Even as the West Indies cricket team continues to perform admirably in Zimbabwe, there has been a spate of injury concerns over several key players, which has led many to question the overall fitness of several of the players in West Indies cricket. West Indies star batsman Brian Lara (chronic hamstring) along with fast bowlers Cameron Cuffy (stress fracture of left instep), Kerry Jeremy (strained back) and Meryvn Dillon (torn knee tendon) have all returned early from the tour.

Recently as well, both Reon King and Didnath Ramnarine have both been unable to bowl in the second innings of the West Indies latest tour match because of separate back strains. King is making a return to cricket after being sidelined due to injury in the last three months.

Ramnaresh Sarwan has also been in the wars with a thigh strain and is still not 100 % fit.

The Caribbean News Agency (CANA) can reveal that the West Indies Camp in Trinidad was not as successful as many persons stated, with only six players being declared fit following the camp.

"The problem was that the camp tested various sections of the fitness structure of the players and the testing was rather extensive and at the end of it, several players could not make the grade, but it would have been too embarrassing to reveal that only six players were passed fit at the end of the two week session," a source close to the West Indies Cricket Board told the Caribbean News Agency (CANA).

"This explains why there are so many players breaking down on the tour, some of them were not fit in the first place and there were others who were half fit, but because of the strenous nature of the camp, it aggravated a lot of their injuries,"

"There was a serious concern that the camp was to intensive and that too much was attempted in such a short space of time, that it would have put such a major strain on the players, that it would cause them injury, as their bodies were not accustomed to this,"he added.

This website has learnt that the players who were declared fit, based on the systems adopted by the West Indies Cricket Board testing team were Darren Ganga, (Trinidad and Tobag),Brian Lara(Trinidad and Tobago), Shivnarine Chanderpaul(Guyana), Neil McGarrel(Guyana), Mervyn Dillon (Trinidad and Tobago)and Corey Collymore (Barbados).

"It seems that there was a lot that was done in Trinidad, which should have been avoided and would have allowed for a lot of these injuries to be avoided, clearly all of what has happened is going to call into question the coaching and fitness program that was adopted,"

"At this level our players have to be more fit and they have to at least be able to handle the pressures of a lot of cricket which is the norm these days, but still we cannot over work them,"he noted.

Chairman of the West Indies Selectors, Michael Findlay said this week,"We are trying to get our players into a fitness culture because this area has been a problem for some time...They are not accustomed to the regime that they ought to have. Fitness for sport is a lifelong thing. Our players will now have to understand this."

"Some of these are normal injuries in the course of playing sports, but it is something we will have to investigate,"said Findlay.

While there was no official announcement on the fitness level, CANA understands that the West Indies Cricket Board was made aware of the situation after the camp,"The West Indies Board was appraised, of course during this time, there was the situation with the Presidency and this was given the priority over what was going on with the team's fitness level and that allowed this to happen,"another close source in Antigua told this website.

"There was an interim committee, but everything was happening so fast, that people allowed this problem with the fitness level to remain where it is, everyone forget that the first concern in recent years had been about the fitness level of the team as compared to the days of the team of the 80's,"

"We allowed this to happen, and now it seems we are paying the price because there are bound to be more injuries again shortly,"he added.

Sunday

Scoured the Sunday papers (or Exchange & Mart, as we agents call them) to check on the transfer speculation stories I had planted. Had six inquiries by lunchtime. Delighted to see that one of my rivals' clients has been exposed as a "love rat". That should free up a few advertising contracts. Also glad to see that the journalist from the 'sick ward' is still out there inventing sources, I can feed him a bit more easy lines, he does not check his facts as the others. Also decided to buy that greedy journalist some free Sunday Lunches and even offer them a trip to Tobago. At least one of them took up the offer recently while on holidays.

Monday

Watched for the soon to be press conference of a wayward Trinidad and Tobago footballer on telly. What I could do with a player like that! Nothing sells an autobiography like a player with a drink problem even if it is less than his drug habit. Took a couple of my younger players out on the razzle to try and help them develop the thirst but they insisted on drinking nothing but orange juice all night. I wonder if they are gay? There could be money in that even here in Trinidad and Tobago. I will have to break the story first to my 'friends' in the media, before Sir Jack intervenes.

Tuesday

A busy afternoon as I oversaw the transfer of one of my players. First he signed a five-year contract with the leading club in Trinidad and Tobago and then I helped him move into his lovely new house. He is really happy. Told him not to get too settled because he'll be moving again in less than two years. I am still negotiating with a club in England, and I am hopeful that I can make a bundle and buy the -Camry-, I have always desired.

Wednesday

Found out that, at least three former players during the Strike Squad era are now barely making ends meet and one is minutes away from a life of destitution. I decided to call the many corporate bodies and ask for assistance to him, I am really sorry I could not dip my hand into my pockets, as funds were low, and my visa card monthly statement just came in the mail. A small charge of 20% for these services off the donation fee of the business is more than reasonable. It is clear that nobody else is interested enough

Thursday

Obtained a free ticket to England from my friends at American Airlines, as BWIA refused to sponsor me unless I could do something for them. Arrived just in time to attend the annual agents' world convention in London. Couldn't get my suit back from the dry-cleaners so visited a client and borrowed his. He won't mind, it's not the first time I've taken the shirt off his back. The guest of honour was Jean-Marc Bosman, invited along for his services to football agents. Because of the ruling that bears his name, my clients have doubled their wages in the past couple of seasons and I've put two of my kids through my first marriage through college and allowed me to give the other three through my second, third and now fourth marriage a scholarship fund.

Friday

Had a row with a leading club chairman after his striker (my client) had transfer talks with another club? "What about the contract he signed last season?" moaned the aging cowboy chairman. He obviously hasn't done his reading or he would have seen the clause I now insist goes in all my paperwork: "This contract is not worth the paper it is written on." Later that night, I received a telephone call from some insurance agents, who asked me if I had a life insurance policy, as I had challenged the most important man in Trinidad and Tobago Football.

Saturday

I decided that the money as agent was not enough, and opted to run for a post in FIFA, after all I had been making payments to an unidentified bank for a long time, and after watching many FIFA officials walking in and out of the Bank for over a month, what was any good 'red' man to think. The news that my agent license was now under query, is what caused me to reveal a lot of this information, because I do not want to have to resume my other career as a schoolteacher or working with the telephone company.

You'd have expected something along the lines of 40 DD or maybe K1 NKY from the star with a liking for busty page three beauties and three-in-a-bed romps.

But Yorkie is desperate to get hold of the much more sober DY1 - problem is, it's already taken.

The plate currently graces the limo of the Mayor of Hastings, East Sussex, but I hear the borough council is open to offers of around pounds 30,000.

After the mare he had last season, Dwight's definitely interested.

But if he really wants to upstage team-mates Roy Keane - M1 BAD - and Phil Neville - PN2000 - in the number plate name game then all he has to do is call 07947 7161 799.

And make it snappy, Dwight, because there's bound to be a stampede from Becks and Co for the ultimate Manchester United status symbol.

It's 1 UTD ... and it's yours for a cool pounds 60,000.

Except for his three goals in the 6-1 defeat against Arsenal towards the end of the season, there was little of note from the Manchester United striker.

His relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson was strained and Yorke looked on the verge of an exit from Old Trafford, with former club Aston Villa leading the queue of clubs keen to snap up the out of favour forward.

Yorke has now been offered a last chance by Ferguson, however, and on Friday promised the United manager that he would not waste the opportunity.

And the 29-year-old, who top scored for United in his first two seasons after leaving Villa Park, believes he can outdo new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy to that accolade.

Concerning his relationship with Ferguson, Yorke told the Sun: "We talked again this week and he has opened the door - told me he doesn't harbour grudges and given me a chance to prove myself. It's a chance I will not waste.

"I realised I was going out too much. Being in nightclubs too often is a problem. It is time to stop that and apply myself to football."

Despite the departure of Teddy Sheringham to Tottenham for the coming campaign, Yorke is aware that the pressure for first-team selection is as strong as ever at Old Trafford.

Earlier this year, Ferguson finally sealed the £19 million signing of van Nistelrooy, who starts the season as the number one choice in attack for the Premiership champions.

However, his Caribbean rival is adamant Ferguson will be pushed in making his selection.

"Like Andy Cole and Ole Solskjaer, I want to be the one playing up front with Ruud," said Yorke. "In fact, I want to be the top scorer again, as I was in my first two seasons at United.

"I know I still have it in me. And I can play alongisde any striker because my game can adapt. I just have to prove I deserve that place.

"The last thing I want is to leave Old Trafford. I'm from a poor background in the Caribbean. Kids there dream of being in the position I'm in. I used to dream about it - I don't want to let that dream go."

Yorke's troubled 2000-2001 season reached an all-time low when, after a night drinking with friend and Rangers star Russell Latapy, Latapy was stopped and charged with drink driving.

But following discussions with former West Indian cricket captain Brian Lara, another friend of Yorke's, the United striker believes he will be back on track for this season.

"We decided it was time to live life sensibly again. The partying could be put on hold," he confessed. "There will be plenty of time for that - but a football and cricket career can be gone before you know it."

Recently Retired International footballers Dwight Yorke and Russell Lataphy have left for England on two Saturdays ago to begin training. Prior to that they had jointly resigned from Trinidad and Tobago Football with immediate effect.

Both players will return to their respective clubs from Monday for training, Yorke with Manchester United where he has two more years to run on his contract. While Lataphy will gain a TWO year contract reportedly worth $10,000.00POUNDS weekly with Glasgow Rangers.

While there was a lot of speculation over the signing of the contract between Glasgow Rangers and Russell Lataphy in Scotland on Tuesday. this website can exclusively reveal that Lataphy's agent made arrangements for the signing to be done in the Caribbean, as the Glasgow Rangers Manager was on holidays and it was arranged that both parties would meet in the region to make matters easier.

"Russell Lataphy's agent had made all the arrangements in advance when he heard that the Rangers boss was on holidays and with pre season camp beginning in a short time, so that everything was set for Barbados and there is where the contracts were signed with the Glasgow Rangers people," a source close to the players told this website.

"As a result of this and the fact that it was in the Caribbean, Dwight went with Russell to Barbados and the two players were then absent from the training as a result, of this, but it was a question of how the people may have reacted to the fact that they were just in the Caribbean,"

"Both of the players never expected to be dropped from the team against Jamaica because of this, but when they arrived back and heard all the trouble, it totally left them surprised about everything,"he added.

Both players left for Barbados on Tuesday and returned to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday when they received the news of their sacking from the national team.

Lataphy will also earn a transfer fee of between 250,000.00 to 350,000 pounds from the deal with Glasgow Rangers," Well as Russell Lataphy is a free transfer player under the Bosman Rules, he had to sign the contract by July 1st in order to get all the benefits including the transfer fee which will all go to him and none to any club,"

"At the time of negotiating that was a point that was being finalized still and the latest is that the figures being mentioned are between 250,000 to 350,000. Although Lataphy's agent was hoping for figures closer to 1 million pounds,"he stated.

"In fact at this time both players are in Barbados to rest a little and relax ahead of their return to England, as they now realized that their future is with their clubs as their international careers are over,"

"It would have been very hard for both players to have stayed in Trinidad and Tobago to listen to the game especially given the situation with all the comments, if they had thought about this before, they would have spent more time in Barbados and therefore be able to finalize everything on Saturday when the Hibernian contract expires," he noted from his Barbados base.

Reports have quoted Jack Warner as stating that both me should have gone earlier, but while both players are refusing to make comments on the record, sources close to them say," They know now that they have to play out their club careers and believe that what they have done in the past for Trinidad and Tobago seems to have been forgotten by everyone."

The referee has determined that Jacobs "acted against the spirit of the game in indulging in cheating and sharp practice. Although he did not claim the stumping, he had more than ample opportunity to recall batsman Sehwag which he failed to do." (the laws of cricket preamble #5)

Jacobs will play in Saturday's ODI final against India. A substitute wicket keeper will be selected for the Kenya tour in due course.

In a simple but significant ceremony, Ambrose said "I do" to Benjamin, a physical education teacher in the ministry of sports and netball player.

The newly wed dined with family and friends at the Royal Antiguan hotel before leaving on their honeymoon.

The couple has two girls - Tanya and Chloe - who were the mini-brides during the ceremony. Ambrose's ex-Windies fast bowling partner Courtney Walsh as well as former Test bowlers Winston and Kenneth Benjamin shared in the occasion.

Also present were Antigua's sports minister Guy Yearwood, President of the Antigua Cricket Association (ACA), Enoch Lewis, and Leeward Islands team manager Hugh Gore.

I was bemoaning, as we all should, the clamour of scandal that fill the sports pages and broadcasts these days, and makes television presentation of sport seem more fatuous than ever.

Immediately, I sensed the suppression of a yawn. You see, a truth, and a hard truth for some of us to swallow, is that the majority of younger folk are not deeply disturbed when evidence of chicanery in sport is set before them.

For example, the festering issue of who has been up to what in the International Cricket was shruggingly dismissed as inevitable in an era of rampant commercialism and therefore not worth bothering about.

No sports scandal sets off more indignant editorials than charges of narcotic assistance, but modern cynicism dictates that very few track and field athletes are now held to be above suspicion. "What else can you expect when the rewards are so great, when winning can set a person up for life," one of my young friends stated," The Jamaicans will forever believe that Merlene Ottey is innocent, no matter the conclusive evidence,"

We have to understand that Sport is now big business and that everything related to it, revolves around money, and therefore Sports administrators need to consider how to make their product more entertaining. Merely building a cricket academy or building several football stadiums is inadequate and only seeks to confirm, that administrators in their current form think only as far as they can touch.

Whenever something occurs to cast sport in an unfavorable light, somebody is quick to say, "The authorities should have anticipated this, " or " past administrations would never have stood for it."

On some occasions that may be so, but if it's true, as it appears to be, that values have got screwed up, how did this come about?

Some of you may find it astonishing to discover that only 20 years have passed since amateurism was still so vigorously upheld in athletics that the American high jumper Dwight Stones was ordered to hand back around $33,000 won in a televised Superstars competition.

Shortly afterwards, Stone came as clean as he possibly could when disqualified in Poland for a technical infringement. "This is my living," he complained to the judges.

Nowadays, the urge to take up sport is often the urge to make a great deal of money. The tone of sport in the last decade of this millennium has been set by the elite, the richest games people who have sweated their way up to prodigious salaries, are admiringly interviewed by sycophants and receive the adoring attention that was once reserved for movie stars.

If sport has acquired a sense of modern reality, it is no less an admission that all things are not better than they used to be.

Recently, I was discussing this with a former West Indies great cricketer, who is unashamedly, a cricket romantic and grateful for the good things that have happened to him.

Dwelling bleakly on the vast damage caused by cricket's blind plunge into professionalism in money terms, he spoke about how rich he is from the game - not in cash but in memories. "I know things have to move on," he said, "but frankly I don't think cricket was ever meant to be so money dominated, that you became more important than the game and the people who supported the West Indies. This type of Professionalism has taken away the game's soul."

The juxtaposition of the sports and financial sections in most newspapers is appropriate. Escalating salaries, share issues, ludicrously inflated transfer fees takeovers, ever-increasing prize-money, and spiraling sponsorship.

When a highly possible penalty kick was not given which may have enabled Trinidad and Tobago to force a draw in 1989 against the United States, as much was made of the unheartening effect it would have on the Trinidad and Tobago's Football Federation serious financial problems as the disappointment our players felt over just failing to achieve a major goal.

That is where football now stands and a rocky stance it is with any number of clubs in Trinidad and Tobago's semi-professional League in desperate financial circumstances.

"Maybe so," one of my young friends countered, "but look at the benefits. Football has never been more popular and television brings us sports events live from all over the world."

Are we as a society viewing this whole lack of interest by the young in cricket and football as hopeful myopia. If so, why?. The answer dawned while I was reading -Mobydick-, the bible of obsession, which provides a special sort of reading pleasure when you substitute the word "hero" for whale: "It is a thing most sorrowful, nay shocking, to expose the fall of valor in the soul...That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves...bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of a valor-ruined man"

A clue to sport future lies, I believe, in the growing and perhaps irreversible conviction of the young that most things are acceptable as long as they don't dampen the lust for entertainment.

Bearing that in mind it is easy to conjure up - hell, it's impossible not to imagine - what an ugly face sport will present to the world in the world of tomorrow.