Darvinique Red-Line Athletics’ Most Outstanding Athlete

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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Athlete of the Year Darvinique Dean collects her awards from coach Tito Moss.

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Clinton Laguerre making his speech.

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Coach Michael Armbrister Leadership award winner Morgan Moss gets his award from coach Tito Moss.

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Coach Tito Moss makes a presentation to coach Rashad Patton for his contribution to Red-Line Athletics.

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Female Scholar of the Year Jade Hudson gets her award from coach Tito Moss.

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Male newcomer of the Year Shevano Nixon receives his award from coaches Kryshell Rolle and Rachante Colebrook.

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Most Improved Athlete Tahj Brown gets his award from coach Tito Moss.

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Parent of the Year Jacquel Demeritte receives her award from coaches Rachante Colebrook and Tito Moss.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#HURDLES specialist Darvinique Dean emerged on top of the class of 2023 as the Red-Line Athletics’ Most Outstanding Athlete.

#The 15-year-old 10th grader at St Augustine’s College earned the honours during the Red-Line Athletics Annual Christmas Awards Party at the National Training Agency on Sunday.

#In addition to the overall MOA, Dean also carted off the female newcomer award as the under-17 girls’ most outstanding athlete and for her selection to the Bahamas national team.

#Dean was joined by a number of athletes honoured for their performances as the most outstanding athletes in the various age groups, for their academic achievements, national team selections and a few other categories, including the collegiate male and female athletes, scholars of the year and the coaches’ choices for the outstanding athletes’ performers.

#Additionally, Red-Line presented awards to their most outstanding parents and team managers as well as they took the time to recognise the contributions made by their sponsors.

#Club president and head coach Tito Moss said they were really thrilled about the entire event, which got started with an emotional tribute from Clinton Laguerre, who along with Tumani Skinner are heading off to Vincennes University in January.

#Also heading off in January are Jayden Demeritte to Park University and Alexis Brown to Dickinson State. They are four of the six Red-Line athletes who earned athletic scholarships this year.

#Jonathon Fowler is in his freshman year at Oral Roberts University and Ezthia Maycock is at Cumberland University.

#As for the event, Moss said they got a chance to honour all of their student-athletes who excelled this past year, their parents, who supported the programme all year, as well as their donors, who made their contributions to the growth of the programme.

#“We had a wonderful time and all of the parents and the athletes enjoyed themselves,” Moss said. “Clinton, who came to us during COVID-19, really inspired us all with his presentation.”

#• Here’s a look at the awardees during the night:

#Most Outstanding Awards

#Under-9 girls- Jazmyn Demeritte; under-11 girls – Kailee Knowles; under-11 boys- Jayden Allen; under- 13 girls- Cierrs Delancy and honorable mention – TeRae McKenzie; under-13 boys- Ch Kai Brennen; under-15 Girls- Caitlyn Smith and honorable mention – Tamia Edwards; under-15 Boys- Shevano Nixon and honorable mention-Aalijah Taylor and Daveigh Farrington; under-17 girls – Darvinque Dean and honorable mention – Bayli Major; under-17 boys- Quinton Rolle; under-20 girls -Nya Wright and honorable mention – Ezthia Maycock; and under-20 boys – Tumani Skinner and honorable mention- Jonathon Fowler and Clinton Laguerre.

#Academic Scholars

#(Tc -121)

#Ezthia Maycock, Jade Hudson, Kennedi Knowls, Tamia Edwards, Jonathan Fowler, Jayden Allen, Jazmyn Demeritte, Kennedy Hanna, Tyler Frazier, Shevano Nixon, Aalijah Taylor, TeRae McKenzie, Nya Wright, Daveigh Farrington, D’ Angelo Collie, Makyaha Johnson, Kevan Saunders, Ch Kai Brennen, Kailee Knowles, Grevian Nixon and Aydin-Bethany Bullard.

#National Team Honourees

#Madison Moss, Darvinique Dean, Bayli Major, Nya Wright, Clinton Laguerre, Tumani Skinner, Jonathon Fowler, Quinton Rolle, Shimar Bain, Morgan Moss and Tahj Brown.

#Red-Line Special Awards

#Parents Award – Ms. Kimberley Bodie, Ms. Deangelia Deleveaux, Mrs. Theresse Hudson and Mrs. Nettera Brown. The Parent of the Year – Mrs. Jacquel Demeritte.

#Highest Awards

#Female New Comer of the Year – Darvinique Dean; Male New Comer of the Year – Shevano Nixon; Female Scholar of the Year – Jade Hudson; Male Scholar of the Year – Tyler Frazier; Most Improved – Tahj Brown/ Morgan Moss; Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year – Shania Sweeting; Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year – Shimar Bain; Coach Mike Armbrister Leadership Award – Morgan Moss; Head Coach Award – Jonathon Fowler and Athlete of the Year – Darvinique Dean.

#Dedicated Service

#Team Managers (SF- 2109) – Mrs. Shanique Russell; Mrs. Thallise Maycock; Mrs. Nekeva Moss and Mr. Mark Major.

#Donors of the Year

#Fidelity Bank (Bahamas), PricewaterhouseCoopers and JS Johnson Insurance Company.

Bassai Bahamas karate-dojo training seminar a success

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bassai Bahamas Karate-Do hosted a karate training seminar spearheaded by chief instructor for Japan Karate-Do International sensei Yasuyoshi Saito on Saturday at the St Gregory’s Anglican Church Hall.

#The youth in attendance engaged in exercise drills, kihon, kata and kumite over the weekend.

#Sensei Shawn Smith, chief instructor for Bassai Bahamas Karate-Dojo, said the one-day event was very beneficial to the youth involved.

#“It is very beneficial because this is trans-style meaning it does not matter what style you are, you can be Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, or Shotokan but you can still learn the same basics. There are some basic fundamentals that we all have in common which is why we started with the foundation because all martial artists can learn from it,” he said.

#The martial artists worked on stances, breathing exercises, blocks and the various movements.

#With a large group of youth in attendance, sensei Smith said the reception of the training seminar was great. “The reception has been off the chain for a very small country. Our pool is not as big as most sports like soccer, basketball, football and baseball. We have a community of people that are dedicated and they are here with us today to train and learn.

#“The main thing is as long as their heart is open to learn, the sky’s the limit. Sensei Saito is here to pass on the true and pure traditions of karate to the next generation,” he said.

#Sensei Saito, who took the reins from masters of shotokan karate Masatshi Nakayama and Hiroshi Shoji, was able to pass on a wealth of knowledge to participants on Saturday. Saito left Japan and subsequently taught in France, South America and in the Caribbean.

#The founder of Japan Karate-Do International teaches classes up to six days a week while travelling around the world for various seminars.

#With his latest stop being The Bahamas, sensei Saito enjoyed his second appearance but wished he had more time to teach.

#“It was good, it was only a little time but if I had more time I could teach it more. Karate has so many techniques so it is very difficult to teach in such a short time. I worked on a few general ideas but I taught kicking which is very important in karate. This is my second time here and I am hoping to see more people next time and I wish success for Bassai Bahamas,” he said.

#Upon completion of the training seminar, all registered participants received certificates to validate their special training on Saturday.

Consolidated Water backs Mario Ford Baseball

COACH MARIO FORD, far right, with players from his baseball camp.

COACH MARIO FORD, far right, with players from his baseball camp.

As of Wednesday, December 13, 2023

#MARIO Ford Baseball participants joined over 200 youngsters in excitement during the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby Week.

#A children’s clinic at the Andre Rodgers stadium kicked off the slew of events which brought together experienced and aspiring baseball players.

#Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (CWCO) made a donation to the Mario Ford Baseball programme to purchase uniforms and procure equipment. These items are crucial for athlete development and success beyond the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA)-organised event done in collaboration with Don’t Blink and Players Way.

#Wamonceur Victor, 14, has been playing baseball for three years, following persuasion from his friends.

#“Starting from scratch, I did not know how to bat but coach Ford helped me,” he said.

#“Everyone thinks you just throw the ball, but it is more than that, you practice and get better. A lot of people are here at Don’t Blink and we get to learn from them. They help us to get better and be able to do something in life with our talents.”

#The Mario Ford Baseball programme runs for 10 months each year and has been instrumental in promoting baseball among young athletes, providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and compete at higher levels. The support from CWCO will further enhance the programme’s ability to offer high-quality training and competitive experiences.

#Keano Cooper, 11, who started baseball a little over a month ago, shared that by being in the baseball programme, he learned to “bat, catch and slide when the ball is coming.”

#Henderson Cash, CWCO’s general manager, expressed his enthusiasm about Mario Ford Baseball participants being involved in Don’t Blink Week. “CWCO knows the importance of investing in our youth. Sports programmes like the one headed by coach Mario Ford teach skills needed on and off the field,” Cash said.

#“Our contribution is not just a donation, it is an investment in the potential of young athletes.

#“We are excited to see them shine locally and beyond,” Cash said in a press release.

Local teams to play in Hoopfest against American squads

  • Simba French
  • 2 hrs ago
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A couple of local high school teams will play against their American counterparts at the 2nd Hoopfest in Paradise, at Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday. Simba French

Some of the top high school basketball players in the United States of America (USA) are expected to grace the shores of New Providence, playing at the 2nd Hoopfest in Paradise at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday. Showcasing their skills against them will be two select teams out of New Providence.

The announcement was made at the Four Walls Squash Club on Village Road yesterday. There will be a public school select team, and a private school select team, both out of New Providence. Coaching the private school select team is Dario Burrows while veteran coach Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnson will coach the public schools select team. There are 10 teams that will be coming in for the showcase.

“I am excited about it and reached out to all the public schools so they can get their players to come out. This is a very good and talented team. We will compete and give a good showing for The Bahamas. We have been working hard, preparing as best as we can, and we will come out and do our best and win games,” Johnson said.

The public schools select team will be represented by Gerard Rolle, Tashon Butler, Dwayne Finley, Stevacko Jacques, Mario Rolle, McKell Alonzo, Dakulve Cumming, Emmanuel Adams, Sylvano Gibson, Daniel Bodie, Derrick Edgecombe and Condae Smith.

Burrows echoed the same

sentiments as Johnson when it comes to his team being competitive and having a good showing.

“You are going to see a group of young men who will be representing a brand. I have to commend the coaches because my job is easy. We are not trying to teach system at this point but principles. These kids are equipped so it was a seamless process leading them. We want to be a model to try and just sensitize the world to Bahamian basketball at the high school level,” Burrows said.

Making the private schools squad are Treymon Wright, Romail Strachan, Daquan Strachan, Raymone Woods, Nakero Brown, Ray Smith, Treyvon Clarke, Kayden Adderley, Michael Thompson, Dorien La-Roda, Jakayo Kemp and Joel Butler.

Glen Smith, owner of Hoopfest, said they expanded the showcase to include four of the top 10 girls teams in the US.https://67c2045307e180315a3bcc103379fec5.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

“We are expecting two days of high-level basketball. It is not only a chance for teams from America but two teams from The Bahamas to showcase their talent in front of college coaches as well as NBA (National Basketball Association) scouts. It will be an exciting time in The Bahamas. We are expecting a few former NBA players with former NBA player Jermaine O’Neal coaching one of the teams,” Smith said.

Making the trip back to The Bahamas is former Gateway Christian Academy guard out of Bimini Valdez ‘VJ’ Edgecombe. The ESPN five star player will be traveling with his Long Island Lutheran High School out of Long Island, New York.

“It was intentional to bring him (Edgecombe) as I was already bringing their girls’ team. Once I found out that he was from here and he found out that the event was from here, I reached out to him and we talked. His coach and I figured it out and they had a game scheduled for this weekend, but we were able to move some stuff around to bring him home,” Smith said.

The first day of hoops action gets underway at 12:30 tomorrow. Saturday’s action gets underway at 11 a.m.

Local Italian community supports the Eleuthera Sailing Academy

Eleuthera sailing
Members of the Italian community came together to donate funds to the Eleuthera Sailing Academy in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera. Each year, all proceeds from the Italy booth at the International Culture, Wine and Food Festival (ICWFF) are donated to a worthy cause.

Now a tradition, members of the resident Italian community in The Bahamas come together each year to donate their time and efforts at the International Culture, Wine and Food Festival (ICWFF). The 26th festival, held this past October at Fort Charlotte, was said to be a delight to attendees.

All proceeds from the Italy booth, each year, are donated to a worthy cause. This year, the team, led by the Honorary Consul General from Italy, Dr. Alberto Suighi, selected the Eleuthera Sailing Academy in Savannah Sound, Eleuthera as the beneficiary.

As an organization, the Eleuthera Sailing Academy supports the Bahamian national sport of sailing by teaching those in the community interested in learning to sail. The program currently has over 35 kids involved, with the most advanced training to represent The Bahamas both nationally and internationally.

During a special presentation at the academy in Savannah Sound, Dr. Suighi met with several young sailors and their coach. Head Coach Martin Marinque thanked the Italian community for their support, stating that the academy is in constant need of materials for repairs and maintenance as well as equipment like sails and boat parts.

Marinque expressed: “Italy is a great example of a country where sports play a huge role in the youth, and is right now the biggest country in youth sailing. We are confident that the community understands the benefits that sailing can bring to the youth of Eleuthera.”

Each year, all proceeds from the Italy booth at the ICWFF are donated to a worthy cause.

The Rising Stars remain perfect

They took down St. Albans in their latest match in BCA T20 action

  • Simba French
  • Dec 13, 2023
  •  0
rising stars
The Rising Stars turned back St. Albans with a 98-run victory at Haynes Oval, to stay perfect in the season in Bahamas Cricket Association (BCA) TwentyTwenty (T20) league action on Sunday. They improved to a 4-0 win/loss record.

The Bahamas Cricket Association (BCA) TwentyTwenty (T20) league action continued on Sunday with the Rising Stars turning back St. Albans with a 98-run victory at Haynes Oval to stay perfect on the season as the league broke for the Christmas holidays.

The Rising Stars now sport a 4-0 win/loss record on the season, and their runs have come easy for them. They finished the innings with 207 runs for the fall of five wickets in 15 overs. St Albans mustered up 109 runs for the fall of eight wickets with no balls to spare.

Leading the way for the Rising Stars was their captain, Jagnauth Jagroo, who was past the half-century mark with 78 runs before he was caught on the boundary on a delivery from Randy Sanjee. On the bowling side, the Rising Stars were led by Keith Burrows and Rudolph Fox who both had two wickets. All six bowlers walked away with at least one wicket.

Ricardo Patten and Jagnauth Jagroo were able to get a partnership of 56 runs. Patten was out for 10 runs when he was caught on a delivery from Devante Kemp as the Rising Stars were two runs shy from a century in the eighth over. Jagnauth Jagroo and his brother Bhumeshwar Jagroo put on a strong partnership that included several boundaries. Their partnership of 65 runs came at a time when they needed it. It ended when Sanjee claimed Jagnauth Jagroo who was going for a big shot.

Bhumeshwar Jagroo and Rudy Fox ended their innings on a strong note when their partnership ended on the final ball of the over as Fox was stumped. Fox finished with 33 runs while Bhumeshwar Jagroo finished with 34 runs. They partnered for 44 runs in the final three overs.

St. Albans opened with the duo of Jevette Collymore and Sanjee but their partnership ended before producing a single run. Sanjee was run-out without getting off the mark. Collymore and Coakley steadied the ship for St. Albans for 73 runs before Patten bowled out Coakley for 22 runs in the 10th over. St. Albans needed to pick up their run rate as the 208-run target looked out of reach with five overs remaining. Kepry Kemp came in to partner with Collymore but that partnership was short-lived when Carvelle Ornes bowled out Collymore for 15 runs. St. Albans had 84 runs for the fall of three wickets at that point. The next four wickets fell quickly with them on 105 for seven wickets. They scored four more runs before Ricardo Malcolm was stumped for zero runs as the curtain came down on their innings when  there were no more balls to spare.

Clarke, Bastian receive weekly honors in NCAA D-II basketball

  • Simba French
  • Dec 13, 2023
  •  0
Lathaniel Bastian.
Lathaniel Bastian.

Bahamian collegiate basketball players Garvin Clarke Jr. and Lathaniel Bastian received weekly honors from their respective conferences in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (D-II) basketball this week.

Clarke, who transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), over the summer, was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. The PSAC made the announcement on Monday afternoon.

Over the week of December 4-10, Clarke was a star for the IUP Crimson Hawks, leading them to victory in their only game of the week. He had a near-triple double as they took down the Point Park University Pioneers, 74-64, on Sunday. He put up a team-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds and eight assists. The guard was also able to come away with three steals in the 38 minutes on the floor.

In that game, which was played on their home court at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Clarke went 7-for-19 from the field and made all but two of his nine free throw attempts in the win.

The Crimson Hawks were down 21-5 early in the game, but they chipped away at that lead, eventually pulling ahead 28-26 on two free throws from Clarke with 2:03 left in the first half. The Bahamas senior men’s national basketball player made a jump shot with five seconds left in the first half to put them up 34-29 at the intermission.

The second half was dominated by the Crimson Hawks. They return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Monday when they take on the Mansfield University Mounties in a PASC home game.

Bastian’s defensive prowess helped the Falcons to a perfect 2-0 win/loss record on the week, playing both games on their home floor at the Falcon Dome in Odessa, Texas. They took care of the Oklahoma Christian University Eagles, 76-73, and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Lions, 75-62.

In the win against the Lions, Bastian was disruptive on the glass, coming way with a season-high 17 rebounds that included eight offensive boards and nine defensive rebounds. He had a block and a steal each in that game in 27 minutes on the floor. He shot the ball well, going 5-for-9 from the field and he also went 6-for-10 from the charity stripe, finishing with 16 points.

Bastian posted another double-double in the game against the Eagles, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 12 boards in 32 minutes on the floor. He had nine defensive rebounds and three offensive boards. The forward had two blocks in the win.

Bastian averaged 13 points and a whopping 14.5 rebounds during the week. He was the first Falcons player to win that defensive honor since January 2018.

The Falcons spent the week holding their opponents to an average of 67.5 points per game.

Bastian played against his former school, Angelo State University, yesterday, and the Falcons lost that game on the road, falling 74-65 at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas.

Bastian played 30 minutes and finished 4-for-10 from the field. He scored 13 points and had a game-high 14 rebounds in the loss.

Bastian and the Falcons will play the Navajo Technical University (NTU) Skyhawks in their next game, Monday starting at 7 p.m. at the Falcon Dome in Odessa, Texas.

CWCO backs Mario Ford campers participation in Don’t Blink activities

  • Dec 13, 2023
  •  0
Mario Ford Baseball Program
With financial support from Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd., Mario Ford Baseball Program athletes joined over 200 youngsters at the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby kids clinic.

Mario Ford Baseball Camp participants joined over 200 youngsters in excitement during the week of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby. A kids clinic at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium kicked off a number of events which brought together experienced and young aspiring baseball players.

Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (CWCO) made a donation to the Mario Ford Baseball program to purchase uniforms and procure equipment. These items are crucial for athlete development and success beyond the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) organized event, done in collaboration with Don’t Blink and the Players Way.

“Starting from scratch, I did not know how to bat, but Coach Ford helped me. Everyone thinks you just throw the ball, but it is more than that, you practice and get better. A lot of people are here at Don’t Blink and we get to learn from them. They help us to get better and be able to do something in life with our talents,” he said.

The Mario Ford Baseball program runs for 10 months each year and has been instrumental in promoting baseball among young athletes, providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and compete at higher levels. The support from CWCO will further enhance the program’s ability to offer high-quality training and competitive experiences.

Keano Cooper, 11, who started baseball a little over a month ago, shared that by being in the program, he learned to “bat, catch and slide when the ball is coming”.

CWCO General Manager Henderson Cash expressed his enthusiasm about Mario Ford Baseball Camp participants in some of the activities of the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby.

“CWCO knows the importance of investing in our youth. Sports programs like the one headed by Coach Mario Ford teach skills needed on and off the field. Our contribution is not just a donation; it is an investment in the potential of young athletes. We are excited to see them shine locally and abroad.”

Apart from taking part in the kids camp, young baseball players were also a part of the Futures Showcase and came out in full force at the home run derby at Montagu Beach this past Saturday.

Mariposa Monarchs win close competition at BIEL show

  • Dec 12, 2023
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The first Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL) show of the 2023-2024 season was a hotly contested affair. Spectators at Mariposa Stables were kept on the edges of their seats as it came down to the very last round of the day to determine the final placings, with just six points separating the first and fourth-place teams.

In the end, the Mariposa Monarchs finished in first place with a score of 40 points overall, just edging out the Camperdown Equestrian Centre Blue Marlins who finished with 39 points. The Mariposa Gold Drops finished in third place with 38 points, meaning just two points separated the top three teams. The Camperdown Equestrian Centre Sand Dollars finished fourth with 35 points.

Riders, trainers and parents also got a special treat when Canadian Judge Christine Reupke held an impromptu clinic and question-and-answer session at the end of the show. Judge Reupke gave the riders valuable advice and feedback on their performances, based on her extensive experience as a judge, Equestrian Canada official and competition organizer.

The BIEL competition circuit is a favorite among Bahamian junior equestrian riders because of the format, based on collegiate competition rules, in which riders and horses are matched by random draw. This provides riders with the exciting opportunity to show their skills in the ring while riding unfamiliar horses, preparing them for the rigors of intercollegiate competition. The competitions are sponsored by Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation for equestrian sport in The Bahamas.

BOC calling for commission to assist local student-athletes

As of Friday, September 18, 2020

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ROMELL KNOWLES, president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

#WITH the way the landscape of sports is shaping up around the world in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Bahamas Olympic Committee president Romell Knowles is calling for the formation of a commission to assist local student-athletes.

#When the BOC hosts their next board meting next week, Knowles is expected to introduce a proposal for the country’s top sporting organisation to provide $10,000 to assist with the administration of the commission, once it is formed.

#“I know how hard it is for athletes seeking scholarships, so what I seek to do is get a group of people, who can form this commission, who can reach out to schools and coaches in the various sports to ascertain what they are looking for and to build a rapport so that when they see an athlete who meets those criteria, we can get them off to school.”

#While the bulk of the athletes presently attaining athletic scholarships are in track and field, Knowles said there are a number of other sporting disciplines that are offering scholarships, but the Bahamian student-athletes just don’t know how to secure them.

#And with a number of persons with knowledge on how to assist in such a venture, Knowles said it won’t be easy assembling a panel to head the commission.

#“We have persons who worked in the educational field in sports, persons who have ties to colleges overseas or the coaches overseas, so they will be responsible for setting up a criteria locally,” Knowles said.

#“We want the commission to even reach out to the Director of the University of the Bahamas and find out what are the criteria she is looking for to get student-athletes to stay at home.”

#By the time the students reach grade 12, Knowles said the commission would be in place to assist them in securing these athletic scholarships, whether home or abroad, and see if they are in a position to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

#Without having done any fact finding costs to establish a commission of this kind, Knowles said he’s willing to propose to the BOC board that they inject some $10,000 to assist with the administrative costs.

#“We have no idea what we are venturing in other than we are trying to fill a void and a gap,” Knowles stated.

#“So for administrative costs, we want to budget about $10,000 for phone calls, sending emails, whatever the administrative cost is.”

#If approved, Knowles said the BOC could even utilise some of its office space for the administration of the commission, which will have one or two executives of the BOA on the board.

#“We will make appointments for the chairman and co-chairman and then we will tell them what it is that we seek for them to do and then we will go from there,” “Knowles said.

#Hopefully the commission will be set up before the end of the year so that they can start the process of contacting the various colleges and universities to get the system set up before the new school year in August, 2021.

#At present, Olympic triple jump bronze medallist Frank Rutherford runs a successful programme in Houston, Texas, that assists Bahamian athletes in the United States particularly in track and field, basketball and football.

#In addition, professional basketball player Juraun ‘Kino’ Burrows, still playing in France, now operates a Raw Talent programme that assists basketball players in getting to Europe.

#Additionally, former basketball player/coach Kermit Romer, based in New York, has and continues to assist countless numbers of local athletes to get into schools throughout the USA.