The victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy meant Amazon Warriors were scheduled to play Trinbago Knight Riders in eliminator two last night at the same venue. The winner of last night’s match will face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the final tomorrow at the Brian Lara Academy, from 9 pm.

Khan, an 18 year old Afghanistan spinner, took the first hattrick in the five-year history of CPL as Jamaica Tallawahs posted 168 for eight in their 20 overs.

The moment came for Khan in the 15th over of the match when Andre McCarthy (14), Jonathan Foo (duck) and Rovman Powell (duck) were all out bowled to the wily spinner. They all had their stumps rattled while playing forward as they misjudged the flight and spin. Khan ended with 3/32 in four overs, while Kumar Sangakkara was the top batsman for Tallawahs scoring 57.

In reply, 36-year-old Luke Ronchi of New Zealand struck 70 off 33 deliveries with five fours and five sixes to guide Amazon Wariors to 169/5 in 17.5 overs. Mahmudullah was the chief destroyer for Tallawahs grabbing 3/25 in four overs.

After the win Ronchi said, “It was nice, it is always nice to make runs. You want to help your team win games of cricket. If it’s batting, bowling or fielding whatever it is I think everybody wants to help their team win. It is nice to make some runs and get us closer to the title.”

The event, now in its 17th year under the Sagicor brand, will see 110 participants take to the greens.

Participants will be grouped in flights based on their handicap and age, and will compete against golfers of equal skill level.

The tournament will see nine flights play 36 holes as individual stroke play: Championship; 1st Flight; 2nd Flight; 3rd Flight; Seniors 1st Flight 50+; Seniors 2nd Flight 50+; Super Seniors; Women’s Championship; and Women’s Second Flight.

All golfers are awarded points, based on their performance, towards selection for the Trinidad and Tobago national team. It is the only tournament where the main focus is on gross scores— no handicaps are involved.

Last year’s winner Jonathan Millen can expect a stiff challenge from Deryck Gonsalves and Douglas Ammon. Cricketing hero Brian Lara cannot be counted out, as he too possesses the skills needed to compete at the highest level. Also in the lineup is Sam Avey who recently represented the National Junior team here in Trinidad, and won at this year’s Republic Bank Junior Open in the boys 18 and under division.

The Seniors Division will have Patrick Boocock defending his 2016 title against Douglas Ammon, the 2015 Seniors winner.

Ramsingh Boodoosingh is also very well known in the winners’ circle and will be seeking to capture the title.

In the Women’s categories, Aleema Jack and Serena Mackenzie will be challenging one another as the two top-ranked women golfers in Trinidad.

The fast improving Karina Matabadal along with Sabrina Mitchell are competent opposition and will be seeking to give a good account of themselves over the two days.

Funds raised via a raffle will be donated to the Down Syndrome Family Network (DSFN). DSFN is focused on providing “parents or caregivers of persons with Down Syndrome…the resources, support and answers they need to educate and develop the full potential of these individuals throughout their lives”.

Speaking with reporters after a function at Tower C of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, Khan said, “Dr Rowley is out of the country for medical reasons. It is not a dereliction of duty.

Why can’t the Opposition understand that?” Khan continued, “He has gone for his annual medical check-up. It has nothing to do with a poll coming out or what issues face the country.” He reminded reporters, “I suffered health challenges in my own right earlier this year. “ Khan fell ill while on vacation in Thailand last December and subsequently underwent heart-related surgery when he returned to TT.

Khan added, “Your health and your family comes before anything else.” He said Rowley is just taking care of his health “in a precautionary manner” just as what his doctors advised him when he went to California last year for a check-up.

Describing polling and statistics as a very scientific event, Khan said, “A lot of the polls conducted in TT are not truly scientific polls.” Asked if the PNM d oes its own polls, Khan replied, “The polling really comes under the Prime Minister.” On whether the PNM has lost support since September 2015, Khan said the country is in an economic downturn and there will be “some level of disappointment” when “you do not have the goods and services to share with the population.” He added, “To say that that party has lost popularity, at its core level, I don’t think so.” Khan described the marginally higher rating which Persad-Bissessar received compared to Rowley’s as part of the five-year cycle in the country’s politics after a general election. He said, “Things are being planned in the way that we honour the five year cycle.” Khan said he had no update on Public Administration and Commmunications Minister Maxie Cuffie, who was hospitalised at St Clair Medical Centre on Tuesday.

He said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh would provide details on Cuffie’s actual condition.

The youthful Laventille team is campaigning in the NFA premier Division for the first time, having earned promotion from the championship.

Another promoted club, Alcons, are in second place with six points.

Alcons trashed Step by Step Maple 3-0 on Sunday; the architects of the win were Joshua Sitney,Andrew Rodriguez and Kron De Freitas.

There was high drama at Debe, where home team Cultural Roots surged ahead 3-0 within the first half and led by the same margin with 10 minutes left. Their opponents RSSR finally woke up and scored three items – including one second before the final whistle – to share the points.

Queens Park also got a late item from Vladimir Suite to share points in a 2-2 draw with Belmont FC.

The NFA season continues on the weekend with nine games on the schedule.

Noting earlier comments by EITI Steering Committee chairman Victor Hart, Khan welcomed the committee’s focus on the country’s mining sector,” and quarrying in particular.” Khan said there are a lot of issues regarding the lack of royalty payments, “by some of the mining operators if not all.” The minister also said, “the issue of the proliferation of illegal quarries” remains a challenge for the country. To understand this reality, Khan advised his audience, “Take a flight to Tobago and look down and you will see the scars in the landscape of north-eastern TT.” He disclosed that he recently appointed, “a special advisor on security matters.” Khan added, “We plan to deal with the issue of illegal quarrying frontally in the coming months.” The minister said four EITI reports produced by the committee have shown extractive industries in TT have declared revenue payments of $114.69 billion. He said those same reports showed Government declaring corresponding receipts of $114.78 billion. After saying this meant almost 100 percent correlation between these figures, Khan quipped, “Thank God I am in government.” Khan said the MOU has been approved by Cabinet. However, he added, “When these Cabinet notes are approved, especially legal documentation…

quasi-legal documentation…

it is always subject to final vetting from the Attorney General’s Office. Saying this is standard government procedure, Khan said the final vetting of the MOU should be completed in two weeks time. After he said Guyana joined the EITI in August, Khan disclosed that he met on Monday with Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

The minister provided no details but hinted there are, “extremely interesting discussions that are currently taking place between Guyana and TT.” Khan said more information on this matter would be disclosed at a later date and in another forum.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has previously hinted that TT would be willing to partner with Guyana in developing that country’s emerging energy sector. Negotiations between TT and Venezuela for the supply of natural gas from Venezuela’s Dragon Field are also ongoing.

Shiva Boys, who won their first Premier Division title last year, will open the 2017 season today at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. Shiva Boys face southern rivals Naparima at 5 pm in the second match of a double header. In the first match Carapichaima East will tackle Fatima from 3 pm.

Ryan, speaking to Newsday yesterday, said: “As long as all goes well we are in it. I am the humble type of coach that will take one game at a time.” Ryan said most of last year’s team are returning this year, but if they don’t unite as a team they will not play at a high level.

“One of the things that I have learnt about chemistry is that it takes a degree of gelling and coming together. It does not matter how much years people play together, if they don’t have that unity and the love then that could be a slight issue. But I guess we have it so I am expecting the guys to flow tomorrow.”
S AT U R DAY ’ S ROUND ONE FIXTURES (3.40 pm) St Benedict’s vs St Anthony’s, Speyside vs Queen’s Royal College, St Mary’s vs St Augustine, Fyzabad vs Trinity College (Moka) Trinity College East vs Signal Hill Presentation College San Fernando vs San Juan North.

Shah was expected to play last night for the Knight Riders against Guyana Amazon Warriors in eliminator two. The winner of last night’s match will face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in tomorrow’s final at Brian Lara Cricket Academy from 9 pm. Khan was called up by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play three T20 internationals against a World XI starting on Tuesday. Khan’s absence is another big blow for the Trinbago Knight Riders who have been forced to do without the prolific New Zealander Brendon McCullum who fractured his arm just before the CPL playoffs started. They also missed out on South African Hashim Amla after the opener got injured prior to the CPL.

Jason Santokee, 57, of Williamsville, pleaded guilty before magistrate Cherril-Anne Antoine and was sent to jail for six months for possession of .29 grammes of cocaine.

He told the magistrate he is addicted to cocaine, after she reminded him he has 14 previous convictions for cocaine possession.

The prosecutor said that on Tuesday, at about 3.30 pm, police on mobile patrol at Ben Lomond Road, Williamsville, spotted Santokee walking. However, when he saw the vehicle, he made an about turn and began walking in the opposite direction. He was stopped and searched and police found on him a few rocks of cocaine.

Santokee pleaded with the police officers, “Give me a chance.” Antoine asked Santokee if he was addicted to cocaine and he replied, “Something so.” He then told the magistrate that he climbs coconut trees for vendors. “And I does use the cocaine to climb them tall coconut trees.

It is not an easy thing,” Santokee said. “But you have 14 previous convictions.

Have you tried to get help?” Antoine asked. Santokee persisted, “I does use it to climb them tall coconut trees.” Antoine ordered him to serve the sentence with hard labour and advised that upon completion, he should seek to enroll himself in a rehabilitation programme.

And a day after scoring an own goal that put Panama 2-0 ahead, defender Carlyle Mitchell is holding his hands up with an apology.

Mitchell and his teammates along with Dennis Lawrence and his staff members, are coming to terms with the run of events over the past week.

“Firstly, I want to apologise to the nation and to coach Dennis Lawrence, his staff and my teammates for the way in way the results went,” Mitchell told TT FA Media. “This has been the biggest disappointment of my career. I feel like I’ve let my country down, my teammates down and I will not pretend that we did things the way it was suppose to be.

This is not something you just wake up in the morning and forget all about.

“We had the opportunities to try and turn things around and make this happen for the country. I am a person who does not live with regrets because it is something that can stay with you for life,” he said.

The former Vancouver Whitecaps player chose to express his feelings on the campaign overall particularly the six-games played in the “Hex” this year.

“It was a bit of a seesaw.

We had our moments, some up, some down and we have to take responsibility for not being able to fulfil what we wanted to achieve in all of this.

I think the coach and his staff gave it their all.

They wanted this badly just as we as players wanted and unfortunately it did not work out for us. We have to reflect and recover from this for the benefit of everyone who cares about the country’s football,” Mitchell added.

She thanked members of the public for their ardent prayers and their text messages of well-wishes for Cuffie’s recovery.

Tyson-Cuffie did not give details of Cuffie’s “medical episode” that occurred on Tuesday, as reported by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), but she told Newsday that he had a strong heart.

She said little had changed since Wednesday’s statement by the OPM, saying, “That remains the state of play. He is doing a lot of work that they are comfortable with. The hospital remains happy with how he is progressing, and I get a lot of joy from that.” Tyson-Cuffie asked for people to keep praying and said text messages to her and her husband had been very encouraging.

“I realise my husband is wellloved.” Pressed for more details on the nature of the minister’s “medical episode” and whether it was heart-related, Tyson-Cuffie replied, “The Minister’s heart is in good condition. We encourage people to take care of their health.” Tyso-Cuffie said her husband lived a very healthy lifestyle which included walking six days a week and a diet of no meat nor alcohol.

Tyson-Cuffie blamed the episode on just “the luck of the draw.” “He is someone who walks a lot and eats right and that kind of thing. That’s the luck of the draw,” She said. “He doesn’t drink, doesn’t eat meat, doesn’t eat fish. He’s a vegetarian.

“He exercises six out of seven days, and is very, very moderate in his eating. He’s a very, very careful person. “Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw.”