UWI awards first FIFA/CIES sports management diplomas UWI awards first FIFA/CIES sports management diplomas

The University of the West Indies (UWI) awarded the first UWI/FIFA/CIES postgraduate diplomas in sports management at a ceremony attended by several guests in St Augustine, earlier this month. According to a FIFA.com report, 21 students graduated after studying the foundations of sport management with a particular emphasis on the realities of the Caribbean region. Lectures were supplemented with special sessions from both local and international speakers. It is also worth mentioning that UWI has added two additional subjects to the standard curriculum proposed by CIES, namely a module dedicated to human resource management and a second devoted to the management of sports facilities.

 

 

Professor Clement Sankat, principal of UWI, Dr Hamid Ghany, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Dr Keith Clifford, chairman of the First Citizens Sports Foundation, stressed the vital role that sport plays in Caribbean society and the need to give qualitative support at management level. The UWI/FIFA/CIES postgraduates have now been asked to contribute to the development of their region by investing their knowledge in sports organisation as quickly as possible. Courses are offered on both a national and international level, at both the Master programmes or shorter executive programmes. CIES also helps individuals find a solution for their education needs, whether it be in independent students looking to further their education, an organisation looking for continuing education opportunities or an organisation looking to recruit a top class graduate. CIES  took the opportunity to thank the UWI’s institutional support at the highest level and wish every success to the many happy students, who graduated this year. Among them was CNMG  sports camera operator Winston Sobers. The others included Boni, Brian, Anthony, Andrea, Shawn, Seychelle, Francis, Charisse, Edmund, Vinda, Sterling, Winston, Nyron, Christian, Mauricia, Elizabeth, Brent, James, Annette, John, Roger and Kion.

 

 

Yorke takes on Zidane, Figo in Africa fundraiser

Seems like Dwight Yorke can’t get enough of the playing field these days. And why shouldn’t he? The former T&T captain continues to earn selection for several matches across the globe, with some of the best ever players the sport has seen. Yorke led the Manchester United legends team to the British Airways title in Barbados last month and last Sunday, he lined up for the Manchester United veterans in a charity match against Real Madrid veterans before 60,000 fans at the Bernabeu. Madrid won 3-2 with goals from Fernando Morientes, Luis Figo and Fernando Redondo, with United’s scorers being Lee Sharpe and Teddy Sheringham. In the Madrid line up was former French star Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and Emilio Butragueno while Yorke lined up alongside Andy Cole and Edwin van der Sar. “It’s always a pleasure to be playing with these guys. I try to keep myself busy and I’m always willing to get involved in these kind of outings. I’m keeping myself in good shape and I’m still enjoying being out there,” Yorke said. Proceeds from Sunday’s match will go to Real Madrid’s  Foundation academies in Africa.

 

 

Welsh football gets first major performer since Dennis, Carlos

When Swansea City goalkeeper Michel Vorm appeared in the  Holland squad in their 1-0 loss to Denmark last week, Welsh football recognised him as its first representative at a major world tournament in six years.  Not since Dennis Lawrence took the pitch against Sweden in Germany 2006 had Welsh football had a player on the world stage. Both Swansea and Wrexham are Welsh-based clubs. Carlos Edwards was also a past Wrexham player. Edwards remembered his time on the pitch in Nuremberg when T&T held Sweden 0-0 on June 10, 2006. “There was no better feeling for a player especially starting off in Trinidad, moving to Wrexham and then of course to the Premiership with Sunderland,” Edwards said. “Of course playing in the World Cup was the icing on the cake and Wrexham were delighted to have both myself and Dennis on the big stage. They were really proud and they did something in honour of us at the club and at the stadium ground.”

 

 

Tobago’s BagoSports gains experience at North American contest

Tobago-based beach football team Bagosports came away with much needed experience at the North America Sand Soccer Championships in Virginia over the weekend. Captained by ex-national defender Makan Hislop, Bago Sports held their own in its four matches in the competition which boasted several of the top beach football players in the world including Brazil. Chad Apoo was their top performer with three goals as Bago won two games and lost two. Their losses included a 3-1 defeat to eventual third place finishers SoCal FC of California. Toronto FC also appeared among the 930 teams. Club president Kyle Lequay was grateful to the Ministry of Sport and Tourism Development Company for assisting in funding the team’s campaign. “The experience was tremendous. We are young in the world of beach football but we held our own and we were well received in Virginia. Obviously we have a lot of work to do still because our aim is to take beach football to a level which will see this country represented in the Concacaf championships that leads to the Beach Football World Cup,” Lequay said. “And the support of the Sports Ministry and the Tourism Company have been a real boost for us.” BagoSports will host its third annual beach tournament at Turtle Beach, Tobago on November 2 and their team is currently preparing to compete at another tournament at Treasure Beach in Jamaica from August 4.

 

 

Orlando coach tips Molino for greatness

Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath is doing all he can to propel national midfielder Kevin Molino into one of the best talents in the USL Pro Division. Heath has gone as far as implementing a US$50 fine system for late arrivals at practice to ensure Molino kicks away the Caribbean laid back attitude that tends to plague most players from this region. Molino, 21,  has been at the club for 18 months and is one of their leading attacking players. The former Under-23 standout has helped Orlando to the current top spot on the league table following their 2-1 win over Charleston Battery on the weekend. “If Kevin understands what he actually he has, what talent he has, there’s no end to how far he can go in the game,” Heath said. “I want him to be a better professional every single day. I want him to eat better. I want him to drink better. I want him to look after himself better. Not that he’s doing bad stuff, but I want him to be better. I’m just trying to give him the tools to take him to the next level.”

 

Shaun Fuentes is the media officer for the Soca Warriors/TTFF. [email protected]