Both St Augustine Secondary and San Juan North Secondary lifted their respective titles over their opponents, Fyzabad Secondary and Presentation San Fernando, and while celebrations were taking place, the stadium shook to the magnitude of an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale.

It was a tale of sweet revenge for the East as both camps explained the experiences they went through to get thus far, and the extra push that was needed to claim the title.

St Augustine defeated Fyzabad 3-2 as they went on to lift the trophy and started the ball rolling for the sides representing the East.

Speaking to Newsday after the victory, Sharmila Labban, manager of the St Augustine Girls said, “(Tuesday) was a challenge for the girls as they lost to Fyzabad before and they went in as underdogs.

But they fought hard and deserved the victory.” She explained that the success came because they worked as a collective unit. “The strikers were on point and they defended well.

The whole team gelled and this success belongs to all of them.” St Augustine’s centre-back and captain, Shalisha King, led the team to what would be her third title with the college. “It was a wonderful experience to win back the title this year, after winning it back-to-back in 2012, and we played well as a team. Our heads did not drop even after conceding the equaliser and the girls continued to play hard and fight till the end.” A similar story took place in the latter game of the double header, as Presentation San Fernando players were left frustrated on the rocking turf as San Juan prevented them from lifting the trophy in front of the home fans.

Jerry Moe, coach of San Juan North, stated the reason his side emerged victorious on the day. “It went well and we wanted to win as it was shown by the determination of the players. The team defended well and attacked when was necessary.

Football is about scoring one more goal than your opponent and they did just that and defended it till the final whistle.” Kyle Thomas, stand-in captain and Man of the Match stated, “since we got licks in the league, we said to ourselves that we not taking all that licks again so we set out to win all the remaining titles.” Coach of Fyzabad, Chris Bailey, congratulated his opposing team on their victory as he was sent back to the drawing board for the second time, in a final, this season. “They (St Augustine) did their research and homework, and it showed in the game that they wanted it more. We knew they would come out fighting and the loss of our main striker in the first minute of the game also forced an early sub and adjustments to the side.” In the second match, Presentation College squandered a number of chances before conceding the only goal of the game on the brink of half time.

Shawn Cooper, Presentation San Fernando coach, also viewed the result from this vantage point as he explained, “we did not score our opportunities and their (San Juan) game plan worked as they scored one goal and held on to it.

It just was not for us (on Tuesday) because ours didn’t work on the field.”

The two men have football whereabouts in common as Hyland currently plays for KVC Westerlo, the same club that Saintfiet represented as a player between 1990-1992. Saintfitet also underwent his UEFA Pro Licence at the club of which he lives less than 15 minutes away from.

Speaking on Saturday, Hyland, age 27, said it was important that he and the rest of the selected players adapt quickly to Saintfiet as the man in charge of the team.

He also mentioned that Westerlo technical director Wim Van Hove had already spoken to him about Saintfiet as the two are well acquainted.

“The manager Wim said to me a couple days ago that he knows coach Saintfiet well and that he was here at Westerlo and they are good friends. I had a conversation with coach Saintfiet today and he spoke well of Wim whom he said was one of the first persons that sent him a note of congratulations when he got the job,” Hyland said.

“We have our task ahead with our new coach. We have a job to do which is the same job we had from the start of the campaign which is to go to the World Cup and we as players really want to go to a World Cup. We as players have the job to do. The coach is only there to guide the players. We have to perform on the field and it doesn’t matter what the situation is, the coach cannot come out on the field and he can only guide us from the sidelines.

“The player has to make the final decision when he is on the field and give 100 (percent). I, as a player, always give my full hundred and will continue to do so once I have on the Red, White and Black.” TT face Nicaragua in two international friendlies in Nicaragua on December 27 and 30 before returning home to square off with Suriname on January 4 and Haiti on January 8 in CFU Gold Cup playoff matches at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. The next two CONCACAF Final Round qualifiers are against Panama and Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on March 24 and 28 respectively.

Chad Le Clos of South Africa successfully defended his title, with a time of 21.98, just outside his championship record of 21.95.

Silver was earned by American Tom Shields in 22.40, with bronze taken by Australia’s David Morgan in 22.47 seconds. Ukraine’s Andril Govorov (22.55), Russia’s Alexsandr Popkov (22.56) and Albert Subirats of Venezuela (22.62) took places four to six respectively, with Japan’s Takeshi Kamawoto (22.84) taking the cellar position.

Carter had an impressive World Short Championships debut establishing new national records in four of his five swims, with the 50m fly final being the only race no record was established. His 200m freestyle fourth place finish earned him the distinction of being the highest fourth place finish ever in this event by a male in the English-speaking Caribbean.

He also is the first TT entrant to make finals for two events in a single World Championship.

Following the World Short Course, Carter will return to the University of Southern California for his end of semester exams, return home for a short while and then proceed onto his winter training schedule with his school team in preparations of the NCAA Division 1 Championships in March. From there, he will prepare for CCCAN at home as a rehearsal for the FINA World Aquatics Championships in July in Budapest, Hungary.

The teams, which both narrowly missed out on the Shell/First Citizens Premier Division League title earlier this season, will square off at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 4.15 pm.

In Friday’s semifinals at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Naparima defeated Intercol champions San Juan North 1-0 in the first match of the semifinal double header. Defender Shadeon Arthur’s second half goal handed Naparima the narrow victory.

Presentation needed penalty kicks to get past Premier Division League winners Shiva Boys. After the teams battled to a 1-1 draw after regulation time Presentation prevailed 5-3 from the penalty spot.

Presentation will be aiming to make amends today after losing the Coca-Cola Boys Intercol final 1-0 to San Juan North last Tuesday

While training with her club Rigtech Sonics in South Trinidad, Lester was going around a corner when a car coming from the opposite direction struck Lester and the cyclist was thrown off her bike. The driver of the vehicle stopped and assisted before a report was made at the Erin Police Station.

Lester, 19, received bruises to her face, neck and legs and had to undergo surgery for a dislocated hip. The group of cyclists training with Lester included Olympic cyclist Njisane Phillip.

Yesterday Lester’s mother Mary Layne said her daughter was improving. Layne stated, “she is doing a lot better, more improved.” Layne said Lester is not talking but is able to communicate non-verbally. “She can’t talk, we talking to her and she squeezing our hand.” Layne stated that the doctors said the surgery on Lester’s dislocated hip was a success, but Lester has to stay at the hospital for approximately six weeks.

Layne said her daughter has been receiving a tremendous amount of support and she praised the staff of the San Fernando General Hospital. “A lot of family and friends have pass through, a lot of friends, a lot, a lot of friends.” Layne added, “Yes I am (thankful for the support). I am thankful to the staff of the San Fernando General Hospital. They have been treating her really, really, really, well. I am in full support of them, I am proud of their work. I salute them.” As a junior cyclist Lester performed at a high level. At the 2015 Junior Pan American Cycling Championships in Mexico Lester won gold in the women’s team sprint with Kollyn St George.

Another top performance came at the 2014 Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Suriname when Lester won silver behind fellow TT cyclist Teniel Campbell in the junior ladies road race.

I could argue against Dylan being awarded the Nobel Prize, but really I am quite ambivalent about this year’s Nobel Prize for Literature. The literary world is divided too. There are those who argue the Nobel Prize committee made an inventive decision because songs are really forms of poems set to music. Others argue songs are separate and distinct forms of expression divided into their own genres .

I’m also one of those people who feels what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you’re going to award songwriters the Nobel Prize for Literature, then shouldn’t authors be able to win music awards? Obviously that can’t happen. Anyway, we’re going to make the best of this 2016 Nobel Prize decision and honour Bob Dylan for his creative spirit that manifested itself in folk music that defined an era .

When you think about it, Dylan is remarkable for his ability to get a socio/ political message across with a gravelly, unmelodious, nasal voice that borders on being unpleasant. Somehow he managed to rise above rock music and its self-indulgent singers who blasted hedonistic messages through the 60s .

Dylan provided substantial messages .

It’s possible to argue that Dylan isn’t really singing. He’s more of a raspyvoiced, rapper-kind of entertainer. Well, you can argue just about anything when it comes to this year’s Nobel prize for literature .

The stories that define Dylan’s songs resemble newspaper features. In the 60s, American folk music served the same purpose as calypso music has through the ages. Both folk music and calypso can be considered the people’s newspaper .

If you’re unfamiliar with Dylan’s classics “Like a Rolling Stone”, “It Ain’t Me Babe”, “The Times They are a Changin’”, “ “Blowin in the Wind”, “Mr Tambourine Man” and other songs, you can listen to Dylan’s hits on a variety of albums including collections of his greatest hits. If you’re still pining for a traditional, paperback book to read to celebrate the Nobel Prize in Literature, then you can buy a collection of Dylan’s lyrics .

Dylan did write an autobiography, which is neither forthcoming nor particularly exciting. He didn’t seem to feel any deep need to expose his warts to readers .

All you get are the basics of his life .

From everything I saw in the movie Factory Girl, Dylan doesn’t seem like a particularly nice person, but then what does that have to do with artistic merit?

SUN TZU’S The Art of War (514 BC) emerged from a tumultuous period in China’s history.

William Jenner describes “a world of absolute insecurity, in which any state might be attacked, [and] faced with absolute threats, states had to be mobilised for their human and material resources for total war.” From this chaos Tzu surfaced as a military strategist who scored a string of victories serving King Hel? of the Wu Dynasty.

The prolegomena sets the right tone with a helpful contextual framing of Tzu’s work. Confucianism and Taoism between the sixth century and the late third century BC countered the perceived pugilism of Tzu’s masterpiece as philosophers vied for the soul of a fractured China. Still, for all its emphasis on ethics, self-reflection and community, followers of Confucius and later, Mencius, were not totally dismissive of Tzu, acknowledging the inevitability of war in special circumstances where the cause was justifiable and the ruler enjoyed the support of his people.

Although Confucianism surfaced as the official ideology of the state until the rise of nationalism in 1914, Tzu’s stature as a thinker was never in question and his popularity exploded beyond China’s boundaries enjoying acceptance at a personal and institutional level.

Tzu is the consummate philosopher.

At the outset he lays bare the gravity of war. “It is a place of life and death, [and] a road of survival and extinction.” More importantly, he lists these five fundamentals for a successful outcome: The Way, Heaven, Earth, Command, and Discipline.

While Command and Discipline are self-explanatory, the other principles should be explained if only because they lend metaphysical depth to a teaching that is oftentimes misconstrued as purely mundane.

Of The Way, Tzu writes, “[It] causes men to be one mind with their leaders; to live or die with them; and never to waver.” Heaven, he defines as ‘Yin and Yang, cold and hot, [and] the cycle of seasons. And Earth, he describes as height and depth, distance and proximity, ease and danger, open and confined ground, life and death.” Divided into 13 segments, some of which are daringly titled, such as: Waging of War; Strategic Offense; Attack by Fire; and Espionage, key tenets are underscored.

We are continually reminded of holding fast to wisdom, integrity, compassion, courage, and severity.

Despite the brutality of war, a measured disposition is advised where aggression is tempered by compassion.

That Tzu viewed “the way of war” [as one] of deception should be lauded and not condemned as contributory to a closed and hardly definable Chinese society. While some commentators have noted that Tzu might have inadvertently created a cult of the cunning and a refuge for the duplicitous, literary evidence to the contrary abound.

Tzu’s guile is not self-serving.

It values human life. “Strike with chaos,” he writes, but there is an underlying tenor of disabling the enemy without a protracted carnage.

“When near, appear far; lure with bait; if he is weak, stir him to pride; if his men are harmonious, split them; appear where you are unexpected. Defeat belongs to the side that scores least in the temple of calculations.” And for those bent on advancing the “duplicity theory” the following quotes should give pause: “Treat prisoners of war kindly and care for them, [but] ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.” And the most mystifying and compelling, “The warrior skilled in indirect warfare is infinite as Heaven and Earth, inexhaustible as river and sea. He ends and begins again, like sun and moon, dies and is born again like the Four Seasons.” Tzu’s philosophy is rooted in self-actualisation. It speaks to unfathomable potential of human creativity where the heart, mind and body coexist as a singular mode of expression.

Curiously, Tzu seemingly delivers a prophetic warning to our world. “The lowest form of war is to attack cities,” he writes.

Readers cannot help but add to the interpretative value of this literary monument.

The Art of War is inextricably bound to the Tao or the Way, the Chinese guide to self-awareness and right living. It’s an internal art sometimes incomprehensible by mere observation. Balance and harmony are achievable when we are in sync with the rhythm of the cosmos. As replicas of the universe we are warned against overreaching, against offsetting the cosmic flow. In essence, Tzu is waging an internal war, a war against impulse. We are asked to resolve inner conflicts, temper sensibilities and seek counsel from our higher self. This is Tzu’s signature response to the primalism of war.

Clearly, he speaks to us on an intimate level. To view otherwise is to devalue an ancient text that continues to tax our wits.

Feedback: glenvilleashby@gmail.

com or follow him on Twitter@ glenvilleashby The Art of War by Sun Tzu Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd, UK Available at Amazon Ratings: Essential

This comes off of the recent launch of his first book also entitled Soul. The collection of poems was launched on October 30. While Richards pursued a career in information technology.

writing is his passion. “I have been writing from high school. I would make notes and I have been involved in arts but I geared toward IT because at the time that was what was profitable,” he said. He attended Hillview College, Tunapuna and then went to St Augustine Comprehensive. “I have always veered away from the conventional,” Richards said. The idea for Soul was born 30 years ago. “I would write, keeping the notes on sheets and notepads etc. Friends would say, ‘why don’t you do a book. Why don’t you publish’,” the 51-year-old Richards said. He noted then online and self publishing evolved. “I did a couple and the feedback was lukewarm. I said the time is now just do it. I set myself a very aggressive schedule. I gave myself two weeks to do the book and choose some of the more intimate pieces.” He said some of his pieces directly addresses the issue of depression.

as he tended to write when he was down or angry. The fears and doubt that have trailed themselves through Richards’ life are shared with others in Soul. Twenty-five of Richard’s pieces are showcased in the book.

with one poem being a three-part piece. Richards said that the book was done as a heart project. “It was not a commercial thing.” He printed 200 copies in the first run. “The library.

National Library and Information System Authority (Nalis) took 45 copies. Which is good for me.” Richards wants to veer away from IT since, he believes.

“there is a creative side to me fighting to come out and I am going to be pursuing that.” During the book’s compilation, he learnt a lot about publishing. He first took the book to friends and then to the library’s first time author’s programme. The book has also made its way to New York. Richards hopes not to be boxed into poetry or poems but to write freely. His style “meets no kind of convention”. “I just wanted it to be free, to be me, like how I write.” His aim is to ultimately get people to do what they want to do.

to find their ultimate freedom and live it. Richards intends to relaunch his book in the West before Christmas. “When I read the pieces, I share how I came up with it and what happened. And that is why it is called Soul. The tag line is I am bearing my soul…a lot of things have happened.” He intends to create a monthly creative meeting and sessions geared toward the over-50 market. “The next part of this is I’d like to do a monthly meeting with upcoming writers and people who just write and I am calling it ‘Soul on Sundays’.” The Soul on Sundays session will be held at his brother’s The V Lounge, St Joseph. He hopes to continue the meetings the last Sunday of each month with an incorporation of music, art and word. “It is geared toward the mature group. I tend to find that there is nothing for us to do. We can’t mix with the young ones. [We reflect on] Our music and we converse about something.

like childhood or something.”

Many may still remember the last visit in 2009, when nearly 100,000 visitors were welcomed up the gangways during the 27- day stay. Now, Logos Hope will be making another voyage to two ports in Trinidad and Tobago.

Logos Hope will be open in Port-of-Spain from January 13, 2017, and will be berthed at the Port, berth number four.

“We are looking forward to returning to Trinidad and Tobago. We believe books change lives, and we are excited for the opportunity to welcome many on board to meet our international crew and staff,” said Captain Chris Hughes (UK) in a media release.

“There are those who remember visiting our sister ships in the past. I speak for all the crew when I say that Logos Hope’s upcoming visit will also be a memorable, enjoyable experience,” Hughes said.

Logos Hope’s on board book fair offers a selection of over 5,000 different titles of books at affordable prices. They cover a wide range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies, cookbooks, medicine and languages. With children’s titles, academic texts, dictionaries and more, the book fair is something the whole family can enjoy. The rest of the Visitor Experience Deck is also open for the public to explore, from the Welcome Area, with a video introduction and interactive displays, to the International Caf?, which has ice cream, drinks and snacks for sale.

MV Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships eV, an international, charitable organisation registered in Germany. Since 1970, the organisation has welcomed over 45 million visitors up the gangways in over 160 countries and territories around the world.

MV Logos Hope will open to the public from January 13 to February 6. In Scarborough from February 9 to 20.

Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm; Sundays and Mondays: 2 pm to 9 pm; Friday, January 13 from 2 pm – 9 pm. Entrance fee is $5. Adults 65 and over enter for free.

Children under 12 years enter for free, but must be

The concert series produced by singer- songwriter Gillian Moor features a different guest each time, alongside a full set of her original songs.

Blackman is the son of soca innovator Ras Shorty-I, and former leader of the Love Circle jamoo band. He has carried his family’s rich musical legacy to Oslo, where he hosts his own concert series, Open Xpression, and performs with his band, The Soul Rebels.

He will perform songs from across his long musical career, including from his three solo albums: Remember Me, One Big Fat Love Bomb, and Overflowing.

His music has been described as “Caribbean heart beat music,” with “expressions of calypso, soca, reggae, rapso and jamoo fused with elements of jazz, blues and urban music”.

Blackman says in a media release: “The music I share is like food for the soul. Call it what you like, as long as you enjoy and feel good vibes all the way!” “This will be a special night,” says Moor.

“Sheldon is well known for his outstanding talent, touching and soulful songs, and his infectious positive vibes.

It’s a rare treat to get to see him live, so it’s a real honour to feature him on the Cool Nights stage.” DJ ShyGuy will also play at the show next Friday, with an eclectic mix of soul, calypso, house, and rare retro grooves.

Cool Nights: Remember will take place at Kaiso Blues Caf?, #85 Woodford Street, Port-of- Spain, from 8 – 11 pm. Showtime is 9 pm