Snak

Fabián Cubero: "Todos tenemos méritos para salir campeones"

BUENOS AIRES -- El defensor y capitán de Vélez Sársfield, Fabián Cubero, evitó el martes entrar en comparaciones con los otros tres rivales en la pelea por el título del Torneo Inicial y afirmó que todos hicieron "méritos para salir campeones".

"La idea era pelear el campeonato hasta el final, como venimos haciendo desde hace varios años", comentó Cubero, uno de los máximos referentes del equipo de Liniers, donde jugó más de 500 partidos, en diálogo con la prensa.

Según el Poroto, "en este torneo los punteros se habían escapado", pero una seguidilla de "cuatro triunfos, sumado a que los de arriba no pudieron ganar" le dio a su equipo "la posibilidad de salir campeón".

Vélez, con 30 puntos, recibirá el domingo al líder, San Lorenzo (32), en el partido decisivo por el título en el Inicial, mientras que Newell´s-Lanús (ambos con 30 puntos) también tienen chances de alcanzar un desempate y jugarán a la misma hora en Rosario.

"De los cuatro equipos que hoy estamos ahí arriba, todos tenemos méritos para salir campeones", comentó el defensor, al tiempo que agregó: "Los cuatro tenemos cierta presión para poder lograr el título".

El encuentro que enfrentará al Fortín y al Ciclón el próximo domingo tiene similitudes con el del 5 de julio de 2009, cuando en un cotejo decisivo, por la última fecha, Vélez, segundo, venció 1-0 a Huracán, puntero, y salió campeón del Torneo Clausura.

Cubero resaltó que "Vélez está frente a una situación que no puede desaprovechar" y que "la localía y el hecho de tener experiencia en este tipo de partidos suma".

En cuanto a San Lorenzo, rival del domingo en el José Amalfitani, por la última fecha del Torneo Inicial, donde solo concurrirá público local, Cubero destacó el parejo rendimiento del equipo de Boedo.

"Vamos a enfrentar a un equipo que está bien armado y que hizo un buen torneo hasta acá. Lo más peligroso de San Lorenzo son las individualidades, sobre todo de tres cuartos de cancha hacía adelante", puntualizó.

Por último, el experimentado defensor, de 34 años, se pronunció a favor de la continuidad de Ricardo Gareca, cuyo contrato vence el 31 de diciembre, como entrenador fortinero` cualquiera sea el resultado del partido domingo.

"La continuidad de Gareca no pasa por este partido. Es un técnico que tiene el respaldo suficiente por los títulos que consiguió en el club", cerró.

´Pepe´ Goodison released on bail

LONDON (CMC) -- Jamaica International footballer Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison has been released on bail following his arrest in connection with his alleged involvement in match fixing in Britain.

Goodison, who represented Jamaica from 1996 to 2009 and retired after 120 appearances and 11 goals, is among six men fingered in a match-fixing probe.

Britain´s National Crime Agency (NCA) said it is investigating spot-fixing involving Football League players being paid to get yellow and red cards.
All six men have been released on bail until April.

The Sun newspaper named Goodison, who played in Jamaica´s historic World Cup Finals appearance in 1998 in France, as one of six men arrested on Sunday.

Goodison plays for Tranmere Rovers in England where he has made 402 appearances and scored 13 times, since 2004.

"Tranmere Rovers is aware of reports in today´s media regarding Ian Goodison,” the club said in a statement.

“As it is an ongoing investigation, the club has no further comment at this time.

It´s official!

Bubbly MoBay, H’View to meet in first-round final

TUCKER, St James — August Town earned a valuable point after a late goal gave them a 1-1 draw against high-riding Montego Bay United at Wespow Park as the first round of the Red Stripe Premier League ended on Sunday afternoon, snapping a four-game losing skid.

The draw formalises Montego Bay´s place in the end-of-round final with 21 points, where they will go on to meet defending league champions Harbour View, who went into yesterday´s late game against Tivoli Gardens with an unassailable 20 points.

Lennox Creary´s sizzling free kick, from just on the edge of the box, went over the wall and flew past goal-keeper Jacomeno Barrett in the 91st minute for August Town´s late equaliser.

Lesley St Fleur had given the home team the lead after just 11 minutes when he headed home, but he missed several other chances and, according to coach

Donovan Duckey, the team "paid dearly".
Promoted August Town inched up to 11 points from their 11 games.

Both teams welcomed the point, and the much-travelled Bradley Stewart, who joined the August Town team on Tuesday, told the Jamaica Observer that "a point on the road is golden, especially when we are up against one of the top teams".

Stewart said further he expected "a difficult game, but I think the players acquitted themselves very well today". He explainined that he was not surprised when Montego Bay took the lead".

Duckey, who made six changes to his regular starting line-up, said while his team failed to get the win, "we achieved a lot of objectives".

"The main one (objective) was to test the strength of our bench and I was pleased with how they performed, they distinguished themselves," said the Monetego Bay coach.

"This is the Premier League, and we needed to see what we had, and we created several chances and should have scored three or four goals today, but such is football," Duckey added.

Despite resting a number of top players, Montego Bay got into their rhythm early and pushed the August Town team back into their own defensive area with St Fleur and Kemiro James leading the attack.

A good move down the left flank led to the game´s first goal after at least four Montego Bay United players touched the ball, then James crossing it dangerously into the area for St Fleur to finish off the play with a merciless header past goalkeeper Kevin Graham.

August Town had their first shot at goal in the 84th minute, a tame one from Kevin Wilson that Barrett dealt with easily.

A needless foul on the edge of the box in time added, however, led to a free kick that Creary hammered out of the reach of the goalkeeper high into the far right corner of the goal to give August Town their precious point.
Teams:

MONTEGO BAY UNITED — Jacomeno Barrett, Fabian McCarthy, Winston Wilkinson, Ladale Richie, Cordel Simpson, Graeme Green (Allan Ottey-54th), Orlando McBayne, Mauracio Gordon (Dino William-68th), Kenio James (Jermaine Woozencroft-86th), Evan Taylor, Lesly St Fleur.

Subs not used: R Jones, K Kirlew, D Anbusley, J Barrett

Booked: Simpson (43rd), Gordon (65th), Barrett (85th)


AUGUST TOWN — Kevin Graham, Rupert Murray, Jeffrey Grant, Gerald Neil (Gue Daley-58th), Shamar Brown, Ricardo Harriott, Davion Alves (Chauncey Delahaye-52nd), Jerome Wedderburn (Rohan Williams-76th), Nicholas Smith, Kevin Wilson, Lennox Creary.
Subs not used: D Haughton, L Russell, M Bennett, K Whyte

Booked: Graham (94th)

Referee: Gawayne Scott

Assistants: Garnett page, Terrence McKenzie

Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard

Match Commissary: Tracey Reid

Sporting end first round on high with scalp of Boys´ Town

TOLL GATE, Clarendon — Linval ´Pala´ Wilson, the Sporting Central Academy coach, has lauded his players for ending the first-round of the Red Stripe Premier League on a high.

The Clarendon side blanked Boys´ Town 2-0 on Sunday at their Juici Patties Park home base to improve their points total to 14 from 11 games — just two adrift of the top four.

That tally, as modest as it is, looked a dim prospect after their first
seven games.

Sporting had earned only six points from a possible 21, suffering five defeats while winning two. However, following the resignation of coach Merron Gordon in November, the team went on to earn eight points from a possible 12 in their last four first-round outings.

In that period, they drew 1-1 against Humble Lion in the Clarendon derby at Effortville, before recording victories over promoted August Town (3-2) and Boys´ Town — sandwiched by a 0-0 stalemate at Tivoli Gardens. However, it is the Boys´ Town performance that best pleased Wilson, who is now working alongside the club´s former head coach Nigel Stewart.

It was only the second time this season that Sporting were winning a game with a clean sheet, the other coming against Harbour View in their opening game of the season.

Wilson said: "We set out to get the maximum nine points from the last three games because we wanted to end the first round in about sixth or seventh. That 0-0 draw at Tivoli last week means we fall short." (They are now in eighth.) "But we are very grateful for this victory. Today, the players executed the game plan."

He added: "We have been creating a lot of chances, but haven´t been scoring so we are thankful for these two today."

And they could have even scored more, especially the teenaged attacking midfielder, Cory Hylton, who got both goals.

The youngster, who played schoolboy football at both Denbigh High and Lennon High, opened the scoring in minute 37 with a beautiful effort — blasted home with the outside of his right foot — after being played through by captain Francois Swaby.

The same combination was responsible for the second goal when Swaby picked up a headed pass from the towering Melford Simpson and cut back the ball nicely for Hylton, who even had time to control before slotting past the helpless Boys´ Town goalie, Leon Goffe. But, just 15 minutes later, Hylton, who has so far netted three goals, missed a glorious chance — an even easier one than the previous two — to record his first top-flight hat-trick.

Again, the opening was created by Swaby - the team´s leading goalscorer with five goals — whose opportunistic effort ricocheted off the frame of the goal and fell nicely for Hylton. But, seemingly, caught in two minds, the 19-year-old hesitated then opted to stoop and head the ball tamely into Goffe´s welcoming arms — when it might have been easier for him to open his body and tap intothe net.

Nonetheless, the coach was full of praise for the match winner. "He is a youngster with a lot of potential," Wilson told the Jamaica Observer. "He has been putting in the work."

Price optimistic of Boys´ Town rally

TOLL GATE, Clarendon — Coach Andrew Price remains optimistic that Boys´ Town will improve gradually as the Red Stripe Premier League season progresses, following an indifferent first-round showing.

On Sunday, the Red Brigade suffered their fourth defeat of the season, beaten 2-0 at Sporting Central Academy -- a result that leaves them sitting ninth in the 12-team league on 13 points after winning three and drawing four of their 11 games so far.

Boys´ Town actually started the contest positively, and had at least two good goalscoring opportunities, but were largely second best at Juici Patties Park.

"It was a very lethargic performance," Price lamented. "We didn´t turn up to play today, so we paid the price. Give credit to Sporting Central. They played like they wanted (the points)."
He´s, however, hopeful they will eventually get it right by the time the second round swings into full gear.

"I think we will bounce back. We are a club that never say die, so it´s all about keeping them in that frame of mind," Price explained, before adding that he will also be looking to bolster the squad when the January transfer window opens.

No money for Harbour View!

RSPL points champion to collect $1m after three rounds, says PLCA

CONTRARY to popular belief, there will be no prize money for the Red Stripe Premier League first and second round winners. Instead, that accumulated $1 million will be paid to the team that emerged with the most points after three rounds.

The popular End of Round finals have been scrapped by the organisers and Andrew Price, general manager of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) on Sunday, told the Jamaica Observer why.

"The PLCA board and directors agreed that to reward the team that accumulates the most points after the three preliminary rounds we would present that team with $1 million for being the rounds champion," he pointed out.

"Basically what we are looking at is utilising the funding that would have been given before the End of Round finals and pool that money together to give the team that have secured the most points as the champion of the rounds," Price noted.

Harbour View ended the first round as champions recovering from a poor start in which they had one point from three games to emerge on top with 23 points, inclusive of winning seven of their last eight games.

Both Montego Bay United and Harbour View started the day on 20 points heading into the final fixture of the first round and while a late goal denied Montego Bay three points, Harbour View benefited from basically the last kick of the match to defeat Tivoli Gardens 1-0 at Compound.

Tivoli´s Dwayne Smith saw his well-taken free kick rebound off the upright and the ensuing counter-attack saw Brian Brown ramming home a beautiful left footer in the 90+3 minutes to steal a dramatic victory for Harbour View.

It was Brown´s seventh goal of the season, which puts him atop of the goalscoring chart ahead of Jermaine Anderson on six.

Harbour View winning coach Harold Thomas said it was a rewarding victory for the work they put in the first round.

"We started poorly but we worked hard and we always knew that hard work would pay off. It´s still a long way to go, especially with the new format, but what we will try and do is consolidate and continue to improve," he noted.

Tivoli Gardens head coach Glendon ´Admiral´ Bailey was livid after he instructed his team to play it safe and settle for a point with time running out.

"I think we played a good tactical disciplined game, but we had a breakdown in added time," noted Bailey.

Tivoli Gardens, with three wins, six draws and two defeats, ended the round in fifth spot on 15 points.


Teams:

Harbour View — Devon Haughton, Xavean Virgo, Clifton Waugh, Dicoy Williams, Kemar Lawrence, Damarley Oliver, Keith Kelly (Ranique Muir 63rd), Joel Senior, John-Ross Edwards, McKaully Tulloch (Donovan Edwards 78th), Brian Brown.

Subs not used: Michaud Barrett, Kevaughn Frater, James Durrant, Shaun Dewar, Dejanni Isaacs.

Booked: Oliver (42nd), Edwards (55th), (90+3).



Tivoli Gardens — Edsel Scott, Christopher Jackson, Kasai Hinds, Ranike Anderson, Kemar Flemmings, Andre Morgan (Dawyne Smith 81st), Rohan Reid, Jameel Thompson, Andre McFarlene, Rafeik Thomas (Akeem Brown 80th), Navion Boyd.

Subs not used: Deron Duncan, Shawn McKoy, Shavar Campbell, Richard Allison, Robert Williams.

Booked: Anderson (9th), Scott (44th), Hinds (50th)

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Keeble Williams, Omar Mills

Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell

Match Commissary: Charles Barrett

Coach Demands More From Hodges

Rivoli United´s head coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, wants more from his marquee player Devon Hodges.

This is as a result of the slow start he has had to the 2013/2014 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season.

To date, Hodges has netted three goals from 11 games, with only one coming from open play. The other two goals were converted a penalty and a 25-yard free kick.

The latter was a 60th-minute strike, which gave his team a 1-0 win over Humble Lion at Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday.

The win, which was only Rivoli´s second at home so far this season and first over a team currently in the top six, moved them one place up the 12-team standings to seventh on 15 points.

"He (Hodges) is the top striker, but he has been having a lean season," Fitzgerald expressed. "He has only scored three goals and the three times that he has scored we won the match. We are hoping that he can now begin to score some more goals for us."

Hodges, who has 10 caps and two goals for the national senior team, was the league´s leading scorer in the 2008/09 season (24 goals) and joint-leading scorer in the 2009/2010 season (18 goals). He then went on two loan spells in the Vietnamese league, but returned to Rivoli last year and helped them gain promotion to the RSPL from the South Central Confederation Super League.

TEAM DEPENDS ON ME

"The team depends on me a lot and I have to just deliver for them," the 29-year-old Hodges shared. "For the last four games I haven´t scored, so this goal (against Humble Lion) is very special to me and the team."

The first half of Sunday´s match did not provide much by way of goal-mouth action, partially due to some stout defending, which included some bruising challenges.

Three players, one from Humble Lion and two from Rivoli, played the majority of the match with their head bandaged.

The second half saw the teams being more enterprising and after Hodges had opened the scoring, Ajuran Brown should have pulled Humble Lion level in the 68th minute. However, he fired on to the crossbar from point blank range.

Humble Lion, which have now gone six games without a win - scoring only one goal in the process - lie sixth on goal difference with 15 points.

"I think where we are suffering at the moment badly is upfront," Humble Lion´s coach, Geoffrey Maxwell, reasoned. "When a man can be half a yard in front of goal like what Ajuran Brown got and miss, that sums it up."

Julio Buffarini: "Seguimos dependiendo de nosotros"

BUENOS AIRES -- El lateral volante de San Lorenzo Julio Buffarini confió el martes que el domingo le jugarán "de igual a igual" a Vélez en Liniers por el título del torneo Inicial, al tiempo que llamó a que "no haya violencia" en ese duelo cargado de rivalidad.

"Al margen de lo que pasó con Estudiantes, tenemos dos puntos de ventaja, seguimos dependiendo de nosotros", sostuvo Buffarini al término del entrenamiento.

Buffarini se mostró cauteloso por "el plantel y la experiencia" de Vélez y, aunque hace dos partidos que San Lorenzo no gana, resaltó que "cada vez que tuvimos que levantarnos de un golpe lo hicimos".

El cordobés finalmente se consolidó como lateral por derecha, pese a su dificultad inicial, a instancias de la insistencia del entrenador Juan Antonio Pizzi.

El exjugador de Ferro Carril Oeste admitió que hay "ansiedad" en el grupo, alimentada por el período sin jugar, y que para calmarla tratan de "disfrutar en todo momento el entrenamiento".

Al hablar por televisión, se imaginó un "lindo mano a mano" con el lateral izquierdo de Vélez, Emiliano Papa, por considerar que tienen "casi las mismas características" de irse al ataque.

Buffarini elogió el "gran rival que es Vélez, que tiene experiencia y sabe jugar este tipo de partidos", pero resaltó que "tenemos jugadores y personalidad para ir a jugarle a Vélez de igual a igual".

Buffarini hizo un llamado a la cordura sobre ese nuevo duelo que desde años viene golpeado con la violencia y dos muertes.

"Que no haya violencia en el fútbol y que gane el mejor", pidió.

Nickle Looks To Increase Value For Team

Adoah Nickle thought he had given Portmore United a rare gift yesterday - a win - when he struck the back of the net on two occasions to give them the lead.

The former Bridgeport High player handed the struggling former champions the lead in his team´s Red Stripe Premier League encounter with Waterhouse in the fourth and 24th minutes. On both occasions the six-footer saw his strike cancelled out by Jermaine Anderson - with a beauty in the 13th minute and from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute - as both teams ended 2-2.

Anderson´s double strike dashed Nickle´s hope of handing his club their second win of the season and kept the St Catherine-based team firmly planted at the foot of the table, two points behind Arnett Gardens who still have a game in hand. Waterhouse, with the one point gained, remained third.

"I really thought we would have won it after those two goals. We had the momentum going with us and really should have won. It was just one or two misunderstandings at the back that cost us," a disappointed Nickle said at the end of the game.

Despite not picking up the win, Nickle remains a believer in his team´s abilities.

"I am confident that we will turn it around in the second round.

"What we need now is even more confidence. We were not playing with a lot of confidence in the early part of the round but that is coming now. We were not playing as a team and with the right spirit. Some people were being really selfish, but we are getting it together now," the former Jamaica Under-20 invitee said.

To get his team on the right track, Nickle said he will do his part.

"This is my third goal. I think I did well today and will continue to fight hard to score more because goals are what the team needs. If I score then I give my team a chance of winning and if both happen that could benefit me as well.

TOP GOALSCORER

"My aim for the season is to compete for the top goalscorer award. I am working hard at it and I know it will come. We have the players in the team who will create the opportunities for us and once they keep coming I will score," said the player, whose elder brother, Layton Barrett, starred in the Premier League.

With three goals so far, Nickle has netted half of his highest tally in a season and believes that if he stays on track he may be able to achieve even more of his goals.

"I have never played for the national team before and I want to do that. I have been called up for the Under-20 team before but have never been a part of the senior squad; but I know what I have to do to get there. Goals are what I have to score to get there and I am working on that because it is only goals that will give me the opportunity.

"It is also a dream of mine to play abroad, but the national team will have to come first," the ambitious player said.

Joevin Jones set for Italy trial with Udinese

Twenty-two year old DIRECTV W Connection starlet and “Soca Warrior” utility player Joevin Jones should leave for Italy by next weekend and a 12-day trial with mid-table Serie A team, Udinese Calcio.

Jones, who helped Connection to secure the 2013 Toyota Classic crown with a 2-0 win over Club Sando last night, is his club’s highest scorer this season with five goals in all competitions while he has been a fixture in the Trinidad and Tobago national senior team for the past three years.

Connection owner David John Williams hopes Jones’ fine form helps earn him a move to a team that has employed unique talents like retired Brazil legend Zico, Chile and Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez and present Udinese captain and Italy international Antonio Di Natale.

“Joevin has to be there by the 10th of December,” Williams told Wired868. “The Italian season breaks on the 22nd (of December) and restarts on the 6th of January. Hopefully he can impress and be asked to return (after the winter break).”

If Jones is successful, he will become the second Trinidad and Tobago player to sign for a Serie A club. His Connection teammate Silvio Spann signed for Perugia as a 20-year-old in 2001 but never played in the top flight and his only outings in Italy came while on loan at Serie C team, Sambenedettese.

In 2001, Spann had failed to force his way into the national under-20 team and it was another two years before he made his first start for the international senior team. In contrast, Jones, the son of former “Strike Squad” defender Kelvin Jones, already has 33 full international caps and has played in a CONCACAF Gold Cup and two CONCACAF Champions League tournaments.

Williams claimed Connection has had talks with several interested European clubs about Jones including present England Championship leader, Leicester City, big spending French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Spanish outfit Real Betis. However, Udinese made the first move.

“Leicester wanted to bring him over but they were concerned about the work permit situation as Trinidad and Tobago is still ranked outside the top 70 nations,” said Williams. “But Udinese was first to offer him a trial…

“It is a massive, massive opportunity for the boy. Obviously he is talented; the biggest challenge for him is dealing with the cold.”

Jones’ brilliant solo effort and two clever assists against Guaya United in the Classic semi-final underlined his status as the Pro League’s most entertaining player at present and Williams waited until after the final whistle, last night, to tell him the good news.

“I didn’t tell Joevin until after the (Classic final),” said Williams, “and he made a promise to give it his best shot. There was a joke in the dressing room that just now we will not have a team.

“If Joevin goes in the next transfer window, we will definitely have to bring in some new faces.”

At present, Connection is six points clear atop the Pro League team with a game in hand and a maximum 15 points from five outings.

Technically, Jones will be available when the “Savonetta Boys” play away to Guaya United in the TTFA FA Trophy on Wednesday December 4 and then face Central FC in League action on Saturday December 7.

Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier suggested that he would consider using Jones against Guaya but, at the moment, is still undecided. Fevrier revealed that he does not intend to scrap Connection’s present formation, which was tailor-made for Jones and features the Italy-bound Warrior as a roving playmaker ahead of two holding midfielders and behind a mobile front three.

“We will not change the system,” said Fevrier. “We have Bebo (Jomal Williams), Yefer (Lozano) and (Yhon) Lopez. Any one of those three can function in that role.”

Connection may have already lost three other players to Vietnam for the remainder of the season. Trinidad and Tobago international defender Daneil Cyrus moved on loan to Hanoi T&T last month while former national youth team strikers Jerrel Britto and Jamal Clarence hope to complete moves to Song Lam Nghe.

However, another starlet, 21-year-old Shahdon Winchester, has returned from his loan stint with Finland Premier League team, FF Jaro, and will be back in Connection gear when the transfer window opens on December 23.

“We have eight League games in January and four in February, so the League will be won and lost then,” said Williams. “Shahdon will be joining us at a key time and he has already been training every day. We are just waiting for the window to open.”