The following article, written by Lasana Liburd, was first published in the Trinidad Express Sport Magazine on Sunday 28 December 2003—just five months into the writer’s eventual two-year spell as a sport journalist in Britain: No one can forget being within touching distance of Brazilian football star, Ronaldo. Mind you, …
Read More »Why the projected European Super League affects everyone—even T&T
Uefa banked €3.25 billion (TT$26.7 billion) in commercial revenue for its showcase tournaments last year. The lion’s share of Uefa’s money, €2.55 billion (TT$21 billion), went to the clubs that viewers switch on their television to watch. The Champions League, which involves 79 teams, got €2.04 billion (TT$16.7 billion) while …
Read More »B&B Ep 1: Shaka on BLM, turning down Man Utd and the making of Russell Latapy
Wired868 launches its first podcast, The Burdie & Barney Show, with a special guest: ESPN analyst and former England Premier League goalkeeper and Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup star Shaka Hislop! Listen to the extended B&B pilot as Hislop reveals why he turned down Manchester United, players’ rights in …
Read More »Flashback: The Dwight stuff, why Yorke’s latter day revival was simply genius
The following article, written by Lasana Liburd, was first published in the Trinidad Express Sport Magazine on Thursday 15 December 2005: Dwight Yorke is a genius. No, really. He should hold an honorary diploma from the University of the West Indies (UWI). He should speak to the underprivileged and the …
Read More »Flashback: Ex-England manager, Taylor, on Yorke, Hutchinson and T&T footballers
The following article, based on an interview between ex-England and Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor and journalist Lasana Liburd, was first published in Trinidad Express on 6 May 2004: “Let me tell you something that will always stay with me,” said former England and Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor. “I …
Read More »Financial Fair Play on the way out? Good riddance as it was never fit for purpose
Financial Fair Play (FFP) is one of those topics that invite controversy. There are those who believe that it was written to preserve the status quo of large clubs by preventing the nouveau riche from spending money to challenge the established players. Others say it is an attempt to control …
Read More »Satirical shorts: Sweetman Maicon and Ronaldo’s Messi thoughts
Who says friendly international football matches are meaningless? Adventurous Roma right back and two-time World Cup player Maicon certainly charged into mythical status last weekend after getting expelled from the Brazil international team and simultaneously pioneering a whole new range of uses for condensed milk. Football fans and pranksters worldwide …
Read More »Red Devils seek divine assistance; Madrid and Milan rehearse pick-up lines
Three months ago, Angel Di Maria was the Man of the Match as Real Madrid edged Atletico Madrid to capture their tenth European trophy or La Decima. This week, Di Maria was unveiled as Manchester United’s latest signing and promptly watched his new employer flogged 4-0 by an obscure lower …
Read More »Madrid millionaires mow down sorry Sevilla; Spiderman ensnares Munich
In the not-so-feel-good story of the 2014/15 season so far, an obscenely wealthy club downed its poor neighbour 2-0 while over 31,000 spectators looked on in the European Super Cup at Cardiff, Wales. Real Madrid’s starting XI cost a combined TT$3.85 billion (£364 million) in transfer fees, which could get …
Read More »Moyes leaves Everton a four million pound tip
New Manchester United manager David Moyes finally pulled off a notable signing and it was arguably £4 million (TT$40) too much and a month too late. Moyes always made his interest in his former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini clear. And he could have him for the start of pre-season training …
Read More »