QUADRUPLE OLYMPIC medallist Ato Boldon has joined the Trinidad and Tobago contingent at the 14th Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

According to chef-de-mission Brian Lewis, Boldon arrived in Santo Domingo yesterday without his luggage, one of the many hiccups which has plagued the Games. But Lewis said that Boldon, who will be staying at a nearby hotel instead of the Games Village, is eager to join fellow sprinters Darrel Brown, Marc Burns and Jacey Harper in the men’s 4x100m relay. In last night’s 100m finals, Niconnor Alexander and Fana Ashby both crossed the finish line in eighth spot while Sheridan Kirk faded after a promising start placing fifth in the men’s 800m. Melissa De Leon failed to qualify for the women’s half-mile final, despite a third-place finish in her semifinal race. She was not among the “fastest losers” to advance to last night’s decider. Up to press time last night, Cleavon Dillon was in the sand pit vying for the top-three position in the men’s long jump. The Stone brothers Shane and Troy got past their first round opponents Lavaro Navarro and Ricardo Chile of Cuba 6-4, 6-2 in the men’s doubles and will either face a pair from Barbados or Dominican Republic in the second round. But, in the women’s singles, Annaleise Rose who gave a valiant effort, was knocked out by Vilamarie Castellvi 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 in their second round tussle.

2002 WITCO Sportswoman of the Year Cleopatra Borel will vie for TT’s second medal in the shot put with Ashby, Keenan Gibson and Julian Raeburn facing the starter’s gun in the 200m heats this morning. Also on this morning’s schedule is the 400m heats, featuring US-based Damian Barry and Adia McKinnon. The men’s volleyball twosome of Nolan Tash and Sean Morrison will complete their round-robin group stage against the United States from 2 pm, while the women’s hockey team will go into action against Dominican Republic. Margaret Auerbatch, TT’s first equestrian competitor at the Pan Am level, will participate in the dressage at 9 am today, while in shooting, Auerbatch’s son Robert will compete in the skeet event with Takoor Sankar and Taran Deosaran firing their weapons in the men’s rifle.

Caribbean Little Devils of Suriname recorded victory in the opening encounter of their three-match visit to Trinidad and Tobago when they dusted off Marabella Raptors 70-48 at the Pleasantville Indoor Sport Facility last Tuesday evening.

Devil’s Watson Herbert scored a match-high 19 points and was supported by Bosk Winston who contributed 16 to the visitors’ effort. Damian Caton of the Raptors continued the good form which helped his team this season, scoring a team high 11 points. Louie Davis was close behind returning ten points to the scorers. The Raptors are fresh from second place of the Eastern Community Basketball League Division One “Big Four” and showed some fatigue from their strenuous season on the court. In the first match of the double-header National Flour Mills (NFM) showed  the extent of their “flour power” when they endured to squeeze out Point Fortin All Stars 66-61. This on the effort of Jason Delise’s match-high 15 points, Marlon Bernard’s 11 and 12 each from Kerry Joseph and Kerry Westfield. The All Stars, led by Adrian Andrews with 11 shot back but more was needed in attack as ten from Steve McSween and eight from Clevon Dunbar left them stranded at the final whistle. The current League Champs of Suriname, Devils will meet Royal Extra North Zone champions NFM tonight at 8.30 pm following a Raptors/All Stars clash from 7 pm at the St Paul’s Street Indoor Facility in Port-of-Spain.

TRINIDAD and Tobgo’s golfers yesterday began their challenge with a flourish in the 47th annual Caribbean Amateur Championships on the Plantations Beach and Golf Resort course in Tobago.

At the end of the first round the hosts hold a commanding four-shot lead in the Hoerman Cup competition and are ahead by one stroke in the Higgs and Higgs super senior contest. The home team also share a first place tie with three others in the Francis Steele-Perkins senior category. The Bahamas have snatched the upper hand in the George Teale Trophy for women; while defending champions Puerto Rico held their own in the Ramon Baez Trophy, a new category introduced this year for men over 35. But the day, blessed clear blue skies and a slight wind blowing from the nearby ocean belonged to Corey Hamel-Smith, the young local star who shot a blistering round of five under par 67, the best score of the day. He was well-supported by Carlos “Sexy” Baynes who had an excellent one under 71, and Shane Costelloe, who returned two over. Dion Gonsalves shot a three over but the best three scores count in the Hoerman Cup. In second spot were title-holders Puerto Rico, four shots off the pace (216) while Jamaica were one shot back (217) in third. The TT team had earlier received a big morale booster when their super senior players Asraph Ali and Edward Grell came back to the club house in Lowlands with a one under total of 71 just before lunchtime to head their category. One shot off the pace are Puerto Rico (71) while Cayman Islands are third with 72. The TT women are a disappointing fourth among the region’s women in the George Teale Trophy, seven shots off the pace set by leaders Bahamas who had a best score of even par 72. Cayman islands (73) are second followed by Barbados (76) in third with TT next. Teenaged sisters Diana and Michelle Torry both returned scores of seven over and must stage a remarkable comeback to challenge the leaders today. In the Francis Steele-Perkins category the TT team of Louis de Meillac and Ray Roberts (71) are tied with Bahamas, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. And in the Ramon Baez Trophy, Arjoon Samlal (79) and Barry Ferdinand (86) are lodged in fifth spot behind leaders Puerto Rico (71), US Virgin islands (75), Dominican Republic (76) and Jamaica (77). Second round gets underway from 7 am today.

Hoerman Cup: 1 TT 212 (C Hamel Smth 67, C Baynes 67, S Costelloe 74, Dion Gonalves 75); 2 P Rico 216 (R Slavonia 70, M Alverio 73, E Morales 73, R Rivera 75); 3 Jamaica 217 (J Garbutt 70, O Samuda 73, P Thompson 74, M Scott 76); 4 Barbados 218 (J Johnson 71, S Stollmeyer 73, D Boardley 74, C Leacock 75); 5 Bahamas 223 (K Turnquest 72, S Bain73, J Sweeting 78, P McIntosh 80); 5. USVI 223 (J Streibich 72, M Graci 74, R Berkeley 77, R Behling 87); 7 D Republic 224 (O Guerrero 73, J Fernandez 75, J Campusano 76, M Midence 78); 8 OECS 228 (T Levine 73, E Edwin 77, I Hixon 78, C Alcide 82); 9 Cayman Is 232 (O Burton 74, A Geraghty 79, M Wight 79, T Moore 85); 10 Turks and Caicos 249 (JP Srinark 78, R Lavard 82, S Paradis 89, J Donatien 98).

Higgs and Higgs: 1 TT 70 (A Ali, E Grell); 2 P Rico 71 (Luis Gonzales, O Melendez); 3 Caymans 72 (M Cantin, D Stewart); 4 Bahamas 73 (H Poitier, P George,); 5 Barbados 76 ( G Griffith, P Lashley); 6 Jamaica 76  ( H McDonald, C Taylor); 7 OECS 79 (I Hinkson, B Paul); 8 Turks and Caicos 76 (B Gaynor, K Liroff); 9 USVI 78 (J Hymes, C Williams).

Francis Steele-Perkins : 1 Bahamas 71 (B Rose, V Wells); Jamaica 71 (H Dayes, D Atkinson); P Rico 71 (J Benner, I Ortiz); TT 71 (L de Meillac, R Roberts); 5 D Reopublic 72 (A Dilone, H Then); 6 Barbados 73 (R Skeete, R Piggott); 7 Caymans 74 (R Chilman, T Crawford); 8 Turks and Caicos 74 (G Hurd, J Sims); 9 USVI 75 (O Hendrickson, A Overby); 10. OECS 80 (A Blanchard, J Wright).

George Teale Trophy: 1 Bahamas 72 (J Duncombe 72, G Pyfrom 92); 2 Caymans 73 (S Widner 73, N Chin Coe 84); 3 Barbados 76 (M Johnson 76, J Hole 81); 4 TT 79 (D Torry 79, M Torry 79); 5 P Rico 80 (K Calvesbert 80, L Diaz 85); 6 Jamaica 82 (M Lynn 82, T Terrier 84); 7 USVI 88 (C Colburn 88, A Bourne-Vanneck 91); 7. Turks and Caicos 88 (T Glugosh 88, C Pretorius 82).

Ramon Baez Trophy: 1 P Rico 71 (F Thomas 71, M Santin 75); 2 USVI 75 (C Stancliffe 75, E Gittens 85); 3 D Republic 76 (F Santoni 76, F Valverde—- NS); 4 Jamaica 77 (M Gfleichman 77, F Sutherland 92); 5 TT 79 (A Samlal 79, B Ferdinand 86); 6 Bahamas 80 (M Toporoski 80, A Gibson 81); 7 Barbados 81 (D Blackman 81, M Haynes 82); 8 OECS 82 (C Louis 82, T Verdant 85); 9 Caymans 83 (R Woods 83, G Christie 85).

GEORGETOWN: Barbados recorded another big win in the TCL Group West Indies Challenge Cup limited overs cricket competition, by overpowering minnows Canada by 108 runs at Enmore yesterday.

Winning the toss and batting first, Barbados were bowled out for a modest 158, as off-spinner Francis Keshvani took five wickets for 19 runs. Kirk Edwards top scored with 48 as he struck three fours in facing 99 balls, with Kevin Stoute contributing 36 and captain Martin Nurse 26. In their turn at the crease, off-spinner Renaldo Parris and medium fast bowler Andre Gill shared six wickets to limit the Canadians to 80 off 41.4 overs. Parris took three for three off 5.4 overs, and Gill three for 16 from six overs to wreck the Canadians’ innings. None of the Canadian batsmen could get into the twenties as they easily capitulated to the Barbadians. In another match Guyana’s captain Assad Fudadin stroked an unbeaten half century and led his side to a comfortable seven-wicket triumph over the Leeward Islands at Everest. The Leewards, electing to bat, struggled to 139 all out off 46 overs, and Guyana coasted to 140 for three off 36 overs in reply for their second win from two matches. Fudadin was not out on 75 at the end, and Guyana will meet Barbados today in a top-of-the-table clash to decide Group “A” honours.

GEORGETOWN: Trinidad and Tobago defeated Jamaica by five wickets to record their second victory in the TCL Group West Indies Under-19 limited overs trophy yesterday.

After being sent to bat Jamaica were all out for 210 off 47.5 overs to which Trinidad and Tobago replied with 211 for five off 47.1 overs. It was a fourth wicket stand of 84 between Denesh Ramdin (66 not out) and Petrock Nicholls (62) that provided the Trinidadians with their second win of the tournament. This was preceded by a third-wicket partnership between Nicholls and Lendl Simmons (45) that yielded 61. Ramdin struck four fours and a six in his 50 ball knock, as Nicholls amassed his total from 102 balls that included five fours and a six. Earlier Jamaica, who lost to the Windwards on Tuesday, would have felt relatively comfortable with their total of 210, thanks mainly to a half century from Krishmar Santokie (52), as he smashed four sixes and four fours. He wasn’t well supported as batsmen such as Jamie Trenchfield (37), Xavier Marshall (28) and Donovan Sinclair (21) got starts but failed to build on them.

Speed merchants Lovely Honoree and The Guv’nor are down to clash in the Starter Allowance dash on the turf.

The 1100 metres contest in which ten were pencilled in at yesterday declaration stage will hold the spotlight on the Arima Race Club Day 24 card at Santa Rosa Park on Saturday Both runners will be partnered by Venezuelan jockeys in the event worth $23,000. Lovely Honoree, who has mended his head-strong ways will have Wilmer Galviz aboard, while the Maniram Maharaj-trained The Guv’nor will be partnered by Carlos Marquez, makes a return after going winless with five bookings in June. The card of ten races, comes on the heels of  the 11-race Emancipation Day programme and was well patronised with a total of 92 entries. And though it lacks quality the fields are evenly matched which makes good for betting.

The opener, in which eight West Indian bred juveniles will go to post will share the support to the main event with a 1750 metres staying handicap. The latter, framed for West Indian bred three-year-old winners and their older counterparts is headed at the weights by Isle Be There and has a number of Royal Oak Derby aspirants. Included in the line-up are Due Dilligence, Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com, runners from champion trainer John O’Brien stable. The quartet, along with Undisputed, Sir Vidia, Affirm Decision and Super Grey will be using the event to test their stamina before competing in  next month’s classic to be staged on Republic Day (Septermber, 24). Four turf events are framed on the card, three over 1100 metres and the other over 1600 metres.

Following are the framed races, entries, weights and jockeys for the entire card.
RACE 1: (12.35pm) W I BRED 2 Y.O MAIDENS – PURSE $22,000 – 1000 METRES.
1. SALSA MOVES – 55 – R. MANGALEE, 2. JAVA IN FLIGHT – 54 – R. SINGH, 3. LAURA’S BOY – 52 – F. RAZACK, 4. RETURN TO SENDER – 53 – R. JADOO, 5. DEADSURE – 53 – R. FREEMAN, 6. JAVA TAKEOVER – 53 – N. SAMAROO, 7. SUNDAY JEWEL – 51 – L. MUNOZ, 8. MUSIC MAN – 55 – R. RAGOONATH.

RACE 2: (1.10pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($7,500 – $6,500) – PURSE $17,000 – 1200 METRES.
1. HILLSIDE SYMPHONY – 52.5 – W. GALVIZ, 2. DURABILITY – 48.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 3. ALIBI IKI – 52.5 – S. RODRIGO, 4. SOCA TEMPO – 49.5 – R. JADOO, 5. RONALDO – 47.5 – D. GAFF, 6. I’M NO HUNTER – 48.5 – F. RAZACK, 7. STREETWISE – 43.5 – F. RAZACK, 8. JUSTICE – 50.5 – R. FREEMAN.

RACE 3: (1.45pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER MAIDEN CLAIMING ($14,000 – $11,000) – PURSE $15,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1. SMALL AXE – 52.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 2. BRANDY – 50.5 – R. THOMAS, 3. MARY NAGDALENE – 53.5 – R. MANGALEE, 4. CAT WOMAN – 51.5 – R. RAGOONATH, 5. PRINCIPLE – 52.5 – R. FREEMAN, 6. NEVER EVER WORRIE – 54.5 – W. BHARATH, 7. JENA’S DELIGHT – 53.5 – L. MUNOZ, 8. SHEZABUTE – 53.5 – H. EMAMALIE, 9. EL PRESIDENTE – 53.5 – B. HARDING.

RACE 4: (2.20pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($6,000 – $5,000) – PURSE $14,000 – 1750 METRES.
1 BOLD FAPP – 55.5 – G. LABAN, 2. CASH REWARD – 51.5 – R. JADOO, 3.MYSTILE – 50.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 4. YANKEE EAGLE – 55.5 – N. ABREGO, 5. REGENT BOY – 48.5 – W. BHARATH, 6. MUTOLA – 49.5 – B. HARDING, 7. DAURIAN – 45.5 – L. MUNOZ, 8. IF ONLY – 45.5 – R. FREEMAN, 9. KAY GEE BEE – 51.5 – D. GAFF.
RACE 5: (2.55pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($10,500 – $8,500) – PURSE $18,000 – 1600 METRES (TURF).
1. KENT’S DELIGHT – 49.5 – G. LABAN, 2. ESTILON – 49.5 – R. FREEMAN, 3. COLD RISK – 51.5 – W. GALVIZ, 4. GROOMSMAN – 53.5 – R. MANGALEE, 5. STORMING WIND – 53.5 – R. JADOO, 6. PREFFERED SHARE – 53.5 – H. EMAMALIE, 7. ERIN DANCER – 43.5 – K. BISSOON, 8. GOLDEN BOY – 55.5 – B. HARDING.

RACE 6: (3.30pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS – PURSE $22,0000 – 1750 METRES.
1. MISS BEAUTIFUL – 51.5 – F. RAZACK, 2. MY APHRODITE – 53.5 – H. EMAMALIE, 3. CREME CARAMEL – 54.5 – G. LABAN, 4. RUNNING TRICK – 53.5 – N. SAMAROO, 5. VAN NISTELROOY – 56.5 – N. ABREGO, 6. UNDERINFLUENCE – 53.5 – L. MUNOZ, 7. RUBY SCORES – 45.5 – R. SINGH, 8. FORTSLEZA – 51.5 – S. RODRIGO, 9. DARE TO DREAM – 55.5 – D. GAFF, 10. MISS EMMA – 45.5 – W. GALVIZ.
RACE 7: (4.05pm) HANDICAP – W I BRED 3 Y.O WINNERS AND W I BRED 4 Y.O NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES – PURSE $21,000 – 1750 METRES.
1. UNDISPUTED – 53.5 – H. EMAMALIE, 2. BOUND TO DOT COM – 49.5 – W. GALVIZ, 3. SIR VIDIA – 49.5 – R. JADOO, 4. FRESH MANDATE – 48.5 – G. LABAN, 5. DUE DILLIGENCE – 55 – B. HARDING, 6. FRESH HONEY – 47.5 – F. RAZACK, 7. AFFIRM DECSION – 52.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 8. ISLE BE THERE – 56.5 – N. ABREGO, 9. SUPER GREY – 51.5 – W. BHARATH.

RACE 8: (4.40pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES – PURSE $19,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1. RETURN TO GLORY (T.O) – 51.5 – N. SAMAROO, 2. TRIBAL PLACE – 51.5 – N. ABREGO, 3. FULL OF PROMISES – 52.5 – L. MUNOZ, 4. MIR ON FIRE – 53 – K. BISSOON, 5. FINEST GEM – 45.5 – R. THOMAS, 6. LADY ROSSIE – 53 – W. GALVIZ, 7. BEAUTIFUL MIND – 55.5 – R. JADOO, 8. A FIRM RELIEF – 56.5 – F. RAZACK, 9. HATRICK – 51 – C, MARQUEZ, 10. V FOR VICTORY – 52.5 – B. HARDING, 11. FIRST TIME – 51 – W. BHARATH.

RACE 9: (5.15pm) STARTER ALLOWANCE – W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER WINNERS AND IMPORTED 3 Y.O & OVER – PURSE $23,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
1 X TO BOARD – 47.5 – R. MANGALEE, 2. MANDELA – 51.5 – R. SINGH, 3. THE GUV’NOR – 48.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 4. BAJAN CONNECTION – 47.5 – R. JADOO, 5. JOINT VENTURE – 47.5 – L. MUNOZ, 6. SQUEEZED MOMENT – 42.5 – G. LABAN, 7. CRIMSON TOWER – 48.5 – R. FREEMAN, 8. LOVELY HONOREE – 54.5 – W. GALVIZ, 9. SPLITTING IMAGE – 51.5 – H. EMAMALIE, 10. PILE OF CASH – 48.5 – W. BHARATH.
 
RACE 10: (5.50pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($14,000 – $11,000) – PURSE $19,000 – 1200 METRES.
1. FRUITION – 50.5 – L. MUNOZ, 2. BALTHAZAR – 53.5 – B. HARDING, 3. LOVELY PEARL – 49.5 – R. FREEMAN, 4. OUTBURST – 49.5 – R. RAGOONATH, 5. POLITICS – 53.5 – R. JADOO, 6. HUNDRED PERCENT – 51.5 – S. RODRIGO, 7. WHAT LEFT – 49.5 – W. GALVIZ, 8. FEMALE BANDIT – 50.5 – G. LABAN, 9. BONUS POINT – 52.5 – C. MARQUEZ, 10. MAGEN – 51.5 – W. BHARATH.

FORMER Trinidad and Tobago football team captain David Nakhid is the centre of controversy, yet again, with his Lebanese club Al-Ansar.

The 39-year-old midfielder found himself in hot waters with the team’s administration, as well as the Leb-anese Football Federation after they terminated his two-year deal, after one year. Nakhid, who was then accused of breaking the contract was also ordered to repay the club a penalty of US $100,000. The midfielder was a member of Al-Ansar in the mid-1990s, but was embroiled in a dispute with the club and the Federation in May 1997. He was accused of fraud concerning the transfer of striker Peter Prosper from United Petrotrin and was jailed for three days. Through the intervention of FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and then FIFA head Joao Havelange, the matter was settled out of court after his US$40,000 bail was paid by the FIFA’s Players Status Committee. But Nakhid was ruled the liable party and was ordered to repay the bailout sum. He was also restricted to playing in international matches for Trinidad and Tobago. Nakhid, who was also accused of inciting 26 African footballers in Lebanon to protest their ill-treatment by the Federation, saw his ban lifted on September 12, 1997.

Speaking from Lebanon yesterday, the former St Mary’s College and Joe Public captain, who also plied his trade in the United States, Switzerland, Greece and Sweden gave full details of the saga, which began in 2001 when he rejoined Al-Ansar after a spell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “The Lebanese (Football) Federation was changed after the intervention of their Government, and FIFA and I rejoined the club under its new president Salim Diab, who is also a member of Government and a right-hand man of the Prime Minister Rafique Heriri. Without any legal reason, they (Al-Ansar) paralysed the Federation, who in turn, couldn’t do anything and refused to give a verdict in the matter. I got my lawyer, Jean Haider, who is the Honorary Consul to Lebanon from Trinidad and Tobago to assist but, after three months had passed, we realised that the media was silenced and couldn’t reveal anything about the issue. We had to take it to FIFA,” Nakhid said.

Haider made his client’s case known to Warner who, “because of (his influence) in FIFA, went beyond his duty to get the decision, which was made in our favour, on July 4 in Zurich, Switzerland, at a meeting of the FIFA Dispute/Resolution Chamber.” Nakhid was awarded financial damages, which he did not reveal, and is now a free agent, but stated that the FIFA decision “was big news, since I’m basically the most popular player in Lebanon. The Lebanese people thought my cause was lost due to the stance by the Federation, while it was significant for me that Warner intervened, since no politician would’ve been able to do what Warner did with the matter,” Nakhid affirmed. The outspoken Nakhid is currently residing in the Middle East country with his wife Rima and three-year-old son Ali Kazim while he admits to frequently visiting his other two sons – Dmitri and Jafar, at his other location in Greece. Nakhid, who wore the TT captain’s armband from 1996, retired from international duty on April 1, 1998 but made a comeback during the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA. But, after he led a players’ dispute with the TTFF over the disbursement of players’ bonus fees, he retired for good following the team’s 1-0 loss to Canada in the semifinals.