TTFF News - Simoes credits Maturana's young unit

Before kick off they embraced each other and after the game they exchanged telephone numbers and promised to stay in touch. But the outcome of the 90 minutes didn’t exactly leave them with the same feelings. Jamaican head coach Rene Simoes admitted that he was a disappointed man with seeing the “Soca Warriors” come from two goals down to snatch a draw with the “Reggae Boyz” before some 20,000 odd fans at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday.

 

For Maturana though, guiding a partly inexperienced outfit to a result away from home was yet another plus after the 1-0 victory over El Salvador a week earlier at the Marvin Lee Stadium. Goals by substitute Osei Telesford and a last-gasp equalizer from captain Aurtis Whitley silenced the “Office”.

 

Jamaica had eleven of its overseas pros in their squad while T&T fielded just Dutch-based striker Darryl Roberts and goalie Jan Michael Williams who has been moving around Europe over the last few weeks, still without a stable contract. Charleston Battery’s Randi Patterson was the other overseas starter while goalscorer Osei Telesford is in search of  a club in the USA. The rest of the bunch included 16-year-old defender Akeem Adams, 22-year-old defender Makan Hislop, Kern Cupid, Kerry Baptiste, 19-year-old midfielder Khaleem Hyland and 21-year-old midfielder Keon Daniel. Only Keyeno Thomas and skipper Aurtis Whitley went into the game with any kind of heavy experience. Teenage forward Jamal Gay and defender Aklie Edwards also made second half appearances.

 

T&T went into the game with fifteen players after the late withdrawal of Sunderland duo Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards plus the non-arrival of Toronto FC winger Collin Samuel.

 

“I think today I was pleased with the result and the effort,” Maturana told TTFF Media after the game.

 

“The boys deserve credit for showing all the heart and fighting to the end. That is what we need and we got it today. Aurtis scored an important goal and the team never gave up. We never gave the game to Jamaica and this is what I wanted. I know it was always going to be hard – no Jones, no Carlos and then no Collin Samuel. But the team kept on playing and I was happy with the draw. There is still a lot of work to complete because you can see there are areas we need to be better in. We will keep on working.”

 

Assistant coach Anton Corneal further stated: “We started this team a few weeks ago and we decided to stick with it. This is in trying to secure the future. It took a lot from young players to come from two goals down here in Kingston. We have followed the hosts and that meant our team deserved the credit to come back the way it did.”

Simoes, the Brazilian once in charge of the T&T team, thought his outfit would kill off the visitors.

 

“Today was a little bit hard for the supporters after they saw the first half and they expected that we would kill the Trinidadians. When things are not going good it’s my responsibility. It’s the coach you have to look at. That where we have to look and say ah it’s a bad result,” Simoes said.

 

“This is the time to watch the players and take decisions. The last game you were so proud here when we tied the game in the last minute. Today was Trinidad but I did not want that. President Camps as I love you but I don’t want you with the smile here in Jamaica. I want you to go back upset,” Simoes said in the post game conference with TTF President Oliver Camps and JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell in the audience.

 

“But I have to congratulate you and coach Maturana who is a very experienced coach. I think he is doing a wonderful job,” Simoes added. He urged the Jamaican public to be kind to the players as they are working non stop to attaint the winning results.

 

“I am 56... no problem. You can do with me what you want,” he added.

 

Jamaican captain Marlon King, the scorer of the opener goal, said the game was learning one for his side.

 

“Today was a learning curve for us .We had a young squad and it’s a learning process. We will take the mistakes out and the positives from this game. The draw was a good experience for us today especially for the young lads. You’ve seen how with the quality that Trinidad has… that they can turn the game anytime. Trinidad had a whole lot of heart and we got punished but we will move on to the next games. To go forward you have to make mistakes and we will learn from it. It’s just unfortunately that we couldn’t come away with the win but all credit to Trinidad and Tobago for coming back,” King added.

 

The T&T team returns home at 8:30pm on Thursday night.

TTFF News - Maturana anticipates England clash

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Francisco Maturana expressed a feeling of excitement looking ahead to the country’s friendly international date with England in June.

 

The Colombian was in Kingston, Jamaica preparing the “Soca Warriors’ for Wednesday’s friendly against the hosts and gave his reactions to the announcement which was made by the TTFF at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday.

 

Maturana, while anticipating the encounter which will be part of the centennial celebrations, emphasized that the national team would have to be well tuned for the occasion.

 

“It’s a very big and important day for Trinidad and Tobago,” Maturana told TTFF Media.

“It will be an exciting day because England is a very popular team with a lot of great players. We have to make sure that our team is in very good shape and that we have the players that we think can make up a good team for the game,” he added.

 

“It is not just a game but it could be one of the biggest in Trinidad and no one will want to have a team that cannot match the occasion. I am sure Fabio Capello will bring a good team because it will also help in their preparation for the qualification and it will be similar for Trinidad and Tobago.I know our players will be anxious for the game because they played England in the World Cup and they had a very good game before the England scored two late goals. I saw that game and I was impressed.” Maturana added.

 

Current T&T captain Aurtis Whitley who appeared against England at the 2006 World Cup Finals, also made his feelings known about the event.

 

“I know there was talk about the game but to hear officially that it’s on is really good news. I think every player will want to be involved and it’s a good chance to have players pumped up and ready. Ever since that game in Germany I think all of us have been looking forward to facing off with England again. And if I can get the chance again to play against them that would be really good. The whole country will be looking forward to that one,” Whitley said.

 

This week Capello spoke of the challenge that faces him as England Manager, but repeated that it is something that fills him with anticipation.

"It is my challenge, but it is a challenge we need to meet together, the players and I," Capello explained.

"This is the job I have set out to achieve, and I have five friendly games at my disposal before the competitive games. This is a challenge, as for every challenge in order to reach your targets you need to understand where you are going to operate when you need to work. At the moment I am working towards understanding what needs to be done. Also gathering information on where I can work in order to avoid making the same mistakes that were made before."

Officials of the FA were also expected to be guests of the TTFF at Wednesday’s game against Jamaica. FA officials were in Trinidad earlier this month to hold meetings with the TTFF and they also toured and inspected the National Stadium as well as visited potential hotels that will be used by the incoming contingent of English players, officials, family members and visiting fans.

TTFF News - Edwards back in T&T squad for Jamaica clash

Edwards back in T&T squad for Jamaica clash

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, March 20, 2008

 

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Francisco Maturana will welcome Carlos Edwards back into the national team when an 18-man squad travels to Kingston on Monday to take on the “Reggae Boyz” in Wednesday’s friendly international at the National Stadium there.

 

Edwards was named in the 18-man squad and both he and Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones will fly in to Kingston on Sunday night along with three other invited overseas players – forward Darryl Roberts (Sparta Rotterdam), Collin Samuel (Toronto FC) and defender Osei Telesford out of the United States.

 

Following T&T’s 1-0 win over El Salvador on Wednesday night, Maturana confirmed his squad for the Jamaica  encounter. Eleven of the players who were in the squad on Wednesday will travel to Jamaica and they include goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Glenroy Samuel, Kern Cupid, Keyeno Thomas, Keston Williams, Keon Daniel, Aurtis Whitley, Akeem Adams, Jamal Gay, Khaleem Hyland, Makan Hislop and Kerry Baptiste. The only new addition is defender Keyeno Thomas who recently recovered from injury.

 

Maturana explained his selection, saying “The team is a mixture of what we had in the last game and then we have the overseas players coming in. It’s a good chance to see how well they can play together against a team like Jamaica who are very good at home. I was pleased with the effort against El Salvador and I hope that we can do eve better against the Jamaican team. It’s an important game for our preparations and we will try to prepare well and take everything with us into the game,” he told TTFF Media.

 

“It is also very good to see Carlos Edwards back in the national team and it will be good to see how the other players fit in with players like him and the others from overseas who are coming in.”

 

Assistant coach Anton Corneal also echoed similar thoughts, adding “This game will be a good eye opener in the sense of playing a top CONCACAF team away from home  that is very difficult to beat on their home turf. They will also bringing back several of their top overseas player so it will be a good test for us.

Jamaican striker Deon Burton, now with Sheffield Wedneday has been recalled  Rene Simoes for Wednesday’s game.  He will be joined by twelve other overseaspros including captain Ricardo Gardner (Bolton), Marlon King (Wigan), Donovan Ricketts (Bradford City), Demar Phillips (Stoke City), Luton Shelton (Sheffield United), Omar Daley (Bradford City), Ian Goodison (Tranmere Rovers), Demar Stewart (Royal White Star, Belgium), Jamal Campbell-Ruce (Barnsley), Oneil Thompson (Nottoden, Norway), Khari Stephenson (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), and Tyrone Marshall (Toronto FC).

 

 

Meantime, a local-based contingent of Jamaican national team players returned to Kingston on Wednesday after a seven-match tour of Brazil where they won three games, drew three and lost one. They defeated Tigers 1-0, Parana Clube 3-2 and Atletico Paranaense 2-1; drew with Estacia University 2-2, Operario 1-1 and Coritiba 1-1, and lost 0-2 to Avai FC.

WINDIES PLAYERS EXPECTED TO PLAY VS AUSTRALIA (4)

WINDIES PLAYERS EXPECTED TO PLAY VS AUSTRALIA

IPL Allowed Only When Players Are Not On Windies Duty

 

 

President of the West Indies Cricket Board, the Honourable Dr. Julian Hunte, who attended the ICC Board meeting earlier this week, has clarified the situation regarding the relationship between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Full Member Countries.  The IPL has given these countries its commitment that all of the players contracted to play in the IPL will require clearance or “No Objection Certificates” (NOC) from their Boards to play in the IPL. 

 

The BCCI, owners of the IPL, confirmed that policy at a meeting of the ICC on Sunday in Dubai.  It was good news for the WICB since three senior West Indies players are contracted to play with the IPL. 

 

This renewed IPL commitment now allows the WICB to ensure that the services of their IPL players are available during the first Two Test Matches against Australia.  CEO of the WICB, Dr. Donald Peters, has indicated that he will issue a no objection certificate (NOC) to Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan to play in the IPL, but the NOC will be limited to the period between the Sri Lanka and Australia tours ensuring that the West Indies will be at full strength against the formidable Australian team. 

 

Cricket Australia is allowing its contracted star players two weeks to play in the IPL before departing for the series with the West Indies.  It is anticipated therefore, that the Australians will be fielding their strongest possible team and the West Indies intends to do the same.   Commenting on the situation, the West Indies CEO said, “Our best players have a responsibility to value their commitment to West Indies Cricket and the West Indian public ahead of any relationship they have with the IPL.  We fully expect them to be ready to play against Australia in all Test and ODI matches.”

TTFF News - Young Hislop aims to impress vs El Salvador

Young Hislop aims to impress vs El Salvador

 

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, March 14, 2008

 

National team defender Makan Hislop is hoping to make an early good impression on Francisco Maturana and intends to hold steady at the back in next Wednesday’s friendly international against El Salvador at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

 

With an entire Digicel Cup Finals campaign under his belt, having played for the “Soca Warriors in the 2007 Finals when they finished runners up to Haiti, Hislop, now a graduate of the University of South Carolina, is settling back into the national team setup.

 

“After the Digicel Cup I was missing in action for a bit but now I’m back and I want to try and keep my place in the national team and that means now I have to be on top of my game and be able to make a valuable contribution on the pitch,” Hislop told TTFF Media following Friday’s training session at the Marvin Lee Stadium.

 

Hislop is one of the more experienced players in the current side with only fellow defenders Aklie Edwards and Keston Williams being in the team for longer along with Kern Cupid who arrives from the United States on the weekend.

 

“I’m excited because I have been in other national teams and I’m excited about this call up because it’s close to the World Cup qualifiers,” said Hislop who now holds a bachelors degree in business.

 

“That was always important… having an education background so that could help me after football.  Having that in my back pocket makes me feel accomplished,” added the Tobago-born player.

 

“I think I can fit back in pretty well down here even though the weather is always a sharp change.”

 

About being one of the key players in defense going into Wednesday’s encounter, the former National Under 20 team captain said he wasn’t feeling pressured and expects the new faces like Silas Spann, Justin Fojo, Akeem Adams to fit in well with the likes of Edwards, experienced midfielder Aurtis Whitley and striker Kevon Neaves who made his debut in a 2-0 win over Iceland in 2006.

 

“I’m quite accustomed to it so I’m not worried . I’m confident in my ability and given enough playing time I think I can settle in well. I don’t know much about the El Salvador team but we as a team have been growing and we have a lot of talented faces and a few experienced ones involved so I’m hopeful we can produce good football,” added the 22-year-old who will be attached to United Petrotrin during his stay on local shores.

 

Assistant coach Anton Corneal said emphasis has been placed on getting the players fitting into the right positions for the team.

 

“For any player coming into the team at this stage, particularly in a World Cup year, it’s always a big occasion and we hope to get the best out of them. It means too that we have some more work to do as coaches and the emphasis has been on working the players into the specific positions and letting them understand their roles. It’s good for a lot of the young faces to get into the mix this early on and we will work towards ensuring that the team gives a good account out there,” Corneal said.

 

The team will continue with sessions at the Marvin Lee Stadium ahead of Wednesday’s encounter which kicks off at 7pm. The El Salvador team is scheduled to arrive in the country on Monday. They are also preparing for upcoming 2010 World Cup qualification.

 

 

THREATS TO WI CRICKET ON THE ICC BOARD MEETING AGENDA (2)

NEWS RELEASE

Date: 11th March, 2008

 

THREATS TO WI CRICKET ON THE AGENDA
WICB President Attends ICC Board Meeting

 

With three of the top West Indies players involved in the Indian Board’s International Premier League (IPL) which takes place during the Sri Lanka – Australia Tours of the Caribbean, what is the impact of the IPL on the future of West Indies Cricket?

This and other key issues including the use of technology to review umpires’ decisions and the “Bucknor” matter are on the agenda of the next ICC Executive Board Meeting which takes place in Dubai on March 16 – 18, 2008.

The President of the West Indies Cricket Board, the Honourable Dr. Julian R. Hunte, who leaves on Thursday, March 13, 2008 for the meeting, said, “We are deeply concerned about the future impact of leagues like the IPL on our cricket particularly when their seasons are in direct competition with our tours or our domestic season. We and New Zealand will be the big losers.  Already it is clear that three of our players will have to choose between representing teams in the IPL or representing their region. Given the amount of money at stake, it already seems to be a foregone conclusion. We also have the ICL and again the dilemma faced by our players.  We just had an example of a player who would have been selected for the WI team but who went to the ICL.” 

At the most recent meeting of Chief Executive Officers of ICC Member Countries, the CEO of the WICB, Dr. Donald Peters raised the question of a window for the IPL and a similar window for Stanford 20/20 with which the WICB is negotiating a license for the Regional 20/20 event.  Dr. Peters commented, “The IPL is the second biggest threat facing West Indies.  There is an even bigger one.  There is a move to limit the first tier of Test Playing countries to the top seven which will then leave the West Indies with only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to play.”

Commenting on this attempt to marginalise West Indies Cricket, Dr. Hunte said, “The WICB will never allow this to happen.  In most of the cricket playing countries of the world, we are the team they like most after their national team.  However, we have to use this as motivation to get back to the top of world cricket.  Our players must be mindful of this when they go out to play since if our standing in world cricket does not improve we might find our options and opportunities severely limited.”

Dr. Hunte also spoke of the “Bucknor” matter.  He explained, “When Steve Bucknor, our premier regional umpire, was removed and replaced during the India – Australia series, I wrote to the ICC asking for information, essentially the reasons why the ICC acted as it did.  I said at the time that the ICC was setting a dangerous precedent but that before we took a decision on the matter we needed to know more. So far, I have not received the information I sought and I consider this an insult to the WICB which is a full-member of the ICC.”

The ICC meeting will also look at the use of technology to review the decisions of umpires and how that will operate.  The WICB fully supports any innovations in the game that will ensure fairness and improved decision-making.  

West Indies name squad for first Test (4)

NEWS RELEASE

11th March, 2008

 

WEST INDIES NAME SQUAD FOR 1ST TEST VS SRI LANKA

 

The West Indies cricket selectors have named the 15-man squad for first Test match against Sri Lanka which bowls off on Thursday, March 22 in Guyana.

The squad is: Christopher Gayle (Captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Amit Jaggernauth, Darren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

 

CHRIS GAYLE APPOINTED WEST INDIES CAPTAIN (4)

5th March, 2008

 

CHRIS GAYLE APPOINTED WEST INDIES CAPTAIN

 

 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle has been appointed captain of the West Indies team for the Digicel Home Series against Sri Lanka.

 

Gayle was nominated by the Selection Committee and the nomination was approved by the West Indies Cricket Board today.

 

The powerful left-hander and clever off-spinner led the West Indies team in the absence of former captain Ramnaresh Sarwan but was injured during the tour of South Africa and had to return home.

Gayle has played in 70 Tests in which he scored 4,658 runs with 59 wickets and 176 One Day Internationals with 6,244 runs and 142 wickets.

 

 

Full Team

UNDER - 17 GIRLS     Annestesia Daire Chelsi Campbell Crystal Williams Dawnell Collymore Deandra Danniel Desiree Harper Jeanelle Ovid Kai Selvon Marrissa Gale Michelle LeeAhyee Sade Andrews Seantal Brereton     UNDER - 17 BOYS     Akeem Stewart Andrew Hall Ariel Brown Christain Benjamin Danien Murray Deon Lenore Dominique Richards Elton Walcott Hendrix Foncette Jonathan Holder Kevin Skinner Kofi Hunte Kory Woods Moriba Morain Omar Charles
UNDER - 20 GIRLS     Afiya Walker Akeela Bravo Cadajah Spencer Candace Radgman Hileen James Jackie Quamina Janeil Bellile Jessica James Kirlene Roberts Lee Anna Stoute Nyokia Giles Samantha Shukla Shermin Lasaldo Sparkle Mc Knight     UNDER - 20 BOYS     Abiola Glassgow Ansil Nicholson Denzil Del Pesche Emmanuael Stewart Gavyn Nero George Smith Jahue Gordon Jameel Alleyne Walcott Jamel Paul Jerren Franklyn Joel Dillon Jovon Toppin Kashef Daniel Kendall Bacchus Kendis Bullard Kervin Morgan Kyle Jacelon Kyron Blaise Mikhail Matthews Quincy Wilson Robert Collingwood Seon Michael Stafford     Any questions please feel free to call Peter at 498-0219

 

Press Release - Carifta National team

 

After a weekend of intense competition, sixty three athletes have been selected for the XXXVII Carifta Games in St Kitts and Nevis.

 

The NAAA selected forty one athletes based on their participation at the Carifta trials over the weekend, and their attainment of the Qualifying Standards during these trials. The other twenty two athletes came very close to making the qualifying standards and were selected based on their continous improvements demonstrated at development meets in 2007.

 

 According to NAAA PRO Peter Samual, "We have included these athletes with borderline trial results, because we look at it as an investment in the future of the sport and it’s the philosophy of the NAAA to encourage the athletes to strive in their endeavours. Also in the past, athletes in similar positions have returned home with Carifta medals."

 

The selected athletes and thirteen officals will attend a team building camp in Tobago from Wednesday 12^th March to Monday 17^th March.  During this period, the Carifta team will participate at the Falcon Games as a team warm up. The objectives of the camp are to build team morale and discipline while orienting the younger athletes who are on a national team for the first time.

 

The team will then depart for St Kitts on Wednesday 19^th and return home on Monday 24^th.

 

 

Peter Samuel

PRO. (NAAA)