Home|Sports|High school nationals combining with CARIFTA TrialsSports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 14, 2023 651 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

For the first time, the Bahamas High School National Track and Field Championships is joining with the CARIFTA Trials to form one combined event, and organizers expect it to be extremely competitive and produce the desired results.

The joint event is set for March 25-27 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium and will be held under the theme ‘Unity Through Sports – A Golden Jubilee.’ It will be a test event for the 50th CARIFTA Games and the divisions contested will be under-14 girls and boys, under-17 girls and boys and under-20 girls and boys. The under-15 category has been converted to an under-14 category so as to make provisions for the athletes who are turning 14 this year to compete for CARIFTA spots if they so desire.

All qualified athletes are permitted to register for the event, but as it relates to the high school nationals, just the top two finishers from each school will score points for their respective school.

“This is the first time that it has happened, combining both events, and we’re looking at it as an opportunity to have an integrated track and field championships going forward,” said Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer. “This is when track and field is at its highest – when you have the athletes from the public and private schools, and athletes from across the length and breadth of The Bahamas, coming together, and when you add that to the CARIFTA Trials, it is an opportunity for us to do something different.

“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase not only athletes from New Providence, but from every island of this country. This is a watershed moment for track and field and a high water mark for the ministry. I wish to congratulate the ministry as well as all of the stakeholders for ensuring that track and field is paramount and inclusive. We believe that this was the best solution to encompass both events. This is an event that will identify some of the best talent that we have in the country and it is a new showcase of what we expect to do at the CARIFTA Games.”

The BAAA is in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training in the staging of this three-day event which will mimic the 50th Golden Jubilee CARIFTA Games in terms of structure.

“The high school nationals and CARIFTA Trials will provide student-athletes from throughout The Bahamas an opportunity to showcase their talents in hopes of qualifying for the CARIFTA Games,” said Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg. “I extend an invitation to the general public to support our athletes in what will be an exciting and memorable venture. I encourage all student-athletes to remain focused, optimistic, determined and motivated. I implore you to be the best that you could be on the track and in the field. Let’s celebrate our youth in grand style!”

The combined event is a Penn Relays Qualifier for the under-20 relays and the deadline for registration is Friday March 17. Schools from across the length and breadth of The Bahamas are expected to take part.

“I am always enthused when I get to participate in events that highlight activities of our children, especially when it involved academics, technical skills and sporting events,” said Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training. “Sports in our schools and sports in paradise is making a big bounce back, right in time for our golden jubilee celebrations. I share the excitement of the participating athletes, the coaches and the enthusiasts as we anticipate the shattering of old records and the emergence of new superstars and ultimately hearing the Bahamian national anthem played in regional and international sporting arenas.

“The fact that our children participate and give their best must always be celebrated and appreciated. In today’s world, it is crucial that we shape our students to become well-rounded individuals by being academically and athletically inclined. That is essential to the students’ overall development. I am certain that there are many future world and Olympic champions who will compete in this year’s high school nationals and CARIFTA Trials. Congratulations to the participating schools, athletes and coaches. Continue to put your best foot forward as you make your families proud, your coaches proud and this beautiful Bahamas proud.”

The CARIFTA Trials/High School Nationals is the final local qualifier for the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games which is set for the Easter holiday weekend, April 8-10, inside the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.

“It’s a pleasure to congratulate the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education & Technical & Vocational Training with the support of the BAAA in this collaborative effort to bring the sport of track and field back to prominence and back to where it rightly belongs,” said Mike Sands, the Bahamian president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC). “Sports has the power to unite and it speaks a language that young people are able to understand. If we take that as our mantra, I believe that we will be very successful in terms of motivating the next generation and inspiring them. Continue the good works and I stand in support of all factions that made this possible.”

Hundreds of young athletes are expected to take part in the combined event from March 25-27 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. So far, a total of 39 athletes have qualified for CARIFTA, seven of whom have done so in multiple events.

 Home|Sports|Mingoes fall to Regulators, both teams advance to playoffsSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMarch 15, 2023 202 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes men’s basketball team suffered a loss to the Leno Regulators, 76-63, in an inconsequential New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) game Saturday night at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.

Erquantae Edgecombe led the Mingoes with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Gabriel Styles added 11 in a game that didn’t have any impact on either team’s position in the standings as the regular season came to a close.

Zachery Pennerman scored 24 points for the Regulators and Kemsy Sylvestre, a former UB player, added 23.

The Mingoes started the game off strong, going up 6-0 early in the first quarter. That run was capped by a Justin Burrows’ layup assisted by Delano Armbrister. The Regulators tied the game at 6-6 and ended the quarter up, 18-14.

The Regulators held the lead for the rest of the game. The Mingoes got to within three points with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Off a defensive rebound, Armbrister had a brilliant pass to Edgecombe that resulted in a layup to put the score at 62-59. The Regulators then went on a 9-0 scoring run and ended the game winning, 76-63.

“We were right there with five minutes to go but we couldn’t seem to string together enough buckets in order to take the lead,” said UB Head Coach Bacchus Rolle. “We didn’t get the defensive stops that we wanted to. The Regulators are a tough team and played really good out there tonight. We just didn’t make the stops when we needed to.”

Despite winning the rebounding battle, 58 to 51, the Mingoes couldn’t convert them into points like they would have wanted to.

The Mingoes now move on to play the Caro Contractors Shockers in the first round of the playoffs. The first game is set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. and the second game is set for Saturday March 18 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at the A.F. Adderley gym.

The Shockers beat the Mingoes in both meetings this season. The Shockers won 76-56 on November 26, 2022 and 67-58 on January 13, 2023.

“We aren’t doing too bad for a team that was only supposed to win two games all seasons,” Rolle said. “I am happy and proud of my guys for making it this far and we are going into the series optimistically. We are going to have to slow the ball down because they are a very fast team and their guards are lightening quick. We also need to try force turnovers from their big men as well.”

The game Saturday night was inconsequential because both teams advanced to the playoffs, and regardless of the outcome, neither team’s playoff position would have changed. The Mingoes had already secured the third spot in the Vince Fergusons Division with a 6-7 win/loss record. The Regulators had already secured the third spot in the John Archer Division with an 8-5 record.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mingoes-fall-to-regulators-both-teams-advance-to-playoffs/

 Home|Sports|Bahamian five a part of history at HowardSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 15, 2023 2,029 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Howard University Bison swimming program boasts the only all-black swimming team in college swimming in the United States of America (USA). On that swimming roster are five Bahamians who are happy to be a part of something big at the school.

The Bahamians on that squad are Erald Thompson III, Kaliyah Albury and siblings Luke Kennedy, Mark-Anthony and Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson.

Howard, which is located in Washington, D.C, is also the only Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to have a swimming program. The men’s team won this year’s Northeast Conference (NEC) title in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI).

Luke-Kennedy is a senior and was the first of the five to head to Washington for the Bison in 2019. He had his sophomore season canceled due to the presence of COVID-19. He spoke about the box that black persons are placed into when it comes to swimming and thinks that Howard was able to dispel that notion a little.

“I know that the stereotype of black people cannot swim is very known inside America and they tend to judge us based on the color of our skin. Coming out and showing that the color of our skin does not define us is our way of thinking and the sport is big for Howard University. Being the only HBCU with a swim team at the division one level is a really big deal, especially when there’s only 1.5 percent of black swimmers in collegiate swimming. To be able to come out and do what we did is a real accomplishment, for not only us, but for black people in America and around the world,” Luke-Kennedy Thompson said.

Zaylie-Elizabeth, a sophomore, who was one of the captains of last year’s CARIFTA swim team for The Bahamas, said that representation is very important.

“I think it’s important to be that representation – that you can do it too. For little black girls, little black boys and for little Bahamians who are just looking up to swimmers and thinking what to do after high school, this is an outlet. We come from an environment where we look like everyone around us and we compete with people who look like us, then we go to school and we’re the only persons who look like us on the team. Now it’s like I can go to a team and still feel like a part of the family and feel like I’m in a comfortable environment and there are so many people who look like me. I think that kind of representation is important.” Zaylie-Elizabeth said.

Albury, a sophomore, said that there are a lot of Bahamian female swimmers who stop swimming after high school.

“I know a lot of Bahamian swimmers, especially female, just stop swimming, like by the time they finish with high school, because there’s nothing else to do. They don’t know where to go next, so it’s very good to be, that guide or people look at me and say I’m swimming so they could also do it,” Albury said.

As for a HBCU swimming championship, Zaylie-Elizabeth said that is something that she would like to see.

“I feel like it would be the hottest swimming in college history. I would love to see other black people swimming and competing, especially at the NCAA DI level because we can do it. It’s not like we don’t have the black swimmers and yes we are the minority but that doesn’t mean we’re not there. I definitely would be excited to be a part of something like that,” Zaylie-Elizabeth said.

Albury feels like even if it is not on the NCAA DI level, having the HBCUs compete against themselves would have an unimaginable energy.

Erald Thompson, who was also one of the captains for the CARIFTA swim team last year, spoke about the conference victory and the hard work it took to get there.

“It’s been very long journey, lots of morning practice, a lot of gym work and a lot of hard mental spaces to go through. Coming through and getting the win was a big deal for us, especially with a conference championship,” he said.

Luke-Kennedy said the win was partly because of those who came before the swimmers there now and Head Coach Nicholas Askew.

“Even before us, this has been set in motion by the swimmers who came before us. We just carried the torch and completed the goal of winning conference championship. There’s been a lot of work that’s been put in. Coach Nick Askew has worked on his recruiting and recruiting the right people for the team to be able to get to this level and win a conference championship,” he said.

Mark-Anthony, a junior, said they worked hard for the historic conference championship this past season.

“The feeling was exhilarating. To know that all the hard work and sacrifice for the season paid off and we’re now reaping the benefits, is a wonderful thing. We made history when we won our conference championship and it’s a good feeling to always remember,” he said.

One of the goals for the program at the beginning of the season was for the men or women to win the NEC title. Although the women did not win, Albury said she is happy for the men’s team.

“I feel as though it was a team accomplishment because all season long we trained in and out of the pool in trying to get to that goal of winning conference. It just was a big accomplishment when the final day came around and the men’s team won,” Albury said.

The senior on the team spoke highly of his coach who has helped the program get to where it is and displayed great leadership.

“He has really built this program to be where it is today, and I’m just so happy to see the growth of the program from when I started to see it now and winning the conference championship is amazing. He has three core principles – discipline, accountability and he’s positive. He makes sure he instills this in all his swimmers as we enter the program and he’s truly shown us what we can accomplish at the program,” Luke-Kennedy said.

Erald Thompson said that adjusting to life at Howard was easy as he had the other four Bahamians there with him on the swim team, especially senior Luke-Kennedy.

“I was very nervous for my first meet and having Luke-Kennedy there as someone who walked before me, was huge. He was encouraging and was there for me. He’s been a very big role model for me. He’s also like an older brother. Having our fellow Bahamians there with us was a big deal to us,” Erald said.

For Luke-Kennedy, he was happy to have other Bahamians join him on the team as he knew that he had a piece of home with him. He was thankful that he was able to go to Howard and show people back home that they, too, can swim at the NCAA DI level.

“Having the Bahamian swimmers here has been comforting and almost like bringing a piece of home over here and being able to have that close family support is amazing. Sometimes we have little cookouts on the weekend, with little peas n’ rice made by my sister. I am glad to have that up here,” Luke-Kennedy said.

Mark-Anthony enjoys being a part of the team and loves the feeling of family.

“The thing I like most about being on the team is a sense of constant competition and the drive to get better and to be better. On this team we’re like brothers and sisters and we always push each other every chance we get, whether in the weight room, the pool, or in class,” he said.

They all enjoy the environment that Askew has created which includes lively music at their practices and meets. They are known as the team that brings the energy and has sold out their home meets at Burr Gymnasium Pool in Washington, D.C.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-five-a-part-of-history-at-howard/

 Home|Sports|Junior champions crowned in golfSports

BGF Junior Championships took place at Ocean Club on Paradise Island

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 15, 2023 303 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Several champions were crowned at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s (BGF) National Junior Championships at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island this past weekend.

Joining the New Providence golfers were golfers from Exuma and Grand Bahama.

It was a tough battle in the 18-and-under boys division as one stroke separated the winner from second place. Alex Dupuch was able to hold off Aidan Gorospe when he finished 14 strokes over par 158. Gorospe finished with a score of 15-over-par 159. Dupuch went into the final round with a score of eight-over-par 80 and then turned in a six-over-par 78 to hold off Gorospe. Gorospe had a strong second round when he shot four-over-par 76. His first-round score was 11-over-par 83.

Finishing third was Adrian Stan-Busuioc who finished at 20-over-par 164.

It was an even tighter battle in the 18-and-under girls division as Tyesha Tynes and Miljojka Gojkovic were tied at 50-over-par 194 at the end of regular play. In the end, Tynes won on a countback. Tynes shot 25-over-par 97 in both of her rounds. After looking to have first place locked up with an 18-under-par 90 round, things took a turn for the worse for Gojkovic with a second round score of 32-over-par 104.

Mia Underwood was in third place when she finished the two rounds with a score of 59-over-par 59.

Just a little over a week after representing The Bahamas in tennis in Guatemala, Jackson Mactaggart comfortably won the 15-and-under division with a score of 15-over-par 159. His two rounds saw him coming away with scores of eight-over-par 80 and seven-over-par 79. Placing second was Kerrington Rolle with a score of 21-over-par 165.

Camdyn Forbes was a distant third when he finished 31-over-par 175.

Swimmer Seannae Norville-Smith was brilliant in the 15-and-under division when she won by 14 strokes after the two rounds. Norville-Smith’s final score was 64-over-par 208. She had scores of 31-over-par 103 and 33-over-par 105 in the first and second rounds respectively. Taylor Sands was second with a score of 78-over-par 222. Jolene Stan-Busuioc scored 86-over-par 230 for third.

Like the 18-and-under boys division, the 13-and-under boys division champion was determined by one stroke. Denahj Mortimer improved in the second round and finished 48-over-par 192. Rashawn Hanna finished 49-over par 193.

Mortimer scored 27-over-par 99 in the first round and then he came back in the second round and scored 21-over-par 93. Hanna went into the second round with a 10-stroke lead when he finished that round 17-over-89. However, the second round was not so kind to him as he finished that round 32-over-par 104.

William West finished third with a score of 54-over-par 198.

Lilly Bisterzo was the champion in the 13-and-under girls division scoring 21-over-par 165. She shot 15-over-par 87 in the first round then scored six-over-par 78 in the second round. It was a close race for second place as one stroke separated the second and third place finishers. Haley Hall scored 24-over-par 168 to finish second. Finishing third was Maddisson Carroll as she scored 25-over-par 169.

The federation will be looking to send a 14-member team to the Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championships, set for July 4-7 at the North Sound Golf Club, in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

https://thenassauguardian.com/junior-champions-crowned-in-golf/

 Home|Sports|Johnson wins gold medal at judo competition in EdmontonSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 16, 2023 239 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian junior judoka Xavion Johnson is continuing to make waves in the sport of judo and this past weekend was no different as he was victorious at the 18th Annual Edmonton International Judo Championship at the West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The competition took place March 11-12 and 16-year-old Johnson competed in the under-18 men’s 60 kilogram (kg) division. Johnson took down Denis Neyolov with a win by ippon in the gold medal match. It was his first ever senior gold medal. The match against Neyolov was a tough one as he had expected, he said.

“My goal was to get close to my opponent to throw him but since he knew what my moves are and what I like to do, it was extremely hard to catch him. I had one millisecond of being as close as I can to him and I caught him for a score. After that, my game plan was to run out the clock. It went off and so, I won,” Johnson said.

He took down competitors Braydin Nguyen, Li Eldon and Kim Aden to advance to the final.

In February, Johnson won a gold medal at the Matsumae Cup in Vejie, Denmark. He also competed in the Czech Republic.

“It was extremely hard fighting in Europe. European Judo is hard to fight since they’re so strong and technically good but if you know how to work around that you should be able to win,” Johnson said. “The year for me competition-wise is going absolutely amazing. I’ve been undefeated in under-18 60kg for five and a half months. I won my first ever European medal. I feel like everything is coming together this year.”

Johnson said he has to work on his gripping technique, throwing, cardio and strength. He said he is looking to work on those aspects, so he can keep developing as a judoka. He attends Capstone Academy and is set to graduate in June.

“School is coming along well. I’m in my last year of high school, so I’m happy about that. Balancing school and judo is hard but once you get used to a certain schedule, it gets easier,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s next major competition will be the European Cup, set for May 27-28, in Coimbra, Portugal.

 Home|Sports|Bahamasair, and other partners, come on board for CARIFTASports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 16, 2023 285 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The national flag carrier Bahamasair has come on board as the official airline for the 50th Oaktree CARIFTA Games, signing up as a gold sponsor for the event that is set to be held April 8-10 at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in The Bahamas.

The announcement came at a press conference held on the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre yesterday. Along with Bahamasair, the Local Organizing Committee of the event (LOC) introduced other partners. Those partners included Consolidated Water Bahamas, Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Limited, Dairy Queen and J.S. Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers.

Bahamasair, like the nation and the CARIFTA Games itself, is celebrating its golden jubilee anniversary. General Manager of Bahamasair Tracy Cooper said that they are happy to be a part of the CARIFTA Games again, and they have been in constant communication with North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) President Mike Sands. NACAC is the owner of the CARIFTA Games.

“We are more than delighted to be here and get on board and be the airline of choice for the CARIFTA Games. We have been working along with Sands and his team. It’s good when we know that we can be very instrumental in making sure that we can bring these matters to fruition. It’s just not The Bahamas, but we have gotten on board with Sands and his team and we will help out wherever is needed in the Caribbean and the Americas for the NACAC region,” Cooper said.

NACAC President Sands spoke about the relationship between CARIFTA and Bahamasair. He said the airline has its regular schedule but has accommodated CARIFTA many times before.

“When you have little and you’re asked to do so much, it has to have a spirit of cooperation and understanding. Cooper and his team, they recognize the significance of them being involved and the contribution that they would make that would make this event a success. If you’re having an event and your guests can’t get here, you do not have an event. We all know what is happening in the region in terms of accessibility from point to point and notwithstanding prices associated with it,” Sands said.

Bahamasair is looking to take The Bahamas’ CARIFTA swim team to Curacao for the CARIFTA Swimming Championships and teams from Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba will board the plane there. They will head to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and pick up the team from Trinidad and Tobago before returning to The Bahamas. They will also make trips to Antigua and Barbuda to pick up athletes there before returning home. Another charter flight will bring a full load from Jamaica to The Bahamas.

Bahamasair is no stranger to assisting with CARIFTA, having been the official airline for the track and field and swimming teams in recent years. Bahamasair’s Director of Commercial and Charters Samantha Lookie said they are capable of the task at hand.

“This isn’t the first CARIFTA Games that Bahamasair has assisted with,” Lookie said. “We help the swimming and track and field teams to get to every island. The only place we don’t go is Bermuda, but it’s not just The Bahamas. We’re here to assist.”

A 138-seat plane has limitations such as seat capacity, especially with some teams having a large number of team members and supporters. Sands said that there must be a full plane load if there needs to be.

Henderson Cash, general manager of Consolidated Water, said they are here to help the youth.

“Our focus is especially geared toward the youth – to be able to provide the energy that you would see in water and the energy of sport is in motion so we produce motion. Consolidated Water thought of nothing short of a great delight for us to participate in the 50th CARIFTA Games. We are here. We’re going gold with you,” Cash said.

Christine Russell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Limited, is excited for the opportunity to support the athletes.

“As a bank committed to investing in the development of our local communities, we recognize the importance of supporting initiatives that promote the growth and well-being of our young people. The CARIFTA Games has a long-standing tradition of doing just that by providing a platform for young athletes from across the Caribbean to showcase their talents, compete at a high level, and learn valuable skills,” Russell said.

Crystal Campbell, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Dairy Queen, said that a part of their mission statement is to create positive memories.

“A part of our vision is to support our community, so we saw it fitting to be involved as a corporate citizen. Our civic duties include giving back and supporting kids in particular. Therefore, seeing that this is for the youth, it’s a great opportunity for us to be a part of this. We’re happy to be a part of it,” Campbell said.

Robert Bartlett, Sr. Manager for J.S. Johnson, said they are all about being a responsible corporate citizen.

“We have contributed and continue to contribute to the development of nation building, whether it be through education, sports in body, mind and spirit. Sporting discipline helps in terms of nation building. A lot of our leaders have come through the sporting programs, and we believe that we should not only speak it but we should show it,” Bartlett stated.

As the country gears up to host the CARIFTA Games, the combined Bahamas National High School Track and Field Championships and the CARIFTA Trials will be held at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium from March 25-27.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamasair-and-other-partners-come-on-board-for-carifta/

 Home|Sports|BPGA asking for leading jobs for Bahamian golf prosSports

Association president Pratt says more opportunities need to be made available

Sheldon LongleySend an emailMarch 16, 2023 314 6 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

More than 50 years after the body would have been established, members of the Bahamas Professional Golfers Association (BPGA) feel as if they are still fighting for some of the issues today that they were lobbying for back then. In fact, they would say that it’s worse today given the state of professional golf in the country and the opportunities available for Bahamian golf professionals.

Of significant concern is the employment opportunities available for Bahamians at the major hotel resorts for director of golf, head golf pro and resident golf pro positions.

BPGA President Glenn Pratt, who is celebrating 50 years of competitive golf this year, said there is no respect for the Bahamian golf pros and no employment opportunities available for them.

“A lot of government leaders don’t even know that professional golf exists because they only relate to the Bahamas Golf Federation (BGF) which governs the amateur body of the sport. This is our livelihood. We’re the ones who are supposed to be employed at every golf course in The Bahamas and we’re the ones who are not. We’re fighting to be employed. We’re well-educated and we’re well-experienced,” he said. “The folks who are getting these opportunities are foreign and white. They are the ones who are getting hired. It’s right back to the days when Black people couldn’t work in a bank and didn’t have a say for themselves. The majority of these foreign pros are not as qualified as we are. We are questioned about our qualifications but we never question them. We invite them to come play in our tournaments but they don’t associate with us. They would hire some Bahamians who are not qualified, and when they find the ones who are, they would do all they can to frustrate them out of their jobs. After 50 years, I feel like I am worse off than I was 50 years ago as it relates to golf in this country. We have collectively gone backwards.”

Back for a second non-consecutive term as president, Pratt said it is incumbent on his administration to educate government leaders on the value of Bahamians being in lead golf positions professionally and running the various golf courses in The Bahamas.

“There is no representation in government that favors Bahamian professionals having the authority to govern what happens over professional golf courses,” said Pratt. “When political leaders get elected, they automatically become smart enough to run a country. That is their mandate, but here you have us who have been at it for 50 years, they don’t believe we are smart enough to run a golf course. Maybe we need to bring in some foreigners to do their jobs because I don’t believe they are smart enough to run a country. This is something that we have been screaming and shouting for many years, as it relates to employment. There has been no positive feedback. They are not giving us any attention at all.”

Pratt said that they have met with the Minister of Labour and Immigration Keith Bell, but added that it has been unproductive and unfruitful. Currently, there are about 15 Bahamian golf pros in the country: Marcus Pratt, BPGA vice president; Raquel Riley, BPGA secretary and immediate past president; Keathen Stuart, BPGA treasurer; Pratt,  Keno Turnquest, Chris Lewis and Georgette Rolle, just to name a few. According to BPGA President Glenn Pratt, who has been at the helm of the BPGA for just about a month, none of them are employed in leading golf positions at major resorts and golf courses in the country.

“There are so many people who come through this country who we don’t get to meet because we don’t have a Bahamian pro on the golf courses who could set up meetings with government ministers. We should be the ones meeting the movers and shakers in the industry and ensuring that they become regulars here,” said Pratt. “There are so many people who come through this country who our government don’t get to meet and that’s huge because they could invest and we could spread some of the wealth to different parts of the country. It all happens through networking. The foreign pros are meeting these people, but they are not introducing them to our government, so we are losing our opportunities. The government needs to understand why it’s important for us to be employed as resident professionals, head golf pros and golf directors at every golf course in the country. We are more than capable of running golf courses and teaching the best golfers in the world.”

BPGA Vice President Marcus Pratt reiterated those sentiments, adding that they need the country’s prime minister to step in like the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, former prime minister of The Bahamas, did when he came to power in the late 1960s.

“What we really need is for the government of The Bahamas to reenact the authority on the golfing community and give it to the Bahamian professionals as it was in the beginning. Let history repeat itself,” he said. “Here we are 50 years later and professional golf means nothing. We need it to come from the prime minister that the authority for pro golf in The Bahamas be given back to Bahamians. Bahamian golf pros will always assist other Bahamians to become pros, but there are no foreign golf pros who will assist and develop Bahamian golfers. We are about progressively moving the body forward and that can’t happen as long as we are being kicked out and pushed out at golf courses daily. Foreign golf pros are not about building Bahamian golf and professional golf in The Bahamas; they are all about business.”

BPGA Secretary Raquel Riley said she had leading golf positions at Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club in the Abacos and at the Albany resort until she was pushed out in favor of a foreigner. She said she feels like there was little attained on their behalf in their meeting with Minister Bell.

“He basically described it as being so far beyond what we could understand to trying and stop it would be not possible. There were just a bunch of referrals and giving us the runaround. It appears that no one understands what is really going on,” she said.

BPGA President Pratt said it is their intention to bring professional golf back to where it used to be in The Bahamas, building it to a level of respect. The BPGA is the governing body for professional golf in The Bahamas.

“In the meeting with the minister of labour, it was said that all of these terms are in the heads of agreements and the deals are already made, but we never get to see these heads of agreements. I’m encouraged by what I’ve seen the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg do during his term so far and it is our intention to sit with him. We have to be the ones to educate the government when it comes to professional golf and the benefits of having us at the table. The fight goes on,” said Pratt.

He added that it was the former prime minister, Pindling, who stood up on their behalf when the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) came to office in 1967 – the same year the BPGA was formed.

“In Pindling, we had a leader who believed in his people and believed that they were intelligent enough to govern over anything in this country. You didn’t have to be foreign to be accepted and I lived through a huge part of that. We’re determined to make a difference and we’re not going to stop,” said Pratt. “One group of people, foreign pros, came together and decided that they are going to eliminate professional golf in this country, but we are not going to stop pushing forward. Someone has to leave something in place for all of these young kids and young golfers who are coming up in this country to eventually become golf pros and golf directors themselves. There are many Bahamian junior golfers out there, but now there is nothing here for them, so they are discouraged. They have nothing to look forward to and we have to change that.”

As far as their plans for The Bahamas’ 50th Golden Jubilee Independence year is concerned, Pratt said they intend to stage a “Salute to Legends” golfers ball and bring to life a golf hall of fame. He said they would also like to put something in place to celebrate the mega accomplishment of Bahamian Fred Perpall who was elected as president of the United States Golf Association (USGA) last month. He is not only the first person of African descent to hold the position of USGA president, but also the first Bahamian to be elected as president of a major sports organization in the US.

“We have to celebrate Fred Perpall,” said Pratt. “We’re looking to organize something for all of the young golfers in the country to meet him and for the golf community to realize how important it is for all of us to recognize what his position means for golf in The Bahamas. We need to show the US and the rest of the world how proud we are of him.”

The BPGA was revived in 2020 after a short dormant period. Riley served as president before handing over the reins to Pratt who is expected to serve as president for the next four years, until 2027.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bpga-asking-for-leading-jobs-for-bahamian-golf-pros/

 Home|Sports|Mingoes can’t hold on; lose to Shockers in overtimeSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailMarch 17, 2023 146 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes men’s basketball team came from 10 points down to force overtime against the Caro Construction Shockers on Wednesday night but couldn’t complete the comeback in New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) playoff action.

Despite leading by as much as eight points in regulation and having to claw back from 10 points down, the Mingoes fell 72-68 in overtime at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium. The Shockers lead the best-of-three series 1-0, and the second game is set for Saturday.

Erquantae Edgecombe and Justin Burrows each contributed 17 points for the Mingoes in the loss. Ricardo Taylor scored 11 points. Burrows pulled down 11 rebounds and Theodore Grant had seven steals.

Spurgeon Johnson led the Shockers with 18 points, William Rigby scored 16 and Jeron Smith and Dario McKenzie added 12 apiece. McKenzie pulled down 15 rebounds for the Shockers.

The Mingoes led by as much as eight points, taking that cushion after a Dave Lindsey rebound led to a fast break layup for Grant. That shot gave them a 34-26 lead with 1:23 to go in the second quarter.

The Shockers bounced back, tying the game at 41 on a layup from Dominique Fernander.

Johnson capped a 13-3 scoring run for The Shockers, hitting two free throws to put them up 54-44 with 6:23 to go in regulation.

The Mingoes cut the lead down, forcing a tie with 1.3 seconds to go. The score was tied at 62 at that point. The Mingoes called a time-out and were able to advance the ball into the front court. Grant inbounded the ball and got it back. Edgecombe caught a loose ball and attempted a shot but was unable to convert and the game went into overtime.

Edgecombe and Grant combined on a 6-2 run to start the overtime session, putting the Mingoes up four at 68-64. However, the Shockers closed the game on an 8-0 run to pull off the win and go up 1-0 in the series.

“This was a very winnable game for us tonight and the guys played their hearts out,” said Mingoes’ Head Coach Bacchus Rolle. “We made the stops but we couldn’t convert it to baskets. This team fights but I think fatigue set in and when fatigue happens your mind goes and then your legs go. We fought well and came back to tie the game and almost won it.”

Rolle added that heading into the second game of the best-of-three series his squad is going to have to find some offense. “We have to find more than just Justin Burrows who came out big with 17 points tonight,” he said. “We are also going to have to control the paint and hit more jump shots along with spreading the floor a bit more to give our big men an opportunity to work the middle of the floor more.”

The Shockers out-rebounded the Mingoes 70-47 in the game.

Game two of the best-of-three series is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the A.F. Adderley gym.

https://thenassauguardian.com/mingoes-cant-hold-on-lose-to-shockers-in-overtime/

 Home|Sports|Bahamians experience action in NCAA tournamentsSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 17, 2023 164 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) men and women’s basketball tournaments got underway yesterday. Bahamian Fredrick King will be in action today, competing for the Creighton University Bluejays (21-12). Bahamian head coach of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Lady Rebels women’s basketball program Yolett McPhee-McCuin will lead her team into their opening game today. Bryan Clarke’s team, the University of Houston Cougars, was in action last night.

King and the Bluejays will play in the tournament for a 24th time in program history and eighth time in the past 12 years. They are ranked at number 24 in the country and will take to the court at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time when they play the North Carolina State University Wolfpack (23-10) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The Bluejays are coming off a third-place finish in the Big East Conference. In the NCAA Tournament, they are the sixth seed in the South Region and the Wolfpack is the 11th seed.

Standing 6’10” and weighing 234 pounds, King played in 33 games and started three of those games. He is averaging 3.8 points in nine minutes per game. He is shooting 60.5 percent from the field and grabbed 2.6 rebounds per game this season. His season-high in points is 16 points against Marquette back in December. The Andros native had a season-high 11 rebounds and five blocks against Arizona State.

McPhee-McCuin is making her second trip to the NCAA DI women’s championship as the head coach of the Rebels. The program will be making its 19th appearance. The Rebels earned an at-large bid and will tip off the tournament as the eighth seed in Seattle 4 Region. They will take on the ninth seeded Gonzaga University Bulldogs at 10 p.m. tonight at the Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California.

Grand Bahama native McPhee-McCuin ventured to Oxford, Mississippi, and has put the women’s basketball team on the map in the last five years. They have advanced to the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the past two years.

The past season, they finished with a 23-8 win/loss record, including an 11-5 record in a tough SEC. This is the second consecutive season in which they have won 20-plus games and 10-plus games in the SEC.

Clarke is sitting on the University of Houston Cougars’ bench as the sports performance assistant coach. The Cougars have made it to the Sweet 16 a total of 13 times. They are attempting to head back to the Final Four for a third consecutive season, and coincidentally, the Final Four will be held in Houston, Texas, this year.

The Cougars are the number one seed in the Midwest Region. They played the number 16 seed Northern Kentucky Norse at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, last night. The result was unavailable up to press time.

The Cougars earned their number one seed after one of the best seasons in school history. This past season they posted a 31-3 overall record and captured their third straight American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season title. They had a 17-1 record in the conference. This is their fourth regular season title in the last five years. They are making their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 24th in school history.

https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamians-experience-action-in-ncaa-tournaments/

 Home|Uncategorized|All-female card set for March 31Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailMarch 17, 2023 171 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

First Class Promotions is back and is set to host the first all-female fight night in The Bahamas. The event was initially set for October 2022, but it was postponed and will now take place Friday March 31 at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium.

The fight night is being held in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The main event of the evening will be a 10-round bout for the vacant World Boxing Association’s (WBA) International title between Canadian Lindsay Garbatt and American Jaimie ‘The Miracle’ Mitchell. Garbatt sports a 9-9-2 win/loss/draw record and Michtell has a 8-1-2 record. Another bout on the night will feature Brazilian Simone Silva (17-22) going up against American newcomer O’Shea Jones (1-0). There will be two more bouts held.

Bahamian icon and boxing legend Ray Minus Jr. will be honored for his contributions to the sport of boxing. Minus is now battling with the disease ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) that attacks the nervous system.

First Class Promotions’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michelle Munnings said they are making a comeback to the sport of boxing after a 10-year hiatus.

“We had to come back with something really strong, so we decided that we were going to do an all-female boxing card for first time ever in The Bahamas. We are also the first in the Caribbean to have an all-female card. We are honoring the legendary Ray Minus Jr. who has been stricken with ALS. We want to also bring awareness to that so that persons will know what ALS is all about.”

Munnings said she is happy that they are doing the event during The Bahamas’ 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

Representative from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Kerry Baker, the deputy director of sports, said they are delighted to be on board with the event and is encouraging Bahamians to come out and support it.

“First Class Promotions is bringing to The Bahamas for the first time an all-women card and we are delighted. We also want to acknowledge at this time that it is for a worthy cause in honoring one of our Bahamian greats. We are just bringing some awareness to it, and hopefully the Bahamian people will understand the importance of this event,” Baker said.

The Bahamas Boxing Commission (BBC) has sanctioned the event. BBC Secretary Calvin Greene commended First Class Promotions for putting on the event.

“We wish to congratulate Michelle Munnings-Minus on this achievement – putting together such a production as an all-female event. I believe it is certainly going to be fantastic and so we gave our support,” Greene said.

One of the sponsors, Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co. Ltd., was represented at the press conference. Brand manager for Modelo at the company Nathan Arnett said they will have a physical presence at the show.

“We wanted to give back to Ray Minus Jr. and there was no hesitation in coming on board with this. We also want to bring awareness of ALS and, you know, other serious illnesses and injuries that come along with that,” Arnett said. “We know over the years Minus has given back. He has really done a lot for this country and he has been a huge hero for this country. We came on board and we want to announce that at the event, with the bar, we are giving 100 percent of the profit to Minus. This is not about making money for us, we came on board because we know what he did over the years and we just want to give back to him.”

Munnings said interest from the public has picked up and they expect to see a good crowd out to support the event. Tickets for the event can be bought online at www.bahamasetickets.com. General admission is $35 each, and the VIP price is $125.

Munnings added that there will be T-shirts for sale the day before the event in support of Minus. She thanked the many sponsors for coming on board to support the event.

https://thenassauguardian.com/all-female-card-set-for-march-31/