Former National Under 17 captain Ryan O'Neil has been named in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 2010 Men's Soccer All-America teams. There are three teams in addition to an honorable mention list. The University of Great Falls forward who was a member of the 2007 T&T team which made it to the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, became the first men's player in the school's history to receive the award. O'Neil capped a great season by leading his team to the second round of the national tournament for the first time. He finished with a team-high 18 goals on the season.
"Ryan is definitely deserving of this award," said University head coach Paul Zazenski. "He has been a leader all year for our team and scored many goal-winning goals for us. We will look for him to keep making a major impact during his senior season." O'Neil was also named to the Unaffiliated Conference first-team and was crowned Conference Player of the Year. The Unaffiliated Conference consists of nine teams from the Dakota, Frontier, and Midlands athletic conferences.
Another ex- T&T Under-17 player, Chike Sullivan was also named Daktronics First Team All-American, earning First Team honors from the NSCAA. Among Division II players, Sullivan currently ranks sixth in total assists and 13th in assists per game. Sean De Silva started in all 17 matches for College of Charleston this season and led the team in points with seven goals and eight assists, both of which were also team highs. De Silva scored four game-winning goals this season and was named on the Southern Conference all star team.
<strong> Yorke still in Fifa club World Cup record books</strong>
Dwight Yorke, though retired from playing is still very much in the record books for his exploits with Manchester United and was named in the Fifa record books last week for being the only player to score for two separate teams in two Fifa World Club Championships. He did it for United and Sydney FC. Yorke was joined by TP Mazembe Englebert midfielder Mbenza Bedi as the only two players to score in two separate Fifa World club tournaments.
Bedi made a name for himself on Friday when he became the first player to score in two consecutive Fifa Club World Cup competitions. Bedi scored the only goal as the African champions defeated Club de Futbol Pachuca in the quarter-finals. "I had a fantastic four years at the club. Don't forget, I'm a little island boy who's come from the Caribbean not knowing football at all. If somebody said I was going to be playing for the greatest club in the world, in a treble-winning year, knowing what I'd achieve in that time, I'd say 'you're fibbing me'. Great ride, great players, great manager, great experience," Yorke said.
Crucial Christmas period for Edwards
Ipswich Town are 17 points off League leaders Queen's Park Rangers and midfielder Carlos Edwards believes his team must grab every point possible over the Christmas period if they are to have any chance of promotion to the Premiership next season. Ipswich are on 24 points in 18th spot and both Edwards and fellow countryman Jason Scotland will have key roles to play in Roy Keane's side starting with Saturday's home clash with Leicester City. They are also home to Watford on Boxing Day and away to Coventry City on New Year's Day.
"We are struggling a bit because we've been without a win in some time and it's important that we pick up as much points that we can over the Christmas period. "This is always a crucial period for clubs because it kind of sets the pace for the second half of the season and gives you a measure as to whether you're going to finish in the top half of the table or press for promotion or be fighting to avoid relegation," Edwards said on Wednesday. "So far I'm still enjoying it at Ipswich. It's always a challenge but that's never something I back down on and I'm definitely looking forward to the remaining matches," he added.
Jones settles with Under-20s
He was one of the standouts for T&T in last week's 2-1 victory over Suriname particularly when the visitors were down to ten men in the closing ten minutes of play. Now W Connection defender Joevin Jones is determined to play a key role in trying to help T&T advance in their Under 20 World Cup qualifying campaign. Left back Jones has been on the T&T senior team for much of this year and only rejoined Zoran Vranes' team recently. His next assignment will be another key qualifier at home to Suriname from 4 pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Monday.
"He did very well for us in Suriname. He was an important player for us," Vranes said.
Jones added: "It was a tough match especially when they scored first and then we went a man down in the last few minutes. I think this game on Monday will be another hard one but we are doing well as a team so I think we will get the result to go to the final round."
Looking back at the debacle in Martinique with the senior team, he commented: "It was disappointing. I can't say for sure what went wrong.
We just didn't play well and that was very disappointing for me because I thought we would be going to the Gold Cup. I was looking forward to that. Now we have to work harder and come back stronger than before. Once T&T gets past Suriname, they will progress to the Concacaf Final round in Guatemala next year to compete against the likes of Mexico. Guatemala, Panama Honduras, Guadeloupe USA, Cuba while El Salvador beat Costa Rica 1-0 in the first leg of the Central America playoff. The final leg is on December 18.
Shaun Fuentes is the press officer for T&TFF/Soca Warriors.