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GUYANATIMESgy.COM
wednesdAY, september 5, 2018
Sammy is latest WWT20 ambassador
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Daren Sammy savours the winning moment in 2016 in India
ormer Windies two-time World t20 winning captain, Daren Sammy, one of St Lucia’s most prolific international sport stars will join the WINDIES Ambassador Programme to lend his support of the WINDIES Women for the upcoming ICC Women’s World T20. Sammy, captain of the winning WINDIES Teams for the 2012 and 2016 World Twenty20 Championships has confirmed his participation and will make appearances during the September to November as part of the campaign to promote the tournament. Sammy has expressed delight to be involved in this project, “It is an honour and a huge pleasure to join the team for the ICC Women’s World T20. This is going to be a great event for our region and for our women, who have for generations helped to build our communities here in St Lucia and across the West Indies. In doing so, they have made an outstanding contribution to our cricket.”
Sammy went on to say “this tournament will also go a long way to boost women’s cricket. The sport is on the rise and we want to see it grow even more when the tournament comes to our doorsteps. As a proud son of the soil, I just want to play my part in this wonderful campaign called #WatchThis as we prepare to host the cricketing world.” He emphasized that “of course I will be on the side of Stafanie and the WINDIES team as they seek to defend their title, but we also welcome the nine other teams and wish them the very best. I am urging everyone to come on board and join us for 23 exciting matches at these three amazing venues.” As part of his role as an Ambassador, Sammy will be included in a variety of public activities to include community activities, photo sessions at venues and will make appearances with the players where applicable. The Daren Sammy
Stadium is one of the three locations used during the event and Sammy is scheduled to be on location to meet and greet fans and players on match days. Tournament Director, Jennifer Nero is elated that Daren has decided to support the campaign and sees the partnership “as one that will add value to the campaign and will serve as a catalyst to mobilize fans to attend the matches in all three countries. We look forward to working with Daren.” The ICC WT20, the first stand-alone event of its kind is scheduled for November 9 – 24 and will also be at the Providence Ground, Guyana and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua. WINDIES Ambassadors are current and past players who, as leading figures of the game, bring significant added value to CWI campaigns, events and commercial programmes. (Windiescricket)
Haniff, Escarraga among winner’s in Maurice Solomon Golf Open
GFF Elite League 2018…
Western Tigers run away from New Amsterdam United
Abumchi Benjamin who scored a hattrick against Buxton
– Benjamin helps soldiers trample Buxton
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he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League continued last Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground with a double header that had fans on the edge of their seats and others biting their nails. At the end of the night, it was supporters of city sides Western Tigers and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Clubs that went home smiling. When the referee signaled the start of the first match, the Western Tigers players seemed hungry for success and pounced at the opportunity to find the back of the net in the second minute through the effort of national player Vurlon Mills. The early goal turned out to be the only goal of the contest as New Amsterdam United Football Club tried a number of strategies known in the football realm to get
back in the game. They attacked hard and even made some desperate substitutions but the Tigers were too good. In the other contest of the night, Buxton United Football Club (FC) went out on the field and employed a strategy of playing three at the back but that wasn’t the best thing move they could have employed and were mauled by the defending champions 4-0. For the soldiers, center forward Abumchi Benjamin ran circles around Buxton United’s backline leaving them in disarray, as he pierced their goal in the 10th minute to secure the lead. But Buxton hadn’t seen the last of him as he returned to extend the lead two minutes later to dent the hopes of the east Coast Demerara team. At half time GDF FC had a 2-0 lead and were looking comfortable, but they weren’t done with Buxton as they re-
turned to rub more salt in the wounds of the Buxtonian team scoring another two goals. Benjamin completed his hat trick four minutes into the second half when he tore through Buxton’s defence as he had been doing throughout the match. When he felt his work was done for the night, he was replaced by Sherwyn Caesar in the 63rd minute. After finding his feet, the last GFF player of the year, Caesar placed the final nail in the coffin for Buxton team when he blasted the ball into the goal during stoppage time. GDF FC have now moved into second place only two points behind table toppers Fruta Conquerors Fc while Western Tigers FC sit comfortably on fourth place with a substantial lead over Victoria Kings FC who are in fifth place.
Enterprise Legends honour Yadram for U-19 success
From left: Avinash Persaud; Nazeem Haniff; William Walker; Bridgelall "Jacks" Harry receiving his prize from Ryan Badrie – Senior Accountant at Maurice Solomon & Co; Guillermo Escarraga and Jorge Medina
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apo’ Nazeem Haniff, William Walker and Guillermo Escarraga dominated their respective Flights to emerge winners of last Saturday’s Maurice Solomon & Company Annual Golf Tournament. A full field of golfers took the lightning fast Greens in honor of Solomon, the Lusignan Golf Club’s (LGC) newest life-member and sponsor of the tournament. Played under the Flights format, Haniff (68/75) who has been playing golfer for over three decades brought all his past professional golf skill to the fore to emerge overall net champion. Veteran Mike Mangal (70/78) who won the tie with reigning Guyana open champion Avinash Persaud 70/72
in the count-back on the “back nine”, finished second. Former Guyana Open champion Mohanlall Dinanauth (73/78) and his son, emerging phenomenon Kevin Dinanauth (73/76), tied for 4th place and Richard Haniff 74/83 came in 6th. In the ‘B’ flight, Walker with (69/79) finished first with Bridgelall ‘Jacks’ Harry 69/86 finishing second place. David Harry 70/13; Joaan Deo 70/16/ Parmanand ‘max’ Persaud 71/13; Lekhnarine ‘Mahesh’ Shivraj 71/17 and Brian Hackett 76/94 were among the other notable performers. The ‘C’ flight was dominated by the MACORP executive Escarraga who tallied 71/93 for his 1st place, closely followed by MACORP CEO Jorge Medina in second with 75/103 – 2nd.
Also of note were performances by Mark Lashley 78/102 and Troy Cadogan 79/104. Among other prizes given were Best Gross and Longest Drive, both won by Avinash Persaud (72) while the Overall Best Net and Nearest to The Pin both won by ‘Papo’. Meanwhile, a simple ceremony at the end of the tournament saw Solomon’s golfing buddies of over 30 years, Richard Hanoman and Hemraj Kissoon (also a life member), were present to emphasise their appreciation of the honor bestowed on him. Also all the Company’s staff was out to assist in prize distribution as well as to enjoy observing the game and enjoy the ambience of the upgraded Lusignan Golf Club.
Bhaskar Yadram (centre) is flanked by members of the Enterprise Legends team after being presented with the band (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan)
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nterprise Legends, an Over-40 cricket team on the East Coast of Demerara, last weekend honoured all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram for leading Guyana to the 50-over title in the just concluded Cricket West Indies Regional Under-19 competition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Members of the Enterprise Legends cricket team played a specially arranged softball match in honour of Yadram, before presenting him with a cricket band in recognition of his achievements this year. During the brief ceremony, NK Omar, a member of Enterprise Legends, said the members thought it best to honour Yadram, since apart captaining Guyana to the Under-19 title, he also created history ear-
lier this year in the Inter-county youth tournament. On April 11, 2018, the right-handed Yadram pulverised the Select Under-17 squad at the Everest ground, blazing 301 not out for Demerara. It was the first triple hundred ever scored at this level. Omar said the Legends are indeed proud of the strides made by the young cricketer, and they are confident he will continue to excel as he makes the move up to senior cricket. Yadram said he is happy to have been acknowledged by the Legends, noting that he is committed to follow in the footsteps of opener Rajendra Chandrika and become the second player from Enterprise to play for the senior West Indies team.