"The coaches have assured me that all our elite athletes are in great shape, fit and ready to perform," MVP's president, Bruce James, disclosed while speaking at the press conference to launch the meet last week at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. "However, the meet is on April 16 and the athletes will only come out to perform if they are fit and healthy to do so," ne hastened to add. "The challenge is that last year at the [UTech] classic she was not feeling well, but decided to take a chance and in so doing she ran and hurt herself badly and was unable to run for the rest of 2010," James explained, while pointing out that the MVP athletes are not all likely to participate in their customary events.
"The thing that stands out most, because it is something that people have been asking for, is the opportunity to see the top MVP - remembering that MVP has Asafa [Asafa Powell], Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, among others, versus the top Racers track club team, remembering they have Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake," [Paul Francis] disclosed. MVP fastmen Powell, Carter and Frater are already confirmed for their 4x100m team, and comeet organiser and MVP president, Bruce James, is anticipating Racers team comprising of and Olympic champion Bolt World champion Blake.
Olympic 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross presents cheque worth US$10,000 (J$900,000) to her alma mater on Wednesday, October 17. "I expect it to help in a big way. You hear of the parents who have very talented kids but sometimes just can't afford it, and it really breaks my heart because I am very thankful that my parents made the sacrifice to keep me in school. So if I can help the next Sanya Richards -Ross then it's all worth it," Richards-Ross noted.
Rise Up channels the spirit of the elders with cameos by Fred Locks, Sly Dunbar. Robbie Shakespeare, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Toots Hibberts and Brushy One String among others. Industry stalwarts like producers Mikey Bennett and Carlo Less are among those narrating the story which highlights the unique musical quality of Jamaicans.
The bowler was a key part of the the West Indies ICC World T20 Championship triumph 11 months ago, but found himself out of favour with the selectors after a patchy run of form. However, the player put in a sensational effort to help the Jamaica Tallawahs claim the Limacol Caribbean Premier League regional T20 tournament, and has carried that form into the regional A team's series against India. While quick to admit that the road back to top form is yet a work in progress, the bowling allrounder says he is confident and physically ready, should a recall be made.
"We are aware of the crackdown on illegal Cash Pot activities, however, it is difficult to precisely estimate the losses," said SVL President and Chief Executive Officer Brian George. "Based on the success of the BGLC, we believe it is down, however, in these difficult economic times we recognize the temptation for this activity by the small operators," George told The Weekly Gleaner via email. "This has the greatest potential for growth and it is the area that we understand that the BGLC is focusing their activities," explained George.
Now, after coming to Howard as a freshman and Capstone scholar in 2005, he is not only playing chess, which is said to be one of the most popular games in the world, but is President of the Howard University Chess Club since 2006. [Samuel Peter Francis] considers himself a critical thinker, an aspect of his personality that he feels attributes greatly to his successes, thus far, as president of the University Chess Club. Chess, in fact, is advocated as a way of enhancing mental prowess! Meanwhile, this young man who was the unrated chess champion of Howard University (HU) in 2006, was selected to the HU Dean's list and also to the National Dean's List of US Colleges and Universities in 2006. With his excellence in the game of chess, his absorption in scientific matters and his penchant for being clear and concise in his undertakings, Samuel could be expected to be a rather scholarly, 'nerdy' individual. Not so! He is full of life and laughter - a very pleasant, friendly Caribbean person.
An elegant player, Samuels stormed back into the selectors' favour after amassing 830 runs in the Regional FirstClass Championship, the most by any player. Samuels also had an impressive showing in the regional T20 Championships where he finished as the top run-getter. Despite receiving an earlier call-up to the West Indies for the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup, the batsman declined the invitation, declaring himself not yet ready to return to international cricket.
"For the games against Switzerland and France, we will have the best players from England," said [Schafer]. "Wes Morgan and [Adrian Mariappa] are good players from England that can help us for a good result," he said. "We will play against Barbados with the local players and players from the United States," said Schafer. "I think our football is not very good in Jamaica and this is clear, and you saw it with our matches against Trinidad. We have to work more, we need more fitness and more tactical training, but it can only happen when we have good pitches to play on," he said.
The Weekly Gleaner understands that Scotland-based winger Chris Humphrey has been called up by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) for their three-week camp in Brazil, ahead of this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States. "Even though I also qualify for Scotland, Jamaica was the first to pursue me and I am looking forward to linking up with the squad," Humphrey added, before pointing out that he is, however, focused on his upcoming clash with Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. Humphrey moved to Walsall at the age of five, and was at Walsall's Centre of Excellence, until later joining West Bromwich Albion.
