Caribbean Sports Roundup

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 12, 2018: Here are the top stories making Caribbean sports news for the week ending, April 12, 2019:

WEST INDIES CRICKET

Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerritt, this week executed several reforms, including replacing West Indies head coach, Richard Pybus. Floyd Reifer has been confirmed as interim head coach, a role he previously filled on West Indies’ tour to Bangladesh last year.

The entire selection panel has also been replaced, with Robert Haynes replacing Courtney Browne as interim head of selectors.

Skerritt also indicated that West Indies’ selection policy would change fundamentally and suggested that West Indies would favor homegrown coaches going forward, with a policy that stipulates that four out of every five backroom staff members must be of West Indian origin.

BRIAN LARA

Former West Indies Skipper, Brian Lara, believe consistency is the key to the West Indies chances of winning 2019 World Cup.

“We need a team that can create consistency,” Lara said this week. “If we can get to the knock-out stages, we can knock out any team. We have seen that in the past. But consistency is going to take us right through to the finals.”

Pointing to the Indian Premier League and leagues around the world, Lara said: “We have got players that are the most wanted in the world. We have got match-winners.”

The West Indies begin their World Cup campaign against Pakistan, the 2017 Champions Trophy winners, on May 31st.

IAAF LONDON

Jamaica’s double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson has joined the women’s 100m field at the Müller Anniversary Games – part of the IAAF Diamond League – at the London Stadium on 20-21 July.

Thompson will take on home favourite Dina Asher-Smith, last summer’s European 100 and 200-m champion, who was previously announced.

Thompson is the athlete with the quickest 100-m personal best of the four with 10.70 – the fifth quickest time ever recorded – and will head into the 2019 outdoor season aiming to recapture the stunning form that saw her win a historic double sprint gold at the 2016 Olympic Games.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) on Wednesday announced the groups and schedule for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Here’s the opening line-up of Caribbean nations:

June 15th – Martinique faces Canada at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA

June 15th: Cuba faces Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA

June 16th – Haiti faces Bermuda at the National Stadium in Costa Rica

June 17th: Jamaica faces Honduras in Kingston, Jamaica

June 18th : Trinidad and Tobago faces Panama in Minnesota

June 18th: Guyana faces the US in Minnesota

For full schedule of all the matches, see here.

COUNTDOWN ON TO PENN RELAYS

This year the Penn Relays will celebrate its 125th anniversary even as Team Jamaica Bickle, the Caribbean Diaspora organization assisting Caribbean athletes at the relays, turns 25.

Tickets are already on sale for Penn, which returns to Franklin Field on April 25 -27.

Meanwhile, TJB, which stated in 1994 as a hospitality service to cater to the basic needs of athletes from Jamaica participating at the Penn relays, is gearing up to again host hundreds of Caribbean athletes at Penn this year including from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and St. Vincent & The Grenadines.

Athletes receive three hot meals daily, ground transportation, chiropractic and some medical services as well as mentorship.

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, 2019 in Roslyn, NY, a group of prominent attorneys from across the country will gather at the prestigious Swan Club for the inaugural Labor Of Love Gala from 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. to benefit TJB.

The gala is the brainchild of famed attorney Stephen Drummond, of the law firm Drummond & Squillace; well-known attorney, Willie Gary, The law firm, Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, P.L.L.C., Dawn Warren of the Law Firm (Warren, Warren and Appolon), and friends.

Noted physical therapist, Trecia Smith, who is also a TJB Alumnae will be honored. Smith is assistant Director at San Souci Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in New York. She holds a doctorate in Physical Therapy from Utica College; is a licensed physiotherapist in the United Kingdom and member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, London 2010. Smith is also a David Dixon Award recipient. She excelled as an athlete as 7x NCAA Div 1 champion; 2005 World Champion and 3x Olympic finalist.  Smith formed her own company, Smith and Bones in 2018.

In recognizing Smith, the Lawyers and friends seek to highlight the work and contribution of ordinary folks to the betterment of others.

“On behalf of the Lawyers and Friends of Team Jamaica Bickle, I wish to express our sincere admiration and respect to Irwine Clare, OD and the many volunteers of TJB for Twenty-Five years of selfless service to the High School Athletes of the Caribbean.  I also wish to thank all those who have dedicated their time and resources to assist Drummond & Squillace, position TJB’s inaugural gala into a success,” said Drummond.

For more log on to www.teamjamaicabickle.org or call 718.523.2861 for more information.