 50-run partnerships that put the match beyond the reach of Guyana. He added 56 off 58 balls with debutant Darren Bravo (7) and 51 off 36 balls with Jason Mohammed (eight not out).

The 19-year-old Pollard is in the West Indies 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup.

SOLID LAUNCHING PAD

T&T were given a solid launching pad when young openers William Perkins (26) and Adrian Barath (30) added 44 for the first wicket.

Soon after their dismissal, the home side also lost skipper Daren Ganga (12) and debutant Darren Bravo but T&T were always in control and chalked up their second KFC Cup victory on the trot.

Earlier, T&T made three changes to the team that defeated Barbados in the opening round of the tournament at the Carlton Ground.

Batsmen Bravo and Barath replaced Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin respectively, while fast-bowling all-rounder Ravi Rampaul came in for new West Indies selectee Rayad Emrit.

Guyana made one change to their team that lost to the Windward Islands in Grenada, Assad Fudadin replacing the injured Krishna Arjune.

After being inserted, the Guyanese opening pair of Azeemul Haniff (53) and Royston Crandon (13) added 40 for the first wicket.

But upon their separation, wickets fell at regular intervals, as none of the other batsmen offered resistance to the probing spin and pace attack employed by skipper Ganga.

Doing the damage for T&T was Rampaul.

Playing in his first regional match in two years because of various injuries, Rampaul grabbed four for 53 and was well supported by left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed who bagged two for 24 in a tidy spell of bowling.

T&T's next match will be on Saturday, when they take on the Leeward Islands in Round Three of the Carib Cup Regional Series at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain.

WWW.WINDIESCRICKET.COM

Nero: Everything in place for West Indies rugby training camp

Curtis Nero, West Indies rugby team manager said all
systems are go for the start of the team's three day
training camp.The West Indies Rugby Union(WIRU) will
host the camp which begins tomorrow at the Royalians
grounds ,Port.Of.Spain,Trinidad

The Regional rugby 7s team is preparing for the IRB
World sevens series tournament in San Diego,USA.

The February 10-11 tournament will see the Windies up
against Fiji,Argentina and Scotland in day one group
games.

The WEST INDIES traveling team will be announced on
Sunday following the second of two trial games.

The first item on the programme on Friday is likely to
be a fitness test .There will be trial games on
Saturday and Sunday.

The players will be based at the Halyconia Guest
House.

The West Indies team is scheduled to leave the
Caribbean on 5 February for a week of training in San
Diego ahead of the 10Th February tournament kick-off.

Nero who is also the treasurer of the T&T Rugby
Union(TTRFU) called on the Governments,public,business
sector and media in the region to support the regional
rugby team."Outside of cricket this is the only other
regional representational team.Rugby is not a
mainstream sport in the Caribbean but that is no
excuse for the lack of support and interest from the
regional business sector,public and media.The
indifference of the region must be addressed"said Nero

The former T&T National rugby captain believes that if
WIRU had more financial resources at its disposal to
support the preparation and travel the regional team
can make waves on the IRB 7s circuit.I am confident
that the West Indies 7s team have the talent and
potential to perform to the level required.

"The Caribbean region is a sleeping giant in World
Rugby 7s .The team cannot realistically be expected to
play one tournament on the IRB sevens circuit and
sustainably improve .We need to be given an extended
run in all the tournaments for at least two years and
then the rugby world will be in for a shock"ended Nero

CFU Release - Disciplinary action taken against Martinique in Digicel Cup

Disciplinary  Action taken against 
Martinique in Digicel Cup

Kindly note that further to a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union’s (Digicel Caribbean Cup) Disciplinary Committee, chairman of that committee Mr Chet Greene confirmed the following actions to be taken against TEAM Martinique following their second Sedley Joseph Group encounter against Trinidad and Tobago at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Monday.

 

1. Player #20, Steve Gustan is suspended from further participation in the

2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals for throwing an object at Match Referee,

Roberto Moreno after the match Trinidad and Tobago vs Martinique, played on

15th January, 2007.

2. Consequent to the abusive, hostile, intimidating and unsporting behavior

of the players of TEAM Martinique prior to the commencement and at the end

of the above referred match in the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup, Ligue de

Football de Martinique is fined USD 5000.00, payable forthwith.

3. The management of TEAM Martinique is hereby directed to ensure total

conformity to tournament rules and traditional football protocols and is

hereby warned that any recurrence would result in stiffer penalties.

 

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BEAT HAITI 3-1

Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago showed why they now hold the mantle of favorites in the Digicel Caribbean Cup as they beat Haiti to emerge as winners of the Sedley Joseph group.

The hosts enjoyed another large home crowd support as they started the game at a high tempo. The proud Trini’s did not have to wait too long as in the 14th minute Kerwin Jemmot unleashed an unstoppable free kick from 30 yards that proved too hot to handle for Haitian keeper Yvesner and flew into the bottom corner.

On 25 minutes Darryl Roberts went close for the soca warriors before Haiti had their first real chance through a free kick on the edge of the box, which, unfortunately for the former French colony side was blasted just too high by Haitian Germain Peter.

On 37 minutes Trinidad produced the move of the match. Kerwin Jemmot picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and lobbed a beautiful through ball to Darryl Roberts whose delightful back flick left the ball directly in the path of Gary Glasgow with a clear shot on goal from 12 yards out. To the utter dismay of the 8,500 strong crowd Glasgow lifted his head, arched his back and blasted his shot high over the bar.

Haiti however came out in the second half and tried to get back into the game. Haitian coach Luis Garcia tried to inject some urgency into his team and showed great tactical awareness when two minutes after making a double substitution one of those, Brunel Fucien brought Haiti level. Brunel showed great awareness and speed when he ran onto a through ball to strike across goal past Jan Williams into the bottom right of the soca warriors net on 54 minutes.

Trinidad responded well under the pressure and within minutes showed a touch of class in the way they retook their advantage on 66 minutes.

Substitute Kwame Wiltshire crossed beautifully from the left and when Darryl Roberts sprung higher than Haiti keeper Normil Yvesner, the ball fell kindly for Gary Glasgow who made no mistake by blasting past the two Haitian defenders on the line to bring T&T into the lead by 2 goals to1.

Glasgow made it 3-1 to Trinidad in the 85th minute when he latched onto a neat through ball, rounded the keeper, cut back to avoid the retreating defender and curled the ball into the roof of the empty net.

The victory ensures that the soca warriors now claim top spot in the Sedley Joseph Group and will play the runners up of the Bobby Sookram group to be decided tomorrow January 18 in the Mannie Ramjohn stadium.

Trinidad: Jan Williams, Makan Hislop, Osei Telesford, Leslie Fitzpatrick (Kwame Wiltshire 45’), Kerwin Jemmot, Darryl Roberts, Gary Glasgow, Kerry Baptiste (Hayden Tinto ), Seon Power, Nigel Daniel, Densill Theobald

Haiti: Normil Yvesner, Dacius Gilles (Guillaume Stephane 88’), Gilles Frantz, Germain Peter, Guerrier Parnel, Baptiste Fritzson (Brunel Fucien 52’), James Marcelin, Raymond Ednerson, Lormera Roody (Cadet Eliphene 52’), Vubert Alain, Mayard Josue

 

WWW.DIGICEL.COM

2006 BOO BOO AWARDS PRESS RELEASE

The 5th annual ISPORTS Boo Boo Awards (Biggest Loser in Sports) were held on Thursday 28th December, after a month long session of voting on line at www.andrebaptiste.com and by calling in at i95.5fm during the day.

This popular sports talk show which is hosted by Andre Errol Baptiste (The Fearless One) _ every Thursday from 6.15pm attracted a large amount of interested voting.

When it was over at 7.30pm on that fateful Thursday in December, there were 725 people that voted.

And the winner was – OLIVER CAMPS – President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation with over 27% of the votes, in second position for the BOO BOO Award was –UDECOTT- with 21% of the votes, while in third position was Boxu Potts (a former jockey turned boxing promoter) with 18% of the votes. In fourth and out of the first three for the first time in five years, was the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs – Roger Boynes – with 12% of the votes, followed by Former NAAA (National Amateur Athletic Association) President Ken Doldron with 6% of the votes and Peter Crouch (the England striker who pulled the hair of Brent Sancho in the World Cup) with 5%.



The draw was made by two members of the – PERFECT TEN – team from i95.5fm religiously conscious nightly programming.

And the two winners were

1) 76 year old Robert Reece who was born in Belmont , but now resides in Diego Martin

2) Deborah Modeste-Clarke from Diego Martin

The HAMPERS worth over $1,000.00TT, included – A ham, a bottle of wine, soap, rice, washing powder, toiletries etc, and was courtesy of several sponsors – Trinidad Commodities Limited, Unilver, Guardian General Limited and Macfood.

Several of the callers , believed that Oliver Camps because of his representation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation was due this award as well based on the impasse with the players over the payment of outstanding monies.

ISPORTS COMMENTARY FOR TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY, 2007

 

SPORTS COMPANY AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE FAIL THE COUNTRY

===========================================================================================

 

 

SPORTS HAS NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD – SAYS THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

HOCKEY , THOUGH , HAS NEVER HAD IT SO BAD – AND THE OLYMPIC BOYS AND GIRLS REMAIN SILENT. DEAF IT SEEMS TO THE ERRIE SOUND OF DISASTER IN ANOTHER PROMISING SPORT.

 

THE FACTS ARE , THAT , THE SPORTS COMPANY HAS FAILED TO SOLVE THE IMPASSE.

THE MINISTER OF SPORTS AND YOUTH AFFAIRS IS STILL TO SICK TO STAND ON HIS OWN TWO FEET.

 

IT IS NOW TIME FOR ACTION , BOTH  POSITIVE AND CORRECTIVE.

FIRST LET US DISPEL THE RUMORS.

 

THE EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS FOR THE UMPTEEN OCCASION GOT A SPORTS STORY WRONG , THIS TIME IN STATING THAT THE 10^TH OF JANUARY WAS THE DEADLINE FOR THE NAMING OF THE HOCKEY TEAM TO THE WORLD INDOOR FINALS.

 

THE ACTUAL DATE IS THE END OF JANUARY, SIMPLE RESEARCH WOULD HAVE SAVE THE EXPRESS FROM THIS EMBARASSMENT.

 

WHO CAN , WE ,THE PUBLIC TRUST ?

THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOCKEY , NOW CLOAKED IN SECRECY AND BESEIGED BY LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS IS ON THE RUN, WITH UNFIT ATHLETES.

 

IS THERE MORE TO ALL OF THIS , THAN MERELY A PLAYER AND A COACH WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS?

IS THIS ABOUT PERSONALTIES, AND CLUBS?

THE PUBLIC NEED ANSWERS. IT IS COSTING US OVER $500,000.00TT FOR THIS TEAM TO TRAIN AND TRAVEL TO AUSTRIA.

 

WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS , IT IS NOTICREABLE THAT SEVERAL HOCKEY CLUBS HAVE BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SPORT, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY.

 

HOWEVER WHEN FROM 16 REGISTERED CLUBS, ONLY SIX CAN BE TOTALLY SATISFIED CURRENTLY WITH THE INCUMBENT REGIME, THERE IS MORE THAN CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

 

IN ALL OF THIS , THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO OLYMPIC COMMITTEE NEEDS TO STEP FORWARD AS A RESOURCEFUL AND  PURPOSEFUL BODY AND MEDIATE AND FIND A BALANCED SOLUTION.

 

IT IS MERELY MY FEELING , THAT IF DOUGLAS CAMACHO WAS STILL THE HEAD HONCHO AT THE OLYMPIC BODY , THIS MATTER WOULD HAVE BEE RESOLVED TO THE BETERRMENT OF THE SPORT.

 

WHICH INCIDENTALITY FOR ALL THOSE WHO CARE TO LISTEN, IS WHAT IT SHOULD ALL BE ABOUT. PLAYERS COME , PLAYERS GO, ADMINISTRATORS ARE VOTED IN AND THEN VOTED OUT , SOMETIMES BEFORE THEIR TERMS EXPIRE BY EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS.

 

SOMEONE HAS TO BE BOLD – AND STEP FORWARD-

AS IT STANDS, WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO LOSE BADLY IN AUSTRIA WITHOUT OUR BEST PLAYERS, BUT OUR HOCKEY PEDRIGREE MAY SUFFER IRREPARABLE DAMAGE.

 

DID SOMEONE SAY , WHO CARES? , AT LEAST SOME WILL GET TO SEE – EUROPE- FOR THE FIRST TIME.

 

SHAME , SHAME , SHAME ON ALL OF YOU , ME TOO

 

THIS IS ANDRE ERROL BAPTISTE , SAYING , HAVE NO FEAR , THE FEARLESS ONE IS HERE .

Chris Dehring, who is heading the organisation of the World Cup in the West Indies  said: "We believe the outcome of what CARICOM has implemented ... will be much appreciated by fans. The visa cost works out to US$10 per country which is not particularly high. Also, nationals of many Caribbean countries require a visa to go to Australia and in some cases they have to send their passports to Washington."

Almost a fortnight after the scale of the problem first came to light, it seems that little has been done to alleviate the situation. Mike Agostini, who until recently was Trinidad and Tobago's honorary consul in Australia, reported to Cricinfo that the Caricom Visa issuing offices in Sydney were "are still not operative, or, if so, just barely".

In a letter to Rose Blenman, who is in charge of the implementation of the controversial US$100 visa, Agostini wrote: "Are you intent on deluding the people wanting such visas, many of whom are continuing to complain, especially travel agents, about the failure of this Mission to provide proper assistance?"

He also flagged that applicants from New Zealand face an even more difficult problem because of the lack of appropriate information and also the fact that they have to pay for the additional costs of sending their applications and passports to Sydney as well as for their return.

"I am as amazed as I am appalled at what is happening here and looks likely to become much worse, with the deadline for these visas being January 15, 2007 and the issuing office not fully operative and the time stated for issuing of visas and return of passports being still 'up to three weeks'."

He warned that the whole exercise is set to become a "total debacle" unless the scheme is abandoned. "The impression here continues to be a money-making exercise and thus also a 'rip-off' which is the way it still seems to be, for which the reputations of all Caricom countries will suffer."

Cricinfo has tried to contact Caricom to ask for clarification of the situation but we have received no response. We have also asked Cricket Australia whether it has taken up the issue on behalf of supporters but, again, no response has been forthcoming.

 

::WWW.CRICINFO.COM

MERYVN DILLON WANTS TO WIN PLACE ON WORLD CUP ONE DAY TEAM

MERVYN DILLON is in and he promises something big will be happening.

The talented but much maligned fast bowler arrived in Barbados yesterday evening with the Trinidad and Tobago team.

He warned the Barbados batsmen to be on the look-out when the two teams meet at the North Stars Club on Thursday.

"I'm in the best form of my life, I'm feeling really good. It's almost frightening ... the batsmen should watch me closely. The ball is coming out really well and I'm quite excited to be in the Trinidad and Tobago team," Dillon said yesterday at the airport.

"I've never played there (North Stars) before but I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to stepping out on Thursday. Experience definitely counts for something."

The 32-year-old Dillon last played for the West Indies in Australia in early 2005. He believes that a good showing in the regional campaign could see him win back a place in the squad for this year's Cricket World Cup. He has captured 131 wickets in 38 Tests and 130 scalps in 108 One-Day Internationals.

"I have really been looking forward to January. I have what it takes to get back in there. Come this game and the other matches will have a big say in it.

"I don't know how the selectors are thinking in terms of my position, but I can tell you, if the opportunity presents itself for me to play for the West Indies again I will be more than ready."

Trinidad and Tobago have been dominating Barbados in recent encounters. The visitors got the better of the Bajans in the Carib Beer Series last year and also

 

:: www.nationnews.com

 

TTFF News - Gray vows to keep playing but blocked from Digicel Cup

Gray vows to keep playing but blocked from Digicel Cup

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF media officer, January 3, 2006

 

National team defender Cyd Gray, coming off a relatively successful 2006 campaign in which he played in two World Cup matches has vowed not to turn his back on representing this country.

 

Gray was speaking on Wednesday, a day after meeting with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwich over his availability for the Digicel Caribbean Cup starting January 12 against Barbados.

 

Jabloteh had earlier asked for their players to be excused from the ongoing training at the Ato Boldon Stadium because of their hectic recent season. However, Gray has revealed that he wanted play for T&T but has been asked by the club to sit out the tournament as their Caribbean club Championship matches resume two days after the scheduled final of the Digicel Cup.

 

“Actually I had a meeting with the coach yesterday telling him that I wanted to play in the Digicel Cup but if the club says it’s not a FIFA tournament and they are paying my wages then I have to abide by their decision,” Gray told TTFF Media. “We will not be joining the team for the Digicel Cup,” Gray said disappointingly. Other Jabloteh players invited for the tournament were Aurtis Whitley, Daurance Williams, Kerry Baptiste.Trent Noel, Jason Marcano, Anthony Wolfe, Glenton Wolfe, Marcelle Francois, Nigel Daniel, Keyeno Thomas  and Ian Gray.

 

However, the matter is an ongoing one and time may tell what further development takes place.

 

“Every time Trinidad and Tobago has an international game I look forward to playing once I am called up. I just don’t want to retire and walk away from the national team,” Gray added. “As for now I am looking forward to staying fit and continuing the good work of the 2006 season. The club has the Caribbean Club Championship and then the CONCACAF Finals and my goal is to do well there and I also want to be involved in the Gold Cup,” he said.

 

Meantime, head coach Wim Rijsbergen is scheduled to return to Trinidad on Thursday and is expected to name a final 20-man squad to move into a live in camp before the Digicel Cup opener against Barbados on January 12 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

 

In other Digicel action, With the withdrawal of the Dominican Republic, the following is the Playoff Schedule for Haiti and Bermuda.

 

Haiti vs Bermuda, Ato Boldon Stadium, 4pm, January 7, 2007

Bermuda vs Haiti, Ato Boldon Stadium, 5pm January 9, 2007

 

The playoff is being played on a home and away system with the home team mentioned first. The winner on aggregate goals will advance to the Digicel Cup Finals to join T&T, Barbados and Martinique in the Sedley Joseph Group. The winning team will walk away with US$100,000 and the top four teams advances to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, 2007

 

CRICKET T&T POSITIVE OF MAINTAINING SUPREMACY OVER BARBADOS

T&T POSITIVE OF MAINTAINING SUPREMACY OVER BARBADOS

 

 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Trinidad and Tobago's senior team are aiming to maintain their dominance of cricket in the Caribbean and will be going all out to win the Carib Beer Series and the KFC Cup.

 

Manager Omar Khan and his confident T&T team arrived in Barbados Tuesday evening for the opening round of the Carib Beer Series where they face Barbados at the North Stars ground on the island's north coast.

 

"The conditions don't make a difference to us at all. If we play against Barbados at Accra Beach we will be focused on the job," Khan said on arrival.

 

"It doesn't matter. We are here to play cricket. It is about which team better adapts to the conditions and plays the better 'mental' game will be the successful team. We aim to win, to win everything."

 

The North Stars ground was chosen to provide a distinct home advantage of a lively pitch to favour fast bowlers. Barbados' chairman of selectors Joel Garner had previously suggested that the Trinidadians have a weakness against genuine pace bowlers.

 

"We are well prepared. We had preparation right up to Old Year's Day and we are well equipped for the challenge. We have a mixture of youth and experience and we have steady, strong team," Khan said.

 

"In the last three encounters we beat Barbados. We beat them in the Carib Beer Cup in the Carib Beer Series and we beat them in the Stanford 20/20. Se we beat them in Trinidad, we beat them in Barbados and we beat them in Antigua.

 

"We know Barbados will be formidable opponents in Barbados ... it won't be easy, but nothing worth having comes easy. We have our game plan and we will execute it."

TTFF News - T&T and Bajans get ready to unveil Digicel Cup team

T&T and Barbados get ready to unveil teams for Digicel Cup

 

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, January 2, 2007

 

As this country’s national footballers resumed preparations on the second day of 2007 for the upcoming Digicel Caribbean Cup, their first match opponents Barbados were left hoping that two of their key players can recover from injuries in time for the January 12 opener at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

 

Barbados’ first choice goalkeeper Alvin Rouse inspirational defender Rommelle Brathwaite are fighting to be fit for the team’s departure for a schedule training camp in Tobago on the weekend.

 

Rouse has a shoulder complaint, has flared up again while Brathwaite pulled up in training with a thigh problem

 

Barbados were due to announce the team on Monday  but the Associaiton is waiting on the injury update before unveiling the 18 players for the finals

Technical Director Keith Griffith expressed concern, saying “"This is a crisis.We have a bit of a worry... actually we have a huge worry. We need these two players to be fit. Rommelle is '50/50' and Rouse is struggling. We are praying.”

 

Meantime, in the T&T camp, US-based player Joel Bailey is trying his best to hold off an ankle problem and trained with the rest of the squad at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Tuesday. But promising striker Kevon Carter complained of a groin problem. The rest of the squad,minus the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh players remained intact and injury free. Of course, midfielder Silvio Spann has already been ruled out with a shoulder problem.

 

“One of the positives so far is that all the players have turned out for the sessions and have been giving their all,” Assistant coach Anton Corneal told TTFF Media.  We have seen good commitment from players who want to be part of a Trinidad and Tobago team and it goes well in relation to commitment for country..”

 

He added that the US-based players like Abiola Clarence, Osei Telesford, Anthony Noreiga, Darryl Roberts and others have meshed well with the home-based players.

 

“They have meshed well so far but it will all come down to which players are most ready in terms of positions and compatibility. We have some experience on the team with the likes of Densill Theobald, Scott Sealy, Gary Glasgow and a couple more so we are not totally green. Hopefully we can get it right together in time for the tournament,” Corneal added.

 

The T&T team will train again at Couva on Thursday and a final squad is expected to be named and move into camp on January 6.

 

Meantime, some of the T&T players are expected to join Digicel in promoting the tournament at the Gulf City mall on Wednesday from 4pm. They will also visit the St Dominic’s Children’s Home, Belmont on Thursday.

 

Carlos makes £1.5m.move to Sunderland …. Yorke behind move

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Carlos Edwards has set his sights on guiding new club Sunderland to Premiership promotion after signing a new three-year contract with the club on Tuesday valued at £1.5m.

Coincidentally, the 28-year-old Edwards now joins National team captain Dwight Yorke at the club who was instrumental in getting Roy Keane to sign the former Defence Force playmaker. And Edwards’ deal has the biggest value for a T&T international since Yorke’s £12.6m move to Manchester United in 1998.

"We're absolutely delighted to have captured such a sought-after, top player," said Black Cats boss Keane.

"A lot of clubs have been interested in Carlos, so it's great that he will be here at Sunderland to play his part in getting this club back to the Premiership."

Edwards became the first Luton player since Mal Donaghy in 1982 to represent his county in the World Cup finals last summer and his impressive performances for Trinidad and Tobago linked him with a move away from Kenilworth Road.

A beaming Edwards expressed satisfaction with his new move moments after leaving Sunderland’s Stadium of Light where he signed his contract on Tuesday. He moved to a club now 10th on the Championship Table from Luton which is now in 19th spot.

“I’m actually just driving back home after signing the deal. I didn’t expect the news to be out already,” Edwards laughed as he spoke to TTFF Media when being told it had already grabbed front page headlines on the BBC official site.

Edwards spoke of Yorke’s influence and the fact he chose to be part of Sunderland’s promotion drive rather than sign with a Premiership club.

“I must say it is something I wanted to do which is to sign a contract like this. Dwight had a big part to do with it. He called me up and the manager inquired and then the deal materialized. Dwight spoke highly about the club and about the role I could play in helping them back into the Premiership. And I saw it all for myself when I visited the club today… the facility is fantastic,” Edwards told TTFF Media.

“It’s a dream come true really and now being part of the club I am hoping for better things because we will be pushing for promotion. We are only three points off the playoffs and hopefully I can do my part now as a new signing.”

Edwards added that he was sure his presence and performance at the 2006 World Cup played a part in this move.

“Teams don’t sign you unless they feel you have something special and can add it to the club. And Roy Keane may have seen something and I’m glad it came through.

“Being at the World Cup definitely has played a part in this. There is going to be interest in any player who has been at the World Cup regardless of the height of the club. It takes quality players to play in a World Cup and unfortunately more of our players didn’t make moves as well. The guys now need to continue working and try to emulate players like myself who have moved on through hard work. I crept before I walked – from back home to Wrexham to Luton and now to Sunderland,” Edwards added.

And about the fact that Premiership clubs Newcastle United, Watford, Charlton Athletic and Scotland’s Celtic also showed interest, Edwards promptly stated “This is what most people will talk about. They will think it’s a bad decision if they see it as giving up a chance to play on the bigger stage. I know money has a lot to play in football. I love to play football and I didn’t want to sign a multi-million dollar contract to maybe sit on the bench. I have a talent and I need to be playing. I will cherish this deal and hopefully take into the Premiership. It’s a challenge but I am positive that during my contract here we will end up in the Premiership,” Edwards ended. He is expected to make his debut for Sunderland in Saturday’s FA Cup fixture away to Preston North End.

Edwards signed for Luton in May 2005 from Wrexham after attracting interest from Mike Newell for some time - the Hatters boss originally tried to sign the 28-year-old during his time as Hartlepool manager.

He spent five seasons at Wrexham after signing from Trinidad side Defence Force in June 2000 for £125,000, helping the Red Dragons win the LDV Vans trophy in 2005.

TTOC 2006 Sport Awards.

Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist sprinter Marc Burns and shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown won the 2006 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year Awards at the TTOC's Annual Awards function held last night at the Cascadia Hotel in St Anns.

 

Burns won the Award last year and his consistent performances this year saw him finish the year ranked eleventh in the IAAF World 100 m rankings.The 23 year old speedster also won bronze at the World Cup.

 

Borel-Brown in addition to taking the Bronze medal in Melbourne at the Commonwealth Games also captured Bronze at the CAC Games in Cartagena,Colombia.Brown finished the year ranked 13th on the IAAF ranking list.

 

World Junior 400M gold medalist Renny Quow was announced as the TTOC Junior Sportsman of the year while World Junior long jump champion Rhonda Watkins won the Junior Sportswoman of the year.The junior sportsman and woman awarded is a new addition to the TTOC Awards function.

 

T&T Senior National football team captain won the Sport Personality of the year award. Dr Iva Gloudon was announced as the TTOC's International Olympic Committee(IOC) Women in Sport Award nominee.

 

Roman Catholic Priest Fr Jason Gordon was presented with the Alexander B.Chapman Award for his use of sport in curbing gang warfare in the Gonzales Community .

 

Shaka Hislop delivered the keynote address. Senator Joan Yuille-Williams ,The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs addressed the distinguished gathering as did TTOC ,President Larry Romany.

 

The 9th TTOC Annual Awards function was well attended guest included Permanant Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Lynette Felix-Henry,Tobago House of Assembly, Director of Sport ,Theophilus Trim,Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport,Ashwin Creed .

 

TTOC Secretary-General Brian Lewis in his welcome address announced that the TTOC had accepted the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB)as a TTOC affiliate.