Former Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Richard Sieuchan with a robust 71 has taken last year’s champions Red Devils to the final of the NSL hard ball cricket series under lights at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre today.
Their opponents in this year’s final will again be Ghandi United who were defeated at the final hurdle last time around. In the “semis” Sieuchan went to the crease with his team’s score at 112 for five in the 15th over and after being dropped on 20, lashed the Brothers United bowling all around the park for 71. His effort and a record partnership of 181 runs for the sixth wicket with Alix Sokhan took Red Devils to 309 for six in their allotted 30 overs. In reply Brothers United made 161 all out with R Dookran getting 36. Sokhan finished an excellent match with bowling figures of three for 11.
Ghandi United made the grade after a close 19-run win over Spoilers despite a fighting 62 from Heralal Lalloo who ended a great season. The Division One final will also be played today at Guaracara from 12.30 pm and will feature Hardbargain Sports against Amateurs. Fans attending both matches will be entertained by “live music” and will also be in line to receive giveaways. Officials of the Nationwide Sports League headed by president and chief executive officer Lincoln Persad will meet the players before the start.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) team had to wait till they were at home in the newly constructed UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre (SPEC) to record their first win in the Eastern Community Basketball League.
Playing against a Valencia Heat team which featured Secondary School’s Basketball East-Zone MVP Fabrice Fisher, UWI’s Mark Adams was in inspirational form scoring a match-high 33 points in the 68-58 victory. Adams also took six steals and was supported by 10 points from Jason Le Cointe who also had 10 rebounds and two blocks. Fisher was Valencia’s leader on the night scoring 17 points and taking 11 rebounds. Valencia player Keegan Garcia also snatched 11 rebounds and had 14 points but the two could not see their team to a win against a determined UWI playing at home.
In the second match Caledonia Clippers’ Wilt Vincent scored 23 points and took down 22 rerbounds to lead Clippers to a 84-75 win over TSTT. Though it may have seemed to be a one-man show Vincent’s match-high score and winning performance were supported by Kerwin la Ref’s essential 14 points. TSTT’s only hope was the pair of Anderson Trouchen and Shawn Ryan who combined to score 33 points but Trouchen’s 17 and Ryan’s 16 did not ensure a win for their squad who remained in the middle of the standing table.
THE REVIVAL Boxing Gym will initiate an innovative programme to revive the sport of boxing in rural areas throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
The project, headed by the Port-of-Spain’s gym assistant manager Allan Ferguson will get going tomorrow from 9.30 am at the Longdenville Community Centre, east of Chaguanas in Central Trinidad. “The purpose of the programme is to teach interested persons all aspects of the sport which will create a broader understanding,” said Ferguson yesterday. He said the aim is also to create a technical competence among the novices which will serve as a sound foundation for their future in the fight game. Ferguson, former national amateur middleweight champion said special emphasis will be placed on discipline and participants will be required to adhere to the strictest standards. Another aspect of the project, said Ferguson will be a course in coaching for persons who are interested in getting involved in this most important area of the sport. Ferguson said that assisting him tomorrow will be top national coach Rufus Edwards and former World Boxing Association (WBA) No 3 contender Alric Johnson. Ferguson said he has every confidence in Edwards as a coach who is capable of imparting his vast experience for the benefit of the participants.
“Edwards has been nominated for several top coaching awards as well as travelling extensively abroad participating in international courses. He has also been an understudy to well known Cuban coach Vicente Martinez,” said Ferguson yesterday. Martinez is a top Cuban coach who has been in Trinidad and Tobago for several years conducting coaching sessions and has been associated with the successful Trinidad and Tobago team at the Caribbean Championships. Ferguson said he hopes to take the effort to the districts of Mayaro, Moruga and Sangre Grande among others in the coming weeks and he expects an enthusiastic response from prospective participants. “The talent in these areas need the opportunity to get assistance and guidance from knowledgeable and experienced persons who have the sport at heart,” said Ferguson. He said males and females from eight-years-old to 22 will be accepted to participate in the day’s programme which is scheduled to end at 12.30 pm. All gear and equipment will be provided by Revival Boxing Gym. Ferguson said people need to know the basic difference between amateur and professional boxing so a lot of their fear and misunderstanding will be dispelled. “In amateur boxing there is a lot of protection afforded and we will be stressing safety in all our sessions,” said Ferguson.
THE old and the new will display their skills on the snooker table this month when an Islandwide Snooker Tournament sponsored by Mr Billiards Ltd and Pepsi Cola Ltd comes off at The Triangle, 23 Aranguez Main Road, San Juan.
Hottest shot around now is Daniel Himraj, 23, who recently won the “Most Promising Player” at a North-South encounter at the Triangle. He is likely to come up against either veteran Carl “German” Christopher, Herman “Mean Machine” Araujo, Mervyn Aqui, Narine Gosine, Johnson “Chinese Chopper” Young Sing and south big gun Alvin Daniel. More than $16,000 is at stake: 1st $7,000; 2nd $3,500; 3rd and 4th $1,500 each; highest break $1,000. Entries close June 10 and the tournament starts on June 24. More information can be had from Shyam “Mr Billiards” Gosine by calling 638-9470, 638-3531, 674-7708 and 780-3997.
TRAINER John O’Brien has found a good opportunity at Santa Rosa Park today for Millenium Reign to get off the mark this season.
Due to a lack of success over the last seven months Millenium Reign escaped being higher up in the weights for today’s Allowance feature on the Arima Race Club Day 17 programme, and the son of Freshly Squeezed should seize the opportunity to regain winning ways. The 1750 metres spotlight event was probably on the agenda and it could prove to be the ideal race to boost his confidence. And with champion trainer O’Brien’s team beginning to show signs of firing after a lean spell, can open his winning account for the 2003 campaign in the seven-horse contest worth $23,000.
Man Of Class continues to perform consistently in pattern company and must be considered the most serious rival to Millenium Reign in the staying contest. All his races this season have been over sprints. The last of those, just a couple of weeks ago saw the Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj-trained five-year-old finish a good second to Sugar Mike. Even allowing for the fact that Man Of Class has been running consistently all season, going over an extended trip, which he has not done often and having to give eight kilos to the 2002 Royal Oak Derby winner looks a tall order. Morgan Heritage performs well on the main course and over a distance of ground and is taken to complete the trifecta.
The improving Bound To Dot Com can give O’Brien a double by landing the West Indian-bred three-year-old maiden race, the supporting event on today’s 10-race programme. The gelded son of Freshly Squeezed/Rockette did not race as a juvenile and was given a gentle introduction in March this year, followed swiftly by two more learning experiences in April. This chestnut was then given a five-week rest then sent a signal that his forte is staying, with a powerful run from the back of a 12-strong field last week to snatch the runner-up spot behind Millenium Dancer. He will know a lot more about the game for that run, and given more acreage to gallop on, looks ready to turn in his maiden certificate.
Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team Omar Khan is confident that national captain Daren Ganga will perform well against Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test series.
Khan, the Corporate Communi-cations Manager at PowerGen said yesterday Ganga needs to re-focus on his game and success will flow. Ganga started off the Cable and Wireless Test series against Australia with a bang scoring two centuries in the first two Test matches. After this he fell off and did not make any significant scores in the last two Tests. The West Indies selectors did not use him for the seven-match one day series but they have called him up to lead the President’s XI against the visiting Sri Lankans in the last warm-up match before the Test series gets underway. Khan managed Ganga earlier this season in the Carib Beer series. ”Ganga will do well against the Sri Lankans. He is one of the most technically correct batsmen in the Caribbean and he will do well against their attack. What he has to realise is that the game is played mostly in the head and he has to be at least 90 percent mentally ready for the battle at hand. “I have been noticing him since the Carib Beer regional series and every time he goes out there to bat he looks an improvement. I am sure he has been working on his game all the while and come Test time he would do much better,” Khan said.
Khan rated the West Indies chances against the third ranked Test team as very good. “Once the guys play consistent cricket they will defeat the Sri Lankans. They need to believe in themselves because they have the ability to play the game well. They must take an example from opener Wavell Hinds who showed that once you apply yourself you can be successful,” he said. Hinds scored two successive hundreds in the one day series to cop the “Player of the Series” award. Skipper Brian Lara also came in for high praise from Khan. ”I think that Brian Lara has added a lot to his captaincy and has shown these guys how to gain success. He has motivated them and you can see a different West Indies team under his captaincy. He has taught the individuals in the team their roles and this will only bring good things to West Indies cricket,” Khan said.
Two high profile officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) will arrive in the country on Monday, to provide up to date training for officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS).
During their stay in this country the FBI officers will review the kidnapping of six-year-old Mark Prescott, and provide new ways and means on how this kidnapping could be dealt with. Yesterday marked 24 days since Prescott was kidnapped. The two FBI officers have been involved in making major breakthroughs in a number of kidnappings in the United States and North American countries. On their arrival on Monday, they will be taken to the office of the Port-of-Spain CID, where they will provide one week of intensive training for all officers of the AKS. This training was made possible through the Mutual Assistance Agreement which was signed under the UNC administration. The agreement makes it possible for the sharing of information between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, and the assistance in training programmes as well as other benefits.
The training course will be opened by Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee and United States Ambassador Dr Roy Austin. Yesterday, Minister Chin Lee confirmed the arrival of the FBI officers to provide training at the one week programme. He added that some of the US $941,800 which was recently provided by the US Government to assist in the fight against drug trafficking, will go to assist the AKS in updating its equipment and mobility, as members fight the scourge of kidnapping. Minister Chin Lee said that the training is needed to prepare officers for further investigation into kidnappings.
So far, 17 persons have been kidnapped this year with six-year-old Mark Prescott the only one who has not yet been found. Sources revealed yesterday that the officers of the AKS whose head is Snr Supt Gilbert Reyes will receive new information on various aspects of dealing with kidnappings, disseminating whole gang organisations through the use of sophisticated investigative techniques, seeking out information, the use of highly sophisticated equipment to monitor calls from kidnappers, surveillance, dealing with sensitive information and plea bargaining with kidnappers. Recently, two officers of AKS received training in the United States on anti-kidnapping measures.
IN PASSING the death sentence on two Rio Claro men, Justice Herbert Volney said he hoped the executioners ensured they were hanged because of the “sheer cruelty” with which their victim met his death.
Justice Volney made the remark as he read the death sentence to Kamal Pooran and Ramzan Asgarali after a 12-member jury found them guilty of the murder of Rio Claro taxi-driver Surujbally “Billy” Mohan. He said: “Before I impose the mandatory death sentence upon you, I want to express my hope that those who are responsible to carry out the execution of the court, will take steps to ensure that having regard to the facts exposed in this trial, of the sheer cruelty of the death, that the death sentence is in fact carried out on both of you”. As the verdict was read around 4.20 pm in the San Fernando First Criminal Assizes, Pooran bowed his head and shut his eyes, while Asgarali stared stonefaced at the judge.
According to Mohan’s sons, their father, known as “Uncle Billy”, used to transport Pooran and Asgarali to school. Three days after Mohan, 62, was reported missing by his family, he was discovered murdered in the Rio Claro forest. His body was found half-naked and hog-tied to a cocoa tree, and a post-mortem concluded that he died due to strangulation. Over the month-long trial, the jury heard evidence from 12 State witnesses, while the accused testified in their own defence. After a near five hour summary of the trial by Justice Volney, the panel deliberated for almost two hours in the jury-room.
Noting it was a hard decision to reach when young people were involved, Justice Volney commended the jury for taking the time in arriving to their decision. The judge sent a message to the mothers of both accused seated in the public gallery. He said: “I know it is hard for mothers of the guilty to be in court listening to evidence and to think they have failed. But they have not failed. It is bad company that has put them there”. Mohan’s three sons, Balraj, 31, Mewalal, 40, and Rajkumar, 44, who had attended the trial became emotional upon hearing the verdict. Balraj said: “Society got its debt, not the Mohan’s family because we still don’t have our dad”. Rajkumar added: “We got justice because he was a good human being and what they did was a dastardly and despicable act”. The three men thanked the investigating police officers and the witnesses who assisted in the case.
The 23-year-old woman who was detained in connection with the stabbing death of 14-year-old Tranquillity Secondary School student George Junior Langford, was released from police custody yesterday.
Newsday learned that Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson ordered the release of the woman who was detained since Tuesday. Investigators were instructed by the DPP to carry out further investigations into the stabbing death and then return to him for further directions in the matter. Police sources said yesterday that three women who were initially interviewed by the police and gave statements, failed to show up at the Port-of-Spain CID on Thursday, to have what is termed as a “verification”. Investigators yesterday sought advice from the DPP who gave instructions to have the suspect released.
Around midday yesterday, the woman walked out of the Port-of-Spain CID a free woman. When she was arrested on Tuesday by Cpl Stephen Grant of the Woodbrook Police Station, the woman denied having any knowledge about the murder. Langford of Nizam Avenue, El Socorro, told relatives that he was going to cricket practice at the Queens Park Oval last Wednesday. He reportedly had an argument with a woman at the corner of Roberts and Alfredo Streets, Woodbrook, around 10 pm last Wednesday. Langford reportedly slapped a woman who pulled out an ice-pick and stabbed Langford once on the left side of the heart. He died shortly after. Langford will be buried today following a funeral service at Simpson’s Funeral Chapel.
TWO suspects have been held in connection with the shooting of Policeman Derrick Nelson, who is the personal bodyguard of San Fernando High Court judge, Justice Herbert Volney.
Up to late yesterday, police were questioning the men as investigations continued into the brutal attack of PC Nelson who is attached to the Police Special Branch. Investigators from Couva CID, led by Sgt Peter Burke detained the two suspects, whose ages are 22 and 23, and who are both from Freeport. Police made the arrests on Thursday night in Freeport, after receiving certain information. Meanwhile, Nelson remains warded in stable condition, under police guard at San Fernando General Hospital. Hospital officials told Newsday yesterday that the policeman’s condition is slowly improving.
Nelson was forced off the road while driving along Milton Road, Couva, last Saturday night by three men in a car who also fired at him. Nelson was dragged out of the car, robbed of his service pistol, ammunition, cash and jewelry. He was then shot five times about his body. An injured and bleeding Nelson, in fear for his life, jumped over a 20-foot bridge, landing into the Couva River. He was assisted by villagers, who rushed him to the hospital. Sgt Burke is continuing investigations.
