He explained that their long friendship has made the transition easy for them to pass on their knowledge in athletics.

Often times when sprinter Thompson is conducting an athletics camp in Trinidad and Tobago, Cooper is by his side sharing his knowledge of strength and conditioning, speed work, agility and power.

One of the camps where Cooper and Thompson combined their knowledge was at the second annual Primary Schools Track and Field Development Camp in conjunction with Atlantic in November. Cooper and Thompson also got help from 2016 TT Olympian Marcus Duncan.

Cooper confessed that teaming with the triple Olympic medallist is always enjoyable.

“Working with Richard is always a fun time. We grew up together, (he’s) my best friend, like family. We have fun regardless and now that we combine our friendship with our love for the sport of athletics it’s a phenomenal experience.” Cooper explained that Thompson and himself have an excellent understanding which helps them run successful camps. “Everytime we get out there, it is not a lot of planning, we know what we going to do and we feed off each other’s energy and I think the people around us whether it is kids, or teenagers or adults feel that and they feed off that energy and we just come out there, we just have fun teaching, passing on that information.” Cooper acknowledged that many of the camps they have hosted were possible with help from Atlantic and Gatorade.

“We both just volunteered our time because it was something we wanted to do and it is another culture we want to create that camps and clinics — yes it is fun, but it is a learning experience, it is a very big development tool. When Atlantic and Gatorade (one day decide to) pull out, we will need the parents to invest, we will need the athletes themselves to invest.” Cooper explained that when he helped Thompson with strength work in the past, he was a bit sceptical because he always wants his friend to benefit.

“The strength part was a little bit more frustrating for me because he is like family and you never want to do wrong by family.

So as confident as I was in my ability I still wanted to make sure everything was right for him because I wanted him to succeed. But you get past that, it is just about the smiles and then seeing the success after that.”

The tournament will take place at the Roll Call Room of the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva on January 3, 4 and 5. The categories are Novice A, Novice B, Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Under-18 Absolute and Female. The Under-18 category however will be played on January 5, 6 and 7.

Previous champions will defend their titles or will seek to gain the national title in a higher age group. Aedan Muralie, who won the Under-8 title last year will compete in the Under- 10 category on this occasion against defending champion Rayden Rampersad.

Among the other former champions competing are Anahita Ramoutar, who previously won the Under-10 Female, Zidane Boodhoo (Under- 12 Champion), Marliyah Mason-Phillips (Under-12 female champion), Sean Yearwood (Under-14 champion), Shemilah James (Under-14 female champion), Isaiah McIntosh (Under-16 champion), Gabriella Johnson (Under- 16 female champion) and Joshua Johnson (Under-18 champion).

Pr e – r e g i s t r a t ion and additional details are available on www.

chesstt.org.

On Tuesday, Nicaragua registered their first-ever victory over Trinidad and Tobago, by a 2-1 margin, with Luis Peralta and Daniel Cadena scoring for the home team, while Hashim Arcia replied for the 78th ranked-Trinidad and Tobago. Nicaragua are ranked 124th in the latest FIFA world rankings.

Tom Saintfiet, coach of the TT team, will be using this match to making a final assessment of his squad, ahead of the Caribbean Cup fifth place and CONCACAF Gold Cup playoffs against Suriname and Haiti, from January 4-8, which will be staged at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Defensive midfielder Kevan George and winger Aikim Andrews, who were both absent from Tuesday’s match, will be available for selection today but there are some doubts over wingback Aubrey David, who missed yesterday’s training session with an ankle injury.

According to Saintfiet, “it could be that there (could) be some changes in the squad and there could be some tactical changes because Kevan George is now in and Aikim Andrews also arrived from Trinidad (on Wednesday night). The aim is still to prepare the team for Suriname and Haiti and then later Panama and Mexico (in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers).

“The main target is not a result but a good preparation as we have to qualify for Gold Cup and World Cup,” Saintfiet continued.

“But it would be nice that for our players, for the hard work that they have put in, the discipline and commitment they have, will get a good result (today). I really hope this for the boys because they have done everything for the country. Until now I think the players who played on Tuesday and the others will do everything to be ready,” he added.

Veteran forward Cornell Glen, recalled to the team after a threeyear- long absence, is hoping to inspire the team to victory, once selected.

“I felt good being back, it’s a young team with a lot of new faces, a new coach with different tactics but all in all it was good for me being back and playing with the boys again,” he said.

“I kept playing and I stayed positive over the years. Hopefully (today) I can get some more playing time and I show the coach what I can still offer. (Saintfiet) is a very disciplined coach and there is not a lot of room for improvisation.

Being experienced, it’s rather easy for me to fit in and adapt to his system.

“We have to stay focused and confident that we can still achieve and realise our ambitions of Gold Cup and World Cup qualification.

We have a lot of players to come in still and I think once we can gel and fit in with the coach’s tactics then we can definitely be successful again,” Glen stressed.

Hart, the easy-going 53-yearold coach, who was at the helm since June 2013, was issued a ‘red card’ by the TT Football Association (TT FA) after a string of poor results, which saw the squad lose eight out of their 13 international matches this year.

Trinidad and Tobago’s only victories under Hart’s guidance this year were the 3-2 and 6-0 results over St Vincent/Grenadines in the FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Semi Final Round qualifiers in March, followed by a 4-0 scoreline over the Dominican Republic in October, in a CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifier.

More controversy followed in December when 43-year-old Tom Saintfiet of Belgium was appointed as Hart’s replacement. Saintfiet, who has never coached at the top level in Europe, and had fleeting stints in Africa and Asia, was harshly told by John-Williams that he had until March 24 and 28 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Final Round qualifiers at home to Panama and Mexico respectively to prove himself worthy of keeping the TT job.

Russell Latapy and Jamaal Shabazz, who were both fired as TT coaches in 2010 and 2013 respectively, and who are currently employed by the TT FA (Latapy is the Director of Youth Football and Shabazz is the Technical Coordinator) were named as Saintfiet’s assistants while, as far as the team was concerned, captain Kenwyne Jones and vice-captain Jan-Michael Williams were dropped.

Trinidad and Tobago lost to Haiti 1-0 on January 8, at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama, for a place in the 2016 Copa America Centenario in Chile.

And, on October 11, the national men’s team failed in their bid for an automatic spot in both the 2017 Caribbean Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup – following a 2-0 loss away to Martinique.

That result heaped further pressure on Hart and the technical staff, and the die was virtually cast in November when the squad suffered two defeats in their World Cup Final Round qualifiers – 2-0 at home to Costa Rica on November 11 and 3-1 away to Honduras on November 15.

Missing from the last three games (Martinique, Costa Rica and Honduras) was midfielder Kevin Molino, who was dropped from the team by Hart for allegedly breaking curfew, his second indiscretion in quick succession.

Molino, as well as Mekeil Williams and Joevin Jones, were fined ahead of the September 2 World Cup qualifier at home to Guatemala for leaving camp, unauthorised, to attend a boat ride.

Until that time, the national team were known as the ‘Soca Warriors’, but the TT FA decided to drop the name from its website, and subsequently discontinued the use of the name, due to a legal matter, regarding ownership rights, between themselves and veteran sports broadcaster Selwyn Melville.

The decision was made unanimously in a TT FA Board of Directors meeting, following a pre-action protocol letter issued by Melville to the local body over its use.

Melville has claimed he coined the term “Soca Warriors” 18 years ago and is seeking US$30 million for its use by the local football organisation.

The TT FA were also in the headlines, following the firing of women’s team coach Randy Waldrum (United States-born) and technical director Kendall Walkes, with Carolina Morace (Italy-born) and Muhammad Isa taking their places.

The national women’s team has been largely inactive but received a boost late this year with the news that Italian Carolina Morace will take charge.

There were mixed results for the national youth teams, as the Brian Williams-coached Under-20 team advancing to the 2017 CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica but the Under-17s, under the guidance of Latapy, were unable to progress from the group stage of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Final Round, which was held in the twin-island republic.

Central FC continued their dominance of the local circuit with victory in the 2015-2016 Digicel Pro League. But surprisingly not one Central FC player is currently in Nicaragua with new coach Saintfiet for a pair of friendlies as a club vs country row emerged with Saintfiet allegedly insisting that players take part in his training camp even though the friendlies are not during the FIFA window. TT FA president David John-Williams has stated there is an agreement among the Pro League and its clubs that they will release their players for national duty but Sancho has stressed no such agreement was ever in place.

Sports and Games FC Santa Rosa and Cunupia FC triumphed in the National Super League Premier and Championship Divisions respectively.

And, in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Shiva Boys were triumphant in the Premier Division while San Juan North took the Intercol trophy and Naparima the inaugural Big 4 crown.

A 13-member contingent representing Club Aquatique Montreal (CAMO) arrived in TT yesterday for a training camp which will last almost two weeks.

Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT ) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Adam Montserin and Tourism Development Company Acting CEO Warren Solomon welcomed the CAMO team on their arrival at Piarco International Airport.

The team’s visit was coordinated by the Business Development department of the SporTT , in an ongoing effort to position TT as a premier destination for winter training. The contact was initiated through Canadian operator, Magik Tours, whose representatives visited the country earlier in December to scout the location and make the necessary arrangements.

CAMO coach Claude St Jean stated that he is excited to begin the training camp and fondly recalled that TT Olympian George Bovell was a former member of CAMO.

Smith, speaking to Newsday yesterday, said the multi-million dollar facility has to be fully utilised and CAMO coming to TT is the start of the process. Smith said, “we are very pleased about that (the Canadian team coming to TT ); this is what this Government has promised, to push sport tourism.

Those facilities have to be utilised not just by ASATT (Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago) and the locals for it to make revenue and really work in maximum potential.

We have to go out there and get foreign clubs, teams, national teams to come and also utilise it.” Smith explained that seeking advice from CAMO will help TT host more successful camps.

“We are going to ask them for any advice on anything that they see we could improve or enhance while they are here. The Cycling Velodrome as well, we are also talking to some other international teams to come down and use it (Cycling Velodrome), it is in the peak of winter now. It is a good start and a good example.” He added, “I hope TT shows hospitality to them (CAMO) and show them respect so that they could spread the word in the swimming fraternity that TT is the place to be and other teams from North America, South America, Europe and so on could come here.” The National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua held a conference earlier this year with coaches from across the region which helped sport tourism also. The long awaited opening of the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, which is expected to open early in 2017, will also be part of the sport tourism drive.

Smith explained that many local sporting organisations are using the office space at the National Aquatic Centre, National Racquet Centre and National Cycling Velodrome which is allowing these same organisations to save money they would have otherwise spent paying rent and invest in the young athletes.

Walcott was TT ’s lone medallist at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as he took bronze in the men’s javelin. The Toco-born athlete threw the metal spear 85.38m to earn consecutive medals at the Olympics after claiming gold in London four years ago.

Ahye, although not getting to the podium in Rio, was a finalist in the women’s 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay – the first woman from this country to achieve that feat. She also had a stellar year on the international circuit with medals won at the prestigious Diamond League and several sub-11 clockings. Walcott and Ahye were not present to receive their awards.

Cyclist Nicholas Paul rode away with the Junior Sportsman of the Year Award while sprinter Khalifa St Fort captured the Junior Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Other award recipients at the event were double Paralympic gold medallist Akeem Stewart (Sports Personality of the Year), swimmer Dylan Carter (People’s Choice) and administrator Catherine Forde (Alexander B Chapman Award, for achievements and contributions to sport).

Act at all times with courage, 1consideration and most of all discretion .

Make decisions based on 1universally established business 1principles with emphasis on fairness 1and equity, not on politics, 1popularity, self-interest or expediency .

Let your work and achievements 1speak for you so that visibility 1is achieved through productivity 1and not PR. Do not 1allow present circumstances or 1past conditioning to determine 1your responses to the challenges 1we face as a nation .

Recognize that our success or 1failure as an individual or a nation 1will ultimately be a product of 1choices and decisions rather than 1socio-economic circumstances 1now facing us. Finally, just get on 1with the job. Take ownership and 1charge of the present situation 1for the sake of the entire country, 1whether you live north or south 1of the Caroni Bridge, east or west 1of the lighthouse .

Citizens are fed-up hearing, ‘I 1met this or that problem’, ‘my predecessor 1should have done this or 1that, but didn’t and now it is too 1big of a mess to clean up’. Guess 1what? It’s your job now, stop the 1whining and excuses .

Assume your role quickly and 1courageously because there also 1comes a point in time at which 1you have to stop blaming your 1predecessor and that time has 1just about expired. Permit me 1to highlight a tale of an Abbott 1who on retiring, called in his successor 1and said, “the job is now 1yours but to guide you along the 1way, here are three letters. Open 1the first when you first need help, 1the second one thereafter and so 1on.” 1Later, the new Abbott found the 1time had come to open the first 1letter which stated simply, “blame 1your predecessor”. He did that 1with great gusto and aplomb but 1eventually. As pressure mounted, 1he was forced to open the second 1letter which advised, “reorganise” .

He did that and it too, soon met 1with short-term success. After 1two years, the Abbott once again 1ran out of options and opened 1the third letter. It read, “write 1three letters.” 1Unfortunately, the present PM 1looks as if he may have already 1passed the second letter phase 1with his recent Cabinet reshuffle 1and could soon be in the third 1letter phase, if he is not very 1careful, particularly with how he 1handles the final resolution of the 1Clico/CL Financial debacle, the 1Public Sector wage negotiations, 1a declining economy, worsening 1foreign exchange and runaway 1crime .

It is important to remind 1our leaders that we live in vastly 1different times. TT is part of 1the shrinking global village the 1world has become. Access to ICT 1is much more easily available 1than in the days of our parents 1and grandparents. Our standards 1must be clear and of universal 1pedigree. We must therefore not 1only strive for goodness we must 1strive for greatness. Happy New 1Year and a word to the wise is 1sufficient .

Peter Permell 1TT Citizen 1

Ramdeen was the father of well-known Catholic Chairman for Social Justice Leela Ramdeen .

He was also the cousin of the Leader of the Opposition the late Stephen Maharaj and great uncle to former Minister Devant Maharaj .

Ramdeen served as a member of the House of Representatives in the 1st Independent Parliament .

He was the dedicated father of seven. Ramdeen was also a barrister, author and former MP (Caroni) by profession .

One of his famous writings is entitled Cassandra. He holds steadfast on his views for liberating the oppressed. In a parliamentary personality interview he stated, “I like to fight for the underdog. If I join the top dog, I have no life.”

Devant Maharaj Port-of-Spain

Times have changed drastically when things we would not even dream of doing or being part of, in years gone by, are the norm now. Cursing a neighbour in the vilest manner, abusing children physically and verbally, disrespecting women and men in all forms and fashion are the norm in TT today. You have to be so careful not to make eye contact with certain people for you may receive a tongue lashing…or worse.

Sometimes when I listen to the news and am informed on what was done to children by adults and crimes against women, it makes my stomach turn and my insides cry out. I will also like to state that there are men who also suffer abuse of some form. Men too are victims. Abuse, in any form is not right and no one should be subjected to it.

Now if there is going to be any change in the habit of abusing one another, whether physically, mentally or verbally, right-thinking citizens must take up the fight and make a stand. This is where there is a serious problem as persons being abused are so often very slow to speak out or share with someone what they are going through. Ever so often, evidence reveals the dark secret. Yet the ball is in the court of the victim, making a decision to stand up for their rights and put a stop to the abuse.

In the case of children, it is both the children and observers who need to speak out. I believe children should be encouraged to do so by relevant authorities and more importantly by their parents. The problem with this is that persons in positions of trust sometimes are the ones abusing a child. How then can that child speak up? To whom shall they turn to? We need to be each other’s keeper. We need to look for the signs of abuse and report it to the relevant authorities.

Ending abuse must be a team effort and must involve persons from the level of community all the way up to the levels of the courts and government.

It takes collective will but it can be done.

Arnold Gopeesingh San Juan

I wish to advise Government that since they cannot now restore the death penalty because of lack of political support and political infighting, that in addition to building new prisons to accommodate our brigade of killers still running loose here and killing innocent citizens, that they ought to also consider building a new asylum (St Ann’s is now overcrowded) to also house our mentally disturbed bandits. That is, of course, if they ever get caught by our police.

Warm regards,

G.A. Marques