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Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart has cut playmaker Kevin Molino from his squad for breaking camp, barely a month since the Orlando City player incurred a massive fine for the same infraction.
Hart’s decision means the Warriors face Martinique in Fort-de-France tonight—in a must-win Caribbean Cup qualifier—without his most lethal finisher. Team captain and forward Kenwyne Jones is Hart’s top scorer after 16 items—inclusive of four penalty kicks—from 32 items. But Molino plundered his 13 goals in just 15 starts and three substitute appearances for the Warriors.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Last Wednesday, Hart lauded the clever Number 10, after he showed signs of returning to his best with a hattrick in a 4-0 demolition of the Dominican Republic at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
Two days later, Molino allegedly decided to celebrate by slipping out of the team base and spending the night at the Vas Lounge nightclub in St Clair.
Hart, according to informed sources, found out about Molino’s indiscretion on Monday—a day after the team landed in Fort-De-France. And this time, there is unlikely to be a second chance.
Wired868 was told that Molino was immediately cut from the squad for the Martinique showdown. The winner of tonight’s contest advances automatically to the 2017 Caribbean Cup semifinals and CONCACAF Gold Cup while the loser, although eliminated from the Caribbean Cup, will attempt to get to the Gold Cup through a series of play-offs.
Crucially, Molino’s indiscretion looks likely to cost the playmaker his place in the squad when Trinidad and Tobago host Costa Rica on 11 November and then face Honduras away on 15 November in the opening two Hex assignments for their final Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying round.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
On Tuesday 30 August, three days before the Warriors hosted Guatemala in a key World Cup qualifier, Molino, Joevin Jones and Mekeil Williams broke camp and attended a boat party.
All three were fined although Hart allowed them to play on 2 September when the Warriors held Guatemala 2-2 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain—with Joevin scoring both goals.
“It was a first time situation as far as I know,” Hart told Wired868 at the time, “and you have to ask yourself: Do you punish the whole team for a situation of three players?
“You are going into a crucial game and the players have broken team rules. We thought we dealt with it sufficiently in terms of it being a fine and [handling] it in-house.
“If this was habitual, they would probably have been sent home.”
Molino expressed his regret to Hart immediately after the incident while he said sorry to the public at a post-game conference on 5 October in Couva.
(Courtesy Nicholas Bhajan/Wired868)
Two days later on 7 October, the two-time World Youth Cup player apparently proved that the apology was a hollow one. And Hart was true to his word.
Despite facing some criticism for allowing Molino to play against Guatemala, Hart took firm stances for breaches of discipline before.
Playmaker Keon Daniel was dropped after traveling home on a TTFA ticket but then failing to show for his flight to Jamaica for a friendly international match in November 2013. Daniel was never recalled.
Joevin and W Connection defender Daneil Cyrus were omitted from the squad for a friendly international match against New Zealand, in October 2013, after both pulled out of a previous international engagement and were caught playing minor league football during the international break.
Any issues that might have existed within the squad since then were considered too minor for anything more than an internal fine. Until, of course, Molino decided to “Over Dweet” on the dance floor.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
His potential departure leaves a gaping hole for the Warriors in that advanced midfield position, which, ironically, he inherited from Daniel.
Central FC midfielder Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings is felt to still be short of his best form, as he regains his rhythm after a lengthy off due to being shot in his leg last December.
Charlotte Battery playmaker Ataulla Guerra failed to make the most of his opportunities under Hart and has not worn red, black and white in over a year. While Mexico-based attackers Jomal Williams and Shahdon Winchester have two international goals between them and are still unproven at senior international level.
In the short term, Hart is likely to ask combative midfielder Khaleem Hyland to play higher up the field alongside Kenwyne Jones, although—Jomal and Winchester apart—another option would be to try Joevin or teenaged starlet Levi Garcia as supporting strikers.
For now, the Warriors appear to be short of one of their brightest talents. Hart’s job was hard enough already.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
(Trinidad and Tobago Team)
Goalkeepers: Jan-Michael Williams, Adrian Foncette;
Defenders: Mekeil Williams, Aubrey David, Daneil Cyrus, Tristan Hodge, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Sheldon Bateau;
Midfielders: Khaleem Hyland, Andre Boucaud, Kevan George, Neveal Hackshaw;
Attacking midfielders: Joevin Jones, Cordell Cato, Levi Garcia, Jomal Williams;
Forwards: Kenwyne Jones, Trevin Caesar, Shahdon Winchester.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Kudos to you, coach Hart ?
No man is an island !
https://youtu.be/P2vsk3lqrMY
Eventually this may affect his contract in the US. Is only football sense and at times they lose that too. They just feel they must do what they want, whether wrong or right. Lacking discipline
Are these guys professionals?
He must be a belly dancer….know your place young man, get your priorities sorted. .you have commitments that your talent bought you. Focus and be patriotic.. Think!!!
And that’s why can’t make it again the football is a pips for them and shitty no ass I say invest in the younger players look at rashford (Manchester United Striker) only 19 and paving ways
This is so very sad: such a talented and physically healthy young man. Hope he gets the other necessary interventions.
After clubbing all night how can you perform at your best we have to be discipline and respect the country we are representing.
good move by the coach!!!
Very unprofessional by him. When he is on international duty his only goal is to represent his country that’s all
There’s no commitment or dedication .. get rid of the players who don’t comply .. simple as that .. second chance? not in my books .. don’t support and encourage this BS
He was given a second chance and did do anything different
It is truly a situation that needs to be addressed. Molino is as talented as they come. Sometimes the young professionals view the International break as a “mini vacation” and when games are held at home they tend to be tempted to indulge in the life they miss while out of the jurisdiction performing their rigorous professional duties. It was clearly wrong of hin to break camp and the action taken by the coach was justified. I just hope that someone can mediate with Molino and some sort of solution can be found. It’s clear that without him this side is not as effective.
Selfish selfish selfish. Childish. Stupid.
Wouldn’t have dared to do that for his club. It goes to show where these players place the national team, in term of priority.
True what a disgrace. Like I said “If I were the coach I not only send him back to either Trinidad or MLS, I won’t even let him play in any world cup match and give his spot to a player who will give 100%. Disgusting ???
If I were the coach I not only send him back to either Trinidad or MLS, I won’t even let him play in any world cup match and give his spot to a player who will give 100%. Disgusting ???
Sarcastic whistling……The thought linkage of a professional footballer… that happens to b playing in one of the most important positions on the team…….in a do or die match for your country…. after u hav done it b4 and decide to do it again ………
So i buy a goat and tie it in d yard and wait fuh rain to fall and when the rain is finished….i go outside to pass my hand on the goat to see if its wet…. we alllllllll know the goat is wet…. and thats ok in the case of a goat….. here is where the thought linkage comes in…… remove the goat from the equation and put in a 55″ TV….. from the time the clouds set up … u immediately know that u hav to move the TV bcuz it cant get wet or else it will spoil…..u r able to link your thoughts b4 the rain begins and be clear of what will happen if the Television gets wet …….
In Molino’s case…
I am a football pro
I hav a game for Trindad
Its a winner take all match….
If i go to the nightclub…
I will be disrespecting the Coach….
The team….
My country…..
I wont b able to play to my full potential…..
I may not b able to take a goal scoring opportunity that may eventually cost my team the game……
U telling me these young men cant link these thoughts together to know to keep dey assss in dey bed in d people hotel.. debating wit themselves whether to go left or right…. go up or down…. do the right ting or sneak out d hotel to go in ah dollar party…… dey suffering from ah str8 case of
INBETWEENITY…
dat is why our football can reach no way ah set ah dotish ill disciplined fools. They cant even play well and they does be swell headed and playing big star jackass.Drop him from de side
Not football alone ..TnT sports …our athletes hav the talent to b the best in the world …bt nt the commitment .they celebrate victory before theres a result .
Yeah and don’t forget the great Garrincha the same to eh, who passed away in his 40’s because of his plenty rum drinking eh. Them really good yes.
he was better than that guy in the photo with him
what ever kind of rum yuh drinking, yuh need to change the brand eh hahahaha
just making sure lol
But on a serious note I have the DVD about his life story and some folks in Brazil really believed that he was the greatest eh, the same like how some folks also believe that Messi is the greatest in these times and also the greatest ever. I guess it boils down to individual choices eh. Them really good yes
i have read a lot articles where that was said on to messi i think third or forth according who u talk to but not the greatest of all time and i am a fan of him and Argentina
Is Molino TT equivalent of Brasil’s Josimar? Then let him know what happened to Josimar
eric cantona le terrible
This youth (Keane Mcivor) never had his chance yet for the senior Soca Warriors. Maybe it is time for him to get a run. He could be the answer for that advanced midfield role.
http://youtu.be/7PxRJ5l2ozE
Yeah look at all the madness that the French man use to do eh when he represented the greatest team in the universe and you know what Sir Alex Ferguson did eh made him the captain nah, what is his name again Dion Sosa so maybe Coach Hart needs to give Kevin Nash Molino the Captain arm band yes because ah tired of Mr Bound not to score not scoring plenty goals eh. Them really good yes. hahahahaha
He went off injured in the first half
Who dat eh
mr Bound not to score
Yeah ah just remember eh the Frenchman name is Eric Cantona, what a player but he was very mental in his head eh and not even a shrink cudda help him but the arm band did eh, responsibilities nah hahahaha
Earl Mango Pierre, who tell you Cantona used to break camp and party?! He didn’t.
I didn’t mean that Mr Live Wire what I mean’t is that he use to do all sorts of other crazy things eh like taunt the opponents supporters etc, etc hence the reason why he had a very long talk with him and gave him the arm band so that he cudda be more responsible with his actions eh hahahaha
Ferguson said he considered whether Cantona’s action was damaging to his team dynamics and the dressing room and their chances of success.
A much more minor incident like Beckham refusing to take instructions on board and showing dissent in front of the dressing room was considered much more dangerous.
So he kept Cantona but sold Beckham.
All crimes are not the same.
Well I wudda sell Mr, bound not to score and keep my prolific goalscorer eh Kevin Nash Molino because ah want meh goals eh. hahahaha Them really good yes.
..Well, we take what we get then. Molino apologized and paid a fine and was back to tricks in no time flat. We lost to Martinique tonight. And the hex will be hard road to travel..
Too much about too little if yuh ask me. So yeah, fine and a game or two suspension but all this shit about no respect for the shirt and country is a load of manure.
Kestor ….. how cud u consider a repeat offence too little…. Molino dare not do that with his MLS club…. and making a professional stand against an act of unprofessionalism cud never b considered manure….. its the normal process
Cyro, im saying to much is being made of the situation with people talking bout reapect and ban him from the team etc.
You spent time playing in Portugal im sure u saw the pros doing the same things.
I gave the example of what i witnessed with the Knicks so this thing goes beyong Kevin and football.
My belief is that this is what2 a lot of young professional athletes do. Their bodies can handle the rigors of night life and drinks.
Kes, u cah be serious man! So the whole team should jus go lime on the Avenue each chance they get then? Go on a team boat ride & drink & party then? Their bodies can handle it right….
What d Knicks do or dont do is irrelevant….. this is Trinidad football…. and Trinidad athletes need mental maturity….. so yuh couldnt play d game and party after…… what is more important…… an international athlete cannot carry himself and treat his body like the ordinary man on the streets
Kestor, you know basketball and football is two different kinda sports…. you could go lime in club with basketball as they only play 48min WITH timeouts and UNLIMITED subs…. We play 90 with max 3 subs… Also, the NBA has the best athletes in its given sport playing…. so they are treated as grown men …. Molino at best is a decent talent but clearly immature when it comes to discipline…… with a game on the line of importance TOO us, why the thirst to go find a club in MARTINIQUE of all places? … If is French poontang yuh want so badly, best he did pay a few $ and get a girl up to his room…. And you know as a coach, this move was more about disrespect to the coach and what he stands for than the jersey… Unprofessional yes…. disrespectful to the office that is the head coach… Absolutely … Mentally I would give him a rating of a 13 year old…. He may be getting paid as a professional, but he has little understanding as to what that word actually means…even if what he does may be normal practice with his home club…
Well said Mr. Briggs…….BOOM
Shawn Babooram yuh wha some bets or wha eh, maybe my Foreign base Trini Coach Hart using some psychology eh, and playing dead to ketch corbeaux alive eh, because we will have one last chance eh and my prolific goalscorer Kevin Nash Molino will surely prove himself eh hahahahaha
psychology right he need a shrink
or a few drinks
hahahahaha ah does only drink Sandy eh (sorrel)
A lot of judge and jury’s in here smh…
Na na
Can’t bench the best striker ?
..You can’t be serious Kester. BAN anybody who does that shite..
A young, fit, at the top of his game pro hitting the club/pub life at night is par for the course.
Pat Riley used to say to his Knicks as long as you can answer the bell next day with quality.
With moderation of-course – but I understand your drift.
Carlos for 2 years the Knicks used CofC as the pre season and pre play offs training camps and these players were out at nights partying everyone saw them. It was allowed.
Ahhhh…. there you go Kester, it was allowed….. Once the coach/manager said it’s not, you’re breaking the rules. He has showed total disregard for rules…. gotta go
I disagree, but it is all good. Im all for a fines and suspension.
Balotelli comes to mind, that boy dbreached just about every rule with every team he played with. He was hit in his purse and denied playing time which is also a hit to the purse.
after tonight i am almost 90% sure he will be back for the next game
I always refer 2 this example when it comes 2 be a true professional dennis berkamp said the 1st time he ever saw inside a night club he was 26 cause at 16 at ajax he wanted 2 make it as a professional so he trained hard sacrificed the night life and alcohol 2 make his dreams come thru
An Dion, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Allen Iverson, C Webber, Dion Sanders and plenty others will have a totally different story to tell.
yes but he is neither them in talent or the status either
ronaldo dinho world cup winners iverson hall of famer c webber top 50 alltime greatest player future hall of famer deion sanders hall of famer 3 time super bowl winner prime time
Even the non mega stars party hard. Most times they have age on their side and with that fitness, fame, money. At that age, some fit bodies aren’t impacted by the occasional late nights with a few drinks.
well being 1 of the few good players on te team he carries the burden of being held 2 higher standard so his behaviour and examples has 2 be on point especially after being caught so soon
There is a time and a place for everything. I have no issues with feting as this is part of our culture. Hard to compare Dutch culture to ours. However, he has showed total disregard to the coach and his teammates.
Buh A A it seems that Michael Samuel is ah philosopher eh can you break down what you said eh although ah have ah (PHD) Public High School Diploma) I am not so educated eh hahahahaha
Remember folks, nothing much is sacred in our land, if any. It’s just manifesting much quicker now. This goes beyond the football field, the game and the game playing reflects a deeper hurt. Meanwhile,the corbeaus are drinking lots of water.
Uncle, all I’m saying is that what’s going on on the field of play, and what’s going on in the head space of players, is simply a reflection of the wider society. We’re free falling. Can we stop it? Who knows.
Well you have a very good point there eh and I always like to repeat what Nigel Myers said a long time ago, he said that we really need a culture shift to really get things in the right perspective eh. Them really good yes.
Maybe it is because of the culture that they came from eh, just saying.
..When I said he and his boat ride cohort should have been banned some thought I was over the top. Well there it is. Some people can’t handle success..
I could testify to his behavior …… had to deal with him …. he feel he could do what he want because he puts on a trinidad jersey, not under my watch
like these fellas too whet for football now.
when you feel yuh reach, darn idiot
Sad to say who don’t hear would feel,I said Mr. Hart did a good job before,but lack control of the team in this stage of our the campaign?,but I would continue to read some of his faithful followers comments Lasana ??
Carlos Lee I really don’t think that our players can do what you just mentioned eh about partying hard and then playing the football normal, normal eh especially against the real professional countries eh so why didn’t his two partners in crime follow him again and went out and party with him eh, so whatever Coach Hart have in place is surely working for them eh, excuses really needs to stop making for the players that have no discipline and they aren’t real professionals eh. Them really good yes.
Molino broke camp 4-days prior to the match. What impact would that have on his performance? None! He broke team rules and coach Hart was right to reprimand him. However, if it’s not already occurring players should be given time off to relax, with appropriate restrictions (e.g. no alcohol consumption 48-hrs before the match and in your bed by 12:00 a.m.). If some choose to attend a small lime and wine/dance for a bit with their “free time” I say fine.
Oh gosh yuh not giving up eh, ok then I wudda handle it this way eh because it isn’t all the players does want to party and have a good time before a game so I wudda allow the three musketeers to go an party, go to their boat rides eh and let them know if the team looses eh, they won’t be getting any monies eh, and I am positively certain that they wudda go for that eh because they wudda play their hearts out for me because I allowed them to free up themselves and go out and bust their guns on some of them pretty young chicks in our swet counytry eh and I know meh players and it is a culture thing been there done that over the years with some of meh players in the America eh back in meh Coaching days. hahahaha
Not bad buss he throat. Ppl like he feel dey reach already. Damn fool
Extra Time
120 GOAL
Martinique
2 – 0
Trinidad & Tobago
As I said I’m not making excuses for Molino and I’m not privy to the day to day activities within the camp. I don’t know if Hart allows his players flex time to “chill” – to relax – to de-stress. Players are not robots – they are not animals and you can’t place them in a pen and work them to death. I’m saying if Hart does not have a policy, with appropriate restrictions, to allow his players flex time during camps he should seriously consider it. And it’ll be even better if the players help develop and draft the “flex time” policy. It’ll be a win win situation for all. Kelvin – the current generation is a different generation from yours / mine. The current generation is much more effective at multitasking. They can party hard all night and perform just as well and even more effectively than those who rested for 10-12 hours. Times have changed and I honestly have no problem with a player going out for a bit 3-4-days before a match. It says nothing about his/her lack of commitment.
..So he was “multi-tasking”, was he?..LOL..
Keith – until we realize that this generation is different we will continue to deploy the wrong tactics to motivate, inspire, and punish them. And as a result we will continue to be disappointed in their behavior. So what is the solution? Well we, the older generation, need to become more flexible. We need to listen more to the current generation and what they desire. Do what I say is no longer an appropriate tool. We have got to move away from deploying “old” tactics that have served there time and are no longer impactful.
..So the other players who are in camp, training and preparing, for better or for worse, are not of Molino’s generation? No pal. That kind of indiscipline and disrespect – for the country, team, coach, fellow players and self – cannot pass without serious sanction..
Team played a pile of shit. And people like to bad mouth KJ, but we are a different team when he is on the field
Lasana Liburd if u realize the players body language on the field tonight wasn’t the same without him that’s says a lot about the individual and how much he means to the team not to mention the early injury and also the players that are the close to him on and off the field didn’t show up so…
You might be making too much of that body language thing. From what I was told, the players very hard on him after he did it the first time.
I wouldn’t imagine that they would be softer on the second occasion.
OK
Being hard on him doesn’t necessarily mean they feel justified by his dismissal though.
Maybe they were hard on him because they know what he meant to the team.
I didn’t see the game but the body language assumption could be true…
He need to get serious I’m sure he don’t do that with his club…
Sana, stop printing stories about the obvious…. just give we the result and move on nah man… steups 🙂
hahahahaha yuh really want me to answer that eh Zane Coker eh. You really good yes.
Earl, don’t take this personally but why do you feel there’s a need to type “eh” after every sentence? #concernedreader…
Oh thank you…. it is super annoying. I read two comments and skip all the rest.
I just pass his comments straight ,so annoying!
Well it seems that his decision will really cost the team not to represent in the Gold Cup eh, but then again as you explained in your story we might still have another chance ent. Mr Live Wire.?
Martinique leading 1-0 in extra time…
Haiti all over again boi Lasana Liburd ?