30
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 20, 2014
Webb says development must precede World Cup qualification B R I D G E TO W N , Barbados (CMC) – CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb believes there must be a process of sustainable development in the region before another Englishspeaking Caribbean team can qualify for a FIFA World Cup finals. Speaking ahead of the World Cup in Brazil which starts in just under four weeks, Webb said that with smaller countries more open to challenges than developed
football nations, it was important for the Caribbean to embark on a system which ensured consistent growth in its football. To date, only Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz and Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors of English-speaking regional national teams have achieved the feat of securing spots at the massive global showpiece. “To have real development it has to be sustainable. We have had hits and
Carmichael makes impressive start in England for HTCC … claims hat-trick in second match By Calvin Roberts MALTEENOES Sports Club’s 26-year-old all-rounder Kellon Carmichael has made an impressive
opting to bat first, HTCC lost Oliver Smith (3) in the second over, from which they never recovered and were bowled out for 137 off 41.5 overs, despite 60 off 87 balls with 11 fours
Kellon Carmichael drives down the ground during his topscore of 48 for Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club in their third round game against Bardoli Cricket Club last Sunday.
start to his career in England where he was representing Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club (HTCC) of Essex in that County’s Sunday League Premier division last weekend. Having seen their first round match being washed out, HTCC faced Buckhurst Hill Cricket Club First XI last Saturday and suffered a five-wicket loss, despite Carmichael’s three of the five wickets Buckhurst lost in their run chase. Winning the toss and
from Adam Soilleux, with Carmichael contributing 11 with two fours, batting at number four. Shane Cassel took 5 for 29 for Buckhurst, who in reply reached 141 for 5 from 31.5 overs, led by an unbeaten 43 (70 balls, 6x4) from Haroon Khan and Ian Russell’s 42 (53 balls, 5x4), as Carmichael took 3 for 45 and Richard Revell 2 for 33. In their third game of the season that was played last Sunday against Bardoli Cricket Club, HTCC electing to bat first
misses. The only way we’re going to be able to
around the world has peaks and valleys. We have seen even big countries such as England not qualify for a World Cup. We have seen national teams have peaks and valleys. Spain of course is at an incredible peak but if you look back at Spain a few years ago in the 2002 and 1998 World Cup, it wasn’t that way.” He continued: “In small territories the peaks and valleys are even more CONCACAF president harsh so for me, it is all Jeffrey Webb about development from a have a real competitive, sustainable standpoint.” sustainable edge where Jamaica became the first we have representatives English-speaking team from at a World Cup is through the region to make it to a development,” Webb said World Cup finals when they here. qualified for the event staged “Every national team in France in 1998.
on winning the toss were bowled out for 127 in 29.1 overs, with Carmichael topscoring with 48 (58 balls, 6x4, 1x6), backed by 25 (30 balls, 4x4) from Smith. Abdul Samad-Hafesji took 5 for 17 from 6.1 overs for Bardoli, who in reply were scuttled out for an even 50 off 12.3 overs, as only Naeem Budi and Imtiyaz Dawood with 14 each offered resistance to Carmichael, who claimed 7 for 16 including a hat-trick and his new-ball partner David Williams who supported with 3 for 32. In an invited comment, the soft-spoken Carmichael told Chronicle Sport he welcomed the experience, adding that the conditions were challenging especially batting-wise. “So far, the experience has been really welcoming for me, with the conditions being challenging especially batting-wise along with the weather which has been a challenge for me with these conditions as I am not accustomed to this weather pattern. “My bowling has been great and the ball is coming out of the hand good. I have been getting wickets and bowling well and to achieve a hat-trick was outstanding for me and also my first fivewicket haul and as far as batting is concerned, I am getting attuned to the conditions, while I am welcoming the experience and looking to move from strength to strength,” said Carmichael.
Trinidad and Tobago followed in the 2006 edition in Germany but since then the Caribbean has struggled to qualify a team in the prestigious tournament. Part of that sustainable development path, Webb said, was getting younger players in the region more involved in football. “We have a problem … in some parts of the region when players turn 17, 18 years old all of a sudden football is not a priority anymore. They become so distracted,” he pointed out. “Today you have football access 24 hours a day, more football on television than ever before, but some (kids) are more interested in video games than actually playing the game itself.” Webb, who assumed the leadership of CONCACAF
two years ago, said a Caribbean professional league would play a critical role in helping to develop players. He said CONCACAF were studying the prospect of a pro league but wanted to be sure any such project would have longevity. “We’ve actually commissioned a task force to look at Caribbean professional football. We have commissioned this task force to look at the feasibility and sustainability of a Caribbean professional league,” he explained. “It is very easy for us to start things, very easy for us to launch something but the challenge, of course, is being able to sustain it and we want to make sure that whatever model we put forth is going to be sustainable.”
Fit-again Roach eyeing New Zealand comeback BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – West Indies speedster Kemar Roach is eyeing a return from injury against the touring Black Caps next month. The 25-year-old has not played international cricket in nearly a year after being sidelined with a shoulder injury that required surgery last November. He had been picked for the tour of India that same month but was forced to return home without playing a game. Roach said he had worked hard to regain fitness and hoped to force his way into the West Indies squad for the three-Test series against New Zealand bowling off June 8 in Jamaica. “I have really missed playing. Seven months out of cricket is a long time and now I am at the point where I can play again, I want to be able to represent Maple, Barbados and West Indies,” Roach told the Barbados Cricket Association website. “I am very confident that once I get some more sessions in and some strength work, I will be raring to go for the first Test against New Zealand, if selected.” He added: “I had three months of strenuous therapy with Dr. Jacqueline King and Marita Marshall. It was tough because the shoulder was very weak but they did a great job along with Shannon Lashley (trainer) in getting me back strong again. “After a surgery like this, it
is not going to be a hundred percent but I am definitely fit enough to play any length of
Kemar Roach has not played international cricket in nearly a year.
cricket, whether it is a Test, fourday, one-day or a T20 match.” Last Saturday, Roach had his first taste of competitive cricket in seven months when he turned out for domestic club side Maple, in the BCA’s Twenty20 Championship. He bowled with pace to snare one for ten, from four consecutive overs. Roach, who has played 23 Tests and 61 One-Day Internationals, said he had undergone rehabilitation work with West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson, former West Indies all-rounder Vasbert Drakes – who is a BCA coach – along with ex-Windies seamer Corey Collymore. “I was working with Vasbert and also had some sessions with Ottis. I was in the gym earlier in the year and then the bowling aspect of it started in April. It was basic stuff
as in the rotation of the arm and the fundamentals of fast bowling,” Roach pointed out. “I practised with Maple the entire week before the game on Saturday. I was working with Corey and he helped me to get my technique back and some basic stuff about bowling. “Corey watched me bowl on Saturday. He gave me some pointers on what he thought about my bowling and he told me about a few flaws that can be worked on in the next couple of weeks. It was a happy atmosphere and a very relaxed environment.” Roach had a close shave last month when he escaped without serious injury after the BMW sedan he was driving was involved in an early morning crash. He was taken to hospital by ambulance with a cut to the head. However, with that incident behind him, Roach believes he and West Indies can challenge in the upcoming series and make up for the poor effort in New Zealand last year when the side were comprehensively beaten. “After our Test series against New Zealand in New Zealand in December when we were beaten 2-0, I think this one is going to be very intense because the last time they came to the Caribbean two years ago we won both Tests,” he said. “With a new captain in Denesh Ramdin, I think the guys can put in some good performances and win this series.