The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has confirmed that Haiti has been given the nod over Antigua and Barbuda as the best second place finisher and will advance to a three-team round-robin playoff in the finals of the CFU’s Caribbean Cup in January in T&T.
Confirmation came from the CFU General Secretary Neil Cochrane, who said the decision was handed down this week.
“The executive committee of the CFU made a final decision (in) the matter pertaining to the final spot for the best second place finisher of the group to join the fifth place playoff teams in T&T and Suriname, and that decision is that Haiti will qualify for that third spot,” he said.
The CFU had first announced Antigua & Barbuda alongside T&T and Suriname as the three teams making up the group before announcing that Haiti would take Antigua & Barbuda’s place owing to a miscalculation on the part of the CFU’s competitions committee.
The Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) had then appealed the ruling after which the CFU put a committee in place to review the decision.
According to Cochrane, the ABFA and all other interested parties have been notified of the committee’s finding and what it means for each.
T&T will face Suriname on January 4, followed by a clash between Haiti and Suriname on January 6. T&T will play the final match of the playoffs against Haiti on January 8.
Ranjitsingh signs new
Louisville City FC’s starting goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh has accepted a new contract to return next year, according to an announcement from the club Tuesday.
Ranjitsingh, 23, who was recently in the T&T senior team squad, took over midway through last season for Scott Goodwin, who ultimately left the team to enrol in Harvard Medical School. Ranjitsingh allowed fewer than one goal per game, playing a key role in Louisville City’s run to the United Soccer League semifinals.
“I’m really happy to sign and be part of the team in the coming year,” Ranjitsingh said in a statement. “I’m excited to play in front of the fans again and hopefully bring a championship and a trophy to the city.”
LouCity coach James O’Connor said, “I’m really pleased to get Greg back on board. The way he’s developed since he got here has been really impressive.”
Ranjitsingh becomes the 12th player the club has confirmed will return from this year’s team, including fellow goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski.
T&T’s other three goalkeepers are Jan Michael Williams, Marvin Phillip and Adrian Foncette.
CONCACAF instructor credits
Former Costa Rican goalkeeper Claine Plummer recently credited the T&T Football Association (TTFA) for showing interest in developing local goalkeeper coaches and upcoming goalkeepers. Thirty six local participants benefited from the exercise.
Plummer, a CONCACAF instructor, conducted a three-day workshop earlier this week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
“We are here because there is a growing interest, a concern, but also a love for the position of the game. I want to thank the TTFA for inviting CONCACAF and myself here to share our knowledge,” Plummer said.
“The message that I bring here is one that hopefully we could use to touch a nerve in the lives of each of us here and to be open, to look at a different perspective in the way I have been taught and how I will share the message of CONCACAF of how to train, approach, identify and scout goalkeepers.
“Goalkeeping is very complex and detailed oriented. It is a position that is very lonely, that has a lot of pressure and brings a lot of spotlight to you as a player and a lot of responsibility.”
•Shaun Fuentes is the press officer for the T&T Football Association - shaunfuentes@yahoo.com