If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Cuba Appoint Mamo As New Manager
The Cuban FA has appointed Christopher Mamo as the National Team’s new Manager. The appointment came as a surprise to many, and has been attributed mainly to Mamo’s mentor in the CONCACAF zone, Jim Caffiero.
Caffiero, an agent for Caribbean-born players, has been well-known to furnish Mamo with some fine talent which could have been lost were it not for him.
The Cuban FA confirmed Mamo’s appointment on Monday afternoon, but refused to give details about the contract. It is speculated that [the contract] will last until the start of the 2014 World Cup.
The FA Chairman, Reginaldo Cubillas, said, “we are pretty aware of the fact that we do not represent what may be called a powerhouse in the football department. However, Mamo’s history proves very reassuring, as he is well-known to bring out the best of his players. We do not expect to be in Germany in 2010, but we do expect the team to start off by qualifying for the final round. Anything over that is purely a bonus and cannot be regarded as much more.
Mamo declared himself happy at being in Havana, and that the ‘Juan Abrantes’ Stadium had better prepare itself for exciting, attacking football like it has never seen before.
For the good of Cuban pride, one can only hope that Mamo is right.
Damian Currás
Havana Sport Weekly
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> CONCACAF First Phase First Round Draw
With all the big guns not yet in the competition, there was only relative interest in the draw. Much more attention was instead directed at the Second Round Draw, which directly decided who was to be facing the likes of Mexico and the United States. Other seeded teams include Cuba, who will be looking to improve their unimpressive track record under Manager Mamo, shipped directly from Europe. The complete draw reads:
Bahamas vs Antigua & Barbuda (winner to face Mexico)
Belize vs Nicaragua (winner to face Jamaica) British Virgin Islands vs Bermuda (winner to face Cuba)
Cayman Islands vs Turks & Caicos Islands (winner to face Canada)
Dominica vs St. Vincent (winner to face Haiti)
Grenada vs Aruba (winner to face Trinidad & Tobago)
Montserrat vs St. Lucia (winner to face United States)
Netherlands Antilles vs Guyana (winner to face Costa Rica)
Surinam vs Anguilla (winner to face El Salvador)
US Virgin Islands vs Dominican Rep. (winner to face Barbados)
Other nations, seeded but not to play against First Round opponents, were drawn in the following fixtures:
These results have not yet cut any verdicts, but Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and above all Dominica have one foot in the next Round after convincing and strategic wins.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> First Phase First Round Second Leg
The first teams have been eliminated from the World Cup 2010 to be held in Germany. Despite the fact that none of those teams may be considered as contenders to the likes of the big European and South American nations, the elimination process starts here, in the warm Caribbean waters that were once ruled by fierce pirates and mystical sea monsters.
The only thing ruling these countries today, however, has proven to be what may be described as a living passion for the game of football, or soccer as it may be known in this side of the world.
The results of the 26th of March 2008 have given the following qualifiers:
Bahamas 2 – 1 Antigua & Barbuda Antigua & Barbuda qualify 3-2 on aggregate to meet Mexico
Belize 2 – 1 Nicaragua Nicaragua qualify 3-2 on aggregate to meet Jamaica British Virgin Islands 3 – 1 Bermuda British Virgin Islands qualify 5-2 on aggregate to meet Cuba
Cayman Islands 3 – 2 Turks & Caicos Islands Turks & Caicos Islands qualify on away goals to meet Canada
Dominica 0 – 0 St. Vincent Dominica qualify 3-0 on aggregate to meet Haiti
Grenada 1 – 1 Aruba Grenada qualify on away goals to meet Trinidad & Tobago
Montserrat 2 – 1 St. Lucia St. Lucia qualify 4-3 on aggregate to meet the United States
Netherlands Antilles 1 – 2 Guyana Guyana qualify 5-2 on aggregate to meet Costa Rica
Surinam 4 – 0 Anguilla Surinam qualify 4-3 on aggregate to meet El Salvador
US Virgin Islands 3 – 1 Dominican Rep. US Virgin Islands qualify 4-3 on aggregate to meet Barbados
The most surprising of results was undoubtedly Surinam’s 4-0 victory over Anguilla, which completely overturned the visitor’s hopes of making through after a convincing three-goal victory in Valley.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Mamo calls up his first ever Cuba
New Havana-based Manager Christopher Mamo has called up his first ever Cuba squad this afternoon. With little space fore massive facelifts, the squad contains more or less the same faces the Cuban public has been accustomed to. This seems like an answer from Mamo, directed probably to those few tens of Cubans who opposed his appointment. He looks like he’s saying “You need my tactical knowledge to get your old players moving…”
I, for one, really hope he proves himself right. In the buildup against the British Virgin Islands, Mamo gave out an exclusive interview to the ‘Havana Sports Weekly’.
Q: What do you think of life in general in Cuba?
A: I guess if you’re not in it, you cannot really judge it. From the outside, numerous comments are made, namely referring to the way the country is run and how the standard of living is poor in certain communities. I feel that I’m safe enough to say that the Havana underground life is very much alive and kicking, but hey, that’s the way of life here. That’s the Cuban culture, the way Cuba got on the World Map. It’s like saying Budapest is not famous for pickpockets, or that the Sicilian Mafia isn’t as important to Sicily’s name as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. And Paris? The cost of living… Havana is what it is today thanks to its way of life.
Q: You’ll be pleasing a lot of people like that! And about Cuban football?
A: I doubt I’d be offending if I claimed that Cuba’s football has been appalling of late. Cuba needs fresh blood, new life. The modern game isn’t like it was in the old days, where a ball of clothes made a good football, where romanticism was more important than skill. Cuba needs major investment, but once that is completed, results will without any doubt come Cuba’s way.
Q: So you fancy your chances in the earlier rounds or even those are compromised?
A: I plan to carry out my mission of reaching the latter stages of the qualifying competition. So I do believe in the current crop of players. However, it all depends on one basic thing: attitude. We’re not playing at the top level, but we’re not the Oratory Youths neither. We have to concentrate, and I’m pretty sure that as they say, every dog has his day.
Q: That seems like a declaration of war against the British Virgin Islands.
A: No, not at all. I reckon the Virginians know full well that Cuba is the stronger side and that we are the hot favourites to make it through. Anybody betting should bet on us. It’s safe money, I might say.
Enthusiasm and talent. And as Mamo declares, attitude. Let us hope the promise can be fulfilled.
The squad to face the British Virgin Islands is composed of: Goalkeepers: Fabian Prieto (CSKA Moscow), Alexis Reve (Villa Clara), Odelin Molina (Villa Clara) Defenders: Alexander Cruzata (Holguin). Felix Campagnar (Karnten), Carlos Thiano (Brondby), Gil Natalio (Lokomotiv Moscow), Rodrigo Costa (1860 Munich), Gregorio Sanchis (Villareal), Pepe Inigo (Bregenz) Midfielders: Luis Martinez (Aris), Pedro Ibon (Valencia), Isidro (unattached), Feliciano Lozano (unattached), Rey Martinez (Colorado), Rene Estrada (Industriales), Cesar (unattached), Raudel Rodriguez (Pinar del Rio), Alberto Delgado (Colorado) Forwards: Jaume Castedo (CSKA Moscow), Alain Cervantes (Ciego de Avila), Maikel Galindo (Villa Clara), Pedro Faife (Villa Clara)
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> British Virgin Islands vs Cuba First Phase, Second Round, First Leg
National Stadium (Tortola)
The new Cuba Manager has convinced everyone doubting his abilities after the away tie against the BVI, winning stupendously and being able to claim a place in the next set of fixtures without any shadow of doubt.
Ironically, the best player for Cuba proved to be Virginian goalkeeper Tony Pearson, who did absolutely nothing to keep the ball out of his net. Three minutes were enough for Cuba to assert their superiority, when Jaume Castedo opened the score. It marked the beginning of hell for BVI, with Valencia anchorman Pedro Ibon scoring twice, setting the fourth goal for Castedo again to make it 4-0 after a mere eleven minutes. The first half knew no advances from BVI, who were all the time kept in their own half thanks to a wonderful performance by Luis Martinez.
In the second half, BVI tried their best to start off on the right foot, and their efforts paid off when Andy Robinson reduced the gap. Cuba showed little interest in hitting harder than they did in the first half, but their attitude which Mamo talked about prior to the match looked impeccably positive. Michael White was the man of the minute, though, as he scored again for the greens to half the score on the hour mark. Maybe the time for a couple of changes for Cuba? Mamo responded by sending Felix Campagnar, Feliciano Lozano and Alberto Delgado on, replacing Luis Martinez, Rodrigo Costa and Rey Martinez. It was soon the same music all over again, with Cuba refinding that attacking touch, and denting Pearson’s confidence when Jaume Castedo hit two more to make them four-in-a-match. Maikel Galindo soon increased the scoreline again, and as Cuban fans who had made the trip started supporting the team with full fervour, Rene Estrada hit yet another one home. The score was completed with another Ibon goal, who made it to a rare hattrick for a defensive-minded midfielder.
The likes of Mexico and USA will most likely be wanting to avoid Cuba, should they continue to perform so well.
Cuba: Prieto – Inigo, Natalio, Sanchis, Costa (sub. Campagnar) – L. Martinez (sub. Lozano) – Estrada, R. Martinez (sub. Delgado), Ibon – Galindo, Castedo (MoM) British Virgin Islands: Pearson – Walker, Wilkinson, Palmer, Wood – Richardson (sub. Wright), Harrison, Clarke (sub. Browne), Campbell – Robinson (sub. Jackson), White
Javi Castro
Ciego de Avila Gazette
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> “Welcome to today’s edition of Cubagoal, live for you listeners from Havana on 95.2FM. Our guest tonight, as promised, Christopher Mamo, the new Manager of our National Side.”
Q: Welcome, Mr. Mamo. So, one match down, and hopefully many more to come!
A: Well, I’m seeing you’re one convinced guy. Let’s not hosannate after one match. It wasn’t the toughest of oppositions. Maybe we still need a couple of games to settle down.
Q: But by the looks of it you’ve got a firm grasp of it.
A: No manager would ever come to a radio program and say ‘hey, you know what? I think I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with the team!’ Not that that’s the case, I mean, but it was a wasted question. I’m sorry, you lost points on that one!
Q: Well, well. You like to stay in control then. Tell us the truth, you like to stay on top then!
A: [laughing] Depends what you’re talking about. In football – yes. But as I’m sure you ain’t referring to that – no. I waste too much energy in training to have any left to spend after the sun goes down. So anyone wanting to please me, get on me.
Q: Yeah, that’s the spirit. On a slightly more serious note, though, we’ve heard that striker Galindo has been praising your tactics after he scored his first with the National Team. How do you respond to that?
A: I am merely a medium. The guys have it in them, and I am there to decide who’s in good form and who’s in less. Galindo had been training splendidly over the previous days. If I remember correctly he was the first to reach the Abrantes when I called for the squad, so there you have it – a hard-working, eager, talented guy. Who happened to be a gentleman and not think he’s on top of the world after an important goal. I like the guy.
Q: But assuming Castedo is untouchable, as he probably is, Galindo has to battle it out for the other striker’s shirt. Right?
A: No, not that Castedo is untouchable. I’d think it over a million times if he’s underperforming, I must admit, but nobody is indispensable. Especially at this stage when everyone is still trying to fit in. I’ll be trying out other guys in the return match in a few days, just to see what they can do. One last thing on Castedo, he’s a talented guy with a great future ahead of him. Playing in Russia, he is sure to be of great service to the nation. I predict a rosy pro career for him. And after that maybe some managerial or youngsters stuff.
Q: I’m assuming you know the results from the other matches?
A: Oh, no! Not yet. I heard of USA and Mexico wins, but those were to be expected. Nothing else though.
Q: Alright, so for fans and Mamo alike, here are the results from the First Leg of the Second Round of the First Phase. My, they really should call them something else. Brought to you courtesy of Pinacola… the Best Cola Ever.
Antigua & Barbuda 1 – 2 Mexico British Virgin Islands 2 – 9 Cuba
Dominica 2 – 1 Haiti
Grenada 1 – 2 Trinidad & Tobago
Guatemala 3 – 0 St. Kitts & Nevis
Guyana 2 – 2 Costa Rica
Nicaragua 0 – 2 Jamaica
Panama 3 – 1 Honduras
St. Lucia 1 – 2 United States
Surinam 2 – 1 El Salvador
Turks & Caicos Islands 0 – 3 Canada
US Virgin Islands 2 – 1 Barbados
Surprised by any of the results, Chris?
A: No, not really. By Cuba’s actually, maybe, wasn’t expecting such a wide margin, and perhaps – only perhaps though – I wasn’t thinking of such an efficient Panama? But it’s the first leg, and anything could happen next time these teams meet. I’m happy for Canada though. I heard there are many keen supporters, not least a certain Pierroth. I’m sure he’d like to see the reds in Germany.
Q: Well, with that we come to the end of today’s edition of Cubagoal. I’ll be with you next time, with another great guest. Could you make it again, Chris?”
A: Not sure next week. But we’ll keep in touch.
Q: Next week it won’t be Chris then, he’ll be having somebody above him it seems. But we’ll still be here. So until next time, keep the faith.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The interview was carried out by local DJ Ozmo, as he insists on being called, for NoBrakesFM.
I like these international management stories set in some of the smaller nations. Good luck with Cuba and carry on with the great start that you have already made. :thup:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Cuba vs British Virgin Islands First Phase, Second Round, Second Leg
Juan Abrantes (Havana)
With the Cuba clan on a high after the thrashing of BVI in the first leg, Mamo took the opportunity to try out a few other players in the match which assumed little importance. It could be seen as a dress rehearsal, as Mamo said during a press conference after the first leg.
Still, Cuba were not there to loose the match, and even less so BVI, who had some pride to restore. Particularly Person who was in the starting lineup despite the nine goals at Tortola. It was Cuba who had the upper hand again, though, with Castedo opening the scores and Rey Martinez doubling it. Matt Campbell rewarded the visitors with a rare away goal, before Castedo scored again on the brink of half time. Mamo told him 135 minutes were enough for him this time round, and gave Raudel Rodriguez, who plays for San Cristobal side Pinar del Rio, 45 minutes to convince him of his abilities.
In the second half, it was a target practice for Cuba, who found a much more prepared Person this time, and who flew from post to post in attempt to convince the Cubans he was not a no-hoper. Alain Cervantes however, made it four for Cuba after the hour mark had passed, making his own claim for the Castedo-partner position. Rey Martinez and Natalio were then asked to make way for Delgado and Gregorio Sanchis. There wasn’t much to it, however, as the match trailed towards the end. The only fault displayed by Cuba was reserve goalkeeper Odelin Molina, it seemed, as Harrison took full advantage of him napping, scoring a fascinating goal that could only hurt the BVI players, fans and sympathizers. They surely could have done better over 180 minutes.
Cuba: Molina – Inigo, Natalio (sub. Sanchis), Thiano, Costa – Lozano – Martinez (sub. Delgado), Ibon, Cesar – Cervantes (MoM), Castedo (sub. Rodriguez) British Virgin Islands: Person – Walker, Wilkinson, Palmer, Wood – Richardson, Campbell (sub. C. White), Harrison, Clarke (sub. Browne) – Robinson (inj., sub. Wright), M. White
Javi Castro
Ciego de Avila Gazette
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Teams Halved As Semifinalists Become Known
The CONCACAF World Cup 2010 Qualifying Section continued to emit verdicts yesterday as the teams running for the three coveted places in the 2010 finals were halved to yield 12 contenders, who more capable and who only a hopeful. The full results from the First Phase Second Round qualifying are:
Barbados 2 – 1 US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands win 5-3 on penalties
Canada 4 – 2 Turks & Caicos Islands Canada win 7-2 on aggregate
Costa Rica 4 – 1 Guyana Costa Rica win 6-3 on aggregate Cuba 4 – 2 British Virgin Islands Cuba win 13-4 on aggregate
El Salvador 2 – 1 Surinam Surinam win 5-4 on penalties
Haiti 1 – 3 Dominica Dominica win 5-3 on aggregate
Honduras 1 – 1 Panama Panama win 4-2 on aggregate
Jamaica 3 – 0 Nicaragua Jamaica win 5-0 on aggregate
Mexico 2 – 0 Antigua & Barbuda Mexico win 4-1 on aggregate
St. Kitts & Nevis 0 – 4 Guatemala Guatemala win 7-0 on aggregate
Trinidad & Tobago 3 – 0 Grenada Trinidad & Tobago win 5-1 on aggregate
United States 2 – 0 St. Lucia USA win 4-1 on aggregate
Barely any surprises there, only confirmations of the strengths of USA, Mexico and perhaps Jamaica. Cuba, on the other hand, have demonstrated a very vivid style of play which will be hard to contain by any team on Cuba’s day. Honduras might feel slightly aggravated at loosing out at this stage, as may El Salvador. Both teams were accustomed to reaching the latter stages of the qualifying race, without ever making it through themselves, however. The real pressure is about to start though, as in two weeks’ time the draw for the Second Phase takes place.
Survivor: The Comeback 
Linear Mode
