Caribbean Sports – Gayle Keeps Hope Alive For West Indies

Chris Gayle is keeping hope alive for the Windies ahead of the ODI’s against the Black Tops.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Dec. 15, 2017: Star cricketer, Chris Gayle, is staying hopeful for the West Indies cricket team despite their back to back test loss against New Zealand.

Gayle, who recently reached his record-breaking 20th T20 century with an his unbeaten 146 for the Rangpur Riders in the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League title on Tuesday, Dec. 12th, will be joining the Windies side as it gets ready for its One Day Internationals (ODIs) next Wednesday at Cobham Oval in Whangarei.

“It’s good to get wins under your belts and to win series as well. In these conditions it’s always difficult to play and beat New Zealand … but we are up for the challenge,” he told TVNZ.

The West Indies men lost their test match against New Zealand and were also fined again for a slow run rate on Tuesday.

The Windies will now gear up for three One Day Internationals (ODI’s) that will follow on Dec. 19th, 22nd and 25th while three T20s follow on Dec. 28th and 29th, 2017 and Jan. 1, 2018.

Bajan Surfer Forced To Settle For Silver

Barbados-born surfer Chelsea Tuach was forced to settle for silver in the XIII Pan American Surf Games in Lima, Peru on the weekend.

Tuach scored more points than her Argentine opponent, Ornela Pellizzari, collecting 14 points but saw that score cut in half after the judges penalized her for interference.

“At the start of the heat, I had priority for the wave and took off. Meanwhile, the Argentine surfer paddled around me and dropped in on the inside. In surfing this is called ‘snaking’ and is not legal. But the judges called the interference on me,” explained Tuach.

The  22-year-old said while she is disappointed, the prognosis is good for surfing on the island and she hopes more athletes will take up the sports.

DC United Welcomes Reggae Boyz

DC United of Major League Soccer (MLS), has signed Jamaica Reggae Boyz player, Darren Mattocks.

Mattocks, of Portmore Jamaica, was traded by the Portland Timbers in exchange for a 2018 International slot. The 27-year-old has made 24 appearances last season for the Portland Timbers, scoring four goals and recording two assists.

“We are thrilled to add an attacking player who unbalances opposing defenses with his speed, willingness to get into dangerous areas, and ability to score goals,” Dave Kasper, United’s general manager, said. “Darren is coming off a great year with impactful performances for Portland and for Jamaica, helping them reach the Gold Cup final. We believe Darren’s best football is ahead of him as he enters the prime of his career, and we welcome him to the Black-and-Red.”

Mattocks started his MLS career with the Vancouver Whitecaps who him second overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. After scoring seven goals in his rookie season, Mattocks topped the 2012 MLS Top 24 Under 24 list. He appeared in 93 games, scored 19 goals and recorded six assists in five seasons with the Whitecaps and made history by scoring the first MLS Cup Playoff goal for the 2011 expansion team against the Los Angeles Galaxy on November 1, 2012.

On the international stage, Mattocks made his debut for the Reggae Boyz in a 2-0 win against El Salvador in an international friendly on Aug. 16, 2012. He has scored 14 goals in 42 appearances for Jamaica and most recently appeared in all six of their Gold Cup 2017 games including the final against the U.S. Men’s National Team.

CFU Hopes To Restore Credibility

The Caribbean Football Union, (CFU), says it is working hard to restore its credibility.

President Randy Harris, who replaced Antiguan Gordon Derrick who was banned for six years by football’s world governing body, FIFA, after being found guilty of bribery and conflict of interest charges, told Barbados Today recently that that organization is “working towards ensuring that their credibility would be what it once was.”

CFU oversees 31 Caribbean associations and are a subset of CONCACAF, which also embraces governance for the likes of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central American nations.