Team wondering what hit them after getting blasted again

• Simba French
• Oct 13, 2023
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Bahamian professional women’s basketball player Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones notched her eighth consecutive double-double of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) playoffs but it wouldn’t be enough as the New York Liberty was routed, 104-76, by the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Finals at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday. The Aces now go up 2-0 in that best-of-five series.

Jones came away with a team-high 22 points and added 10 rebounds in 30 minutes on the floor. That was not enough as they still got blown out the water again. They lost the first game by 17 points, and then dropped Game Two by 28 points. The center was hot from the field where she went 8-for-12, shooting 66.7 percent. She also played hard on the defensive end as she came away with four blocked shots.https://ffa32b7582c8b3f6a36b46c491027883.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The Aces’ A’ja Wilson led all scorers with an efficient 26 points and added 15 rebounds.

The Liberty never led in the game as the Aces picked up the wire-to-wire win to put Liberty’s back against the wall. The Aces used a 19-2 scoring run to lead 38-19 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Liberty pushed back and got the lead down to single digits when Sabrina Ionescu hit a three-point shot. At that point, they trailed 50-41 with 2:17 left in that half. Jones sank three free throws to make it a game. The Aces led 50-44 with 25 seconds remaining in the first half, and the quarter ended with the Aces up 52-44. The Liberty outscored Aces 25-14 in that quarter. Jones finished the first half with 19 points.

Wilson made a jump shot at the 9:14 mark of the third quarter to put them up double digits, 54-44. From there, the lead never shrunk to within single digits again. The Aces outscored the Liberty by 20 points, 52-32, in the second half.

The Liberty had a rough night from the field, shooting at a 36.1 percent clip while the Aces made 52.9 percent of their shots. The Aces moved the ball better, and made more shots, dishing out 31 assists compared to the Liberty’s 19.

Jones has been superb in these playoffs, averaging a double-double at 16.9 points and 12.1 rebounds to go with 2.3 blocks per game. She is shooting at a 55.2 percent clip in eight games. The sixth pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft has set a record for most double-doubles in a postseason which is at eight and counting.

It is a tall task for Jones and Liberty to win three straight games against the number one seeded Aces. Fortunately for them, they are headed home to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, for Game Three, and if necessary, Game Four as well. Game Five, if necessary, will return to Las Vegas. Game Three is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 15, and will be televised on ABC.

• Simba French
• Oct 16, 2023
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Players in the Jazz Chisholm Foundation Little League got a surprise this weekend as league founder Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr. of the Miami Marlins outfielder paid them a visit during the games at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex on Saturday.

The Marlins’ starting center fielder was flocked by the players as they wanted to take pictures with Chisholm, who was in a walking boot on his right foot after having ‘turf’ toe surgery on Tuesday. A number of the players got their bats, hats, gloves and/or batting gloves autographed by Chisholm, putting a smile on their faces. After being with the kids, Chisholm took time to speak to the press.https://9081de7e6f35ac2277ee838b1b9c1c03.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Playing its third week, the league boasts four divisions – T-Ball (5-6), Coach Pitch (7-8), 12-and-Under (12U) and 14-and-Under (14U). There are four teams in each of the divisions.

Chisholm is high on The Bahamas’ future in baseball as he looks to have his league play a part of the advancement of the sport in the country.

“My goal with this little league is to make it like the Dominican Republic. We’re competing with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and those guys. I feel like the talent is here and we just have to give them the opportunity. I feel like this is the opportunity,” Chisholm said.

As mentioned earlier, Chisholm was wearing a walking boot on his right foot. It was for a ‘turf’ toe surgery that was done last week Tuesday. Chisholm said it went well and he should be back in January. He initially suffered the injury in May of this year.

“I should be back running in January – three months. Surgery went well. It was successful. I am just ready to go and be with the kids, be out here with them, help them get to where they want to be,” Chisholm said.

The league is set to wrap up on December 3 with the championships in the various divisions. The league is one of several things that Chisholm has on his list, helping to grow the sport of baseball in The Bahamas.

• Sheldon Longley
• Oct 16, 2023
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Bahamian professional women’s basketball player Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones might have had her impressive record-setting playoff double-double streak come to an end, but she had one of the highest-scoring games of her playoff career, and the New York Liberty rode that performance to an 87-73 win, pulling to within two games to one in the best-of-five Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals.

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was rocking for Game Three of the series on Sunday, and with their backs against the wall, feeding off the excitement of the Liberty’s first home championship game in 21 years, Jones and her team rose to the occasion to get their first win of the series. It was their first win in the WNBA Finals since 1999. It’s also the first loss for the Aces in the postseason this year.

The Bahamian star out of Holmes Rock, Grand Bahama, finished with a side-high 27 points, and just missed what would have been her ninth straight double-double in the playoffs, as she added eight rebounds. She shot 10-for-15 from the field and was over 50 percent from deep, going 4-for-7. Jones had an MVP performance in the game as she added three assists, three huge blocks and two steals.

The real MVP (Most Valuable Player) Breanna Stewart added 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting, 12 rebounds and four assists, for the winning Liberty. Stewart won her second WNBA MVP Award this season. On Sunday, Betnijah Laney and Courtney Vandersloot added 12 points apiece for the Liberty.

The Aces were paced by a game-high 29 points from guard Kelsey Plum, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Two-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, including one this year, A’ja Wilson, added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the defending champions Aces, but shot just 4-for-16 from the field. Point guard Chelsea Gray was the only other player in double figures for them, scoring 11.

The Aces led just once in Game Three, 8-7, after Plum made two free shots at the 6:20 mark of the opening quarter. Sabrina Ionescu buried a 23-foot three point jumper 19 seconds later on an assist from Vandersloot, and the Liberty never looked back. They went on to lead 21-18 after the first quarter and 43-40 at the half. Jones had 16 of her 27 points in the first half.https://08494503be61cbd392d1b9ba35359f4c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The Liberty opened the second half on a 12-3 scoring run, including scoring the first eight points of the second half, to take their first double digit lead of the game, and they continued the momentum as they went on to lead 61-50 at the end of three quarters, holding the Aces to just 10 points in the third.

The Aces stayed within reach, eventually getting the lead down to just six points, 67-61, on two free shots from Wilson as she stole the ball and drove almost the length of the court before getting fouled on a layup attempt to go to the free throw line. She hit both free shots and the Aces trailed by just six, 67-61, with 5:31 remaining.

Feeling the heat, Jones, Stewart and Laney led the Liberty on a 12-3 run to stretch the lead back to double digits and put the game away.

For the game, the Liberty shot 52.4 percent from the field, going 33-for-63 compared to just 33.3 percent for the Aces, 23-for-69. They were also 43.3 percent from deep (13-for-30) compared to 31.8 percent (7-for-22) for the Aces. The Liberty also dished out 28 assists compared to just 13 for their counterparts, and had eight blocked shots, led by three from Jones, while the Aces didn’t block a single shot.

Jones had four of the Liberty’s 13 three-point shots.

“She (Jones) was huge for us,” said Liberty Head Coach Sandy Brondello. “Those 3’s changed the moment of the game a bit. The ball went in. Other games the ball weren’t going in for us. We got back to our identity. Proud of the effort and commitment and connection we had. Now we’ve got to do it again.”https://08494503be61cbd392d1b9ba35359f4c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The Liberty led by as much 17 points late in the fourth quarter, cruising to the easy win.

The Liberty struggled in the first two games of the series, losing by a combined 45 points, 99-82 in Game One, and 104-76 in Game Two. They did what they needed to do on Sunday to stay alive in the series, winning 87-73.

The Liberty must keep it going as they have to win again on Wednesday if they want to extend the series. Game Four is set for 8 p.m. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Game Five, if necessary, will be played at 9 p.m. at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

The Aces are looking to become the first team to win consecutive titles in the WNBA since the 2001-02 Los Angeles Sparks. That came on the heels of the Houston Comets winning the WNBA’s first four championships.

Team gives up two goals in first nine minutes; they lose 4-1

• Oct 16, 2023
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The Bahamas’ senior men’s national soccer team was ready to take on Antigua and Barbuda but they went down 2-0 in the first nine minutes of the game and couldn’t recover at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday. The Bahamas lost, 4-1, in the pivotal 2023-2024 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League game.

The loss drops The Bahamas to fourth in League B Group D action with three losses. Antigua and Barbuda picked up their first win in three tries and has three points, sitting in third. Guyana took down Puerto Rico, 3-1, on Saturday and lead the group with nine points – three points clear on second-place Puerto Rico.

Antigua and Barbuda got on the scoreboard in the third minute of the game on Saturday on a header from Javorn Stevens that went to the right of The Bahamas’ goalkeeper Michael Butler who could not do anything to stop it. Stevens got back on the scoresheet six minutes later on a breakaway run to give Antigua a 2-0 lead.Giorgos Giakoumakis: Newcomer of the Year favorite?!Giorgos Giakoumakis: Newcomer of the Year favorite?!closeNextStay

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Head Coach for The Bahamas, former national team player Nesly Jean, said that the early woes were due to mistakes.

“We had a game plan like their game plan. Obviously, they executed better than we did. We continue to beat ourselves by making mistakes. I think that once we can limit those mistakes we can move forward and be better as a team. Until then, the players have to keep on working…. We gave them too much time on the ball and we moved the ball too slow,” Jean said.

Some of the mistakes that Jean was referring to were body positioning and they were not remaining in a straight line defensively to counter Antigua and Barbuda’s long ball strategy.

Head Coach for Antigua and Barbuda, former national team player for them Mikele Leigertwood, said he was happy to see his players carry out their game plan.

“Those two goals early definitely helped us because it helped to settle our nerves. We knew the magnitude of the game and match. Coming off the back of two losses that were heavy defeats, the response from everyone was brilliant. It could have been more (goals) if it wasn’t for some fantastic saves from their goalkeeper,” Leigertwood said.

Thomas Bramble drove the ball into the back of the Bahamian net two minutes before the half to silence the Bahamian crowd. His goal put them up 3-0.https://98a38ff8d2b9b4f49b1a450db22362c6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The score remained 3-0 at the intermission.

A notable change for The Bahamas tactics in this game was moving captain Lesly St. Fleur up to the midfield position instead of his center back role.

“The game is to attack but at the same time, as an older player and his experience, he can play all over the field. We wanted him to be more disciplined in the midfield by receiving the ball off the backline and trying to feed the attackers. They double teamed him and that didn’t happen, so we have to look at ways to get other players involved,” Jean said.

The Bahamas cut the deficit to 3-1 in the 62nd minute when forward Wood Julmis received the ball on a throw-in and pulled the ball back before striking it off his right foot and past Antigua and Barbuda’s goalkeeper Zaieem Scott for a goal. It was his first goal on home soil in nations league action but his third goal in this edition of the CONCACAF Nations League.

“We didn’t get a million opportunities, but one or two, and we must put them away,” Julmis said,” I just wait on my moments and just try to execute the way I know I can. It gives me confidence.”

Julmis said they shot themselves in the foot and had a tough time in the game, but he knows they can play better.

“We had a game plan like Jean said but we went against the game plan. Confidence played a role in it. I do not think our players are confident enough to execute. We take advantage of the coach telling us that we can make a mistake but going forward we need that confidence. We are nowhere near what we can do,” Julmis said.https://98a38ff8d2b9b4f49b1a450db22362c6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Antigua and Barbuda was awarded a penalty in the 76th minute of the game. Their captain Quinton Griffith stepped up to take the penalty kick. He sent it to the top right and beat a diving Butler who went the right way but moved a little too late. Leigertwood said that they had to trust the process.

“The opposition is different. Guyana and Puerto Rico have players who have a better level of football. We had a few challenges but sometimes these things take a little time to fall into place. The two previous games were not great but the process and things we have in place to get the players to perform is what we did today (Saturday). We are not a finished article by any means, but we have to keep working diligently. There is no reason why we can’t get a performance like what we did today (Saturday) on a regular basis,” Leigertwood stated.

The two teams left The Bahamas yesterday and landed in Antigua and Barbuda for a rematch. That game is set to be played tomorrow at the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s Technical Center in Piggotts, Antigua. Kick-off is set for 3:30 p.m.

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LAUDERHILL, Florida – The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes men’s soccer team had a tie under its belt heading into the match against Fort Lauderdale University on Friday and the team was determined to pull off a win. UB prevailed in a back and forth match.

Ronaldo Green turned in a hat trick for the Mingoes en route to a 3-2 win.

“It was a war,” said Head Coach Alex Thompson. “It was a very ugly game and a very hard fought game and I couldn’t be happier with the guys.”

The team started fast and aggressive under the overcast sky at the Lauderhill Park in Lauderhill, Florida. The match started under overcast skies that turned into a several short downpours.

In the 11th minute, winger Jervane Turnquest was attacking the goal and was tackled hard in the box resulting in a yellow card and penalty kick. Midfielder Ronaldo Green took the penalty shot for his first score of the match to put the Mingoes up 1-0.

Fort Lauderdale responded quickly with a quick goal in the 13th minute to tie the match at 1-1.

Green was undeterred and scored in the 19th minute on a brilliant attack to put UB up 2-1.

Fort Lauderdale responded just before the half to tie the match at 2-2.

In the second half, Green completed the hat trick with his third goal and put the Mingoes up 3-2. That took place in the 58th minute. Green clenched his fists and let out a scream and then dropped to his knees in celebration.

The Mingoes’ defense held off several attacks from Fort Lauderdale in the final minutes, including three strong shots on goal to pick up the 3-2 win.

Green said the third goal, which sealed the win and the hat trick, was important to him.

“The team was fighting a mental battle due to injuries and the game before that,” he said. “Many of the players played 90 minutes in the previous game so it was tough in this game. So, when I scored that third goal it was very emotional because we had to really fight in that match.”

Thompson said that Green, Turnquest, and goalkeeper Antonio Beckford had a spectacular performance through the two games.https://6e60782504963c76fcfdfd5e22467e9d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

“That’s an undefeated tour for us,” he said. “We further developed the culture and the DNA of the squad and I think it gives us a lot of confidence going into the next tour and the men’s league.”

The Mingoes will play Fort Lauderdale University again on October 26. That match is scheduled for 3 p.m. on October 26 in Lauderhill, Florida.

Pivotal game will be played today; team finds itself in a precarious position

• Simba French
• 4 hrs ago
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The Bahamas’ senior men’s national soccer team have a key rematch against Antigua and Barbuda in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League tomorrow in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda.

The League B Group D match gets underway at the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s Center at 3 p.m. today, and is a key matchup for Team Bahamas as they look to get out of fourth place in the group after Antigua and Barbuda turned them back 4-1 at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

“We need to stay focused and play our game. It is going to come to us but we have to be focused. The players have to be mentally ready for 90 minutes. We are going to make the adjustments,” Jean said. “We just must keep on talking to the players and encouraging them. We are going to make mistakes and this one is over, so we can only focus on the next game coming up. We are going to continue to give the guys the tools that they need to succeed.”

The Bahamas has yet to secure a point while Antigua and Barbuda has three points in the group. This is a pivotal game as The Bahamas looks to avoid a six-point deficit in the standings.

“Pressure is there,” Jean said. “We know we have the players and can do well. We have to limit our mistakes if we want to move forward.”

Antigua and Barbuda got the start they wanted in the last game with two goals in the first nine minutes. Antigua and Barbuda Head Coach Mikele Leigertwood is hoping that they get another fast start in today’s game.

“I am hoping that it will be a lot. We have players who thrive off confidence and momentum,” Leigertwood stated. “We have seen that we can score goals and create more chances. We are certainly looking forward to the trip going back to play at home in front of our home fans.”

The Bahamas’ lone goal scorer on Saturday, Wood Julmis, said that they need to trust Jean.

“We have to trust and believe when our coach gives us the free will to play. When our coach sets up the game plan, he gives us all the tools to go and perform to the best of our ability. We as players need to step up and trust our coach and execute the things that he wants us to do,” Julmis said.https://8ed088e6c6a1ed606d836989d5897e55.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Midfielder for Antigua and Barbuda Keiron Richards is looking for them to pick up where they left off and keep going.

“We needed this result (Saturday), not only to build confidence but we as a small country know what we can do and our fans know what we can do,” Richards said. “I have no doubt that we will get the three points at home and take this competition to the wire because we are trying to get to world cup.”

This is the final game in this Nations League window for both teams. They will play the third and final window in November. The dates for the two games in the November window will be announced at a later date.

• Sheldon Longley
• 4 hrs ago
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Local bodybuilders, fitness and wellness athletes will get another opportunity to advance themselves in the sport with the NPC Worldwide Caribbean Grand Prix Bahamas Pro Qualifier set to take place here in the country next month.

The National Physique Committee (NPC) event, which will be staged by Serge Saric Productions, is set for November 11 at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. The check-in and pre-judging for athletes is set for November 10 from 5-7 p.m. at Atlantis, and athletes can register in person on that date or beforehand online at the website worldsportspromotions.com or by sending an email to the address caribbeangrandprix@gmail.com. Online registration closes at 10 p.m. on November 8 and NPC membership is required for all athletes wishing to compete.https://d8ab73f83e48a4c09e51a4fd0b6448ba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

“It is going to be an amazing competition,” he said yesterday. “A lot of people are coming from all over the world to take part in this event, and most of them will be in The Bahamas for about a week, and they will bring their families as well, so it will definitely help the tourism product. It is very important for the locals to come out and support.”

Saric said they are looking for support from local sponsors as well, and they could register their businesses by sending him an email to the address sergesaric@gmail.com.

Overall, he expects quite a number of athletes, including Bahamians, to compete. Athletes are coming from as far away as Qatar and Europe. Athletes from this region will hail from North and South America, the Caribbean, and from right here in The Bahamas. He’s encouraging more Bahamian athletes to get involved.

“We’re looking forward to seeing some incredible athletes from The Bahamas compete,” he said. “Right now, we already have about nine Bahamian athletes signed up to compete and there is still more time for more athletes to sign up. Overall, about 1,000 people from all over the world will be in The Bahamas for this grand event.”

The event is being sponsored by Smith Technologies out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, and it is being held at the Atlantis Resort here in The Bahamas for the second year in a row. There will be a professional and an amateur segment of the show, and it is a qualifier for the Olympia competition – the biggest bodybuilders and fitness show in the world.https://d8ab73f83e48a4c09e51a4fd0b6448ba.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

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Athletes will compete in men and women’s bodybuilding, men and women’s physique, men’s classic physique, bikini, fitness, figure (body fitness) and wellness. There will be nine pro cards up for grabs.

The public can purchase tickets online at the website worldsportspromotions.com. Tickets can be obtained for $55 for general admission or $75 for VIP admission.

Veteran boxer Carl Hield.

As of Friday, October 13, 2023

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Veteran boxer Carl Hield.

#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#VETERAN boxer Carl Hield is excited to make his professional debut next weekend at the International Knockout Night against Colombian John Blanco.

#The two are set to face off in the professional category for the super welterweight division next Saturday, October 21 at 6pm in Cali, Colombia.

#Amateur boxer Anai Powell will also be accompanying Hield as he has been training with him to fight in the welterweight division.

#The veteran boxer is excited to make the transition from amateur boxing to competing with the pros and said his hunger remains the same.

#“For me it is the same hunger from the amateurs. I already fought in the semi pros before so it is normal to me now, it is just smaller gloves, no shirt, and no headgear which you have to prepare for,” Hield said.

Veteran boxer Carl Hield and amateur boxer Anai Powell are getting ready to fight in Cali, Colombia, on International Knockout Night next week Saturday at the Saga Boxing Club Gym.

#He added that he made the decision to join the professional ranks after having conversations with president of the Bahamas Boxing Federation (BBF), Vincent Strachan.

#“I told him I am thinking about switching over so I can be more active as I try to prepare for the 2024 Olympic trials,” he said.

#The seasoned boxer had quite an active year in the sport after he was unable to compete in competitions from 2021-2022 due to lack of funding.

#The 36-year-old recently competed in his seventh appearance at the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) World Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in May. He lost in the first round to Kenya’s Boniface Mogunde 5-0 on points in the unanimous decision.

#He followed up this competition with his stint at the 24th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador in June.

#He competed against Colombia’s Jhonatan Arboleda in the lightweight division and lost a unanimous decision on points 5-0.

#With the latest competition set to get underway for Hield next week Saturday, this match is very important to him.

#He is dedicating this match to his mother who passed away earlier this year and was considered to be his number one supporter.

#Additionally, he wanted to compete for the late Ray Minus Jr, his first boxing coach, and deceased friend Tyrone Oliver.

#Joining Hield in Colombia will be Powell who is only 18-years-old.

#The teen has been training with Hield ahead of next weekend’s match and recently competed at the Youth Continental Championships in Cali, Colombia.

#Although he is unsure of his opponent, which will be decided following the weigh in, Powell is mentally locked in.

#“I’m looking to perform to the best of my abilities, move around and box, training has been going well and I am just trying to do the same thing to get ready for the world championships in November,” he said.

#The welterweight boxer said working with Hield has been great because he has a lot of knowledge and experience to teach him what to do and what not to do.

#Both boxers thanked their sponsor Insurance Management Bahamas Limited, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Amateur Boxing Federation and BBF for their continued support.

#The event will be hosted at the Saga Boxing Club Gym.

As of Friday, October 13, 2023

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Dr Kent Bazard

#By DR KENT BAZARD

#SOCCER, known as the beautiful game, has thrilled fans for generations, but the sport is not without its risks, particularly concerning concussions.

#In this article, we will explore the incidence, management and treatment of concussions in soccer, shedding light on the importance of player safety and education.

#Concussions in Soccer:

#The Incidence

#Concussions in soccer are more common than you might think. Although the sport doesn’t involve high- speed collisions seen in American football or rugby, soccer players are still susceptible to head injuries due to various factors:

#1 Headers: Heading the ball is an integral part of soccer, but repetitive impacts can lead to concussions, especially in aerial duels.

#2 Collisions: Soccer is a contact sport, and clashes between players, or between a player and the goalpost, can result in concussions.

#3 Falls: Players often fall to the ground, whether from challenging for the ball or simply in the course of play, increasing the risk of head injuries.

#Management of Concussions in Soccer

#The recognition and management of concussions in soccer are vital for player safety:

#1 Immediate Assessment: Players who exhibit signs of a concussion, such as confusion, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, must be promptly removed from the game.

#2 Sideline Assessment: Trained medical staff should conduct a thorough sideline assessment to evaluate the player’s condition.

#3 Substitution: When a player is suspected of having a concussion, they should be substituted and not allowed to return to the field until cleared by a medical professional.

#4 Medical Evaluation: After the game, players with suspected concussions should undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation.

#Treatment and Recovery

#The treatment and recovery process for soccer-related concussions includes:

#1 Rest: Rest is crucial during the initial recovery phase, both physically and mentally. Players should avoid any physical or mental activities that exacerbate symptoms.

#2 Gradual Return: Once cleared by a medical professional, players can follow a stepwise return-to- play protocol, which involves gradually increasing physical activity to ensure they are symptom- free.

#3 Education: Athletes, coaches, and parents must receive education on concussions, their signs, and the importance of reporting symptoms.

#4 Monitoring: Players who have had a concussion should be closely monitored for any recurring symptoms or setbacks.

#Prevention and Protection

#Preventing concussions in soccer is an ongoing goal. Here are some measures to enhance player safety:

#1 Improved Technique: Teaching proper heading technique can reduce the impact on the head.

#2 Protective Headgear: Some players choose to wear protective headgear, which can help reduce the risk of concussions.

#3 Match Oversight: Ensure games are officiated with strict enforcement of rules to minimise risky play.

#4 Pitch Conditions: Maintaining safe playing surfaces can help prevent falls and subsequent head injuries.

#In conclusion, concussions in soccer are a real concern, but with the right measures, we can mitigate the risks and ensure that players receive proper care.

#Player safety and education are paramount, and the sport continues to evolve to prioritise the well-being of its athletes.

#As soccer continues to grow in the Bahamas, including beach soccer, let’s support efforts to raise awareness, reduce the incidence of concussions and provide the best possible care for those who experience head injuries while enjoying the world’s most beloved game.

#• Dr Kent Bazard is a Bahamian sports medicine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist and founder of Empire Sports Medicine. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

A LASTING MEMORY: Carlos Mackey, left, host of the Best of Sports World Show, Larry Little, centre, two-time Superbowl champion, and the late Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe.

As of Friday, October 13, 2023

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#CARLOS Mackey, television host of the Best of Sports World show, joined alongside the late Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe to make history in 1991.

#Mackey and Wilchcombe shared the vision of hosting one of the country’s first football clinics with the goal of helping interested Bahamians attain scholarships to carve out a bright future.

#With Wilchcombe being laid to rest yesterday at Christ Church Cathedral, the sports show legend shared one final as I knew him.

#The late politician served in his most recent position as Minister of Social Services and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

#However, despite his tenure in politics, many knew the former president of the Commonwealth American Football League (CAFL) as an avid sports lover.

#“His heart was in sports. He knew that as a people coming from where we came from, we had to be educated and he knew that sports was the vehicle to help young men and women achieve their goals,” Mackey said.

#He continued to say that Wilchcombe knew that everyone would not make the pros but school gave them a gateway into a professional career that would last beyond sports.

#With both of their views aligned, Mackey and the former journalist worked together to bring the Larry Little Football Clinic to life in June of 1991.

#The overall idea was to host the football clinic so that Bahamians could have the opportunity to showcase their skills and eventually be granted scholarships for schooling abroad. Little, two-time Superbowl champion, was invited by CAFL president at the time, Wilchcombe, because he served as Bethune Cookman’s head coach.

#The former Miami Dolphins offensive guard also brought six assistant coaches along with him to represent his alma mater.

#While at the clinic, Little became enamored by the potential of Michael Wilson. He asked the Bahamian to partake in a few football drills and about his secondary schooling and grades.

#The rest was history as Bethune Cookman’s head coach recruited Wilson and the Bahamian was granted a full football and academic scholarship.

#The sports television host said that is one contribution of Wilchcombe that he will never forget. “I would never forget Obie’s contribution because he worked very closely with me. We helped the young man who wanted to go to college but didn’t know how, didn’t have the money, but he was blessed with the skills to do that and we gave him an opportunity,” he said.

#The former ZNS journalist was described as selfless in his pursuit to help others accomplish their goals. He played as a quarterback for the Sunburners Football Club in the CAFL and also played some basketball at the YMCAs gymnasium in Grand Bahama.

#Although Wilchcombe’s sporting aspirations did not materialise, he was always passionate about assisting others that had the gift to do what he was unable to.

#“He loved the sport and even though he did not excel to where he wanted to go, he always felt that others could do that and had the gift and tried to assist as many as he could to do it,” according to Mackey.

#Among the other accomplishments of the duo, the CAFL president along with Mackey coordinated the first collegiate football game in The Bahamas on November 17, 1991. The “Conch Bowl” game was played between the Bethune Cookman Wildcats and Morris Brown College Wolverines and drew thousands of spectators from abroad. With only the memories remaining, Mackey thanked Wilchcombe for being selfless, helping others to achieve their goals, and opening the doors to make history together.

#The former politician, journalist and sportsman will be fondly remembered and missed by his loved ones.