For the first time, three siblings who live at the Christ Child Convalescent Home in Diego Martin met their baby brother who was placed at the Casa de Corazon Home in Sangre Grande. The reunion at Rio Claro was a tearful one for the three older children who are all under 14 years.

While addressing the pain that children experience in such circumstances, PRO of the foundation, Lakshmi Ragoonanan emphasised that decision makers must remember that siblings need to be placed together at homes or at least have as many visits as possible. In a media release, Ragoonanan said separation arises because sometimes brothers go to homes for boys and the sisters end up at homes for girls.

Sponsors of the event that brought the children of several homes together, Sunita and Shaun Ramlogan, as well as Gift For Life members were also moved to tears when the siblings connected with their brother.

Sunita also urged that more effort be made to place siblings in the same guardianship or children’s home. She said: “It is very depressing for sisters and brothers to be deprived of parents and now to be pulled away from each other.

In the absence of parents they provide comfort and strength to each other. This is why such a strong emphasis has to be placed on making sure siblings stick together in foster care.” Children from various homes were treated by the Ramlogans to a pool party, cooking on spot and other fun activities.

Margaret Kistow, Malabar; Florence Wesleyan, Carapichaima; Christ Child Convalescent, Diego Martin; Swaha, Penal; Ferndean’s , Point Fortin; and Casa De Corazon, Sangre Grande. For more info: www.giftforlifefountationtt.

com or 672-5157 or 734-0796.

Speaking at the media launch, Organising Chairman, Anthony Commissiong, stated, “Southern Games used to be over a four-day period and were the Games which everyone looked forward to. Tickets were sold out in advance and it was the biggest event for cycling and athletics in the Caribbean region.” He added: “Even though this year would be a one-off day full of activities along with other side events (on other days), we must remember that once the quality is of a high standard, supporters would always follow.” The event, sponsored by Petrotrin, TECU Credit Union and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, pedals off on Friday, March 31 with the cycling criterion at 7pm, in front of Awardy’s Hardware in Marabella.

The cycling events shift further south to the Irwin Park Sporting Facility’s Cycling Track in Siparia on Saturday, April 1, followed by “Cycling on the Greens” at Guaracara Park on the main day on Sunday, April 2.

The main day will also include include athletics with action set to commence from 1pm.

Also on the cards for this year’s event is the addition of the South Trinidad Rifle Association (STRA) shooting activities as they prepared a series of events such as 9mm and air rifle shooting as part of their partnership with the Southern Games. National archers will also be participating as they utilise the event as preparation for an upcoming competition in Martinique.

The shooting events will take place at the Claxton Bay Shooting Range on March 12, 19 and 26. The public is urged to come out and show support to the various athletes.

And they were out trotting on the Garrison Savannah track in the afternoon.

According to information reaching the Newsday, the horses, Conquest Bespoke and Trini Navigator, the challengers for the Gold Cup and Magical Victory who goes in the Tanglewood, arrived fit and well.

There had been some rain on the track yesterday, and further rain is expected today.

Riding ace and seven-time Sovereign Award winnerPatrick Husbands will be astride the John O’Brien-trained Magical Victory in the Tanglewood Stakes to be run over 2000 metres.

The 2015 Trinidad champion jockey Prayven Badrie will ride Conquest Bespoke in the feature 36th running of the Gold Cup, while Barbados- based Keshawn Lutchman will be riding Trini Navigator.

Dorsett, last year’s winner of the prestigious event, is also owned by Trinidadian brothers Allan and Steve Madoo, but is stabled in Barbados.

Trinidad horses are not very successful in the Gold Cup, the last winner being Call To Account, trained by the late Vincent Roberts in 1988 ridden by Emile Ramsammy.

Prior to this, Bold Lewis trained by the late Cyril “Greypatch” Arneaud won the 1982 edition, while Frisky Wharf, also ridden by Ramsammy, and trained by ex-champion Joe Hadeed won in 1985 The Tanglewood, seventh race of the 12- race card, is timed to be run off at 2.45 pm while the Gold Cup, the day’s 10th race, has a post time of 5 pm. The table bove shows the runners riders and weights for the two races.

The 20-overs affair which features the best Under-15 cricketers in the Central Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) represents a major success for leading administrator Manohar Ramsaran.

He said yesterday that among those who will be witnessing the young stars in action are Chaguanas West Member of Parliament Ganga Singh, local government councillor Adrian Ali and Azim Bassarath, president of the TTCB.

Ramsaran, a former Minister of Sports said that guest of honour at the much- anticipated final will be Lennard Jattan, eldest son of the late Sam Jattan, a popular politician and social worker who left a praiseworthy legacy in Central Trinidad.

The Presentation College team will be captained by outstanding Central Zone cricketer Rahul Pitiram while Shiva Sankar, another up and coming player will be at the helm of the Chancellor Youth XI.

Instead, the Dennis Lawrence- coached squad will entertain Barbados on the aforementioned day at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva from 7pm.

This game falls outside of the FIFA window and, as a result, Lawrence is expected to use a local-based team currently in the second week of a training camp.

The TT team is preparing for a pair of FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round Qualifiers at home to Panama and Mexico, on March 24 and 28 respectively.

In related news, assistant coaches Stuart Charles-Fevrier and Stern John, in interviews on the TTFA website, spoke in glowing terms of the work being done thus far by Lawrence.

“I’m very pleased with how the sessions are going,” said Charles-Fevrier, who also coaches W Connection. “The players are very enthusiastic and the quality of work that is being done is very good. Dennis has been doing a good job and it augurs well for the future of the national team.” John, TT’s record international goalscorer with 70 from 115 matches, said, “(Lawrence) came in and he called all the staff and players and let us know how he wants to work.

“I think it’s very important that he sets his stall out to let the staff and the players know the standard he wants to work with, and the level he wants to work at,” he continued. “We’re getting the best out of the players.” Concerning the forthcoming encounters, Charles-Fevrier noted, “for us we want to see who are the players that are showing the form we would like to see, that could really fit in the national squad for the World Cup qualifying games.

“The Barbados game, in particular, will be where we’d be looking at to see who are the players that we feel could contribute to the World Cup qualifiers,” he ended.

Athletes, officials and dignitaries from Jamaica, United States, Barbados, Guyana and Curacao have confirmed their participation.

Among the sponsors for today’s event are Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Coca Cola, Dasani, Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, First Citizens, Toyota, Francis Fashions and Shoe Locker.

BOUTS (WEIGHT DIVISIONS AND POUNDS IN BRACKETS)
Jeremy Rudolph vs Steffon Mahase(heavyweight – 265 lbs);
Paul Ignitius vs Earland Maloney (lightweight – 155lbs);
Akeil McDonald vs Leo Grant (lightweight- 205 lbs);
Shenese Bobb vs Amy Rajkumar (flyweight – 125 lbs);
Anthony Joseph vs Osaf Selman (lightweight- 155 lbs);
Lashawn Sladden vs Kyle Procope (middleweight – 185 lbs);
Ahmad Khan vs Dimitri Joseph (lightweight- 155 lbs);
Timmy Ramkilawan vs Kadine Hope (flyweight – 125 lbs);
Christopher McKenzie vs Tevin Millington(light heavyweight – 205 lbs);
Stephen Rawlins vs Anthony Durgadee (flyweight- 125 lbs);
Roland Primus vs Kwashawn
McLean (bantamweight – 135 lbs);
Nile Mohammed vs Adonijah Charles (lightweight- 155 lbs);
Amrit Mallian vs Troy Bobb (bantanweight – 135 lbs);
Jeffery Ranghel vs Larry Anderson (welterweight- 170 lbs);
Timothy Lutmansingh vs Jesse Romeo (flyweight – 125 lbs);
Angel Bonavita vs Larry Paponette (lightweight 155 lbs).

Lewis, the former captain of Trinidad and Tobago women’s team, is a multiple Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TT HB) Player of the Year and First Citizens Sport Awards nominee. The Paragon women’s team captain will be competing for the Southern River Hockey Club Women’s Promotional 1 team as a midfielder/defender.

Lewis, once making her debut for “The Hawks”, will become the first TT female to play in Australia’s domestic league.

Toussaint, a staple on the national men’s team, has worked as an assistant coach with the TT Under-21 men’s team. He is a TT HB Top Five Player winner and the second Trinbagonian to be consecutively named on the Pan Am Elite Teams (2013 and 2015) since Kwandwane Browne (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013).

He joins the Perthbased Southern River Hockey Club as head coach/player for the Promotional 2 men’s team. This is Tousaaint’s second trip to Australia having played for Joondalup Lakers Hockey Club in 2015.

Souther River Hockey Club is Perth’s youngest premiership hockey club with its website describing it as “a growing and progressive club with the aim to provide hockey to all members of our community in a family friendly environment.” In a press release on Thursday, Paragon Paragon Hockey club extended congratulations to their two players and wished them continued success

Clarke Road forfeited their first innings against Victoria Sports in their Second Round clash at Wilson Road in Penal last month, and they will be looking to get their campaign back on track against Tableland, who have lost both their Premiership encounters this year. Tableland crashed to a 139-run loss to Alescon Comets in the First Round, which was followed up by a 10-wicket hammering by Central Sports.

Another team keen on continuing a fine run this season are 2016 winners Queen’s Park, who earned first innings points against Victoria and spanked Merry Boys by six wickets in their two matches thus far.

The Parkites will be heading to Penal to face PowerGen at the Syne Village Ground.

In other fixtures, Victoria will entertain Merry Boys and Central Sports will host Comets.

The Premiership matches will be contested today, March 11 and 12 (starting at 10.30 am each day), while the Third Round of the TT CB National League 50-over competition will be staged tomorrow from 10 am with PowerGen meeting Queen’s Park, Victoria facing Merry Boys, Central Sports opposing Comets and Tableland tackling Clarke Road.

The 30th annual event was launched yesterday at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Mucurapo.

Elisa Doldron, head of consumer marketing, Nestle Trinidad and Tobago Limited and Nestle Caribbean Incorporated, announced during her address at the function, “I am happy to announce the decision by the organising committee to officially rename these Games, the Kelvin Nancoo West Games.” She continued, “Nancoo has invested the last 29 years leading this organising committee and working with each of the primary schools within Port of Spain and environs to develop the athletic talents of our nation’s youth.

“It is because of his drive and commitment that we have seen these Games grow from strength to strength over the years.” The Games will be staged on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 9 am.

Nancoo, the Games’ livewire, acknowledged, “It feels great, it feels like people really appreciate the things that you have done. I have given, and I continue to give, and I think it’s a really good accolade.

And I accept it.” About the decision to change the name of the event, Nancoo added: “The sponsors decided that this Games needs a name to go with it. And the name that everyone knows is Kelvin Nancoo.” A number of top national runners have featured at the Milo Games, including 2003 World 400-metre hurdles champion Jehue Gordon and national sprint star Michelle-Lee Ahye.

Asked if he envisioned that the Games would have lasted this long and also served as a feeder for athletes in TT , Nancoo replied, “Yes I did.

That was the plan. We wanted to build and keep building and we haven’t stopped. We’re going to get even better.” As far as the future of the Games is concerned, Nancoo said, “This may end up being a two-day Games where we can get the people to perform at their best, relax one day and come back out the next day. It all depends on how the bureaucrats see it. That’s the way it is done in the US, that’s the way it is done (in) any part of the First World countries. And I think that’s the way we eventually have to go.” Doldron, in her address, noted, “This year we have invested $120,000 into these Games, as a significant contribution toward the future of our youth.

“At this time when our young children and our society at large are faced with so many negative forces, we believe that engaging in sporting activities, being part of a team and focusing on what is good, can only help to keep them motivated and committed to living a healthier lifestyle.” A total of 22 schools are expected to participate this year.

Lawrence was speaking yesterday at the launch of this year’s competition, which took place at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

“One of the things I think that’s important for me is to (let) the coaches and young players to understand by now that you’ve been given a fantastic opportunity to have a company such as Flow so heavily involved in the sport of football in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Lawrence. “I think that’s absolutely remarkable.” The national coach, delivering his speech ad-lib, continued, “What I think is important for the coaches and for the players to understand, that you have to believe in your dreams – development is a process.

“And what I’ll like to say to the coaches is please do not allow the result to affect the decision of the development of the young players,” added the lanky Lawrence.

“The players are the product. As a coach trying to develop young talent, your success, from my point of view, should be one day being able to see your young players go on to play for our national senior team (or) to abroad and obtain contracts.

The immediate result, for me, is of irrelevance.

What is important is that we understand and recognise the importance of the product and the product is the young players.” Lawrence, who was hired as the national team coach in January, stressed: “What I want to say to the young players is that you have to have a dream and an ambition.

I was told a million times ‘you would not make it’. But I had belief in myself, I had belief in the people around me and I had belief in my parents.” The season will kick off tomorrow with matches in three age groups – Under-13 (starting at 10 am), Under-15 (starting at 2 pm) and Under-17 (starting at 4 pm).

Cindy Ann Gatt, Flow’s Director of Marketing, commented in her address, “Our involvement is designed specifically to increase the support for the success of local football. The appeal of the Youth Pro League to Flow is the fact that it is played in the communities, providing the players with ready support and encouragement.” She said, “I am encouraging all football fans to make a commitment this year to support your local club teams, school teams at whatever level they compete, commit to the team members to watch their games and get to know them as players. These are our future stars.” Round One Match Day One Fixtures – San Juan Jabloteh vs Club Sando, San Juan North Secondary School Ground; W Connection vs Central FC, Gilbert Park, California; Police vs Ma Pau Stars, St James Barracks; Point Fortin Civic vs Morvant Caledonia United, Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin; St Ann’s Rangers vs Defence Force, Trinity College Ground, Moka.