Kaieteur News
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Windies hearts with Caribbean as Hurricane Irma threatens
Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph … hails from Antigua. London, England, CMC – West Indies were busy here Tuesday preparing for the decisive third Test at Lord’s starting tomorrow, but also anxiously keeping an eye on Hurricane Irma back home in the Caribbean. The team paused during their preparations on Tuesday to reach out to everyone in the path of the powerful tropical cyclone, which was packing winds of over 175 mph and was due to
make pass through the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Islands like St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla, are bracing for the impact of the tropical system. “Our fans are in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare for Hurricane Irma,” captain Jason Holder said in a special message. ”Please take all
necessary precautions as you prepare for this hurricane. Our love and our wishes go to everybody in the Caribbean as you go through this tough time.” The touring Wi n d i e s i n c l u d e o n e Antiguan in Alzarri Joseph, the 20-year-old fast bowler, and he also sent a message to his fellow countrymen and those on the projected path. ”I’m urging my fellow citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and all those in the Leeward Islands as well as all those on the path of the hurricane to prepare and be ready for whatever comes our way,” he said. ”I’m advising everyone to take every precaution and I hope and prayer we get through safely.” West Indies are chasing a historic series win in England after losing the first Test by an innings and 209 runs inside three days at Edgbaston but rebounding to win the second match by five wickets at Headingley.
Syria score last-minute equaliser to Iran …set up World Cup play-off against Australia
Wednesday September 06, 2017
Ashraf ‘Ocean Conqueror’ Ali completes 2 1/2hrs Atlantic Ocean Swim
Ashraf Ali with members of the GDF Coast Guard after completing the swim. Ashraf ‘Ocean Conqueror’ Ali’ has done it again, this time achieving his goal of swimming the great Atlantic Ocean for over seven miles. He completed the feat on Saturday last in a commendable time of 2 ½ hours. Having already swam all the main rivers of Guyana, the courageous 71-year-old Ali has now set his sight on the conquest of the oceans of the world. He has swam the Corentyne River to Suriname, the Berbice, Demerara (back and forth without stopping unaccompanied) and Essequibo Rivers, Lake Mainstay, The Canje River and other locations on numerous occasions. Also a pastor attached to the Christadelpian Church, Ali who resides in the USA hails from Canefield, East Canje and has vowed to complete his intended
mission by the grace of the Almighty. The swim last Saturday commenced around 13:00hrs aboard a Guyana Defense Force Coast Guard boat from the New Amsterdam Stelling. After travelling for about ten miles, Ali began his swim in the murky, choppy and dangerous waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He had reckoned that the swim would have taken about five hours but was able to accomplish the feat in half that time. Ali spoke with the media after his accomplishment: “It was a herculean task to swim nonstop for seven miles riding the high and choppy waves of the Atlantic Ocean.” Ali also expressed gratitude to His Excellency President David Granger for his support in making the swim a success. Thanks were
also expressed to Chief Of Staff of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) Brigadier Patrick West along with Officer Ramphal and his Coast Guard crew for accompanying him on the journey. “My next long distance swim God willing will be in the Pacific Ocean in California. I hope I will get the opportunity to swim alongside a shark, wearing no protective paraphernalia, the lesson being that if a human can swim peacefully and nicely alongside a shark then it is incumbent upon us to live peacefully and nicely with each other.” The man of God ended his missive with a quote from the bible “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty. Psalm 139:14. (Samuel Whyte)
Chris Froome sprints to victory at the stage 16 time trial in Madrid The Syrian goalkeeper leads the celebrations after the final whistle in the Iranian capital. Omar Al Somah scored the biggest goal in Syrian football history to secure a draw against Iran and send the war-torn country into the World Cup play-offs. Carlos Queiroz’s side had already sealed their place in Russia next summer by topping Group A of Asian qualifying and looked to be heading to victory again thanks to Sardar Azmoun’s double. But deep into injury time Al Somah cooly slotted home to send the minnows wild, and continue their dream of a place at next year’s tournament. Syria still have a job on their hands if they are to be one of the 32
countries competing at the 2018 World Cup. They first must beat Australia and then one of USA, Honduras or Panama to reach the first World Cup finals in their history. The Australians were consigned to a third place finish in Group B after beating Thailand only 2-1, while Saudi Arabia sealed automatic qualification after beating Japan 1-0. Tamer Mohamed’s 13thminute header put the Syrians ahead, but Iran fought back to show why it was unbeaten in competitive games for over three years. Sardar Azmoun pulled Iran level in first-half stoppage
time, using his chest to knock in a rebound, and he struck again from close range in the 64th when Syria failed to clear a long throw-in. Syria made it 2-2 in stoppage time when Omar Al Soma put the ball between Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Salimi’s legs. Elsewhere in Asia South Korea’s goalless drawn with Uzbekistan saw them claim second place and automatic qualification for Russia. It will be the ninth successive time the South Koreans have competed at the World Cup, a sequence that began in Mexico in 1986. (MailOnline)
Chris Froome stormed to victory in stage 16’s individual time trial yesterday, adding to a nearly insurmountable overall lead of almost two minutes in the Vuelta a Espana. The Team Sky rider completed the 40.2km run from Circuito de Navarra to Logrono in 47 minutes, making 57 seconds on his main tour rival, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, whom he now leads by 1:58, and finishing 29 seconds ahead of second-placed Dutchman Wilco Kelderman, of Team Sunweb. Briton Froome is bidding to become the first rider for 39 years to win the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same season. This display recalled Froome’s sensational performance in the 2011 time trial at the Vuelta, where he stunned team leader Bradley Wiggins by taking the red jersey in Salamanca. Italian Daniel Oss had set the early running but young German rider Lennard Kaemna beat his time before being usurped by Sweden’s Tobias Ludvigsson, who lost his water bottle in the first 10km but still crossed the line in 48:07.23. Veteran rider Alberto Contador, in the final time trial of his career, set a new lead time of 47:59.82, delighting his fans at
Chris Froome Logrono and moving to fifth in the overall rankings, before Froome’s resounding victory. (MailOnline)