Local rock fans are gearing up for the arrival of two of the biggest rock bands ever to perform in T&T, 311 and Daughtry! The bands will be co-headlining one of T&T’s biggest ever modern rock concerts on July 30 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of Spain.

The event, which also features guest artists jointpop and Skid Nevely, is being produced by Paramita International Distribution Limited (PIDL).

Managing Director Vishesh RamSingh said this is the first time the two bands will be coheadlining an event together.

“That in itself was one of the factors in both bands agreeing to this big show in Trinidad,” said Ramsingh, “because it is such an opportunity for them to play together where chances are they would never have been billed together on tour. While both bands fall under the modern rock banner, they have two different styles, they’re both well-respected and they’re at the top of their games right now.”

He said PIDL is trying to appeal to a broader market by bringing in both bands. “We’re seeing a lot of men on our Facebook page very pumped about 311 but certainly any woman of any background that I’ve interacted with is dying to see Chris Daughtry.

“We will get Daughtry fans and 311 fans independently and of course there will be a cross-section of both in the middle that will appreciate both. So hopefully everyone leaves having a good time and maybe have earned a little bit of respect for the other band at the same time.”

Ramsingh said the local guest bands, jointpop and Skid Nevely, were for him the obvious choices to be booked for the concert. “If had to pick a band to really be the voice or the leader if you will of the local rock scene, I think it would be jointpop hands down.

I don’t think they’ve been given the right opportunities over the years to have their music showcased and it was a no-brainer to pick them because they just released their new album about a month ago. 

“Skid Nevely maybe would represent another generation, maybe half a generation under jointpop, but they’ve had radio success and what I like about them for this show in particular is that they offer another different form of rock and roll.”

RamSingh said this is the beginning of an aggressive campaign on the part of PIDL, a familyowned company which has been responsible for bringing acts like Amita Bachan, Julio and Enrique Iglesias and many others to T&T since the 80’s.

“We started shifting into the marketing and distribution sector over the years as a result of what we see is a crying need for international talent coming to our shores.

“We felt that now was the right time to have the marketing department of TIDL use our experience in the promotion sector to start bringing international bands back to Trinidad shores.

“We want to stick to authentic bands, not the tribute bands which we’ve been seeing in Trinidad over the years, I think Trinidad deserves a lot more than that. This is the first of many shows we have planned over the next three years.”

Ramsingh said he believes there’s enough of a market in Trinidad to make the show successful, as the company is looking at building towards a Festival-level event during the summer, “where we can incorporate a lot more of our local talent to play alongside this international talent and you never know what could happen.

“Suppose one of our local acts gets recognised and it catches the ear of some of the international acts that we bring? That could always help to encourage arts in Trinidad.

Musicianship is always a great thing that we’ve always supported and youth need music, youth need art.”

Ramsingh said he also feels that Trinidad needs an event like this at this time to remind people that “we can’t let what’s happening in Trinidad make us feel like we have to lock up in our homes. Sometimes you have to go out and enjoy yourself.”

He said although all the bands fall under the modern rock banner, the audience will get a taste of different styles all the way through. “Skid Nevely, who will be opening the show, incorporates steel pan into their Rock music, so you’ll have a sort of a Caribbean style rock mixed with punk influences. jointpop crosses all barriers in terms of style, then we have Daughtry which is more of a streamlined modern rock sound and then we have 311 which is like a roots rock reggae kind of sound, so we get all bases of rock covered that night. It should be a good show for everyone.”

Fatima College Decade Two Past Pupils Group (1955-1964) in a historic, but very simple and informal function, recently paid tribute to one of its peers, Integrity Commission (IC) chairman Melville Baird.

Held at the secondary school they all once attended decades ago, the ceremony began with Holy Mass celebrated by school principal Fr Gregory Augustine and a reading by Felix Rivers in the Chapel followed by a small reception at the College Hall in Mucurapo.

Mass began with a short welcome speech by current President of the Fatima Old Boys Association (FOBA) Ruthven Thompson who thanked the Decade Two boys (men now) for the opportunity to be a part of such a revolutionary innovation. Master of ceremonies Winston “Brando” Thomas gave a synopsis of Baird’s college life, punctuated with wily humour.

It was the turn of childhood friend Alec Clarke to give an abbreviated version of Baird’s many life accomplishments—from lawyer to magistrate, Senior Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, High Court Judge and the crown of his accomplishments, Judge of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, in the Netherlands.

“When we thought Melville was done, he was appointed Chairman of the IC,” said Clarke.

Tributes by Baird’s former class mates came from Curtis Williams and former banker Kenny Joseph. The highlight of the afternoon saw veteran journalist Vernon Khelawan present Baird with a small award—a narrow crystal award emblazoned with the College logo and the Latin slogan of the college “nintendo vinces” meaning “by striving you shall conquer.”

In response, Baird, using his high but customary lexicon said: “To be the recipient of encomiums, laudations and recognition from you, my college friends, my classmates, my peers, for my judicial career and my present appointment… is an experience that is at once humbling and exhilarating.”

He thanked the men for their devotion, their loyalty and love.

The vote of thanks was given by Dr Alvin Ashton and then the entire group, led by Carl Carmino, stood for the singing of the Fatima College song.

There was one exception; the song was non-existent in the era of Decade Two, so there were many silent voices. Then the bacchanal started—drinks and food “fuh so,” prepared by another Fatima old boy Carl Randoo. To use the cliched phrase, “A good time was had by all.”

VERNON KHELAWAN
 

Skipper Jason Holder and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich both scored half-centuries, as the Windies were bowled out for 204 on the stroke of supper on the second day of the third and final Sandals Day-night Test at the Kensington Oval, Barbados last evening.

The Windies resuming at one point on Saturday night was reduced to 53 for five and resumed on the second day yesterday on 132 for five. Dowrich and Holder got together with the score at 53 for five and batted well on the opening night.

The diminutive Dowrich was able to negate the lateral movement of the ball from the Sri Lankan bowlers effectively and was able to grow in confidence. Holder joined him and took the attack to the visitors which helped ease the pressure off Dowrich.

The two very good friends were able to bat together effectively to take Windies to 132 for five when play was called at 10.20 pm on Saturday night due to rain.

When they resumed yesterday, the pair displayed ‘proper’ cricket and runs were accumulated with ease. The lateral movement was not as pronounced as the evening before and the pair was able to beat the record for the highest 6th wicket partnership which they created in the first Test against the Sri Lankans at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

They pushed past that mark of 90 and was able to add 115 runs. Dowrich shuffling across the crease as he had done to cater for the movement missed a fast straight ball from the impressive Lahiru Kumara and was trapped leg before.

He scored 71 after batting for 188 minutes in which time he had to negotiate 132 pink balls, striking nine fours. He fell four runs short of becoming the fifth Windies wicketkeeper to have scored 1000 or more runs in Tests.

After his dismissal Holder went on to his half-century and fell just before the end for a top score of 74. He batted for 184 minutes, faced 123 balls and sent 13 of them to the fence.

When the Windies finally folded for 204, Kumara was the pick of the bowlers with four for 58, Kasun Rajitha three for 68 and Suranga Lakmal two for 52.

Sri Lanka had 12 vicious deliveries to negotiate before the break from Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach and did not score any runs and also did not lose any wickets when the food van pulled up.

SCOREBOARD

Windies vs Sri Lanka
Windies innings
K Brathwaite c Gunakitila b Lakmal.......2
D Smith c de Silva b Lakmal.....................2
K Powell c Mendis b Lakmal.....................4
S Hope c Mendis b Rajitha.....................11
R Chase b Rajitha.....................................14
S Dowrich lbw Kumara...........................71
J Holder c K Perera b Rajitha.................74
D Bishoo c Mendis b Kumara...................0
K Roach not out........................................11
M Cummins c Mendis b D Perera............2
S Gabriel c Dickwella b Kumara...............2
Extras 4b, 6lb, 1w.....................................11
Total all out...............................204
Fall of wkts: 3, 8, 8, 24, 55, 168, 183, 189, 201, 204.
Bowling: S Lakmal 19-5-52-2, L Kumara 23.3-5-58-4, K Rajitha 17-1-68-3, D Perera 10-3-16-1.
Sri Lanka innings
K Perera not out..........................................0
M Udawatte not out...................................0
Extras.............................................................0
Total for 0 wkts..............................0
Fall of wkts:
Bowling: K Roach 1-1-0-0, S Gabriel 1-1-0-0.

Kyle Greaux of Abilene and Semoy Hackett of Zenith were crowned new national 200 metres sprint champions at the 2018 NGC/Sagicor General NAAA Open Championship at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday.

Greaux who was beaten by Commonwealth Games champion and World Championship bronze medal winner, clubmate Jereem Richards in last year’s run finally turned the tables on his close friend, to get to the line in a winning time of 20.31 seconds to add to his second-place finish in the 100m (10.21 secs), the night before.

Richards, a member of T&T’s historic 4x400m World Championship men’s relay winning quartet was second in 20.35 while Jalen Purcell of Simplex took bronze in 21.12 ahead of Abilene’s Nathan Farinha’s who clocked 21.26.

A fourth-place finisher in the women’s 100 metres final on Saturday night, veteran Hackett returned yesterday to take the 200m title in the absence of two-time defending champion and Saturday night’s 100m champion Michelle-Lee Ahye in 22.64 ahead of PAP’s Kayelle Clarke (22.74) and another seasoned campaigner in Reyare Thomas of Abilene who crossed the line in 23.19.

In fourth place was USA-based 20-year-old Khalifa St Fort in 23.31.

Former World Champion, Jehue Gordon also returned to winning ways on the national stage when he ran away with the men’s 400m hurdles crown.

A Memphis Pioneers member and 2013 World champion, Gordon had a disappointed 2017 campaign which was mainly due to injuries, but yesterday he dominated his field in 50.87 seconds to make amends for his fifth-place finish recorded in last year’s run.

Lloy Hanley-Brown of St Kitts/Nevis was second in 52.54 and Memphis Pioneers’ Kadesh Roberts, third in 52.86.

Weekend’s NGC/Sagicor General Open NAAA Championships

Sunday’s Selected Results:
Women’s Long Jump:
1. Tyra Gittens (Kaizen Panthers) – 6.39m; 2. Ayanna Alexander (unattached) – 6.11; 3. Khemani Roberts (Kaizen Panthers) – 5.92.
Men’s 100m Masters:
1. Garvin Farmer (T&T Masters) – 11.38 secs; 2. Andie Montique (T&T Masters) – 11.47; 3. Norton St Louis (T&T Defence Force) – 11.51
Women’s 200m
1. Semoy Hackett (Zenith) – 22.64 secs; 2. Kayelle Clarke (PAP) – 22.74; 3. Reyare Thomas (Abilene) – 23/19
Men’s 200m
1. Kyle Greaux (Abilene) – 20.31; 2. Jereem Richards (Abilene) – 20.35; 3. Jalen Purcell (Simplex) – 21.12
Women’s Javelin Throw:
1. Talena Murray (Zenith) – 48.04m; 2. Chuntal Mohan (Striders) – 40.75; 3. Ayana Glasgow (UTT Fast Track) – 38.85.
Men’s Pole Vault:
1. Joel Andews (DPAC) 3.50m; 2. Anderson Subero (Sangre Grande S.E) – 2.60.
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
1. Sparkle Mc Knight (Memphis Pioneers) – 56.60 mins; 2. Janeil Bellille (Abilene) – 56.82.
Men’s 400m Hurdles:
1. Jehue Gordon (Memphis Pioneers) – 50.87 mins; 2. Lloy Hanley-Byron (St Kitts/Nevis) – 52.54; 3. Kadesh Roberts (Memphis Pioneers) – 52.86.
Men’s 800m:
1. Nicholas Landeau (Athletics Central) – 1:50.18 mins; 2. Ashton Gill (Cougars) – 1:50.86; 3. Daniel Gibbs (Mustangs) – 1:51.61
Women’s 800m:
1. Aleena Brooks (Memphis Pioneers) – 2:04.46 mins; 2. Kennesha Pascal (Track Blazer/Grenada) – 2:15.50; 3. Dawmel Collymore (Memphis Pioneers) – 2:17.90.
Men’s Triple Jump:
1. Kyron Blaise (unattached) – 15.50m; 2. Taeco O’Garro (Antigua & Barbuda) – 14.65; 3. Kelsey Daniel (Kaizen Panthers) – 14.59.
Men’s High Jump:
1. Kareem Roberts (Memphis Pioneers) – 2.06m; 2. Omari Benoit (Falcons) – 2.06; 3. Frankl Stansiclaus (Kaizen Panthers) – 1.95.
Men’s 5000m:
1. Iley Bruce (Dovers) – 15:38.63 mins; 2. George Smith (T&T Defence Force) – 15:53.03; 3. Shirvan Baboolal (Richard Jones R.A) – 15:53.46.
Women’s Shot Put 4kg:
1. Cleopatra Borel (Rebirth) – 17.21m; 2. Portious Warren (Toco TAFAC) – 16.34; 3. Cherisse Murray (Toco TAFAC) – 15.11.
Men’s 4x400m relay:
1. Pt Fortin New Jets – 3:17.70; 2. Silver Bullets Athletic Club – 3:20.20; 3.Concorde Athletics – 3:21.32.
Men’s Discus Throw 2kg:
1. Josh Boetang (Grenada) – 53.08 mins; 2. Konnel Jacob (Jaguars) – 49.78; 3. Micah Mc Nish (Striders) – 48.57.
Women’s 4x100m relay:
1. Abilene Wildcats – 45.70 secs; 2. Concorde Athletics – 45.94; 3. Simplex Athletics – 47.67.
Men’s 4x100m relay:
1. Simplex – 40.20 secs; 2. Concorde – 41.41; 3. South City Rising Stars (Grenada) – 42.03

T&T’s goal shoot Samantha Wallace was sparingly used as New South Wales Swifts dropped a 57-60 loss to Queensland Firebirds in a tense Suncorp Super Netball clash in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday.

New South Wales stole victory from the jaws of defeat in Round One, and threatened to do so again here – closing to within two goals late in the final quarter, but there were to be no heroics from the underdogs this time, with the Firebirds able to close it out before a large and vocal crowd packed into the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The 24-year-old Wallace started in the attack along with England international and Commonwealth Games gold medal winning hero, goal attack Helen Housby.

However, at the first interval, the Firebirds with Jamaican Romelda Aiken and Gretel Tippett in the attack led 16-14 despite Wallace’s ten goals from 11 attempts, and Housby four from five.

In a tactical move Wallace was removed after scoring three of four attempts in the second quarter and replaced by Sophine Garbin who tallied one of two attempts while Housby got eight of ten, but once again the host won the quarter, 13-12 for a 29-26 half-time score.

With the T&T standout on the bench for the start of the third quarter, the Firebirds began to dominate the match in every aspect except the scoreboard in the third term, with the Swifts doggedly hanging in just like they did in their first meeting of the season with Garbin and Housby, both scoring seven from nine attempts to trail 44-40 with one quarter left to play.

The Firebirds needed turnovers as the Swifts came home strong and their former skipper and Samsung Diamond Laura Geitz delivered and despite losing the final quarter 16-17 the Firebirds held on for the win.

Aiken ended with 43 goals from 49 attempts for the winners and Gretel Tippett chipped in with 17 from 18 attempts while Housby was 23 of 30 and Garbin 19 of 23 for the Swifts, now with a 5-3 record and 33 points in the sixth spot.

With the win and three bonus points, the Firebirds improved to 5-3 on the season and 39 points, four behind West Coast Fever (6-2) while Giants Netball (5-1-2) with 38 points, and Melbourne Vixens (5-3) with 36 points, complete the top four playoff spots.

Sunshine Coast Lightning is fifth with 34 points with a 3-1-4 record while Magpies Netball (2-6) and Adelaide Thunderbirds (0-8) complete the table with 26 and two points respectively.

What a sight it was to behold as the burly menacing speedster, T&T’s ever-improving Shannon Gabriel hurled down thunderbolt after thunderbolt that had the Sri Lankans hopping and literally dancing at the crease at the two recent Test matches at the Queen’s Park Oval and at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia.

For his excellent sustained pace bowling, laced with fire and venom, the Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s 30-year-old right-handed fast bowler was rewarded with bowling figures of 2-48 and 2-52 at the Queen’s Park Oval and the amazing match figures of 13-121 (5-59 in the first innings and an incredible 8-62 in the second innings) in St. Lucia. This latter performance placed him third on the list of best bowling performance in a Test match by a West Indian after the great Michael Holding’s 14-149 back in 1976 against England in England. Second on that list is Courtney Walsh with 13-55 against New Zealand in New Zealand in 1995 while fourth is Andy Roberts with 12-121 versus India in India in 1975. This career-best has propelled Gabriel to No. 12 in the Test rankings.

“It’s a great feeling,” Gabriel, who hails from New Grant, said after the game. “If someone told me, ‘Shannon, you’ll play Tests and take 100 wickets’, I would’ve told him, ‘you’re crazy!’ I’d like to thank family and friends for supporting me.”

Gabriel came to prominence when he was picked for the West Indies Cricket High-Performance Centre for cricketers between the ages of 19 to 27, following which he made his debut for T&T in January 2010.

After playing only three first-class matches he was selected for the West Indies A team against Zimbabwe. After his impressive early showing, he was selected for the 2011 Champions League T20, following which he was named in West Indies Test squad for the England tour in 2012.

He made his Test match debut against England at Lords in May 2012. Then it was onto the inaugural CPL/Caribbean Premier League 2013, where he was in the Barbados Tridents squad.

In 2017 he grabbed 9 for 92 at Kensington Oval to set up a much-needed Test win for Windies against Pakistan.

So far Gabriel has played in 34 Test matches capturing 100 wickets, in 18 ODI’s taking 23 wickets and just 3 wickets in 2 T20 international games.

Major teams: West Indies, Barbados Tridents, St Lucia Zouks, Trinidad & Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Trinidad & Tobago Under-19s, West Indies A.

First-class debut: Trinidad & Tobago v the Leeward Islands at St Philip, Jan 29-Feb 1, 2010

ODI debut: vs Australia at Kensington Oval, Jun 21, 2016

T20 Debut: vs Zimbabwe at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Mar 03, 2013

Windies are hoping that Gabriel stays as fit, healthy and at his menacing best in the current third Test against Sri Lanka being played in Barbados.

n This series, SPOTLIGHT, courtesy Health Net Caribbean Limited, profiles some of T&T’s outstanding athletes.

Nick Guy netted a double as Matura ReUnited won a seven-goal thriller over Metal X Erin FC, 4-3 at Erin Recreation Ground, Erin to go top of the 2018 T&T Super League on Saturday.

However, it was the hosts who looked well set for all three points earlier in the contest after strikes from Jardel Sinclair and Keyon Alexander, two and three minutes into time added on at the end of the first-half resulted in a 2-0 advantage at the break.

But it all unravelled quickly on the restart for Erin FC as Guy banged in a quick double in the 49th and 52nd minute to get Matura ReUnited back on level terms and silence the home crowd.

Isaiah Lee then fired Matura ReUnited ahead for the first time in the contest in the 72nd minute and six minutes from full-time Irvin Reyes made it 4-2 to the visitors and well set for all three points.

There was still a late twist to the match as Keyon Alexander handed Erin FC a lifeline with his 91st minute goal, but in the end Matura ReUnited held on for the win, its second in three matches to go to seven points, one ahead of FC Santa Rosa and University of T&T (UTT) while Police is next with five points.

This after UTT earned a 1-0 win over Club Sando at its O’Meara Road, Campus courtesy a 35th minute Shaquille Smith strike while San Fernando Giants and Police FC battled to a goalless draw at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Matches continued yesterday.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Matura ReUnited 4
(Nick Guy 49th, 52nd, Isaiah Lee 72nd, Irvin Reyes 84th)
vs Erin FC 3 (Jardel Sinclair 45th, Keyon Alexander 45th, 90th)
San Fernando Giants FC 0 vs Police FC 0
UTT 1 (Shaquille Smith 35th)
vs Club Sando FC 0

The ‘Inmate Cricket Development Programme’ is an applaudable initiative in principle of the Prisons Service, the T&T Cricket Board (TTBC) and the T&T Umpires and Scorers’ Union to use sport as a prisoner reform tool.

It has been stated by some scholars and practitioners that sport is a useful tool for enabling positive social development and benefits to participants. However, it is important for the proposed programme to be part of an overall strategic plan for effective prisoner reform.

As such it will be advisable for the programme coordinators to review the positive and negative lessons from the ‘Hoop of Life’ programme which was an attempt to use basketball as a means of keeping persons living in ‘hot spot’ areas away from engaging in criminal activity.

In addition to reviewing the ‘Hoop of Life’ programme (assuming comprehensive formal reports are available) as well as research such as Gallant, Nicholson and Sherry 2014 and Meek 2014, the following general points should also be taken into consideration:

• A strategic plan with SMART goals and objectives

• An implementation plan with identifiable targets

• A monitoring and evaluation system to objectively determine whether or not the programme goals and objectives are being achieved

• Trained human resource personnel to deliver the programme at all stages.

• An understanding of the target group in terms of age and interests. Such knowledge can inform the best pedagogical approach(es) to be utilised.

• Availability of financial resources and advocacy to support the programme as part of a larger reform programme.

The absence of a strategic approach to using sport as a prisoner reform tool will be nothing more than evangelic commentary. Emphasis has to be placed on the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation stages to ensure that the T&T Prisons ‘Inmate Cricket Development Programme’ has all the organisational capacity to have the opportunity to be successful.

Marlon Charles coach of the T&T Under-15 Girls team will reduce his roster to 25 players on Friday as he approaches the final selection of the squad to participate at the CONCACAF Under-15 Girls Championship at IMG Academy, Bradenton in August.

Charles has been overseeing the preparations of the squad through the TTFA/NLCB Elite Youth development programme. T&T will come up against Caribbean opposition having previously suffered heavy losses to the United States, Mexico and Haiti, pulling off a 4-0 win over Dominican Republic at the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Championship.

Charles said, “This time we will be in one of the lower tiers which were actually a suggestion put forward and not because of our previous performance. We will be playing against Curacao, Bermuda and Barbados. it’s actually better for us as I think. It will give our girls who are still relatively new to the game and early in their development, an opportunity to compete against teams of a similar level.”

He added, “At this stage, I am happy with where we have progressed to form a technical standpoint and at present, we are working more on the players tactical awareness and understanding. We have 35 players in training at the moment and I will be cutting the squad to 25 on Friday before really working towards the final selection of 18 players for the competition in August.”

In terms of the competition itself, Charles is eager to take the team into action. “This competition is really about development and I am pleased that Concacaf has maintained it because they realise the importance of it. It’s really a feeder to the Under-17 Women’s Qualifiers that takes place in two years time. We have to be more on time when it comes to early development and this competition will help us to get the girls out there in terms of the much-needed exposure and experience that is necessary,” Charles said.

The squad includes four players from the previous U-15 team and will also see Spain-based Hayley Richards joining the contingent next month. She was born in Spain to Trinidadian parents and is currently playing at school level there.

This will be the largest CONCACAF tournament ever for female participants and it will feature a record number of Concacaf Member Associations as well as two invited teams from UEFA.

Florida-based Gabriela Donahue and Mc Leod brothers, Abraham and David, will not be among the T&T contingent of swimmers when they begin of the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Championship title in Aruba on June 29.

This was confirmed by Jason Wickham, the outgoing Public Relations Officer of the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASATT), when contacted via telephone to give an update on the final composition of the team, which when first selected in early May stood at 34 athletes.

Last year, Donahue won five gold medals and was named as the Most Outstanding 13-14 Girls swimmer in helping T&T to a fourth-place finish at the Bahamas-held Carifta Swimming Championship.

The older of the Mc Leod brothers, Abraham, was part of the triumphant T&T CCCAN team on home soil last year, but along with his younger sibling will not make the journey to compete at the Rolly Bisslik Olympic Pool this time around.

Instead, the experienced duo of Cherelle Thompson and Kael Yorke, two individual gold medal winners from last year’s will lead this country’s bid for a second straight overall title when competition splashes off on June 29 until July 3.

Last year, T&T as host claimed a historic first ever overall title at the National Aquatic Centre, in Balmain, Couva, holding off the challenge of Puerto Rico.

The win by T&T marked the first time an English-speaking country had ever topped the overall points table and it came via the all-around effort of the 64-member swimming team as well as the Open Water members, four water polo teams, the two divers and the synchronised swimmers.

Overall, T&T swimmers without the injured USA-based Dylan Carter, who missed the final two nights of competition, tallied 65 medals (21 gold, 26 silver and 18 bronze) for 938.5 swimming points and 1 2,595 combined from the five disciplines and top spot overall.

Puerto Rico topped the swimming points table with 987 and also won the most medals in the swimming competition, 74 (32 gold, 19 silver and 23 bronze), but was second overall with 1, 217 points.

The CCCAN Open Water Championships will also take place in Aruba, but from July 4 to July 6 at Mangel Halto.

Last Friday, T&T’s involvement in Aruba was confirmed when ASATT was on the receiving end of $280,000 in financial support from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

The local swimming body also got support from the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) to the tune of $55,000 and $2,000 from TECU Cooperative Society.

Overall, more than 25 countries are expected to compete in Aruba with action beginning today (June 26) with the Artistic Swimming until Thursday.

SWIM TEAM

T&T CCCAN swimming team
11-12:
Boys: Josiah Changar, Nikoli Blackman, Stachys Harley, Zarek Wilson
Girls:Caitlyn Look Fong, Gabrielle Vickles, Joy Blackett, Neishelah Caseman, Savavannah Chee-Wah, Zoe Anthony
13-14:
Boys: Kadon Williams, Malik Nelson
Girls: Adrianna Gooding, Brianna Bocage, De Nicha Lewis
15-17:
Boys: Aqeel Joseph, Graham Chatoor, Jeron Thompson, Josiah Parag, Kael Yorke, Obadyah Ince
Girls: Danielle Williams, Deshor Edwards, Ileana Bocage, Jada Chatoor, Jahmia Harley, Racine Ross
18 & Over:
Boys: Christian Awah, Josiah Morales
Girls: Cherelle Thompson
Open water teams:
3 Kilometres:
12-13:
Girls: Zoe Anthony, Savannah Chee Wah, Gabrielle Vickles
Boys: Nikoli Blackman, Zackary Pichery, Lucius Harrison
5 Kilometres:
14-17:
Girls: Jada Chatoor, Chisara Santana, Dominique Nurse-Allen
Boys: Kyle West, Gabriel Bynoe, Jared De Silva
18 & Over:
Girls: Shania David
Boys: Graham Chatoor, Josiah Parag
10 Kilometres:
14-17:
Girls: Chisara Santana, Sabrina David
Boys: Gabriel Bynoe, William Reyes, Sebastian Marchand
18 & Over:
Girls: Shania David
Technical staff: Neal Marcano (manager), Maurice Faria (coach), Chabeth Haynes (assistant coach), Dexter Browne (assistant coach), Derek Changar (chaperone).

For those who want to achieve sustainable success at the highest level of Olympic sports, T&T is no bed of roses.

At every single turn, the landscape is best described as hostile territory. T&T can be a graveyard for those who hunger and thirst for success. It can be a demoralising place if success at the highest level of the sport is the objective, then remaining single-minded is a prerequisite in such a pursuit.

Last Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the NGC/Sagicor-sponsored National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) Track and Field championships had a number of Olympians and medal winners on display and all were in the hunt for success whether it was medals or personal triumphs.

But yet the crowd in attendance was disappointing and it was not because of a lack of effort by the NAAA’s organising committee. The NAAA and Sports Entertainment of T&T (SpenTT) did everything possible to promote the championship as a major attraction on a week that had little or no major competing events locally.

Noticeably, the SpenTT group comprised of young people including former athletes and footballers. The NAAA must be commended for giving young people an opportunity to try new ideas and methods all in an effort to attract those fans who say they love the local sport.

At the stadium, it was wonderful to see the full-hearted efforts of the country’s top athletes. They poured out everything on the track but sadly not too many were on hand to enjoy the skills and entertainment that was on show.

On Friday at Woodford Square, the T&T Olympic Committee celebrated Olympic Day. In attendance and gaining the attention of the school children that were present was Commonwealth Games sprint queen Michelle-Lee Ahye. In fact, June 23, is the actual Olympic Day which is used to mark the celebration worldwide. And to avoid clashing with the national track and field championships the TTOC kept its celebrations, the day prior.

Meanwhile, Made in T&T—we need to take great pride in supporting Made in T&T not in words, but in action. We need to show up and support our athletes.

Watching the national track and field championships one could see that in the very near future legends will rise.

Sport in T&T offers a net positive to society and all will agree that money invested in sport can help to achieve good things after I witnessed last weekend’s track and field championship and I was proud to see so much talent on display.

In the gloom and doom of T&T as a corrupt, murderous killing field that it has become, where citizens rationalise, normalise and turn a blind eye to corruption and crime, hushed conversations aren’t mere gossip and unsubstantiated rumour, but a snapshot of the truth.

Every day in the newspapers it’s another story of corruption. Those who dare to uncover the truth are exposed by the perverse actions of self-styled paragons of virtue.

The vile, shameless hypocrisy and deceit is breathtaking even as the sincere patriotism of our youth and young people and their faith and hope go unheralded on a rainy weekend. No money is the cry for sport yet every day it’s a daily deluge of white-collar crime and murderous life taking.

Editor’s note:

Brian Lewis is the President of the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC) and the views expressed are not necessarily those of the organisation.

A double strike by Kevon Woodley for Cunupia FC brought an end to Matura ReUnited’s short stint at the top of the T&T Super League 13-team standings and installed his team as the new leaders.

ReUnited led the standing for just one day, following its hard-fought 4-3 triumph over Metal X Erin FC on Saturday night at the Erin Recreation Ground, sending them to seven points in three matches. A day later, Cunupia surged to the top by virtue of a superior goal difference after thrashing Bethel United FC 4-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.

Woodley, the prolific Cunupia striker who led his team’s scoring last season, was on point Sunday when he scored in the 27th and 37th minute, before Michael Darko gave the Central unit its third goal in the 43rd, and Keron Clarke, the former FC Santa Rosa forward, rounded off the scoring with a 69th minute item.

The win pushed Cunupia to the top where it shares that position jointly with Queen’s Park CC on seven points.

Both Cunupia and the Parkites, which Queen’s Park is commonly called, are inseparable with the same amount of points and a similar goal difference of five.

Matura ReUnited is on seven points also but has a goal difference of two.

The Parkites’ climb to the summit came from a 2-0 victory over Petit Valley Diego Martin United at St Anthony’s College Ground, West moorings. The Parkites got the opener from Yohance Marshall in the 51st minute before Kern Gardiner sealed the win in the 60th minute.

In another match, Sunday, Prisons FC, runners-up in the Caribbean Football Trust Limited (CFTL) League Cup last year, was held to a goalless draw by RSSR at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) in Arouca. FC Santa Rosa, on the other hand, is in the third position in the standings with six points after Friday’s impressive 3-0 victory over defending League One champs Guaya United FC at the Arima Velodrome.

Since the departure of former national coach Ron La Forrest and sponsors Hydro-Tech Limited from the Guayaguayare outfit, the team has struggled this season to date, still hoping to receive its first win as the League enters its fourth round of matches.

STANDINGS

TEAMS P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Cunupia FC 3 2 1 0 7 2 5 7
1 QPCC 3 2 1 0 7 2 5 7
2 Matura ReUnited 3 2 1 0 8 6 2 7
3 FC Santa Rosa 3 2 0 1 5 2 3 6
4 UTT 3 2 0 1 3 4 -1 6
5 Police 3 1 2 0 2 1 1 5
6 RSSR FC 3 1 1 1 4 2 2 4
7 Metal X Erin FC 3 1 0 2 6 6 0 3
8 San Fernando Giants 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
8 Prisons FC 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
9 Guaya United FC 3 0 2 1 1 4 -3 2
10 Bethel United 3 0 1 2 2 7 -5 1
10 Petit Valley Diego Martin Utd 3 0 1 2 0 5 -5 1
11 Club SandoFC 3 0 0 3 1 5 -4 0

WALTER ALIBEY
 

DE GANNES, PETER VICTOR passed away peacefully on Tuesday 19th June, 2018. Son of the late Goldie and Monique de Gannes. Son-in-law of Robert (deceased) and Lola and Nobby. Beloved husband of Annette de Gannes. Adored father of Da-mian, Douglas (Annie), Dominic (Amanda) and Robert (Amanda). Doting grandfather of Jake and Louis. Brother of Stephen (deceased) (Rosemarie), Victor (Anthea), Denis (Elena), Jeffrey (Margot) and Simonne (Donald). Beloved brother-in-law of Aileen, Angela, Alyson, Rhonda, Moira, Nicole and Nobby Jr. Funeral mass for the late Peter V. de Gannes takes place at The Church of the Assumption, Long Circular Road, on Tuesday 26th June, 2018 at 10:00am, thence to the St. James Crematorium. Funeral entrusted to C&B. For enquiries, please contact Chancellor Walks Funeral Services, 287-0403/04.

Rambaran Michael passed away peacefully on 22nd June 2018 Son of the late Bridgemo-han & Elaine Rambaran Husband of Jean Rambaran Father of Neidra,Nadine & Naveen (Dec) Father in law of Jason Tamasar Brother of Lyndsay (Dec),Cyntra (Dec),Rawle & Simon Grandfather of Akshaye, Anushka, Nicholas & Mathis Funeral of the late Mi-chael Rambaran takes place on Tuesday 26th June 2018 at 1030 am from St Charles Presbyterian Church,Caroni Savannah Road ,Chaguanas & thence to the Yankaran Cremation Site Water-loo for cremation at 1230 pmCall

WATSON; Florence Sandra nee Lue Qui passed away peace-fully on 22nd June, 2018. Hus-band: Edward Watson. Mother of Rachael (deceased) and Dominique. Grandmother of Leah. Mother-in-law of Jamal. Daughter of the late Rupert and Hilda Lue Qui. Sister of Dianne, Dennis and Desmond (deceased). Sister-in-law of Louis, Duglas, Yvette and Mike (deceased). Daughter-in-law of John (de-ceased) and Mollie. Aunt of Rich-ard, Jerome, Richardo, Troy and Danielle. Friends; MANY. Funeral at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 29th June, 2018 at Holiness Revival Minis-tries, Corner Baden Powell and French Streets, Woodbrook fol-lowed by a private cremation. No flowers by request. For enquiries, call C&B 625-1170 or visit http;//www.clarkandbattoo.com