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Warriors in Kingston
ANOTHER ANTICIPATED DERBY AT THE 'OFFICE'
Sunday’s friendly international between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica has enjoyed a colourful build up with both teams encountering their fair share of prematch interaction with the stakeholders and fans wherever they appeared ahead of the Caribbean derby at the National Stadium in Kingston which kicks off at 7pm (6pm Jamaica time).
This spanned from an outburst of Jamaican onlookers at the T&T training session, to the gentle reminders from school kids of Jamaica’s 1998 World Cup appearance to a verbal boost from
Jamaican Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange for the “Reggae Boyz”.
Jamaicans love their football, matter of fact they love sports on a whole and they are keen followers of the game and as well as T&T’s history in it. It’s been customary to hear the names Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Stern John, Arnold Dwarika and Jerren Nixon in the Jamaican accent being hurled around the training venues. That was the case when the T&T team was present in the land of Reggae for a 2002 World Cup qualifier in February 2001. And it was no different when the team bus pulled up at St George’s College ground for training on Friday evening shortly before 6pm. It was almost as if the same group of men had been turning up on site near a T&T team for the past decade or more. They were quick to remind those present about the threat of Dwarika’s skill in the middle and Nixon’s pace on the flank. This time there was a new addition to the list – Kenwyne Jones. “A whey Kenwyne Jones... im come fi play pon Sunday?” one man asked.
Then came the obvious as Latapy led the team onto the training field.
“Im (him) Latapy ah de Greatest in de West Indies. Im ah genius… Im an Yorke”
Then an argument broke out as to who was better between Latapy and Yorke and as the team began its warm up under a sudden downpour of rain, one could easily hear the same men shouting “Trini Yuh inna big chobble (trouble) pon Sunday”.
Latapy would have hoped for more football than talk as the players were forced to leave the field after only 15 minutes because of severe lightening and rainfall. The host team meantime had a 4pm session at the National Stadium. T&T however will train at the game venue from 6pm on Saturday.
Jamaican Sports Minister Grange made it her turn to respond to Anil Roberts’ comment earlier this month about a much needed T&T victory.
“My counterpart Minister, Minister Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago has said to his team that there is a lot at stake and they can’t afford to lose, they must win. Well I am saying to the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica that we believe in you, and we know that you are going to go out there and do your best. We have a tradition in sports, we are talented and we train hard and we always continue to excel in sport so we know you’re going to go out there and do your best,” Grange said in a public appeal that was played at the press conference by the Jamaican Football Federation officials for all to hear including the T&T contingent.
She continued: “ I’m saying to Jamaican fans out there to fill out the stadium. The Reggae Boyz need all the support and all the wonderful love you have to give so come out and fill the stadium and be there for them. Yes Minster Roberts, a lot is at stake… Jamaica has started the Road to Brazil. Reggae Boyz,” she told them “‘Don’t play mas, play hard and go for it.”
Latapy was asked on more than one occasion by the Jamaican reporters to comment on Roberts’ ultimatum regarding the head coach position.
“It’s a rivalry and I think he (Roberts) wants Trinidad to win every game just like everybody wants. Again it is a process and where we are right now, we are building towards the Digicel Cup and hopefully we’ll be there ready for it,” Latapy said.
Looking ahead to the encounter, Latapy told TTFF Media “We won’t divulge too much of our plans except to say that hopefully they can see it on Sunday. My job is to coach a football team to the best that they can and I think if we can produce that on the day then it should be good enough to come out victorious.”
“It is important to win games but it’s not a personal thing with me. It’s more about putting out the best football on the pitch and have them play the best possible game and if that happens then I would be satisfied.”
San Jose Earthquakes striker Cornell Glen will be coming up against teammate Ryan Johnson who is in the Jamaica line up. But Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller, also in Kingston for the encounter, will not have to worry about the threat of Jones. T&T’s line up could see debutant Yohance Marshall in the back line with DC United’s Julius James, Daneil Cyrus and Kern Cupid all available. Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling scored for T&T in the 3-1 loss to Jamaica earlier this year and is hope to turn the table.
Jamaica’s team has been strengthened by the inclusion of Fuller, Kansas City Wizards' Shavar Thomas, San Jose Earthquakes Ryan Johnson, New York Red Bull's Dane Richards Shaun Francis of the Columbus Crew and SK Brann's Rodolph Austin.
“This time we should be better prepared for the match and I think playing away from home may not be such a bad thing. We want to play good football and bring home the result,” Jorsling said.
Mexican Armando Archundia will carry the whistle in Sunday’s affair. He officiated the 2010 World Cup third place match between Germany and Uruguay. The JFF has also promised surprised appearances by some of the country’s well known reggae and dancehall artistes at half time.
Warriors in Kingston
ANOTHER ANTICIPATED DERBY AT THE 'OFFICE'
Sunday’s friendly international between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica has enjoyed a colourful build up with both teams encountering their fair share of prematch interaction with the stakeholders and fans wherever they appeared ahead of the Caribbean derby at the National Stadium in Kingston which kicks off at 7pm (6pm Jamaica time).
This spanned from an outburst of Jamaican onlookers at the T&T training session, to the gentle reminders from school kids of Jamaica’s 1998 World Cup appearance to a verbal boost from
Jamaican Sports Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange for the “Reggae Boyz”.
Jamaicans love their football, matter of fact they love sports on a whole and they are keen followers of the game and as well as T&T’s history in it. It’s been customary to hear the names Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Stern John, Arnold Dwarika and Jerren Nixon in the Jamaican accent being hurled around the training venues. That was the case when the T&T team was present in the land of Reggae for a 2002 World Cup qualifier in February 2001. And it was no different when the team bus pulled up at St George’s College ground for training on Friday evening shortly before 6pm. It was almost as if the same group of men had been turning up on site near a T&T team for the past decade or more. They were quick to remind those present about the threat of Dwarika’s skill in the middle and Nixon’s pace on the flank. This time there was a new addition to the list – Kenwyne Jones. “A whey Kenwyne Jones... im come fi play pon Sunday?” one man asked.
Then came the obvious as Latapy led the team onto the training field.
“Im (him) Latapy ah de Greatest in de West Indies. Im ah genius… Im an Yorke”
Then an argument broke out as to who was better between Latapy and Yorke and as the team began its warm up under a sudden downpour of rain, one could easily hear the same men shouting “Trini Yuh inna big chobble (trouble) pon Sunday”.
Latapy would have hoped for more football than talk as the players were forced to leave the field after only 15 minutes because of severe lightening and rainfall. The host team meantime had a 4pm session at the National Stadium. T&T however will train at the game venue from 6pm on Saturday.
Jamaican Sports Minister Grange made it her turn to respond to Anil Roberts’ comment earlier this month about a much needed T&T victory.
“My counterpart Minister, Minister Roberts of Trinidad and Tobago has said to his team that there is a lot at stake and they can’t afford to lose, they must win. Well I am saying to the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica that we believe in you, and we know that you are going to go out there and do your best. We have a tradition in sports, we are talented and we train hard and we always continue to excel in sport so we know you’re going to go out there and do your best,” Grange said in a public appeal that was played at the press conference by the Jamaican Football Federation officials for all to hear including the T&T contingent.
She continued: “ I’m saying to Jamaican fans out there to fill out the stadium. The Reggae Boyz need all the support and all the wonderful love you have to give so come out and fill the stadium and be there for them. Yes Minster Roberts, a lot is at stake… Jamaica has started the Road to Brazil. Reggae Boyz,” she told them “‘Don’t play mas, play hard and go for it.”
Latapy was asked on more than one occasion by the Jamaican reporters to comment on Roberts’ ultimatum regarding the head coach position.
“It’s a rivalry and I think he (Roberts) wants Trinidad to win every game just like everybody wants. Again it is a process and where we are right now, we are building towards the Digicel Cup and hopefully we’ll be there ready for it,” Latapy said.
Looking ahead to the encounter, Latapy told TTFF Media “We won’t divulge too much of our plans except to say that hopefully they can see it on Sunday. My job is to coach a football team to the best that they can and I think if we can produce that on the day then it should be good enough to come out victorious.”
“It is important to win games but it’s not a personal thing with me. It’s more about putting out the best football on the pitch and have them play the best possible game and if that happens then I would be satisfied.”
San Jose Earthquakes striker Cornell Glen will be coming up against teammate Ryan Johnson who is in the Jamaica line up. But Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller, also in Kingston for the encounter, will not have to worry about the threat of Jones. T&T’s line up could see debutant Yohance Marshall in the back line with DC United’s Julius James, Daneil Cyrus and Kern Cupid all available. Defence Force striker Devorn Jorsling scored for T&T in the 3-1 loss to Jamaica earlier this year and is hope to turn the table.
Jamaica’s team has been strengthened by the inclusion of Fuller, Kansas City Wizards' Shavar Thomas, San Jose Earthquakes Ryan Johnson, New York Red Bull's Dane Richards Shaun Francis of the Columbus Crew and SK Brann's Rodolph Austin.
“This time we should be better prepared for the match and I think playing away from home may not be such a bad thing. We want to play good football and bring home the result,” Jorsling said.
Mexican Armando Archundia will carry the whistle in Sunday’s affair. He officiated the 2010 World Cup third place match between Germany and Uruguay. The JFF has also promised surprised appearances by some of the country’s well known reggae and dancehall artistes at half time.
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