WE SPORTS - Relax... A whole heap of Caribbean cricket approaching!

by Shami Maharaj



It seems, to my delight, that we have quite a lot of cricket fans who tune in to the WE Sports column regularly. Judging by the feedback I’ve been getting, cricket and the plight of our beloved Windies remains an obsession for most West Indians, even in the cold white North. Though the intent of WE Sports is to deliver general sporting news, not solely cricketing bulletins in our worthy Caribbean/Canadian sport scene, ah have to give de people what dey want!

So for the many of you that requested, and even those that didn’t, here is what’s in store for the West Indies cricket team leading into 2008. Beginning on November 30th a squad consisting of Christopher Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Runako Morton, Rawle Lewis, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, and Jerome Taylor, will battle Zimbabwe in the first of five one-day internationals. The Jamaican Gayle, will captain in the absence of the injured Guyanese, Ramnaresh Sarwan, while his vice-captain will be the newly appointed 24 year old Trinidadian, Dwayne Bravo. Clive Lloyd will be the manager, while David Williams and Barbadian Henderson Springer will provide coaching functions until not long added Australian coach, John Dyson, unites with the squad.

Subsequent games in Zimbabwe will be played December 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th.

Following what is expected to be a successful tour of Zimbabwe, the West Indians remain on the African continent to face much stiffer competition from South Africa.
Whilst the leadership and management remains the same as in Zimbabwe, there are two adjustments to the squad. Narsingh Deonarine and Ravi Rampaul have been substituted with Pedro Collins and Daren Ganga.

Against South Africa, three Invitationals, three Tests and five ODIs will be played, with the first being a day/night tilt against a Makhaya Ntini Invitation XI on December 14th.
Test dates are Dec 26-30, Jan 2-6, and Jan 10-14. ODIs are Jan 20th, 25th, 27th and Feb 1st and 3rd.

Regionally, the Carib Beer Series runs from Jan 4th to Aril 28th, the Sri Lankans arrive in March to challenge the West Indies in two tests and three one-dayers, followed by the exciting Australians from May 16th to July 6th.
Tons of cricket to look forward to, so make sure to check WE Sports every month for full results and commentary.

WE SPORTS - Jamaicans are new title holders in KFC Cricket Cup

by Shami Maharaj



Jamaica unseated Trinidad and Tobago as KFC Cup champions in Cave Hill, Barbados with a thrilling 28 run victory for their first regional title in 8 years

Seeking their third one-day crown in four years, T&T skipper Daren Ganga, sent in to bat his counterpart Chris Gayle, in the first day/night tilt to be played at the 3Ws Oval. The Jamaicans saw their fortunes sway back and forth during their inning, ending with a testing total of 230 all out in the allotted fifty overs, after being in trouble at 3 for 36, and 7 for 167.

Brenton Parchment top-scored for Jamaica with 52 while Danza Hyatt and Carlton Baugh contributed 28 and 25 respectively. Of the Trini bowlers, Sherwin Ganga picked up three wickets at a cost of 31 runs, while Samuel Badree’s three cost him 37.

In reply Trinidad and Tobago got to 202 before running out of wickets. Lendl Simmons stroked a match high 64, with 48 offered by Denesh Ramdin, and 27 by Kieron Pollard. West Indies opening batsman Gayle picked up a useful 3 for 32 in the wet conditions, while Jerome Taylor bagged 3-37 including the prized scalp of captain Ganga. With his useful late inning knock of 18, Taylor copped the Man-of-the-Match award.

Jamaica got into the final as a result of defeating Guyana by 7 wickets in a game which saw Australian born Brendan Nash starring for the Jamaicans. In the other semi-final, the Bajan home crowd was cheated of the opportunity to see their team battle in the final when the match was abandoned due to rain, thereby putting Trinidad through by virtue of a better run-rate. Both Jamaica and T&T entered the final unbeaten in the tournament.

WE Sports - Catching Toronto's Soccer Fever

by Shami Maharaj


Look at two of WE beautiful Caribbean flags!

What a blessing it is to be a sports fanatic with a forum to express my opinion about WE sports. After last issue’s article on me missing the frenzy of Caribbean soccer, Duane DaSilva a reader and former business associate, felt my aching and contacted me with an opportunity to ease the pain. I really didn’t care to do another soccer commentary especially one about a newly created Toronto team. I know well of futile efforts to force-feed a limited Toronto soccer market, with no appetite for sub-standard savannah football. Thankfully, Duane relentlessly insisted that he host me at a Toronto Football Club home game and man was I in for a shocking and satisfying delight.

Toronto FC officially came into existence when awarded a franchise in October 2005 by Major League Soccer (MLS) the premier level of professional soccer in North America, yes, the league with David Beckham in it (Los Angeles Galaxy). Shortly thereafter Duane got drawn in with his idea of starting an Official Supporter Club to represent the Caribbean, African and Latin communities in the GTA. This was indeed a visionary, albeit daring undertaking, as there wasn’t even a venue for home games available yet and kick-off was still a year and a half away! Even so, Duane pressed full steam ahead and founded Tribal Rhythm Nation in time for the first home opener in April 2007, and with its’ mantra of ‘The Drums The Rhythms The Vibes’, TRN has continuously entertained a 45 seat section at BMO Field every home game since then.

Now let me define ‘entertain’ in this case, imagine this, MLS soccer on the field with non-stop footballing action back and forth, Talana Blu Tassa Boyz rollin’ up de tassa in a heavenly musical combination with Phoenix Revolution Steelband, African drums thumping out metrical pulses, SKF on de Cowbell and alternating engaging and melodious chants on the megaphone with Najja Caliber – including the one that had even the non-ethnic fans on their feet wining and singing, “TFC… WE WANT A GOAL! TFC… WE WANT A GOAL!” It was sweeeeeeet! I hear it gets even wilder sometimes when Uncle Mike and Farmers Rhythm Section come with dey Iron! Ah can’t wait!

The game itself was unexpectedly interesting. Of course with Toronto FC fielding Caribbean professionals Collin Samuel from Trinidad and Jeff Cunningham from Jamaica our section was buoyant from pre- kickoff. Both players were solid but failed to fuel us any further with a goal, the lone score came from local Toronto boy Maycoll Canizalez in a 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew. Watching Tyrone Marshall athletically defend the Toronto net though was enough to inspire my thunderous vocal contribution. Make sure to check out Marshall’s (14) game if you are lucky enough to secure tickets for the 2 remaining home games October 4th against the New York Red Bulls and October 20th versus New England Revolution.

Moreover, if you will be attending, you’d want to do so with the recognition of a true rabid Caribbean soccer fan, register for free at http://www.tribalrhythmnation.com/ and send me an email for your chance to win 1 of 6 Official Tribal Rhythm Nation t-shirts. Don’t forget de chant either, make sure you represent, “TFC… WE WANT A GOAL!”

WE SPORTS - The Warrior Path

By Shami Maharaj



So a little over a year has now past, since what I anticipate will always be one of the fondest times of my life; The Soca Warriors in Germany! Ahhh…. the good memories, the face painting, the red, white and black cape, the four Trini flags noisily flailing from every window of my car, and those overwhelming feelings of sensation and patriotism after tying Sweden in our first game. What a ride!

Of course the worst recollection will always be of that disgusting Eric Crouch yanking on Sancho’s locks, getting airborne and heading home England’s winning goal in the second game. Idiotic English robot!

In the third game against Paraguay, my perplexity lingers: why wasn’t Latas used to start? Or why wasn’t he used sooner?

Nonetheless, say wha’! It was de best of times.

I decided to do a little research on just what it would take to get back to dat scene. What are we up against to qualify for South Africa in 2010? So, I contacted Mr. Gino McKoy, Head Officer of the Soca Warriors fan club here in Canada, for some information.

Apparently, T&T’s battle the Goliaths weren’t impressive enough to prevent us dropping to 65th in FIFA’s world rankings. Wha’ is dat one? That ranking places us as the 7th best team within our own CONCACAF confederation, behind Mexico 10th,USA 14th,Costa Rica 50th,Canada 52nd, Panama 57th,and Honduras 63rd; but ahead of Guatemala 75th,Cuba 90th, Jamaica 93rd and the progressing Guyanese and Bajans at number 100 and 118th respectively
Thirty-one spots remain available for the World Cup finals, as host South Africa gains an automatic berth. Each of FIFA’s 6 confederations has been allotted a varying number of spots based on their region’s strength. Europe has been granted the most with 13 places, followed by Africa with 6,South America 4 1/2,Asia 4 ½ and Oceania ½. CONCACAF (North, Central American and Caribbean) has once again been allotted 3 ½ spots, and yes the ½ spot mystification and confusion rears its head again.

At the last Cup, T&T qualified through the ‘back door’ as some say, by winning the ½ spot (4th place in CONCACAF’S final or ‘hexagonal’ round), for the opportunity to battle the winner of Asia’s ½ spot, Bahrain, to consolidate the final entry. This time around it gets more difficult to achieve this as CONCACAF now has to clash with the victor of South America’s ½ spot. No disrespect to Bahrain, but qualifying through South America’s CONMEBOL group is unquestionably more thorny and challenging. This would be a welcome bridge to cross however, should we be fortunate enough to get there. There’s still the daunting assignment of having to ascend and weave through CONCACAF’s 34 improving competitors. Assuming the big three Mexico, USA and Costa Rica lock up the secure spots as projected, the Trini footballers would need to make use of that ‘½’ spot, and with Panama, Guatemala and my other favorite team Jamaica vying for the same position. It could indeed be thrilling.

So early in 2008 I’ll once again be venturing into enemy bars with the other die-hards, at all hours of the night, to support our beloved Warriors as they set out to make a mockery of FIFA’S bamboozling ranking system. Watch out Brazil… we coming for #1! Watch and see…

Email comments or suggestions to shami@wemagonline.com