Leaders look to cement places in next round

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Saturday, October 11, 2014    

MAY PEN, Clarendon — Half of the 16 spots in the expanded quarter-finals of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup football competition could be filled after this afternoon’s second round of matches in the Inter-zone round.

The top two teams in each of the eight zones will advance to the next round and eight of the nine schools which scored wins in Wednesday’s first set of games could secure a place in the quarter-finals.

The race, however, will be for the coveted place in the first round of the inaugural Lime Super Cup Knockout that offers the winners $1 million plus an impressive crystal trophy. Only the winners of the zones will be eligible for the LIME Super Cup, however, and they will battle the top eight from the Manning Cup.

Today, former champions Glenmuir High and St James High will clash in the feature game of the round in the second game of a double header at Juici Field in May Pen where the winner will advance, while another seven schools will also advance with wins.

Petersfield from Zone 1, Frome from Zone 2, defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Manchester from Zone 3, Clarendon College from Zone 4, Cedric Titus and Old Harbour from Zone 5 were winners on Wednesday and are in the drivers’ seats in the zones.

Glenmuir High and St James, who both advanced to the Inter-zone round via different routes, were winners on Wednesday and no quarters will be asked and none given in today’s game that could decide the zone winners.

Glenmuir, winners of Zone M in the first round, were 2-0 winners over Morant Bay High, while St James High, one of the best third-placed teams, blanked another former champion Vere Technical 3-0.

Defending champions STETHS along with Manchester High will start favourites to win their games in Zone 3 against Edwin Allen High and Holmwood Technical, respectively, and set up a winner-take-all clash next Tuesday.

Edwin Allen High are coming off a 0-2 loss to Manchester High on Wednesday and will have to create the biggest upset of the season to deny STETHS in their own backyard.

Holmwood Technical will also need to lift their game several levels if they hope to keep their chances of advancing alive at the expense of Manchester High.

At Jarrett Park, Petersfield High will be confident coming off a win over a depleted Rusea’s High team but will face a Cornwall College team that was held goalless for the first time this season and will be desperate for goals.

Cornwall College led the competition with 33 goals in the first round but a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping by Muschett’s David Swaby frustrated them for 90 minutes at Jarrett Park on Wednesday. Today, top scorers Jourdaine Fletcher and Alrick Ottey, who have combined for 16 goals, will resume their hunt for goals against Petersfield.

In the first game at Jarrett Park, Muschett High will seek to keep their qualifying hopes alive as they take on a Rusea’s team that lost its three best players to the National Under-17 team preparing for a World Cup qualifying tournament in Haiti later this month.

Green Pond High have not won any of the four Inter-zone games played between last year and this year and will face a tough Frome Technical team at Frome Sports Grounds.

Frome are coming off a win over a good Godfrey Stewart team and their confidence will be up against Green Pond in a meeting between the teams for the first time.

Clarendon College will be odds on favourites to beat Christiana High at Kirkvine and book their place from Zone 4 ,while Cedric Titus and Old Harbour High are also expected to get by Fair Prospect and Brimmervale, respectively, in Zone 5.

Garvey Maceo will have their sights set on returning to the finals after last year’s meltdown against STETHS and should make another step in that direction when they take on first-time Inter-zone qualifiers Ewarton High at the Bramwell Clarke Complex in Linstead.

The race in Zone 6 is wide open after both games ended in draws on Wednesday, leaving all four teams on one point each.

Another first-time Inter-zone qualifier Oracabessa High will face former champions Dinthill Technical at the Oracabessa Community Centre in one game with Marcus Garvey High and Titchfield meeting at Drax Hall in the other game.

Games today

Christiana vs Clarendon College @ Kirkvine @ 1:00 pm

Rusea’s vs Muschett @ Jarrett Park @ 1:00 pm

Cornwall College vs Petersfield High @ Jarrett Park @ 3:00 pm

Frome Tech vs Green Pond High @ Frome @ 3:00 pm

STETHS vs Edwin Allen @ STETHS @ 3:00 pm

Mile Gully High vs Lacovia @ Manchester High @ 3:00 pm

Manchester High vs Holmwood Tech @ Kirkvine @ 3:00 pm

Brimmervale High vs Old Harbour High @ Oracabessa Comm Centre @ 1:00 pm

Oracabessa High vs Dinthill Tech @ Oracabessa Comm Centre @ 3:00 pm

Fair Prospect vs Cedric Titus @ Snow Hill Field @ 3:00 pm

William Knibb vs Godfrey Stewart @ Drax Hall @ 1:00 pm

Marcus Garvey vs Titchfield @ Drax Hall @ 3:00 pm

Glenmuir High vs St James High @ Juici Field @ 3:00 pm

Vere Tech vs Morant Bay High @ Jamalco @ 3:00 pm

Ewarton High vs Garvey Maceo High @ Bramwell Clarke @ 3:00 pm

Paul Bogle High vs Kemps Hill High @ Lysson Field @ 3:00 pm

View the original article here

Leaders look to cement places in next round

Three Caribbean hotels listed on The Top Ten Places To Avoid At All Costs

Dominican Republic’s Don Juan Beach Resort (Credit: hotels.com)

NEW YORK, United States, Tuesday September 9, 2014 – The importance of adequate research when choosing a hotel recently came under a white hot spotlight with a stinging critique of 10 hotels described as “just plain disasters” by Oyster.com.

Published in the Daily Beast, the list of “Hotels From Hell” was dominated by properties in the United States, with five mainland US hotels and one in Hawaii making the grade – or downgrade.

Hot on the heels of the US were three Caribbean properties led by the Dominican Republic’s Don Juan Beach Resort, which claimed second place on the list, narrowly being booted out of the top (or bottom) spot by La Semana Hotel in New York City.

Here’s what the team at Oyster.com had to say about the Don Juan Beach Resort:
The hotel investigators at Oyster.com typically have pretty strong stomachs, and it’s rare for them to encounter a property where they’ll refuse to sleep. The Don Juan was one such special spot. Located in the Dominican Republic’s sex-tourism capital, guests should expect to be accosted by prostitutes, local hecklers, and merchants on the resort’s trash-strewn beach (with a view of a gas processing plant in the distance). Small pools, dark rooms.

Jamaica had the distinction, or lack thereof, of capturing sixth and tenth place on the list, with Sandals Carlyle Inn and Club Ambiance, respectively. Oyster.com’s take on both properties follows:

This hotel isn’t bad, per se, but it’s certainly deceptive. The marketing images show the hotel as located right on a beautiful beach. In fact, it’s across a busy road from a tiny, crowded public beach. A lot of guests are extremely disappointed by this when they arrive, and it ruins the stay for many. At least the hotel offers a shuttle to a better beach at a sister property.

You get what you pay for at this adults-only all-inclusive, which advertises a sensual, lively atmosphere. This translates to a free adult entertainment channel on the TV, clothing optional and nude areas at a neglected man-made beach, and a club with a, erm, dancing pole. Despite some renovations in 2013, rooms are dated and worn, with cheap bedspreads.

Other hotels singled out for a slamming by Oyster.com are as follows:

This rough-hewn crash pad has worn rooms with plenty of cleanliness issues, including stained towels and, during our visit, hairballs in the sink (other guests have reported hairs on the sheets as well). Pretty much the only redeeming quality is the excellent Ocean Drive location, across the street from the beach.

This upper-middle-range beach resort looks fine upon first glance—until you realize that it’s located across the road from a chemical factory. There’s a large incinerator right behind the hotel, and the pier on the hotel’s beach is used to transport chemicals. While the hotel assures guests that the pollution is within safe limits, we personally wouldn’t want to risk it—and wouldn’t be thrilled to discover the plant upon arrival.

The Quad Resort on the Las Vegas Strip is inexpensive, but for good reason. Rooms and hallways are dated and worn (carpets are particularly dirty). There is a pool, but it’s closed for renovations through 2014. The hotel is getting a new name in October—the LINQ Hotel and Casino—and renovations throughout the property are due to finish in spring 2015. The hotel will stay open for business throughout the process, but we advise steering clear for now.

This budget property is one of the most affordable options on International Drive, but there’s a reason—features are few and rooms are worn. Bathrooms are dirty and expect maintenance issues such as water leaks. Aside from the low rates, the location—at the entrance of Universal Orlando—is the selling point, and the hotel provides a free shuttle to several attractions, as well as a free breakfast.

The budget, no-frills, 359-room Pagoda Hotel is favoured by islanders seeking an affordable stay and visitors who want to avoid the higher prices of Waikiki Beach. But guests report issues with bugs (including cockroaches), and lots of street noise in the basic rooms. One of the two tiny pools is surrounded by Astroturf. There are extra fees for Wi-Fi and parking, which hurts the value for those coming for the price alone.

This by-the-hour sex motel is about what you’d expect from this type of establishment, with a clichéd romantic vibe, variety of themed rooms (including Love Nest, Egyptian, and Waterfall), lots of plastic flowers, and decades of stale cigarette smoke soaked into the walls and carpets. The bathroom was disgusting, and the black light we brought revealed some very telling stains in the bedroom.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

View the original article here

Three Caribbean hotels listed on The Top Ten Places To Avoid At All Costs

Nesta Carter places 4th in London meet

Reigning world 100m bronze medalist Nesta Carter clocked 10 seconds flat, to place third in the 100 metres at the London Anniversary Games on Sunday.

The American Mike Rodgers won the event in 9.91 seconds, ahead of 38 year-old Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis who set a for new national record with 9.96secs.

Olympic and World Championship sprint relay gold medallist Aleen Bailey clocked 11.74 seconds to place fourth in the women’s 100m, won by Britain’s Margaret Adeoye in 11.61.

View the original article here

Nesta Carter places 4th in London meet

Boyz tumble 28 places on FIFA rankings

Sport

Sunday, July 07, 2013

ZURICH, Switzerland — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz made a dramatic drop in the Coca-Cola FIFA World Ranking when they slipped 28 places to land at 77th.Jamaica are now second in the Caribbean and seventh in CONCACAF, behind leaders Haiti who are ranked 69th in the world and sixth in the sub-continental region, despite falling six places.The Boyz are the only Caribbean team still in the Brazil 2014 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament, but missed out on a place in the Gold Cup which kicks off in the USA tomorrow.Caribbean football champions Cuba have made significant gains to remain inside the top 100 of the World Ranking, according to the July edition.Cuba leaped nine places to 82nd in the world and eighth in CONCACAF.The Dominican Republic also moved up four places to 90th in the world.Trinidad and Tobago are also within the top 100 of the ranking at 87th, down six places which put them ninth in CONCACAF.The top 10 of the CFU list is completed by Suriname (109th, up 4), Antigua & Barbuda (122nd, down 1), Grenada (123rd, up 1), Guyana (128th, down 2) and Puerto Rico (131st, down 3).The next edition of the ranking will be on August 8.— CMC/OBSERVER

View the original article here

Boyz tumble 28 places on FIFA rankings