Team TTO | Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee | teamtto.org

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced the dates for the HSBC Sevens World Series 2013/14, with another season set to kick off on Australia's Gold Coast and climax in London, England.

The 15th edition of the record-breaking Series will visit the same nine countries as in 2012/13, although there are two changes in the order of rounds.

The first three events at the end of 2013 remain unchanged with Australia's standing alone in October before the Dubai-South Africa double-header. In 2014, the Series will visit the USA before New Zealand and then Japan before Hong Kong. The final two tournaments will again be in Scotland and England.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "With its Olympic credentials boosting rugby's landscape around the world Rugby Sevens is growing all the time, as we saw last weekend in London with world record crowds of 71,898 on day one and 113,025 over the two days.

"Throughout the 2012/13 Series we have seen once again how rugby fans are supporting these magnificent events, either attending in their many thousands or contributing to more record broadcast figures around the world, with a 10% increase in live coverage.

"As we continue on our countdown to Rugby Sevens' Olympic debut in Rio in 2016, we are delighted to have nine such strong tournaments showcasing these world class athletes and the strength of competition between them.

"Our congratulations go to New Zealand on winning their 11th Series title, and to Scotland, Spain and Portugal for winning core team status for the 2013/14 Series, which is set to be more competitive than ever."

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship & Events, HSBC Holdings plc said: "This will be HSBC's fourth season as title sponsor of the Series and we have seen it go from strength to strength over that time. There were record attendances, record broadcast figures and even more competition on the pitch last season and we are looking forward to returning to the nine tournaments next season to hopefully build on this and see even more growth. HSBC is committed to helping the growth and development of the sport all around the world and is looking forward to another record breaking Series in 2013/14."

HSBC Sevens World Series 2013/14
Round 1     Australia (Gold Coast)     12-13 Oct 2013
Round 2     Dubai     29-30 Nov2013
Round 3     South Africa (Port Elizabeth)     7-8 Dec 2013
Round 4     USA (Las Vegas)     24-26 Jan 2014
Round 5     New Zealand (Wellington)     7-8 Feb 2014
Round 6     Japan (Tokyo)     22-23 Mar 2014
Round 7     Hong Kong     28-30 Mar 2014
Round 8     Scotland (Glasgow)     3-4 May 2014
Round 9     England (London)     10-11 May 2014

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A year later, the track and field world is still in awe of Keshorn Walcott’s performance at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Just nineteen at the time, the Trinidad and Tobago field athlete captured gold in the men’s javelin to become the first athlete to win individual Olympic and world junior titles in the same year. The triumph was an absolute shocker, his winning throw propelling Walcott to superstardom in T&T, and winning him instant hero status in his home community of Toco, near Trinidad’s north-eastern tip. But — quiet and unassuming — the young thrower is not always comfortable with his new status.

“It’s been strange knowing that everywhere you go, someone knows you. But I’ve been coping,” he says. “I’m learning to deal with it. I’ve been kind of trying to keep to myself, just like before, trying to just focus on what I need to do — get back into my training. That’s what I’ve been doing for 2013, and I’m going to continue doing that.”

And while Walcott would prefer the convenience of walking the streets anonymously, he does not feel burdened by the additional attention. “I know everybody is supporting me, and the support is a boost for me, not any pressure.”

A six-week training stint in Cuba in March and April afforded Walcott the opportunity to live and train away from the public glare. He also trained in Cuba in the build-up to the London Games. “For me, going to Cuba is always valuable,” he says, “going out there, seeing the professional athletes training, seeing how hard they work, the dedication. For me, I worked hard and I’m seeing it paying off.”

Walcott enjoyed the fruits of his labour in his first outing for 2013. A crowd of about five thousand turned up at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on 3 May for the inaugural TnT Elite Twilight Games, the Olympic champion’s season-opener. With his very first competition throw since his Olympic triumph almost eight months earlier, Walcott landed the spear at 84.39 metres. The throw was just nineteen centimetres short of his 84.58-metre London Games effort.

Walcott says it was particularly satisfying to produce his best-ever season-opener in front of his home fans. “Knowing that I didn’t disappoint was a really good feeling.

“First time throwing over eighty in Trinidad and Tobago,” he continues. “That’s something I never achieved before.”

Between May and July, Walcott competed on the prestigious Diamond League circuit in Asia and Europe. His main focus for 2013, however, is the 10 to 18 August World Championship meet in Moscow.

“I know everybody’s going to be looking at me, to go back up there and perform, and that’s what I intend to do,” says Walcott. “Training has been going really good, so hopefully the 2013 World Championships will be a great meet for me.”

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T&T among 11 countries with four teams at Worlds

A new chapter of Trinidad and Tobago history will be written at the 2013 IAAF World Championships, in Moscow, Russia. Never before has the country fielded teams in all four relay events at the global meet.

“It’s a first for us in the history of our track and field in a major meet like this—World Championships or Olympics,” T&T team manager Dexter Voisin told the Express.

The 4x400 metres women became the fourth T&T relay team to book a Moscow ticket when they returned a time of three minutes, 30.64 seconds to strike gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Championships, in Morelia, Mexico, on July 7. With that run, Shawna Fermin, Sparkle McKnight, Romona Modeste and Alena Brooks broke a 26-year-old T&T record, and dived well inside the 3:33.00 World Championship standard.

“Breaking that record was a big achievement,” said Voisin.

At the 2012 Olympic Games, in London, England, T&T earned bronze in two relays—the men’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m.

“We have been consistent over the past ten years in terms of the men’s 4x1, and in recent years the women’s 4x1 have been in the fray too.

“The men’s 4x4,” Voisin continued, “were an unknown group before the Olympics, and went on to win bronze. We’re looking for a similar type of performance from the women’s 4x4. Since last year, that group of athletes has been speaking about qualifying for the World Championships. And based on speaking to some of them after qualifying, they want to go a step further in terms of making a final for the first time. Based on that drive, anything is possible in a final.”

In Moscow, T&T will field a women’s 4x400m team for the first time in the 30-year history of the World Championships.

And of the 200-odd countries that will participate at the August 10-18 Worlds, just 11 have so far qualified to compete in all four relays. The list is headed by United States, the 2013 world leaders in all four relay events, and also includes Great Britain, Jamaica, Ukraine, Poland, Bahamas, France, T&T, Italy, Brazil and Russia.

“Out of all those countries in the IAAF,” said Voisin, “to be among 11 with four relay teams is a great achievement. This augurs well for track and field in Trinidad and Tobago.”

But while he is proud of the four-team accomplishment, the T&T manager expressed concern about the current form of some of the athletes on the 29-member squad for Moscow.

“We are not in the same position we were one year ago with regards to the Olympics. Some of our athletes thus far are not on par with their form from last year.”

At the London Games, the country enjoyed its best-ever Olympic medal haul—Keshorn Walcott’s men’s javelin gold, Lalonde Gordon’s men’s 400m bronze, and the bronze medals earned in the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m events. Those four medals bettered the previous best haul of three, at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Voisin is hopeful T&T’s athletes will strike form at the right time, and replicate the country’s 2012 Olympic showing.

“There is no reason why the athletes should not do well. Kelly-Ann Baptiste has been performing well for the season...(Keston) Bledman also. Generally, I’m very optimistic. Once the athletes settle down, we can expect performances like last year.

“Moscow wouldn’t be one of the easiest Worlds, in terms of weather. It will be cold, from all indications. The athletes need to expect anything out of the ordinary,” Voisin ended, “and adapt as quickly as possible.”

T&T’s World Championship team will leave for Finland tomorrow for a ten-day training camp. The athletes will travel from Finland to Russia on Tuesday, August 6.

TEAM T&T

Men—Keston Bledman (100, 4x100), Richard Thompson (100, 4x100), Rondel Sorrillo (100, 4x100), Lalonde Gordon (200, 4x400), Kyle Greaux (200), Deon Lendore (400, 4x400), Jarrin Solomon (400, 4x400), Mikel Thomas (110 hurdles), Wayne Davis II (110 hurdles), Jehue Gordon (400 hurdles), Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Jamol James (4x100), Ayodele Taffe (4x100), Emmanuel Callender (4x100), Renny Quow (4x400), Machel Cedenio (4x400)

Women—Kelly-Ann Baptiste (100, 200, 4x100), Michelle-Lee Ahye (100, 200, 4x100), Kai Selvon (100, 200, 4x100, 4x400), Semoy Hackett (200, 4x100), Sparkle McKnight (400 hurdles, 4x400), Aleesha Barber (100 hurdles, 4x100), Cleopatra Borel (shot put), Reyare Thomas (4x100), Kamaria Durant (4x100), Shawna Fermin (4x400), Alena Brooks (4x400), Romona Modeste (4x400), Domonique Williams (4x400)

Officials—Dexter Voisin (manager), Ismael Lopez (throws coach), Ian Hypolite (sprints/hurdles coach), Gunness Persad (sprints/4x100 men coach), Charlie Joseph (sprints/4x400 men coach), Edwin Skinner (sprints/4x100 women coach), Gerard Franklyn (sprints/4x400 women coach), Anyl Gopeesingh (doctor), Ian Sharpe (massage therapist), Fitzbert Alleyne (massage therapist), Verne Alleyne (physiotherapist)

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Honesty is as important as sport science, sport nutrition etc in the quest to achieve 10 gold medals by the 2024 Olympic Games.
It takes courage to look in the mirror constantly .
We can all come up with reasons not to change or work harder.
But it takes honesty to ask the hard questions of yourself and to keep pushing for self improvement.
In the world of elite Olympic  and Commonwealth sports it comes down to who wants it most.
There is no play acting.
The journey towards 10 Olympic Gold medals by the year 2024 begins today and every day till our mission is achieved.
The TTOC and its member National Sport Organisations must believe that working together we can provide our athletes and coaches with the environment that will inspire and motivate and empower  them to fulfill their potential .
The goal is not just to compete or to qualify but to medal and then not just to medal but to hear the anthem and see the flag raise.
Team sports such as football, hockey,basketball, volleyball, netball and  rugby7s all have important decisions to make in terms of their seriousness about qualifying for the Olympic , Pan Am, CAC and Commonwealth Games.
10 Gold medals by 2024 is not just a medal target its an attitude adjustment , a lifestyle and mind set change.
Its a belief and value system that we are world best not just world class.
Honesty will enable us  to not seek solace in the comfort zone but to have the courage to  push the limits of our talent and potential .
What will it take and what do we have to do ? Let's not place limits on ourselves,our vision, potential and  abilities.

Brian Lewis

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA)

Olympic gold medallist Hasely Crawford chats with the children after paying an impromptu visit to one of the sports camps organised by the Sports Company of T&T last week. Crawford was warmly greeted by the children who got a chance to see his Olympic gold medal and Trinity Cross, the country’s highest honour.

Crawford is one of several sport ambassadors who will visit the camps this week to share their experiences in sport and offer advice for those aspiring to a career in the sport industry. Children can also expect a visit from Anil Roberts, Minister of Sport and elite swimming coach who will conduct a light training session.

The camps are an initiative of Sportt and the Ministry of Sport and started July 15. They will end August 2. They are designed to engage children and youth ages 7 to 17 in structured sporting activity led by trained coaches in 18 sporting disciplines.

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Junior CASA serves off

HOST country Trinidad and Tobago will have four players in the under-17 quarter-finals when the individual events of the CASA (Caribbean Area Squash Associaton) Junior Championships continues today at Cascadia Squash Club, St Clair, and  QPCC (Queen’s Park Cricket Club) Squash Club, Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair.

When the tournament served off yesterday, second-seeded Nku Patrick was in commanding form when he crushed Nesta Broderick of Cayman Islands 11-2, 11-1, 11-0.

Chad Salandy, who stunned Patrick in the final of the National Junior Championships last month, booked his place in the last eight with an 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-4 victory over Kion Knights of Bermuda. But Darnell Gittins went under in straight sets to top-seeded Nyron Joseph of Guyana and Chsd Edghill and James Lanser also failed to win a set from the OECS’ (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) Jason Doyle and Cayman Islands’ Julien Jervais, seeded third and fourth, respectively.

Both T&T Under-17 girls reached the last eight as Jamie Leigh Edghill was an 11-4, 11-9, 19-12, 15-13 winner over Jamaican Ashley Lynch and Faith Gillezeau whipped Alexandra                         Artuch of Bermuda 11-2., 11-2, 11-9.

Gillezeau’s brother Jacob was seeded in the top eight in the Under-19 category, but he was upset by Barbadian Brandon Straker. Patrick’s brother Mandela is the second seed in this draw.

Alexandria Yearwood won in straight sets to reach last night’s Under-15 quarters, joining compatriot Marie Claire Barcant, who had a bye in the first round.

But Gabriela Scott and all four T&T boys in the category, Jonathan Blanc, Nicholas Caddle, Carl Miller and Jeremy Nieves were beaten in the first round.

Aimee De Verteuil cruised past Goivana Alexander of the OECS 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 to move into last night’s under-13 quarters, but newcomer Lily Lanser lost her first match in four sets.

Kobie Khan and Rondell Campbell, this country’s boys in the division, also lost in the first round.

Charlotte Knaggs is this country’s only top seed and two-time defending Caribbean Under-17 champ was scheduled to begin her campaign in the Under-19 division after press time last night. T&T also had Talia Abdool and Angelique Jackson in the quarters of the spotlight division.

First serve today is 9 a.m.

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• KINGSTON


Jamaican sprint superstar Yohan Blake is recovering well but will miss the rest of the track season, his manager Cubie Seegobin has disclosed.

Blake has struggled with a stubborn hamstring injury, which he suffered in April and has since pulled out of next month’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow.

Blake, reportedly the second-highest earner in global athletics behind Usain Bolt, may have lost several millions since injuring his hamstring.

“Our thing is quality and it’s not that money isn’t needed, but we don’t need money to the point that we are going to exploit a situation,” Seegobin said.

“We just thank God that he is healthy and getting better and he is trying to get back to where he was.”

The 100m world champion, who it is understood earns in the region of US$150,000 in appearance fees alone, was previously forced to withdraw from meets in Edmonton, Shanghai and Doha, in addition to the Jamaica Invitational.

“He (Blake) would definitely like to go to the World Championships, anyone would,” Seegobin said in an interview with The Gleaner.

“But the mere fact that he is finally getting healthy and he is about three weeks away from being 100 per cent; but he won’t be right for the World Championships, the decision was made and he is okay about it now”.

Blake is the second-fastest athlete in both the 100m and 200m, with times of 9.69 and 19.26 respectively.

In addition to his 100m world title from 2011, the 23-year-old also won silver medals in the 100m and 200m at last year’s Olympic Games.

“We have always been about quality and not quantity, Blake is not a regular athlete, he is a Ferrari and we are not going to put him on track unless he is going to give the 100 per cent that everyone is accustomed to,” Seegobin added.

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T&T’s Ayanna Mc Clean has been appointed to umpire at the International Hockey Federation’s Junior World Cup tournament scheduled for Monchengladbach, Germany, from Saturday to August 4.

The former national hockey player is set to arrive in Germany today for the pre-tournament briefing and fitness test.

She has also accepted the appointment for the Pan Am Cup tournament in Mendoza, Argentina, from September 21-28. The winner of the Pan Am Cup qualifies for the 2014 Women’s World Cup in The Hague.

Mc Clean’s appointments follows being nominated for the World Umpiring Development Programme, a lead up to the World Cup and Olympic Games.

The Ventures Hockey Club member has also been appointed to carry the whistle as a neutral umpire at the South American Hockey Championships in Santiago, Chile, from March 6-16, 2014.

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Reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott has been named in a 29-member team by the National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) to represent T&T at the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships carded for Moscow, Russia from August 10 to 18.

Walcott is one of 16 men selected in release issued by the NAAA yesterday. He is the lone male field athlete on the team, despite missing the National Championships at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 21 to 23 due to an ankle injury.

London Olympic double bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon will be stepping down to do the men’s 200m and will also be part of the 4x400m team. Other London medallists Richard Thompson (men’s 100m/4x100m), Keston Bledman (men’s 100m/4x100m), Emmanuel Calendar (men’s 4x100m), Deon Lendore (men’s 400m/4x400m) and Jarrin Solomon (men’s 400/4x400m) are also part of the squad.

Former World Championships men’s 400m bronze medallist Renny Quow is also included for the men’s 4x400m with 2010 World Junior Champion Jehue Gordon listed to run the men’s 400m hurdles. Gordon holds the second fastest time in the world of 48.00 seconds set in winning at the Monaco Diamond League leg on July 19.

Leading the women’s line up will be reigning World Championships 100m bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste. The 26-year-old is currently the top female sprinter in the world after she sped to national record time of 10.83 in winning her seventh national title. Baptiste will contest the 100m, 200m and will lead the women’s 4x100m. Pan American and Commonwealth multiple medallist Cleopatra Borel got the nod for her fifth World Championships to contest the shot put. Olympic finalists Semoy Hackett (200m/4x100m), Kai Selvon (100m/200m/4x100m/4x400m), Michelle Lee Ahye (100m/200m/4x100m) and World Championships finalist Reyare Thomas ( 4x100m) are among the 13 women selected.

Among those making their World Championships debut will be the Carifta boys under 20 400m champion Machel Cedenio. The 17-year-old is part of the men’s 4x400m relay pool. Fellow juniors Ayodelle Taffe (men’s 4x100m) and Dominique Williams (women’s 4x400m) have also been included. This year’s NCAA Division One champion Wayne Davis 11 earned his first World Champs selection and will be joined by national record holder Mikel Thomas to contest the men’s 110m hurdles.

For the first time in history at the World Championships/Olympic level Trinidad and Tobago will be fielding four relay teams as the women’s 4x400m team will make their debut at the global stage. The quartet of Ramona Modeste, Shawna Fermin, Alena Brooks, and Sparkle Mc Knight surpassed the Moscow qualifying mark of 3:33.00 when they combined to clock 3:30.64 (national record) in winning the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior title in Mexico on July 7. The 29-member team will leave on July 25 for a ten day training camp in Finland before heading over the Russia. The contingent is set to return to T&T on August 20.

NAAA President Ephriam Serrette, along with General Secretary and North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Committee member Allan Baboolal will attend the IAAF Congress set for August 4 to 6, just before the start of the Championships. Assistant Secretary Dexter Voisin has been named as manager for the fifth straight World Championships.


TEAM

Men

• 100m-Keston Bledman (Simplex), Richard Thompson (Rebirth), Rondell Sorillo (La Brea)
• 200m-Lalonde Gordon (Tigers), Kyle Greaux (Abilene Wildcats)
• 400m-Deon Lendore (Abilene Wildcats), Jarrin Solomon (Memphis Pioneers)
• 110m Hurdles -Mikel Thomas (Rebirth), Wayne Davis 11 (Unattached)
• 400m Hurdles-Jehue Gordon (Memphis Pioneers)
• Javelin-Keshorn Walcott (Rebirth)
• 4x100m-Bledman, Thompson, Sorillo, Emmanuel Calendar (Memphis Pioneers), Jamol James (Memphis Pioneers), Ayodelle Taffe (Abilene Wildcats)
• 4x4000m-Lendore, Solomon, L Gordon, Renny (Quow (Zenith), Machel Cedenio (Simplex)

Women

• 100m-Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Zenith), Michelle-Lee Ahye (Rebirth), Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics)
• 200m-Baptiste, Ahye, Selvon, Semoy Hackett (Zenith)
• 400m hurdles-Sparkle McKnight (Neon Trackers)
• 100m Hurdles-Aleesha Barber (Rebirth)
• Shot Put-Cleopatra Borel (Unattached)
• 4x100m-Baptiste, Ahye, Selvon, Hackett, Kamaria Durant (Simplex), Reyare Thomas (Neon Trackers)
• 4x400m-Selvon, McKnight, Alena Brooks (Memphis Pioneers), Shawna Fermin (Memphis Pioneers), Dominique Williams (Neon Trackers), Ramona Modeste (Neon Trackers).

Officials

Manager-Dexter Voisin

Coaches-Ismael Lopez-Mastrapa (Throws), Dr. Ian Hypolite (Sprints/Hurdles), Gunness Persad (Sprints-Men’s 4x100m), Charles Joseph (Sprints-Men’s 4x400m), Edwin Skinner (Sprints-Women’s 4x100m), Gerard Franklyn (Sprints-Women’s 4x400m).

Medical-Dr Anil Gopeesingh

Massage Therapist-Ian Sharpe, Fitzherbert Alleyne

Physiotherapist-Dr Verne Alleyne

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Many types of speculation have long been rife as to the conditions of slavery in T&T. Relatively little documentation exists on this matter and it is left to historians to piece together scraps of evidence to arrive at the truth. With the decimation of the native Amerindian population from European diseases, a small group of hapless Guinea natives were imported into Trinidad in 1701 to provide forced labour for the small cocoa plantations which then comprised the entire economy. In 1783 a wily Frenchman named Philippe Roume de St Laurent, with the support of the Spanish crown, introduced a Cedula of Population which offered lands to Catholic settlers in proportion to the number of slaves they owned, with the allocation halved for coloured proprietors. As a result thousands of slaves from the French Antilles came to the island. In 1786 Picot de Lapeyrouse planted the first sugar cane crop in the area of the cemetery which still bears his name, and the sugar plantocracy was born.

In Tobago, a long period of conflict between the European metropoles that lasted from the 1630s to 1762 culminated in the first permanent British settlement at Georgetown, which is present-day Studley Park. Eight years later, from the shadow of Fort Granby, Godney Clarke shipped the first load of sugar from the island which had been cultivated by slave labour. Although living memory associated work in the sugar cane fields as characteristically “Indian,” it must not be forgotten that for almost a century prior to the introduction of indentured labour, slaves watered the cane with blood, sweat and tears. The early 19th century saw a rapid expansion of the sugar industry in Trinidad, whilst that of Tobago was already well-developed with almost all the arable lands on the island being under waving fields of cane. The lack of cultivation in Trinidad meant that the new sugar lands were almost all clothed in dense forest that had to be cleared.

Some areas, like the Caroni Plain, were mosquito-and caiman-infested swamps which had to be drained. This river was used as a highway to the sea and the Guiseppi family of Valsayn set their slaves to carve a channel through a sandbar which obscured the mouth. Once the brute toil of clearing the forests was done, the work of planting began. Fields were dug by hand and laid out in rows and furrows. Holes were delved at intervals and slips of cane planted in them. Though sugar cane can be allowed to ratoon (grow from established rootstock) for several years after propagation, a profitable estate would see a total repeat of the hole-ing or replanting every three years to avoid loss of sucrose content. The growing canes had to be weeded and manured with animal waste. It was at the beginning of the dry season, however, that the truly arduous labour began.

Fields were fired to clear them of trash and cut. Very few estates had a steam engine mill before 1840 and thus canes were fed by hand into windmills, watermills or animal-mills where mules or cattle were tethered to a turntable of two huge stone crushers. This was dangerous work and pulverised limbs were common. The extracted cane juice had to be boiled. In those days sugar was the muscovado type—sort of like a wet lump—and crystals would not be seen until the vacuum pan system was introduced in the 1860s. Slaves would be compelled to work in boiling houses, over large copper basins (many of which still survive as garden ornaments) that were mounted in brick stoves over roaring fires. The boiled juice had to be ladled by hand in a series of stages until clarified and reduced enough to be packed in hogshead barrels to cool. Scalding was common and work at the boiling house was on a 24-hour basis until all the sugar cane had been cleared and milled.

After the crop had been processed, a crop-over festival was held, although this innocent pleasure was often subject to the will of the planter. In Tobago, the massa would be expected to give a young bull for the feast as well as some of the rum distilled on the plantation, whilst the slaves brought in ground provisions. Although this tradition died out in Trinidad with the coming of Indian indentured labour (and the post-emancipation move of Afro-Trinidadians away from the canefields), it remained part of Tobago life until the middle of the 19th century.

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Let’s see what happens now.
Trinidad and Tobago, under the direction of the recently-arrived Stephen Hart and, I suppose, the general supervision from distance of Leo Beenhakker, are out of the Gold Cup. But they played better than expected, even when going down by the only goal of the game to Mexico in the quarter-finals in the United States on Saturday night.
Better, certainly, than under the watch of co-head coaches Jamaal Shabazz and Huston Charles, notwithstanding the fact that it was the local pair who qualified the national side for the premier tournament in the CONCACAF region. Now, just so the issues aren’t confused, it doesn’t mean that Raymond Tim Kee’s decision to bring in Hart and recall Beenhakker last month must automatically be seen as an inspired decision by the Football Association boss or indeed validates the widely-shared view that the only way our football can make positive strides on the international stage is exclusively through foreign or foreign-based expertise.
What our many supposed football experts need to tell us is what the Trini-born Canadian and venerable Dutchman were able to impart that resulted in such a significant improvement in the team’s performances in such a short space of time. Assuming they can be honest and not engage in the usual charade of banging their own drums or kissing up or talking a lot while saying nothing so as not to jeopardise the removal of their snouts from whatever trough it is buried in, it would be interesting to hear if the change is as a result of superior tactical awareness or better inter-personal skills, or a combination of those and other elements.
Or was it simply a case of having most of the best players available for the first time in a few years? Why did it appear that Kenwyne Jones, often a disinterested spectator for most of his previous 55 internationals, was so much more involved, not just from the point of often being the battling lone target man up front, but so obviously vocal and energetic in urging on his teammates?
Speculation will no doubt continue over whether the national side would have been able to pull off the shock victory over the Mexicans, and not just frustrate them until Raul Jimenez’s 84th minute goal, if Khaleem Hyland was still there to bolster the midfield. In agreeing to the return of the player to his Belgian club Genk following the group phase of the competition, was Tim Kee essentially conceding that either he didn’t expect the team to reach the knockout phase or, on the other hand, that making the quarter-finals was mission accomplished whatever else transpired?
Based on what we’ve seen of Panama, not just in the 6-1 thrashing of Cuba in the first game of the double-header in Atlanta but also the general style and substance of their play in the group phase, it’s probably just as well that we didn’t advance to meet them in the semi-finals on Wednesday. The pace at which they play, coupled with the skill level, would have had us chasing shadows and left Jan-Michael Williams more exposed in goal than he was against Mexico.
Panama kicked off the tournament by upsetting the Mexicans and should prove the result was no fluke by eliminating the defending champions on the way to the final. It would be interesting to get a better understanding of what has accounted for the significant improvement in the quality of their football and whether it can be explained by a better domestic structure, the role of head coach Dely Valdes (a Panamanian by the way), the availability of all the top foreign-based talent, or the happy coincidence of all three factors.
An hour into the game at the Georgia Dome, Hart was seen on the sideline motioning to his players to cool it, to slow down the pace of the game. However the tempo can only be dictated if you control the ball. That clearly wasn’t the case for Trinidad and Tobago, as well as they played. The tactics of that quarter-final was a throwback to the World Cup finals in Germany seven years ago, when Shaka Hislop in goal defied Sweden in the opening game but eventually succumbed to cumulative pressure with less than ten minutes to go in the following fixture against England.
This time though, there was no consolation along the lines of Peter Crouch pulling on Brent Sancho’s dreadlocks in leaping for the telling header. Even if the defence was playing with a bit more cohesion and determination, to be giving away possession so regularly coming out from the back meant that the Mexicans, even with their growing nervousness and palpable sense of panic, were able to try, try and try again until they eventually broke through.
So let’s see if we can actually build from this Gold Cup experience.
In the absence of a World Cup qualifying campaign to return to, will the national team now become effectively dormant until the next Caribbean Football Union tournament and, hopefully, Gold Cup in two years’ time? Will the next international game, whenever or wherever it is played, result in another deal being swung by the TTFA president that complements or contradicts what has just been put in place?
Even if the Gold Cup experience was encouraging, translating that into continuous improvement and greater consistency requires a level of discipline and respect for process that goes against the grain of the way the business of football is conducted around here.

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After a disheartening 1-0 loss to Mexico in their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday night, Trinidad and Tobago’s coach Stephen Hart believes that a new course must be charted for the Soca Warriors.
“I think we have to sit down and look at the direction of the national team. Bring in some young players and give them some experience. We had quite a few in this tournament here, but there are others we would like to see in future games and assess what work needs to be done with the young players based on what we saw in this tournament,” Hart told the Express.
Hart stressed the importance of infusing young blood into the team for its future development.
Players in their thirties like Carlos Edwards and Denzil Theobald would be some of the players paving the way for the younger players.
Hart indicated the Soca Warriors still had a lot of work to do. “I think we need to possess the ball better, keep it out of the feet of the opposition. That needs to improve and our ability to attack with a little more variety. The fullbacks didn’t get involved at all and we need to work on that.”
Analysing the team’s overall performance Hart said: “ I thought in the first half we did quite well and created some very good opportunities. The Mexican keeper made a big save off Andre Boucard. But the second half we could have been more calm and better on the ball and attack with a little more variety. Our full-backs were way too cautious in second half and I could not get them to go forward.”
Striker Kenwyne Jones who captained the team for the second consecutive game, said the players gave as much as they could. “I am proud of the team knowing our preparation was really short and not really that good. I think we made a lot of progress over a short period of time,” he stated.
Looking ahead to the future of the national team, Jones said they have to once again qualify for this tournament and then look ahead to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. “We have to continue to build. I think with Stephen Hart in the setup now, we have good prospects.”

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Asafa Powell’s physical trainer, Chris Xuereb, has denied claims he was to blame for the positive drug tests recorded by Powell and Jamaican team-mate Sherone Simpson.

And Xuereb has insisted that it was time for the athletes to take “responsibility for their doping, instead of looking around for a scapegoat”.

The trainer was accused by the athletes’ manager, Paul Doyle, of supplying them with contaminated dietary supplements after putting them on a new course of vitamins recently.

They subsequently tested positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine. Doyle told the Daily Telegraph: “Asafa’s had probably 150 to 200 clear tests in the past.

"He starts working with a new physio who gives him new supplements and all of a sudden he has a positive test in his first test. It’s obvious there’s no other reason why he would have tested positive other than something being in the new supplements he’s been taking.”

But, in a statement released to a number of media outlets, Xuereb refuted the claims and said he had given the athletes only legal substances.


He said: “Both athletes are clearly looking for a scapegoat. I am confident, and I have also spoken to researchers and the police, that I have done nothing wrong.

“I am extremely disappointed that these athletes have chosen to blame me for their own violations. WADA [the World Anti-Doping Agency] and the public needs to stop accepting these stories and hold these athletes accountable.”

Xuereb and the two athletes have been placed under formal police investigation in Italy after officers arrived at their base in Lignano in the north of the country on Sunday evening and seized supplements and medicines from their rooms.

According to Doyle, the athletes had requested the police raid after contacting WADA following their positive tests.

In his statement, Xuereb claimed that the confiscated products had been found to be legal, though on Tuesday Italian police said they were still looking for a suitable laboratory for the substances to be analysed.

According to media reports in Xuereb’s native Canada, the trainer was referred to Doyle by a Toronto chiropractor, Carmine Stillo.

Doyle, who had worked with Stillo previously, asked him if he could recommend a therapist who was free to start work at short notice to treat a hamstring injury suffered by Powell in Australia in March.

Stillo said he told Doyle that Xuereb had “good hands” but also warned that he had no professional qualifications as a physiotherapist.

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It takes a lot to knock the smile off a Jamaican’s face. If you have seen the 1990s movie Cool Runnings, then you know exactly what I am talking about - bad accents and all.

Jamaicans have struggled with many issues in the past and continue to face mounting challenges on a daily basis, all with customary island cheerfulness. Contentment in crisis, some may call it.

A crumbling economy? “No problem.” One of the highest crime rates in the world? “No problem.” But where track and field is concerned, there is very little for Jamaicans to smile about these days.

For many, athletics - and sprinting in particular - has served as a sort of Shangri-La, an escape from the crude realities on ‘The Rock’. Over the better part of the last decade, athletics not only replaced football and cricket as the island’s No 1 sport, it also became the main unifying force for Jamaicans and one of the few things that still stir national pride, keeping that island ideal intact.

So when news broke that five Jamaicans, including Asafa Powell - perhaps the most beloved athlete on the island - had tested positive for banned substances, the sense of shock and dismay was palpable.

Given my role in breaking the story, I found myself being subjected to conflicting forces. I know each and every one of these accused athletes involved on a personal level, and breaking and reporting on their positive results have not always been without human sentiment.



But as a professional, there must remain a commitment to the facts and a pursuit for accuracy and truth. There are some in Jamaica who may have preferred those facts not be carried as boldly by the press here, but the vast majority, like myself, are only interested in the truth.

There has been no escape from the story for the last seven days. It has dominated every form of media and continues to be the No 1 news item a week on.

Maybe that is no surprise. Powell, a former 100-metres world record holder, two-time World Championships bronze medallist and relay gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympic Games, is, as he puts it, the “golden baby” of Jamaican sports. He is also, probably, the most loved among the locals – more so than Usain Bolt, despite his world records and Olympic gold medals.

This comes as a huge shock for persons outside of Jamaica and even for some here at home. Perhaps it is because Powell is seen as the man who kick-started Jamaica’s era of sprinting prowess in 2004 when he recorded his first sub-10sec time in the 100m. Ordinary Jamaicans also find it easier to identify with Powell: he is the more reserved, ‘friend-next-door’ persona, as opposed to the colourful and extravagant Bolt.

For Jamaicans, these revelations were devastating. The country had a proud history in sprinting anyway - dating back to 1948, when Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley took each other to the line - but in 2008, the island emerged as the world’s sprinting capital.

New stars such as Bolt, Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown (another who has tested positive for drugs in recent weeks), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Melaine Walker and Kerron Stewart turned Jamaica helped themselves to a record 11 medals, including a sweep of all the sprints, and turned the island into a marketing powerhouse.

Back home, athletes and their coaches rose to near-deity status, gods and goddesses among mere mortals. They adorn billboards and TV spots, their every move is covered in the morning’s press. They are community champions, who draw attention at every turn.

A Jamaican athlete is an instant focal point in any setting on the island. There is always a fan wanting to meet them, take pictures or simply chat.

Powell, Bolt, Yohan Blake and Fraser-Pryce are the faces of multimillion-dollar ad campaigns, advertising everything from water to cell phones. Motorcades and ceremonies are the norm for athletes returning from major championships and Bolt even has an honourary degree and a ‘Order of Distinction’ to his name – the sixth in order of precedence in the Jamaican honours system. The sprinter even turned down suggestions to have a highway named in his honour.

Yet even the most ardent of athletics fan can admit that the island’s brand has taken a major hit. Many are still willing to give the athletes the benefit of doubt, but still key questions remain unanswered. Was the scandal born out of a real intention to cheat or were the athletes simply careless or led to believe that the supplements that they claim to be taking were in fact legit? And how far does this problem spread?

Jamaica has come a long way in their anti-doping efforts. Five years ago, the government passed legislation to create the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (Jadco), giving the organisation a £410,000 kitty. One could argue that it has worked for the most part, as the organisation continues to pull in ‘positive’ results. Some 15 positive tests from 860 samples have been uncovered by Jadco over the past four years. But there is so much more that needs to be done.

Officials will always point to budgetary limitations but there is a feeling that there needs to be more out-of-competition testing. Also, education must also be a major elements of their duty and I am of the view that not enough is being done to sensitise all involved to the prohibitions and the many pitfalls.

These are questions that politicians and administrators must address, as the country’s No 1 sport faces a challenge like never before. Is Jamaican sprinting dead? No. But it has suffered serious injury. It is time to look at the problem before its condition becomes terminal.

Andre Lowe is a reporter for the Jamaica Gleaner

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Olympic cyclist Njisane Phillip is standing behind the decision of his close friend and fellow Olympic athlete Andrew Lewis who has broken his silence about struggles with both dyslexia and the attention-deficit disorder (ADD).

At a recent fund-raiser hosted by energy company Atlantic at Digicel IMAX in Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, held in aid of the Dyslexia Association of T&T and the Special Child Foundation at Digicel IMAX Lewis revealed that he was diagnosed at age nine, while attending Dunross Preparatory School.

Fourteen years on, Lewis, 23, said he felt the time was right to come clean with the public and help to raise the national awareness level for these causes which are so commonly misunderstood.

In a T&T Guardian interview Phillip, who also suffers from ADD, admitted to being surprised by Lewis’ decision to go public with things he had long kept private, but declared his unswerving support for his comrade.

Phillip is in France competing at a cycling grand prix for qualification in the Cycling World Cup scheduled for later this year.

He also has its sights set on next year’s World Championships and ultimately the Olympic Games in 2016 scheduled to take place in Brazil.

He said, “We all have difficulties. We are not perfect. It should motivate and show youngsters that even with difficulties you can still make it and be successful in life. Andrew is a really close friend of mine. I didn't know, but it was nice and brave of him to let the world know about his condition.

“…Haven’t spoken to him since and I didn’t know till you told me. I think it would create a better understanding and (I) hope it inspires many to come clean.”

It’s almost impossible to detect that either professional athlete have these challenges. Even with ADD Phillips manages to retain his focus both in training and during competition.

For Lewis, it’s the same. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia the sailor is capable of reading a compass and navigating the vast ocean alone in his laser craft.

And, in no way does Phillip, who has a passion for track and field and boxing too, consider himself as being different. He was convinced that it’s the same for Lewis.

Underscoring his commitment and dedication to do his best always Phillip declared he was never afraid to work and make the necessary sacrifices for the national good.

Pointing to his London 2012 experiences, Phillip explained when he missed out on the bronze medal he used to wake up at 4 am to train. Convinced that success has not escaped him, he said training now starts an hour earlier all with the hope of bringing him firmly within reach of a medal.

While Lewis focuses on advancing the rate at which he reads, Phillip was desirous of going back to school.

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Dramatic imagery from some of Scotland’s most famous views took on a quirky ONE-off look to celebrate today’s (Tuesday July 23) historic ‘One Year to Go’ milestone for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

From the bleak beauty of Glen Etive (which provided the memorable backdrop to the last Bond movie, Skyfall) to the breathtaking elegance of the Edinburgh skyline, the message that Glasgow and Scotland are counting down to the biggest sporting occasion in the nation’s history was writ large in the landscape – with a 16ft inflatable number one.

A series of nine portraits were commissioned by Glasgow 2014, each capturing a different aspect of the home nation for next summer’s Commonwealth Games – from its natural beauty, historic landmarks, iconic sporting fields of play or its connections with the Games themselves.

The images will be shared across 71 nations and territories as Commonwealth Games Associations from Tuvalu to Tanzania to mark the date in exactly one year’s time on which a spectacular Opening Ceremony will officially launch the start of a great sporting occasion for 4,500 of the world’s top athletes.

In Glasgow today (July 23) the major milestone is set to be marked in celebratory style with a series of magical and fun moments involving top athletes, thousands of people across the city and the nation  and led by Glasgow 2014 Ambassador and six-time Olympian and double Commonwealth Gold medal winner, Sir Chris Hoy.

Sir Chris is set to start the day by hosting a people’s bike challenge and a Breakfast of Champions in the middle of the city’s main shopping zone, Buchanan Street. Glasgow 2014’s cheeky mascot Clyde will also take to the streets to join dancers, musicians and street performers in showcasing how vibrant the city will feel at Games time.

At the heart of the day’s action will be the unveiling of the Glasgow 2014 Official Ticketing Guide – the route to up to one million seats at the heart of the Games live action, across 17 sports. The Ticketing Guide, featuring stunning athletic imagery from across the sports programme sets out full details of how everyone can be part of an accessible and affordable Commonwealth Games.

Ticket prices start at £15 for all sports, with half-price tickets for under-16s and over -60s. Two thirds of all sports tickets are £25 or under and there are no booking fees for any tickets. The ticket price also includes public transport in the local area on the day of the sports session.

Commenting on the milestone moment Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, said:

“Today marks an important moment in the journey towards the biggest sporting and cultural festival Glasgow and Scotland has ever hosted.

“With one year to go, the Organising Committee is making great strides towards our ultimate goal of delivering an outstanding Games for the athletes of the Commonwealth.

“I’m delighted to see how the city and the nation are getting set to welcome the world to enjoy our landscape, our friendship and truly great international sport.”

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland said:

“Just as these wonderful images show off some of the most iconic parts of Scotland, athletes across the length and breadth of the country are training hard and competing to the best of their ability, to secure their place on Team Scotland and realise their dream of competing in a home Commonwealth Games.

“In exactly one year’s time Team Scotland’s athletes will be ready to go up against the best in the Commonwealth and make their mark at the biggest international sporting event to come to these shores. We urge the public to support them in their quest for success at Glasgow 2014.”

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said:

“A great deal of hard work has been invested since Glasgow was announced as the 2014 host city. Over the next 12 months, the pride and excitement of hosting these Games will continue to grow as the venues and village are made ready and our volunteers are trained.

“People across Scotland, and the world, will now start planning their journey to witness the biggest international sporting event our country has ever hosted. As these iconic images show, Scotland has a great deal to offer our welcome visitors.”

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council said

“The milestone of One Year To Go until the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games means an even greater level of anticipation as we all get ready for the greatest event o be staged in the city.  Like so many others, I am really looking forward to welcoming many of the world’s greatest athletes to the city next summer, as well as the huge number of visitors who will come to see the Games.

“The work by the council and our partners to prepare for the Games has gone exceptionally well so far and I am confident that we will host the best Games ever held.  The preparations for 2014 have already left a legacy for Glasgow in so many ways and I am sure we will look back on an unforgettable event that transformed not just Glasgow but how the city is seen by the world.”

Mike Hooper, Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive said:

“One Year to Go is a significant milestone for every Commonwealth Games and, while Glasgow will be the centre of the celebrations, it is an occasion that will be marked across the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth as anticipation levels build ahead of the Games next summer.”

Note to Editors

1. The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of

athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the XX Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of 15,000 volunteers. Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.

1. Glasgow 2014 family of official sponsors is Longines, SSE, Emirates, Virgin Media, BP, Harper

Macleod, Search Consultancy, Ernst & Young, Atos, Dell, Toshiba TEC, A.G. Barr, NVT Group, Cisco, RGS, Trespass, Riedel, and Ticketmaster

1. The Glasgow 2014 Number One Image Collection features:

• The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews
• The shoreline of Carnoustie – Angus will host Glasgow 2014’s Shooting Competition at nearby Barry Buddon
• The skyline of Edinburgh from Calton Hill – the city will host Glasgow 2014’s Diving Competition at the Royal Commonwealth Pool
• The Forth Rail Bridge
• Ben Lomond from the shores of Loch Lomond
• Glen Etive in the Highlands
• Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium, the SSE Hydro and the Finneston Crane
• The RRS Discovery in Dundee
• Stirling Castle

1. Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.

1. For further information please contact matthew.williams@glasgow2014.com or on 030 2014 0133

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) 13^th annual Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) will be held from Monday 22^nd to Saturday 27^th July, 2013 at Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. The camp gets underway at 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning.

The theme “Educate, Empower, Evolve” guides the camp’s activities and will provide a balanced Olympic experience incorporating Sports, Culture and Education.  The youth campers aged 13 to 16 years will learn about communication, etiquette, conflict resolution and other social skills. The young athletes in addition to sporting activities will participate in art, dance and drama.

Kwanieze John and Jeannette Small are the coordinators for the one week camp. Presenters will include Olympian Sheridan Kirk and national volleyball player Renele Forde.

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