Here is how the two teams stack up:

On the T&T end, there is no Shaka Hislop in goal but Clayton Ince. What Ince lacks in experiance he makes up in heart and agility. Needs some more full internationals from becoming a truly great goalkeeper.

Edge: Lawrence via experiance.

T&T- This is one of the major weak links in the T&T team. The defense has not steped up and done the job that they should have reling on the abilty of Clayton Ince bail them out for there mistakes.

Edge-Jamaica

T&T- David Nahkid and Clint Marcelle are the ones to watch in the midfield. Nahkid with his consistent abilty to get the pass through and Marcelle with his pace to run at defenders create a good combination.

Edge- Even

T&T- Stern John and Irasto Knights are the two front men for T&T. John is the tournament's leading scorer and a serious threat to anyone. Knights is one to two years from becoming a world class player.

Edge-Even

You can hear the game live tonight via Radiojamaica. The game starts 5:30pm EST at Broadcast.com.

Enjoy the game.

Well it is finally here, the final that we waited for months. World Cup qualfiers Jamaica will face Shell cup champions in Port of Spain on Friday night. T&T got to the final via a 4-1 win over Haiti. Jamaica needed extra time to defeat Antigua to progress.

Come back on Friday for a special Shell/Umbro final edition.

Well folks here it is, the match made in heaven I told you about a couple weeks back. Russell Latapy is expected to sign a new contract with Aston Villa within the next couple of weeks, this according to his business manager.

Here is how Russell came to Aston Villa. After watching the World Cup final in France and the conclusion of his  Mastercard duties he travelled back to Portugal on the Monday and then to England on later that week. He has been training at the Birmingham based club ever since.

Last year he was the interest of Aston Villa who wanted to sign him for £6,000,000. However, Boavista rejected the offer and kept him for one more year. This year Boavista lost out on the rights to retain Latapy and he is currently available on a  free transfer. The fee for Latapy's signing is undisclosured.

The question now is Dwight Yorke. Yorke is being targeted by Manchester United and the next 48 hours will tell if he will remain with Aston Villa. Manchester United manager Alex Fergusion, has placed a £8 million initial bid for Yorke. However, that was rejected by John Gregory the Villa manager who stated that he wanted a higher fee and striker Andy Cole  in exchange for Yorke. The both teams have until Saturday to agree to a transfer in order for Yorke to play in Champions League action this season.

Trinidad and Tobago have moved on to the finals in the Shell/Umbro tournament. They did so with a convincing 8-0 win over Dominica on Sunday night. They will face Haiti on Wednesday night in Port of Spain. Jamaica will face Antigua on Wednesday in Port of Spain as well.

Stern John scored four goals, Irasto Knights two and captain David Nahkid two in the romp over Dominica. Despite the win the T&T defense still showed that they need alot of work. Go to games for reports.

A more detailed update will be made on Thursday. Once again I am sorry for the short update.

Trinidad and Tobago open there defense of the Shell/Umbro tournament with Antigua at the Hasley Crawford stadium. However, they enter this tournament ranked as underdogs to  World Cup qualifiers Jamaica. Like last year this tournament will once again pit a rebuilding, inexperience squad against there Caribbean rivals.

Having that in mind several foreign based players have come in to help T&T lift the trophy for the fifth time in a row and seventh overall. David Nahkid (New England) will lead the national team, he will have as supporting cast: forward Stern John and defender Ancil Elcock (Columbus Crew), Clint Marcelle (Barnsley, England),  Tony Rougier (Hibernian), Marvin Andrews (Raith Rovers) and Sheldon Thomas (South China). T&T will be without Dwight Yorke who vowed never to play for T&T during the Shell/Umbro cup and Russell Latapy who is currently involved in an impasse with TTFA President Oliver Camps.

Sheldon Thomas steps in for Jerren Nixon who asked to be excused due to club commitments.  He impressed head coach Bertile St. Clair in the team practice. Thomas, a 23 year old midfielder/striker, was a NCAA All Star at Call State-Fullerton in 1996. He was drafted by the Orange County Zodiac in the A-league last year, but chose to ply his trade in Hong Kong with South China in the Chinese first division.

Bertile St. Clair in keeping with his tradition of rebuilding has called up several young players. He called up goalkeeper Richard Goddard, Kerwyn "Hardest" Jemmott and defender Keyeno Thomas all of whom are 19 years old. Also entering the squad is under 21 Joseph Peters and under 23's Lyndon Andrews and standout striker Irasto Knights.  Completing the rest of the squad is Shurland
David, Dale Saunders, Rodney Dennis and Sherwyn Julien.

The foreign based players have had little time to prepare for the tournament. Most of them came home last weekend and captain David Nahkid arriving on Monday. However, Nahkid stated that the team's involvement in the Gold Cup in February gives the team a "big advantage."

Trinidad and Tobago will open with Antigua, they move on to tougher competition in Martinique who have always played them tough on Friday night and finish the first round with Dominica on Sunday.
Flash: T&T 3 vs Dominica 2 details later, Jamaica 4 vs Cayman Islands 0 Go to results for scores

In the squad will be Walter Boyd and Onandi Lowe as the main strike force. Veteran Peter Cargil, Thedore Whitmore and recent Bolton Wanderers signing Ricardo Gardner is expected to run the midfield. The back line for Jamaica is solid with Ian  Goodison, Christopher Dawes and Fabian Davis.  Who goes between the pipes is going to be interesting. Jamaica has an embarrassment of riches in veteran Warren Barrett or Lawrence. Jamaica is without seven of there English born players but head coach Carl Brown speaking to the Jamaica Gleaner stated that even though the players will be missed the local contingent will do well.

Jamaica open the tournament with the Cayman Islands,  The World Cup has only served to provide experience for this tournament.

The goal was scored by Lesile Fitzpatrick in the 90th minute after several scoring chances that went begging. With the starting forwards ineffective, Bertile St. Clair replaced them with Fitzpatrick and Burris to add some offense. Fitzpatrick scored on a free kick from national standout Kerwyn Jemmott.

In other action, Stern John, Ancil Elcock and Columbus lost to New York 3-0.

Wendell Regis scored for Hershey and Anthony Dhanoolal scored for Raleigh but Hershey won the game 3-2 over the hapless Flyers. The Flyers went on to loose this weekend 2-1 to Atlanta.

Terry St. Louis and Toronto defeated Craig Demmin and Rochester 2-1.

Yorke is due to have talks with Villa management to sign a new five year contract that will keep him at the Birmingham based club until 2003. It has reported that Yorke will get a salary boost from £7,000 a week to £30,000 a week.

Yorke, who will resume pre season training on Wednesday added: "I will have a talk with the manager. But I have heard nothing about a new Villa contract. I have to weigh up everything very carefully, but the fact remains that I have two years left on my contract, so I am here to play for Villa for that time if they want me."

Lewis and Justin Latapy are now the only two Trinidad and Tobago players in Portugal. Lewis goes to a team that finished seventh in the Portuguese first division last season.

Russell Latapy is not going back to Boavista. This was confirmed by his manager in Trinidad who stated that Boavista had lost the right to retain the services of the former national captain.  The teams were not disclosed  but according to his manager Latapy will be playing in European competition next season. They are expected to be announced later this week. Russell is returning to Portugal today after concluding his Mastercard duties at the World Cup.

Speculation is that he may move to an English club, however clubs from France, Portugal and Spain have shown interest in him. One English club said to be in the running is Leeds United. Russell will move on a free transfer with a asking fee in the region of £6,000,000.

"We have four major tournaments coming up and that is a very expensive venture. Unfortunately, the
corporate bodies just haven't been giving us the kind of support we expected." Braithwaite stated that after making a call for sponsors several months ago only two have answered the call. Carib breweries have made there facilities available at Champ Fleurs as well as providing refreshments at the daily training sessions. Petrotrin is providing transportation for south based players as well as facilities for a live-in camps for the team. He also said that Fifa vice president Jack Warner has donated money towards a Under-20 tour of England.

He continued by stating that the three cannot support the national team alone. "The youth teams in particular are where our future lies. These are going to be the players for the 2002 World Cup and you can't start supporting that effort in 2001, you have to start now."

Due to lack of funds preparation for the Shell/Umbro tournament had to be scaled back. They have been unable to call upon any foreign based players and it seems unlikely that those players will be called up unless sponsors could be found.

The national youth team is preparing for two tournaments. They are schedule to play in the CAC qualifiers and the World Youth championship Concacaf qualifiers next month.

Trinidad & Tobago -- Gotter, Thomas, McDonald, Sancho, Jemott, Gordon, Peters, McFarlene, Pierre,Fitzpatrick, Toussaint.

In other MLS action, Mickey Trotman, Brian Haynes and Dallas lost to Kansas City 2-0.

David Nahkid may only be marking time at New England since transfer rumors have him headed to Tottenham in England. He and New England lost to Colorado 2-1.

In the A-league, after starting for the A-League all stars last week Gary Glasgow came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday. He scored two goals in his first game back in a New Orlean's uniform. Also having a good game was Lester Felician who recorded three assist in the 4-0 beating of California. It was Glasgow's ninth and tenth goals of the season. New Orleans was coming off a 3-2 come from behind win over Barry Swift and the US Pro-40 team.

Barry and his team lost again 3-2 this time to Jacksonville.

Terry St. Louis and Toronto defeated Shawn Boney and Connecticut 1-0. Connecticut then went on to lose to Atlanta 2-1.

Craig Demmin and Rochester defeated Atlanta 4-0.

Finally, Marvin Raeburn and Raleigh continue there slide. They lost there 11th game in a row by dropping a 2-0 decision to Richmond.

Hislop has to battle Canadian goalkeeper Craig Forrest for the starting job. Hislop stated: "Competition makes for a tremendous working atmosphere. I had to battle with Pavel Srnicek and Shay Given at Newcastle and I know that Stephen is one of the pool of  goalkeeping talent.  I asked for no guarantees about a first team place and wasn't given any. That's exactly how it should be and Les has pointed out how good they are.''

He went on to say that he is putting his England ambitions out of his mind and concentrating on club football.

"We felt we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring Evans back," said Sakiewicz (manager). "He was an extremely popular player when he was here and we feel he’ll add an element of excitement to our team. We’re happy he’s again part of our family."

Wise is one of the original two Trinidad and Tobago players in the MLS. The other being Brian Haynes at Dallas.

Mickey Trotman wants to play for the national senior team. Speaking to TTFOL Trotman said that he will like an oppurtunity to play for the senior "strike squad" having only played for them at the youth level. Trotman stated: "Together with Stern, myself and Jerren we can get ready for 2002."

He commented on his season being mixed so far. However, he credits fellow national Brian Haynes as being a big help to his transition.

The Dallas Burn forward last represented T&T in the Olympic qualifiers in Edmonton. Trotman was unable to train due to injury with the national team last December for the Gold Cup tournament.  Trotman was supposed to make his debut for the senior team last month in St. Kitts but was not released by his club in time for the mini tournament.

Last year Trotman worked well with Stern John at New Orleans. There partnership up front contributed to the majority of the then Gambler's offense. Due to last year's performance Trotman was courted by European scouts for possible moves to teams in Norway and Switzerland.

Local club Joe Public will represent the Caribbean in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They are expected to play MLS champs DC United in quarterfinal action on August 11th in Washington DC. They are following on the heals of United Petrotrin who lost to DC United 1-0 last year. Joe Public were invited to the tournament because the Caribbean Club Championship, which is supposed to decide who went to the tournament, will be held in November.

Joe Public is easily the biggest club in Trinidad and Tobago. The club is owned by Fifa Vice President Jack Warner. It is reported that the Tunapuna based club has an operating budget of TT$2,000,000 or US$318,000. They boast of several national players and a trio of Mexican players. They have been active in the transfer market acquiring former national midfielder Arnold Dwarika last year from East Fife.

The national team coached by Peter Granville has been under camp since September of last year. The Concacaf tournament is going to be very difficult. They are in the same group with Canada, Costa Rica and the USA. The top two teams will advance to next year's World Championship scheduled for Nigeria. Trinidad and Tobago has already qualified for a World Championship back in Portugal in 1991.

Stern John, Ansil Elcock and the Columbus Crew lost to San Jose 2-1 in a shoot out. The lost sends the Crew to 8-8 on the season. John assisted on Columbus' only goal of the game.

David Nahkid and New England bounced back from a 1-0 lost to Kansas City late last week to defeat Tampa Bay 3-2.

In the A-league, Lester Felician and New Orleans defeated Milwaukee 2-1.

It was not a happy Canada day weekend for Terry St. Louis and Toronto. They traveled to Montreal for the battle of Canadian teams on Canada day and got beaten 6-0. They then headed south across the border and were defeated again this time to Staten Island 2-1.

It was a mixed weekend for Shawn Boney and Connecticut. They defeated Worester 4-3 in a shoot-out win. They traveled to Montreal and were once again they were involved in a shoot-out. However, this time they lost 3-2.

Craig Demmin and Rochester beat Western Mass. 3-1.

Finally, help is desperately needed for Marvin Raeburn and Raleigh. They lost to Hampton Roads 1-0 on Thursday and again to fellow Trini Barry Swift and the US-Pro 40 team 2-0.