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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 19, 2014
Topoo Cricket Club receives gear from PPP/C THE recently established Topoo Cricket Club (TCC) at Corentyne, Berbice received a much-needed boost in the form of gear from the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). The acquisition was made possible through a request by executives of the club to PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Faizal Jaffarally. On Monday the MP ventured into the Topoo community and met with the twenty-six members of the club and reminded them of investment that the Government of Guyana is making towards sports and sporting facilities. “I would like to emphasise that the Government is committed to the development of sports throughout Guyana and our pledge is not only to focus on one particular sporting discipline; our focus is broad-based and we would like you to acknowledge our contribution by making full
use of what is offered to you,” he pleaded. The donation included: bats. pads, stumps, gloves and balls. Jaffarally also took the opportunity to remind the players that discipline remains the key to success if the club is to progress. “Players, you need to remember that discipline plays an integral role in anything that you do and, cricket is no exception. Your attitude will determine how far you go in emulating cricketing heroes such as Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher and Alvin Kallicharran, who all hail from the Corentyne area. “For there to be progress in your club, you all need to unite for a common cause and once there’s development, you will grow into becoming a strong team,” he implored. GRATITUDE President of the club, Majeed Khan Mohamed who
MP Faizal Jaffarally presents the gear to TCC President Majeed Khan Mohamed at the Topoo Ground.
Samuels aiming for ‘positive’ return following injury … Windies face Ireland in first T20 today
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Middle order batsman Marlon Samuels says he is eagerly looking forward to his return to international cricket after injury forced him out of the New Zealand tour last December. Samuels is back in the West Indies setup as they prepare to play minnows Ireland in a twomatch twenty20 International series at Sabina Park starting today. The 33-year-old has been recuperating from a minor surgery on his wrist. “The intention is to make a positive return, as since the operation I have been putting in a lot of work,” said Samuels, following the team’s first training session since arriving in Jamaica on Sunday. “I have been in the nets
been carrying a hamstring injury since last November and, along with Samuels, was recently passed fit to resume duties. “It is always a joy playing in front of your home crowd and I know the guys are up and ready to compete,” SamMarlon Samuels batting and have been hitting the ball fairly well, so the hope is that everything will remain the same throughout the series.” Samuels, whose last game was against New Zealand last December, is set to form the core of West Indies’ batting line-up along with opener Chris Gayle, who is also returning from injury. The big-hitting Gayle has
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Wednesday February 19, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230)& CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 259-Glen Turner (WI vs NZ, 1972) 17 ODI centuries Today’s Quiz: When and where did Joey Carew make his highest Test score? When and where did Viv Richards first cop the Man of the Match Award in an ODI game? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
uels said. “Ireland may not be a super power in cricket, but it is Twenty20, and given the nature of the format, it is here that they are more than likely to upset big teams. It means, therefore, that we will need to buckle down and play the cricket that we know”. The Twenty20 series, which will have its final game on Friday, will be followed by a lone one-day international at the Sabina Park on Sunday.
PCB distances itself from Butt’s ‘sons of pigs’ remark (REUTERS) - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) moved quickly yesterday to distance itself from a “sons of pigs” reference to India, England and Australia made by former chairman Ijaz Butt. Butt, head of the PCB between 2008 and 2011, made the comment as he came out of the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after a meeting with current chairman Najam Sethi to discuss the structural changes at the International Cricket Council (ICC) ruling body. Pakistan abstained from voting in favour of the changes at an ICC meeting in Singapore earlier this month, and has opposed the reforms which effectively hand control of world cricket to India, Australia and England. Asked on live television what he thought about the ‘Big Three’ boards, Butt said: “Listen don’t quote me, but in my personal opinion all three are sons of pigs.”. A PCB official reacted speedily to Butt’s remark by saying: “It’s his opinion not the board’s. We have no more comment to make”. Butt added that Pakistan now needed to safeguard their own interests in world cricket. “Every board is looking after its own interests and that is what we also must do,” he said. Sethi has been meeting former heads of the PCB on the ‘Big Three’ issue after taking over as chairman last week. He has made it clear that Pakistan will be reviewing their stance on the ICC changes.
accepted the gear on behalf of his charges, expressed gratitude to the PPP/C and vowed to make full use of their gift. “I must express profound gratitude to the PPP/C for acknowledging our needs, these gifts are much needed and we will try our best to maintain them and give our best performance on the field,” he stated. The Topoo Cricket Club (TCC) currently participate in primarily second division cricket competitions and since their establishment, their performances have been commendable even though they haven’t been able to win many games against the established teams on the Corentyne Coast. The administration of the club promises to change that trend and use the new gear to their full advantage in preparing for matches and working on the weak aspects of their game. (Michael Khan)
Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League
Timehri Panthers, Kuru Kururu Warriors take full points
THE 2014 season of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) kicked off last Sunday at the Grove Community Centre ground with a double-header that saw Timehri Panthers waltz past Mocha Champs 3-0, while Kuru Kururu Warriors eased to full points against Diamond United Football Club 3-1. The Stag Beer-sponsored division one league, which features eight of the association clubs, got off to an enterprising start with all the teams showing that they are eager and happy to see the return of competitive football to the association, compliments of Ansa McAl Trading through their Stag Beer brand. Timehri Panthers, playing the feature game against Mocha, never allowed their opponents to become a threat and scored at opportune intervals as they locked out the challenge of the Mocha boys. Troy Johnson opened the score card for Timehri 19 minutes into the derby and while they would have loved to increase the advantage, Mocha kept up their quest to even the score. The halftime whistle came and the score was unchanged. Even when play resumed, Timehri had to fight hard to increase the advantage. That opportunity eventually came in the 65th minute compliments of an Andy Higgins strike. With five minutes to full time the game was put beyond the reach of Mocha with a Seon David goal. In the opening fixture, Kuru Kururu Warriors proved a bit too much for the yet emerging Diamond United Football Club to handle, the former romping to a comfortable 3-1 win. The game started with both teams eager to gain the ascendancy but it was the boys from the Linden/Soesdyke Highway who netted the first goal of the season compliments of Ryan Scott, in the 15th minute, the first of his double. Diamond, however, were not going to allow the Warriors much breathing space and they fired back almost immediately when Eon Glenn tucked one past the Warriors goalie in the 22nd minute. The first half ended with the scores unchanged. Second half action was end-to-end but it was Kuru Kururu Warriors who assumed the advantage once again when Scott completed his brace in the 65th minute. Ten minutes later the game was sealed the Warriors way through Cordell Johnson’s 75th minute strike. More matches will be contested at the same venue on Monday, February 24, a national holiday