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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, August 23, 2017
LABA tourney resumes tonight …
Raiders face Falcons in attempt to regain form; Jets hope to topple unbeaten Bulls By Joe Chapman
TWO crucial match-ups are on tonight, as Retrieve Raiders try to regain some footing after suffering two early losses against Bankers Trust Falcons. Unbeaten Half Mile Bulls, who have won their two matches played so far, are seeking to remain unbeaten against the Amelia’s Ward Jets side who have won twice and lost once, as the Mackenzie Sports Club Open basketball championship organised by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) resumes at the MSC hard court. The Raiders entered this championship, which will decide the official senior basketball club champions as the number one seed, but have stuttered along the way with losses to second-ranked Bulls and fourth seed Jets and now have to regain some form if they wish to reach the semifinals of this seven-club competition. The Raiders have looked lethargic so far and their
energies surround the likes of guard Keon Cameron, Shamar Chapman, Coel Winter and Travis Sutton
Falcons, on the other hand, with two losses are looking to record their first win like their opponents. Both are on
Vibert Benjamin
as the future players in this experienced lineup, who still depend somewhat on Neil Marks and Abdulla Hamid.
two points. Their best players have been Akeel Primo, Quincy Richmond and Devon Thompson.
The Bulls versus Jets encounter should be very interesting. It brings together two leading clubs. The Bulls have four points after two wins and the Jets have two wins and one loss for five points. The Jets are dependent on the Webster brothers Allister, Adrian and Joel. Young Akini Wilson has added his name on the score sheets as well as Donnel Benjamin and Emmanuel Archibald, but they would hope their best shooter Orin Rose can find his form now. The Bulls are a strong unit but Terron Welch their potent scorer is still to be at his best and their addition of Vibert Benjamin should be a plus. Without the inside presence of Travin Dryden however, they may struggle and hope that Jason Blair, Joebie Easton and Keifer Tappin come to the party. These games tonight could give an indication of what one can expect eventually as the tournament gains momentum.
Gokarn Ramdhani
Ramdhani elected VP of regional badminton body
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), Gokarn Ramdhani was elected vice-president of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) when the regional body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Saturday at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago. After serving for the past four years as General Secretary, he was moved up to the vice-president post. He was unanimously voted in, and will now serve in the post for the next two years. Trinidad’s Rahul Rampersaud was elected to serve as president, while Ramdhani is replaced as secretary by Navin Gayapersad also from Trinidad and Tobago. Suriname’s ReDon Coulor will serve as treasurer, while the committee members are Barbadians Elius Fanus and Andrew Clarke and Aruba’s Terence Sybesma. Ramdhani, who served as manager and head coach of the 9-member team that won 8 medals (3 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze) at the just concluded CAREBACO Junior Championships, is very happy that Guyana can once again be on the executive board of CAREBACO.
East Veldt beat Flamingo as Corona football continues Pakistan set to host World XI next month
Part of the action between East Veldt and Flamingo FC in the Corona Beer Invitational Football tournament at GFC on Monday evening.
FOOTBALL action continued Monday evening in the Corona Invitational football tournament with East Veldt staving off the challenge of Flamingo. At the GFC ground Bourda, the East Veldt side opened the scoring in the 4th minute thanks to Michael Charles with Flamingo’s Earl Samuels responding in the 27th to level the game. This stalemate stretched into halftime and threatened to be the end result but Travis Hercules broke the deadlock for the eventual winners.
This opened the floodgates for the East Veldt with Cordel Johnson scoring just one minute later. In the second game of the evening, Camptown FC and Beacons played to a 1-1 stalemate. Jamal Codrington was on target for the Campbellville-based side with Travis Lyken on target for the. The third game also ended in a stalemate but just barely, as the GFC side held a one-goal advantage up until the final minute. Benjamin Abumchi was the man who had set the GFC crowd abuzz in the
sixteenth minute as that goal carried them ahead into the second half. Whether it was tiredness or being too laid-back that cost them, they allowed Dwayne McLennon through in the 90+3 and he completed Western Tigers’ much-needed goal to continue their winning streak. Camptown FC will take on Black Pearl in the next round of fixtures on Friday with Northern Rangers and Flamingo playing the second game and Pele tackling Riddim Squad in the final game of the evening. (Stephan Sookram)
(REUTERS) - After playing most of their home games in the United Arab Emirates due to security concerns over the last eight years, Pakistan hope hosting a series against a World XI next month will help cement the return of international cricket to the country. Barring a short visit by Zimbabwe two years ago, Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since 2009 when gunmen attacked a bus carrying Sri Lankan players in Lahore, wounding six players and killing six security staff and two civilians. Sri Lanka have already indicated their willingness to return to Pakistan as part of a series next month, and yesterday Punjab’s local government promised watertight security for the proposed three-match Twenty20 series against a World XI. The International Cricket Council has also given its backing to the series in Lahore, subject to security clearance. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi said getting security clearance had put the wheels in motion but he was
praying that the situation remained steady. “This is a very big thing,” Sethi, who was recently named PCB chairman for the next three years, told reporters in Lahore. “September, October and November are big months. “It’s a big agenda, we need your prayers and we will open the doors and international teams will come. Pray that we keep our security solid. The Punjab government has given us the signal and preparations are in full swing.” The World XI, comprising 15 international players, would be led by former England coach Andy Flower and the identities of the players would be announced soon, Sethi added. Sri Lanka Cricket pres-
ident Thilanga Sumathipala said recently the board was keen to play at least one T20 game in Lahore next month as part of its series against Pakistan in the UAE. The PCB is also in advanced discussions with Cricket West Indies for the Caribbean team to play three T20 matches in Lahore in late November. “The tour would be subject to the safe conclusion of the ICC World XI team’s three-match series in Lahore in September and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC-sponsored international security company overseeing the security arrangements of the World XI in September,” the Caribbean board said in a statement.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Krishmar Santokie-3/19 (2014) (2) Shadab Khan (Khingt Riders) Today’s Quiz: (1) How many times Chris Gayle captained the Tallawahs in CPL games? (2) Which team Chris Gayle is now leading in Hero CPL 2017? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE