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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 19, 2016
Linden’s synthetic track will not be at MSC Ground-Jones By Tamica Garnett AS anticipation of a synthetic track finally being laid in Linden continues to prevail, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, confirmed that such a facility cannot be accommodated at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, where many had hoped it would be.However,other locations are already being mulled over. Speaking with Chronicle Sport, Jones agreed that the MSC facility, which currently houses a 300m grass track, will not do for the laying down of a synthetic track,which is 400m. Thoughts were given to expanding the dimensions of the MSC boundaries.However, this was cast aside when
it was realised that all lands surrounding the MSC facility were occupied. “We’re still exploring the option of putting a synthetic track in Linden, but it will not be at the MSC, because it doesn’t have the space. We had a site visit there a few months ago .We were actually looking at a fence, I think it’s the Northern fence, and it was advised that there is land space beyond that.So the idea actually was to remove that fence and utilise the space behind. However, I found out that [the land] it apparently has something to do with a school, so that was not feasible. “ Jones explained. Nonetheless, Jones noted that this has in no way
Director of Sport Christopher Jones deterred(them) from moving ahead with the project, which he described as a venture that is “close to his heart”. “We’re still on the move to get a synthetic track in Linden.It’s not going to be that easy but we’re working
on it, because Linden has the potential, Linden has the athletes, Linden is pregnant with athletes, so we want to provide them with that, so we’re working on it.” In terms of alternative arrangements, Jones said that a parcel of land that had been earmarked for one of the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Goal Projects, showed the capacity to accommodate both the Goal Project and a synthetic track facility. “Apparently this is a vast land space. Through my intervention when Clinton Urling was President of GFF, I got government to essentially sign over the land, because the land was essentially under NICIL.So I had to get Minister [Joseph] Harmon to
commit the land to the RDC. That done, this was in preparation for the GFF and their goal project; and apparently there is adequate space for both football and the synthetic track facilities.” Jones opined. But on the question of how soon Lindeners will be able to see the realization of this facility, Jones noted that it will be an uphill battle, as funding will be a challenge. None-the-less, he disclosed that in the interim he has been engaging in consultations on how to proceed, whenever that time comes. “I’ve already requested from the budget $440 million for the upgrade at the National Gymnasium, so for me to get an additional $400 million, it’s not going to be that easy, but we’re working
on it. Matter of fact I’ve already started speaking with overseas governments since last year.” Jones said. Thus far, Guyana has only one synthetic track facility: the National Track and Field Centre,which is in Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara.This facility cost $1.084 billion and it was officially opened last year April. When the track’s location was first unveiled,many stakeholders were not too pleased,and questioned the rationale behind putting the track in an area hardly known as an attraction point for athletics enthusiasts. The government-funded initiative was spearheaded by then Minister of Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony.
Border fears for the future of Test cricket AUSTRALIA batting legend Allan Border has admitted that he fears for the future of Test cricket and called on authorities to make the format more relevant in the wake of growing competition from Twenty20 cricket. Test matches have come under threat due to the lack of spectators flocking stadiums, with some in cricketing circles seeking reduction in the duration of the game from five to four days. The International Cricket Council (ICC) did propose a two-tier system recently aimed at making the format more competitive, but it was scrapped as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was not in favour of it.
“Though I fear for Test cricket a little bit, I have to admit I am a big fan of Twenty20 cricket. For me its the second revolution of the game after the Kerry Packer series. The format has brought new spectators of cricket. At the same time, we have to think about how to keep Test cricket relevant in the coming years. Starting a Test world cricket is a good idea, but whether it is feasible or not, only the authorities can find out,” Border said as quoted by the Deccan Chronicle. “How to fit that in the packed calendar is the biggest challenge. World Cup in a longer format will be time consuming. To play the entire tour-
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday September 19, 2016) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) The Kensington Oval, Barbados, 1958 (2) Draw Today’s Quiz: (1) Where and when did the WI & PAK first play an ODI against each other? (2) What was the result of the match? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Former Australia captain Allan Border
nament in one country is impossible. Unless you designate a whole year for it, you can’t handle a tournament of that magnitude. Maybe introducing a points system will help. Away wins should carry more value and no points for a draw. I thought the two-tier Test system has some merit. You can bring teams like Ireland and Afghanistan into Tests. It gives context to every Test match played. The pooling of television rights is a good thought,” he added. The two-tier Test system see’s the top-ranked teams pooled in tier 1, where they
play bilateral Tests against each other during a period of four years. Tier 2 on the other hand would consist of teams ranked eighth (West Indies), ninth (Bangladesh) and tenth (Zimbabwe) plus two more associate teams who fill face each other with the prospect of relegation and promotion. While nations such as Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand were in favour of the move, the refusal of the BCCI to accept the two-tier system led to it being rejected by the ICC on 7 September 2016. (Yahoo Sport).
Alvarez beats Smith-then challenges Golovkin GREAT Britain’s Liam Smith lost his WBO light-middleweight title to Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Dallas. Alvarez, 26, won with a ninth-round knockout as Smith, who had also been floored in the seventh, failed to beat the count following a body punch. I t w a s 2 8 - y e a r- o l d Smith’s first defeat in 25 fights, in the third defence of the title he won in October 2015. After the fight, Alvarez said “we are ready” for WBC, WBA and IBF
A crowd of 51,240 saw Saul Alvarez (left) beat Liam Smith at the home of the Dallas Cowboys middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin. “He doesn’t want to ac-
cept,” said Alvarez. “I fear no man. I am the best at this sport. I want to fight the best.
“About a month ago, we offered ‘GGG’ three or four times as much to make the fight.” Alvarez has lost only one of his 50 professional fights, against American Floyd Mayweather on points in 2013. Kazakh Golovkin, 34, beat Britain’s Kell Brook in London last week to extend his unbeaten record to 36 fights, icluding 33 knockouts. Smith said: “I am very disappointed. Canelo was too good. My timing was off.”(BBC Sport).