N Touch

Starworld on top with 2-0 victory

CL FINANCIAL San Juan Jabloteh began their defence of the T&T Pro League crown with a 1-1 draw yesterday against “Eastern Lions” Joe Public at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

But South Starworld Strikers are the early leaders after yesterday’s opening round matches with a 2-0 triumph over North East Stars at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. W Connection needed a goal from St Lucian striker Earl Jean to edge Defence Force 1-0 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, while “the Stallions” Caledonia AIA played to a goalless draw against Arima Fire at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima. At Macoya, Jabloteh went ahead in the 59th minute when recalled goalkeeper Michael McComie failed to collect a long centre from right-back Ansil Elcock with a lurking Cornell Glen finding fellow national striker Devon Mitchell inside the six-yard box to slam home into the empty net.

Glen had failed to give Jabloteh the lead in the 43rd when, unmarked in the penalty box from a Josh Johnson centre, sent his header inches overbar. Joe Public had a golden opportunity to level the scores in the 75th when new recruit Garvin McKenna chipped his right side cross onto the path of Densil Theobald whose header was cleared on the line by Elcock. The hosts got a well-deserved equaliser however, in the 84th minute, when Theobald fed Nigel “Croc” Pierre a through ball on the right and Pierre, after evading the challenge of Ronald Primus, delicately placed his right-footer beyond the reach of Jabloteh, keeper Kelvin Jack.

The match was punctuated by a series of rough tackles and cautions by referee Neil Brizan, with ex-TT captain and Jabloteh midfielder Travis Mulraine (54th) and Joe Public’s stopper Devin Jordan (88th) each receiving marching orders for two bookable offences. The game between newcomers Tobago United and South West Institute of Football (SWIF) was called off after 30 minutes of play last night when a poweroutage at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, with the Tobagonians leading 1-0.

Bharrat, Budd shine in CariFin Cross Country

Joel Bharrat of FCB and Nicole Budd of Eastern Credit Union overcame the competition, the tough terrain and warm weather at the final CariFin Cross Country event held at the Sevilla Golf Course, Couva.

This year Bharrat was a man on a mission and after taking command early in the first lap, it was all a matter as to when he would hit the finish line tape after the next two. For several years he has been knocking on the CariFin door finishing third last year, when a stumble on the course, affected his surge to the finish line. Bharrat completed the course with the overwhelming support of the FCB posse and great applause from the supporters in a time of 25.32. Two other FCB runners, Jason Pilgrim and Darrin Grenade, followed him home in 25.41 and 27.24 respectively. Nicole Budd, the 1998 winner of CariFin then running for Agricultural Development Bank, on her return this year made her intention known from the start this time for Eastern Credit Union. 

The women’s cross country race started at 4.05 pm when the temperature was a bit warm, but Budd took the lead and there was no holding her back. She blew away the competition finishing the two-lap event in 25.16. Next were Angela Parris of CLICO in 25.38; followed by Karen Crosby of Eastern Credit Union in 25.38. With participation from all the top financial institutions it was a day of fun and excitement which comprised novelty events for kids and adults, windball cricket and small goal football together with walking race, a fun run for the kids; and women and men’s cross-country races.

Top 10 Men (3 Lap)
1 Joel Bharrat (FCB) 25.32; 2 Jason Pilgrim (FCB) 25.41; 3 Darrin Grenade (FCB) 25.41; 4 Mark Thomas (Republic Bank) 29.42; 5 Aston Fournillar (UTC) 30.19; 6 Michael Luces (Central Bank) 31.04; 7 Kirt Jaimungal (FCB) 31.10; 8 Miguel Mohammed (RBTT) 31.21; 9 Carlyle Phyars (Maritime) 31.48; 10 Curtis Joseph Central Bank 32.47.
Top 10 Women (2 Lap)
1. Nicole Budd (Eastern Credit Union) 25.16; 2 Angela Parris (CLICO) 25.38; 3. Karen Crosby (Eastern Credit Union) 25.58; 4. Davi Lallasingh (Republic Bank) 26.06; 5. Uchenna Ogbue (RBTT) 27.28; 6 Lorna Martin (Scotia Bank) 28.08; 7. Teheli Sealey (FCB) 29.10; 8. Jacqui Lee Kamtam (Republic Bank) 29.25; 9. Jacqueline Provoteaux (Maritime) 29.45; 10. Mauriceo Richardson (Republic) 29.54
One-Lap Fun Run
1. Bernard Raeburn (Republic) 16.06; 2. Glen Sharpe (FCB) 16.19 3. Ricky Stewart (FCB) 16.48; (Female) 1. Rhonda J Walters (Republic) 18.19; 2.  Andrea Kanneh (CLICO) 19.20; 3. Tracey-Ann Dash (Scotia) 19.26
One-Lap Walking Race
1. Mark Thomas (Republic); 2. Michael Vargus (FCB); 3. Michael Luces (Central Bank); (Female) 1. Shanawaz Munezar (CLICO); 2. Lorna Martin (Scotia); 3. Sharon Allen (RBTT).
One-Lap Kids
1. Sandino Nero; 2. Akini Pierre; 3. Hansen Baboolal; (Girls) 1. Tonya Nero; 2. Amanda James; 3 Nadine Joseph.

Fun Lovers have good time in Andy’s cricket

Fun Lovers and Conquerors continued their run of dominance in the Andy’s Drinks sponsored Sunday School Open Limited Overs Windball Cricket League with convincing victories over St Francois Youths and Credo Scorpions respectively.

In the first match at the St Paul’s Street Ground, Port-of-Spain, Conquerors batted first and set a heady 156 all out with Chris Hughes scoring 80 not out and Roy Baptiste totalling 23. Darren Daniel took two wickets for 22 runs. In their reply Scorpions managed 41 before running out of batsmen. Michael Harris scored 13 runs and Jerod Mc Millan contributed 11 but the Scorpions were kept in check by the Conqueror bowlers. Best figures were recorded by Kevin Greaves’ three wickets for nine runs. The second match saw Fun Lovers with the St Francois Youths bowling attack scoring 178 for three with Eric Wilson recording an unbeaten 106. He got good support from James Joseph, 24 runs. Sheldon George took one for 29. At their turn at the crease St Francois Youths provided more fun for the “Lovers” and fell short by 130 runs and seven wickets reaching a paltry 48 all out. Kwesi George scored 10 and Miguel Harris made six and were the only opposition to the likes Shaky Joseph who took three for three to fully demoralise his opponents. The third match between St Paul’s Street and Woodbrook did not come off. and St Paul’s Street took full points.

United crowned as Gunners lose

LONDON: Manchester United won their eighth Premier League football title in 11 years yesterday after Arsenal were beaten by Leeds 3-2. Mark Viduka scored the winner in the 88th minute.

United, who didn’t play yesterday, have an unassailable eight-point lead over the Gunners with one week remaining in the season. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, in charge of the club since 1986, had previously said that winning the league this season would be his greatest ever achievement. The Red Devils won the first Premier League title in 1993. The only clubs to have taken the title off them are Blackburn (1995) and Arsenal (1998, 2002). Arsenal had been attempting to be the first team to successfully defend the league and FA Cup.     The misfiring Gunners had an eight-point lead over United two months ago with a match in hand, but have since struggled for consistency.

Meanwhile, United closed the gap and overtook Arsenal by winning eight of their nine previous matches. Arsenal needed to beat Leeds, Southampton on Wednesday and Sunderland on the final day of the season on May 11 for a chance at the title. On Saturday, United beat Charlton 4-1 with a hat-trick from Ruud van Nistelrooy. Their final match is against Everton at Goodison Park next Sunday. At Highbury, Harry Kewell gave Leeds the lead with an impressive fifth-minute goal against the run of play. Under pressure from two Arsenal defenders, the Australian collected a through ball on the right and headed it down for a long-range half volley that Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman couldn’t reach.

Seconds earlier, Gilberto had hit the bar with a header from a Robert Pires corner. Kewell nearly scored a second in the 12th minute. He took the ball down the left, but Seaman ran out, prompting Kewell to run around and shoot into the side netting. Thierry Henry equalised in the 30th minute, heading on a rebound after Leeds ‘keeper Paul Robinson parried a long-range Ray Parlour shot. Minutes later, Leeds defender Michael Duberry kicked a Parlour shot off the line. Soon after Sylvain Wiltord had a goal called back for offside. Three minutes into the second half, Ian Harte put Leeds in front with a freekick, which was helped on its way by a deflection off the head of Arsenal defender Ashley Cole. Dennis Bergkamp equalised in the 63rd minute, his first goal at Highbury this season. In a crowded penalty box, Pires crossed to Bergkamp, who volleyed the ball in.

Viduka scored the winner in the 88th minute, which television replays suggested was off-side. Leeds’ win also kept the side away from the relegation zone. They now have 44 points, three more than Bolton and West Ham, the two candidates for the final relegation spot after Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. West Ham’s fight to avoid relegation was boosted with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Upton Park on Saturday. Paolo di Canio came on as a second-half substitute to score the winner. But Bolton played a 0-0 draw with Southampton to keep West Ham in the relegation zone. On the final day of the season, Bolton host Middlesbrough and West Ham go to Birmingham.

Arthur cruises to Hampton gold

CARLAN ARTHUR followed up his gold medal performance in the Boys’ 1,500m at the recent Carifta Track and Field Championships with another victory, this time in the men’s 1,500m, as the 29th annual Hampton International Games began at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday.

Representing Morvant Jets, Arthur overtook Jamil Nelson with 300m to go and never looked back, crossing the finishing line in four minutes 9.89 seconds, with Nelson trailing in 4:10.56 and Lyndon Bacchus of Tobago Falcons 4:12.54. The dreadlocked Pilar McShine of Success Laventille and Memphis’ Candice Ince traded places throughout the women’s 1,500m but McShine used her experience to claim victory in four minutes 47.08 seconds, ahead of Ince 4:49.01 and fellow Memphis runner Paula Jones 5:01.73.

Antiguan Heather Samuel in lane two and Tobagonian Kelly-Ann Baptiste in lane one were neck and neck from the starter’s gun in the women’s 100m final but Samuel pipped Baptiste on the line to win in 11.53, with Baptiste second in 11.54 and Carifta U-20 bronze medallist Wanda Hutson third in 11.73. And Cuban Maritza Marten, who claimed gold in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, was an easy winner in the women’s discus with a best of 47.79m on her sixth and final throw. Marten’s dominated the event to an extent that all her attempts cleared 44 metres. Loktoya McShine, sister of Pilar, took silver in 38.48m with Joycelyn Huggins of Police third in 37.57.


Other Results:
Boys’ U-17 100m —- 1.Kestor Charles (Zenith) 11.04; 2.Adino Greenaway (Antigua) 11.09, Ramon Gittens (Freedom Striders) 11.09.
Girls’ U-17 100m —- 1.Nichelle DeLandro (Phoenix) 12.64; 2.Jamilia Craig (Freedom Striders) 12.66; 3.Semoy Hackette (Zenith) 12.84.
Men’s 100m —- 1.Cedric Richardson (Rebirth) 10.47; 2.Dwight Neptune (Simplex) 10.57; 3.Winston Smith (Jamaica) 10.59.
Boys’ U-17 400m —- 1.Renny Quow (Zenith) 49.44; 2.David Reyes (Tigers) 50.23; 3.Simeon Perryman (Freedom Striders) 51.18.
Girls’ U-17 400m —- 1.Karla Hope (Concorde) 58.03; 2.Desiree John (Eagles) 58.09; 3.Gineille Felix (Memphis) 58.24.
Men’s 800m —- 1.Marvin Watts (Jamaica) 1:53.10; 2.Tai Payne (Guyana) 1:53.47; 3.Kerry Richardson (Tigers) 153.71.
Boys’ U-20 400m —- 1.Leslie Frederick (Frontline) 47.87; 2.Joel Pile (Phoenix) 48.10; 3.Damon Douglas (Zenith) 48.80.
Men’s 400m —- 1.Danny McFarlane (Jamaica) 46.31; 2.Simon Pierre (Memphis) 47.37; 3.Bedawi Gomez (Memphis) 48.25.
Women’s 400m —- 1.Crystal Skeete (Zenith) 54.80; 2.Abigail David (Memphis) 55.88; 3.Dana Massiah (Concorde) 56.38.
Men’s 5,000m —- 1.Brian Magward (Athletic Central) 15:49.77; 2.Denzil Ramirez (unattached) 15:51.82; 3.Cantius Thomas (Health Olympians) 15:51.96.
Men’s 110m hurdles —- 1.Mickey Reuben (Palo Seco) 14.92; 2.Jerome Guy (Tigers) 15.38; 3.Peter Springer (PFCC) 15.83.
Men’s shot put —- 1.Wesley Brown (Barbados) 13.69m; 2.Keefdon Thomas (Dovers) 13.50m; 3.Wade Franklyn (Zenith) 13.09m.
Women’s long jump —- 1.Michelle Vaughn Toms (Guyana) 5.83m; 2.Rhonda Watkins (Bishop Anstey) 5.64m; 3.Akiba Robinson (TTAFAC) 5.30m.
Men’s high jump —- 1.Kevin Huggins (QRC) 2.04m; 2.Kerry Edwards (Zenith) 1.95m; 3.Joel Phillip (FL Sport) 1.85m.
Women’s javelin —- 1.Natalie Dixon (Neon Trackers) 42.27m; 2.Kathy Ann Gilchrist (Grenada) 42.02m; 3.Euphemia Huggins (Police) 34.56m.

Burke blasts unqualified kickboxing tutors

President of the National Kickboxing Boxing Council, Brendon Burke has criticised unqualified tutors of the sport .

He charged they are only interested in making money and not about the progress of kickboxing. “There are scores of  tutors who fail to complete their courses. Yet we hear that they are training the young people to become experts in this sport,” Burke said. The Princes Town-based official added that the questionable tutors are not qualified to train the youngsters. “If a so-called tutor doesn’t know all the details about the sport how can he impart this knowledge?” he asked. Burke advised parents to be aware of instructors who hold tournaments and grade their children. “When a tutor holds a tournament in his gym, he deliberately fails the child so that the parent can invest more money into further training the child,” he said.

The concerned instructor, who has spent 30 years in the sport of karate and kick-boxing, expressed his disgust on the matter. “Here in this small country, we have many exponents of the art who will learn to a certain level and quickly branch off to form their own organisation, so that they can cash in on the sport at an early stage. “This is in fact killing the sport in the country. The young people are not exposed to the high standard of discipline and training required to compete in international competition. “And many of these youths who have been trained under the unqualified tutors end up hurting themselves instead of applying the discipline needed in the sport,” Burke said.
   
Speaking from his office in Lothians Road in Princes Town, Burke said he graduated  as a fourth degree Black Belt in karate and is a qualified Kick-Boxer. He was trained by the highly acclaimed tutors, Tony Padmore and Tim Deens Burke of the USA. He returned from the USA to introduce the art of kickboxing to the youths of TT. In 1990 he mobilised all the karate experts and introduced the sport of kickboxing to Trinidad and Tobago. He then formed the National Kick-Boxing Council and was elected president by the students he recruited. Burke said he has spent long hours training kickboxing enthusiasts so that they can represent TT in international competitions.

Phantom Bidder ready for May 17

PHANTOM BIDDER showed he is rounding into his best form for the Starter Allowance feature on May 17.

The Nazir Ahamad-owned colt had a good gallop, stepping 1100 metres in 1:02.14 seconds at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday morning. Also having good runs over a similar distance were Hundred Percent who completed the trip in 1:09.19 and Firestorm who was timed in 1:09.45. Sugar Mike had Invincibility for company over 1200 metres in a handy spin timed in 1:19.92. Classy Kim had a good gallop over 600 metres completed in 37.17 seconds, but Gaza Strip was even better over the trip, getting back in 37 seconds flat.

Top traffic cop: What more can we do?

ALTHOUGH TRAFFIC police have implemented stringent measures to prevent carnage on the nation’s roads, fatal accidents continue to occur with two deaths on Saturday night pushing the number of road fatalities to five for the weekend and a total of 78 for the year.

“What more can we do?” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mobile) Deochan Gosine asked yesterday as he renewed his appeal to the public to obey the highway code. Gosine told Newsday well organised measures were put in place for the Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations with extra traffic patrols. The senior officer added that there were several road blocks and road checks, but they were apparently to no avail, since two of the five weekend victims were on the way to the Borough Day celebrations. “These accidents are consistent with a combination of speed, inexperience, drugs and drinks, selfishness and that’s the reality,” Gosine said.

These five weekend deaths bring to ten, the number of people to have died from April 28 to present. Last Monday, five people died following a smash-up at the Mausica intersection and the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. The victims in that accident are WASA employee Natasha Marcano, Amalgamated security officer John Solomon Jr., and Venezuelans Sudheyl Christina Sanchez, Andres Jiminez and Carolina Perdomo, all of whom were studying English here. In the latest road fatalities, which occurred Saturday night,  Randolph Goorasingh, 24, of Mount Pleasant Road, Arima and passenger Ian Mohammed, 23, of Brazil Village, Talparo, died at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) following a vehicular accident on the South Trunk Road.  

Two other passengers in the car, Shazam Aliram, 18, of Talparo Main Road, Brazil; Jeewan Narine, 21, of Brazil Village, Brazil; and Fareed Ali, 18, of Hindustan Road, New Grant, were up to late yesterday warded in serious condition at the hospital The fatal accident occurred at around 11.40 pm Saturday, while Goorasingh was driving his car in a westerly direction along the South Trunk Road. After passing the Godineau Bridge in South Oropouche, Goorasingh lost control of the vehicle which swerved to the right and slammed into a Toyota HiLux on the opposite side of the road. The driver of the Toyota vehicle, Patrick Husten, 45, of Ramien Street, Morvant, and three passengers – Sharon Bowen, 39, of Nutmeg Drive, Santa Rosa Heights, Arima; Joan Reid, 48, of Brooklyn, New York and Kenneth Clarke, 50, of Francis Street, Tunapuna, were returning from the Borough Day celebrations in Point Fortin. They were treated for minor injuries at hospital.

On Friday night three men died in separate fatal accidents.  Two of the victims, Sheldon Patrice, 36, of Twelfth Street, Barataria, and Frankie Dennis, 64, a WASA retiree of Eastern Quarry, Laventille, were knocked down after they were allegedly chased by Beetham bandits.  Culprits in those incidents could be charged with murder, police said. In the other road fatality on Friday, Valencia resident Wendell George, 28, of Cyppe Drive, was driving west on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Wallerfield, in an area identified as a “black spot” by ACP Gosine. A tyre blew and George lost control of his vehicle, which ended up in a ditch on the southern side of the road. Three other passengers were in the vehicle with George.  They were identified as Jimmy Hernandez, 28, formerly of La Horquetta, who now resides in New York, Keston Murray, 25, of Foster Road, Sangre Grande, and Ronald Alleyne, 23, of Valencia Junction. All four were taken to the Arima Health Facility then later transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where George died. Murray and Hernandez were treated and discharged, while up to late yesterday Alleyne was in a stable condition at hospital. Investigations are continuing in all the accidents.

Police retrieve 15 shells at scene

A 21-year-old Block 22, Eastern Quarry, man was killed yesterday  after he received multiple gunshot wounds in one of two shooting incidents in the Laventille district.

Police said while the man lay battling for his life at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH), he gave his name as Ken John, aka Bouncer and Lil Pop. According to police reports, at around midday yesterday John and about eight other people were standing by a standpipe at McShine Lands, which is off 42nd Street, Laventille Extension Road. A group of six armed men came from a track in the opposite direction and fired approximately 20 shots at John, who ran a short distance and collapsed. The people with him scampered for safety, while the gunmen also fled. John was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital by someone in a moss green car, who dropped him off at the Casualty Department and then disappeared. John died at around 3.20 pm while undergoing emergency surgery.  

Officers headed by Insp Manechand Ramnarine and including Sgt Ganpath Meetoo, Cpl Nicky St Aude and PCS Sookdeo, Boney, Williams, Phillip, Charles, Khan-Mohammed and Ganesh visited the scene and conducted investigations. They found 15 spent shells and said most of them were pumped into John’s body. A post mortem is expected to be performed on him today. Police could give no motive for John’s killing but are working on the theory that it was gang-related.  Lawmen said John was “very well known” to them and his name figured in the recent double murder in Gonzales where PH driver Keith Barrow and Ria Blackman were found dead in a vehicle in the wee hours of March 31 at Brisby Street. Both Barrow and Blackman were shot to death in what was believed to also be gang-related violence.  John, according to police was also wanted for several robberies, shootings and a number of petty offences. Police had little help with their investigations from residents in the area, most of whom ducked questions and claimed they did not know John. House owner Cleo Johnson told Newsday she was inside her home when she heard the gunshots. “I ain’t see nothing,” the woman said.

In the other shooting incident, at around 12.15 pm, Nicholas O’Brien, 18, of Quarry Street, was at St John’s Road, Laventille, when a lone gunman walked up to him and shot him in his back.  The bullet exited through the stomach. O’Brien was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was said to be in stable condition at Ward 22. His shooting is also said to be gang-related. Police don’t believe the two shootings are related. No arrests had been made up to late yesterday and officers of the Besson Street CID under Insp Ramnarine are continuing investigations.

Over 20 shots fired at Muslimeen’s Benz

A FOUR-year-old girl escaped death when gunmen opened fire on a blue Benz in which her father, a member of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen and another man were occupants, police sources told Newsday yesterday.

Senior police officers described the shooting at Muslimeen Ken “Kazim” Gonzales, his four-year-old daughter, Jayideah Gonzales, both of Foster Street, Port-of-Spain, and another man identified as Lincoln “Salim” Alexis, of Cascade, as an assassination attempt. The gunmen fired approximately 20 shots. It is reported that around 3.45 pm Friday, Gonzales was driving his blue Benz in the vicinity of Matura and Patna Streets, St James, when another vehicle pulled alongside and opened fire with a high-powered rifle.

Gonzales and Alexis were both grazed by bullets, while little Jayideah escaped unhurt.  They were reportedly returning from Juma at the Mucurapo compound of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen. A report was made to the St James CID and officers headed by Sgt Nandram Moonilal and others visited the scene. Police said they had no motive for the attempted assassination and said little information was forthcoming from people close to the shooting.

Gonzales appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court last July 19 on a provisional warrant for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking in St Vincent and the Grenadines, who had requested the provisional warrant with a view to extradition. He is alleged to have had 380 pounds of the illicit drugs in his possession on May 28, 2002, at Chateaubelair.  The charge, laid by Insp Adam Joseph, was subsequently dismissed. Police officer Foster Scott of St Vincent and the Grenadines had laid the information.