|
Joe Public crash
to 2-0 defeat against Impact |
MONTREAL, Canada (CMC), September 20, 2008: Joe Public
had their dream run in the CONCACAF Champions League thwarted
on Wednesday night when they went down 2-0 to the Montreal Impact
at the Saputo Stadium.
The Trinidadian side, who upset Major League's Soccer New England
Revolution in their first round assignment, were undermined by
Stefano Pesoli's 14th minute strike and Tony Donatelli's early
second-half goal.
To their credit, Joe Public were frustrated by superb keeping
by custodian Matt Jordan who pulled off a string of superb saves
to deny the visitors in the steady rain that cloaked the stadium.
Despite the loss, Joe Public's coach Keith Griffith said he was
confident his side would rebound emphatically in the second leg.
"(He) can't be that brilliant again. The next time we meet
the Impact at Marvin Lee (Stadium), we'll beat them by four goals
clear, for sure," Griffith noted.
The hosts took the lead when Donatelli squared a pass from Leonardo
Dilorenzo across the box to Pesoli who struck a well-placed volley
past Joe Public goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa.
Joe Public almost equalised in the 25th minute but Guyanese Gregory
Richardson's header was brilliantly saved by Jordan.
Richardson, who scored three times against the Revolution, out-jumped
the defence and nodded Wolry Wolfe's corner kick on target, forcing
Jordan to tip the ball over.
Three minutes later, Richardson was frustrated again by Jordan
who came boldly off his line to clear the looming threat with
a clean, sliding tackle.
Joe Public were set back immediately after the break when Montreal
quickly doubled their slim 1-0 lead.
Donatelli pounced on a loose ball that was not cleared by defender
Jason Springer and buried it into the roof of the net, to put
his side in control.
The all-important goal for Joe Public remained elusive and to
add to their worries, Jordan again denied Richardson at point
blank range in the 55th minute.
Jordan was on hand again in the 85th minute to quash another
potential goal. Second-half substitute Lyndon Andrews found himself
one-on-one with the brilliant Jordan, after Richardson's through
ball, but lost the ensuing battle.
The two teams will meet again on October 8.
|
St Vincent shatter
their own dreams of qualifying |
FORT DE FRANCE, Martinique,
September 20, 2008: St
Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) were the architects of their
own demise as they conceded their third own goal in two games,
this time against Anguilla at a time when they could least afford
such a lapse: their final game of the Digicel Caribbean Championships'
Group E.
The "Vincy Heat" knew beforehand that three points
were an absolute necessity, with Grenada currently positioned
to qualify for the next round from Group A (as the worst second
place qualifier), on three points with a neutral goal difference,
SVG knew they would have to overturn their 3-0 defeat versus
Martinique in the opening match of DCC's Group E, with at least
4 goals against Anguilla.
With pressure to perform on the night, an early goal would have
been the best remedy to soothe early jitters for the Vincentians,
against an unknown quantity in Anguilla. Surprisingly though,
it was Anguilla who fired the first salvo of the match in minute
ten through Glenville Allen.
This stirred the Vincentians to action as they fired off three
shots in quick succession, to establish their own offensive intentions.
In the early going it was Emerald George that showed a little
sparkle, with his express pace chasing down balls played over
the top. However, Anguilla's defensive posture soon cut off the
avenues along the flanks, forcing the Vincentians to play narrower,
which led to midfield gridlock for the opening half hour.
Anguilla defended the Fort with all they had, and did well to
limit the Vincentians to difficult shooting opportunities, whilst
still looking for opportunities to counter attack mainly through
playmaker Simon Anthony - which seems to have been their game
plan all along.
But the fuse for this match was well and truly lit in minute
37 as Darren Francis snuck in at the far post to knee in a cross
delivered from the right by standout performer Myron Samuel,
to take the score to 1-0 in favour of SVG.
Shockingly, St Vincent would shoot themselves in the foot just
1 minute after having taken the lead, when a looped back header
from Troy Jeffers proved to be a Trojan horse for goalkeeper
Winslow McDonald, who sold the farm when he came to collect the
ball at the edge of the 18 yard box only to see it arc over his
head into an empty net, and bring parity to a match that was
up to this point clearly one sided.
That own goal by Jeffers was SVG's third in two games, but few
would have thought it would prove so costly, as SVG looked like
they could score with each forward move.
But they weren't tied for long as just a minute later a third
goal was scored, this time in the goal they were meant to, as
a low sweeping shot from Darren Hammlet on the right side of
the box got SVG back on track, with Anguilla tragically sluggish
in their reaction to the danger inside their own 18 yard box.
To their credit, the Vincy Heat would turn up the temperature
for the remainder of the half, but never quite reach a boil,
creating chance after chance only to see clumsy touches and wayward
shooting squander what the midfield had worked hard to create.
The second half saw SVG burst out of the gates through Myron
Samuel once more, when he was taken down in the box by Kevin
Hawley's late challenge from behind. Darren Francis would step
up to take the spot kick; but with the spotlight on him, he was
unable to find a way past the glare of keeper Kelvin Liddie.
With two more goals an absolute minimum for SVG, they continued
to press, their improved passing found new angles for shots on
goal but it would take the individual brilliance of the number
ten Myron Samuels to halve that target. Samuel picked up a loose
pass some 30 yards from goal, knock it around his man, recollect
it on the other side, before producing a majestic finish with
the outside of the left boot that saw the ball rise up into the
top left corner.
The goal was a masterpiece, and considering it was Samuels first
at international level, all the more sweet. However, Samuels
and SVG couldn't savour the flavour for long, as their goal chase
continued to intensify with each minute that passed.
With time as their enemy, and in spite of their best efforts
that saw a header cleared off the line, Liddie left stranded
with the net agape, and countless one on ones with the SVG keeper,
somehow fate and plucky Anguillan defensive work kept the Vincentians
at bay. And when the final whistle blew, you may not have realized
SVG had won the match 3-1, as both teams left the field looking
like broken teams, the Vincentians dreams in tatters -- despite
not allowing a shot on goal from the Anguillans.
To be fair though Anguilla still may harbour some hope of qualifying
to the next phase in Trinidad, even though it means they'll have
to beat host Martinique by a margin of at least three goals if
they are to advance to the Knockout stage of the Digicel Caribbean
Championships 2008.
|
Barnes is new
Reggae Boyz head coach |
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC),
September 18, 2008: Former
England star John Barnes has been appointed Jamaica's new technical
director.
The 44-year-old
Liverpool club legend, who was born in Jamaica, will replace
Brazilian Rene Simoes, who was axed after Jamaica's 2-0 loss
to Honduras in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier last week.
Barnes, however, will not start his duties until after Jamaica's
three remaining home matches in the CONCACAF World Cup semi-final
round qualifiers.
"Barnes will take up official duties on November 1 and will
be in charge of the preparation of the national team for the
Digicel Caribbean Cup between December 1 and 15, the CONCACAF
Gold Cup scheduled for June 2009, and the Final Round World Cup
Qualifiers in 2009, should Jamaica advance to this stage of the
competition," the Jamaica Football Federation said in a
release Tuesday.
According to the release, Barnes' contract will be reviewed following
these competitions.
With Barnes set to take over in November, the JFF has given the
job of guiding Jamaica into the final round to former national
player and current assistant coach, Theodore Whitmore.
"Whitmore will continue as assistant national coach to Barnes,
following these semi-final round games," the release stated.
Barnes, who was recently on a Caribbean tour where he conducted
a Digicel Youth camp, played 79 internationals for England between
1983 and 1995.
He also played professional football for Watford, Newcastle United
and Charlton Athletic in the Premier league and League Championship.
He made 409 appearances for Liverpool scoring 108 goals. He was
voted Football Writers' Association Player-of-the-Year in 1988
and 1990 and PFA Footballer-of-the-Year in 1988. In 1997, he
was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen.
Barnes also coached at Scottish club Celtic, which he joined
in 1999.
JFF president Captain Horace Burrell fired Simoes and the full
contingent of his staff with immediate effect last week, as Jamaica's
horrid run in the World Cup qualifiers continued.
The Reggae Boyz are bottom of the standings on one point in Group
2 of the CONCACAF competition and have little hope of reaching
the final round.
|
Daley, Giddings
newcomers in Windies women's squad |
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados
(CMC), September 18,
2008: All-rounder Shanel Daley and spinner Erva Giddings
are newcomers in a West Indies women's squad to tour Pakistan
and Sri Lanka later this year.
Jamaican Daley and Giddings, from Guyana, were standouts in the
West Indies Women's Championship in St Lucia last month and are
in a 14-member squad for tour beginning mid-October.
Regional champions Jamaica have Daley and the outstanding batter
Stafanie Taylor in the squad while ex-champions Trinidad and
Tobago have secured four picks -- Stacy Ann King, Anisa Mohammed,
Merissa Aguillera and Kirbyina Alexander, who is the vice-captain.
The versatile Deandra Dottin is one of three Barbadians in the
squad. Danielle Small and Charlene Taitt are the other Barbadians.
Dottin was an Under-20 javelin gold medallist at the CARIFTA
Games in St Kitts this year after being a CARIFTA triple gold
medallist in the Turks and Caicos Islands last year, landing
the Under-17 javelin, shot put, and discus titles.
The St Vincent and the Grenadines pacer Phernel Charles makes
a return to the set-up for the first time in almost eight years.
The Windies girls tour Pakistan from October 14 before going
to Sri Lanka in November as a crucial part of their preparation
for next year's Women's World Cup in Australia and the Twenty20
World Cup in England.
In Pakistan, the Caribbean side will play five One-Day International
(ODI) matches and three Twenty20 games, and they will play five
ODIs in Sri Lanka.
Squad - Nadine George (captain), Kirbyina Alexander (vice-captain),
Stafanie Taylor, Charlene Taitt, Deandra Dottin, Shanel Daley,
Danielle Small, Juliana Nero, Stacy Ann King, Phernel Charles,
Anisa Mohammed, Erva Giddings, Merissa Aguilleira, Afy Fletcher.
SZCZECIN, Poland (AFP),
September 18, 2008: Jamaica's
former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell continued
his impressive form since finishing out of the medals at the
Olympics as he eased home here on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old recorded a time of 9.89 seconds - his seventh
successive time under 9.90sec since finishing fifth in the Olympic
final - in pretty terrible weather conditions.
American Mike Rodgers finished second in 10.23sec while Andrew
Hinds of Barbados was third in 10.41sec.
|
Martinique sink
SVG 3-0 in Digicel Group E opener |
FORT DE FRANCE, Martinique
(CMC), September 15,
2008: Former champions Martinique ran past St Vincent and
the Grenadines 3-0 as the Digicel Caribbean Football Championship
Group E series kicked off Monday night.
Patrick Percin's early second half goal and own goals either
side of halftime propelled the French island to their handsome
victory over a youthful new-look SVG unit at the Louis Achille
Stadium.
The win placed Martinique in pole position to join other group
winners in the second stage of the Digicel Caribbean Championship.
The Martinique playmaker Percin featured in the opening goal
when his cross was badly handled by defender Roy Richards, who
succeeded only in deflecting the ball into his own goal.
SVG, on a rebuilding programme, managed to prevent the home side
from scoring again before halftime but Martinique widened their
advantage immediately after the break with two quick strikes.
Jose Goron's cross found Percin at the far post and the skilful
attacking midfielder made no mistake.
A minute later, SVG's goalkeeper Winslow McDowall awkwardly tried
to clear a Mikael Chorsora cross and knocked the ball into his
own goal.
The series continues today with SVG facing the Caribbean Football
Union's bottom-ranked Anguilla.
Martinique will aim to wrap up group honours when they tackle
the Anguillans on Friday.
The group winners will join Group A champions Netherlands Antilles,
Group B winners Guyana, Group C winners Antigua & Barbuda,
and the winners from Group D (St Kitts & Nevis) later this
month along with the Cayman Islands -- and three other best second-place
teams -- in the second stage of the Digicel Caribbean Championship,
a qualifier for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In the second stage, three of the semi-finalists from the last
tournament, Guadeloupe (October 9-16), Cuba (October 20-26) and
Trinidad and Tobago (November 3-10) will host Group F, G and
H respectively.
The eight-team finals are scheduled for Jamaica December 1-14
with reigning champions Haiti and the hosts as automatic qualifiers.
The champions will earn a prize of US$120 000. The runners-up
pocket US$70 000 while US$50 000 goes to the third-place team
and US$30 for fourth.
|
Young Boyz clip
El Salvador for friendly series |
El Salvador, September
15, 2008: Jamaica's Under-20s
ended their two-match friendly series against El Salvador with
a 1-0 aggregate win following their 0-0 draw in their second
game at the Ferdie Neita Sport Complex yesterday evening. The
Reggae Boyz won the first encounter 1-0 on Friday.
In yesterday's encounter, the visitors finished the game
with 10 men after Juan Alas was sent off in the 73rd minute for
a clumsy challenge on Evan Taylor.
Jamaican defender, Keithy Simpson (left) beats El Salvador striker
Mark Blanco to a loose ball during the second game of their two-match
friendly series at the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex yesterday.
The game ended 0-0, but Jamaica won the series 1-0 on aggregate.
(Photo: Garfield Robinson)
The match was an improvement from Friday's opening game and coach
Donovan Duckie was pleased to end the series victorious.
"We treated the two games tactically a bit different,"
he said.
"At Harbour View, we were a little aggressive up front,
but today (yesterday) we were a bit more patient and the result
is good," he said.
"But what is important is the foundation that has been set
for this team, it is a solid one to build on," Duckie added.
In an evenly contested game, the hosts got the better of the
goal-scoring chances in the first half, with Andre Clennon missing
a sitter from six yards. Good chances also fell to Alanzo Adlam,
Theo Brown and John-Ross Doyley.
Ricardo Rojas had the Salvadorians best chance of the half, but
goalkeeper Andre Blake saved his shot from the edge of the box.
In the second half, Mark Blanco came close on two occasions for
the visitors, while Jamaica's best effort came from Taylor from
25 yards.
The young Reggae Boyz are preparing for the second round of the
World Cup qualifiers to be held in Aruba in November.
Double glory
J'cans Walker, Fraser win in Stuttgart |
STUTTGART, Germany, September 15, 2008: Olympic champions
Melaine Walker and Shelly-Ann Fraser recorded easy wins yesterday
to cap off a fine weekend for Jamaicans at the 6th IAAF/VTB World
Athletics Final at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium here.
Shelly-Ann
Fraser (left) of Jamaica sprints to win the 100 metres competition
against Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie from the Bahamas during the
IAAF World Athletics Final at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart,
Germany, yesterday. (Photo: AP)
The unbeaten Walker decimated the field by over 20 metres in
taking the women's 400m hurdles in 54.06 seconds ahead of Ukraine's
Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (54.92) and the USA's Tiffany Williams
(55.16).
"I know I'm a good athlete, but sometimes I can be 'don't
care', and this year I said I'm going to be serious about racing,"
Walker said after having a fantastic year, which included victories
in six Grand Prix and one Golden League meeting.
Fraser was slowest out of the blocks (0.180 reaction time), but
pulled away from the field in the last 30 metres to win in 10.94,
the tenth fastest time this year, and cap a near perfect season
ahead of fellow Jamaican and Olympic 100m silver medallist Kerron
Stewart (11.06).
"I was working on some stuff and it paid off and I'm happy.
I was working on getting my first three strides to be as long
as possible and just come out here and win and I wanted to win,"
Fraser told the Observer.
The athlete returns to Jamaica today though several others of
her MVP club teammates will be heading to Poland for a meet there
on Wednesday.
Melaine Walker from Jamaica passes a hurdle on her way to winning
the 400 metres hurdles competition during the IAAF World Athletics
Final at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart, Germany, yesterday.
(Photo: AP)
Stewart, who also closed her season, registered her fastest ever
reaction time (0.169) in the race.
"It's not a bad way to end the season," Stewart said.
Marshevet Hooker of the USA was third and was credited with the
same time as Stewart.
There was a false start in the women's 400m, but when the race
was eventually run, it saw Jamaica's Novlene Williams finishing
third in 51.30 secs behind Jamaica-born American runner Sanya
Richards (50.41) and Olympic champion Christine Ohurougu in second
in 50.83.
Williams, who was running out of lane eight, said the false start
threw her off.
"When the first gun went off, I didn't know what was going
on.," she said.
Richards also won the 200m on Saturday and was happy with victory
after finishing the Olympic Games with a bronze medal despite
being favourite to take the title.
"I wanted to end the season on a high note... I worked so
hard all year," she said, as she complained of the weather.
Jamaica's Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams clocked
51.55 for fifth while Shereefa Lloyd (51.86) was eighth.
National record-holder Kenia Sinclair was fourth in the women's
800m, which was won by the seemingly unstoppable Olympic champion
Pamela Jelimo of Ethiopia in a championship record 1:56.23.
Jelimo won the US$1 million Golden League jackpot just over a
week ago.
Sinclair clocked 1:58.85 and afterwards complained of the weather
which appears colder than normal.
"It was alright.a little too cold, but I just went out there
and did my best," she said.
Janet Jepkosgei of Ethiopia (1:58.41) and Great Britain's Marilyn
Okoro (1:58.64) were second and third respectively.
Olympic semi-finalist Jamaican Chris Williams finished fourth
in the men's 200m in a time of 20.66 as Mauritius' Stephane Buckland
took the event in 20.57 ahead of Paul Hession of Ireland (20.58)
and Antigua's Brendan Christian (20.61).
Meanwhile, Croatia's Olympic silver medallist Blanka Vlasic cleared
a championship record 2.01m to win the women's high jump with
Olympic champ Tia Hellebaut of Belgium third after clearing 1.97m.
Asafa Powell was the other Jamaican winner of the 15 who competed
here this weekend.
The purse for the event, in its sixth year, is US$3 million,
with the top three places splitting US$62,000.
The IAAF/VTB World Athletics Final moves to Thessaloniki, Greece
in 2009.
|
Powell leads
J'can sweep in Stuttgart |
STUTTGART, Germany, September
14, 2008: Former world
record-holder Asafa Powell led a Jamaican sweep of the men's
100m at the 6th IAAF/VTB World Athletics Final under damp, cold
conditions here at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium yesterday.
"I think it's going to continue like this for a good period
of time," Powell told the Sunday Observer immediately following
the race.
The six-footer looked
easy in clocking 9.87 seconds (0.4 m/s) ahead of his Olympic
4x100m gold medal teammates Nesta Carter (10.07) and Michael
Frater (10.10), while 2003 world champion Kim Collins of St Kitts
was fourth in 10.22.
Powell has set three meet records here but said another would
have been difficult yesterday.
"This kind of weather is cold and we were out there for
a while so it wasn't possible," he said.
Olympic fourth-placed finisher Danny McFarlane was second in
the men's 400m hurdles, while Delloreen Ennis-London and Kerron
Stewart were third in the 100m hurdles and 200m, respectively.
McFarlane led for over 300m before being nipped at the line by
world champion Kerron Clement of the USA, clocking 49 seconds
to Clement's 48.96.
"I expected him to come at the end but I didn't think he
could keep up with me after the 10th hurdle, but he was just
strong and I did my best," he said.
McFarlane, 36, who came out of a short retirement earlier this
year, said he will be back even better in 2009.
"Reebok allowed me to come back. last year I said I'm going
to come back and do better. I did that. running this good I don't
think it's wise to leave any money out there. I have kids to
feed," he told the Sunday Observer.
A second-place finish here carries a US$20,000 (J$1,400,000)
prize tag.
Isa Phillips (49.22) and Markino Buckley (49.52) were third and
fourth, respectively.
Ennis-London clocked 12.56, the same time as third-placed Lolo
Jones, but was credited with third. Spain's Josephine Onyia surprised
the field in 12.54 seconds.
Ennis-London, who a week ago responded to an article published
on Sports Illustrated's website about receiving Human Growth
Hormone (HGH) via an Internet doctor, said that experience was
behind her, "Because I've done nothing wrong and I'm just
very thankful to finish in the top three and I'm looking forward
to the future," she told the Sunday Observer.
Brigitte Foster-Hylton finished fifth in 12.67 behind Olympic
champ Dawn Harper in (12.67), while silver medallist Sally McLellan
was seventh in 12.821 behind bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes
(12.81).
"I haven't trained in Beijing because I was sick so I wasn't
expecting to come out and represent, but I did just that,"
Foster-Hylton said.
Sanya Richards looked easy as she claimed the 200m in 22.50 with
Stewart third in 22.72. Marshavet Hooker separated the two in
22.69.
Pan Am Games silver medallist Dorian Scott threw 20.04m for fifth
in the shot put.
Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist LaShawn Merritt literally
threw himself across the finish line to win the men's 400m in
44.50 seconds ahead of silver medallist Jeremy Wariner (44.51),
while Olympic 400m hurdles champion Angelo Taylor was fourth
in 45.37.
Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic earned US$100,000 after
setting a world record 72.28m in the women's javelin, eclipsing
the 71.70m set by Cuba's Olseidys Menendez in 2005.
Eight Jamaicans will be in today's second and final day of action.
Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, with a season and personal
best 10.78 seconds, challenges Olympics silver medallist and
compatriot Kerron Stewart, along with American Lauryn Williams
in the women's 100m.
Melanie Walker enters the women's 400m hurdles final with the
best time this season (52.64) which she clocked for an Olympic
record in Beijing.
The women's 400m will feature five of the eight Olympic finalists
including champion Christine Ohurougu of Great Britain.
She will take on Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams and
two other members of Jamaica's 4x400m bronze medal winning team
in Novlene Williams and Shereefa Lloyd.
Richards, who was surprised into bronze at the Olympics, will
also be in the line-up with Amantle Montsho of Botswana and Russia's
Tatyana Firov.
Williams, who was right on Ohurougu in the last few metres of
the Olympic final and said had she run her own race she might
have won, told the Sunday Observer that she will be putting out
her best today.
"It depends on how I feel come today, but I'm just going
to go out there and do my best," she said.
Kenia Sinclair, who put up a stern test in the first leg of the
women's 800m in Beijing but faded in the end, will compete against
Ethiopia's newest millionaire and Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo,
who claimed the million-dollar Golden League jackpot in Brussels
last weekend.
Olympic semifinalist Chris Williams will be the last in action
in the men's 200m.
|
Digicel proposes
compromise solution to Stanford 20/20 impasse |
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, September
12, 2008: Digicel, sponsor
of West Indies cricket during the past four years, has submitted
certain proposals which it considered reasonable to resolve the
impasse between the Irish giant wireless telecommunication company
and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) surrounding the proposed
Stanford 20/20 event scheduled for November 1 in Antigua.
Digicel has proposed that (a) that the team that plays England
on November 1, will wear the official West Indies Jerseys complete
with standard Digicel ODI branding, (b) that no other telecommunications
company will be involved as a sponsor in respect of the proposed
events and (c) that Digicel's legal costs in respect of the dispute
and legal proceedings to date as discharged by the WICB.
Moreover, Digicel's compromise solution will involve the waiver
of a considerable number of legal and commercial rights owned
by Digicel by virtue of its sole and exclusive Sponsorship Agreement
with the WICB.
The proposal submitted to the WICB states that Digicel has already
secured various Orders against the WICB from the English Court in relation
to the November 1 event. These Orders, according to the proposal,
shall remain in place until the ongoing Arbitration process between
Digicel and the WICB is fully determined. A decision in the Arbitration
process is expected shortly after a hearing scheduled for early
October.
According to Digicel's proposal, the comprise solution will involve
Digicel which operates in 23 countries in the Caribbean, foregoing
a large number of valuable legal rights and entitlements including
broadcast rights, exclusively branded pitch mats, sight screens,
perimeter boards, promotional opportunities, advertising, content
rights and various other avenues for commercial use that it currently
owns by virtue of its sole and exclusive Sponsorship Agreement
with the WICB.
The proposal further stated that "Digicel's compromise proposal
is being pursued with the best interests of cricket in the West
Indies firmly at heart and calls upon both the WICB and Sir Allen
Stanford to engage constructively on this matter and to put cricket
in the West Indies first."
Digicel has formally notified both the WICB and Stanford of its
compromise proposal and is presently awaiting a response within
the time period stipulated in its correspondence.
(The date is not stated in the proposal sent out to the media)
Stanford had proposed to play five 20/20 matches between a team
selected by his legends headed by Sir Vivian Richards against
England. The first match is scheduled to be played on Antigua
Independence Day Anniversary November 1, and the other matches
to be played every year for the next four year.
The winning team for each game will receive US$20 million i.e.
the payout will be US$100 million for the five matches plus hundreds
of thousands of dollars in prize money for players of the match,
man of the match, and for other outstanding performances.
|
Fernandes captures
South American squash c/ship |
Paraguay,
Sept. 12, 2008: In her very first appearance at the South
American Squash Championships, Nicolette Fernandes collected
her fourth straight title since returning to competitive squash
in June of this year. Fernandes came into the tournament as the
top ranked player and proved that she was a cut above the rest
of the field when she won the title without dropping a game.
In the final she dethroned defending champion Thaisa Serafini
of Brazil, 9/5 9/5 9/4, to complete her dominance of the event.
Nicolette Fernandes
In the men's category Brazil's Rafael Alarcon produced an even
more dominant display when he put away Argentine Matias Valenzuela
9/1 9/2 9/3 in the final.
Since her return to competitive squash in mid June, Fernandes
has gradually increased the level of the tournaments she has
competed in. She started her return by winning the Guyana national
title, then followed that up a week later by winning the St.
Lucian Open, in late August she also won her third Southern Caribbean
title in Guyana and adds her first South American title. She
will return to Guyana shortly to carefully plot her next move
as she pursues her ultimate goal of returning to the world stage.KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP),
September 12, 2008: Brazilian
Rene Simoes was sacked as manager of Jamaica Thursday, the day
after the country's second straight defeat in 2010 World Cup
qualifying.
Two defeats in four days proved too much for the Jamaica Football
Federation.
"The Jamaica Football Federation would like to formally
announce that it has severed ties with Technical Director of
the country's football programme, Professor Rene Simoes, and
his Brazilian staff with immediate effect," the federation
said in a statement.
The federation is already looking for someone to fill the gap,
with three matches remaining in the semi-final phase of qualifying
in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.
"Having established clear objectives at the start of the
World Cup qualifying campaign and evaluated the results thus
far, it became clear to us as a body that our objectives were
not being met," the JFF statement said. "Based on that,
a decision was taken to part company with Professor Simoes and
his staff at this time."
The ReggaeBoyz were beaten 2-0 by Honduras in San Pedro Sula
on Wednesday night, four days after being beaten 3-0 by Mexico
at the Azteca.
The back-to-back losses left the 1998 World Cup qualifiers in
last place in the four team Group 2 with one point from three
games, the same as Canada but with a record of one goal for and
six against.
The top two teams from each of three groups advance to the final
round, from which three teams advance directly to the 2010 World
Cup finals in South Africa.
The 55 year-old Simoes was in his second stint as the coach of
the Jamaican team after serving between 1994 and 2000. During
his first spell, he led them to a spot in the 1998 World Cup
in France where they beat Japan 2-1 after losing 3-1 to
Croatia and 5-0 to Argentina in their first-round group.
Simoes returned in January this year, replacing Bora Milutinovic,
who was sacked by JFF president Horace Burrell.
Simoes has also coached CONCACAF rivals Trinidad and Tobago and
Honduras.
Burrell, the ex-army Captain who heads the JFF told a radio sports
talk show Thursday that it was a tough decision to fire his "very
good friend".
"I could have allowed things to go on as they are, but honestly
would not be performing my duties in the way that it is expected
and to push Jamaica's football forward," he said.
Burrell was head of the JFF when Jamaica qualified for the World
Cup in France under Simoes and was re-elected to the post of
JFF head last November.
He was optimistic that Jamaica, who failed to get past the first
round in the last World Cup qualification series, can still advance
and has not given up hopes of defying the odds and squeezing
into the final round.
"We are not out, first of all, and we have three games at
home (remaining in the semi-finals)," he said. "We
are going to get re-energised and we are going to hope for good
results."
He said he expected to name a successor to Simoes within the
coming week.
ST LOUIS, September 10, 2008: T&T's
Stephen Ames produced a strong finish to place fifth while Colombian
Camilo Villegas shot
a final round 68 and won the BMW Golf Championship on Sunday.
Villegas finished at a 15-under 265 total to beat American Dudley
Hart by two strokes in the US$7 million event at the Bellerive
Country Club.
Ames carded a bogey-free final round 66 to finish at 11-under
269.
Villegas led from the first round en route to his win and US$1.26
million.
He began the final round with a one-shot lead over Jim Furyk,
who closed with a level-par 70 to finish joint third with fellow
American Anthony Kim.
Ames was steady the first two rounds with scores of 68 and 69,
and then reeled off back-to-back 66 scores to secure one of his
best finishes this year.
He hit four birdies Sunday en route to his fourth top-five finish
this year, having placed third at the Mercedes-Benz Open in January,
fifth at The Players Championship in May and fourth at the Crowne
Plaza Invitational, also in May.
Ames birdied Sunday at the sixth, eighth, 10th and 17th holes
and collected a tidy sum of US$255,500 for his fifth place prize.
(CMC)
|
Chanderpaul
named Player of the Year |
Dubai, September 10,
2008: West Indies' Shivnarine
Chanderpaul has become the fifth player to be named as the ICC
Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai. Chanderpaul,
who also made the shortlist last year, fought off competition
from other nominees Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka, as well
as South Africa's Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn to take the top
award.
Steyn had the consolation
of taking the Test Player of the Year award, while India's one-day
captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the ODI Player of the Year award
.
Yuvraj Singh became the inaugural winner of the Twenty20 International
Performance of the Year Award in recognition of his amazing six
sixes in one over off Stuart Broad during the ICC World Twenty20
in South Africa last September.
Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka's 23-year-old spin star, won the Emerging
Player of the Year award. With his mesmerising brand of spin
bowling, Mendis has exploded on to the international scene in
recent months. In just three Tests against India in July and
August, he claimed an amazing 26 wickets at an average of 18.38.
Six countries were represented in the 12-man ICC Test Team of
the Year and three players - England captain, Kevin Pietersen
and the Sri Lanka pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralitharan
- also appeared in the World Test Team of the Year in 2007. Sangakkara
and Muralitharan also appeared in the 2006 side as well. Smith
was named as captain of the team.
There were also six countries represented in the ICC ODI Team
of the Year of which only two - Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar
- also appeared in the 2007 side and only one - Brett Lee - made
both XIs. Ponting was included in 2006 as well while Andrew Symonds
was previously been named in the 2005 team. Ponting is named
as captain of the team for the second year running.
Australian umpire, Simon Taufel, was named as Umpire of the Year
for the fifth successive time. Taufel, 37, received his votes
from the captains of the ten Full Member nations, as well as
the eight-man elite panel of ICC match referees. "I'm delighted
to win this award but I don't set this as a goal at the start
of a season," he said.
England captain Charlotte Edwards, who last night steered her
side to a 4-0 one-day win over India, won the Women's Cricketer
of the Year award .
Netherlands allrounder, Ryan ten Doeschate, was named as the
Associate Player of the Year .
The Sri Lanka team were the recipients of the Spirit of Cricket
Award for the second year running. The prize is presented to
the team which, in the opinion of the elite panel of ICC umpires
and match referees, has best conducted itself on the field within
the spirit of the game.
"The past year has been another exciting one for cricket
fans around the world in a time that included the inaugural ICC
World Twenty20 and plenty of competitive Test and ODI cricket,"
David Morgan, the ICC president, said. "These players have
contributed hugely to our enjoyment. This is the fifth annual
ICC Awards night and each year it is gaining in prestige."
ICC Test Team of the Year Graeme Smith (SA, capt), Virender
Sehwag (Ind), Mahela Jayawardena (SL), Shivnarine Chanderpaul
(WI), Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Jacques Kallis (SA), Kumar Sangakkara
(SL, wk), Brett Lee (Aus), Ryan Sidebottom (Eng), Dale Steyn
(SA), Muttiah Muralitharan (SL). 12th man: Stuart Clark (Aus).
ICC ODI Team of the Year Hershelle Gibbs (SA), Sachin
Tendulkar (Ind), Ricky Ponting (Aus, capt), Younis Khan (Pak),
Andrew Symonds (Aus), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Ind, wk), Farveez
Maharoof (SL), Daniel Vettori (NZ), Brett Lee (Aus), Mitchell
Johnson (Aus), Nathan Bracken (Aus). 12th man: Salman Butt (Pak)
|
Carter, Campbell,
Scott win at Zagreb GP |
Veronica Campbell, September
10, 2008: Brown and Nesta
Carter gave Jamaicans a clean sweep of the 100s while national
record-holder Dorian Scott claimed the men's shot putt at the
IAAF Zagreb 2008 Grand Prix Athletics meeting in Croatia yesterday.
Campbell-Brown, the reigning world champion, swept to victory
in 11.10 seconds ahead of the USA's Marshevet Hooker in 11.19
and Me'Lisa Barber, 11.34.
The fastest woman this year, Torri Edwards, could only muster
11.36 seconds for fourth.
Carter was well-off
his season's best (9.98) in winning the men's equivalent in 10.23
seconds into a headwind of -0.9 m/s, ahead of the USA's Rodney
Martin (10.41) and fellow Jamaican Ainsley Waugh, also in 10.41.
Following a disappointing Olympics where he failed to make the
final, Scott threw 20.31m to win his pet event and finish ahead
of Belarus' Pavel Lyzhyn, who threw 20.18m.
Meanwhile, Waugh returned 20.77 seconds for second in the men's
200m behind Olympic semi-finalist Christopher Williams, 20.81.
The event was won by Mauritius' Stephane Buckland in 20.57.
Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist Shereefa Lloyd was beaten by
Russian Tatyana Firova (51.05), finishing second in 51.62 ahead
of another Russaian, Tatyana Veshkurova (51.86) in the women's
400m.
Olympic 400m finalist Rosemarie Whyte clocked 52.43 seconds for
fifth.
World championships bronze medallist Delloreen Ennis-London was
second in the 100m hurdles in 12.70 behind Olympic champion Dawn
Harper, 12.65.
Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep was third in
12.86. Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan was fifth in 13.02.
Olympic champion and world record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba
was slow by his standards in clocking 13.20 seconds to claim
the men's 110m hurdles for his third straight win in Zagreb.
He crossed the finish line ahead of Jamaica's Richard Phillips
13.66, while another Olympic finalist, Maurice Wignall, was fifth
in 13.75.
"Everything I did for the past few seasons has paid off
this year," Robles said afterwards.
Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Blanka Vlasic, in her hometown,
returned to victory following her defeat in Brussels last weekend
to win the women's high jump, clearing 2.04m.
Defending world champion, Cuban Yipsi Moreno, threw a personal
best 76.62m to win the women's hammer throw ahead of Slovakia's
Martina Hrasnova.
Her countrywoman Yarelis Barrios threw 64.98m to win the discus
throw ahead of Olympic champ Stephanie Brown-Trafton of the United
States who threw 62.94m.
Olympic champion Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia was also relegated
to second in the men's hammer, throwing 79.07m to Hungary's Krisztian
Pars whose throw of 80.04 was 97 centimetres better.
|
Asafa runs fast
but misses world record in Rieti |
RIETI, Italy (CMC), September
08, 2008: Jamaican Asafa
Powell won the men's 100 metres at yesterday's Rieti Grand Prix
international track and field meeting in a fast time but missed
his world record target.
He was attempting to break his compatriot Usain Bolt's world
record of 9.69 seconds, but was guilty of a false start and then
clocked 9.82 seconds in another dominant win at the track where
he smashed his own world record last year.
He had won his heat an hour and a half earlier in a faster 9.77
seconds.
Powell's MVP Track Club teammates Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine
Walker and Shericka Williams all produced wins as the Jamaicans
continued to extend their international successes beyond their
glorious Olympic showing in Beijing.
Encouraged by his
blistering all-time second fastest ever 9.72 run in Lausanne
last Tuesday, Powell was taking aim at Bolt's mark here.
He set his last world record (9.74) on this same track a year
ago.
He ran a fluent 9.77 seconds in his heat to defeat fellow Jamaican
Ainsley Waugh (10.14) and Britain's Craig Pickering (10.15).
In the final - eager to bolt out of the blocks to a world record
- Powell was called for a false start and his eventual run, not
as smooth as his run in the heats, finished in 9.82 seconds,
disappointing for him considering his target and the fact that
he had a following wind of 1.4 metres per second.
Powell's reaction time in the race was a slow 0.195 but he produced
a brilliant finish to record his fast time.
"I wanted to run faster in the final but it was not the
time for it. I know that I could have run the World record if
I had not made the false start," Powell said after his win.
His training partner Michael Frater was second in a near personal
best 9.98 seconds, and Frenchman Ronald Pognon was third in 10.10.
Waugh got sixth in 10.14.
Kim Collins, the 2003 World Champion, from St Kitts and Nevis,
was fourth in his heat in 10.30 and had failed to make the final.
Olympic champions Fraser and Walker were solid in their victories.
Fraser, who helped Jamaica win six gold among a national Olympic
record 11 medals in Beijing last month, used her trademark early
race speed and won the women's 100 metres in 11.06 seconds, repelling
a late-race challenge from fellow Jamaican Kerron Stewart (11.11)
with American Carmelita Jeter third in 11.12.
Walker steadied herself after almost falling before the homestretch
and fought off Britain's Tasha Danvers to win the women's 400-metre
hurdles in 55.01 seconds.
Danvers (55.25) and Ukraine's Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (55.39) chased
her home.
Shericka Williams advertised her fabulous late season form with
a fine win in the women's 200 metres.
A surprise 400-metre silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics
last month, Williams stepped down to the shorter event and outgunned
Jeter for a narrow win in the half-lap event.
Williams won in 22.50 seconds, edging Jeter (22.52) with Russian
Yuliya Chermoshanskaya (22.81) third.
In the men's 200 metres, Zimbabwe's Brian Dzingai won in 20.34
seconds with Antiguan Brendan Christian (20.47), Jamaican Chris
Williams (20.47) and Collins (20.61) third, fourth and fifth
respectively.
Trinidad and Tobago Ato Stephens (45.90) and Bahamian Michael
Mathieu (46.23) were fifth and sixth respectively in the men's
400 that Congo's Gary Kikaya won in 45.10, and Jamaican Isa Phillips
(48.85) ran a decent second to South African Louis van Zyl (48.52)
in the men's 400-hurdles.
|
Thompson becomes
a million dollar man |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, September 8th 2008: T&T Olympic
100-metre silver medallist Richard Thompson says he is satisfied
to be the country's newest million-dollar man.
Thompson expressed satisfaction minutes after Prime Minister
Patrick Manning confirmed an exclusive Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
story, last month, which said that Thompson was to be rewarded
with one million dollars in cash and Unit Trust shares for his
success at the Beijing Olympics.
Manning said yesterday
each of the country's Olympic heroes-Richard Thompson, Keston
Bledman, Emmanuel Callender, Aaron Armstrong and Marc Burns-"will
get $250,000 worth of units from the Unit Trust and 500,000 in
cash."
Manning then went on to explain how Thompson was to be singled
out as the country's newest million-dollar-man.
"We believe that Richard Thompson won two silver medals
and he is the million-dollar-man. He will get an additional $250,000
for a total of $1 million from the Government and people of T&T."
The large crowd outside the Eric Williams Financial Building
on Lower St Vincent Street in Port-of-Spain erupted in loud cheers
and screams of appreciation.
Manning said the Central Bank had been authorised to provide
financial advice and counselling to the national heroes.
Manning then advised citizens to "party late tonight, but
not too late to be at work tomorrow morning." Manning did
not give a public holiday, as requested by the crowd.
Thompson said the team's success at the Olympics was for the
love of the sport and not necessarily to be rewarded by anyone.
He admitted, however, that the team appreciated the reward given
by the Government.
"We are certainly satisfied with what has been given to
us, and we know it will go a long way."
He said the success gave him "the greatest feeling ever
in my entire life, winning those two silver medals.
"The greater feeling was the pride of wearing red, white
and black (the national colours) and representing T&T at
the highest level."
He added that the T&T team hoped to turn the Olympic silver
medals into gold at the Caribbean Games next year, and to be
the dominant team in the London Olympics in 2012.
He said he hoped the team could bring a "positive vibe in
T&T" to help change the prevailing situation of crime
and violence in the country.
|
TTFF gets huge
US$400 000 gift from FIFA |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad
(CMC), September 8th
2008: To commemorate the achievement of 100 years of organised
football, FIFA has awarded the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
(TTFF) US$400 000 to go towards the further development of football
in the twin island state.
The announcement was made Friday night at the TTFF's Centennial
Dinner where 220 persons were given special awards for their
contribution to the local game over the last century.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter was among the dignitaries at the
function at the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence.
Among the awardees on the night were Jack Warner, recent T&T
players Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Leroy De Leon and posthumous
honourees Ellis 'Puss' Achong, Conrad 'Savannah' Brathwaite,
Gerald 'Gerry' Gomez, and Tyrone 'Tank' De la Bastide, to name
a few.
But even before Blatter came to the podium, TTFF president Oliver
Camps had already given the audience a taste of things to come
when he rolled back the clock through the hundred years of football
in T&T.
In his view, the growth of science and technology since the industrial
revolution has transformed the world and has fostered the growth
and development of football in T&T with a continuous improvement
in the quality of players and in the administration and organisation
of the game locally and internationally.
The UEFA president and former French midfield maestro, Michel
Platini, impressed on the audience the important role that Warner
has played in raising the standard of football, not only in T&T
but in the CONCACAF region.
His sentiments were echoed by the England Football Association
president Lord David Triesman.
Blatter said :"Football was already organised in this country
before this country was an independent nation," Blatter
noted, adding that T&T have been successful in the past,
which is before 1962. However, he insisted that success in terms
of football is being realised on a larger scale now.
Blatter pointed to T&T's successful hosting of the FIFA Under-17
World Cup in 2001 as a milestone which he announced will be followed
by the hosting of the FIFA Girls Under-17 World Cup in 2010.
"Football is now the most popular movement in the world,"
Blatter told the gathering.
"260 million people follow the sport and with their families,
over one billion people are directly or indirectly touched by
this game.
Massa given
Spa win after Hamilton penalty
By Alan Baldwin |
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium
(Reuters), September
8th 2008: Lewis Hamilton was stripped of a thrilling Belgian
Grand Prix victory yesterday in a decision that slashed the McLaren
driver's Formula One lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa to just
two points.
Hours after the jubilant Briton had sprayed the winner's champagne
on the podium, stewards ruled he had gained an advantage from
cutting a chicane in an all-or-nothing duel with Ferrari's Kimi
Raikkonen three laps from the end.
Hamilton was given a retrospective drive-through penalty, a controversial
decision which translated into 25 seconds added to his race time.
That was enough to
demote the 23-year-old to third place, with main title rival
Massa taking his fifth victory of the season and Germany's Nick
Heidfeld promoted to a surprise second for BMW-Sauber.
McLaren announced their intention to appeal, although it was
not immediately clear whether it would be allowed under the sport's
regulations.
A spokesman for the governing International Automobile Federation
(FIA) said it would be up to the sport's International Court
of Appeal to decide at a later date.
With five races remaining, and Ferrari's home Italian Grand Prix
at Monza next up, Hamilton has 76 points to Massa's 74 with BMW-Sauber's
Polish driver Robert Kubica third on 58.
World champion Raikkonen, who crashed out on the penultimate
lap, slipped to fourth on 57 points with his title hopes as dented
as his car.
Ferrari meanwhile stretched their lead over McLaren in the constructors'
standings to 12 points.
RAIKKONEN CRASHES
"I have often said that the race is not over until the
official results are published and that was the case today,"
said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.
"This result is obviously very important for our championship
hopes."
The stewards' enquiry overshadowed what had been one of Hamilton's
best races with his most sensational finish of the season, and
many disagreed with the outcome.
"I don't think Hamilton did anything wrong," said Niki
Lauda, a former world champion for both Ferrari and McLaren.
"He was going on the outside, he let him (Raikkonen) by
... and afterwards he passed him."
Raikkonen, winner of the last three Belgian Grands Prix and chasing
his first victory since April, had led from the second lap but
Hamilton reeled him in as the skies opened and caused chaos two
laps from the end.
Hamilton tried to pass at the Bus Stop chicane, went wide and
allowed Raikkonen to get momentarily ahead on the straight before
making a clean pass into La Source.
The Briton then slid at the top of the hill, allowing Raikkonen
back in front before the Finn in turn slid and handed back the
lead. The Finn then spun, narrowly missing traffic and crashing
into the barriers.
"It was an experience and a half," said Hamilton before
the stewards gave their verdict. "It was just mix and match.
I was just praying for rain. I wanted it to come because I knew
how to deal with it.
"It was one of the most exciting races of my career. I love
having battles ... I was on every limit that I knew possible,
and even beyond."
The Briton was not available for comment afterwards nor were
team bosses.
Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso was fourth, despite
pitting for wet tyres on the penultimate lap, with Germany's
Sebastian Vettel fifth for Toro Rosso and Kubica sixth.
France's Sebastien Bourdais considerably enhanced his prospects
of staying at Toro Rosso next season with seventh while Mark
Webber of Australia took the final point for Red Bull after Germany's
Timo Glock also picked up a 25-second penalty for overtaking
under a yellow warning flag.
McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, who had started in third place,
failed to finish but was listed as 10th after an error-strewn
day that also included a drive-through penalty.
Mexico, U.S.
reel off wins in CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers
By Brian Homewood |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
(Reuters), September
8th 2008: The United States and Mexico reeled off wins in
CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on Saturday on a day that mixed
soccer with politics.
The United States beat Cuba 1-0 in Havana, their first visit
to the Caribbean island for 61 years, with a first-half Clint
Dempsey goal.
The third round Group A match took place against the backdrop
of a 46-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, imposed after
Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and allied the country
with the Soviet Union.
However, the U.S. players came out onto the pitch after the match
at the rickety Pedro Marrero stadium and applauded the Cuban
fans in what coach Bob Bradley said was a spontaneous gesture
of appreciation.
"We've been treated very well here and people have been
very friendly," he said. "It's been an excellent trip."
Tens of thousands of Mexican fans used their team's game at home
to Jamaica to protest against rising crime and a brutal drug
war that has killed more than 2 700 people this year.
At least three quarters of the 100 000 crowd at Mexico City's
Azteca stadium answered a call by the Mexican Football Federation
to dress in white while the team also played in white instead
of the usual green.
The protest came a week after an anti-crime rally drew more than
150 000 to the city centre.
LITTLE RESISTANCE
On the pitch, Sven Goran-Eriksson's team encountered little
resistance from the Jamaicans, who were due to host the Group
B game until Hurricane Gustav swept through the Caribbean.
Andres Guardado opened the scoring in the third minute before
Fernando Arce and Jonny Magallon added further goals.
"Maybe the game was easy but there is still much work to
do for us to qualify," said Eriksson. "We won with
class and personality."
Mexico and the United States both top their groups with six points
from two games.
Ramon Nunez scored twice in the second half as Honduras came
from behind to beat Canada 2-1 away in the other Group B game,
while Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala drew 1-1 in Group A.
Carlos Gallardo scored an injury-time equaliser for Guatemala
after Keon Daniel had given the Soca Warriors an 83rd minute
lead.
Also Caribbean teams Suriname and Haiti suffered heavy
losses in Group 3 of CONCACAF World Cup football qualifying
yesterday to damage their hopes for South Africa 2010.
Costa Rica peppered Suriname 7-0 to take control of the group,
while El Salvador logged a 5-0 win over Haiti to improve their
hopes of making the confederation's semi-final round in qualifying.
The Costa Ricans' second consecutive win boosted their points
tally to maximum six points and they lead El Salvador (3), with
Haiti and Suriname each having a single point.
At Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, Froylan Ledezma scored twice in
the first-half as hosts Costa Rica grabbed an early advantage
against Suriname.
Alejandro Alpizar (47th), Armando Alonso (78th), Celso Borges
(79th), Alonso Solis (86th), and Brian Ruiz (88th) added second-half
goals for Costa Rica to collect their required six points from
two home assignments.
Suriname played the entire second with ten men as Rinaldo Lupson
drew a second caution from Canadian referee Steven DePiero in
the second minute of first-half injury time.
Costa Rica will be on the road Wednesday against the Haitians,
while Suriname will entertain El Salvador on the same day in
Paramaribo.
El Salvador got three goals from Rodolfo Zelaya en route to their
thrashing of 10-man Haiti.
Zelaya struck in the seventh and 24th minutes and added another
in the 53rd minute as El Salvador improved to three points and
second place in Group C, three behind the Costa Ricans.
El Salvador's assignment became easier when experienced Haitian
defender Pierre Bruny was sent off after just 13 minutes.
Boyz battered!
Lose 0-3 to merciless Mexicans at the Azteca |
Mexico City, Mexico,
September 7th 2008: Once
again Mexico proved to be the masters of Jamaica on the football
pitch.
And on the evidence of what was presented to the near capacity
(110,000) white-clad, vociferous supporters, the South Americans
duly deserved their 3-0 victory in yesterday's CONCACAF Semi-Final
round World Cup Qualifying series here at the Estadio Azteca.
The win pushed Mexico to maximum six points from their two games,
following a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Honduras on August
20. Honduras and Canada were scheduled to face each other at
Montreal last night.
Entering yesterday's game, Jamaica and Canada were locked on
one point each, following their 1-1 draw in Toronto in their
Semi-Final round opener.
Andres Guardado, Fernando Arce and Jonny Magallon found the net
yesterday for the home side.
The Mexican supporters agreed to wear white in a gigantic plea
for peace in their homeland, after a spate of kidnappings and
murders rocked the country.
Their players might have had peace in their hearts, but they
displayed no mercy, especially in the first half-hour of the
game officiated by American referee Baldomero Toledo, who is
said to be Mexican-born.
Unlike the previous game against Honduras when the crowd had
to endure 73 minutes before celebrating their first goal, the
home side got off to the perfect start when Guardado put them
ahead with a curling left-footed free-kick from the right side
of the penalty box in the third minute.
Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts dove full stretch to his left, but
the ball had too much pace, as it nestled into the net, sending
the spectators into a frenzy.
It was the start that the Reggae Boyz feared, and the fact that
they appeared too tentative when in possession of the ball, didn't
help either.
It could have been worse, as before 10 minutes had elapsed, Ricketts'
alertness kept his team in the game when he came off his line
to smother a grounded cross from the left side destined for the
arriving Giovani Dos Santos, after the speedy Mexicans had broken
free of the chasing Jamaican defenders.
Ricketts, who gained accolades from Canadian coach Dale Mitchell
for his exploits against the North Americans on August 20, came
up big again for his team when he backpedalled to tip Fernando
Arce's looping shot over the horizontal.
And the giant goalkeeper was at it again on the half- hour mark,
bravely palming away a dangerous free-kick from Pavel Pardo.
But Arce would return in the 33rd minute to ram home from inside
the penalty area, after the Jamaicans failed to adequately deal
with the incisive passing by the now marauding Mexicans.
Jamaica, who certainly lacked a step or two in most instances,
managed their first shot on goal five minutes from the interval
when Ricardo Fuller, who until then appeared anonymous, fired
a weak left footed shot which gave goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez
no problems.
The Mexicans should have increased their lead in time added in
the first half, but Dos Santos, the Tottenham Hopspur striker
and an Under-17 FIFA World Cup champion, booted high over the
top after being expertly served by a team mate on the penalty
spot.
Ricketts continued his good form in the second half when he denied
the homeside yet again by sprinting off his line to clear after
an unattended Mexican player had received a free-kick well behind
the defenders.
But there was only going to be one winner on the night, despite
the heroics of Ricketts and the lion-hearted central defender
Ian 'Pepe' Goodison, who defied his 35 years and 10 months.
The Mexican added the third and final goal on 63 minutes when
central defender Jonny Magallon volleyed home a right-footer
from a left-sided corner kick. It was the third consecutive corner
by the Mexicans, after the Boyz failed to clear their line.
Moments after the goal, Rudolph Austin tested Sanchez with a
firm, low drive, but the goalkeeper parried into the path of
Wolfe, who turned his marker before centring for Fuller to head
just wide.
Along with Ricketts and Goodison, other players who distinguished
themselves were Austin, Andy Williams, Marshall and substitute
Wolry Wolfe, and possibly Jermaine Taylor.
But this rendition of the Boyz revealed that the support cast
is probably not where it should be in terms of depth. Finally,
the inexperience and naivety of Evan Taylor came to the fore,
and his replacement after 53 minutes, Keneil Moodie, looked equally
out of class.
The Reggae Boyz will depart Mexico early today for Honduras,
for their assignment in San Pedro Sula on Wednesday.
WARRIORS STUMBLE
Guatemala scramble late draw |
Port of Spain, T&T,
September 7th 2008: It was heartbreak for the
Trinidad and Tobago footballers last night, but not the end of
the world.
The "Soca Warriors" dropped a valuable point in CONCACAF
World Cup qualifying yesterday when a free-kick goal from Carlos
Alonzo deep into injury time earned Guatemala a 1-1 draw at the
Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The "Soca Warriors" had only just taken a 1-0
lead just about eight minutes earlier in the 84th minute through
Keon Daniel, who struck from 20 metres, hitting the underside
of the crossbar before beating Guatemalan keeper Luis Bruni.
It had looked quite likely that T&T would leave this morning
for the United States with full points after Daniel's goal. Guatemala
were largely restricted to shots from outside the penalty area,
and looked only capable of scoring from the dead ball set-up.
But
with four minutes to work with following an injury to their first-call
keeper Ricardo Foster, the Guatemalans found a way back when
from the spot kick, Alonzo skipped over the ball before beating
T&T keeper Marvin Phillip with a low flick.
Earlier, in happier times, T&T produced a polished performance,
especially, in the first half, and were looking set to hold onto
the lead. It would have marked a triumphant returned to national
duty for Sunderland midfielder Dwight Yorke.
At age 37, Yorke has lost some of his pace and polish, but his
experience was a valuable asset yesterday as he organised a brilliant
first half by the Warriors. The only Caribbean footballer to
ever win a European Champions League League medal-in his days
at England's big club, Manchester United-Yorke displayed yesterday
an ability to still hold his end at CONCACAF level.
Guatemala would have been happy at the half when they held the
Soca Warriors goalless. But, only just. T&T had a fast start,
and in mere seconds, right back Cyd Gray had
the Guatemalans stretched with his overlapping run and dangerous,
low cross.
Cornell Glen's raw speed pace was the ingredient which kept the
Guatemalans defending. Glen had a couple of half chances, and
had the Guatemalans in trouble with a low cross to the edge of
the box after springing the offside trap on the right flank on
the quarter hour.
Glen's pace also set up a close-range chance for Carlos Edwards,
who failed to get a touch from six metres. And after a series
of sweet passes, Yorke also went close with a low shot from the
edge of the penalty area. T&T did everything good in the
first half except score.
Maturana made two changes at the break, bringing on Andre Toussaint
for Densill Theobald and Anthony Wolfe for Edwards. But instead
of getting the early goal which the coach obviously wanted, the
intensity of the game dropped. And as a result, Guatemala started
to get more into the match. However, T&T went very close
in the 69th minute when Toussaint drifted past a couple tackles
and forced a good save from the new Guatemala keeper Bruni who
came on for Foster.
Later, came the sheer elation of Daniel's classic goal, and then
heartbreak when Guatemala drew level.
Puerto Rico
Islanders defeats Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense
Moves to Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. |
Puerto Rico, September 06, 2008: Puerto Rico
Islanders scored twice in the final three minutes and rallied
for a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense on Wednesday,
putting two teams from the Second Division of North American
football into the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Islanders will join the Impact de Montreal, both of which
play in the United Soccer Leagues' First Division - the level
just below Major League Soccer in the American hierarchy.
Jagdeosinghaged 19, pulled the Islanders level in the 87th minute
and Taiwo Atieno added the winner two minutes later to the delight
of the crowd at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto
Rico.
The result advanced Puerto Rico on a 3-2 aggregate, placing it
in Group D along with Club Santos Laguna of Mexico, CSD Municipal
of Guatemala and Panama's Tauro FC.
Eithel Ariel Rodriguez gave Alajuela an early lead, beating Islanders
goalkeeper Bill Gaudette with a well-placed right-footed shot
from the right side of the penalty area.
The Islanders began to assert themselves as the half wore on,
wresting control early in the session. After several chances
were thwarted by poor finishing and offsides, Jagdoesingh capitalized
to provide the momentum.
The match was threatened earlier in the day due to heavy rain
caused by Tropical Storm Hannah, soaking the field and leaving
standing water in several places. But an hour's delay enabled
the field to drain and the match to start late.
In the first-leg match last week, another T&T international,
defender Osei Telesford had netted in a 1-1 draw.
|
Former FIFA
boss heaps praise on Jack Warner |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad
(CMC), September 06, 2008: Former
FIFA president Dr Joao Havelange has lavished praise on football
strongman Jack Warner for his long-standing service to world
football.
Havelange was speaking here Thursday morning during a media briefing
after a half-hour tour of the multi-purpose Centre of Excellence
facility named in Havelange's honour.
Havelange told the media that he was not surprised to see the
high level of the Centre of Excellence because he knew that with
it in Warner's hands, the FIFA vice-president would settle for
nothing less.
"I am very, very surprised. I shouldn't have been surprised
knowing Jack Warner as I have - one excellent president and administrator,"
said Havelange, who ran FIFA from 1974 to 1998.
"But everything I saw I never expected to have seen here
today. This place is a benefit to CONCACAF. It was the passion
of Jack Warner that made this. I am very happy to have witnessed
the completion of the dream of Jack Warner.
"I don't believe that other confederations can offer what
CONCACAF can offer to its members and all this we owe to one
person - Jack Warner, his tenacity, his loyalty and also to his
wish to offer to the region one centre of this quality.
"I am very happy to have a friend like Jack Warner, a president
as he has demonstrated. The years shall go by and we shall always
applaud Jack Warner," Havelange added.
Havelange is one of several international football figures who
arrived here this week for the Trinidad & Tobago Football
Federation's centennial celebrations.
Sepp Blatter, president of football's world governing body, along
with European football boss Michel Platini, are among the dignitaries
here.
Warner expressed appreciation to Havelange for sharing in the
TTFF's special celebrations.
"Dr Havelange is 92 years old and the TTFF is 100 years
and the best gift he could have given us here is his presence,"
the CONCACAF boss said.
"I want to express to him our deep thanks and appreciation.
I pledge we will always honour his name, the name given to his
facility by keeping it all times - The Centre of Excellence."
Warner was also at the Piarco International Airport Thursday
evening to welcome FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and English
FA Chairman Lord David Triesman who has a dual role as chairman
of the FA's World Cup bid company.
|
Brazil U-17s
crush Soca Warriors 4-0 |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad
(CMC), September 06, 2008:
Trinidad & Tobago's Under-17 team were crushed 4-0 by Brazil's
Under-17s team in their international friendly at the Marvin
Lee Stadium Thursday night.
The match, which was part of the T&T Football Federation's
Centennial celebrations, produced many thrills for the fans but
they could not enjoy a win by the home team.
Wellington Sanches' free kick in the 33rd minute set the South
Americans on their way and Neymar Santos doubled his side's advantage
seconds later.
Mota's header in the 73rd minute put Brazil safely in the driver's
seat before Marcello Cirino's injury time goal completed the
rout.
The Brazilians, as expected, attacked T&T from the outset
using skill, speed and creativity to launch raids on the opposing
goal.
However, the young Soca Warriors who recently placed second in
the Caribbean Football Union Under-17 Championship, met the challenge
head-on.
Sanches threatened early on but his tame shot was easily held
by T&T custodian John Thomas in the 15th and again in the
17th minute.
Santos also looked dangerous but his ambitious lob from inside
the 18-yard box went just over the bar in the 28th minute.
Mota also tested Thomas from the edge of the area three minutes
later, but again the young 'keeper was equal to the task.
Sanches, however, finally broke T&T's resistance in the 33rd
minute with a glorious free kick. From 20 yards out and eight
yards from the right side line, the Brazilian curled the ball
up over the wall and down just inside the unguarded near post
to give his side the lead.
Still rattled by that stroke of brilliance, T&T allowed Santos
to collect a pass inside the penalty area and charge goal-ward.
He neatly skipped over Thomas' desperate dive and slotted home
from an acute angle on the left side.
Though T&T regained their concentration and were able to
apply some pressure, they failed to score and the half ended
2-0.
The second half was a more open affair, as players began to tire
and space opened up.
In the 72nd minute, T&T squandered a good chance to get on
the scoresheet but on the ensuing play at the other end of the
field, Mota made no mistake with a close-range header after a
right side cross from Crystian Carvalho.
In injury time, Marcello put the stamp on his side's dominance
with the fourth goal.
|
Rivals Ewing,
Olajuwon inducted in basketball's Hall-of-Fame |
SPRINGFIELD, USA (AP),
September 06, 2008: Hakeem
Olajuwon was asked yesterday about the friendly rivalry he and
Patrick Ewing shared during their careers as two of the greatest
centres in basketball history.
"Who said it was friendly?" Olajuwon replied.
The seven-footers, who met for an NCAA title in 1984 and an NBA
championship 10 years later, are both being enshrined in the
Hall of Fame, part of a star-studded class that includes Adrian
Dantley, former NBA coach Pat Riley, broadcaster Dick Vitale,
Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson, and former Immaculata
University coach Cathy Rush.
Ewing's Georgetown Hoyas beat Olajuwon and the Houston Cougars
in that NCAA championship game. But Olajuwon earned two NBA rings
in Houston, the first after beating Ewing's New York Knicks in
a classic seven-game series in 1994.
"I could not picture my career without Patrick," Olajuwon
said while speaking to reporters hours before the induction ceremony.
"We are so intertwined from college. We play alike in so
many ways. We are blocking shots, steals, intimidation. When
Patrick is at the other end of the floor, you know you are playing
against your toughest opponent."
Ewing, who was 12 when he came to the US from Jamaica, said he
felt a kinship with Olajuwon, who grew up playing team handball
in Nigeria. Both, he said, found their identity while playing
basketball in their new country.
"When I played against Hakeem, I definitely wanted to be
at my best," Ewing said. "I think he feels the same
way. We both know what each other brings to the table - intensity,
energy, effort. You would have to put out 110 per cent to play
against each other."
Olajuwon led the Houston Cougars to three Final Fours in college.
During his NBA career he scored almost 27,000 points, grabbed
13,747 rebounds and blocked 3,830 shots.
Ewing also went to three Final Fours. He scored just under 25,000
points and pulled down 11,607 rebounds in the NBA, becoming the
New York Knicks' career leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots
and steals. He earned two Olympic gold medals, but never got
an NBA title.
"That still bothers me," said Riley, who coached Ewing's
1994 Knicks team.
Riley, after winning championships as a player and assistant,
won five more as a coach - four with the "Showtime"
Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s, and another with the Miami Heat
in 2006. It took that final title, Riley said, to convince a
lot of people that he really was a good coach.
"I truly believe that what happened in Miami validated what
probably a lot of people felt that I might not be able to do,
and that what I did in New York and what I did in LA maybe was
because there was just a lot of good players," said Riley,
now president of the Heat.
Dantley, who made it in after being a finalist for the Hall of
Fame six other times, also spoke of validation yesterday. He
played for seven NBA teams during his 15-year career, scoring
over 23,000 points. But he never felt that he got the respect
he deserved.
"Ever since I've been in high school, I've dominated at
every level, but my critics always had something to say about
me," Dantley said. "All those other guys, they were
supposed to get in, they were talented. But I got in through
hard work."
Rush was 149-15 in her seven years as a head coach. She led Immaculata
to three consecutive national championships in the 1970s, and
is considered a pioneer in women's sports.
"Young girls and young women now have people to look up
to, idols that are also in team sports as well as individual
sports," she said.
Davidson, whose teams have won three NBA titles and two in the
WNBA, enters the Hall of Fame as a contributor. He played a key
role in structuring the NBA's salary cap and free agency systems.
Davidson was also among the first owners to put NBA teams on
private planes and luxury boxes closer to the court in arenas.
Vitale, who gave Olajuwon his nickname "the Dream"
also will go in as a contributor. The ESPN colour analyst has
spent 30 years becoming the voice of college basketball - extolling
the virtues of "PTPers (Prime Time Players), screaming "Awesome
baby!" and being passed overhead through student sections
across the country.
His biggest lament yesterday was the time limit Hall of Fame
officials gave him for his acceptance speech.
"I cannot say hello in five minutes," Vitale said.
|
Florida one-day
tournament in jeopardy |
September 6th 2008: THE 2008 West Indies one-day cricket
tournament is unlikely to take place in Florida as originally
planned.
The effects of hurricane related weather have severely hampered
preparations at the purpose-built stadium in Broward County,
where the matches were planned, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)
chief executive Dr.Donald Peters said yesterday.
"The backup was to have it in the Caribbean and I've asked
my staff my staff to do just that in case it falls through,"
he stated.
According to Peters, he and the promoters were "having problems"
with the proposed dates in November that were undermined following
heavy rains in the area associated with hurricanes Gustav and
Hannah.
"They still want to do it and have given us alternative
dates for next year but this is a problem," Peters said.
"This is the hurricane season and perhaps people weren't
thinking when they selected the dates initially."
It is the first time any WICB-sanctioned event would have been
staged outside the Caribbean.
The cricket culture is strong among the sizeable Caribbean expatriate
communities in Florida. Broward County put forward an unsuccessful
bid to host a group stage of last year's ICC World Cup and were
awarded the 2008 one-day tournament by the WICB after an American
company came forward to replace Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
which did not renew its three-year sponsorship agreement.
Since the American sponsor is only interested in backing the
tournament if held in Florida, Peters said the WICB was nowtrying
to source an alternative.
Plans to include an official United States Cricket Association
(USCA) team would also fall through should Broward County be
eliminated.
Jamaica won the KFC Cup last year, defeating Trinidad & Tobago
by 28 runs in the final under lights at the Three Ws Oval in
Barbados.
|
Jelimo hits
jackpot as Bolt beats Powell in Brussels |
BRUSSELS, (Reuters),
September 6, 2008: Kenyan
Pamela Jelimo claimed the Golden League's $1 million jackpot
yesterday while fellow Olympic champion Usain Bolt beat Asafa
Powell to win the 100 metres at the Memorial Van Damme meeting.
Croatian high jumper
Blanka Vlasic missed out on a share of the jackpot after finishing
second behind German Ariane Friedrich, but ahead of Olympic champion
and home favourite Tia Hellebaut who surprisingly finished third.
The 18-year-old Jelimo won the 800 metres in one minute 55.16
seconds, more than three seconds ahead of compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei
and third-placed Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica.
Earlier, Bolt powered past fellow Jamaican Powell in the 100
metres to set a new course record time of 9.77 seconds.
Powell, who ran the joint second-fastest 100 of all-time in Lausanne
on Tuesday, finished in 9.83 after leading for most of the race
until Bolt ran past him in the final 10 metres.
"I am used to chasing him," Bolt told reporters after
a contest Powell described as "one of the most exciting
ever. I was very excited about this race and knew it would be
close".
Nesta Carter made it a Jamaican clean sweep by coming third in
10.07.
HEARTBREAK AND TEARS
There was further heartbreak for Vlasic -- pipped for the
gold by Hellebaut at this year's Beijing Games -- when she failed
on her final jump at 2.02 metres.
Friedrich and Hellebaut also failed to clear that height but
the German won on the countback in one of the biggest shocks
of
the night having got over 1.97 on her first jump while Vlasic
needed two attempts and Hellebaut three.
In the women's 100 metres, Belgium's European champion Kim Gevaert
marked her last ever appearance on home soil when she scorched
to victory in 11.25 seconds.
Amid the loudest roar of the night from the 50 000 capacity crowd,
Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas finished second and American Me'Lisa
Barber was third behind the tearful 30-year-old Gevaert, who
will retire at the end of the year.
In the women's 200 metres, Olympic bronze and silver medallist
Jamaican Kerron Stewart had to settle for second as American
Marshevet Hooker romped to 22.62 seconds, to win the event.
Stewart, who had a successful outing at the Beijing Olympics,
clocked 22.76 seconds and was followed home by Bahamian Debbie
Ferguson-Mckenzie in 22.79 seconds.
Jamaica's Danny McFarlane missed out on the top spot in the men's
400-metre hurdles when he finished second to United States' Kerron
Clement (48.29) in 48.63.
|
Errant teenager
slapped with five-year international ban |
HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC), September 6, 2008: A teenaged
Bermuda footballer who walked out on his team-mates during a
major tournament in the Cayman Islands was Thursday slapped with
a five-year ban from international competition.
The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) also said 19-year-old
Kris Frick would be banned from domestic competitions for two
years. "These bans are effective immediately and reflect
the gravity of the circumstances," said acting BFA general
secretary Ian Rawlins.
BFA technical director Derek Broadley earlier accused Frick of
making a major error of judgment by walking out on his team-mates
midway through the Digicel Caribbean Cup tournament which saw
Bermuda ousted.
Frick watched Bermuda's 7-0 thrashing of St Maarten/St Martin
from the stands after refusing to sit on the bench following
the decision to leave him out of the starting line-up again.
Bermuda earlier lost 4-0 to Antigua and Barbuda and bowed out
of the tournament after managing only a goalless draw against
hosts the Cayman Islands last weekend.
Despite the efforts of a trio of veteran players, who visited
his room following the victory to try and talk him around, Frick
checked out of the hotel the next morning.
Broadley and goalkeeper coach Vic Bettinelli also spent over
an hour speaking with the young defender prior to the match when
Frick first voiced his discontent at the way his Cayman trip
was mapping out.
"I think Kris made the wrong decision and I've told both
him and his father that," said Broadley. "Every player
I've ever worked with has been left out of the side at some point.
There's a way to do things and I don't think what he did was
the right way.
"We must remember Kris is still a very young man and he's
made a mistake. There are ways of rectifying his mistake and
now he's gone away he may have a think about what he did.
"I think he took the easy option. The longer he leaves
it, the harder it will be for people to accept. He's made it
difficult for himself now."
It is understood Frick, a club footballer with Somerset, was
upset that 17-year-old Roger Lee had been selected to start at
right back instead of him.
|
Disgraced U.S.
track star Jones leaves Texas prison |
HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters), September 6, 2008: Former U.S.
sprinter Marion Jones left a federal prison in Texas yesterday
after serving a six-month sentence for lying to prosecutors about
steroid use that helped her win five medals at the 2000 Sydney
Olympics.
Belizean born Jones, 32, left the minimum security facility in
San Antonio, Texas, at 08:00 h CDT (1300 GMT), a prison spokeswoman
said.
For years, the track star denied using performance-enhancing
drugs but in October pleaded guilty to two charges of perjury
and was sentenced in January by a federal judge in New York.
Jones reported to prison on March 7.
She admitted she had lied to federal investigators in 2003 when
she denied knowing that she took the banned substance tetrahydrogestrinone
(THG), known as 'the clear', before the 2000 Olympics.
Jones has been stripped of the Olympic medals, three of which
were gold, and all of her performances as of September 2000 have
been erased from the record books. September 5th 2008: THE Trinidad and Tobago national under-20
football team got their 2009 World Youth Cup campaign off to
a tame start on Wednesday night after a goalless draw against
El Salvador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
It is goals that matter most in football. But there are stalemates
that grip the more analytical patrons in which two well-drilled
teams plot, scheme and prod only to cancel each other out. Such
encounters are referred to as "a game for the coaches".
Not Wednesday's match, though. It was merely dull.
The locals, coached by ex-Yugoslav youth player Zoran Vranes,
are already months into their programme due to their controversial
enrollment in the Bmobile Super League. They are not doing badly
either-fifth place from 13 teams. But they did not show the benefit
of such preparation against El Salvador.
The teenagers in red, white and black acquitted themselves well
physically but their ball movement was poor. Even worse, captain
Leston Paul's four midfield teammates did not seem interested
in the ball unless it was launched forward for them to chase.
The fact that the stretcher bearers were far busier than El Salvadorian
custodian Diego Cuollar suggested that the present mode of attack
needs work. This is not unexpected. Trinidad and Tobago's qualifying
campaign does not officially get underway until next April. Surely,
Vranes' squad would be much improved by then.
But, if observers got a peek at his blueprint on Wednesday, it
will not possess the style that usually gets the pulse racing
in this part of the world.
Paul, who captained the under-17s to the 2007 Junior World Cup,
was handpicked by former England star John Barnes as one of the
Caribbean's finest young talents. He is a clever passer with
a decent turn of pace and difficult to strip of possession.
Vranes, who used a 3-5-2 formation, employed Paul as a deep-lying
midfield, similar to the way Leo Beenhakker used Dwight Yorke
at the 2006 World Cup. Only Beenhakker was trying to hide Yorke's
loss of pace and utilise his experience and tactical know-how.
For Paul, it was like asking a young child to stand still. The
former St Mary's College stand-out regularly vacated his post
to press for possession in wing back territory while his midfield
teammates never came close enough for him to advance in attack
through wall passes or a quick exchange of duties.
As the squad's most gifted player-although Bmobile Joe Public's
Jamal Gay and the Clico San Juan Jabloteh duo of Robert Primus
and Sheldon Bateau are more experienced-Paul might have expected
Vranes to build a squad to maximise his best qualities. It did
not look that way on Wednesday.
Former Police forward Jamal Clarence used his aerial advantage
to send strike partner Trent Lougheed clear in the 31st minute
with a flicked header but the latter's effort barely troubled
Cuollar. Cuollar was more disturbed by an Akeem Adams cross,
four minutes into the second half, but the El Salvador defence
tidied up after his fumble.
Trinidad and Tobago did not trouble the opposing goal otherwise.
El Salvador did not offer fireworks either despite enjoying more
possession. But they at least created a few possible decisive
situations and won two free kicks in dangerous positions. Striker
Richard Orollano got the visitors' best chance but his close
ranged half volley was kept out instinctively by the legs of
substitute goalkeeper Andre Marchand.
In the dying minutes, El Salvador further cheated patrons by
time wasting antics near the Trinidad and Tobago corner flag.
Both teams could only have improved by their second outing at
the Hasely Crawford Stadium after press time last night.
|
Ennis-London
clears air on damning article |
Kingston, Jamaica, September
5, 2008: TWO-time world
championship medallist, hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London has sought
to clear her name following a report by SportsIllustrated.com
this week which linked her to performance-enhancing drug in 2006.
In a letter sent to the Jamaica Observer bearing Ennis-London's
name, the two-time Olympian explained that she never used any
banned substance.
The article, co-written by Luis Fernando Llosa and L Jon Wertheim,
stated that the magazine obtained documents stating that between
June 2006 and February 2007, two shipments of Somatropin (Human
Growth Hormone, HGH) and one shipment of Triest (Estrogen) were
sent to Ennis-London at a Texas address, while in November 2006
a shipment of Testosterone, Testosterone Aqueous, and Oxandrolone
were sent to Adrian Findlay.
Below is the full text of Ennis-London's
reponse.
To my fans, supporters & the media:
In response to the story written in Sports Illustrated, I would
like to clarify the situation once and for all. In May-June 2006,
I experienced a severe female disorder. My local doctor was unable
to find a solution, so I decided to seek alternative advice.
I explored several alternatives that led me to the AAG clinic
in Miami which specialised in this type of disorder.

The doctor, Dr Shabanah, pointed out additional symptoms and
short and long term problems if the bleeding continued. He informed
me that this is common for females in my age group and the best
and safest way to rectify the situation was to follow his protocol.
He recommended several medications to treat the symptoms.
I informed Dr Shabanah that as a professional athlete, I am not
allowed to ingest medication without first examining their ingredients.
He assured me that the ingredients used to formulate this product
are not illegal. I ordered the medication believing that it was
not an illegal substance.
While I was in Europe, my husband received a package and opened
it. He checked the contents of the package and found that one
of the substances prescribed to treat the condition was on the
IAAF prohibited list. My husband immediately disposed of the
package, and contacted the clinic. He informed the clinic that
ingredients in this product were not suitable for a professional
athlete.
In February 2007, an unsolicited package arrived to my address.
Recognising that it was from the same clinic, my husband immediately
contacted the doctor and demanded that the credit card information
be destroyed and ALL mail cease immediately. The doctor agreed,
refunded the credit card and there was no further shipment. The
second package was never opened but immediately disposed of.
I have never laid eyes on either package's contents.
I would like to stress that in nine years as a professional athlete
I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs. I have been tested
in and out of competition hundreds of times and have a 100 per
cent clean record.
I want to say many thanks to all those who took the time to contact
me or sent messages with your best wishes, family, friends and
fans. I have found much comfort in your calls.
--Delloreen Ennis-London
Barbados takes
second round of 2008
Caribbean Motor Racing Championship |
Bushy Park, Barbados,
Sept. 5, 2008: The Guyana
Motor Racing team led by speed aces, Andrew King, Kevin Jeffrey
and Canadian-based Shawn King suffered mixed fortunes in the
recently held second leg of the 2008 Caribbean Championships.
Stuart Williams being pursued by Guyana's racing driver Andrew
King with Barbados's Stuart Maloney in close pursuit at the Bushy
Park Circuit in Barbados during the second leg of the Caribbean
Motor Racing Championships.
Stuart Williams being pursued by Guyana's racing driver Andrew
King with Barbados's Stuart Maloney in close pursuit at the Bushy
Park Circuit in Barbados during the second leg of the Caribbean
Motor Racing Championships.
The event which was held at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados
saw the Barbadians stealing the show.
The championship which was contested in six races, three at Dover
and three at Bushy Park, saw the Guyana team coming away with
only one second place finish by the three drivers.
In the first event, Jamaica's David Summerbell in his Mitsubishi
drove to a first place finish closely followed by countryman
Douglas Gore with Guyana's Andrew King finishing a creditable
third.
In the second race the results were the same with Summerbell,
Gore and King coming first, second and third respectively.
In the third race, Summerbell and Gore's vehicles developed engine
trouble but Barbados' Mark Maloney in his Mazda, stole a close
race from Andrew King who finished second.
The other two drivers, Kevin Jeffrey and Shawn King did not take
part in the races.
In the second set of races (three) Stuart Maloney of Barbados
proved his mettle.
After not participating in the earlier races Stuart Maloney drove
away with all three of the events to finish with a maximum of
thirty points.
His
father Douglas Maloney placed second in the second and third
races while Stuart Williams placed second in the first race.
The championships saw the Guyanese trio only claiming seven points
among them with King, who placed fifth in the final race, able
to secure four points.
Stuart Maloney was left to rue his luck as despite recording
three wins, his 30 points saw him placing second in the points'
standings.
His father Douglas, who drove in all six races, finished with
31 points just a point ahead to take the day's crown. Jamaican
Douglas Gore, who also drove in all the races and began well
with two second place finishes, jostled his way to 25 points
and the third position.
At the completion of the second round, Barbados are on 82 points,
Jamaica 73 and Guyana 27.
|
'Warriors' have
3-0 stroll against Guyana |
September 4th 2008: Very few desired to see Trinidad and
Tobago play Guyana-aka Caledonia AIA -for a third time this year.
The match was in preparation for Saturday's World Cup qualifier
versus Guatemala. And for or the record, T&T came away with
a dull 3-0 victory, Carlos Edwards ( 60th ), Cornell Glen (62nd)
and Dennis Lawrence getting the goals.
The promise yesterday was that for a mere $50, those who couldn't
afford to watch Saturday's match would at least get to see a
few of the senior "Soca Warriors" in action. Instead,
Colombian head-coach Francisco Maturana rested most of Saturday's
likely starters in the first half, including Dwight Yorke, Edwards,
Lawrence, and Glen. Yorke, in shorts and with a white towel around
his neck, was never going to play and relaxed in the stands.
But, Trinidadians are an intelligent lot, and only about 500
or so fell for the "dummy".
So what was the purpose of the match? Well, for young Toronto
FC defender Julius James, it presented an opportunity to show
coach Maturana what he has. Swansea City striker Jason Scotland
has also admitted to being a little short on match-fitness ,
and he was one of the few foreign-based players to get a start.
At the end of it all though, it is unlikely that Maturana will
be making many changes to his regular line-up.
Last night, T&T controlled the action against a Guyana team
that was also missing several regulars.
Scotland had T&T's first chance in the 27th minute, but under
pressure from defender Walter Moore, hit straight at keeper Ronson
Williams from close up. Moments later, Caledonia AIA wide man
Gyasi Joyce also put the ball wide from a short distance away.
But despite territorial possession, T&T did not manage a
menacing shot on goal in the first half.
Maturana made wholesale changes at the start of the second half,
bringing on goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Lawrence, Edwards, Gray,
Glen and Densill Theobald. Glen almost made some immediate inroads,
stealing the ball in midfield, and almost chipping the Guyana
keeper from 30 metres in the 52nd minute. But, it was Edwards
who finally gave the home side the lead in the 60th minute, mainly
through a sizeable deflection off defender Moore which took his
tame 20metre shot past the Guyana keeper.
Glen got T&T's second goal two minutes later, collecting
Clyde Leon's straight pass behind the defenders and striking
a stiff, low shot into the net to make it 2-0.
Afterwards, Guyana collapsed defensively, and Edwards raced clear
a minute later. But, a heavy touch wasted the chance, and when
attempting to use theatrics to win a penalty, Edwards was given
a yellow card by referee Neil Brizan. Glen later provided Edwards
with a good cross which was volleyed onto the body of the Guyanese
keeper, who later also brought off a terrific save from Makan
Hislop's header.
Phillip had little to do in the T&T goal however, just having
to race out once to clear the ball. Glen's pace then won T&T
a penalty after he was bundled over in the 89th minute. And to
emphasise how non-competitive the match was, central defender
Lawrence was allowed to convert the penalty.
Yesterday's dress rehearsal was easy enough, but served as nothing
more than a confidence booster. Many left feeling that the Joe
Public team-who were watching the match after their 4-0 victory
over the New England Revolution - might have provided as much,
if not better opposition.
Joe Public through
to group stage
....Richardson breaches New England Revs defence |
FOXBOROUGH, USA, Sept.
4, 2008: Guyanese Gregory
Richardson delivered a polished three-goal performance that pushed
T&T's Joe Public to a stunning 4-0 win over the New England
Revolution in their Concacaf Champions League match Tuesday night.
Playing the second-leg fixture at the Rev's home Gillette Stadium,
Joe Public uncorked the Caribbean's best ever performance against
a USA team in the Champions' League and emerged 6-1 aggregate
winners for a spot in the play-off group phase of the championship.
With the win, Joe Public became the first Caribbean club in the
history of Concacaf's club championship to eliminate a USA side.
Joe Public had won the first leg 2-1 at home last week when Richardson
also got one of the goals.
Richardson scored twice in the first half, set up Jamaican Roen
Nelson to make it 3-0 soon after the break, and then hit the
net again nine minutes from the end.
He picked up his first goal on Tuesday night when Jamaican Wolry
Wolfe placed a piercing pass through the middle for Richardson
to collect.
Hustled by defenders to his left and right, Richardson adeptly
managed to place an accurate side-footed shot past goalkeeper
Matt Reis.
The NE Revolution, one of the leading teams in the current US
Major League Soccer (MLS) season but without a few of their regulars
through injury, tried to fight back and went close in the 36th
minute through star midfielder Shalrie Joseph, of Grenada.
Joseph got behind the Joe Public defence on the right and hit
the ball across the goal but no one was there to finish.
Richardson delivered another major setback to the Revs when he
scored again on the stroke of halftime.
He dribbled past defender Gabriel Badilla inside the box toward
the byline on the right and as Reis tried to cover the angle
for a cross, Richardson - from an acute angle - blasted a right-footer
high past him on the near post.
Three minutes into the second half, Richardson's skill on the
ball took him into the box in a threatening position.
But as he was being tackled for the ball, decided to pass the
ball back to the top of the box for the onrushing Nelson to stroke
a side-footed shot past Reis.
Richardson sealed his scoring show with a wonderful goal in the
81st minute.
After a neat passing exchange with Silan Span, he blasted a left-footer
from just outside the area, beating Reis on his far post.
The Revolution finished with ten men after defender Jay Heaps
drew a second yellow card in the 90th minute for a reckless tackle.
Joe Public will now contest Group C along with Mexico's Atlante
FC, CD Olimpia of Honduras and Canada's Impact de Montreal.
|
Frater leads
three Jamaican winners in Italy |
PADUA,
Italy, September 4, 2008: Olympic sprint relay gold medallist
Michael Frater led a Jamaican trio of winmers at Saturday's Meeting
Citta di Padova - EA meeting in the northern Italian city of
Padua.
Sprinter Ainsley Waugh and veteran hurdler Danny McFarlane (see pic) also landed top podium positions in
the windy conditions.
Frater, a finallist at the just completed Beijing Olympic Games
who also became the newest member of the Jamaican sub-10 seconds
elite group at the same event, clocked 10.28 seconds in a -1.5
m/s headwind to take the men's 100-metres.
The 25-year-old recovered well from a shaky start to see off
the challenges of Italian Jacques Riparelli, second in 10.41secs
and another Jamaican Ainsley Waugh, third, at 10.44. Barbados'
Andrew Hinds posted 10.54 for fourth place.
Waugh returned later to cop the men's 200m in 20.78secs, pushed
back by a -0.3 headwind wind.
Former World silver medallist Chris Williams of Jamaica followed
home in 20.93, with Brazilian Sandro Viana rounding off the top
three in 20.97.
Jamaica mapped their third win of the meeting when former Olympic
silver medallist McFarlane hurdled home first in the men's 400m
hurdles in a patient 49.36secs.
McFarlane, who just missed out at winning a medal in Beijing
recently defeated Belize's Jonathan Williams, 50.46, for second,
just ahead of American James Carter, who ran 50.51 for third.
In field event actions, Cuba's Misleidis González heaved
19.88m for second in the women's Shot Put, while Jamaica's Dorian
Scott finished third in the men's equivalent after throwing 19.73m.
|
T&T reclaim
top spot in CFU |
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,
Sep 3, 2008 (CMC): Eight-time
Caribbean Cup champions Trinidad and Tobago have climbed back
to the top of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings, following
recent wins over El Salvador and Cuba.
T&T knocked off El Salvador 3-1 in a friendly in mid-August
and then toppled the Cubans also 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier
on August 20.
Cuba, the CFU's No.1 team for July and August, dipped 12 places
on FIFA's latest rankings list -- released Wednesday -- to 92nd
while T&T jumped 12 spots to 80th and took over as the region's
top team.
T&T's Soca Warriors had been No.1 in the CFU for four consecutive
months from March to June, but gave way to Cuba -- in the summer
months -- after a shock loss to Bermuda in a first-leg World
Cup qualifier.
Suriname retained the No.2 spot in the region with a FIFA rating
of 84th, and the Cubans are now down to third, followed by Jamaica
(105th), with Guyana fifth in the CFU with a world rating of
112th.
The CFU's top ten is completed by Haiti (117th), Antigua &
Barbuda (122nd), Bermuda (125th), and Barbados (134th), with
Grenada (139th) in 10th position.
Mexico and the USA maintained their clear positions as dominant
teams in CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central America
and Caribbean Association Football.
Ranked 24th in the world, the Mexicans remain No.1 in CONCACAF
ahead of the USA, who are 28th.
Honduras stay third in the confederation at No.60 on the FIFA
list.
Costa Rica, 73rd in the world, are fourth in CONCACAF, ahead
of T&T, Canada (81st), Suriname, Cuba, Panama (96th) and
Guatemala (99th).
Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are in an unfamiliar position outside CONCACAF's
top ten, showing up as 11th in the current ratings. Among the
world's top teams, new European champions Spain retain the No.1
spot, stalked by Italy and Germany, with the Netherlands fourth
and Croatia fifth and Brazil sixth.
|
Ramgeet wins
Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes |
CLEVELAND, Ohio (CMC),
September 03, 2008: Jamaican
jockey Andrew Ramgeet piloted the four-year-old filly Pay the
Man to an easy win in the Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes horse
race at Thistledown racetrack on Saturday.
Pay the Man, an even-money favourite in a field of nine starters,
won the US$75,000 race over a mile and an eighth by eight lengths,
in a time of one minute 51.32 seconds.
Leading from the start to the end, Pay the Man became the first
Ohio-bred to win three stakes races in 2008.
Her stablemate Pyrite Gem (2-1) was second.
Pay The Man also won last year's renewal of the DeBartolo.
"This is a classy filly," said Ramgeet, her regular
rider.
"She just goes to the front and stays there," added
the three-time Jamaica champion jockey.
Pay the Man has won all three of her starts in Ohio this year
at Thistledown. She began with a score in the May 2 Angenora,
then added the June 21 Petro Memorial.
|
Double stakes
triumph for Maragh at Saratoga |
SARATOGA SPRINGS, New
York (CMC), September 03, 2008: Jamaican
jockey Rajiv Maragh enjoyed one of his best days in Saratoga
horse racing Monday when he scored two stakes victories on the
season-ending card.
Maragh, 23, landed the mile and an eighth Loudonville Stakes
and the 1 3/8th-mile Glens Falls Stakes and secured his top 10
spot in the riders' championship race.
He finished the 36-day meet with 19 wins to place joint seventh
in the title race, won by Alan Garcia (39).
Maragh landed the mile and an eighth US$81,750 Loudonville Stakes
astride the six-year-old gelding Tommasi in one minute 50.97
seconds.
After stalking the front-running 4-1 shot Johnie Bye Night for
most of the trip, Maragh roused the 7-1 bet for a winning run
entering the homestretch and pulled clear to win by three lengths.
Maragh also scored in the US$108,900 Glens Falls Stakes with
the 3-1 second favourite Hostess.
Coming from behind when the six-horse field straightened for
the stretch run, Hostess accelerated impressively under Maragh
and snatched victory by a neck over top jockey Edgar Prado with
Palmilla (6-1).
Hostess covered the 1 3/8th-mile trip in an inner-turf course
record 2:11.66.
Maragh was denied a third stakes win when his mount in the US$250,000
Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes, Cribnote (11-2), finished second
to the 9-1 winner Vineyard Haven under Garcia.
Vineyard Haven won by 2 1/4 lengths, covering the seven-furlong
trip in 1:23.40.
Top Saratoga Jockeys
1 Alan Garcia 39 wins
2 John Velazquez 36
3 Edgar Prado 32
4 Eibar Coa 30
5 Ramon Dominguez 27
6 Cornelio Velasquez 24
7 Rajiv Maragh 19
7 Julien Leparoux 19
9 Javier Castellano 16
9 Kent Desormeaux 16 Lausanne, Switzerland, September 3rd 2008: Asafa Powell
outclassed the century field, getting home in 9.72 seconds to
equal the second fastest legal time ever run n the men's 100
metres "A" race at the Athletissima 2008 Super Grand
Prix meet, in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. Powell's fellow-Jamaican,
Usain Bolt is the world record holder at 9.69 seconds, the clocking
he produced in striking gold at the 2008 Olympic Games, in Beijing,
China. Bolt has also run 9.72 with T&T's Marc Burns fifth
in 10.06 secs.
American Walter Dix was a distant second yesterday, returning
a time of 9.92 seconds. He finished ahead of Jamaicans Nesta
Carter (9.98) and Michael Frater (10.04).
T&T's 2008 Olympic Games men's 100m silver medallist Richard
Thompson was seventh in 10.21 seconds.
Another T&T athlete, Ato Stephens, clocked 45.74 seconds
to finish sixth in the men's 400m. The race was won by Olympic
champion LaShawn Merritt, the American quarter-miler completing
his lap of the track in 43.98 seconds. Olympic 400m hurdles gold
medallist Angelo Taylor was second in yesterday's one-lap race
in 44.38, while third spot was copped by Congo's Gary Kikaya
(45.01).
Bolt made light work of the opposition in the Athletissima 2008
200m. The 22-year-old sprint star stopped the clock at 19.63
seconds. Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles and American
Wallace Spearmon were second and third, respectively, clocking
20.24 and 20.54.
The first three crossed the line in the same places as in Beijing,
where Martina and Spearmon were both disqualified for running
out of lane.
Powell's 9.72 seconds
100m clocking was a personal best by two-hundredths of a second
and was one-tenth faster than his season's best, run in Monaco
before his relative loss of form on the Olympic stage where he
finished fifth.
"I'm very happy," Powell said. "It's a bit late.
But I'm very happy after all that I've been through this year."
Bolt praised his fellow Jamaican whose world record, set at 9.74,
he took in May.
"He (Asafa) did well tonight and I congratulate him,"
said Bolt, who ran 30 minutes after Powell electrified the Lausanne
crowd. "I guess he's doing pretty well now."
"Usain has always had a lot of respect for me," Powell
said. "So if I go out there and I run fast, it's not any
surprise."
Powell got a fast start and was quickly clear of a field that
included six Olympic 100m finalists. Running hard to the line,
he looked intently at the clock.
Powell was on the podium receiving his prize and a long, loud
ovation from the crowd of 14,000 while Bolt was preparing to
run his race.
The 22-year-old Jamaican blew past American Shawn Crawford-the
Olympic silver medallist in the lane outside him-on the bend
and drew clear before straightening up in his stride for the
final 15 metres.
"I'm tired," Bolt explained. "It's been a long
season, so I'm just trying to get through the season."
At the Beijing Olympics, Bolt grabbed 200m gold in a world record
time of 19.30 seconds to complete the men's sprint double. He
then teamed up with Carter, Frater and Powell for 4x100m gold,
again with a world record run, the Jamaican quartet clocking
37.10.
Jamaica's sprinting dominance at the Athletissima 2008 extended
to the women.
Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser confirmed Beijing form
with a winning time of 11.03 seconds, three-hundredths ahead
of her Jamaica teammate Kerron Stewart, who had taken silver
at the Olympics. Marshevet Hooker of the United States was third
in 11.09.
Delloreen Ennis-London, fifth in the women's 100m hurdles in
Beijing, overturned that result with victory in 12.60 seconds,
three-hundredths ahead of American gold medallist Dawn Harper.
LoLo Jones of the US, who seemed sure to win the Olympic title
before falling near the line, was fourth.
Yet another Jamaican, Olympic champion Melaine Walker posted
one of her quickest times this year as she clocked 53.73 seconds
for an easy win in the women's 400m hurdles. Walker was chased
by Poland's Anna Jesien (54.76) and Britain's Tasha Danvers (54.79)
in a repeat top-three placing of Sunday's British Grand Prix.
Dayron Robles of Cuba had talked of adding a world record in
Lausanne to his Olympic gold medal but suffered a surprising
defeat in the men's 110m hurdles.
David Oliver of the US won in 13.03 as Robles struck two of the
last three barriers, sending the last one crashing.
"He's beaten me three times this year. I've beaten him twice,"
Oliver said. "Always I was capable of running well. When
you come out here and perform, that's the big thing."
|
Antigua &
Barbuda top Group C qualifying |
GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman
(CMC), September 02, 2008: Antigua
and Barbuda outscored St Martin 3-2 and sailed into the second
stage of the Digicel Caribbean Football Championship as Group
C winners on Sunday.
In a fluctuating match at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, the
Antiguans led in the first half, but were forced to come from
behind after the break after the short-staffed French side amazingly
hit two unanswered goals past them.
Hosts Cayman Islands assured themselves of a spot in the next
round when they held Bermuda to a 0-0 draw to clinch second spot
in the group.
Group leaders Antigua and Barbuda took 44 minutes to score against
bottom of the table St Martin and only earned that advantage
a minute before half-time through good work from Jamie Thomas.
The forward found himself in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Jean-Luc
Marconnet, rounded him and scored into an empty net.
St Martin tied the game on 53 minutes when Markenson Pierre met
a cross from Stanislas Adams and scored from close range. Antigua
and Barbuda's job then appeared to become easier when the St
Martin defender Elvis Fleming was sent off for a reckless challenge
in the 55th minute.
But against the odds, St Martin went 2-1 up just three minutes
later when Pierre netted a fine goal, blasting a low shot to
the far post past Javid Joseph in the Antiguan goal.
Antigua and Barbuda made it 2-2 in the 68th minute when Thomas
smashed a deflected shot into the goal and the Leeward Islanders
snatched the victory a minute before the finish through Roy Gregory.
The evening's second game left Carl Brown celebrating, the former
Jamaica National coach - now in charge of the Cayman Islands
- guiding the underdogs to a goal-less draw and the point they
needed to advance.
Antigua and Barbuda topped the group with seven points, followed
by the Cayman Islands (five) and Bermuda (four). St Martin finished
on zero points.
Antigua & Barbuda will be joined by Group A champions Netherlands
Antilles, Group B winners Guyana, and the two other victors from
the groups in St Kitts & Nevis (Group D) and in Martinique
(Group E) later this month, along with the Cayman Islands - and
three other best second-placed teams - in the second stage of
the Digicel Caribbean Championship, a qualifier for the 2009
CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The second stage of the tournament will be composed of three
groups hosted by Guadeloupe, Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago from
October 11 to November 9.
The eight-team finals are scheduled for Jamaica from December
1-14.
The champions will earn a first prize of US$120,000. The runners-up
pocket US$70,000, while US$50,000 goes to the third-placed team
and US$30,000 for fourth position.
|
48 medals for
T&T masters |
Clermont, Florida, September 2, 2008: T&T finished
with a medal count of 25 gold, 14 silver and nine bronze medals
at the 23rd NACA Track and Field Regional Championships, which
ended yesterday in Clermont, Florida.
The T&T team, represented by 23 athletes, had the distinction
of winning more medals than any other national team attending
the championships.
Next International event for T&T masters will be the World
Games in London, England in 2009.
On account of the sterling performances over the weekend in Florida,
T&T has been offered the privelege of hosting the 24th NACAC
Regional Track and Field Championships in 2010.
Jamaica's New
York Reggae Boyz win NY Caribbean Cup
By Nelson King |
BROOKLYN, New York (CMC),
September 2, 2008: Jamaica's
New York Reggae Boyz beat St Kitts and Nevis 1-0 on a Damion
Powell goal Sunday to become the first team to capture the prestigious
Caribbean Cup title for a fourth successive season.
In front of an effervescent crowd at the Jefferson High School
Stadium, celebrated a fine win and also joined St Vincent and
the Grenadines (SVG) in winning the Cup for a record fifth time.
The Reggae Boyz had captured the title in 2001 when they beat
Grenada 3-2 in the final. SVG won the Cup in 1993, 1994, 1995,
1997 and 2000.
"I feel well excited right now - setting this record and
setting some standard so this competition can improve in years
to come," said Arthur 'Jetty' Mikes, the Jamaican coach,
in a CMC Sports interview.
Mikes attributed his team's success to discipline and technical
ability. St Kitts and Nevis gave their all in a robust duel but
the Jamaicans were too strong.
Jamaica got their winning goal on 23 minutes when a long pass
-- from the right flank -- by Reggae Boyz national Irvino English
found the head of Powell, who made no mistake in putting the
ball beyond the grasp of the St Kitts and Nevis goalkeeper Akil
Byron.
Jamaican goalkeeper Maurice Evans was spectacular in denying
the Kittitians' offence and was a standout in his team's triumph.
"We did not execute as well as we should have," said
Larry John, the St Kitts and Nevis head coach.
"They capitalised on the chance they had. I think their
goalkeeper was pretty outstanding. He really put on lot of pressure
on us."
Winning coach Mikes applauded the Kittitians for a "good
fight."
"I have to commend St Kitts and Nevis because they've
been knocking on the doors over the years - young team coming
up," he said.
"So, I have to give them good credit to reach this far,"
he added.
On their way to the Cup title, the New York Reggae Boyz beat
Barbados 4-0, drew with Columbia 1-1, swamped Dominica 8-1, and
drew with Antigua and Barbuda 1-1 in the preliminary round.
They then drew with Haiti 2-2 in the quarterfinal, and beat SVG
1-0 in the semis.
SVG took the third spot in the championship when a full Haitian
squad failed to show up for Sunday's encounter and forfeited
the game.
|
Cayman rescue
a point against Antigua-Barbuda in Digicel Championships |
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands,
September 1, 2008: On
the gusty heels of Hurricane Gustav the Cayman Islands sought
to raise their nation out of the doldrums with an important fixture
against the only other team that shared their
100 percent record in Group C of the Digicel Caribbean Championships.
Separated by only one goal in goal difference, Cayman and Antigua
& Barbuda knew that a loss could spell a category 4 disaster
to either of their aspirations at qualifying atop the Group C
standings in the Digicel Caribbean Championship.
So it came as little surprise that both teams started tentatively
in the opening moments of the game, with measured exchan
ges and neither team over committing in attack. Midfield gridlock
aptly describes the opening 15 minutes of play, with neitherteam
able to maintain possession.
The home crowd got a scare after quarter of an hour when Ireland-based
replacement goalkeeper, Tuda Murphy (one of severalwholesale
changes to the starting lineup), almost got embarrassed trying
to claim a loose ball he had no hope of getting. Mario Carter
and Calvin Jefford would show glimpses of their ability at the
other end when Carter looped a pass to Jefford who had found
a pocket of space on the edge of the Antigua & Barbuda box
only for Jefford to attempt an audacious lob of the keeper from
the penalty spot, that only just failed to get up and down in
time.
Buoyed by the home support of the "Caymaniacs", the
Reds settled fastest and held the edge in possession and attacking
opportunities in the opening 15 minutes. However the hero of
their last outing, Jefford, was definitely scouted by the Antiguans
who allowed him absolutely no time to settle in possession, receiving
special attention from both big center backs. But that didn't
stop him from nearly breaking the deadlock following a breakdown
in the basics with a tame back-pass by the A&B's. Antigua
& Barbuda are certainly the most physically imposing squad
within DCC's Group C, and right on cue they began to impose themselves
on Cayman. Firstly with a powerhouse drive from 25 yards by Ranja
Christian that had Tuda Murphy at his acrobatic best to parry
it wide with his outstretched left hand for a corner.
Having scored twice in his first fixture, Jamie Thomas was a
real cause for concern for the Cayman Islands, who man marked
the speedy striker into mostly dead end runs. But in minute 25
it was Thomas that was the catalyst for the best attack of the
game when he managed to draw Tuda Murphy out of his goal, and
fashion a cross that was met by a powerful header, that was eventually
caught by Murphy who had somehow scrambled back into position.
As the first half progressed, it was Antigua & Barbuda who
grew in confidence, testing Tuda on several occasions to see
if his keeping style was simply unconventional or truly eccentric.
They got an answer in minute 32 when Ranja Christian bulldozed
his way through Tuda, who hadn't collected cleanly from a square
from the right, despite brave attempts to clear it off the line
by the defenders, Christian would not be denied.
At this stage, Antigua & Barbuda looked the more focused,
and executed their tactics with more precision as the half began
to wane, however, they were almost caught napping at the back
when Cayman put together their best attacking move of the half
in minute 43, following a sequence with no fewer than 6 passes,
Leighton Elliot could only manage a tame shot that trickled into
the arms of a well positioned Javid Joseph.
At the break it seemed that Cayman could only muster a diluted
display post-Gustav, disappointing many in the stands who had
come out just hours after the storm had passed, looking for a
boost to their spirits. But those thoughts were soon displaced
when a reinvigorating team talk by Coach Carl Brown had the Caymanians
off to an improved start in the second half.
Cayman began the second half with the wind to their backs, and
got into the thick of things early on with a neat overlapping
run by half time substitute Carson Fagan who, with his very first
touches, tested Joseph at his near post.
The introduction of Fagan seemed a master stroke by Carl Brown,
as his pace and confidence began to seep into the play of his
teammates as well. It was Fagan's run that earned Cayman a free
kick near the goal line on the edge of the box. The resulting
set piece literally only needed a touch for it to enter the net,
however it never received it and the score remained 1-0 to Antigua
& Barbuda.
With Fagan flying down the flanks, the Caymanians were galvanized
in attack, winning three consecutive corners and getting a shot
off each time. He then earned another free-kick just on the edge
of the area and Mario Carter positioned to take it. Just as he
had placed the ball, the crowd began to chant "Let's go
Cayman, Let's go!!" for the first time in the game. As the
ball floated high to the far post, it was O'neill Taylor rising
head and shoulders above the defenders to plant a powerful low
header that somehow squeezed under Javid Joseph and squirted
into the net to send the crowd into raptures for the role they
played in that crucial strike, and the role that strike could
play in this crucial fixture. While the stadium may have kept
its roof in spite of Gustav, it was almost torn off by the rowdy
Caymanian crowd when Jefford attempted a bicycle kick in the
box for the winner. Despite three consecutive corners in the
closing moments of extra time, Cayman were unable to breach the
backline just one last time before the final whistle blew. Final
score 1-1 with neither Cayman nor Antigua & Barbuda any closer
to claiming the top spot in Group C of The Digicel Championship
as their own.
|
Powll shines
in Gateshead rain |
LONDON,
England (Reuters), Sept. 1, 2008: Olympic 400-metre hurdles
champion Melaine Walker and sprinter Asafa Powell logged Jamaican
victories at the Aviva British Grand Prix track and field meet
yesterday.
In rainy conditions at Gateshead, Powell sped to an easy win
in the men's 100 metres in 9.87 seconds, and Walker stepped away
from her rivals for a very solid victory win in 54.51 seconds.
Walker, responsible for one of six gold medals for Jamaica at
the recent Beijing Olympics in China, was unchallenged as she
came home almost a full second in front of Poland's Anna Jesien
(55.35). Britain's Tasha Danvers (55.61) was third.
"Heat in Beijing, rain in Gateshead, it doesn't bother me
at all," said Walker.
"It was just good to win," she added.
Meanwhile, Powell shrugged off his disappoi
"It would have been different in the Olympics if I had run
like this. But the past is the past and this is the present,"
Powell told reporters after his win.
He too was untested as his Jamaican training partner Nesta Carter
(10.13) and Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns (10.16) chased him
home.
Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, was fourth in 10.23 seconds.
Collins also raced in the 200 metres and placed sixth in 20.68
seconds, as reigning World Champion Tyson Gay won in 20.26 seconds,
ahead of fellow American Wallace Spearmon (20.41) and Ireland's
Paul Hession (20.61).
Antiguan Brendan Christian was fifth in 20.65 seconds.
Jamaica's Olympic 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser was beaten
into second spot by American Lauryn Williams, who went on to
cop the sprint double.
Williams (11.24) edged Fraser (11.29) in the 100 metres, in which
Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.42) and Jamaican Sherone
Simpson (11.67) placed third and eighth, respectively.
"It's a bit difficult to come down off the high of the Olympics
and I'm still feeling a little tired," said Fraser.
"I'd have loved to have won, but it just wasn't to be today,"
she added.
Williams clocked 22.65 in her 200-metre win, chased by Ferguson-McKenzie
(22.73) and Jamaican Olympic 400-metre silver medallist Shericka
Williams (22.80).
There were a few other top three results for Caribbean athletes
at the meet.
T&T's Ato Stephens (46.09) placed third in the men's 400
metres that Britain's Martyn Rooney (45.35) won, and Jamaican
Markino Buckley clocked 50.04 in the men's 400 hurdles, behind
Poland's Marek Plawgo (49.07) and American Bershawn Jackson (49.11).
Grenada's Randy Lewis placed second in the men's triple jump
at 16.51 metres, as Brazilian Jadel Gregorio emerged a huge winner
at 17.13 metres.
|
Bermuda score
seven against St Martin |
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands,
September 1, 2008: Having
been torn apart 4-0 vs. Antigua and Barbuda in their first Group
C fixture, the battling Bermudans gained entrance to seventh
heaven, with a tidal wave of goals against a shell-shocked St.
Martin.
Although Grand Cayman narrowly escaped the brunt of Hurricane
Gustav, the storms after effects were still being felt down at
pitch level, with gusty winds and water collecting on the field's
surface courtesy of a brief shower prior to Kickoff.
Within minutes of play it became clear that both teams would
have to adapt their game to suit the conditions; with St Martin
playing a high line for the offside trap, to counter Bermudas
irresistible pace upfront. But despite the ploy, the French collectivity
found themselves pinned back in their own half for extended periods.
It would be the Bermudans that would make the first forays into
their opponents final third, hydroplaning their way into positions
that disturbed the French quartet at the back. However they were
unable to trouble the keeper until minute 15 when a back heeled
return pass from the sprightly Damon Ming was skimmed into the
box only to have the striker finish like he was wearing flippers.
But Bermuda remained patient, with neat short passes. A quick
one-two between John Nusum and Ming "the merciless"
on the edge of the 18 yard box almost resulted in a goal, but
instead ended just wide of the target.
With chances piling upon chances, Bermudas frustration at not
finding the net prompted an impromptu switch of position between
wingers Damon Ming and Reginald Lambe. Literally two minutes
after the switch had been made the desired result was found,
when Ming's cross was at first missed completely by Stephen Astwood,
but sat up nicely for Reginald Lambe to start the slaughter,
with a right footed tap in from point blank range.
Once goal number one had been scored the proverbial floodgates
opened as Bermuda upped the ante just three minutes later in
minute 25, with a reversal of the previous goal, this time the
finished supplied by Ming following a kosher delivery by Lambe,
the score now 2-0.
Moments later, collective sighs of disappointment reverberated
from the grandstand when Lambe released Jemieko Jenning with
a pass that bisected the midfield; marooned the keeper and left
Jennings man against post - with the post coming out on top.
That disappointment was soon forgotten though, as on the stroke
of halftime Lambe capped an exceptional first half performance
with an alert individual play, that saw him intercept an errant
pass, accelerate around the flapping Marconnet and tickle the
twine with an easy 3rd goal for Bermuda.
Bermuda could easily have lead 5-0 at the break, and were looking
to make up for missed opportunities in the second half. Again
Lambe lead the charge and was anything but meek in his onslaught.
With pace and persistence he dispossessed Jerome Beausol on the
edge of the area, and then bundled the fourth goal into the back
of the net whilst sliding on his chest, with the St. Martin defenders
lobbying the linesman in vain to raise his neon checkered flag.
His hat-trick now in the bag, the 17-year old Lambe, who had
never scored for Bermuda in his previous seven international
appearances, was put into a more central strikers position and
was involved in the 5th goal as well - feeding Jason Davies who
released Antonio Lowe to a simple finish past a dejected Marconnet
in goal.
Goal six fell like dominoes. Left all alone, Reginald Lambe chopped
the keeper, and followed with another tap in to make it half
a dozen for the high flying Bermudans in the 83rd minute.
With literally seconds remaining in the match, 16-year old substitute
Casey Castle crowned a majestic display with a regal run; shuffling
through several challenges to again poke it past the keeper to
take the Bermudans to seventh heaven, mathematically eliminating
St Martin who had conceded 10 goals in 2 games, and 3 crucial
points in their second fixture of Group C in the Digicel Caribbean
Championships.
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