English-speaking Caribbean boxers failed last week in their final bid to qualify for the 2003 Pan Am Games this August, leaving Trinidad and Tobago’s heavyweight Kerston Manswell as the only Caricom representative for boxing to the games.
Manswell, who won silver at both the Commonwealth and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games last year, earned his qualification in Mexico in March, where other Caribbean boxers fell short. And at the last chance box-offs in Colombia for the August 1-17 Pan Am Games in the Dominican Republic, Caricom boxers were again unable to secure top-two spots and qualification in their divisions. “I’m proud to be the one carrying the Caribbean hopes at the Pan Am Games, but I must say I am also a little sad that I am the only one that made it,” Manswell told CMC Sport yesterday. Barbadian CAC Games gold medallist Shawn Terry Cox, and boxers from Grenada and the US Virgin Islands were among those vying for spots in Colombia.
Grenada’s middleweight Martin Bascombe, light-welterweight Kennis Joseph, and heavyweight Andy Grant were all eliminated at the semi-final stage. Manswell rates his gold medal chances in the Dominican Republic very highly. His Commonwealth Games and CAC outings last year, in England and El Salvador respectively, are his only major international competitions to date, and he believes his experience from those games has prepared him well for Pan Am. “I definitely know now how to fight and I feel that I can beat anyone,” Manswell said. Manswell won the super-heavyweight title at the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association Championship in the Bahamas last month, moving up in weight class, after capturing the heavyweight crown in Martinique in 2002.
ST. JOHN’S: In form Trinidad and Tobago batsman Daren Ganga has been dropped from the West Indies squad for the upcoming seven One-Day Internationals against the Australian cricketers.
Ganga, the TT captain, has hit two centuries so far in the current four-Test Cable and Wireless series, but there is no room for him on the regional side for the shortened version of the game. Instead, off-spinning all-rounder Ryan Hurley gained his first international call-up when he was named yesterday to the West Indies squad. Joining him on the 15-member squad will be Devon Smith, David Bernard, Omari Banks and Ricardo Powell. Smith, Bernard and Banks made international debuts during the current Test series against Australia and are being given their first chance at the one-day level.
The series begins in Jamaica on May 17. Hurley enjoyed a prolific 2003 Carib Beer Series for the champion Barbados team. The 27-year-old scored 337 runs and 18 wickets in nine matches. Opening batsman Smith, all-rounder Bernard and fast bowler Best are all 21. Banks, the first player from the small Leeward island of Anguilla to represent the West Indies, is just 20. Captain and star batsman Brian Lara has said his players, the youngest ever fielded by the West Indies with an average age just under 25, have been batting well but need to improve their bowling. Hurley’s Barbadian teammate Corey Collymore, the one-day specialist, was chosen among five fast bowlers. The 25-year-old Collymore joins Test pacers Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Jermaine Lawson and Best. Experienced 35-year-old wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs was picked ahead of 20-year-old Carlton Baugh, who replaced the injured Jacobs during the Test series. Opening batsman Chris Gayle, who missed the first two Tests, also was selected.
West Indies Squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Omari Banks, Tino Best, David Bernard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith. Manager: Ricky Skerritt.
Coach: Gus Logie.
MADRID: Real Madrid’s star striker Ronaldo has been given only a 10 percent chance of recovering from a calf injury in time for next week’s Champions League football semifinal second leg against Juventus.
The Brazilian strained a muscle in his left calf during Madrid’s 2-1 victory over the Italian team in Tuesday’s first leg at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and was replaced in the 50th minute. Ronaldo is definitely ruled out of Saturday’s league match at Recreativo de Huelva and the club’s chief medical officer Alfonso del Corral said he had only a slight chance of playing against Juventus. Madrid are a point clear at the top of the Spanish League standings with six rounds remaining. “There is a 90 percent chance that he will not be able to play this match, but we will work with the remaining 10 percent with the objective of getting him fit in time,” del Corral told the club’s Web site, www.realmadrid.com
Ronaldo’s injury has coincided with the return to training of his striking partner, Spanish international Raul Gonzalez. Raul has been sidelined for two weeks after undergoing an emergency appendix operation but is expected to play in the match at Juventus’ Delle Alpi stadium on May 14. Ronaldo scored Madrid’s first goal against Juventus. That followed a three-goal hat-trick in his previous Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford two weeks ago.
Tobago once again have dominated the 2003 National Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.
This through a strong showing by their athletes at the recent competition. South East Zone were named the March Past winners. The prize distribution function was held yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo and in attendance was Education Minister Hazel Manning. She thanked Guardian General Limited for their two-year sponsorship of the competition and urged the participating students to emulate successful products of the programme such as Mark Burns and Darryl Brown. Mrs Manning congratulated those who were up for awards and to those who fell short, she asked them to gain knowledge from the experience. Senator Manning also wished the organising committee continued success in the future. This year all zones received cash incentives and all champion schools collected trophies and cash.
Honour Roll
Champion Athletes—Girls
Under-14—Cadajah Spencer, San Fernando SDA (Victoria).
Under-15—Shermin Lasaldo, Excel Composite (St George Central)
Under-17—Pilar Mc Shine, Success/Laventille Secondary (St George Central).
Under-20—Cuique Melville, Signal Hill Senior Secondary (Tobago).
Champion Athletes—Boys:
Under-14—Jevon Matthews, St Benedict’s College (Victoria).
Under-15—Kieron Anthony, Fatima College (St George West).
Under-17—Peter Carter, Queen’s Royal College (St George West).
Under-20—Mikel Courtney, Toco Composite (North East).
Victrix Ludorum— Cuique Melville, Signal Hill Senior (Tobago).
Victor Ludorum—Jevon Matthews, St Benedict’s College (Victoria)
Champion Schools:
Boys— Fatima College.
Girls—-Bishop Anstey.
Juniors Girls— Scarborough Secondary.
Junior Boys— Scarborough Secondary.
Senior Girls—Bishop Anstey.
Senior Boys—Toco Composite.
Co-ed School—Scarborough Secondary.
CHAMPIONS Defence Force routed Chips 48-25 as action in the Pearl Francis Premier Division of the Port-of-Spain Netball League continued at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo. The Army-Coast Guard girls were never challenged in Saturday’s match, and they led 13-3; 24-11; 36-18 at the three quarter stages.
Goal shoot Anastacia Wilson scored 28 goals from 35 attempts and goal-attack Stacey Sparks had 20 of 32 for Defence Force, while Denise Rose got 18 and Sharon O’Brien seven for Chips. Police, runners-up last season, kept pace when they dumped Arima United 42-26 in the same division. Goal-shoot Patrice Goring 18, Beverly Hernandez, 14, Elise Charles, 8, and Beverly Rodgers two got the goals for the policewomen, while Ann Marie Evans had 11, Merlicia Lovell, 15. The other match between Murucapo Ex-Pupils and San Juan Jabloteh was postponed.
Other results: Angela “Pinky” Drayton-Thomas “A1” Division – CIL SPARKLES (45) Saerah Hutchinson, 26, Janelle Hutchinson, 19, vs NETACES (39) Cheryl Ann Warren, 26, Karen Sandiford, 13; SOUL CITY (37) Debra Beckles 22, Michelle Boyce, 15, vs ZENITH (27) Michelle Slater 14, Melissa Adams 13; NFM UPPERS (53) Debra Martin 33, Olivia Le Platte 20 vs ARIMA BALL MASTERS (42) Iana Hamlet, 27, Alana Flemming, 15.
PROVIDENCE Girls High School, led by star striker Ashley Alonzo, captured the Girls Open football title at the recent Trinidad and Tobago Cup 2003 World Youth Club Championship.
They beat St. George’s College 3-2 in the final of the five-team girls category at UWI ground, St Augustine. W Connection were crowned champions in both the Boys Under-15 and Under-17 age groups.In the younger age group, Connection edged 1st Santa Rosa FC 3-2, then beat South Starworld Strikers 4-2 on penalties. Under-15 group winners at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella were Point Fortin Civic Centre; and at Larry Gomes Stadium, 1st Santa Rosa FC. The Under-17 group winners were Manny Ramjohn Stadium — Forest/Fyzanad; Ato Boldon Stadium —W. Connection; Larry Gomes Stadium — East/West Coaching School; Hasely Crawford Stadium — Blackbox. Maneza Bartholomew of Point Fortin Civic Centre scored most goals among the Under-15s, while in the Under-17 age-group the leading scorer was Dominic Hutchinson of East/West Coaching School. Akim Parris (Point Fortin Civic Centre) was named top Under-15 defender, while Jerron Johnson (W Connection) was best among the Under-17s.
Other outstanding players:
Under-15s —Kendal Penny (Gasparillo Yths), Akim Parris (Point Fortin Civic Centre), Gary Bart (1ast Santa Rosa FC, Jean Luc Roshford (1st Santa Rosa FC, Kevon George (1st Santa Rosa FC, LJ Mitchell (Trincity Nationals), Devon Bass (SWIF), Kendall Carrington (Creek United), Jerome Barker (Forest/Fyzabad).
Girls —- Ashley Alonzo (Providence).
Under-17s — Adisa Connell (Starworld Strikers), Ronato Ramlochan (Starworld), Emilio Smith (Cap Off Yths), Jean Pierre Simpson (Trinpro), Jerron Johnson (W Connection), Adisa Alexander (Forest/Fyzabad), Josimar John (East/West Coaching School).
ST. JOSEPH’S CONVENT Port-of-Spain completed a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Belmont Junior Secondary in the NLCB Francis Rivas Schoolgirls Windball Cricket League.
The Belmont girls reached 99 for nine wickets after their 15 overs in the Royal Bank Trophy series, with D Waithe hitting a topscore of 24 and N Joseph 14 not out. D Barron took three for 12 and K Sylvester, two for five. Replying, the convent girls reached 102 for three wickets, with L Pierre scoring an unbeaten 40, A Emmanuel 26 and A Ferret 13.
TRINIDAD and Tobago cricket team manager Omar Khan has noted that there is no better way to help to develop the youngsters than by providing avenues for character building, such as cricket.
Khan, who also serves as Corporate Communications Mana-ger of PowerGen, was speaking at yesterday’s media briefing to launch the Secondary Schools Cricket League Intercol final today. The function was held at the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) office, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain. Presentation College Chaguanas, who shared the title with Princes Town Senior after last year’s decider was rained out, will face the improving Tranquillity Secondary in tomorrow’s 30-over-per-side final at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre from 5.30 pm. St Jude’s Home for Girls will meet the winner of yesterday’s semi-final between Barrackpore Secondary and El Dorado Senior in the girls final from 1 pm.
Pres, who were the overall champs in 1998 and 2000 and runners-up in 1999 and 2001, defeated Barrackpore by 44 runs in one semi-final while Tranquil, the first team outside the South/Central region to gain a final berth, whipped Union Claxton Bay by 56 runs in the other. PowerGen is sponsoring the league for the sixth successive year. “We have brought a new dimension to the Secondary Schools Intercol competition with the final being staged under lights for the fourth consecutive year,” said Khan yesterday. And players will trade the traditional white clothing and red ball for coloured gear, white ball and black sightscreens. “PowerGen is proud to be associated with the SSCL and our sponsorship of the league is in keeping with the company’s major philantrophic focus of youth development through sport and education,” Khan continued.
Among the players who have used the league as a springboard to their senior careers are national captain and West Indies batsman Daren Ganga, Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Aneil Kanhai, Amit Jaggernauth, Gregory Mahabir, Denzil James and Dinesh Ramdin. Both teams will have added incentives on the day, with Pres captain, wicketkeeper-batsman Ramdin announcing that his team will dedicate their performance to outgoing manager-coach Lalman Kowlessar. Tranquil skipper, off-spinner Kapil Subran revealed that his team will play in memory of the late national Under-20 football captain Marvin Lee.
SPONSORS Shell have given Dr Rudi Webster a resounding vote of approval to administrate the Cricket Academy of St George’s Uni-versity in Grenada.
The vote of confidence was expressed on Tuesday at a media conference at Kapok Hotel in Port-of-Spain to announce the names of the latest inductees for the May 16 to August 7 programme. Last year Australian coaches Ashleigh “Toot” Byron and Tim Coyle blasted Dr Webster and the execution of the programme and suggested the discontinuation of the Academy. However when asked about the issue on Wednesday, Andrew Hart, Shell’s country represent-ative said the matter has been resolved. “We don’t believe in looking back. It serves no useful purpose. But all the issues surrounding the matter has been addressed to the satisfaction of Shell,” the Trinidad and Tobago-born Barbadian national said.
Shell’s long term goal was further embellished by Nick Shorthose, the Devon, England native who is the Regional Country Chairman of the English-Dutch oil giant. “Our commitment to the Shell Cricket Academy is initially for five years which we review annually. But we are in this programme for the long haul,” said Shorthouse on Tuesday. Dr Webster, a former professional cricketer who specialises in sports psychology, has dismissed the criticism of him being “unqualified and unaccredited” to administrate the programme. He has suggested their outburst was reaction to differences they had in how the programme should be executed.
The Barbadian, who recently had successful heart surgery in Trinidad described Toot Byron as “an unwilling team player, who lacked interpersonal skills to be properly effective and was confrontational at all times.” “I was ashamed of his behaviour,” Dr Webster has said. The 2003 Academy is expected to open next weekend with former West Indies coach and player Roger Harper, ex-Test fast bowler Kenneth Benjamin and experienced Barbadian coach Darnley Boxhill contracted for the three-month course. Dr Webster shot to prominence during the 1970s and 1980s as manager of the Caribbean Test cricket team under Clive Lloyd when they dominated the international game. At that time Dr Webster said on Tuesday, the regional players were a highly motivated lot. “They believed they were the best in the world and nobody could beat them. Mentally they were superior to the present Test team, hence their superior record,” said Dr Webster.
The best-selling author, who was employed by the West Indies Cricket Board as a “performance enhancer” during the last Australian tour of the Caribbean, said, the men from Down Under had copied many of the ideas that took Lloyd’s team to the top. On Tuesday he expressed confidence that the Shell Cricket Academy will continue to bear fruit in the future as it can compare favourably and ever better than similar institutions in the world. He said he had travelled extensively to universities in the US, examining their sports programmes and culled the best ideas in drafting a plan for the academy. “I think we’ve done pretty well at the Shell Cricket Academy,” Dr Webster said. “In the last two years, three students have really come out of the blue and have made it to Test cricket. “I’m talking about Ryan Hinds, Dave Bernard and Carlton Baugh,” he said. Two other Academy graduates, Kerry Jeremy and Sylvester Joseph, have represented the West Indies in One-Day International cricket.
Kareem Jumadeen, the son of former West Indies spinner Raphick Jumadeen, will be at the helm of Colonel Saunders South when they oppose Snack Pack South East in the opening match of the KFC Under-13 cricket series.
South, the defending champions under the guidance of Baldath Bodoe, have won the title for the past two years. Today they begin their quest at 10 am at the Syne Village Recreation Ground in Penal.
SOUTH TEAM: Kareem Jumadeen (capt), Varoon Samaroo, Marlon Briceno, Adesh Deonarine, Vicky Oudit, Jamal Mohammed, Lester Clarkson, Vavish Ramlakhan, Dinesh Ramdharry, Terrence Ramsaroop, Nilesh Patel, Shivam Narine, Strassark Sankar, Dirk Ramdial, Akeem Mohammed and Adeasa Payne. Coach Baldath Mahabir, manager Reynold Siewdass.
