MARRAKECH: A full house is expected for today’s friendly football international between TT and Morocco at  the 15,000 capacity Stade Harti from 7.30 pm (3.30pm TT time) as both teams prepare for  upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifying campaigns. TT, under coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier will be given a strong test by the hosts who will be fielding a squad comprising of several European-based players including Coventry City midfielder Youssef Safri, Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Abdelilah Bagui and defender Noureddine Naybet who plays for Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna. Morocco manager Badou Zaki has also called up German-born Youssef Mokhtari, who is a club teammate of German-based winger Evans Wise, and Mustapha Oussalah for the match which he is using for next year’s African Nations Cup in Tunisia.
  
Oussalah, a midfielder with Belgian side Standard Liege, is one of a growing number of European-based Moroccan players sought by Zaki. Mokhtari, also a midfielder, plays for Wacker Burghausen in the German Second Division. Zaki has made it clear that his team, which goes by the name “Atlas Lions” will be taking today’s fixture seriously. “This is an important friendly for us because our opponents are going to be a good test for us as we prepare for the Nations Cup. I look forward to a good contest,”  said Zaki. Also returning to the team is Academica goalkeeper Khalid Fouhami, who has been absent from their national team for the past 18 months. Charles-Fevrier is relishing the challenge from the strong “Atlas Lions.” “I have a very positive feeling because after Mr Jack Warner spoke to the team followed by our tactical meeting, I feel confident that the players will respond and will play to their potential. I always believe that the important thing is for the players to play to their full potential. If we can get this, then we have a really good chance of getting a good result,” Charles-Fevrier said. “I believe that this  is the level of football we need to be playing. I am always pleased about this kind of competition because it can only bring the best out of us and really show us what level  we are at in world football.
It’s a challenge we are all looking forward to,’ Charles- Fevrier said on the eve of the match.

Fevrier conducted a light session at the match venue yesterday evening following earlier hours which the team spent relaxing. A short tour of Marrakech was also part of the morning schedule during which several of the locals took pleasure in meeting the players and showing their anticipation for the match. The fans here are keen on football as they prepare their bid for the hosting of the 2010 World Cup. FIFA Vice President and TTFF special advisor Warner also paid a visit to the Le Meridien Hotel, extending best wishes to skipper Reynold Carrington and his teammates ahead of the match. Starting up front today for TT will be English-based duo, Stern John of Birmingham City and new recruit, Watford man Jason Norville who celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday. Charles-Fevrier will be using five in the middle and three at the back with Kelvin Jack in goal.
Respected Livingston defender Marvin Andrews will be playing for the first time under Charles-Fevrier and has already indicated his eagerness to get on the ball. Carrington too echoed similar sentiments. The match will be broadcasted live on Vibe CT 105 FM.

TT starting line up: Kelvin Jack (Jabloteh), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Reynold Carrington (Vibe CT 105 W Connection), Marvin Andrews (Livingston) ,Carlos Edwards (Wrexham), Evans Wise (SV Wacker Burghausen) , Aurtis Whitley (Jabloteh), Dale Saunders (Starworld Strikers), Stokely Mason (W Connection), Stern John (Birmingham City)  and Jason Norville (Watford).
Morocco squad :
Goalkeepers: Abdelilah Bagui (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Khalid Fouhami (Academica Coimbra, Portugal), Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad Casablanca)
Defenders: Tarek Chihab (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Talal El Karkouri (Paris St Germain, France), Noureddine Naybet (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Abdesslam Ouaddou (Rennes, France), Akram Romani (Racing Genk, Belgium)
Midfielders: Youssef Hadji (Bastia, France), Abdelkrim Kissi (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Houcine Kharja (Ternana, Italy), Youssef Mokhtari (Wacker Burhausen, Germany), Mustapha Oussalah (Standard Liege, Belgium), Oualid Regragui (Ajaccio, France), Youssef Safri (Coventry City, England), Mohamed Yaacoubi (Osasuna, Spain)
Strikers: Nabil Baha (Naval de Maio, Portugal), Merouane Chemmakh (Bordeaux, France), Mourad Hdioued (Litex Lovich, Bulgaria), Jaoud Zairi (Sochaux, France).

CHAMPIONS Scarborough Secondary sent out a powerful warning yesterday to all pretenders, when they pounded Bishop’s 9-0 as action in the Tobago Zone of the British Gas-sponsored Secondary Schools Football League kicked off at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. And in the later match of a double-header at the same venue, Signal Hill whipped Elizabeth’s College 7-0. Leandro Williams was the star for the Scarborough boys, blasting in a hat-trick of goals, while Garfield Boxhill helped himself to a “double.” Atiba Bailey, Keon Morris, Johan Roberts and Shamir Reid all got their names on the scoresheet, in an encounter in which the Town Boys led 4-0 at half-time.

In the late match, the Hill Boys managed just a 1-0 half-time lead and fans did not envisage what was to follow. After the interval, Signal Hill went into top gear and slammed in six more goals in what turned out to be a match with one-way traffic. Denzil James, Kino Proctor and Massimba George netted two goals each, while Kirsten Benjamin got the other goal in the rout. Today it will be the turn of the Central Zone to open their season with two matches on tap. Carapichaima will take on Tabaquite at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, while Chaguanas play Union Claxton Bay at their home ground in Chaguanas. Both matches kick off at 4 pm.

THE first match of the 2004 Carib Beer regional cricket series is  to be held at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre on January 16. it would be in a vastly upgraded facility. It would be in a much better shape than its present delapidated condition which almost cost the picturesque ground the privilege of staging First-Class matches next season. Guaracara Park, set in the middle of the Petrotrin Refinery is in need of urgent renovation to reach an acceptable standard for players and patrons. Acting manager of the Petrotrin Sports Club, which is responsible for the historic venue, Hinford Joseph yesterday promised repairs will be made in time for the opening match of the regional season.

“We have budgeted $519,000 for the upgrade of the facility in time for the regional matches next year. So far the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) have written to us and given us two matches next season,” said Joseph. The first match is between Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Islands from January 16 to 19, while the other features TT against Barbados from February 6-9. “At present we are unable to do any work on the ground as the football season is still in progress. However at the end of October we are going to close the venue to any sporting activity and start the renovations,” Joseph said. “We are going to spend $194,000 on upgrading the outfield and drainage system, $250,000 on the stands and $75,000 on the lights and scoreboard,” he said.

During the domestic season, poor lighting affected the players in day-night matches.Yesterday  Joseph gave the assurance better lights will be installed. “The lighting is a bit of a problem but we are going to have this fixed. We have already sent in our proposed budget to the company and we are hoping to start the work soon,” Joseph said. TT are slated to be host to five matches in the regional Carib Beer series in 2004. Two matches will be played at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva and one will be staged at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

DEFENDING champion Emile Abraham yesterday said that retaining the 2003 Tobago International Cycling Classic crown next week will be more difficult than last year. Abraham, Trinidad and Tobago’s most accomplished road rider said changes to the route in the five-stage event will prove to be the biggest hurdle to him coming out on top. He made the comments yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain when Trinbago Wheelers launched the race in the office of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board. However the challenge will be taken up by the newly crowned road race champion who will spend the next week with his father in Tobago training and getting used to the new course.

“The only stage that stays unchanged is the last event, the Tour of Tobago. And I am certain that the penultimate race, a 150-km grind will give a useful indicator of who will emerge winner,” said Abraham yesterday. The Tobago rider goes into the event as a strong favourite after two consecutive victories in a stage event in the USA where he campaigns and last Sunday’s National Road Race Championship in La Romain, San Fernando. However he is not expected to have things all his way judging from the line-up of foreign teams who have confirmed their participation which yesterday numbered 20. Jeffrey Charles, organiser of the classic for the tenth consecutive year yesterday was flanked at the head table by Bryan Charles, vice president of the Tourism and Industrial Development Company (TIDCO) and Robert Camps, former national road champion who is the Race Chairman.

Jeffrey Charles said when he embraced the opportunity to organise the event ten years ago he only wished to make the event more attractive for both local and overseas riders. He said judging from the response of pedal pushers over the years he is satisfied that his mission was a success with at least 100 international cyclists expected for the event this year from September 18 to 21. He said that TIDCO and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) are the primary sponsors of the classic. Also making valuable inputs are Newsday who are sponsoring the second stage, an 18-kilometre road race on Friday, September 19. The other stages are sponsored by Peake Industries, Beacon Insurance, Polar Ice Beer and Vita Malt.

Charles said $50,000 will be offered in prize money for the sucessful riders which reflects an increase from last year. Bryan Charles, the TIDCO official said the event presents another oportunity to get involved in their latest thrust to promote sports tourism and that they are working closely with state-owned airline BWIA to offer attractive travel packages to cyclists. He said research by TIDCO representatives in Europe, Latin America and Canada has shown that TT is yet to maximise the potential benefits in this area where there is a strong interest for athletes to set up training camps in Trinidad and Tobago. Bryan Charles said TIDCO will be doing their part in promoting the cycling classic on their website and stressed their continued commitment to making the $300,000 race a success.

Camps said the changes made to the course will offer more challenges to the riders and will also course through many villages in the sister isle which would not normally get a chance to be involved in the classic. He also announced that apart from the main event in the International and Open Categories there will also be a parallel classic for Veterans, Juniors and Women, over three stages. Unregistered bikers, in the Under-35 and Over-35 Categories; and Tinymites Under-16 will also bid for honours over three stages. It was also revealed that for the first time there will be a International Women’s event which has so far attracted seven competitiors with Trinidad-based Dutchwoman Ruth Hessells the favourite after her resounding victory last Sunday as a guest rider in the National Championship Veterans event. Camps also anounced that Simon Spicer has been appointed Chief Commissar while Ivan Charles will be his assistant. A highlight of yesterday’s function was the presentation of a special award for “Ian “Pretty” Charles for his commitment and dedication to participating in the classic over the years.

CRIMSON TOWER flashed her speed at gallops at Santa RosaPark, Arima, yesterday morning, as horses prepared for Saturday’s 10-race programme. The Terrence Bates-owned and trained American-bred three-year-old filly stepped 600 metres in a quick 35.8 seconds. And it was also a good run for locally-bred three-year-old filly Lady Rossie who is also trained by Bates, and who accompanied The Tower in the gallop. Another smart gallop came from Celebration Time who disappointed last time out when a raging favourite. This three-year-old colt from the hot Glenn Mendez barn worked together with Hollywood Star and produced a time of 36.8 seconds for a 600 metres spin.

Jamaican-bred Barbadian-owned Royal Oak Derby entrant Royal Red also won the gaze of early morning clockers when he rattled over 600 metres in 36.5 seconds, while Honor Bound travelled the same distance in 36.6. Dutchess Trembley and The Chairman had a good run out in 48.7 seconds for 800 metres, but In Swinger topped that a shade with a time of 48.6 seconds. American-bred newcomer Notanothernoble showed he was coming into his own with an 800 metres spin in 49.8 seconds, following on  his eye-opening gallop over 1000 metres on Monday, completed in 1:03.9 seconds. Bajan Connection showed she has kept her form well with a 1:03.7 seconds clocking over a similar trip also on Monday.

THE ADAGE that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body is aptly demonstrated by Tishan Maraj, who recently received a Further Additional Scholarship, in the Cambridge Advanced Level Examination. Tishan, son of Guyana-born parents Dr Youtradeo Maraj and Bassomattee Maraj, of Faralon Drive, Bel Air, La Romain, is a former student of Presentation College, San Fernando. He will be pursing studies in medicine from  September 2004 as he is presently taking a rest from studies and will teach at his alma mater for the next year. Maraj was the captain of the Under-15 West Indies team which won the Costcutter World Cricket tournament three years ago in England. They beat Pakistan by two wickets in the final at Lord’s in London, England.

He was also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 Team which won the regional title in Trinidad in 2000. Maraj showed excellent leadership qualities during the regional tournament and it was on that basis that he was given the captaincy of the West Indies team for the world tournament. It was while playing for the Under-19 team in Guyana a fortnight ago, where TT won both the knockout title and the League Cup, that Maraj  heard that he had gained four As at Advanced Level in General Paper, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology. He celebrated with scores of  110 vs the Rest of the Americas; 54 against Barbados and 73 against the Windward Islands in the final. And as fate would have it he was adjudged the “Man of the Match” in the final against the Windward Islands. Tishan started playing cricket at the age of nine, attending a coaching school run by Raphick Jumadeen, a former West Indies legspinner, at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Tishan has three other brothers all doing well in their studies. They are Jitin, 21, a Second Year student in Environmental Management, at UWI, St Augustine; Hardeep, 15, a Form 5 Student at Presentation College, San Fernando; and Somant, 14, a Form 4 student at Presentation also.
He attended San Fernando Boys’ RC School and later Presentation College, San Fernando after being successful in the Common Entrance Examination. At the Ordinary Level examination in 2001 Tishan got eight distinctions —- Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography, English Literature, English Language, Computer Studies, Additional Mathematics and Physics.

He was a Sixth Form Prefect at School and an outstanding performer at the Maths Olympiad placing third as both a senior and junior. He was also a member of the Drama Society and president of the Indian Cultural Club of the college. His major hobby is playing musical instruments like the tabla, the violin, and the keyboard, which he pursues with a relentless passion to get away from his books at times. He advised young students  aspiring to achieve excellence to be “well focussed, committed,  work hard, and pray hard for eternal guidance.” Maraj thanked the teachers who helped shape and mould him through the years.

St Benedict’s took a giant step in pushing for top honours in this year’s British Gas Secondary Schools Football League South Zone competition when they registered their second consecutive victory.  They whipped Presentation 2-0 in the second match of the double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Monday. They won their first round match against Vessigny by a 2-0 margin and repeated to move ahead at the top of the standings with maximum six points. And if ever there was a case of over-confidence which resulted in the downfall of a football team it involved the Naparima College strikers.

Ateba Forde, Brenton deLeon and Stephen Byer who were the main culprits and architects of the embarrassing result in their second round encounter against homesters Fyzabad Composite at their home base at Petrotrin, Apex ground. With open goalmouth beckoning, Forde, DeLeon and Byer chose to shoot wide or over the crossbar. It was the most unbelievable performance by such an experienced bunch which treated their supporters with an outstanding display of attacking football against defending zonal champions Princes Town last Friday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium. That match was a goal feast with seven sparkling goals overall as the match ended 4-3 in favour of the “Boys from the Hill.”  The former national double-crowned champions and zonal Inter-Col champs ended the match goalless despite more than a dozen clear-cut opportunities to find the net. Naps are now second with four points.

While Naps marksmen misfired, Princes Town seemed to have a similar experience but managed to pull one back to finish with a 1-1 draw with Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive in the first match of the double-header at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. The fourth match between Vessigny and Mayaro was aborted. There was no play because of lack of any security officers at the Mayaro Recreation Ground. The South Zone officers will have to decide on the outcome of this fixture.

BOTTOM-of-the-table Georgia stunned top contender Sidey’s 2-1 in their Warner’s Group of Companies-sponsored Tobago Football Association Premier Division match at Roxborough Ground. The winners did it on goals by brothers Elroy and Damien Phillip on Friday afternoon. Leeton Warrick got the consolation goal for Sidey’s. Meanwhile, Roxborough Lakers, Mason Hall Police Youth Club, Golden Lane and Sea Level Goal City have qualified automatically from the Sports and Games zonal conference for the play-offs for two places into the Premier Division. But Argyle Youth Stars, Leeds United, Mainstreet and Calder Hall must play each other for two places to join the play-offs. The Lakers drowned Mainstreet 6-0 at Roxborough; Mason Hall edged Leeds United 2-1; and Golden Lane drew 1-1 with Goal City at Shaw Park in Sports and Games “A” Conference matches. In the “B” Conference, Northside Combined and DSX Young Hearts played to a 0-0 draw at Dusty Park.