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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 2, 2016
Elite League’s ‘East Coast derby’ should be a thriller By Ras Wadada A thrilling encounter is anticipated for the opening game today when bitter rivals, Buxton United and Victoria Kings collide at the Tucville Community ground. The youthful United unit suffered a 4-0 loss in their last game against the GDF, who also made light work of the Kings 7-1 in the season’s opener, but this evening they face a new look Victoria side that held Conquerors to a score-less tie in their last outing. These two sides have
a long history of football rivalry that always bring out the best in them whenever they meet and with crucial points on line it is the general feeling among fans that this game will be a thriller. After their opening game humiliation the Kings have called on their most experienced players to boost their challenge and immediately a vital point was earned. Defender Shawn Samuels at age 43 is the oldest player in the League and in tandem with 38 year-old Sherlock Dowden is the oldest combination playing in central
Calvin De Souza
defense in the Elite League. Forty-eight-old Winston Pompey has also returned to the side and impressed in the midfield
UDFA/GT Beer $1m first prize tournament launched PRESIDENT of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Sharma Solomon on Wednesday called on the clubs participating in this year’s GT Beer Cup championship to show their loyalty to the people they represent from their community as they brace to battle for the fourth edition of the annual competition which is sponsored by Banks DIH. The tournament will be played from Monday, December 5th through to January 1st, when the final will take place at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. The opening day’s fixture pits the reigning champions Winners Connection against Blueberry Hill at 18.00hrs and at 20.00hrs Silver Shattas play Kwakwani strikers. Speaking at the launch of the tournament outside the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) building on Republic Avenue, Solomon said that the beverage giants Banks DIH must be commended also as it was “a quarter of a century of support by Banks DIH to football in Linden. “At the end of the year, it is an important feature not only for the unwavering support to the game, but
to provide for socialising which has been built; and the football has provided such a feature.” The UDFA boss added that, “With Banks DIH commitment to football, you the clubs show your loyalty to the people who pay to see you play from your community. Your club represents your community and must make a strong effort to bring home that $1M prize to your respective community.” Ten clubs will be battling to unseat the tournament’s only champion, t h re e - t i m e c h a m p i o n s Winners Connection. The challenges will come from Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Blueberry Hill United, Silver Shattas, Kwakwani Strikers, Net Rockers, Eagles United, Milerock and Botafago. Looking back at its performance, Solomon noted that the UDFA was the only association to have played two Under 17 tournaments, held a summer camp and trained over 15 coaches with its own resources as he called on all and sundry to come out and support the year-end tournament. Banks DIH GT Beer Manager Geoff Clement,
in the presence of Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart and Banks DIH Linden Branch Manager Ms. Shondell Easton, told the clubs represented: “We are always with the UDFA collaborating football with the GT Beer brand. We appreciate the support given to our GT Beer Cup tournament and this sign shows that we will be on board with you as planned.” Communications Manager of Banks DIH Troy Peters added that “It is not by accident we are here. We are committed to the development of football in this community”, as he reflected that when the GT Beer was launched four years ago, it was here in Linden that the product took off and the rest of the country followed suit with tremendous support. Peters said that with this in mind, they were committed to the continuation of this GT Beer football tournament in Linden in partnership with the UDFA.. Clement also handed over the winners’ GT Beer Trophy to the UDFA President at the end of the official launch.
T&T futsal, Pro League player charged with armed robbery NOEL Williams, a Trinidad and Tobago futsal player has been charged with armed robbery. The national futsal player is alleged to have robbed a chinese businessman, Wei Hui Zhu at his home in Claxton Bay on November 11 of this year. The allegations suggest that Williams, who also plays for San JUan Jabloteh, came away from the incident with TT$406,000 and two iPhones and an FX Revolution air rifle.
The iPhones are said to value $13,000, while the air rifle attracts a pricetag of approximately $20,000. Williams, also a policeman, is believed to be one of six officers involved in the robbery. It also seems robbery follows around the talented utility players, who at the time of the incident, was suspended from the police services because of allegations that he had stolen $80,000 in goods from a business place in
Tobago in 2015. The winger is also one of 22 players who have sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association for compensation after it was alleged the team received a US$10 per day per diem and no match fees for a futsal game against Honduras in Costa Rica. Also charged with Williams is Special Reserve Policeman Sean Joseph. It is alleged that Joseph confessed to the police.
Devor Dennis which young Akeem Holder and Captain Calvin De Souza will be part of as well.
The Buxtonians’ challenge will be rely on the availability of key players nursing injuries. Central defender Rondell Assanah and Jeremiah Thorne have been out since the opening game and in the last match f o r w a r d D i l l o n Wr i g h t had to leave the field after sustaining an injury to his shin. Coach Herbert ‘Dan’ McPherson who hails from the village of Victoria is hopeful that they will be fit to join their Captain, Devor Dennis and the starting lineup for today. Kick-off time is 18:00hrs.
The feature game should also provide excitement as home side Conquerors, the only team not to concede a goal so far, seek maximum points after dropping two in the last outing. Their opponents, Monedderlust come into the game brimful of confidence after beating Linden’s Top XX 2-1 last Sunday which sets the stage for a grand show down. The speedy Vincent Cottoye will need more support in attack if the Berbicians hope to prevail against a youthful Conquerors outfit determined to return to winning.
Corwin D’Anjou finds MMA Success By Daniel Haynes
IN his first match in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Corwin D’Anjou walked away with not only a win but with the respect of the MMA community in Trinidad and Tobago at the Caribbean Ultimate Face Fight (CUFF) Hometown Throwdown. For the 23-year- old judoka, the transition to MMA happened three years ago at the age of 20, after practicing Kana Jujitsu from the age of 12-20. According to D’Anjou, the reason for the transition was as a result of being able to test what he had been practicing for years. It was this reason that led him to the Rising Sun Judo Club and sensei Bruce Fraser. “It’s something that I was interested in due to the fact that a lot of time you would find persons in the other arts not getting to test what they learn so I thought that his would be a perfect opportunity to see if all the hours in the gym were applicable in a realistic setting,” he stated in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport. For D’Anjou, his opportunity to test his knowledge and ability came on the November 26 when he fought karateka Josiah Joseph from Elite Phantom in a lightweight matchup. According to D’Anjou,he was sitting at home when Coach Fraser called him to inform him of the fight. “He (Fraser) called me and said we organised a fight for you, you think you could make it;and I was like hell yeah and we started preparing for it and I went through a three-month training camp
to get ready,” said D’Anjou. After the training camp it was time to head to Trinidad.However, before the day of departure, two of his teammates who were supposed to make the trip were unable to do so. Additionally, Coach Fraser was also unable to make it because his wife recently gave birth. However, D’Anjou was determined to make the trip. “I knew I had extended family in Trinidad and I thought that if I went and did well and put forth a good
due to Josiah breaking the rules and kneeing him to his head three times. “Kneeing was against the rules and before the fight the promoter Ian Adam stressed on no knees to the head and I guess he (Josiah) got frustrated and kneed me twice after being warned by the referee for one kneeing before and he was disqualified.” D’Anjou dominated the fight up to that point,registering 6 takedowns in the match as well as trading blows with the Trinidadian.
Corwin D’Anjou kneeling before his trophy after the fight showing it would open opportunity for the entire team to travel.” Create opportunity it did since D’Anjou won the 10 minute 2 round fight despite only having one person in his corner. “I was lucky enough to have Kerry Grant who has his own MMA club in Southern Warriors in my corner and I also was psyching myself.” According to D’Anjou he executed his game plan and enjoyed the fight with his only frustrations coming when the fight ended early
He is thankful for the sponsors who played a part in his travel to Trinidad. “If it wasn’t for Ricks and Sari, Fitness Express, Track Max and the Maison family I would not have been there.” The youngster also expressed appreciation to Electra Grahame and Ena Joseph who were responsible for him on the Trinidad front and who provided lodging for him. “I’m thankful for the experience and if I could do it over I definitely will,” D’Anjou added.