Home|Sports|Team Bahamas receives some funds for CACsSports
Stubbs says they are still short of what is needed to send the entire team off
Simba FrenchSend an emailJuly 28, 2022 277 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
The Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (BBFF) 16-member team to the 49th International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’ (IFBB) Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships was able to get some funds from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, but they are still well short of funds to go to Bridgetown, Barbados.
Action gets underway today and wraps up on Monday at the CAC Championships. BBFF President Joel Stubbs said they were able to speak to Minster of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg who said funds will be provided.
“We initially had some funds and then we needed some more money from the ministry to offset the cost for the entire team. We were able to negotiate some funds from the ministry but we are still short,” Stubbs said.
Asked by Guardian Sports if reducing the team would be feasible, Stubbs said it would be disheartening to do so.
“Everybody who we selected have qualified to be on the national team to have an opportunity to compete for The Bahamas. The officials who are the judges would have given The Bahamas a little edge on the panel if needs be, and myself, I am an official who sits on the congress. This year is the anniversary year that they are having elections and The Bahamas has to cast a vote for the leadership in the Caribbean, and as president, I have to sit and give a report. To have some of the team members removed at this time is disheartening and discouraging,” Stubbs said.
Raymond Tucker and Leonardo Dean were set to travel as the coaches of the team, and set to make the trip as judges were Charles Sealy and Robert Harris.
Named to the team on the men’s side are Gemo Smith (Men’s Muscular Physique), Giovanne Farrington (Men’s Bodybuilding – Middleweight), Orick Nesbitt (Men’s Bodybuilding – Super Heavyweight), Terrion Kemp (Men’s Physique – Junior), Justin Lightbourne (Men’s Physique – Class A), Anthon Moxey (Men’s Physique – Class C), Wedlear Eugene (Men’s Physique – Class D), Judah Forbes (Men’s Physique – Class E) and Kaif Young and Davin Johnson (Men’s Physique – Class F).
On the women’s side, there are Fania Joseph (Women’s Bikini – Class B), Kastachia Stuart (Women’s Bikini – Class G), Britnae Davis (Women’s Bikini – Class H), Cara Saunders and Altonmique Curtis (Women’s Wellness) and Dorcas Cox (Women’s Figure/Body Fitness).
“Everything starts tomorrow (today) as they have fast-tracked the entire CAC competition,” Stubbs said. “Some divisions will be done as early as Friday evening. We have two competitors who were scheduled to compete Friday evening, and now, there’s the possibility that they won’t be able to do so. We will take the team and see what happens. We just pray and hope we get there in time so everyone could get to do what they have to do in their various categories and come back with some hardware,” Stubbs said.
The CACs is an outlet for bodybuilding and fitness athletes to obtain their pro cards. Pro cards will be up for grabs in all of the categories that will be contested. Host nation Barbados, Jamaica, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are just some of the nations that will field athletes this weekend.
Last year, the federation was able to field eight athletes to make the trip to Sal Salvador, El Salvador, for the CACs. Although it was a small team, they produced eight medals that included two gold, three silver and three bronze.
Stubbs remains hopeful that the entire team will be able to make the trip to Barbados.