Out-of-favour national midfielder Ataulla Guerra continued his impressive scoring form in the United Soccer League with Charleston Battery when he scored the game’s lone goal that gave his team a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Laventille-born Guerra, who has not represented T&T in close to a year got the decisive item in the 88th minute at the Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

It was his second goal in as many matches which ranks him joint leaguebest with 11 so far in his 2018 campaign. Fellow T&T internationals, midfielder Neveal Hackshaw and defender Leland Archer, also featured for the entire match for Charleston which stays second on the table in the Eastern Conference with 35 points from 20 matches, nine behind England-born T&T defender Justin Hoyte’s Cincinnati, which has played a match more. The 33-year-old Hoyte was an unused substitute in Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls II to extend its unbeaten run to nine matches.

Riverhounds are third with 34 points from 18 matches, one more than Canada-born T&t goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh’s defending champions, Louisville City FC, 4-1 victors against Charlotte Independence.

Ranjitsingh was the in goal for the entire match for the winners while national midfielder Kevan George also played the entire encounter for Charlotte Independence, and Cordell Cato was replaced at the halftime interval, failing to add to his eight goals on the season.

The defeat left in ninth spot with 27 points from 21 matches, level Ottawa Fury and Nashville, and one behind, Indy Eleven, the club of national defender Carlyle Mitchell and striker Nathan Lewis.

Mitchell was in his team’s line-up in a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay Rowdies, while Lewis was not included in the match-day squad.

In other matches, Tobago- born Jamal Jack and his Colorado Springs whipped Tulsa Roughnecks 4-2; defender Shannon Gomez helped Sacramento Republic to a 1-1 draw with OKC Energy; Mekeil Williams and his Richmond Kickers also battled to a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United II, while Andre Fortune watched from the bench as his North Carolina spanked Aikim Andrews’ Toronto FC II, 3-1.

The decision on December 2, 2010 of awarding Russia hosting rights for the 21st FIFA World Cup (2018) raised a number of questions. While there were the usual concerns of the infrastructural works- such as completion of new stadiums and upgrades —there were anxieties relating to security issues.

The security issues ranged from potential threats from the Islamic State and other Islamist radicals; Russian hooligans especially after their disruptive behaviour at Euro 2016 in France; spillover fighting between Russia and Ukraine and racism and xenophobia toward non-whites.

However, by the time referee Nestor Pitana blew the final whistle to end the 21st World Cup crowning France champions, Russia had already proven that all the pre-tournament concerns never saw the light of day.

According to Putin, the World Cup “helped break many stereotypes about Russia,” and “People have seen that Russia is a hospitable country, and will leave with the best feelings and memories… and will come again many times.”

My two weeks in Russia during the World Cup bears testimony to Putin’s words.

The tournament operating systems allowed for effective checks and balances especially as it related to security concerns but at the same time not infringing upon the rights of fans. If there were any issues it was dealt with in a palatable and timely manner.

It was amazing to see how the large crowds the Kazan Sporting Arena (42,000) and Luzhniki stadium (81,000) were managed before, during and after the game without undue delays, fuss and ado.

From the entry at the Sheremetyevo (SVO) airport, the hospitality provided was very satisfying.

The immigration system catered for the FAN ID visa entry into Russia and as such there were not any undue questions and hassle.

The same treatment was extended on match days in the metros and buses. The reliability of the trains and buses to and from the games was also pleasing.

Information booths were strategically placed at the main tourists’ centres such as Red Square with young persons speaking at least Russian and English providing important information about maps, the transport system, and getting around to see landmark places such as St Basil’s Cathedral; the Kremlin; Lenin’s mausoleum, the GUM, Karl Marx monument and the UNESCO heritage sites in Kazan to name a few.

Overall the Russian people were very welcoming whether it was in the tourist centres, the metros, and malls.

None of the Russians I chatted with sadly had any idea of Trinidad and Tobago and its location. "

However, they were interested in finding out more and the opportunity was taken to market the country and the region. Russia 2018 was memorable and it was worth the sports tourism experience. It is a place I will definitely like to revisit.

“I don’t feel it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning.” —Michel Foucault

PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Hamstrung by a slow pitch, West Indies failed to fire, and Bangladesh, led by their most capped opener Tamim Iqbal and most capped bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, won the first One-day International by 48 runs yesterday.

With the Guyana National Stadium pitch in stark contrast to the surfaces they have exploited throughout the last 1 ? months in Tests against Sri Lanka and this opponent, the Windies bowlers gained slow bounce and little movement, to the delight of the Bangladeshi batsmen, and Tamim collected his 10th One-day International hundred, an unbeaten 130, to anchor his side to 279 for four in 50 overs after they chose to bat.

The home team’s batsmen however, failed to adjust to the conditions and though there were periodic explosions from the bat, the resolve required was absent and they limped to 231 for nine in 50 overs with Mortaza using his vast experience to hurdle out 4-37 from 10 overs.

Before it was over, Shimron Hetmyer increased his value with a typically flamboyant 52 from 78 balls that included five fours, veteran Chris Gayle gathered 40 before he was run out just when it looked like he was getting into gear, and Alzarri Joseph and hometown boy Devendra Bishoo, both finished on 29, providing some tail-end entertainment in an unbroken last-wicket stand of 59.

The result meant the visitors take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series which continues on Wednesday under the lights at the same venue before it concludes three days later at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

Apart from the pitch, West Indies were let down by sloppy fielding, and Tamim survived an early chance to plunder 10 fours and three from 160 balls to lead the charge for the tourists.

Four clear misses and a number of close calls blotted the Windies’ copy-book, paving the way for a 207-run stand between Tamim and Shakib-Al-Hasan, whose 97 from 121 balls included just six fours.

Entering the final stages, the host still seemed to have a rein on things with Bangladesh 211 for two, but Mushifqur Rahim arrived to blast a quick-fire 30 and put on 54 in 21 balls with Tamim to add meat to their team’s total.

West Indies failed to get a flourishing start from Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis to put early pressure on their opponents in the chase, and gradually Bangladesh tightened the screws with steady bowling.

Mashrafe Mortaza celebrates taking a wicket with teammates. (CWI Media photo/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

Lewis was caught at mid-off off Mortaza for 17, slicing a drive in the ninth over and Shai Hope departed for six after he failed to review a dubious lbw decision when he played across the line to a delivery from Rubel Hossain in the 13th over to leave West Indies 41 for two.

Windies immediate past and immediate future stars Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer came together and looked to be setting a foundation for a charge to the finish.

Gayle however, was run out in the 22nd over, when Hetmyer failed to respond to his call for a single to short third man, leaving West Indies 81 for three – and the innings lost momentum from this point onwards.

Hetmyer reached his 50 from 70 balls with a single to long-on off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s off-spin in the 33rd over, but he nor the rest of the batting could demystify the Bangladesh bowling and crumbled before Joseph joined Bishoo for a little fun.

Earlier, West Indies conceded dropped Tamim on 17 and Shakib survived three chances, as they built a foundation for their side, after Jason Holder had Anamul Haque caught at second slip for a third-ball duck in the second over.

The Windies bowled with such discipline early on, Bangladesh got their first boundary, when Russell conceded the three in the ninth over to Tamim.

Tamim Iqbal drives into the off-side during his 130 not out. (CWI Media photo/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

But this also precipitated a period in which the fielders failed the bowlers, as Ashley Nurse put down Tamim, on 17, at cover in the 11th over; Nurse too, bowling his off-spin, suffered, when an under-edge from Shakib, on 15, deflected from the thigh of wicketkeeper Shai Hope and flew past Chris Gayle at slip, and next over, Joseph had the same batsman, on the same score, dropped for a second time, when Gayle, again at slip, parried a shoulder-high chance.

The hosts did not get a sniff of a chance again until Shimron Hetmyer, fielding at fine leg, muffed a simple chance, when Shakib, on 84, top-edged a sweep at a delivery from Bishoo in the 39th over.

Bishoo however, was rewarded for his persistence, when he removed Shakib with Hetmyer this time holding onto a skier at deep mid-wicket from a top-edged slop/sweep in the 45th over. Tamim reached his 100 from 146 balls.

SCOREBOAR

West Indies vs Bangladesh – 1st ODI
BANGLADESH (maximum 50 overs)
Tamim Iqbal not out ........................................130
Anamul Haque c Nurse b Holder....................... 0
Shakib-Al-Hasan c Hetmyer b Bishoo ............97
Sabbir Rahman st Hope b Bishoo ......................3
Mushfiqur Rahim c Bishoo b Russell ..............30
Mahmudullah not out ..........................................4
Extras (lb7, w8) ...................................................15
TOTAL (4 wkts, 50 overs)................................ 279
Mosaddek Hossain,
Mashrafe Mortaza,
Mehidy Hasan,
Mustafizur Rahman,
Rubel Hossain did not bat
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-208, 3-221, 4-275
Bowling: Russell 9-0-62-1 (w2);
Holder 9-0-47-1 (w1);
Joseph 10-0-57-0;
Nurse 10-0-39-0;
Bishoo 10-0-52-2 (w5);
Mohammed 2-0-15-0
WEST INDIES
(target: 280 off 50 overs)
C Gayle run out (Mahmudullah/Hossain)..... 40
E Lewis c Mahmudullah b Mortaza ................17
S Hope lbw b Hossain........................................... 6
S Hetmyer c Hasan b Rahman .........................52
J Mohammed st Rahim b Hasan .....................10
J Holder c Hossain b Mortaza.......................... 17
R Powell c wkpr Rahim b Rahman .....................0
A Russell c Mahmudullah b Mortaza............. 13
A Nurse c Mahmudullah b Mortaza.................. 7
D Bishoo not out .................................................29
A Joseph not out................................................. 29
Extras (b4, lb1, w6)............................................ 11
TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs) ................................231
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-41, 3-81, 4-111, 5-141, 6-141, 7-151, 8-163, 9-172
Bowling: Mortaza 10-1-37-4;
Miraz 10-0-37-1;
Hossain 8-0-52-1 (w1);
Hossain 7-0-22-0 (w1);
Rahman 8-0-35-2;
Hasan 7-0-43-0 (w4)
Result: Bangladesh won by 48 runs
Series: Bangladesh lead three-match series 1-0
Player-of-the-Match: Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
Umpires: J Wilson, S Ravi (India)
TV Replays umpire: R Illingworth (England)
Match referee: C Broad
Reserve umpire: G Brathwaite (CMC)

T&T cyclist Kwesi Browne won his second medal in as many days when the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games continued in Barranquilla, Colombia, yesterday.

Browne, who on Sunday night combined with Nicholas Paul and Njisane Phillip for the men’s Match Sprint Team gold medal in a new games record time of 43.873 seconds got bronze yesterday in the keirin, contested over six laps at the Velodromo Alcides Nieto Patina.

However, he was only awarded the medal after fellow T&T cyclists Nicholas Paul was relegated to sixth for an infringement after he originally ended in third spot, one ahead of Browne.

Colombian Fabian Puerta took gold and Venezuelan Hersony Canelon got silver, while the fourth spot went to Guatemalan, Brandon Pineda followed by Suriname’s Jair Tjon.

Earlier in the morning session, the 19-year-old Paul and Browne, 24 were one-two finishers in the second of three keirin heats.

Puerta won heat one ahead of countryman Kevin Quintero while Canelon and Mexico’s Edgar Verdugo were the top two in heat three.

And in Round Two, Puerta won heat one ahead of Browne and Pineda while Tjon won heat two followed by Paul and Canelon.

Akil Campbell lined up in the men’s Scratch Race (15,000m) and was in medal contention most of the way before he eventually ended in the eighth spot in the 11-man field.

Today, Paul and Phillip will compete in the men’s Sprint Qualifiers while Teneil Campbell, buoyed by her bronze medal on Sunday returns to the cycling track for the women’s Omnium.

The pair of Adam Alexander and Jovian Gomez will also line up in the men’s Individual Pursuit.

Overall, T&T has now won seven medals in Colombia, three gold, one silver and three bronze.

Late on Sunday night, USA-based swimmer, Dylan Carter swam to his second gold medal in record time as well when he won the men’s 50m butterfly in 23.11 seconds followed by Guatemala’s Luis Carlos Martinez (23.26) and T&T’s Joshua Romany (24.05).

In the morning heats, the 22-year-old Carter who won the men’s 100m freestyle in a new record of 48.95 seconds on Friday night, was in record-breaking form when he won heat five of the 50m butterfly in 23.50 seconds, to erase Martinez’s time of 23.53, set the heat before.

Romany, also 22, won the first heat in 23.73 to have the third fastest time ahead of the gold medal swim.

The T&T swimmers are expected to be in action again today with Carter, Romany, Jabari Baptiste Kael Yorke and David Mc Leod all to face starters.

Lewis misses out on medal

Olympian Andrew Lewis had a solid day with placings of eighth and third in races eight and nine respectively of the men’s Laser Radial for 30 net points and the fourth spot ahead of the medal race. Guatemalan Ignacio Maegli (8) won gold in dominating fashion, which each race in the series, opting out of the last race, which was won by Mexican Yanic Gentry (20), who copped silver. Andrey Quintero just edged out Lewis for the third spot with 27 net points.

Kelly-Ann Arrindell was eighth and seventh in her fourth and sixth races, respectively, to be ninth overall with 38 points.

Barbados stuns Calypso Stickmen 2-1

This country’s senior men’s hockey team fell to a shock 2-1 loss to Barbados in men’s Pool A action at the Unidad Deportivo Pibe Valderrama.

Winners over Cuba, 2-1 on Saturday to start pool play, the T&T men took an early lead against the Barbadians through Tariq Marcano in the sixth minute.

However, the stubborn Bajans, who edged Jamaica 1-0 in their opener replied through Che Warner in the 25th and seven minutes later Akeem Rudder got the winner.

The defeat left, T&T which has a goal-difference of plus-one needing to beat winless Jamaica in its final match tomorrow from 1 pm to have a chance to advance to the semifinals while Cuba (plus-four) and table leaders Barbados (six points) meet in the late match from 5 pm. The Cubans crushed Jamaica 5-0 in the other Pool A match yesterday.

Today the Anthony Marcano-coached women’s team with maximum six points after two matches, face Jamaica (three points) from 3 pm, with a win securing a semifinal spot.

Barbados is also on three points and meets winless Guatemala in its final match from 11 am.

Chung, Spicer make last-32 exit

T&T women’s table tennis players, France-based Rheann Chung and Catherine Spicer were beaten in the round-of-32 Women’s Singles match at the Centro Eventos Puerta de Oro.

Chung, a five-time Caribbean singles champion was ousted by Cuban, Idalys Lovet, 7-11, 6-11, 6-11, 6-11 while Spicer, the recent national women’s championship winner, went under to Venezuelan, Neridee Nino, 8-11, 5-11, 6-11, 6-11.

Today, the national men and women squash teams will start round-robin pool play.

Nicaragua deny Women Warriors

Second-half substitute Yessinia Flores scored twice as Nicaragua rallied from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with T&T senior women footballers on Sunday night.

Beaten 5-1 by Mexico in their opener on Friday, the T&T women went into the match needing a win to boost their semifinal hopes and looked well set to do so, after a Martha Silva own-goal on the stroke of half-time was followed by a Karyn Forbes strike in the 47th.

However, Flores who was a half-time introduction earned the Central Americans a share of the points with goals in the 69th and 75th minutes.

Today, the T&T women will meet winless Haiti from 5 pm in a must-win match while Mexico (six points) faces Nicaragua (four points).

The T&T Under-20 men’s football team will also be in action today versus Colombia from 8 pm.

The President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) has until today to respond to a letter sent to him by attorneys representing Darren Ganga demanding for yet another time that he demits office to facilitate the conduct of an independent forensic audit into issues raised in an audit conducted by the Cricket Board by the National Gas Company (NGC) and that while the audit is conducted that a committee be appointed to run the affairs of cricket.

In a six-page letter sent to Bassarath dated July 22nd from attorney Priya Ramsahai acting on behalf of Ganga, the TTCB President was accused of chastising Ganga for the publishing of the NGC audit report which made “very damning findings against the TTCB.”

But Ganga said it is “incontrovertible that the breach of a sponsorship agreement with a major sponsor such as NGC is a far more serious matter than publicising of same.”

The NGC audit found that the Bassarath led TTCB did not spend sponsorship money according to the stipulation. The audit revealed between 2014 and 2016, $2,983,000 was spent without approval by the TTCB and not in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding.

The NGC signed an MOU with the TTCB for three years in December 2013 for $13.35 million. In 2016, the total sponsorship was reduced by NGC to $12.46 million.

Ganga said it was “disconcerting” that Bassarath had insisted that the “allegations of financial mismanagement and impropriety,” unearthed in the NGC audit report be dealt with internally within the confines of a boardroom, “cloistered from public scrutiny.”

Through his attorney stated, “perhaps you are unaware,’ that the sport of cricket and the “sanctity of its administration are matters for national concern,” for which each and every citizen has a proper stake and interest.

He reminded Bassarath that the TTCB is “not a private company for which you and any of its members can lawfully demand that allegations of financial mismanagement and impropriety be kept confidential.”

Ramsahai noted that the TTCB is a public institution incorporated by an act of Parliament to serve the national interest and is, therefore “duty bound to be transparent and accountable to the public in its affairs.”

It was therefore “untenable,” she wrote that in the face of findings of financial anomalies such as the over-stating and under-stating of TTCB accounts under Bassarath’s stewardship, “you have demonstrated a palpable obsession with excluding these matters from the public sphere.”

Although Bassarath held a news conference after publication of the NGC audit, Ganga through his attorney noted “in convening a press conference to protest your executive’s innocence, one would have thought that you would have facilitated the requested independent audit in order to vindicate your position,” but his refusal to do so “is indicative of an unwillingness to subject the expenditure of funds by the TTCB to both professional and then ultimate public scrutiny.”

Having consulted with “numerous cricket clubs,” on matters raised in the NGC audit Ganga said he had received a petition signed by approximately fifty of the clubs calling on Bassarath and the TTCB executive to step aside in order to facilitate the requested audit. The petition he said also requested as a “matter of urgency and good governance,” the implementation of the recommendations in the report f the Independent Review Committee.”

He is also raising questions as to why the Justice Kokaram report cannot be placed before the Board. Failure to do so he said was “irrational, unreasonable and an act of bad faith.” by both the executive of the TTCB and Bassarath.

The TTCB’s refusal to agree to an independent audit he said was “unreasonable, irrational and constitutes an abuse of power,” by Bassarth as President of the TTCB.

Ganga through his attorney is demanding an “unequivocal response” from Bassarath as to whether he is agreeable to an independent audit into the issues Raised in the NGC audit.

As to Bassarath’s threat of disciplinary action against Ganga, his attorney said: “it seems that your threat of disciplinary action is rooted in bad faith and motivated by malice towards our client.”

Among Ganga’s demands are that Bassarath provide all of the documentation and or materials and or correspondence exchanged between the TTCB and NGC in relation to the audit report, the conduct of an independent forensic audit, and upon conclusion of the audit that the Board convene to consider whether or not disciplinary action should be instituted against Bassarath or his executive .
If Bassarath decides against the audit or placing the Kokaram report before the Board Ganga wants “sufficient reasons and a substantiate basis,” for his decision.

The TTCB has scheduled a board meeting for this Saturday, July 28th, but the notice for the meeting does not contain any reference to the NGC audit.

Ramsahai said Ganga “reserved the right to make further representations on the appropriateness of the circulated agenda.”

The letter placed Bassarath on notice that further legal correspondence is currently underway and his prompt response is required within 48 hours of receipt.

Kevaughn John and Keston George netted three minutes apart in the second half to lead Queen’s Park Cricket Club to a come-from-behind 2-1 defeat of Cunupia FC in their top-of-the-table T&T Super League clash on Sunday.

The Parkites went into the encounter against their fellow unbeaten opponents with a two points lead at the top of the 14- team table at St Mary’s College Ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair and were eager to get a win to solidify their spot at the table top.

However, after 45 minutes both teams were still locked together at 0-0.

Eleven minutes into the second- half, Keron Clarke broke the deadlock for Cunupia, but within two minutes John got the Parkites back on level terms, and three minutes later, George got the eventual match-winner.

The win lifted the unbeaten Parkites to 19 points from seven matches, five more than Cunupia FC while Matura ReUnited is third with 13 points followed by FC Santa Rosa and defending champions Guaya United.

Playing at home in another match on Sunday, Guaya left it late to earn a 3-1 win over Police.

Justin Fournellier opened the scoring for the host at the Guaya Recreation Ground, only for the talisman, Jason Boodram to reply for the Lawmen in the 24th.

The match looked headed for a draw until Police conceded an own goal in the 87th, while Leroy Jones added, a third item for the hosts, three minutes into time added on.

However, the match of the day took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, where RSSR FC and Bethel United battled to a 3-3 draw, with Densyl James scoring a hat-trick for the latter.

CURRENT T&T SUPER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. QPCC 7 6 1 0 18 7 19
2. Cunupia FC 7 4 2 1 16 7 14
3. Matura ReUnited 7 4 1 2 12 14 13
4. FC Santa Rosa 7 4 0 3 15 7 12
5. Guaya Utd 7 3 3 1 14 7 12
6. Prisons Service 7 2 4 1 9 9 10
7. RSSR FC 7 2 3 2 10 9 9
8. Police FC 7 2 3 2 6 9 9
9. UTT 7 2 2 3 8 11 8
10. Erin FC 7 1 3 3 9 10 6
11. Club Sando Cultural 7 1 2 4 5 10 5
12. San F’do Giants 7 0 5 2 5 12 5
13. Bethel Utd 7 0 4 3 7 15 4
14. P.V.D.M Utd 7 0 3 4 3 10 3

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Guaya United 3 (Justin Fournellier 7th, own goal 87th, Leroy Jones 93rd) vs Police FC 1 (Jason Boodram 24th)

RSSR FC 3 (Jovon Vincent 10th, Hakim Gulston 31st, Nathan Cadore 52nd) vs Bethel United 3 (Densyl James 25th, 57th, 93rd)

QPCC 2 (Kevaughn John 58th, Keston George 61st) vs Cunupia FC 1 (Keron Clarke 56th)

ON SATURDAY

Club Sando 1 (Jamal Burke 45th) vs San Fernando Giants 1 (Keston Grant 45th)

FC Santa Rosa 5 (Ryan Stewart 24th, 56th, Kevon Cornwall 9th, Kheelon Mitchell 47th, Giovanni Abraham 92nd) vs Matura ReUnited 0

Prison Service 3 (Andre Mohammed 61st, 63rd, Nathan Julien 40th) vs UTT 2 (Cyrano Glenn 47th, Shaquille Nesbitt 85th pen)

Petit Valley Diego Martin Utd 0 vs Erin FC 0

UPCOMING FIXTURES

On Saturday

Erin FC vs Guaya United, Erin Rec. Ground, 6pm

UTT vs FC Santa Rosa, UTT O’Meara Road, Campus, 7pm

San Fernando Giants vs Matura ReUnited, St Margaret’s Rec. Ground, 4pm

Cunupia FC vs Club Sando Cultural Roots Utd, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4pm

On Sunday

Prison Service vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd, YTC Ground, Arouca, 3.30pm

Police FC vs RSSR FC, St James Police Barracks, 4pm

Bethel United vs QPCC, Mt Gomery Rec. Ground, 6pm

T&T’s badminton team of Will Lee and Avril Plaza-Marcelle will leave tomorrow to complete T&T’s contingent at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games currently taking place in Barranquilla, Colombia. Both players have not had the type of preparation required for the tournament but coach Ronald Clark, who is also the team manager believes the players can medal once they perform to their true potential.

For the past month or so the duo, who secured their spots on the team by virtue of winning the planned National play-off at the Chinese Association in St Ann’s, was forced to use the Mucurapo East Secondary School, Valencia High School, the Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua and the Southern Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville to prepare for the Games, after being unable to secure the National Racquet Centre (NRC) in Tacarigua for use. The NRC would have been ideal for preparation because of its surface which is similar to international facilities, Clark said.

However, the veteran badminton ace who claimed the Men’s Singles Masters title at the National Championship at the Chinese Association about two weeks ago, told Guardian Media Sports they have had to make do with what they had.

The players he said are in super fit condition, as they have worked hard at training.

Yesterday he promised his players will not just be going to the Games to make up numbers, saying the country’s CAC team has been doing well in Colombia to date and badminton wants to make its mark by adding to the achievements.

Despite not getting the use of the NCC, training was beefed up with the players having a session with Cuban Solange Guzman, an experienced player to the sport internationally which should help them, Clark said.

Both players also have experience at international tournaments, particularly Plaza- Marcelle who has represented almost every national team that left local shores.

Clark believes their main challenge will be to execute on what they have worked on in training, saying: “Practice is one thing but it will come down to who can hold their own minds and execute at the tournament.”

The T&T team will plunge into action on July 31 with both Lee and Plaza-Marcelle contesting the Men’s and Women’s Singles respectively.

They will then combine forces to compete in the Mixed Doubles afterwards.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

All-rounder Felicia Walters slammed an unbeaten half-century to help LCB Contractors Central Sharks pull off a major upset over leader TECU Southern Titans in the Courts Women T20 Grand Slam Tournament on Sunday night.

Bottom-of-the-table Sharks sealed an eight-wicket victory in their fourth round match at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva to stay alive in the four-team competition.

Titans won the toss and decided to bat and posted 136 for six off their 20 overs thanks to the key fourth-wicket partnership of batters Britney Cooper and Deandra Dottin after opening batsmen Sheneta Grimmond and Shania Abdool lost their wickets early.

Grimmond was out first bowled by Walters for one. In came Cooper, who tried to steady the Titans innings with Abdool, but the latter departed soon after for just nine, caught leg-before-wicket (lbw) off the bowling of Leandra Ramdeen.

Shenelle Lord was in next but she didn’t’ last long, she too caught lbw, by Kamara Ragoobar though for nought. Ragoobar 3turned in the best bowling figures of 2-18.

Dottin entered the crease and combined with Cooper to build a 68-run partnership but Dottin lost her wicket for 30 caught by Akaze Thompson off the bowling of Ragoobar, who ended with figures of 2-25. Cooper was on 37 at that point.

Cooper batted for 72 minutes, lifting three sixes and eight fours to top score with 74 before she was caught by Walters off the bowling of Samantha Bissoon.

The other three batsmen - Shakera Selman (10), Renelle Dookie (6), Patrina Walcott (2), accounted for only 18 runs to help Titans to a what they would have taught was defendable score having only the night before, defended a smaller total (127/8) for a two-wicket win over UDECOTT North Starblazers.

In reply, Sharks lost only two wickets in getting to the winning score of 137 in 18.3 overs and its first win of the competition, thanks to Walters, who was later named the player of the match, scoring 60 not out off 61 balls which included seven fours.

Her teammate Shemaine Campbelle was also impressive in the batting crease also hitting seven fours for her 48 runs off 32 balls.

Sharks which is in the last place on three points must get wins from the final two rounds of matches, today and before Friday’s eliminator where third place will tackle second place for a chance to play the final on Saturday at 7 pm at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

In the other match played on Sunday evening at BLCA, second-placed Trident Sports Phoenix claimed a six-wicket win over UDECOTT North Starblazers, which sits in the third spot.

Standings
Place Team P W L NR NRR PTS
1 Titans 4 2 1 1 0.966 5
2 Phoenix 4 2 2 0 -0.118 4
3 Starblazers 4 2 2 0 -0.203 4
4 Sharks 4 1 2 1 -0.580 3

SUMMARISED SCORES

Sunday
At NCC
Titans 136/6 (20 overs) (Britney Cooper 74, Deandra Dottin 30; Kamara Ragoobar 2-18, Leandra Ramdeen 2-25) vs Central Sharks 137/2 (18.3 overs) (Felicia Walters 60 no, Shemaine Campbelle 48; D Dottin 1-29). Central Sharks won By 8 wickets.
Man of the Match: Felicia Walters
At Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Starblazers 104/7 (20 overs) (Rachael Vincent 35, Kirbyina Alexander no; Allison Collins 2-17, Stephanie Ragoonath 1-14, Karishma Ramharack 1-22) vs Phoenix 106/4 (15.1 overs) (Kycia Knight 55 no, Rosalie Dolabaille 19 no; K Alexander 2-16, Hiba Shamsad 1-14). Phoenix won by six wickets.
Man of the Match: Kycia Knight
Saturday
At Brian Lara Cricket Academy
Starblazers 126 (19.3 overs) (R Vincenet 72, N McClean 23; D Dottin 4-23, S Selman 2-33) vs Titans 127/8 (19 overs) (S Abdool 27, S Grimmond 24, B Cooper 21; J Morgan 3-14, K Alexander 2-33). Titans won by two wickets.
Man of the Match: Deandra Dottin
At NCC
Central Sharks 131/3 (S Campbelle 38, A Thompson 26 no) vs Phoenix 135/0 (17.1 overs) (R Boyce 73 no, K Knight 52 no). Phoenix won by 10 wickets.
Man of the Match: Reniece Boyce
Today’s matches
TECU Southern Titans vs Trident Sports Phoenix NCC, 7 pm
UDECOTT North Starblazers vs LCB Contractors Central Sharks, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, 7 pm

Today makes it 24 months to the day to the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Approximately 11,000 athletes will participate in 339 events in 33 sports (50 disciplines). The motto of the games is Discover Tomorrow.|

It’s a motto with tremendous profundity. It’s a theme that over the next 24 months the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) will be exploring. Tokyo 2020 is firmly on the radar and as much as the TTOC must focus on the moment in time that is today. The balance to be struck is keeping both eyes on the present while at the same time holding 2020 in the cross hairs.

In this respect, the investment in sending probably the largest ever delegation to a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games is an important seed that has been planted.

That the first few days of the 23rd CAC Games has occasioned a “Gold Rush” as one daily newspaper called it, has seen a positive light of congratulations bathing Team T&T (#TeamTTO).

It’s always interesting to see individuals who would have expressed in their private or workspace the view that sending such a large team to Barranquilla, Colombia is a waste of money. Also throwing in for good measure that #10golds24 is a dream that is so unrealistic that it ought not to be given any credence. That, some of the individuals making such declarations occupy space in supposedly essential positions within the sports ecosystem, would surprise those who may want to assume that everyone has the confidence that there are the talent and potential.

It should not surprise anyone that there are people who are averse to uplifting the athletes of T&T. It’s as if there is the perverse pleasure in being able to proclaim” “I told you so!”

It should not surprise anyone that within the safety of their comfort zone our athletes making strides and earning medals is an opportunity to join the parade and not be exposed as the impediment to the full bloom of our athletes that they are.

They take great joy and pride in celebrating our athletes’ success as well as their failures only difference one is displayed publicly while the other is done within the inner sanctum of their offices and social safety zones.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat is neither here nor there but simply an opportunity to seek to prove their point, whatever that may be.

Our athletes aspire to be great that they fall short at times have more to do with those who act as if our athletes are a means to an end.

But T&T is fortunate that many of our athletes choose to channel their frustration, anger and resent into the positive fire rather than negative.

And as such the nation is given opportunities to feel good and celebrate and discover if they so choose a brighter tomorrow.

Editor’s Note: Brian Lewis is the president of the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC) and the views expressed by him are not necessarily those of the organisation.

Sapphire Productions, under young, accomplished dramatist Gabrielle Scott, has managed to bring together some of the country’s finest emerging stage talent for its Free Form “open mic” series which continues in Santa Cruz on July 27.

Sapphire’s July 13 session at Idlewood in Port-of-Spain assembled more than a dozen creative young people capable of delivering high-quality spoken word performances, poetry, visual art, music and song to a cozy, enthusiastic audience.

Scott explained to Guardian Media that the series was designed “to encourage artists to not only share their work but to experiment with their work.”

She added: “As the name suggests, the forum of Free Form is to incite creativity that is beyond form, that is free of the restrictions of the rules of music, poetry, dance, song and even visual art.”

The July 13 event delivered on all of the above. Kelline Theophille opened with an original poetic piece that set the stage for thought-provoking content throughout the evening. The north-south water taxi was, for Theophille, “the slave ship” bound for “the plantation of Port-of-Spain.”

Then the multi-talented Chanel Glasgow (“resident vocalist and assistant-producer”) impeccably delivered two songs accompanied on the guitar by “resident musician” Mikhail Gibbings.

Glasgow is an outstanding young vocal talent, matched on the evening only by dramatist/singer Syntyche Bishop (last seen as Anita on West Side Story) and the fascinating composer/guitarist/singer Iantha Hicks whose original two-piece set became the evening’s earworm for some.

“I prefer when I see you cry, it makes me smile, yeah it makes me smile. As it were, it makes me feel bad for a little bitty while, but then I just smile …” hmm.

Emmanuel Scott, Thaddy Boom, Kerissa Joseph (singing a cover of her late father Mighty Penguin’s song, Women Doh Like Soft Man) and Sheynnene Hazell who performed with Dr Shenilee George (a dentist by profession) were no slouches themselves.

Dion Carrington and Tyler Phillip delivered artful original, poetic compositions and painter Yejide Cordner was part of another of the evening’s high-points – the Free Form Collab.

“The Free Form Collab is where different artists perform a freestyle piece organically made in that moment inspired by a word given by the audience. It is true communion in the space between performer and audience,” Scott explained. In this instance, the audience agreed on the word “flood.”

Accompanied by Gibbings on the guitar with song and spoken word contributions from co-host/dramatist Idrees Jali Saleem, Glasgow and co-host Tafar Chia Lewis, Cordner went to work on a splendid water-colour painting on the flood theme. It was an amazing display.

Another creative high-point was an Extempo Jam featuring Chia Lewis, Saleem, Glasgow and the wonderfully cantankerous comedian/spoken word exponent Thaddy Boom who also showed he can deliver highly-competent vocals when he is ready.

Saleem and Chia Lewis, accomplished dramatists in their own right, are an outstanding pair who kept the programme flowing flawlessly and in good humour.

Proceeds from the series go toward financing the next stage of academic work by Scott, a UWI Theatre Arts graduate, who is due to further her studies in theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York.

“By assisting in providing a space for artists to express themselves I’m also helping myself achieve my own goals,” Scott said. “It’s a win-win.”

More info

Free Form is Free Form: the Patio Sessions is set for July 27 at 30 B, Jennings Avenue, La Pastora, Santa Cruz, and cannot and must not be missed. Showtime is 7 pm.
For more information check @sapphireprods on Instagram or send an email to: muchadotrini@gmail.com.

Okay, hear this. We still have time. What if some of us got together and composed a “people’s manifesto” that raises some of the issues that remain largely out of sight at election time and which later emerge to cause irritation, pain and anger? If we do so, when the next election campaign comes around we can make sure we are clear on the positions of the parties and their candidates on key matters.

But first, let me get the “we” part of the equation right from the very start. The word “we” does not include anybody who believes that any holy book should be converted into official public policy or any “party ‘X’ till I dead” types.

It also does not include anyone who believes that in T&T we have a failed race in need of critical rescue by another, nor does it consist of bigots who use the “N’ or “C” words or the semi-literates who have taken to using “de 1%”, “de Venees” and “de Chinee and dem” as hateful, thinly-veiled racist code.

That way, we immediately get rid of a sizeable chunk of the population who might also want to propose the construction of concentration camps for immigrant children and a wall that blocks out all but the best beaches from our coastline.

Let’s see. There are also those who believe that Chavismo has rescued the population of Venezuela and that the humanitarian crisis there is a “western media” myth and others who think that Jamaicans, Vincentians, Grenadians and Guyanese people are in T&T occupying all the jobs the unemployed should be filling. Sorry, you’re not invited to participate. We need people who can get their facts right.

Item number one—Capital Punishment. How come only when criminal defence attorneys get in high political office they suddenly start believing that because capital punishment “is the law of the land” it should be promptly carried out since there is no other solution?

I want my next proposed MP to tell me what he or she thinks about state executions, which successive studies in other jurisdictions have shown not to have the deterrent effect many people claim. The “hang-dem-high” bunch must instead tell me in clear and unambiguous language what they plan to do about this country’s appallingly low rate of criminal detection long before punishment is countenanced.

Item number two—Human Rights (not including those breached by capital punishment). The next candidates in my constituency must also tell me, or say from a public platform, what they think about the fact that human rights are meant to be inalienable, indivisible and universal. The candidates should be allowed to Google the first two attributes, but they must be able to explain the third on the spot and without prompting. What, indeed, does “universal” mean?=

This is important, for it would mean that candidates would have a ready answer to item number three—Gender Equity and LGBT Rights. Clearly, we have not had legislators in the past who got past item number two, the “universal” part in particular, because we have an Equal Opportunity Act which establishes rights that apply to some people and not to others.

Our People’s Manifesto will also require strong answers to questions about social justice beyond the cosmetics of public relations labelling. These answers should focus on a commitment to address prevailing inequities in accessing all resources under the ownership and control of the state, including the justice system. These people with their eyes on the Treasury must also be able to explain the principal differences between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

Which leads to item number four – Prohibition. Including this agenda item would certainly reduce the People’s Manifesto Committee to only a handful since it requires that critical minds consider whether legal prohibition is effective as a way of regulating private human conduct.

The Marijuana Commission Report makes the point as an important aside. No candidate should come before us without having read this report, since it addresses not only the prohibition question but also social justice and broader human rights as they specifically relate to criminalising the possession and use of marijuana.

Garfield and Steve, my fellow committee members, did advise that this introduction to the People’s Manifesto would require much more space than the T&T Guardian editors permit. So, let’s take this up again next week. Send me your ideas.

Last year I remember sitting down to lecture Jess about the way in which she had completed her chores and she said to me, “At least I did….”

I don’t think she got to finish her sentence because she started it with a pet peeve of mine, the infamous “At least I did (insert whatever lame comforting statement you can make up here). Now don’t get me wrong, I think every milestone must be celebrated and having been a mom of an overly tall, which means not naturally gifted, gymnast, I get the do your best and still not be up to mark. This is not what I’m talking about here.

I am talking about the settling for mediocrity because the excellent effort isn’t there. Have you turned every brick, have you knocked on every door, have you done the task to the very best of your ability? Have you invested in growing? Do you have a mentor? Do you have someone in your life to whom you are accountable?

These are signs of excellence. If you have answered no, then maybe you aren’t hitting the mark because there isn’t anyone guiding you or you haven’t chosen the right one to guide you. Stop telling your vision to blind people. And parents, stop holding back your kids’ vision because you haven’t had your eyesight fixed.

I listen to parents complain. We complain about the education system, we complain about the teachers, we complain about the Government, we complain about our jobs, the price of food, our bosses, we complain about everything OTHER THAN our attitudes of mediocrity.

How many times do you comfort yourself using the “At least” phrase? How much time is dedicated to personal development? Are you really doing the best you can or are you simply settling for the best you know how? In the world of technology, it is no longer acceptable to say I did not know.

Create a dream board, do a dream ambassador course, join a network marketing team – that’s an excellent place to start developing your excellence mindset.

Mediocre parents have a higher chance of raising mediocre children and mediocre citizens cannot demand excellence from their Government. This week let’s all commit to picking one thing that we aren’t giving our all to and do it with a spirit of excellence.

Your kids are watching, what are they seeing?

For daily inspiration, follow me on IG and FB @MarshaLoraine. Catch my speeches and past episodes of CARE on YouTube @Marsha Loraine Parenting is hard, let’s smash it together!!!

T&T swimmer Dylan Carter made it three gold medals from as many finals when he scorched his rivals in the men’s 50 metres backstroke A-final at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games continued in Barranquilla, Colombia, last night.

In addition to Carter, David Mc Leod also got bronze in the same event with the USA-based T&T swimmer, while women’s cyclist, Teneil Campbell doubled her bronze medal account.

T&T now has ten medals, four gold, three of which belongs to Carter, one silver and five bronze medals.

The 22-year-old USA-based Carter, who had previously won gold in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle touched the wall in 24.83 seconds to lower his own record of 25.01 he sat in the second of three morning heats to better the 2014 mark of 25.72 by Venezuela’s Albert Subirats.

Taking silver was Venezuelan Robinson Molina in 25.25 while T&T’s David Mc Leod got a satisfying bronze medal in 25.55.

In the morning heats, Mc Leod was third in heat one in 25.85 behind Molina (25.21) a new games record then, while Cuban Armando Barrera was second in 25.68.

In men’s 100m butterfly A-final, Kael Yorke placed seventh in 54.27

Later, the Carter-led freestyle 4x100m relay team also went in search of more precious metal, after press time.

Campbell gets second bronze

The 22-year-old Campbell was third overall in the women’s Omnium. This after she was second in the Scratch Race, fourth in the Tempo Race, second in the Elimination and fifth in the Points Race to add to her bronze medal in the women’s Scratch Race on Sunday.

Mexican Lisbeth Salazar won gold with Cuban, Yudelmis Domingez getting silver.

Today, cyclists Nicholas Paul and Njisane Phillip will continue their quest for more gold when they compete in the men’s Sprint semifinals from 11 am with the final carded for 4.30 pm.

This after Paul (9.720 seconds) and Phillip (9.886) were the fastest two qualifiers in the morning Sprint Qualifiers from the field of 16 to advance straight to the quarterfinals.

In the last-eight match-ups, the 19-year-old Paul defeated Venezuela’s Cesar Marcano in two straight rides in 10.137 and 10.048, respectively while Olympian Phillip, 27, swept aside Guatemalan Brandon Pineda, also in two rides in 10.491 and 10.594, respectively.

In today’s semifinals, Paul comes up against Colombian Kevin Quintero who defeated Suriname’s Jair Tjon 2-0 as well, 10.342 and 10.256, while Phillip battles with Colombian Fabian Puerta, who got past Venezuelan Hersony Canelon in three rides, 2-1.

n the men’s Individual Pursuit, T&T’s Adam Alexander (4:46.058) and Jovian Gomez (4:49.466) were 11th and 13th and failed to get to the medal ride.

Calypso Stickwomen pip Jamaica for semis spot

Shaniah De Freitas scored the lone goal to lead T&T senior women’s hockey team to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Jamaica in the final Pool B match at the Unidad Deportivo Pibe Valderrama. De Freitas, who netted both goals in a 2-1 win over Barbados, got the decisive item from the penalty spot in the 34th minute to earn T&T, a two-time gold medal winner in the competition, a third win from as many matches and maximum nine points.

In the semifinals from 5 pm tomorrow, T&T which also swept past Guatemala 12-0 will face Pool A runner-up Cuba, which ended with six points, after losing 0-3 to Mexico followed by wins against Guyana, 2-0, and the Dominican Republic, 3-2.

Mexico which won Pool A will meet Pool B runner-up Barbados in the first semifinal from 2.45 pm tomorrow.

Today, the senior men’s hockey team will go into their final pool match against Jamaica from 1 pm needing a lopsided win to be certain of a semifinal spot

T&T sits third on the table with three points, the same as Cuba, while Barbados leads with a maximum six points. Barbados meet Cuba in the late match from 5 pm.

Calypso Spikers get historic win over Cuba

T&T women’s volleyball team pulled off a first-ever win over former powerhouse Cuba 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 in its fifth to eighth place semifinal. Sinead Jack led the way with 14 points for the Renele Forde captained “Calypso Spikers” while Channon Thompson added 13 and Krystle Esdelle, 12 in the victory.

T&T moves on to meet Venezuela, which defeated Costa Rica, 25-15, 25-12, 25-13, for fifth place. The Costa Ricans will play 11-time champion Cuba for the seventh spot.

Women Warriors need Mexican favour

T&T senior women footballers needed Mexico to defeat Nicaragua by four clear goals to have a chance at advancing to the semifinals. This after T&T was officially awarded a 3-0 default win over Haiti to end with four points from three matches, after losing to Mexico 5-1 and squandering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw with the Nicaraguans.

Last night, the national Under-20 men’s football team, beaten in their first two matches faced Colombia in their final pool match.
 

Squash teams come up empty-handed

T&T’s national women’s squash team proved no match for Mexico in their Pool A round-robin opener, losing 3-0.

For Mexico, Diana Garcia swept past T&T’s Alexandria Yearwood 11-0, 11-3, 11-1, Samantha Teran overcame Charlotte Knaggs 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, and Dina Aguiano humbled Marie-Claire Barcant 11-2, 11-1, 11-6.

It was the same result in their second Pool A match with the Cayman Islands, a 3-0 defeat.

Eilidh Bridgemen beat Yearwood 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10, Marlene West outplayed Knaggs 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 and Jade Pitcarn humbled Barcant.

The men’s squad team were also blanked 3-0 in their Pool C opener by Cayman Islands.

Jacob Kelly rallied past T&T’s Nku Patrick 15-13, 3-11, 11-8, 0-11, 11-5, Cameron Stafford defeated Kale Alexander 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 and Julian Jervis whipped Chayse Mc Quan 11-4, 11-5, 11-8.

Arrindell sits in eighth spot

In the women’s laser radial, sailor Kelly-Ann Arrindell had finishes of ninth and sixth in races seven and eight, respectively for a net total points tally of 51 and eight spot overall ahead of today’s final race.

A return to the West Indies ODI team is a distinct possibility for the Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Darren, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, following discussions between the players and Cricket West Indies (CWI). The development could potentially pave the way for the players to be involved in the 2019 World Cup.

The development has been aided by a board decision to move their next domestic 50-over competition to October this year, instead of February 2019 - a switch that means there will be minimal clash between the Super50 and the various domestic Twenty20 leagues Caribbean stars are such an integral part of.

The players have been asked to play in the Super50, perform and push for a recall.

“The overall message to Pollard, the Bravo brothers and Narine was ‘come and play in the Super50 Cup’, so that Courtney [Browne, chairman of selectors] and his selection panel will have all the players in system playing,” Johnny Grave, board CEO, said.

“This will not only increase the standard and hopefully give the panel a headache but will help our selectors better gauge and assess our young players if they’re scoring runs against Dwayne Bravo or Sunil in the final overs or getting Darren [Bravo] and Pollard out.”

Browne said he was looking forward to seeing the players in action. “It’s a very important tournament for us in preparation for the World Cup. People that want to put their names in the hat for consideration would need to play Super50 and perform.”

Although far from resolved, this would represent a distinct thaw in the relationship between the board and players in what has been a difficult year. It began with Narine, Pollard and Darren Bravo choosing the PSL over helping West Indies in their World Cup Qualifiers, a decision that left Grave and CWI “hugely disappointed”.

Matters escalated in April when the Bravo brothers, Pollard and Narine claimed they were denied an opportunity to help the Caribbean after being ignored for a Hurricane Relief charity game between West Indies and a World XI side.

Even then, however, Grave had spoken of meeting with the players after the IPL to discuss futures, meetings which have now taken place. This breakthrough of sorts continues Graves’ policy of building bridges with disaffected players. Last year’s amnesty resulted in Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels returning to the team, Andre Russell’s recent selection into a West Indies squad, improved player contracts and now this olive branch.

“Jimmy Adams [director cricket operations] and I met with Dwayne, Darren, Pollard and Narine’s agent in Trinidad,” Grave said. “We met with them individually because they all have different circumstances. I would describe the meetings as positive, as everyone was looking to the future rather than the past.

“We talked through our entire schedule, not just now and to the 2019 World Cup, but also through all the matches and tours scheduled up to the World T20 in Australia 2020.

“We asked the players individually to take time to consider the requirements of Cricket West Indies, where we are going with the teams and how we are looking for prepare for international series.

The scheduling switch of the Super50, Grave said, wasn’t aimed at getting the quartet to play but the result of a holistic reviw of the domestic system.

“We changed the contractual year to start July 1st, so that the off-season would be April-June when we would do new contracts, appraisals and renewals, while players in the system can do their core conditioning work, as well as obviously have a break”, Grave explained.

“So now we start contracts in July and go almost straight into CPL. Hence in the review it just made sense to continue with white-ball cricket by having the Super50 in November with October to prepare for the change in format.

“Only because we are hosting the ICC Women’s World T20 in the Caribbean it meant moving the Super50 to October for this year.”

That switch has coincided with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) moving to January, instead of its November slot.

Grave said CWI had discussions with BCB on the matter, as West Indies are due to tour Bangladesh in November.

Former national netball players and coaches Peggy Castanada and Jennifer Frank are among a group of coaches that will bring their expertise to young players through the “Back 2 Basic” Netball Programme, the brainchild of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation.

Castanada and Frank, who were part of the historic national team that emerged joint champion at the 1979 World Netball Championships, will impart their knowledge to the youngsters in their own communities.

In a release recently, the corporation, expressed its commitment to revamping the sport of netball nationwide and using netball as a conduit to strengthen communities.

Castanada will operate at the Damarie Hill Recreation Ground while Frank will be at the Maloney Netball Court. The other coaches include Margaret Francis (Manzanilla Recreation Ground), Jacqueline Morris (Arima Netball Court), Antoinette Gaskin (Bon Air Netball Court), Grace Parkinson-Griffith (Maracas St Joseph Netball Court), Veronica Mc Donald-Nicholl (Mt Hope Netball Court), Anne Marie Dickson-Lewis (Chinapoo Government) and Nikeisha Felix-Lewis (La Fillette Netball Court), current nationa player Kielle Connelly (Manzanilla) and Daniella Hall (Damarie Hill).

At a “Meet and Greet” function last month at the Arima Town Hall which included representatives from the participating corporations, coaches and participants in the programme, Councillor Michael Castellano welcomed the gathering to the Borough of Arima and congratulated the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation Chair and his team for spearheading the initiative and including the neighbouring corporations.

Alderman Onika Haynes brought greetings from the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation and expressed gratitude for all the support thus far. She lamented the importance of programmes for our youth. She added that this is an opportunity to teach them strong values in discipline, teamwork, sense of community all while developing their netball skills so that we can take netball back to the days of Jean Pierre when netball was one of the top teams in the world.

The intended programme will utilise netball as a channel to contribute to the holistic development of the young girls within the communities. The participants will be taught by certified coaches, past national players, past national coaches who reside in the communities in which they will be coaching.

The programme will introduce girls between the ages of seven and 13 to the fundamentals of the game at an early age to unearth young talent in the communities to contribute to rebuilding netball as the premier women’s sport in T&T.

It is becoming even more important to re-establish the foundations of culture and sport across the nation, in a concerted effort to foster the involvement in positive activities within the communities and promote the importance of living healthy lifestyles.

The programme will be conducted in three phases with Phase I which has already started and runs until September.

The three-month programme will be conducted in the following regional corporations, Tunapuna/Piarco, Arima, San Juan/Laventille and the Sangre Grande.

In Phase II, January to March 2019, the three-month programme will be open to include all Regional Corporations and in Phase III, from May to October 2019, the programme will be run for six months throughout all the corporations and culminate in National Regional Youth Netball Competition.

New champions were crowned in almost every category at this year’s BCQS Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s (QPCC) Squash Masters Tournament at the QPCC Racquet Centre, Port of Spain last week.

Suriname’s 2017 champion Joao Wong A Foe made his presence felt by claiming the titles in both the Master In Training (MIT) 25-34B/35-44 B Divisions. In a hotly contested final Wong showed his class by defeating T&T’s Tang Nian in straight sets 11-5, 11-3, 11-8.

The 35-44A Division provided a stiffer contest, featuring some of the tournament’s top players, as the 2016/2017 runner-up from QPCC Marc Pontifex, Bahamian Ryan Reid- the 2015 runner-up, Petrotrin ace Peter Pirtheesingh and champion Paul De Verteuil who entered the tournament late but progressed to the final after a series of impressive displays.

De Verteuil eventually defeated Pontifex in the final following a marathon five matches 11-10, 11-8, 6-11, 10-11, 11-9 to retained the crown he won last year.

Meanwhile, the 55-64 division was without the two pre-tournament favourites as John Holley, the tournament’s defending champion was out of the country and Richard Hart opted to contest in the 45-54 division instead.

However, the battle was not without quality as Gerard Edghill, Roger Galt, David Scott and Rudy Wong A Foe emerged from the group stage and into the semi-final, where Edghill got the better of Galt for the right to be in the final 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-10, and Wong clinched the other final spot by virtue of whipping Scott in three sets 11-2, 11-4, 11-6.

In the final, however, Wong A Foe took the title in straight sets 11-4, 2-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2. There were also titles for Brandon de Montrichard, claiming the 25-34 A age group/round-robin playoffs, with Luc Davis and Zachary Loquan taking second and third positions respectively, David Lanser also whipped Julien Henry in three games 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 for the 45-54 division and Beverly Wilson coming back from two games down to edge out Cathy De Gannes-Martin in five games 10-11, 3-11, 11-10, 11-8, 11-2 for the women’s title.

In the 5+ division, Winston Findlay of the British Virgin Islands emerged victorious over squash stalwart Neal Ramasra in the final.

The tournament featured 56 competitors from Barbados, Bahamas, Suriname, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Germany and T&T.

WALTER ALIBEY
 

GEORGETOWN – West Indies captain Jason Holder has backed young batting star Shimron Hetmyer to start notching big scores soon, and has encouraged him to spend more time at the crease in order to achieve this.

The 21-year-old top-scored with 52 in Sunday’s first One-Day International against Bangladesh as West Indies failed to overhaul 279 and plunged to a 48-run defeat at the National Stadium at Providence.

“It’s something he and I have been talking about for a little while. He’s been probably one of the better players of spin in our dressing room and he is also one of the few left-handers we have in the middle order,” explained Holder.

“I’ve just encouraged him to go deep. I spoke to him [on Saturday night] before the game and one of the things we spoke about is him batting down to at least the 35th over before he starts to expand.

“Probably the situation in [yesterday’s] game would have maybe dictated he go a bit deeper than the 35th, down to probably the 40th and giving the hitters at the end enough leeway to come in and execute their game.”

Hetmyer was playing only his 10th ODI after making his debut last December on the tour of New Zealand. He smashed his maiden hundred -127 against United Arab Emirates – in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe last March.

He has managed a number of starts in his other innings without carrying on but Holder believes his ability to convert will come with increased experienced.

“He’s a young talented player and I think he will learn as time goes on, and I think we just have to invest some time in him,” said the all-rounder.

West Indies were looking dangerous when Hetmyer was involved in a 40-run third wicket stand with superstar opener Chris Gayle who made 40 from 60 balls, with a four and a pair of sixes.

However, tragedy struck in the 22nd over when Hetmyer turned down a quick single to shirt third man with Gayle past the point of no return, leaving the Windies’ most experienced batsman stranded.

While Gayle was not his usual explosive self, Holder said there was no cause for concern.

“Everybody expects Gayle to be his normal dominant self. We just want him to impose himself on the power-play – he’s been one to do that,” Holder pointed out.

“Maybe the surface isn’t one that you can blast through the power-play as such but he adjusted his game really well and picked up a few singles for us up front. He obviously got his odd boundary here and there and I thought he was looking pretty good.

“It’s just unfortunate with the run out. Obviously we just need to tighten up on that area as well.”

The second ODI is set for today at the same venue. CMC

Emancipation Day has tremendous significance for the country in general and the horse racing industry in T&T in particular.

August 1 promises to be no different with a very competitive card of racing in store. By the time this article is being read, the entries for Emancipation Day would already be known but the main feature events, the Presidents Cup and the T&T Breeders Classic had their final nominations paid some weeks earlier and so we are able to take a look at the main protagonists in these two important events on the racing calendar.

The Classic is a relatively young race on the racing calendar but has quickly grown in popularity amongst racing fans and owners alike.

Usually contested before the Derby, last year it was switched to after the Derby, but it is satisfying to know that it has now reverted to its prior position as a prep race for the locally bred horses for the Derby but also an important race in its own right.

This edition is probably one of the most competitive in its recent history with not only no outstanding runner on show but also no obvious stayer among the leading contenders.

Twenty (20) horses paid their final subscriptions for the race of which, only ten of them are previous winners including Affirmative, Blazing Gem, Fake News, Khal Drogo, No Man’s Land, Princess Sophia, Santa Cruz Lady, So Be It, Strategic Patience and Streaking Far.

Of the maidens, Lois Lane, Man of Tomorrow, Smarty Jon and Usain have all shown ability but might not be ready to win a race of this nature.

The leading contenders for this race are undoubtedly the first three in the Royal Colours Classic – Princess Sophia, Streaking Far and Affirmative.

Princess Sophia is a beautifully bred filly who was brought into this country in utero. After winning two of her first three starts including the Classic, she somewhat lost her way after a minor injury but returned to winning ways in a, 1200 metres sprint on her last start. She has not won beyond 1,300m and that must be the major question mark over her in this 1,800m race.

Streaking Far has been a model of consistency and followed up her second in the Classic with wins over 1,750m, a runner-up finish in the Guineas and a fourth-place finish in the Midsummer Classic. The latter was a very disappointing performance because she was strongly fancied to be at least second. If she is able to return to the form of her Guineas second, she should take all of the beating.

Affirmative was third in the RC Classic but returned to devastate a maiden field over 1,100m before finishing an excellent third in Midsummer Classic, ahead of Streaking Far. He is quite fast and does not appear to be a stayer but he may not need to be a stout stayer to figure prominently in this race.

Of the other winners, none have displayed the level of ability to be a serious contender and it may be two of the maidens, Smarty Jon and Usain who could finish on the leaderboard. Smarty Jon only made his debut on Saturday gone and while he ran a pleasing race, he was soundly beaten by So Be It.

Usain was off the track for a long time before returning to be a beaten favourite (albeit in second) in a handicap. Both should run well, but the finish should be fought out by the three who fought out the Royal Colours Classic. A fascinatingly competitive race is in prospect.

The President’s Cup over 1,900m for the top class horses also promises to be a fascinating event. Last year’s surprise winner, Whisper Light returns and along with Stockyard stand out among the field. Also paying final subscriptions were Stockyard’s stable companions, Errazuriz, Commanding Fashion and Nuclear Power; as well as Princess Suri (who paid a penalty), Wots to Report and Rock in Peace.

These are likely to be the main contenders though it is likely to be a tall order for Commanding Fashion who has only shown his best form on the turf; Nuclear Power has only returned from an injury on July 21 when second to Desert Dancer and Errazuriz has not been seen in many months.

Princess Suri for whom a penalty was paid has only raced over distances under 1,300m but connections must believe that she has the ability to stay this extended distance.

The top two, however, are clearly the game Whisper Light and Stockyard. Whisper Light has been toting extremely heavy weights in his recent starts and is likely to get some weight relief with his younger rivals on this occasion. Additionally, in the recent past, his best form has been shown at distances in excess of 1,300m so he is likely to be more at home over this extended distance as long as he does not get into an early speed duel with any of his rivals.

Stockyard is the likely favourite and won the Independence Cup last year and was also placed in the Gold Cup. He has also been very consistent this year but his best form has been on wet fast track. Once again a very competitive race can be expected and this is what punters want to see.

These two feature races are competitive enough to bring out the crowds and it is hoped that punters respond accordingly.

The Trainers Association will be celebrating the achievements of trainers John O’Brien and Glenn Mendez and we would like to also extend our congratulations to both men who have provided yeoman service to the racing industry in this country in more ways than one, with their competitive spirit and flair constantly enhancing the sport.

May they continue to dignify the sport with their involvement and conduct. Well done gentlemen!