At the Munroe Road Recreation Ground in Cunupia, Technocrats, set a victory target of 160 in 50 overs, raced to 160 runs for the lost of two wickets in only 19.2 overs with King blazing an unbeaten 92 while Gaitri Seetahal chipped in with 30. Earlier, Players Sports Club tallied 159/6 with Nadia Mohammed scoring 62 not out and Shania Abdool 51.

Crystal Hanslal and Mikeala Jordan had identical figures of two wickets for 28 runs for Technocrats.

At the Pinto Road Recreation Ground in Arima, Hibiscus Ladies thrashed Cricket Lovers by nine wickets.

Cricket Lovers were bowled out for 160 in 41.5 overs with Jovankah Simon hitting 45 while Sharlana Thomas had 21, Sarah Charles 13 and Nicole George 11. Allison Collins claimed 4/33 and Caneisha Isaac 3/38 for Hibiscus Ladies.

Led by an unbeaten 70 from Rachel Vincent and 49 from Rosalie Dolabaille, Hibiscus Ladies reached 161/1 in 34.1 overs.

The other Premiership game on Sunday saw Moosai record a 20-run victory over Preysal Phoenix at the Balmain Recreation Ground in Couva.

Batting first, Moosai posted 182/9 in their allotted 50 overs with Lee Ann Kirby scoring 77 while Kirbyina Alexander contributed 38. Also getting into double figures were Kamara Ragoobar (16), Amanda Samaroo (14) and Sylvia Bolah (12).

Rosemary Samaroo took 2/26 while Shenelle Lord had 2/29 for Preysal Phoenix.

In their turn at the crease, Preysal Phoenix finished on 162/9 despite 66 from Reneice Boyce, 27 from Lord and 14 from Samantha Bissoon.

Bowling for Moosai, Ragoobar snapped up 3/15 while Karishma Ramarack got 2/32.

Over 280 swimmers registered for the competition which marks the last opportunity for athletes to qualify for the CARIFTA Swimming Championships in the Bahamas from April 15-18.

On the first night of action at the Aquatic Centre, Zoe Anthony of Marlins Swim Club won gold in the 11-12 female 200m breaststroke (3:05.65) in a CARIFTA qualifying time (CQT).

Anthony was also the fastest qualifier to the 50m butterfly final (32.96) and won gold in the 400m freestyle in 5:06.28.

Luke Gillette, also of Marlins, achieved gold in the 15-17 200 breaststroke in a CQT (2:31.89). Gillette’s time also qualified him for the CCCAN Championships (CCAQT) which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from June.

Marlins athletes dominated the night as Jada Chatoor won the 13-14 400m freestyle female in a CQT and CCAQT of 4:36.46 while Nikoli Blackman (Marlins) won the 11-12 male 400m free in a CQT and CCAQT of 4:44.91.

Teammates Graham Chatoor won the 15-17 male version (4:44.91) with two qualifing times as well, and Marlins had another gold medallist in Kyle West who won the 11-12 200m breast in a CQT and CCAQT of 2:57.59.

Canada-based Open record holder Tariq Lashley of Areios registered a CCAQT and won the 18 and Over 200 breaststroke (2:24.38), just missing his own record of 2:23.42.

Preliminary round swimmers in the 50m butterfly did not wait until finals to register their qualifying marks, with Kadon Williams of Point Fortin Aqua Darts the fastest qualifier in the 11-12 male event in 29.89, achieving CQT and CCAQT on the night. The top five swimmers in this event all achieved CQTs, making it a keenly contested final as they aim to make the top two for Bahamas.

The 13-14 male 50 fly prelims was topped by Aqeel Joseph of Sea Hawks in a time of 27.68 and had the top four swimmers achieving QTs.

Amira Pilgrim of UTT was the fastest qualifier in the 15-17 females (29.81) in a CQT and CCAQT, while Kael Yorke of Tidal Wave (26.49) was the fastest in the male equivalent in a CCAQT.

In the 18 and Over category, Christian Awah of Blue Dolphins (24.97) qualified for CCCAN in the prelims.

The meet continues today in Couva as action starts from 6pm.

This was a Round One Match Two encounter, which was staged at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium Training Field in Marabella.

Smith got his name on the scoresheet in the 20th, 25th, 35th and 45th minutes, while there were hattricks from Anthony Williams (fourth, ninth and 39th) and Jeremiah Ottway (11th, 59th and 63rd).

Getting the other goals for Club Sando were Tyrique Lucas (second and 12th), Ilon Hospedales (sixth) and Joshua Kesney (61st).

Point Fortin Civic are atop the 10-team standings after they had a 3-0 win, via default, against Ma Pau Stars who were unable to field a team at their home ground – the Ojoe Road Recreation Ground in Sangre Grande.

In the other clash in the Under-13 section, Police cruised past Defence Force 3-1 at the Trinity East College Field in Trincity.

Josiah Wilson netted a pair, in the ninth and 11th, while Justin Lewis found the back of the net in the 27th.

Jerrel Gibbons got the lone item for Defence Force, in the 24th.

Other Scores – UNDER-15 DIVISION – At Manny Ramjohn Stadium Training Field: ST ANN’S RANGERS (2) – Darius Douglas 67th, 80th vs CLUB SANDO (0).

At Trinity East College Field: POLICE (3) – Malachi King 9th; Matthias Hinkson 12th; Jaden Andrews 67th vs DEFENCE FOR CE (1) – Aiden Marcano 63rd.

At Ojoe Road Recreation Ground: POINT FORT IN CIVIC (3) vs MA PAU ST ARS (0) by default.

UNDER-17 DIVISION – At Manny Ramjohn Stadium Training Field: CLUB SANDO (2) – Chakim Guy 64th; Isa Bramble 89th vs ST ANN’S RANGERS (1) – Jesse Williams 53rd.

At Trinity East College Field: DEFENCE FOR CE (0) vs POLICE (0).

At Ojoe Road Recreation Ground: POINT FORT IN CIVIC (3) vs MA PAU ST ARS (0) by default.

The 19-year-old Nikela, who died on March 9 from undisclosed medical reasons, was laid to rest at the D’Abadie Public Cemetery yesterday, following an hour-long funeral at a packed Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima.

According to Denisha Mayers, a friend of Nikela who delivered the eulogy, “Nikela was a gem in its rarest form. Her smile was as radiant as the brightest flower, and she would melt your heart, even when she (did) her mischief.

Her candid laugh would easily captivate and concern. She always wanted her own way, (but was) strong-willed, caring, fun-loving and God-fearing.” Mayers pointed out, “There was a never a dull moment with Nikela. She was a master in the kitchen like her mom (Nicole Baldwin). Her intelligence, wit and sense of humour caused friendships aplenty. She made us all less stressful.” Referring to Nikela’s relationship with her father, Mayers said, “Her conversations (with Stern) usually starts ‘Father’ and would be followed up with demands, about 99 percent of the time. Nikela was always the hardest nut to crack.” In attendance were a number of relatives and friends, as well as members of the sporting fraternity, including her distant relative Alec Burns (former TT cricketer) and other regional cricketers Dwayne Bravo and Kevon Cooper. Past and present national footballers were also at the Church, including current assistant coaches Stuart Charles-Fevrier and Ross Russell; current players Carlos Edwards, Sean De Silva, Carlyle Mitchell and Nathan Lewis, John’s former teammates Clint Marcelle, Ansil Elcock and Marvin Gordon, ex-TT manager Joseph Sam Phillip and close friend Brent Sancho.

Mayers made it clear that the memories of Nikela would last forever.

“God gave you to us for a minute but our fondest memories of you would last a lifetime,” she said. “God would never take anyone away until they have taught us what they need to know. Thank you Jesus for blessing us with Nikela John. Thank you for welcoming her into heaven, where she would now look over us, together with our other guardian angels.

“Today I want us to remember Nikela’s smile, her warmth, her love, her hug, her stale jokes.

Grief and sadness is a small price we all have to pay for that irreplaceable gift we were given 19 years ago. Thank you Jesus for Nikela John and may she forever rest in peace,” Mayers ended.

Nikela leaves to mourn her parents, her stepfather Kevin George and her siblings Tyrik, Janiyah (George), Kelsi, Stern, Xiadan, Ava and Terlisha.

This will be the first pair of international matches for Italian head coach Carolina Morace and her staff since they commenced duties in January.

Morace spoke about the upcoming games prior to Wednesday evening’s training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training pitch, saying she was grateful to have the opportunity to test her team against the South Americans.

“It is good to have the opportunity to play two international games at the end of the month and it’s good for the preparation of the team.

I have to say thank you to David John Williams because the president has worked hard to have these two matches here,” Morace told TT FA Media.

“It is a test for us and it will be the second time I will have the opportunity to see the players who are based in the United States.

“We will not be fast because we still are in the early stage of our preparations. We have had some friendly games against the local boys and against the Under 20s and these two games will give us a good opportunity to measure where we are at this point,” Morace added.

“Some of the USbased players will be coming back for the game. I still have not had the chance to see some of them because they are with Colleges and even though they want to come, they are not being released to us as yet and their coaches want to determine when they are able to come but unfortunately I decide when have we to start and finish the camp,” Morace said.

The team is in training up to five days per week.

According to the letter, which was obtained by Newsday, “the Board of Management in the Central Football Association hereby notifies in accordance with Article 14 (1) of the CFA Constitution that Leeds FC (of which Jobes is a member) was suspended with immediate effect.” Henry is a member of the Ball Runners FC but it alleged that his provisional suspension is a result of his club’s support towards Saunders.

Jobes, in a telephone interview yesterday, related, “We were fighting a battle with Saunders. He was the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee and he represented CFA at the TT FA Board.” Alleging that there is a major rift between Saunders and CFA president Shymdeo Gosine, Jobes said, “He wants to get rid of Saunders but we’re saying no. That is a personal thing, that have nothing to do with football. From there, things have not been going well.” About any desire to respond to the letter, Jobes stated that a meeting was planned, with Saunders and Henry, to determine their next course of action. However CFA general secretary Clynt Taylor is adamant that the issue have been ongoing since last June and he also slammed the TT FA for their tardiness in dealing with the matter.

“We’ve been dealing with an issue for close to a year and it started simple, (over) who is representing the Central Football Association at the (TT FA) board level,” said Taylor.

“That was the central issue.” Taylor stated, “We took a decision because Saunders had refused to meet with us at a board, at our level. He never met with us to discuss representing us. We took a decision in June last year to have him replaced.” However, the CFA general secretary admitted, “When we sent the info to the TT FA, the TT FA resisted our efforts. They kept ignoring us and pretending they did not hear us. We kept writing them and let them know the position of the (CFA) board.”

Red Force trounced a hapless Windward Islands Volcanoes by 172 runs to break a run of poor form and haul themselves off the bottom of the standings into fourth spot.

But Hope, who led Red Force for the first time last weekend, said he was under no illusions about the size of the task coming up against Jaguars.

“The team is in high spirits after the win against the Windward Islands Volcanoes, but we understand that the Guyana Jaguars will be a completely different challenge,” the Barbadian pointed out. He added: “I am expecting another competitive game.

Guyana is currently on a high and have been playing good cricket in the Four-Day format for quite some time.

“However, a few of our guys have been coming into form with the bat and ball and once we execute on the field we will give ourselves the best chance of winning.” Not only did Hope make a winning start to his captaincy tenure but the victory also coincided with the right-hander’s maiden first class hundred.

The innings — an unbeaten 105 in the second innings — helped Red Force set Volcanoes a massive 375 to win.

Hope said the handsome victory spoke volumes about how the squad had embraced him as the new captain.

“The team has been responding well to me being named skipper. I think the game against the Windward Islands is a good indication of the team’s response to my elevation as captain as well as the unity of our squad,” he noted.

“Coming from the position we were in at the beginning of that game and to pull off such a victory speaks well for our dressing room. “After not having the best first half to the season, getting a win under the belt was a great confidence booster.

All praises must go to the team.

Two-time defending champions Jaguars, who trounced Jamaica Scorpions in Kingston, top the standings with 84.8 points with Scorpions second on 73 points.

Barbados Pride’s win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Bridgetown left the third on 68 points with Red Force fourth on 53.6 points

Lawrence and assistant coaches Sol Campbell and Stuart-Charles Fevrier resumed training yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium before Lawrence and his staff along with members of the team attended the funeral service of Nikela John, the deceased daughter of assistant coach Stern John.

And today, Lawrence will lead his troops out at the Hasely Crawford Stadium for an evening session.

One of the home-based players who has been in training under Lawrence for the past fifteen sessions including the recent international friendly with Barbados is Hughtun Hector who explained on Wednesday that he was feeling at his best and ready to give his best efforts for Lawrence and the national team. “Right now I can say that I feel great. I’ve been training and staying active and putting in the work based on the instructions of the coach and his assistants,” Hector told TT FA Media.

“We know there are the overseas- based players to come into the team next week and we are working towards having the best team available for the Panama and Mexico games. Right now we are putting in extensive work under Dennis and trying to ensure he has the best possible options when it comes to selecting his final squad.

“Coach has laid out his intentions and the manner in which he wants us to do things in training and in the games and we are working constantly on this in the sessions,” Hector added.

It was the Jamaica Gleaner that first reported the news on Wednesday, after which it took over the entertainment world by storm.

Speaking with Newsday about the feat Fay-Ann said yesterday: “It’s great to be able to help push soca on a platform that is recognised.

We have lots of work as a music community to do and we need everyone to help get us our own platform.” VP, the label under which the album is being promoted is a dancehall and reggae-based company. Fay-Ann said of the outfit: “VP has been awesome in using their already existing and strong platform to help our music reach and grow, we need to continue.” Fay-Ann boasted all songs were written by her, though produced by different people music wise.

“I’m proud of the finished product and very glad for the love it’s been getting.

My team has, and is continuing to work very hard to get things done and I appreciate it very much. I’m happy a lot of work went into it,” she said.

“The public has been awesome and that’s a good direction.

We need our music on a platform that says soca and I am happy to have people around me willing to help me make that happen.” Fay-Ann said her team has been working with VP to get soca on a platform of its own. “If we do this then every artiste that produces music will have an avenue that’s not limited to Carnival to push their music. Bigger audiences, new territories, bigger markets.” “It’s also a great way to get our soca artistes signed and not just their music licensed. Promotion of artistes as well as their music is what this platform offers,” added Fay-Ann.

The Break the World tracks are: Hold Onto Something, More Then Dem, Girls, Buff featuring Buffy, High Heels, Everybody Joli featuring Bunji Garlin and Joli Rouge Sound, Air Supply, Raze, Block The Road featuring Stonebwoy, Catch Me, Break The World, Drift, HITA (Hands In The Air), Done The Party, Doh Hold Meh and Keep Some.

Asked to express his feelings about his wife’s achievement, Bunji (Ian Alvarez) said: “I feel proud. I have seen the way this woman works and her focus cuts through clouds of mess and doubt, and in a time where women especially strong ones, are under the gun and where the biggest culprits are other women pulling her down the success ladder, it is nothing short of remarkable.” Bunji lauded the achievement: “It’s another historic mark under her belt, as the first female soca artiste to have an album with all songs written by her, debut at number 3 on the Reggae Billboard Chart, on top of being the one of the three female artistes in Trinidad to have Road March titles, and one of the few artistes to have won at least three major competitions in the same Carnival.

“We live in a society where women are measured harshly and with minuscule expectations.

“The moment any of them start surpassing the expected bar they become problems or threats and it can be very distracting if a woman is not strong. I applaud her for the way she stays zonedin once she believes there is an end game and she goes hard at it despite what anyone says or does to sidetrack her.” Bunji then spoke of the tremendous support and congratulations Fay-Ann received from her fans local and abroad, and what is stunning still he said, is the amount of congratulations that came from Jamaica and Jamaicans.

“She also received a nice congratulatory moment from the Monk camp [Machel Montano], SuperBlue reached out and congratulated her in a huge way, also, my whole family is in joy right now for her, as my mother and brothers refer to her as ‘daughter’ and ‘sister’ respectively, completely dropping out the in-law part,” he stated with a laugh.

He ended: “We love it and we love her and we will continue to support her. Again we say congratulations to Fay-Ann Lyons on this achievement.”

Bigford held a CD launch for the media and her friends on Friday evening at the Kaiso Blues Cafe at Woodford Street, Port-of-Spain.

The evening was electric and the singer knew everyone in the audience by name, including Minister of Agriculture Clarence Rambarath and his wife Camille.

Born to Shine consists of 11 songs, all hit songs from the past and from the pen of Trinidadians.

Bigford said her late friend Raf Robertson always told her: “If you have nothing to say, say nothing but when you have something to say just do it.” She felt that after ten-odd years in the business she had something to say and thus recorded an album.

Bigford felt the timing was right because of the stage she is at in her life. “It is also a reflection of where I am,” she said. The CD was launched two days before her 43rd birthday.

Having grown up listening to the music of Trinidad and Tobago, she felt it best to do our music.

The album got its name not only from the Carol Addison 70’s hit but because Bigford’s father forever told her she was born to shine.

Songs on the CD include Sparrow’s No Money No Love, Shadow’s One Love, Ras Shorty I’s Who God Bless, Winsford “Joker” Devine’s Progress, Oliver Chapman’s Crying Easy, Ella Andall’s Missing Generation, Merchant’s Be Careful, KMC’s Soul On Fire, Mac and Katie Kissoon’s And the Lord Said, Bigford’s favourite Can You Love Me by Arthur Marcial and the title track Born to Shine.

This is by all means a collector’s item which will breathe new life into some TT classics pulling a generation into music of our past and putting the music on the international scene.

Without hesitation Bigford said Born to Shine is in dedication to Patti Rogers a friend and mentor whom she misses daily. Rogers died last year.

When it came to musicians on the CD, a smiling Bigford said: “I had international musicians to chose from but I felt that there is no one better to understand and interpret our music but our people.

Added to which I have been working with these guys for some time and we have a synergy.

They know me and I know them –Michael “Ming” Low Chew Tung (keys), Theron Shaw (guitar), Rodney Alexander (bass guitar), Anthony Woodroffe (sax/flute) and Khalen Alexander (drums).

The musicians who arranged the songs are Ming, Theron and Rodney while the CD was produced by Ming.

The two-day studio sessions came from Jason Dasent’s Overdrive Recording and the singer says she’s very pleased with the product.

She and her husband Shurllan Griffith were executive producers.

On Friday, Bigford thanked the creator for giving her health and told the audience she knows she has come a long way. Reminiscing on the days when she sang for $100 and a burger brought laughter from the audience.

There’s something about Bigford which draws you into her aura, she possess a brilliance, radiance and a charisma which goes with her talent. That broad smile just invites you to “hear me”.

The sultry singer started with And the Lord Said and by the second song, Progress, the audience was singing. During her version of Be Careful the sound of Woodroffe’s haunting alto sax kept the audience tuned in and focus.

Ming’s fingers were dancing on the ivory as Bigford performed Ella Andal’s Missing Generation invoking a vision of the original singer.

Guitarist Shaw was in a zone by himself as Bigford did One Love, he was joined by Woodruffe and together with the singer they turned the place upside down.

Bassist Rodney took lead on Crying’s Easy as Bigford went through the lyrics and bets were taking place in the audience as to who composed the song.

The spotlight stayed on Shaw as the Kalyan hit Can You Love Me came around, Bigford presented Marcial with a copy of the CD when she was finished singing.

Shaw continued in the lead when she sang Say a Little Prayer.

Just about two hours after the start, Bigford finished off with Born to Shine but the audience was not ready for her to leave and called her back. She obliged and performed Mavis John’s Use My Body (Tony Wilson).

Still wanting more, the audience called her back again and she invoked some spirits with a lively version of Mariam Makeba’s Pata Pata and had the audience dancing and singing.

She left the stage well satisfied that she has come of age as the people has shown their love and admiration for the singer.