Caribbean Sports In Brief – A Diaspora Organization Still Struggles To Support Athletes & More

West Indies’ Chadwick Walton (top) collides with Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad as he secures his wicket from a run-out attempt during the second of four-T20I-match between West Indies and Pakistan at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on March 30, 2017. (Photo credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Compiled By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 31, 2017: Here are the stories making headlines in sports from the Caribbean and its Diaspora for this week ending Mar. 31, 2017.

Diaspora Organization With Famous Alumni Still Struggles

A Caribbean Diaspora organization that has helped feed and support many Caribbean athletes, including some of Jamaica’s now famous Olympians, is still struggling to keep on serving.

Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB), formed in 1994, under the leadership of Irwine G. Clare Sr., O.D., to host young high school and college athletes from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean at the annual Penn Relays, continues to be hampered by lack of funding, according to officials.

The group, which provides three hot meals daily and provides ground transportation, chiropractic and medical services as well as assistance with hotel accommodation to Caribbean athletes participating at the Philadelphia relays, continues to face fundraising challenges against the backdrop of operational changes at the Penn Relays where corporate sponsorship now falls under the Relays management ambit.

But the group is undeterred. “As things change, we have to constantly innovate when it comes to fundraising,” said Clare. “What we have seen in recent years is a willingness of individuals to host private events to assist us. We are a resilient organization. We continue to diversify our efforts and solidify our mission as our athletes and ambassadors remain our priority.”

And so the NY-based non-profit is pushing in enthusiastically with a range of fundraising activities planned including the annual breakfast in New York, which is now in its 5th year as well a brunch held in Philadelphia and a Caribbean Cuisine Week, April 25-28 in Philadelphia, organized by Young Caribbean Professional Network (YCPN) where participating restaurants will donate proceeds from sales to the organization. TJB will also host three church services across the NY-tri-boroughs and one in Philadelphia and for the first time a (proposed) “Bickle Week” in New York.

Donations to TJB may be made at teamjamaicabickle.org/ or by mail to 242-14 Merrick Blvd., Rosedale, NY 11422.

Through the years TJB has also lent assistance to other sport organizations and athletes. Its most recently hosted the Special Olympic athletes in New York and has runs a “Defibrillator to Schools,” program that seeks to outfit as many high schools in Jamaica as possible with defibrillators.

West Indies

The West Indies cricket squad fought back yesterday but their best effort was not enough as Pakistan ended up taking a thrilling win in the second T-20 match held at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad Thursday. The West Indies chased 133 after a clumsy run-out after a collision between Evin Lewis and Pakistan’s Shadab Khan.  Marlon Samuels took the attack to Pakistan’s bowlers helping his side to 129 for 8, just runs short of the win. West Indies were again their own worst enemy at times, with sloppy fielding gifting Pakistan at least 15 runs. Pakistan now cannot lose the four-match series, having taken a 2-0 lead. The third T20I will be played on April 1, at the same venue.

Boys & Girls Champs Jamaica

Approximately 3,100 athletes from high schools across Jamaica are participating in the annual Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

A special opening ceremony will be held at the stadium today, Friday, March 31 from 5 p.m. The event will run until April 1, 2017: Among the top schools participating are Calabar High, Wolmer’s High, Jamaica College, St. Jago High, Kingston College, Titchfield High, Immaculate Conception High, Munro College and The Queen’s School.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Observer is reporting that Chief Executive Officer of Pepsico Inc North America Albert P “Al” Carey, will be at the event this weekend as a guest of Kingston College. Carey was reportedly convinced to visit the event by KC Old Boy and President of the Kingston College Old Boys Association, Florida Chapter, Audley Hewett.

New Post For West Indies Legend

West Indies legend Michael Holding has a new post. The former fast bowler has been appointed as president of former club Derbyshire in England.

Holding, 63, was part of the Windies’ feared attack during the 1970s and 80s and took 249 Test wickets. He also played for Derbyshire for six seasons from 1983.

In reacting to his new role, he said it was a “great honor.”

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Jamaica will take on Curacao in Group C in the first round of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football Gold Cup on July 9th, tournament officials announced this week.

Mexico will face El Salvador at Qualcomm Stadium also on July 9th after beating Trinidad and Tobago this week a 1-0.

The U.S. team will open play July 8th against Panama in Nashville.

This week Nicaragua beat Haiti out of a Gold Cup spot with a six-minute hat trick to win 4-3 while

The semifinals will be held in Arlington, Texas, July 22nd and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena July 23rd. The final will take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on July 26th.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is played every two years.