PS King meets T&T junior Windball cricketers

Aug 11, 2010 Sports

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Despite an unavoidable late start, the scheduled meeting between the visiting Trinidad and Tobago Primary Schools Windball cricketers and Permanent Secretary attached to the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport Alfred King eventually got underway yesterday in the entity’s Boardroom.
King, who apologised for his late arrival which was due to him having to be at another important engagement, went right into a very inspiring speech that was well received by the young cricketers that included the Guyana team.

After welcoming the young cricketers for their annual series against the Guyanese, King said he hoped that the tour will be a very exciting one for them and one that hopefully meets their expectations.
“I hope that the trip meets your expectations and possibly help you to develop life skills as well,” King stated.
He mentioned that sports apart from being seen as leisure and fun is big business right now, a far cry from what it was years ago.
The PS said that sport could now be used as an effective tool to integrate communities, teach authority, provide organisational structure and even quell conflicts. He noted that it also encourages discipline, giving as an example a cricket team where every player has a role to play.
King in making the comparison of sportsmen and women yesterday and today said that they used to be referred to as persons just engaged in recreational and physical activities with the aim being just to stay fit and healthy, but now it has added dimensions including developing your academic qualities, the prevention of chronic illnesses and could also provide lucrative career choices.
He commended the Regional Educators for adopting Sport as part of its curriculum a feature that was long overdue, adding that it should be made compulsory in the schools Physical Education programme.
He mentioned also that sport has become big business and gave some examples of how immense it has developed into.
He spoke of how athletes such as Tiger Woods has been able to make it a career that rakes in more than many who spend all their lives acquiring qualifications after qualifications, but may never attain the wealth of Woods.
“Even in the working sector persons with qualifications in sport are now being highly sought after and handsomely paid,” King revealed.
In his closing remarks, told the young cricketers that whatever they do here will contribute to their life package and career development and implored on them to enjoy the games and play fairly.
The two Captains Andriska Mickle (Guyana) and Renelle Dookie (T&T) then posed with the championship trophy which was donated by the Ministry.

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2010 Pan American Indoor Hockey Championship Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Guyana open with 0-2 loss to Argentina

Guyana’s national men’s hockey team opened the 2010 Indoor Pan American Championships with a heart breaking 0-2 loss to South American powerhouse Argentina. Argentina drew first blood in the 4th minute when Gaston Luna broke down the left side and sent a powerful shot towards the goal which was saved by the Guyanese custodian Azad DeAbreu. Unfortunately the ball rebounded right back to Luna who made no mistake with his second attempt.
Argentina were then awarded a penalty stroke in the 9th minute when one of their forwards was adjudged to be fouled in Guyana’s defence by DeAbreu.
However, the Argentine flick went wide left much to the relief of the Guyanese bench. Guyana responded immediately with a well worked free hit from the right hand side of the Argentine defence resulting in a Robert Fernandes shot on goal which was partially saved by the goalkeeper, but he surrendered a penalty corner trying to deny Marvin Dannett’s attempt at the rebound.
From the ensuing penalty stroke Shane Samuels’ powerful direct flick was blocked from scoring by the face of one of the defenders.
This resulted in the Guyana side being awarded a penalty flick.
Dwayne Scott then stepped up to take the stroke, but once again Guyana were denied when the Argentine keeper pulled off the spectacular save. They then added insult to injury when Andres Fava converted a penalty corner in the 18th minute to go two goals up. Several other opportunities came their way before halftime, but some resolute Guyana defending saw them turn back all Argentina’s penalty corner attempts.
The second half started evenly, but Guyana slowly seized control of play.
In the 32nd minute, they were awarded with another penalty corner, which resulted in Leandro Leotta being given two minutes in the penalty box for receiving his second green card for breaking the line early.
Despite numerous opportunities Guyana failed to take advantage their numerical advantage, and was forced to pull their keeper with three minutes left in the game to try and force their way back into the game.
The play worked and Guyana were again awarded a penalty corner, but this time it was Devin Munroe’s flick that sailed wide of the mark. That was Guyana’s last real chance of the game and was left to think about what could have been as they exited the court bitterly disappointed.
Their next engagement was scheduled to be against Canada yesterday, while they take on Peru today and Venezuela tomorrow.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-final knock out stage.

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