On Friday night, Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence set an unflattering record as he oversaw his seventh straight defeat at the helm when the Soca Warriors failed to hold on to a one-goal advantage against Mexico and eventually succumbed 3-1 in World Cup qualifying action. …
Read More »How to spot a poorly run sporting body: CIES’ Cornu calls out CFU, TTFA points fingers at self
If FIFA and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) were practising good governance, including fair and transparent electoral processes, would Mohammed bin Hammam realistically have expected to get away with trying to bribe 25 CFU officials for their votes during his bid for the FIFA presidency in 2012? That rhetorical question …
Read More »Longdenville, Haiti and the banker’s son: How FIFA’s Garcia report shatters the Jack Warner myth
FIFA’s investigative report into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids—won by Russia and Qatar respectively—has shed new light into the machinations of former National Security Minister and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner, who resigned from the global football body in disgrace, six years ago, and is fighting off an …
Read More »Racism? Infantino says FIFA didn’t care much before; offers odd show of current concern
On a warm, breezy afternoon in Couva, FIFA president Gianni Infantino—dressed in a tee-shirt, short pants and sneakers—was happy to give the impression that he did not take himself too seriously. But, as any good football coach will tell you, once you kick off in a less than professional manner, …
Read More »#iamcorbeau… Shannon-ploitation, perverted justice and Countess Camille of Chaguaramas
The national bird of Trinidad and Tobago should not be the Scarlet Ibis or Cocrico. It should be the corbeau! In the season of peace and goodwill, “Raisa” might have had something else in mind entirely when “she” created a Facebook post to hawk #iamshannon caps at TT$250 each. “All …
Read More »Sing, Valentino, sing: Earl Best’s send off to departing Trinidad Guardian sport editor
I can see it still in my mind’s eye. “Life is a stage / and we are the actors; / Everybody have a part to play. / Like a never-ending movie / with all different characters, / each of us have a role to portray.” It is the mid-to-late 1970’s. …
Read More »Fitzie loses his Works, Works, Works, Works! Keithos turns to Ish and Warner’s pardner, Sinanan
When the first two people to offer congratulations to your new Minister of Works might well be Ishwar Galbaransingh and Jack Warner… Well, you know you’re not in Kansas anymore sweetheart. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced his second Cabinet reshuffle today and to say it was a bit of an …
Read More »Political games: Best take on how politicians play with us—and with our money
Many games are played most intensely by disturbed people. Generally speaking, the more disturbed they are, the harder they play. That’s not coming from me. It comes from Dr Eric Berne, in a late chapter of Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships, which he titles “The Players.” Here’s some …
Read More »TTFA VP ‘concerned’ about John-Williams’ ‘one-man governance style’
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) vice-president Allan Warner has denied rumours that he resigned his post, after a disagreement with current football president David John-Williams. However, the Tobago-based businessman has admitted that he is uncomfortable with the perceived ‘one-man style’ of governance by the current TTFA boss. Warner was …
Read More »Live Wire chronicles: Temporary child marriages, Deyalsingh’s POSGH retreat and the inimitable Jack Warner
If Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump is Sat Maharaj dipped in curry—and that is definitely a dish designed to induce bowel movement—then former president George W Bush is surely Dr Fuad Khan without a stethoscope. Simplicity is certainly not next to genius with those two. Let’s just say someone’s …
Read More »The high price of our silence: Nakhid explains why corruption survives in T&T
Former national footballer and would-be FIFA president David Nakhid reflects on the current state of the political ballgame: “Why do you have to speak for these African players?” Patrick Edwards, a career diplomat attached to the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London, asked me when he came to Lebanon …
Read More »Kamla skeptical of intelligence memo; but mum on alleged Warner pact
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar broke her silence this morning to respond to questions arising from a leaked United States intelligence memo. The document alleged that the former prime minister was not only aware of corrupt activity by her former minister, Jack Warner, but also benefitted from it. For her response, Persad-Bissessar …
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