A decision by new president David John-Williams to allow the board of directors to sit on the matter of the payments of match fees to players for the Guatemala and USA World Cup Qualifiers may have been responsible for the players’ strike.

At least so said national team manager Williams Wallace yesterday. 

The players, through a statement from their captain Kenwyne Jones last week, threatened to withdraw their services for the Copa America play-off with Haiti in Panama City in January if outstanding monies are not paid. But Wallace said yesterday that he has been keeping the players abreast of the situation, claiming they agreed initially that the association could not pay for the friendly encounter with Nicaragua at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on October 13, but would have paid them for the Guatemala and USA matches, which they agreed to.  

The players were to be paid from gate receipts from the USA/T&T match at the stadium, which according to former president of the football association Raymond Tim Kee, was expected to generate approximately $2 million. But to date football association officials are still attempting to collect monies from the ticket outlets, some three weeks after. 

Other setbacks include the delivery of a post-dated cheque by a well-known ticket outlet which has confused the association, as well as changes in the signatories at the T&TFA which resulted from the change in administration. 

Wallace said this information was communicated to the players. He said when told that the board of directors would have to sit on the issue before payments could be made, the players decided to take action. “They see it as a deliberate attempt to delay the payment,” Wallace said. In the past the involvement of the board of directors on payment of match fees was a no-no.”

The board is expected to meet on Wednesday to address this issue following which cheques will be sent to the players’ accounts. Wallace has given the players the assurance that the monies will be paid and added that he is optimistic that a resolution will be met after the board meeting. He also sought to clear the air on payments owed to the players, saying no monies were owed to the players for the Concacaf Gold Cup but rather for the USA and Guatemala matches. 

In a release last week, John-Williams gave the assurance that his association was committed to paying the players. However he expressed concern at the way things were done by the previous administration and questioned why monies from ticket outlets had not yet been collected. 

John-Williams said he knew that a promised was made to pay the players on November 19 by the association but that was before he took office. The Guardian later tried to contact John-Williams about the involvement of the board of directors in the payments but calls to his cell phone went unanswered. 

Meanwhile national coach Stephen Hart, who had to whisk back home to Canada due to an emergency, said yesterday that he has been in touch with the players about the issue but made it clear he could not tell the players what to do. He said further that the players did not want him involved. Asked if he had been paid, Hart said no. 

“I have spoken with John-Williams about my payment and other matters and by Wednesday I will know more about it,” Hart said. It is understood that none of the staff has been paid.  

In an earlier report, former president Raymond Tim Kee said a gentleman’s agreement was made with the players to be paid from the November 17 game against the USA. He said this was normal.

He said when he took office, he met that system. “Because of our debt, we could not offer the players signed contracts since there was no guarantee of payments afterwards, and therefore that could have led to lawsuits,” Tim Kee explained. 

WALTER ALIBEY

GROS ISLET—Yannick Ottley agonisingly missed out on his maiden first class hundred as he led a gallant Trinidad and Tobago Red Force batting display on the penultimate day of their fifth round game against Windward Islands Volcanoes here yesterday.

The right-hander was left stranded on 99 as the visitors were dismissed for 382 in their first innings, to secure a healthy lead of 76 in the Regional First Class Championship contest at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.

Left-hander Yannick Cariah, unbeaten on 58 overnight, scored 70 while Narsingh Deonarine, also on 58 on resumption, made 60.

Marlon Richards, batting at number ten, contributed a cameo 60 at better than a run-a-ball to add to Volcanoes’ frustration as Red Force batted almost the entire day.

Barbadian seamer Kevin McClean was the best bowler on show with four for 66 while West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford claimed three for 109. At the close, Volcanoes were two without loss, heading into a pivotal final day.

Resuming the day on 153 for two, Red Force stumbled early when they lost left-hander Deonarine in the second over after adding just two runs to his overnight score, caught and bowled by McClean.

Cariah and Jason Mohammed (11) fell in quick succession to leave Red Force on 182 for five and in need of a big partnership to rescue the innings.

Ottley then stepped up, adding a vital 76 with wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo, who scored 25, as the pair took Red Force to the lunch interval on 199 for five.

On resumption, their stand flourished, mainly through Ottley who dominated the partnership. All told, he struck 12 fours in an innings spanning 218 balls and four-and-a-half hours.

Katwaroo, whose knock occupied 99 minutes and included two fours, eventually departed when he was bowled by left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters leading to a slide which saw three wickets fall for 21 runs.

Still short of the lead at 279 for eight, Ottley found an ally in the bold Richards and they battered Volcanoes with an 86-run, ninth wicket partnership.

Richards belted a four and five sixes off a mere 58 balls and it was this flair for the audacious that eventually cost him his wicket and Ottley his century, as he holed out in the deep off Shillingford.

SCOREBOARD 

WI Volcanoes vs T&T Red Force  

VOLCANOES 1st Inns 306

RED FORCE 1st Inns (o/n 153 for two)

J Solozano c Ambris b McClean     2

K Hope c Ambris b McClean     31

Y Cariah c McClean b Shillingford     70

N Deonarine c and b McClean     60

J Mohammed c Theophile 

b Shillingford     11

Y Ottley not out     99

S Katwaroo b Peters     25

A Hosein c Smith b Peters     1

I Khan c Theophile b McClean     8

M Richards c Peters b Shillingford     60

U Muhammed lbw b Sebastien     1

Extras (b10, lb2, w1, nb1)     14

TOTAL (all out, 141.1 overs)     382

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-51, 3-157, 4-175, 5-182, 6-258, 7-262, 8-279, 9-365, 10-382.

Bowling: Mathew 22-6-36-0 (nb1), McClean 17-1-66-4 (w1), Peters 29-9-44-2- Shillingford 452-4-109-3, 30.1-5-104-1, Theophile 6-2-11-0.

VOLCANOES 2nd Inns

D Smith not out     1

T Theophile not out     1

TOTAL (without loss)     2

Bowling: Deonarine 2-1-2-0, Hosein 1-1-0-0.

Position: Volcanoes trail by 74 runs with all ten second innings wickets intact.

Other Scores:

JAGUARS 189 (Assad Fudadin 47, Vishaul Singh 45; Nikita Miller 6-46, John Campbell 3-45) and 282 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 81, Leon Johnson 42, Anthony Bramble 35, Raymon Reifer 24; Damion Jacobs 4-78, Nikita Miller 2-48, Marquino Mindley 2-59) SCORPIONS 146 (Devon Thomas 30, Andre McCarthy 27; Veerasammy Permaul 5-25, Steven Jacobs 2-10) and 82 for three (John Campbell 26; Damion Jacobs 2-13)

PRIDE 368  and 1 without loss (0.2 overs) HURRICANES 170 and 198  

Van Dyke and Liam Keniry team up again when Hughie Morrison’s charge attempts to go one better, and make it third time lucky, in the Maiden Stakes over an extended nine furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta today; we kick off yet another all-weather week with a realistic, strongly-fancied, nap selection.

Considerable improvement was forthcoming over a mile of Kempton polytrack 26 days ago when Van Dyke chased home highly-regarded Predilection, obviously a genuine group prospect trained by John Gosden.

Five lengths separated the principals, ten others trailed in their wake.

Only a week earlier Morrison saddled and raced Van Dyke over the same course and distance; he was delighted but subsequently gob-smacked running into such a classy rival, Predilection must be noted and followed next year.

On the time-handicap Van Dyke looks gilt-edged and expect Keniry to sort out the wheat from the chaff with a positive, front-running, performance; I’ll be surprised if that isn’t the case, what’s the point of sitting behind inferior opposition, anytime? 

Over the same trip seven go to post for the 2-y-o Claimning Stakes and it’s tight to say the least; after careful scrutiny it became obvious that Marco Botti-trained Sahalin justifies support.

Previous Lingfield polytrack winner Sahalin is the mount of  experienced, useful, apprentice Daniel Muscatt who claims a handy 3lbs allowance which equates to about two lengths for juveniles over a mile.

A ‘cert’ on this seven-race programme should be Depth Charge, one of seven ‘dec’s for the Maiden Stakes; if there’s the semblance of a danger we haven’t found it!

Joseph Mc Leod, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of T&T, has said that among some major amendments to the constitution he will be lobbying for at the general council meetings, will be a reduction in the turnout of clubs that could form a quorum for major decisions to be made. 

Mc Leod, who has been under fire to call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Officers, yesterday said he wants 30 per cent of the turnout at council meetings to be considered a quorum so that the sport can move on. The current constitution states that a quorum comprises 50 per cent of the clubs.

 Mc Leod explained that the low turnout of clubs has been defeating the purpose of holding council meetings, which is to make key decisions. “At the last meeting on November 14 held to discuss the by-laws of the new company, there were only six clubs. Now at another meeting on December 5 to continue the discussions, six clubs attended out of 24 clubs registered and that cannot be acceptable,” Mc Leod said. 

He added: “This makes me wonder how serious those members are about the future of the sport. When key decisions are made at meetings with small attendances, they criticise the executive as they are doing now, yet they do not come to meetings.”  

Tidal Wave Aquatics, Silver Sharks, Eagles, Atlantis Aquatics, Tsunami, Point Fortin Aquadarts and Marlins were the clubs that attended the meeting on December 5, at St Michael Pool in south Trinidad, and they were informed via emails and at the last council meeting as every other club. 

Mc Leod lashed out that those criticising his executive, saying if they don’t want him, they need only to attend council meetings and raise a vote of no-confidence in him. “If the clubs vote against me, then I will go, but do not stay away from meetings but yet be most vociferous about decisions when they are made,” Mc Leod said. Because of this turnout, discussions were held mainly on the criteria for clubs seeking membership in the new company and according to the swimming boss, a suggestion was agreed on for clubs to have a minimum of 10 members. 

Mc Leod said this would ensure that clubs would be able to compete in different disciplines such as syncro diving, water polo, high diving and swimming.  In the current constitution, clubs can register with just three members but Mc Leod said this enables clubs that are not totally serious to join and then drop out.

Meanwhile, president of Seahawks Aquatics Derek Changar, one of the clubs that has publicly criticised Mc Leod, said he is throwing his support behind the embattled president. “I do not always agree with Mc Leod but it is wrong for members to criticise him if they are not at council meetings. I have seen it happen and it is not fair,” said Changar. He added; “It is exactly this situation that has created main concerns among clubs. At a council meeting early last year, it was agreed by about seven clubs that no elections will be held until the new company has been formed and now that the decision was made, the clubs that were not at the meeting, are up in arms and calling for elections.” 

Some of the clubs that stayed away from the meeting on December 5 are Blue Dolphins, UTT, Seahawks, Aerios Aquatics, Torpedoes, Flying Fish, Tiger Sharks, Royhill Seals, Tobago YMCA, Piranhas and Petrotrin among others.

WALTER ALIBEY

Jomal Williams scored a hat-trick on Saturday night as W Connection blasted St Ann’s Rangers 5-0 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain,  Couva.

The win moved Connection three spots up the Digicel Pro League 2015-16 ladder into third with ten points and ahead of San Juan Jabloteh and North East Stars who also have ten points each, on goal difference. With the result Rangers now occupy eighth place with five points.

Also making upward movement at the weekend were Point Fortin Civic, who jumped one spot into seventh place with seven points after a 3-1 come-from-behind win over table-propping Club Sando in the opening match of the Couva double-header.

Striker Jamille Boatswain scored on either side of the half before Andrei Pacheco converted from the penalty spot to give the Point Fortin men full points away from home, although they eneded the match with ten men. 

In the feature match, Williams stole the night by pushing his tally to nine goals in all competitions this season. The 21-year-old attacker opened the scoring against Rangers just 62 seconds into the match with a clinical strike past goalkeeper Stefan Berkeley after he combined with Shahdon Winchester inside the area.

Williams made it 2-0 in the 19th minute, as his powerful low drive cannoned off the upright and into the net when he was picked out by a Kurt Frederick’s pass. And later the Angus Eve-led Rangers, received a third goal in the 28th minute when Winchester was unmarked to head Frederick’s cross past the advancing custodian. 

The score read 3-0 to Connection at the break and Rangers were lucky not to have conceeded more after close misses by Andre Toussaint and Briel Thomas, including a desperate clearance at the line by Rangers defender Shakiyl Phillip. 

Three minutes inside the second period Williams completed his hat-trick for a 4-0 Connection lead with a strike from 23 yards out that flew past Berkeley and into the side netting.

Seeking to increase their scoreline, Connection saw Benjamin miss the far post by inches after a give-and-go with Williams. But Berkeley, who avoided embarrassment in the 33rd minute by plucking a lobbed Jomal attempt out of the air, was beaten again in the 84th minute.  

This time from the penalty spot as Connection completed a 5-0 rout to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games.

Winchester completed the rout from the penalty kick for his double on the night and his seventh goal this season after referee Gyasi Mc Donald ruled a handball against Rangers defender Jelani Peters in the area. 

Connection, like Jabloteh and North East Stars, is now one point adrift of Defence Force and defending champions Central FC in first and second positions,  respectively.

Abject, disappointing, disheartening, dispiriting, depressing, second-rated, pathetic, lame, pitiful, disastrous and substandard. 

These are just some of the adjectives to describe the West Indies performance in the first test against Australia which ended in two-and-a-half days. Australia batted for 114 overs, scored 583 for 4 declared and the West Indies batted 106.3 overs in two innings amassed 371 runs and lost by an innings and 212 runs.  

It is a bitter pill to swallow especially while growing up with a winning team in the 1980s. Winning was a habit and it was expected in every game. In fact rare loses (limited overs) were usually met with severe criticism from very unforgiving fans. However, the players were professionals both in name and in their action. They wore the maroon cap with distinction and were aware they represented the pride of the West Indian people whenever they set foot on the battle field. This was quite evident in the film Fire in Babylon.

I do not think anyone who understands cricket and more so the recent fortunes of both teams would expect the West Indies to win this series unless they believe in miracles. And no miracle would have been expected in first test especially after they were defeated by ten wickets by an Australian Cricket Association XI that included six first class debutants. However, it was expected that the team would have at least been competitive.

As Holder indicated in the post-match presentation there was too much indiscipline in the bowling and batting. At the start of the test, it seemed as though 50 overs cricket had returned to white clothing as Australia was scoring at seven runs per over after the first ten overs. And even after snapping up three quick wickets before lunch to leave Australia shaky at 121, they were not able to capitalise and saw 449 scored before the next wicket. The batting was pathetic in both the first and second innings, save Darren Bravo 108 and Kemar Roach 31 in the first innings and Kraigg Brathwaite 94 in the second innings. 

The most senior players  Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin did not show up at the park. In fact it is mysterious why Samuels was not within the infield, offering advice to Holder and the bowlers instead of parading the boundary lines in a nonchalant and unruffled manner? 

The commentary team (mostly former players who bear memories of severe losses from the past) added salt to the injustice felt with intermittent patronising and supercilious comments. One had to endure a simultaneous flogging from the field and the commentary box. 

There is no denying the WICB is culpable in no small way for the current parlous state as several stakeholders (former players, administrators, CARICOM Cricket Review Panel, past prime ministers, the general public et al) have expressed their unequivocal disappointment.

However, the problem/challenge goes beyond administration. The problem of indiscipline identified by Holder in his post-match statement is symptomatic of serious challenge facing Caribbean society. Everyone wants success but some are not prepared to work for it. They demand resources but some are not prepared to deliver on these resources. Indiscipline and mediocrity seem to become the new norm. Look at how many players have been reprimanded after three rounds of cricket in CPL for various breaches of the code of conduct.

Discipline and patience are critical ingredients for making the most of one’s talent in cricket (as with any aspect of life) whether one is a bowler and or batsman. Voges and Marsh’s combined discipline and patience with their batting skills chalked up a fourth wicket world record partnership of 449 runs.

Both Bravo and Brathwaite demonstrated that the West Indian batsmen can be productive but they need to dig deeper. Coaches and all the other cognitive consultants and experts have to instill in players that they cannot play professional cricket with an amateur attitude. Professionalism is not only a title but more importantly an action which has to be executed at all times.

Hopefully the professionalism level will be elevated for the Boxing Day test and self-pride will be quite optimally obvious. Even if a miracle does not take place they will be able to hold their heads up and say, “we fought tooth and nail” to the end. And that is all that can be asked as they go through a rather long transition stage.

A police constable and another man were gunned down this morning along the Aranguez Main Road.

Police investigators are currently on the scene.

According to a police report, at about 5.30 am the officer, who has only been identified as PC Ramnarine, was found slumped on the side of the pavement just outside a car while another man, who is yet to identified was found dead in the car.

Ramnarine was las assigned to the St Joseph Police Station.

A firearm was recovered at the scene and it is believed to be the officer’s gun.

Investigations are continuing.

Further details to follow. 

Out-of-favour West Indies players Devon Smith and Shane Shillingford stood tall to lead the Windward Islands to a draw against T&T in the fifth round of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Four-Day tournament at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia, yesterday.

With an hour remaining on the final day, T&T captain Jason Mohammed and Windward Islands captain Liam Sebastian thought the match was heading nowhere and decided to end the match in a draw. After starting the day on 2/0 the Windwards progressed to 198/8 in the second innings, a lead of 122 runs when play was called off. 

West Indies opener Smith top scored with 56, while Shillingford frustated the T&T bowlers for the second time in the match with 34. In the first innings Shillingford top scored with 64 to lead Windward Islands from 205/7 at the close of day one to 306 all out.

T&T threatened to come away with a victory as it reduced the home team to 42/3 when Johnson Charles was stumped for seven by Steven Katwaroo of spin bowler Akeal Hosein. 

The Windwards then had four solid partnerships that took them to safety. Firstly, a 43-run stand between Smith and Andre Fletcher gave the Windwards a small lead, which was followed by a 33-run partnership between Smith and Sebastian which pushed the lead to 42.

Smith then found an able partner in Shillingford before the former lost his wicket for 56 when Imran Khan held on to a catch of Narsingh Deonarine. With the Windwards on 149/6 T&T felt they were in with a chance to win, but contributions from Shillingford (34), Kevin Mclean (24) and Sunil Ambris (seven not out) ruined the Red Force chances of victory.

The quartet of Deonarine (2/27), Hosein (2/84), Marlon Richards (2/17) and Khan (2/38) all ended with two wickets. T&T remained in fourth place while Windward Islands stayed in fifth place ahead of Leeward Islands.

Standings:

FRANCHISES    PTS    M    W    L    T    I    A    DP    MR    BAT    BOWL
Guyana Jaguars    85    5    5    0    0    0    0    0    0    10    15
Barbados Pride    63    5    3    1    0    1    0    0    0    9    15
Jamaica Scorpions    53    5    3    2    0    0    0    0    0    5    12
T&T Red Force    37    5    1    2    0    2    0    0    0    8    11
Windwards Volcanoes    29    5    1    3    0    1    0    0    0    3    11
Leewards Hurricanes    13    5    0    5    0    0    0    0    0    0    13
Abbreviations: Pts-total points, M-matches, W-won, L-lost, T-tied, I-incomplete match, A-abandoned match, DP-Abandoned match due to dangerous pitch, MR-match referee awarding match, Bat-batting points, Bowl-bowling points

Other Scores:

Jaguars beat Scorpions by 117 runs  
KINGSTON—Guyana Jaguars defeated Jamaica Scorpions by 117 runs on the final day of their fifth round game in the Regional First Class Championship at Sabina Park here yesterday.
Scores:
JAGUARS 189 (Assad Fudadin 47, Vishaul Singh 45; Nikita Miller 6-46, John Campbell 3-45) and 282 (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 81, Leon Johnson 42, Anthony Bramble 35, Raymon Reifer 24; Damion Jacobs 4-78, Nikita Miller 2-48, Marquino Mindley 2-59)
SCORPIONS 146 (Devon Thomas 30, Andre McCarthy 27; Veerasammy Permaul 5-25, Steven Jacobs 2-10) and 208 (Devon Thomas 31, Tamar Lambert 30, John Campbell 26, Sheldon Cottrell 23; Gudakesh Motie 6-33, Steven Jacobs 2-38, Keon Joseph 2-43)

SCOREBOARD

Windwards 1st inns 306
T&T Red Force 1st inns 382
Windwards 2nd Inns (o/n 2-0) 
D Smith c I Khan b N Deonarine    56
T Theophile c Y Cariah b M Richards    1
M Bascombe c S Katwaroo b M Richards    21
J Charles st S Katwaroo b A Hosein    7
A Fletcher+ c J Solozano b A Hosein    29
L Sebastien c K Hope b N Deonarine    18
S Shillingford c Y Ottley b I Khan    34
K McClean c J Solozano b I Khan    24
S Ambris not out    7
Did not Bat: M Matthew, K Peters
Extras 1b     1
Total    198 for 8
Fall of Wkts: 1-7, 2-33, 3-42, 4-85, 5-118, 6-149, 7-183, 8-198
Bowling: N Deonarine 16-5-27-2, A Hosein 30-7-84-2, U Muhammad 5-2-23-0, M Richards 6-1-17-2, J Mohammed 3-0-6-0, I Khan 19.4-6-38-2, Y Ottley 1-0-1-0, J Solozano 1-0-1-0
Points: Windward Islands Volcanoes 6 (1 batting point + 2 bowling points + 3 points for the drew), T&T Red Force 7 (2 bowling points + 2 batting points + 3 points for the drew) Toss: T&T Red Force Player-of-the-Match: Yannick Ottley (Red Force). Result: Draw

Walter Alibey

Recently elected president of the T&T Football Association (TTFA)  David John-Williams has come in for some blows from angry members of the Soca Warriors, who have described him as insensitive.

The players have threatened to withhold their services for the upcoming 2016 Copa America Qualifier against Haiti in Panama City, Panama in January until they are paid monies owed to them for the Gold Cup; an International Friendly with Nicaragua and World Cup Qualifiers against Guatemala and  the USA. 

In response to that decision, John-Williams said players received salaries from their clubs while all costs incurred when representing the national team, such as flight, accommodation, meals and sundry expenses were being met by the T&TFA. 

The statements have infuriated the players who feel that John-Williams was out of place. 

The players, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, also took offence to calls by John-Williams for a policy document on players entitlement to match fees, which he described as a serious oversight. The embattled president expressed concerns, saying  “It appears that match fees are not a function of experience, number of appearances at national level, time on the field or category of staff.” 

One member explained that the players all want to be paid the same fees. “When we are on the field and a player is in the area with a clear shot at goal, no-one studies if he has been on the field for five or 10 minutes, neither do we wonder about his experience or how many caps he has. All we care about is scoring the goal for our country.” 

They are also questioning the necessity for a board of directors meeting to address the issue of the payments. The meeting will be held tomorrow at the TTFA’s office. TTFA officials say the board will determine how much match fees will be paid to each individual.

The players have said that the new president knew what he was getting into when he campaigned for the position of president. “We know the Association has money because we were asked to fill the stadium the day before the Guatemala encounter for us to be paid and that is what happened.

We want to be paid before the expenses are taken care of because these fees can be covered when the TTFA gets funding from corporate T&T,” said one senior member. He added: “The new president came into office promising to get investors so now is the time to do so.” 

They are sending a warning that although the players want to represent their country, they are taking a stance at the Haiti match, but they explained that if the matter is not resolved soon, they will look at other means.

QUESNEL: PAUL FRANCISpassed away on Tuesday 8thDecember, 2015 in Jamaica.Son of the late Pierre JosephQuesnel and Dorothy KathleenQuesnel (née Dear). Wifeof Halldis Elizabeth (Lill)Quesnel (née Jardine). Fatherof Nicholas and Emily. Fatherin-law of Sean Farah and SabrinaQuesnel (née Marsan).Grandfather of Jessely, Siennaand Aeryn. Brother of LucilleGibson and SuzettePereira.

Funeral service forthe late Paul Quesnel takesplace at Church of Assumption,Maraval on Thursday17th December, 2015 at10:00a.m., followed by privateinterment. No flowers by request.A collection will be takenup for charity. Funeral entrustedto Clark & Battoo, 625-1170. To Send Condolencesplease visit www.clarkandbattoo.com

SCOTT: FREDERICK ADRIAN passed away peacefully onSaturday 12th December,2015. Husband of Rita Scott(née Knox). Father of Lesley(deceased), Michael, Davidand Jennifer. Father-in-law ofJennifer, Martin and Lesley.Grandfather of nine. Greatgrandfather of four and oneon the way. Brother of eight.

Funeral mass for the lateFrederick Adrian Scott takesplace at St. Finbar's R. C.Church, Diego Martin onWednesday 16th December,2015 at 10:30a.m, followed byprivate cremation. In lieu offlowers, a collection will betaken up for the Finbar RyanGeriatric Home. Funeral entrustedto Clark & Battoo, 625-1170. For enquiries, pleasecontact Chancellor Walks FuneralConsultancy, 287-0403/4.

SILMAN: VELTA NÉ EMOOLCHAN died peacefullyon 8th December, 2015.Daughter of the late Phillip &Sylvia Moolchan. Wife of thelate John Silman. Mother ofthe late Michael and Jillian.Grandmother of Liam. Sisterof Hayden, Lourdes (England),Joy, Kay & the late Rodney,Phillip & Carol. Aunt of Andreand many others. Sister inlaw of Marilyn and Zinn. Relativeof the Silmans,Moolchans, Watsons, Abouds& Mustaphas.

Funeral servicefor the late VELTA SILMANtakes place at 9.30 am onWednesday 16th December,2015 at The Church of the Nativity,Crystal Stream, DiegoMartin thence to TheCinerary, Long Circular Road,St. James for cremation at12.00 noon. No flowers by request.Enquiries Lee s FuneralDirectors 663-1010.

The burnt bodies of two people were found last night as police responded to a fire at Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas.
Details are still sketchy but police said they were unable to determine gender or ethnicity of the two victims due to the intensity of the fire.
The bodies were found lying on top of each other in the back seat of a car which was deliberately set afire, police said.
Police officers, from the nearby Chaguanas Police Station, along with the fire officers responded to a report of a car on fire and made the grisly find when the flames were extinguished shortly after midnight.
The bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre but no one has yet come forward to identify the victims, police said.
Investigations are continuing.

The burnt bodies of two people were found last night as police responded to a fire at Woodford Lodge, Chaguanas.
Details are still sketchy but police said they were unable to determine gender or ethnicity of the two victims due to the intensity of the fire.
The bodies were found lying on top of each other in the back seat of a car which was deliberately set afire, police said.
Police officers, from the nearby Chaguanas Police Station, along with the fire officers responded to a report of a car on fire and made the grisly find when the flames were extinguished shortly after midnight.
The bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre but no one has yet come forward to identify the victims, police said.
Investigations are continuing.

Members of the T&T Soca Warriors will know by late this evening if and how soon they will receive monies owed to them for matches played at the Concacaf Gold Cup, the International Friendly encounter against Nicaragua and the World Cup Qualifiers against Guatemala on November 13 and the USA on November 17 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.  

The new board of directors which include Samuel Saunders (Central FA), Sherwyn Dyer (Eastern Counties Football Union), Karanjabari Williams (Northern FA), Richard Quan Chan (Southern FA), Anthony Moore (Tobago FA), Joseph Taylor (T&T Football Referees Association), Dexter Skeene (TT Pro League) and Sharon O’Brien (Women’s League Football) will address a number of issues inherited from the previous T&T Football Association (TTFA) administration, which was led by businessman Raymond Tim Kee. 

One board member who preferred not to be named, said he did not receive an agenda, but understands the session will begin with an official meet and greet exercise, as the parties do not know one another. Following that, they will get down to business. 

The Soca Warriors who have accumulated four points to date from their two World Cup matches, have threatened to withhold their services until fees, amounting to approximately $1.8 million are paid.

A decision to delay payment until it is approved at today’s board meeting has aggravated the situation with players describing new president David John-Williams as insensitive.

Previously, once payment was allocated by the TTFA, it was sent directly to the players’ accounts, but the new system where the board approval is needed will further delay the process. 

The players are also angry at statements from John-Williams that they are not out of pocket, since they were being paid by their respective clubs.  

John-Williams said in a statement last week that his Federation was working assiduously to establish the financial position of the TTFA, but was severely hampered by the lack of documentation, poor record keeping and the inability to collect monies due from gate receipts. Monies to pay the players were to come from a sold-out crowd on November 17 against the USA, where Tim Kee had estimated a return of $2 million from the gates. 

​WALTER ALIBEY

MELBOURNE—Cricket super star Chris Gayle has been quoted in Australia as saying one of his goals for the New Year is to resume his playing career with the West Indies Test team barring further injury.

Gayle told Reporters in Melbourne yesterday, had it not been for his lingering back injury, he would have been playing in the current Test series between Australia and West Indies.

The 36-year-old has been undergoing rehabilitation work after surgery on a debilitating back injury earlier this year.

“I haven’t retired from the game. Test cricket is still on the agenda, for sure,” said Gayle, who played the last of his 103 Tests in July 2014.

“I’m just coming back off an injury so there’s no way I could’ve actually been part of that Test team. If I wasn’t (recovering from a back injury) I would definitely. I haven’t retired from the game”.

Gayle, who has scored 7214 Test runs at an average of 42.18, has stressed that his interest in Test cricket has not dwindled but explained that his back problems have delayed his return to the longer format of the game.

He is playing for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League after earlier this month featuring in four T20 matches of the Bangladesh Premier League.

The West Indies opener represented Barisal Bulls in the BPL and scored a blazing unbeaten 92 in a one sided victory over Chittagong Vikings.

“I haven’t batted for such a long time that (when) I scored ninety two in a game and the next day I felt I’d been hit by a bus. This is the biggest challenge, coming back into cricket (after) being out of cricket for maybe three-four months,” he said.

“It’s been tough, not much batting. Those games (in Bangladesh) played a big part for me (in recovering from injury). It was good to be out here in the middle”.

Gayle has also appealed for support for the West Indies team, comprising mostly of young players, saying they need time to develop as a Test playing side.

West Indies lost seven of their last ten Test matches and suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Test match against Australia after losing to a Cricket Australia XI side that featured six players making their first-class debuts.

“If you want to bash the cricket, you bash me basically,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“We are loved around the world. We might not be playing good cricket but… it’s a young team so we have to definitely give it time rather than being so harsh on West Indies’ cricket all the time. Some young players are coming through the ranks. We have to give them time.”

Gayle has brushed aside suggestions that many West Indies players chose to play domestic Twenty20 competitions, such as BBL and IPL instead of representing the region in Tests.

“I don’t know which blokes you’re talking about. If it’s (Dwayne) Bravo he’s retired from Test cricket. I don’t know any others with any other issues,” Gayle said. (CMC)

It was expected. It was anticipated. It was always on the cards.

So why then are we upset by all that occurred over the three days of the first Test between the West Indies and Australia?

Predictably, the West Indies lost but while that was a terrible result and left a sour taste across the region, it did not seem to disturb the atmosphere of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) lavish meeting on the weekend.

It is a sign of the times when the product, West Indies cricket, can perform so horribly and we do not hear a whimper from the now dysfunctional WICB. Instead, we have been told that a senior counsel has been retained by the WICB to handle their latest encounter with reality—the call for the bunch of them to collectively pack their light bags and leave immediately.

This yet again demonstrates the total lack of care and courtesy that this WICB currently possesses and for which one day, they will have to be held accountable.

As to the defeat in Australia, it was sad to listen to the many disparaging comments from several of the former Australian cricketers such as Mark Taylor, Shane Warne, Ian Healy, Ian Chappel, Michael Slater and Brett Lee. It was almost as if all of them had a tabanca for West Indies cricket, and they were dreaming and recalling the heavy licks they received so regularly in the past, and making jest of the West Indian players.

This was not good commentary and that is why no one can ever deny the class of the English commentary team as compared to the Australian group, who at best appear to be uneducated cricketers with a microphone in their hands. 

I was not surprised to be told that many others felt similarly about the over extended humour attempts on the West Indies players, some bordering on being far too personal and aggressively distasteful to be anything but unprofessional.

It has to be noted that a West Indian commentator of the class and pedigree of Michael Holding is not there. I doubt he would allow such immature ranting, or that the Australians would dare attempt such in the face of his honest analysis. 

It is to be  hoped that going forward this matter can be addressed in the best interest of proper broadcasting but honestly I believe that is asking far too much. Unfortunately, SportsMax, who have the rights for this errant rambling, has no say.

The best course, some would say, would be for the West Indian players to refuse to talk with the Australian media as a form of protest. However, I am not certain that would have the desired effect, and instead might just give credence to their idiotic comments.

 Some of the players and even the management who talk to the media should either watch their words or decline comment, because they sound foolish and naïve, just replay Kemar Roach and Curtly Ambrose on the eve of the Test.

 The task ahead is not going to be easy. The Australians are on a high. Several of the current players are fighting to remain on  the team, since some seasoned players are injured and therefore absent. This means the West Indies can expect an equally tough second test on Boxing Day.

What a Merry Christmas it would be if this team could find the fortitude to make a match of the remaining two Tests. Such optimism may be misplaced but as we  know all too well, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty. 

We can only hope that the West Indies team find the self belief and faith to prove that true with a spectacular performances as the year comes to an end. If that happens, we will all have a Happy New Year!