Caribbean Sports Round-Up

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 22, 2018: Here are some of the news heating things up on the Caribbean sports scene for this week:

Jamaican MLS Players Called Up For CONCACAF Nations League Match Tomorrow

The Jamaican men’s national team has included six MLS players for its CONCACAF Nations League qualifier against El Salvador tomorrow, Saturday, March 23rd.

FC Cincinnati’s Darren Mattocks and Alvas Powell, the Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake and Cory Burke, the New York Red Bulls’ Kemar Lawrence and LAFC’s Peter-Lee Vassell are on the Reggae Boyz’ squad for the crucial match.

Jamaica has won their first three CNL qualifiers and are guaranteed a place in this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup with at least a point in El Salvador. They will also earn qualification into League A of the CNL with a point.

West Indies Cricket Greats Endorse Challengers For West Indies Cricket Board President

Former West Indies skipper, Clive Lloyd and former West Indies great, Sir Andy Roberts, have endorsed the challengers for the leadership of the West Indies Cricket Board.

The current West Indies Board President, Dave Cameron, has already served two terms and many say his leadership has left much to be desired just like the West Indies cricket teams’ performance.

The Jamaican national, who has been in the post since replacing Julien Hunte on March 27, 2013, is facing a serious challenge this year. Former St. Kitts and Nevis minister and West Indies team manager, Ricky Skerritt is challenging Cameron for the post.

“West Indies Cricket needs a new direction. We have seen the decimation of West Indies Cricket over a long period of time especially under this administration much to the humiliation of the Caribbean Diaspora,” stated Lloyd. “With Mr. Skerritt’s experience, my personal knowledge of him and his commitment and dedication to West Indies Cricket over the years I fully endorse his candidacy and firmly believe that with the support of his board, his vision for taking West Indies Cricket forward will bear fruit.”

“Over the last 25 years, West Indies cricket has been steadily declining. In the last 5-10 years the administration has declined rapidly. So much confusions with players, past and present and West Indian born coaches,” Sir Andy added. “We need a change at the top, so that is why I’m endorsing Ricky Skerritt and Kishore Shallow as President and Vice-President of our cricket. They have assured me that they will work with all relevant stakeholders in the region to make sure they get the best out of the region, so that our cricket can move forward and back to a position of respectability.”

Skerritt and Shallow accepted the endorsements with a “sense of deep humility and appreciation.”

The election for President and Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Board is set for Jamaica on Sunday, March 24th in Jamaica.

But so far, however, Skerritt and Shallow have only been publicly endorsed by the Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Islands’ cricket boards. Barbados, Guyana, and Windward Islands are expected to cast their lot with the much-disliked Cameron despite the state of West Indies cricket and the disgust of fans.  The direction of the vote of the Jamaica board is not known but could prove critical to the outcome of the election. The Jamaica board is headed by president Billy Heaven who reportedly has not always seen ‘eye to eye’ with Cameron.

Cameron this week said he is confident of being returned to the post and claims Cricket West Indies is working on a plan that will see it headed toward becoming a listed company on the stock exchange in another two years.

Haitian Roots World No.1 Tennis Star Sued By Former Coach

World No.1 tennis star, Haitian roots Naomi Osaka is being sued by her former coach, Christophe Jean, who claims he’s entitled to 20 percent of Osaka and her sister, Mari’s career winnings “and endorsement deals forever.”

TMZ states $2 million is the figure in contention.  Jean states he signed an agreement with the sisters’ father, Leonard Francois, in March 2012 after the latter reportedly swapped out unaffordable coaching payments for a contract that would put the aforementioned percentage of money as it pertains to tennis into Jean’s account indefinitely.

In a statement on the matter, Osaka’s attorney Alex Spiro claims this lawsuit holds no weight. “While it comes as no surprise that Naomi’s meteoric rise as an international icon and inspiration would lead to some false claim, this silly, imaginary contract that Naomi never saw or signed—which purports to give away part of herself at the age of 14—is particularly absurd,” Spiro said as noted by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz Ready For FIFA Women’s World Cup

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz will be one of four newcomers to soccer’s global showpiece, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which gets underway on June 7, 2019 in France.

This historic feat was achieved last October when the Reggae Girlz became the first Caribbean nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup, defeating Panama on penalties in the third-place game at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

The team is continuing its preparations to ensure its readiness for their opening match versus Brazil on June 9th in Grenoble.

Following their recent two-match series win over the 38th ranked Chileans, the Reggae Girlz will now turn their attention to their upcoming training camp from April 1-9 in South Africa where they will play South Africa’s national team. The team will then play their final match in Kingston versus Panama on May 19 before departing for the World Cup.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz are now ranked 53rd, having moved up 11 places in the December 2018 FIFA rankings.

For more ion Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz, go to www.reggaegirlz.com.