Molino sets up Rooney’s brother

National team midfielder Kevin Molino helped his Orlando City to a convincing 4-1 victory over Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Pro Division on Sunday, setting up two of the goals as his club returned to action at the Florida Citrus Bowl in front of 8,421 fans. Molino combined well with John Rooney, brother of Man United’s Wayne, who struck two goals for the defending League champions. Rooney’s second goal came when he drilled a shot into the net off a pass from Molino. Molino also assisted on the second goal of the season for Oviedo High and Rollins College alum Dennis Chin in the 65th minute. Across in England, Jason Scotland netted in the 59th minute as Ipswich Town drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace, a game in which Carlos Edwards played. 

 

 

The strike was Scotland’s eighth oal of the season but this time he didn’t have his shorts pulled down by teammates like they did when he scored a previous equaliser against Southampton.  Teammate Damien Delaney explained the goal celebration, saying, “I think it’s Jason really, because he’s kind of the first one to voice his opinion on everything. The lads were just happy that he had scored, because he had maybe not had the best of times on the bench recently.  People just like pulling Jason’s shorts down, I suppose, and bringing him back down to earth!” added Delaney. And in Slovakia, Lester Peltier netted his tenth goal of the season for AS Trencin as they drew 2-2 with Zilina in the Slovak Superliga. Khaleem Hyland also enjoyed full action in Racing Genk’s 3-1 win over Anderlecht in the Belgium top league.

Islanders appointed  on FIFA committees.

 

 

Trinidadian Angenie Kanhai is on a three-member committee set up to operate the FIFA development office for the Concacaf region. Kanhai, who served as general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union during Jack Warner’s tenure as president, was recently named among the committee which comprises Jamaican Howard McIntosh who is chairman of the Jamaican Football Federation technical committee and Guatemala’s Mauricio Caballero. According to newspaper reports out of Jamaica, the committee has already commenced work as they seek to bridge the void which has existed in the region over the last year at the development officer level. One of the first things on the committee’s agenda is the issue of coaching education in Concacaf and the development of a coaching licensing programme within the region. “That is one of the areas we will be pushing,” McIntosh revealed. “There will be more, as we discuss things at the FIFA level, the Concacaf level and the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) level,” he added. Jamaican Horace Burrell is also on the Organising Committee for the London Olympics.

 

 

Another Jamaican, their senior team head coach Theodore Whitmore is also on the FIFA Football Committee which includes the likes of Pele, George Weah, Roger Miller and Carlos Bilardo. T&T’s Dwight Yorke was a member in 2007. In recent times several of the smaller Caribbean islands have earned appointments on FIFA standing committees such as Cheney Joseph (FIFA Under- 17 Organising Committee), St Lucia’s Lyndon Cooper (Marketing and TV Committee), Eric Labrador (FIFA Confederations Cup Organising Committee), Antigua’s Everton Gonsalves and Vincentian Venold Coombs (FIFA Under-20 World Cup Organising Committee), Dominican Republic’s Osiris Guzman (2012 Olympics Organising Committee), Barbados’ Ronald Jones (Beach Soccer Committee), Bahamas’ Anton Sealey (Associations Committee), Guyana’s Franklin Wilson (Development Committee), Suriname’s Louis Giskus and Aruba’s Rufo Kelly (Committee for Fair Play and Social Responsibility) and Grenada’s Victor Daniel (Stadium and Security Committee) T&T’s Jinelle James is also on the Organising Committee for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup which is being staged in Azerbaijan this year.

 

 

Williams could be a key for U-20s

 

National Olympic team midfielder Jomal Williams is very likely to be a key member of this country’s efforts to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Turkey next year. At least, on paper and his current progress should place him in the mix of players that the national coaches will put together for the qualifying tournament which kicks off in July. Williams, who turns 18 on April 28, was the youngest member of the T&T Olympic team, making a second half run against Honduras last month at the Home Depot Centre. The W Connection player also made appearances in the semi-final qualifying round. “Being the youngest player was very tough. I was glad to be part of the team and waiting for my opportunity. So far it’s been a great experience. We made a few mistakes in the tournament but we have to keep working to develop ourselves for future challenges,” Williams said. An admirer of Russell Latapy and Densill Theobald, Williams says he will focus on improving his game as he looks ahead to the future. “I started playing with Trendsetter Hawks in the savannah at age seven and moved to Caledonia’s youth team and now W Connection. Football has always been everything in my life and I wanted to fulfill that dream of becoming a professional player. I have started with W Connection and I would like to move on to  greater things from here,” Williams added.

 

 

Mahabir puts his hand in Women’s football

 

He’s been described as a chief cook and bottle washer for DirecTV North East Stars and now the owner of the former FA Trophy champions is offering his support to local women’s football. Darryl Mahabir was announced last week as one of the sponsors of the top prizes for this year’s National Women’s League Football as he tries to continue spreading the good name of his club. Mahabir, also the managing director of Jap’s Fried Chicken, said he could not turn down the chance to assist the women’s game. This year some 19 teams will take part in the League which will showcase some of the leading locally based national players. “I am very pleased to be affiliated and it’s an honour for North East Stars to partner with a sport which we believe both genders should be able to enjoy.  It is so important for women and the development of the sport and the League requires commitment not just from players but from sponsors and partners,” Mahabir said. “For the players to be able to benefit, the League must be strong and for that to happen it must be financially equipped to be sustainable for 2012 and beyond.  “We saw it necessary to partner with a League that we believe will go from strength to strength.”  He congratulated the League for making the effort to stage the 2012 season, adding that he saw potential for continued growth.

 

Shaun Fuentes is the media officer for the Soca Warriors/TTFF. shaunfuentes@yahoo.com.