Home|Sports|Archer running for vice president at BOC electionsSports

He feels that track and field needs a presence around the decision-making table of Olympic sports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 14, 2023 26 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The track and field community in The Bahamas is throwing its support behind Drumeco Archer in hopes of having some representation on the new executive board of the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC). The election of officers is set for this Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Paul Farquharson Building at the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Headquarters.

For the first time in the Olympic movement in the country, athletics didn’t have a representative on the board of the last administration – primarily because four from athletics vied for the same position at the last elections, and after a post-mortem, it was determined that they split the vote. This time, Archer will be the only candidate, in any of the positions, from athletics.

Archer, the president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), is vying for one of six vice president spots on the BOC. There are 17 candidates who have offered themselves, including all six incumbents. Archer said this is an opportunity for track and field to sit at the decision-making table for Olympic sports in the country, and it is an opportunity that he is not taking lightly.

“I think that track and field should be given the opportunity to participate in the development of the universality of sport. While there has been a measure of success from this federation, the focus of being a part of the Bahamas Olympic Committee extends far beyond the limits of track and field,” said Archer. “The impact of making strong representation on the BOC through the lens of track and field opens up deeper discussions and opportunities that may be available to young kids at every age group. If I should be successful, I look forward to seeing young Bahamian athletes from every sporting discipline having the best opportunity for advancement in their personal lives and to further the development of themselves as individuals to experience the world in a way that they might have had an opportunity to do so before, and to be able to take advantage of educational opportunities.”

The BAAA has endorsed Archer as its candidate of choice for one of the vice president spots, as the executive team threw its full support behind Archer at that body’s conclave over the weekend. The other candidates for vice president are Gina Rolle from golf, Robert Butler from taekwondo, Brian Cleare and Moses Johnson from basketball, Joseph Smith from volleyball, Algernon Cargill from swimming, Theodore Sweeting and Shane Albury from baseball, Cora Hepburn from gymnastics, Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre from equestrian, Sean Bastian from handball, Clarence Rolle from wrestling, Lori Roach from triathlon, Roy Colebrook from cycling, Vincent Strachan from boxing and D’Arcy Rahming Sr. from judo.

Each of the member federations of the BOC carry a vote. Archer feels that his body of work in athletics speaks volumes for the contribution he is able to make to the executive team of the BOC.

“The BOC is comprised of 23 member federations, and in this instance, there are 17 positions for vice president. While it is my hope that people will identify the best candidates, I appreciate the tribalistic approach to elections of this kind where everyone will seek to protect his or her own interest. However, at the same time, we must be conscientious of one fact, and that is when we reflect, we should consider persons who will provide the continued growth and development of the Olympic movement,” he said. “It is my hope that our counterparts and other member federations accept the contributions of track and field as being a major contributor to the Olympic movement. Having just one person from track and field this time around, it is our hope that support can be channeled in one direction.”

Archer is in his second term as BAAA president and has never served on the executive board of the BOC. He was unsuccessful in his bid four years ago and is comfortable and confident in his candidacy this time around.

“Our engagement in sport makes it possible for persons, rich and poor, to all compete on a leveled playing field. This invariably gives us an opportunity to change the lives and circumstances of a very large demographic of Bahamians, whether they be people who live in grassroot communities or persons who might not have an opportunity to pay for college education,” said Archer. “Personally, I would like to see more funding be made available to all member federations, not necessarily from the BOC, but a collective effort where we could impress upon international organizations or local corporate communities and the local citizenry to deposit more into the development of sport. This could only happen through an aggressive approach by the leaders of this movement.”

Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC), one of six area associations under World Athletics, has also thrown his support behind Archer, so much so that he said he would have withdrawn his name if it was offered for nomination. Sands is a former vice president of the BOC. He is in his second term as NACAC president, and is the only Bahamian to lead an area association of a global body in sports.

Archer said he wishes all of the candidates the best, and win, lose or draw, collectively they must find a way to continue the work of a strong Olympic movement.

“I’ve seen a lot of stability and growth from the current Olympic committee – one that shows an increase in financial bottom line, and within the season we have seen large returns as it relates to results at the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and other events,” said Archer. “There is much to brag about, but as we continue to grow, the expectations will expand greatly. I am hopeful that I could be a part of the ambitions of this new administration, uniting all member federations. It only bodes for a stronger Olympic movement.”

A total of 17 are vying for six vice president spots, but the positions of president, secretary general and treasure will be unchallenged as Romell Knowles, Derron Donaldson and Dorian Roach, run unopposed for those positions respectively. Jennifer Isaacs Dotson, Ramsingh-Pierre and Oria Wood-Knowles are running for the assistant secretary general’s position, and Isaacs Dotson, Adam Waterhouse and Vincent Strachan will contest the assistant treasurer’s position.

Archer has received an overwhelming amount of support from the track and field community, and is now looking for support from the membership of the BOC as well.

For years, athletics has been the most represented sport for The Bahamas at the highest level of sport in the world – the Olympics. The last Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, was no different as 13 of the 15 members of Team Bahamas were from athletics. The other two were swimmers.

Given that backdrop, and with the continued success of Bahamian athletics regionally, internationally and worldwide, Archer said it’s imperative that the sport gets some representation on the board of the governing body of Olympic sports in the country.

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the 33rd Olympiad, is set for July 26 to August 11, 2024, in Paris, France.

Home|Sports|Team Bahamas optimistic after first windowSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 14, 2023 27 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Bahamas’ senior men’s national soccer team just completed its first window of the 2023-2024 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League.

The Bahamas lost both matches in that opening window, with a 6-1 result against Puerto Rico at home and a 3-2 loss to Guyana on the road in League B Group D action.

The aim for The Bahamas’ Head Coach Nesly Jean is for them to win their four remaining matches.

“The performance is promising, from the second half of the first game to the second game. We are looking to keep on improving and we are only looking forward from here, and try and win some games,” Jean said.

The Bahamas has shown improvement in its offense, coming away with three goals from the country’s first two matches. They scored two goals in six games at the last Nations League campaign. Jean and his staff will look at the players available for the next window, which will be against Antigua and Barbuda, October 14 and October 17.

“There has to be improvement,” Jean said. “A lot of guys are in college and could not get released because they just entered college, but they will be back for selection for these other games. We will take a look at it and see how we could improve the team.”

Team captain for the game against Guyana Christopher Rahming has been a mainstay on the field, playing the center midfield position.

“I hope that we can build off the momentum from the first two games. We will be looking to score more goals and get a win,” Rahming said.

Wood Julmis scored both goals for The Bahamas against Guyana and he is optimistic that the team will get better.

“From my first cap against St. Kitts and Nevis in 2021 to now, I see the team progressing. This is not our best team, we have important key players who were not able to make it due to school or club commitments. Heading into those remaining games, we are confident knowing what we can do with this team. It will be something special with our strongest team,” Julmis said.

Puerto Rico leads the group on goal difference with six points and a 2-0 win/loss record. Guyana is in second place with six points with a 2-0 record. The Bahamas is in third with zero points, ahead of fourth place Antigua and Barbuda on goal difference.

The match against Antigua and Barbuda at home is set for October 14. The Bahamas will play in Antigua and Barbuda on October 17. Both are key matches for The Bahamas before the third and final window in November.

 Home|Sports|Wells, Sawyer step up in new role with Team BahamasSports

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 14, 2023 23 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The term “next man up” is popular in sports, and after making their international debut for the senior men’s national soccer team on Saturday, Nathan Wells and Walter Sawyer were thrust into the starting lineup against Guyana in the 2023-2024 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League match on Tuesday.

Wells is a student-athlete at the University of The Bahamas (UB) and is gearing up for their upcoming season. He described being called up to the starting lineup as a major breakthrough.

“I have been working hard. It was a dream of mine to start. It was a great opportunity to play against professional players. It gave me the opportunity to see what I need to do,” said Wells.

Wells added that when Team Bahamas Head Coach Nesly Jean told him that he was starting at the center mid position, it gave him more motivation to go on the field and give it his all.

Sawyer, who plays for the Dynamos Football Club, said that it was good to go out there and represent his country.

“It was a great experience but I got injured and was substituted out. I wanted to keep going but I did not want to cause further damage. I was surprised when the coach told me that I was starting. I knew I had to focus,” Sawyer said.

The St. Leo University student’s start was dampened by a rib injury that he suffered. He was forced to exit the game in the 32nd minute.

“I was a little nervous at first, but as the game went on, we saw that we could hold them and come out with a win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that win,” Sawyer said.

The left winger is looking forward to competing for a spot on the team for the next window.

Wells played for 65 minutes before he was substituted out. He is hoping to translate his national team play to his play at the University of The Bahamas.

“It is not the same level of play, but I should be able to translate what I learn from playing with the national team to playing at the University of The Bahamas. I just want to go and do my job and ensure that my teammates and I fight for each other,” Wells said.

Wells will be looking to secure a spot on the team for the next window in October. He said he is looking forward to the challenge.

 Home|Sports|Guyana drops The Bahamas, 3-2Sports

Wood Julmis scores both of the goals for The Bahamas

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 13, 2023 69 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The Bahamas played a strong first half against soccer powerhouse Guyana but after giving up two second half goals, in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and pulling one back, Guyana defended home field and won 3-2 at the National Track and Field Center in Leonora, Guyana, last night.

Playing under the lights, The Bahamas’ senior men’s national soccer team put up quite a fight in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League match. Playing out of League B Group D, The Bahamas was a force to reckon with throughout the match. Wood Julmis scored a double to keep the game close.

Team captain Lesly St. Fleur was scratched the day before due to a groin injury and some key pieces from Saturday’s game against Puerto Rico were missing as well. Still, the Bahamian side rose to the occasion, matching the Guyanese side’s intensity.

Head Coach Nesly Jean said he was happy with the way the team played.

“I think defensively, there were one and two mistakes there. These are the type of things that we are trying to eliminate. Once we can eliminate that, we will do good going forward,” Jean said. “If another person cannot make it then it is next man up. Players have to show why they deserve to play and why they deserve to be on the team. I think the guys who played today (last night) showed that they can compete if someone gets injured.”

Julmis, who is usually Jean’s striker, was thrown in at the right wing position and made several runs at the Guyanese back line. His best run came in the 38th minute of the game that ended with him being fouled in the Guyanese penalty box to be awarded a penalty shot. He stepped up and took the penalty kick and sent the Guyanese goalkeeper Quillan Roberts to the wrong side. It put The Bahamas up 1-0 in the 39th minute. It was his first goal for the senior men’s national team.

Guyana responded with a goal of their own in the 44th minute of the game from none other than their top scorer this season, Omari Glasglow. The game was tied at a goal each heading into half-time.

It was a very defensive first half for the Bahamian side. They broke up several key passes that kept the game in check. Wearing the captain’s armband for the first time on the senior men’s team was Christopher Rahming. He made his debut as captain.

“I thought we had a very good showing today. We scored two goals and I think this is the most we scored on the road. The guys fought and tried their best,” Rahming said.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was not favorable to The Bahamas as Guyana turned up their offensive intensity and produced two goals. The first one was in the 54th minute when Stephen Duke-McKenna put one at the back of the net to put Guyana up 2-1. Kelsey Benjamin score the insurance goal in the 58th minute to put the Guyanese side up 3-1.

After that, both teams were attacking but no goals were being scored. The 85th minute came and the score was still 3-1 with the Guyanese fans looking on and cheering for their team. That quickly turned to nervousness as The Bahamas was awarded a penalty in the 86th minute. With no St. Fleur, Julmis stepped up and took the penalty. Like he did in the first half, Roberts dove the wrong way and Julmis got his second goal of his career and the game.

“It felt amazing to score two goals. After the first goal, I didn’t get to celebrate with my proverbial guitar. I needed my first goal. My teammate, Marcel Joseph, who did not make the trip, told me that I needed to get my first goal and that is what I did,” Julmis said. “I just took a deep breath and relaxed. I live for those moments where you make it and you celebrate or you miss it and cry. I am always confident knowing what is meant to happen always happen.”

The Bahamian side applied more pressure as the home fans became antsy but the score remained the same as the referee Shekiel Jokil blew the final whistle to end the game and the Guyana team breathed a sigh of relief.

The Bahamas plays Antigua and Barbuda on October 14. The time and location will be decided at a later date.

 Home|Sports|BOC elections set for this SaturdaySports

Sheldon LongleySend an emailSeptember 13, 2023 67 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The positions of president and secretary general for this Saturday’s Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) election of officers will be unopposed, and the incumbents will be returned to office, but there are 17 running for six vice president spots that could change the look of the executive body.

The BOC elections is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. inside the Paul Farquharson Building at the Royal Bahamas Police Headquarters.

Romell Knowles is once again running for president and his running mate Derron Donaldson will once again contest the secretary general position. Both are running unopposed. Dorian Roach is also running unopposed, contesting the treasurer’s position. Jennifer Isaacs Dotson, Catherine Ramsingh-Pierre and Oria Wood-Knowles are running for the assistant secretary general’s position. Isaacs Dotson, Adam Waterhouse and Vincent Strachan will contest the assistant treasurer’s position.

The positions for vice president are always the most hotly contested at the BOC elections and this year is no different. Running for six positions are Gina Rolle from golf, Robert Butler from taekwondo, Drumeco Archer from athletics, Brian Cleare and Moses Johnson from basketball, Joseph Smith from volleyball, Algernon Cargill from swimming, Theodore Sweeting and Shane Albury from baseball, Cora Hepburn from gymnastics, Ramsingh-Pierre from equestrian, Sean Bastian from 

handball, Clarence Rolle from wrestling, Lori Roach from triathlon, Roy Colebrook from cycling, Vincent Strachan from boxing and D’Arcy Rahming Sr. from judo.

As it relates to athletics, Archer has received an overwhelming amount of support from the track and field community and was given the blessing of the executive board of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) over the weekend. He is currently in his second term as BAAA president.

With four from athletics running for vice president spots at the last BOC elections, the vote was split and none of the four were able to get elected. This time, Archer is the only member of the track and field community running for a position on the BOC executive board.

 For years, athletics has been the most represented sport for The Bahamas at the highest level of sport in the world – the Olympics. The last Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, was no different as 13 of the 15 members of Team Bahamas were from athletics. The other two were swimmers. 

Given that backdrop, and with the continued success of Bahamian athletics regionally, internationally and worldwide, Archer said it’s imperative that the sport gets some representation on the board of the governing body of Olympic sports in the country.

Be that as it may, Donaldson said he feels confident that the current executive team has done enough to be re-elected.

“We know what we have to offer. There is a lot of work to be done – everyone has a job to do, but it is up to the members to repose confidence in the current executive team,” said Donaldson. “Everyone feels that they have done a good job but that is up to the members to decide.”

Donaldson said he is pleased that there was no infighting in the last administration, and that they all got along, for the most part.

“We feel like we have done a lot over the years to be re-elected, but it’s not about us. It’s about doing the work of the BOC and having the members judge you on your performance,” said Donaldson. “This is a very busy time for the executive team. Olympic sports are still reeling from COVID. The last Olympics was pushed back and that caused a lot of the major games to be crammed up. Right now, we are in the midst of planning for the Pan Am Games and that is a lot of work. Also, it is a very expensive undertaking.

“We just have to continue being out there and continue branding as we get closer to the Olympics. We have to bring the brand to the public and be more engaging. Also, we have to try and work on the federations more, with the understanding that they have to sit with us and bring their strategic plans to the table, in order for us help. We have to get the federations to be more active and be more self dependent.”

Donaldson said that with them going into an Olympic year in 2024, the planning process must start now, and it will be up to the new executive team to put everything in place pertaining to Team Bahamas for the Olympics.

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the 33rd Olympiad, is set for July 26 to August 11, in Paris, France.

 Home|Sports|Mingoes women’s volleyball drops two matches in FloridaSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 13, 2023 37 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

DORAL, Florida — The University of The Bahamas (UB) Mingoes women’s volleyball team lost both of its matches against the Millennia Atlantic University (MAU) Macaws over the weekend.

Mingoes’ Head Coach Raymond Wilson said he was disappointed with the team’s performance after the first match, but added that he saw a noticeable improvement in teamwork, gameplay and execution during the second match.

The Mingoes lost the first match 25-6, 25-17 and 25-12 on Friday and lost the second 25-11, 25-22 and 25-16 on Saturday.

Wilson said the team improved its play in the second match, leading at several points and capitalizing on the errors by the Macaws.

Power hitter Patrice Ferguson lead the team and kept spirits high throughout the matches.

“The first day we did an okay job, but the second day we came and really fought,” she said.

Wilson said he was satisfied with the overall weekend experience, as the team showed sportsmanship and grit. He singled out freshman hitter Tonya Thompson’s impact on the team.

“Tonya contributed offensively and defensively, and brought an energy to the court that we needed,” Wilson said.

Thompson said she was happy with her performance and excited about the entire experience. “All of this was just new to me, unfamiliar territory,” she said. “It was really good being here with the team, as they are very welcoming, and I felt very much included, so it was a very good experience overall.”

The Mingoes are now preparing for the start of the New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) season, set to get underway in mid-October.

 Home|Sports|Jones, Liberty earn second seedSports

They will host the Mystics in the first round of the playoffs on Friday

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 12, 2023 64 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Bahamian professional women’s basketball player Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones and the New York Liberty set a new franchise record for wins this year, finishing with 32, but at the end of the day, they still finished as the second seed in the race for the best record in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) this season, and will play the Washington Mystics in the first round of the playoffs that gets underway this week.

The Liberty will host the Washington Mystics in the first round of the playoffs, and the Mystics made sure of that with a dramatic win in the regular season finale on Sunday.

Brittney Sykes scored on a lob pass at the buzzer to lift the Mystics to a 90-88 victory over the Liberty at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday, closing out the regular season.

Sykes, who finished with 20 points, caught an inbounds pass from Natasha Cloud with just 0.5 seconds remaining, and tossed it up. It went through the nets as the buzzer sounded, ending the Liberty’s eight-game winning streak. It also set up the first round series between the Liberty and Mystics, starting Friday night in Brooklyn. The first two games of the mini best-of-three series will be played in Brooklyn, and if necessary, the third and final game will be played in Washington.

If anything, the Mystics proved they could beat the Liberty on their home floor. They lost by one point, 89-88, in overtime to the Liberty in late June.

The Liberty finished with a 32-8 win/loss record in the league’s first 40-game season. The Mystics finished in a three-way tie for fifth with a 19-21 record, but will occupy the seventh seed based on the tiebreaking procedures. Despite being a huge underdog, Cloud said they will come ready to play.

“… we want to send a message – ‘you’re going to have to see us all series long,’” she said. “‘You have to go through a really good team still – a team that’s hungry, a team full of dogs.’ … Let it be known this is going to be a really good series.”

Prior to Sunday’s dramatic loss, the Liberty had won eight straight and 14 of their last 15 games.

As for Jones, she had 19 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes of work on Sunday. She shot 8-for-13 from the field and was 1-for-3 from deep. The Liberty were led by Sabrina Ionescu with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Betnijah Laney, who signed a contract extension with the Liberty through the 2025 season on Saturday, finished with 13 points. Marine Johannès was the only other player in double figures for them with 11.

Behind Sykes’ 20 points, Cloud had 17, six rebounds and five assists for the Mystics. Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins finished with 11 apiece.

The Liberty led by eight points early, and the Mystics by 12 late before the game got close down the stretch. Sykes’ buzzer beating shot prevented overtime and gave them the seventh seed going into the playoffs.

For the season, Jones, the 2021 WNBA MVP, finished at 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor.

Jones is vying for her first team title in the WNBA and this may be her best chance to do it. The Liberty won the league’s Commissioner’s Cup this season – an in-season tournament, pitting the best regular season teams up against each other. Jones was the MVP of that game as they defeated the pennant-winning defending champs Las Vegas Aces, 82-63.

That game aside, Jones and the Liberty split four games with the Aces this season, and the two teams are favored to meet for the WNBA Championship in October. The Aces finished at 34-8, compiling the most wins in the regular season in WNBA history. They will host the eighth seeded Chicago Sky in the first round of the playoffs, starting Wednesday.

 Home|Sports|Thomas still driven to succeedSports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 12, 2023 135 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Coming off a ninth straight appearance at the athletics world championships, Bahamian Donald Thomas is being featured on the World Athletics website as an athlete who just keeps going on, and one who continues to push through adversity to compete at a high level and represent his country.

It’s been 16 years since Thomas won gold in the men’s high jump at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, clearing 2.35 meters (m) – 7’ 8-1/2”. He hasn’t missed an outdoor world championships since, and has been one of the most consistent performers among Bahamian athletes in that span.

At 39, Thomas continues to produce at a very high standard. He finished tied for 16th at the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month, missing the final by three centimeters. Thomas cleared 2.25m (7’ 4-1/2”) and the final qualifying height for the final was 2.28m (7’ 5-3/4”). He failed three times at the 2.28m height.

From all indication, he will compete for a spot for next year’s Olympics as well, maintaining an incredible level of consistency and durability. Thomas is a four-time Olympian. His nine world championships appearances matches Chris Brown, Laverne Eve, Jackie Edwards and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie for the most ever in Bahamian history.

Thomas told Cathal Dennehy of World Athletics that he will keep going as long as he physically can.

“I guess, I want to achieve more,” he said. “I felt like I had it in me to get into the final and possibly contend for a medal (in Budapest). It just didn’t go my way. I feel I can do it, so I just got to keep it going…. I feel like I have better jumps left. So, I gotta stay positive, take the good with the bad.”

Since breaking on the scene in 2006, Thomas has been arguably The Bahamas’ most consistent athlete, maintaining a high level of production and winning regional and world medals. He is a world champion, a Commonwealth Games champion, a Pan American Games champion, a Continental Cup champion, and a two-time Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games champion.

He told Dennehy that two of his biggest supporters, a 17-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter thinks he is a superhero.

“They always look up to me and admire what I do. I’m sure they will be disappointed I didn’t get into the final (Budapest), but that’s what it is. You compete against the world and sometimes you fall short,” he said.

The Bahamian standout athlete said it is because of the support he receives and confidence in his ability which keeps him going. Remarkably, he has been able to avoid major injury during his stellar 17-year professional career. He wants to maximize his potential, possibly winning another world title and getting that elusive Olympic medal. His highest ever finish at the Olympics was in a three-way tie for seventh in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016, clearing 2.29m (7’ 6”). He has been as high as sixth at the world championships, following his victory in 2007.

He’s won the national title in the men’s high jump eight times.

“If I didn’t think I could get one (another world title), I wouldn’t still be jumping. I feel I could do it. So, I just got to keep it going,” he said to Dennehy. “… the jumping part is easy. It’s the technical aspects of the jump I find a little harder but in terms of the natural spring, that’s the easy part. I just have to stay patient, stay tall throughout the running and get straight up. Sometimes, I tend not to do it, or I take too many jumps in order to get to the right position, but I just have to keep working.”

The Bahamian veteran high jumper will celebrate his 40th birthday next July, a few weeks before the start of what he anticipates will be his fifth straight appearance at the Olympics. The 2024 Summer Olympics is set for July 26 to August 11, 2024, in Paris, France.

Thomas hasn’t revealed any plans for his immediate future, simply stating that he’ll take it one day at a time and continue to give his best effort.

Whatever avenue he takes, he will go down in history as one of the most durable and consistent performers for The Bahamas in Bahamian athletics. He is also one of The Bahamas’ most decorated athletes ever.

 Home|Sports|Winners recognized from Rotary’s fourth annual golf tourneySports

The Nassau GuardianSend an emailSeptember 12, 2023 57 1 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

A total of 64 golf players gathered at the Royal Blue Golf Course at the Baha Mar resort for the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament on July 30.

Running in conjunction with the tournament was a raffle and an auction.

The event was organized by the club’s fundraising committee. Its members are Past President Dr. Sophia Rolle (fundraising chairperson), President Deno Moss, President of Rotaract Nassau Sunset Shanado Moss, Immediate Past President Doneth Cartwright, Past Assistant Governor Karen Pinder, Past President Tanya Woodside, Treasurer Keith Roye, Past Community Service Director Ken Dames and Public Image Chairperson Karine MacVean.

The proceeds from the tournament, raffle and auction will fund the club’s general community service activities.

This year, the club’s focus is on youth literacy and mental health.

This year’s winners were Crestwell Gardiner and Francis Adderley of the Fidelity Group. They won a floating trophy and a round of golf for four at the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.

Finishing second were Ricardo Underwood and Joe Eutenuer of J.S. Johnson Insurance. They were awarded a trophy and a round of golf for four at the Albany Golf Course.

Coming in third were the father and daughter team of Oswald Moore and Keishla Rattnater.

They earned a trophy and a round of golf for two at the Royal Blue Golf Course.

Also up for grabs was a C-Class Mercedes Benz, for a hole-in-one prize, sponsored by Tyrefkex Motors and the Moss Group Wealth Management Company. Despite many close attempts, the prize was unclaimed as no one sunk a hole-in-one.

 Home|Sports|Puerto Rico takes down Bahamas 6-1Sports

Rahming scores lone goal for The Bahamas

Simba FrenchSend an emailSeptember 11, 2023 105 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The Bahamas senior men’s national football team got its 2023-2024 CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Nations League action off on a sour note, as Puerto Rico bested the team 6-1 at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday. The match was a part of League B, Group D action.

Head coach for The Bahamas, Nesly Jean said that despite the loss, his players did well.

“They did well in the second half. There were a few mistakes in the first half that we needed to adjust. I think going to the second half we did that. It is a learning experience for the younger guys and the guys who made their debut. We are going to make mistakes but at the same time we must learn from it,” Jean said.

The Bahamas got off to a strong start finding the back of the net in less than two minutes on a Christopher Rahming shot from the top of Puerto Rico’s 18-yard box. It was part of Jean’s plan to hit Puerto Rico on the counterattack early in the game.

The visitors answered back with a goal of their own four minutes later when Gerald Diaz kicked in the equalizer. Puerto Rico scored again on a Ricardo Rivera header inside the box at the 14-minute mark as they took a 2-1 lead. The visitors were not finished yet as Joel Burgos sent the ball past Bahamas’ goalkeeper Vance Wheaton in the 35th minute. Las Boricuas were not done scoring in the first half as Rodolfo Sulia got on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute to make it 4-1.

The Puerto Rico head coach, Husidic Adis said that after The Bahamas scored first, his team began to settle in.

“We started playing Puerto Rico football. The scoreline is a bit funny to me because we were close to having a lot more goals than six. We just implemented a new system, so I am proud of the boys for how they were brave to play it. It was very risky, but this is our identity, and it was fun watching them being brave and playing beautiful football,” Adis said.

The second half was much better from The Bahamas side as the formation was changed. The Bahamas had a lot more opportunities early in that half but did not get any past the Puerto Rican goalkeeper, Joel Serrano. Center back for The Bahamas, William Evans said that they let Puerto Rico come at them too much in the first half.

“We showed what we could do in the second half. We were all over them in the first couple minutes of the second half. We kept the ball; got chances and we need to put those away.”

The Bahamas kept it clean for the majority of the second half, but Burgos scored his second goal in the game in the 86th minute to make it 5-1. Diaz put the icing on the cake with an 89th minute goal to put them up 6-1. Puerto Rico’s captain, Nicolas Cardona said they knew they had a lot of time left after The Bahamas hit them on the chin early.

“We had a lot of minutes to impose our game on them and we were able to do it. We started slower in the second half, and we need to improve on that and we will do that and play better in the next match,” Cardona said.

Bahamians came out and supported their team. Striker, Wood ‘Peter’ Julmis who helped to set up the Bahamas’ lone goal was impressed with the crowd’s support on Saturday.

“I played a few home games before, and I think this is the most fans that I saw since I started playing for the national team. We appreciate them as a team. They came out and backed us even when we were down, they were still cheering and rooting for us. They were the 12th man, and we felt the home support,” Julmis said.

He added that he felt that the team found their identity in the second half and going forward they need to trust themselves more.

The Bahamas heads to Guyana to play Guyana, who took down Antigua and Barbuda 5-1 on Saturday in Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda. That game will be at the National Track and Field Center in Leonora, Guyana. Jean who did not ‘let the cat out the bag’, said that The Bahamas is ready for that away game.

“We will adjust,” Jean said. “Guyana is a different team with a different style of play. We must adjust our identity. We have nothing to lose, and we must take risks and get up the field and by doing that we will get our chances.”

Puerto Rico and Antigua and Barbuda will play on a neutral site at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Tuesday at 7.06 p.m.