Michelangelo Jacobus

GFF’s Forde urges persons to donate blood to save lives

On Tuesday, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF),Wayne Forde donated one unit of blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service as part of World Blood Donor Day observance.

The day was observed on June 14 under the theme “Safe Blood Save Lives” and carried the tagline “Give Blood And Make The World A Healthier Place.”

According to a press release from the GFF, Forde shared a personal story highlighting the importance of giving blood: “I have had the first-hand experience of how frightening it can be for a patient when they are faced with the possibility of not being able to access blood for lifesaving medical procedures. Almost 32 years ago, I watched my aunt, who eventually passed, having to wait until family members donated blood, before she could be treated. This can be any of us.”

The GFF boss further urged persons to be regular and voluntary blood donors saying “… you could be saving your own life.”

World Blood Donor Day is set aside to honour blood donors and, among others, raise awareness of the importance of donating safe, voluntary, non- remunerated blood. It is believed that one unit of blood can save up to three lives.

Imlach, Lewis complete Guyana Jaguars Super50, Regional 4-day roster

Exciting wicket-keeper batsman Tevin Imlach and right-arm offspinner Ramaal Lewis are the two players who complete the Guyana Jaguars 15-man roster for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup and West Indies Championship (Regional 4-day tournament).

Lewis was snapped up by the Jaguars in the first round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Players draft on Monday afternoon. The 23-year-old Jamaican makes a return to the Guyana side after being drafted by the then defending champions in 2019; meanwhile Imlach who was the Jaguars second round pick also makes a return to the side for a third consecutive season.

In a press release late on Monday afternoon, CWI also noted; “A significant move in the draft saw Ashmead Nedd, joining the Leeward Islands Hurricanes as their first-round pick. The left-arm spinner hails from Guyana and was one of the leading performers for the West Indies at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year”.

“Joining Nedd as a contracted player, are his West Indies Under-19 captain Kimani Melius, who was picked up by the Windward Islands Volcanoes, and fast bowler Jayden Seales who was contracted by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force”.

However, Melius and Seales were listed ahead of the draft as protected players by their respective franchises.

Commenting after the completion of the draft on Monday afternoon, CWI’s Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams said, “I am pleased to have gotten the regional franchise draft completed. Franchises can now focus on implementing post-lockdown training to gradually build towards their full programs. Obviously, we are all hopeful that we will soon be given the all-clear by the respective Governments to resume full franchise operations.”

The Guyana Jaguars squad reads; Veersammy Permaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson, Keon Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Vishaul Singh, Nial Smith, Akshaya Persaud, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach and Ramaal Lewis.

Smith, Sinclair and Persaud among protected Guyana Jaguars players

– CWI Professional Players draft set for Monday

The young fast bowling sensation from Berbice, Nial Smith along with all-rounder Kevin Sinclair (also from Berbice) and top-order batsman Akshaya Persaud have been listed among 13 protected players for the Guyana Jaguars franchise ahead of Monday’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) professional Players draft.

The draft will complete the respective franchise teams for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup and the West Indies Four-Day Championship via a Zoom meeting.

According to a press release from CWI; “the draft shall be conducted over two rounds and each franchise must pick a player in each round. Based on CWI’s draft structure, each franchise will contract a minimum of 15 players, 13 pre-selected and the two from the player pool during the live draft. The event will be monitored by CWI’s auditors KPMG to ensure that the process is carried out efficiently and smoothly”.

Meanwhile CWI’s Cricket Operations Manager, Roland Holder said,“The draft, now in its seventh (7th) year, demonstrates that CWI remains committed to our professional cricket structure and system, even in these times of uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ninety (90) regional players who will be awarded regional franchise contracts, will be able to train and practice professionally as CWI hopes for a return to regional cricket later this year.”

For the 2020-21 season, each franchise will be allocated a pick number according to their final league position and performance of the franchise in the 2019-20 West Indies Championship. They will have 90 seconds in each round to make a pick. Where a selection is not made within this time period, the franchise will miss their turn and will have to wait until all of the other Franchises have made their selection in that round, before making its selection.

The CWI Board of Directors has agreed that the requirement to contract at least two players from outside of the Franchise territory will not apply to the 2020/21 season. In keeping with a wide range of short-term recommendations from the CWI Financial Strategy Advisory Committee that were approved by the Board of Directors at the end of May, all contracts will be awarded for a 6-month term, at a 50% reduced value.

Miguel Wong

The third of four siblings, Wong’s journey with a racquet in hand began when his father made a makeshift table under their house where the two would play after school. His love affair with table tennis continued throughout his school days as he recalls playing during lunch breaks and after school on a small table. He got into serious table tennis after playing his first local tournament in 2011 and in which he placed fourth in the U-13 category. It was at this tournament that he was approached and recruited by his current coach Dwain Dick to join the Titans Table Tennis Club which he has called home since 2011.

Currently based in Germany where he is engaged in a High Perfomance Training stint at the Topspin Sport Tishtennis Center in the City of Bad Aibling, Wong’s short term goal is to be living in Europe, playing in the leagues and attending more international tournaments.
In the long run, Wong envisions having his own table tennis centre and coaching active players. “Table tennis is all I know and it’s what I want to continue to do. I’ve been doing this for the past 10 years and it has given me so many opportunities and taken me to so many places”.

Wong’s advice to younger players during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is; “try to stay active by doing little exercises at home and to use this time to develop a new skill”.

On the lighter side of things, his favourite players are Timo Boll of Germany, Simon Gauzy of France and Zhang Jike of China.

If he’s not training, Wong is either resting, watching movies or learning new skills (language, games, etc) by socialising with other players. “By doing this I get to learn more about their countries, culture, languages and this is how I get to see the world without travelling to that country”.

Sparta Boss, Future Stars dumped out of Magnum Mash Futsal, Gold is Money through to Q/Finals

Kingston solidified their status as dark horses, eliminating defending champion Sparta 3-1 in the biggest upset ever recorded in the Magnum Tonic Wine Mashramani Cup Futsal Championship on Thursday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Kingston prevailed in the round of 16 showdown to ensure a new champion will be crowned in the prestigious championship. Stephon Reynolds fashioned a hat-trick in the third, sixth and 10th minute. For the loser, Gregory Richardson netted in the eighth minute.
Kingston will now oppose Spartacus in the quarterfinal section slated for this evening at the same venue, after the latter mauled Broad Street 6-1. Moore smashed three goals in the ninth, 11th and 16th minute while Mark Carrega tallied a double in the fifth and 18th minute.
Adding a goal in the 14th minute was Osric Barrow. For the loser, Omar Sinclair scored in the seventh minute. Meanwhile, Bent Street crushed Mocha 5-0. Sheldon Holder scored a hat trick in the fourth, fifth and seventh minute while Colin Nelson and Jermaine Beckles netted in the ninth and 17th minute respectively.
Their quarterfinal opponent Sophia edged Ansa McAl All-Stars 3-2 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended 3-3. Gerald Grittens tallied a double in the fifth and seventh minute for Sophia while Joshua Kamal netted in the ninth minute.
For Ansa McAl, Shamar Fraser recorded a double in the 12th and 18th minute while Akin Curry scored in the fourth minute. On the other hand, Gold is Money and Leopold Street will face-off in the quarterfinal round following hard-fought wins.
Leopold Street bested Avocado Ballers 2-0. Omallo Williams and Darren Benjamin netted in the eighth and 10th minute correspondingly. Gold is Money edged Alexander Village 2-1. Randolph Wagner and Andrew Murray scored in the seventh and 18th minute respectively. For the loser, Shem Porter scored in the sixth minute.
Meanwhile Back Circle and Rio All-Stars will do battle in the final quarterfinal fixture. Back Circle earned their place in the final eight section after defeating Albouystown 2-0. Donovan Francis and Selwyn Williams scored in the 17th and 18th minute respectively.
On the other hand, Rio All-Stars needled Future Stars 1-0. Jermaine Junior scored in the 12th minute. The winner of the respective quarterfinal matches will progress to the semifinal round on February 15th.
Winner of the event will pocket $600,000 and the championship trophy, while the second place side will collect $400,000 and the respective accolade. On the other hand, the third and fourth place unit will receive $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy.