Contract problem threatens team’s participation

Aug 02, 2010 Sports

Guyanese face Royal Challengers in Champions League opener
But contract problem threatens team’s participation

By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with Digicel

West Indies representative Guyana are scheduled to open their Champions League campaign in South Africa on September 12 against Indian team Royal Challengers Bangalore but a contract dispute threatens to put their participation in the tournament in jeopardy.
Guyana, led by a heroic 17-ball unbeaten 42 from 19-year-old rookie Jonathan Foo stunned Barbados by one wicket to win the Caribbean 20/20 championship Saturday night in Trinidad to qualify for the South Africa trip and are set to play top IPL team Mumbai Indians, which should include Trinidadians Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, in their second match on September 16 at Kingsmead in Durban but it is understood that the tournament contracts have not been signed by the Guyanese players.
This newspaper understand that some players were busy trying to make arrangements to sign the contract yesterday and Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan says he wants to see the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) play a more meaningful role in the development of Guyanese cricketers as the national team get ready to put their country on the world stage in South Africa.
Kaieteur Sport has been informed that the Guyana players received a contract about one week ago demanding that they give up 50 percent of their earnings from this just concluded tournament and the South Africa event to aid with the costs of preparing the team for the South Africa event and also for the just concluded Regional tournament.
The players are of the view that the Guyana Cricket Board is responsible for their preparation and also the percentage being claimed is too great.
The original deadline for signing the contract is past, but they were given a few more days to sign the document.  If they refuse and do not travel to South Africa as a result, then Barbados will be the regional representative, which may not go well with the organisers and many of the cricket loving Guyanese.
Guyana are set to play their third match in South Africa on September 19 against Lions at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg before facing South Australia at the same venue two days later in their final preliminary round match.
The semi-finals are set for September 24 and 25 with the final being played on the September 26 in Johannesburg. New South Wales of Australia, who beat Trinidad and Tobago in last year’s final in India, are the defending champions.
Guyana beat the Windward Islands and CCC in the Barbados leg of the Caribbean Championships before their final preliminary round match against Barbados was washed out in Trinidad.
The Guyanese, the only team to beat Trinidad and Tobago in a regional 20/20 match, registered their third consecutive win against the home team in a pulsating semi-final before Foo’s sensational fireworks took them over the line in the final against Barbados.
The Guyanese were among the players in the tournament who covered the BAS sign on their uniforms given to them by the WICB because of a disagreement between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the WICB over image rights and up to yesterday Guyanese cricket officials were tight lipped on the possibility of Guyana not going to South Africa after all of their hard work.
Guyana won G$5million for their win in Trinidad on Saturday night while Foo (Man-of-the-Match) and leg spinner Davendra Bishoo (Man-of-the-Series) ensured that Guyana made a clean sweep of the prize money.

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Junior Niles takes top podium spot, Holder, Benjamin, Croal, Dick & Parris also shine

By Franklin Wilson
Junior Niles made a welcome return to winning ways when he captured the top spot in the 6th annual Regan Rodrigues memorial 50-mile cycle road race sponsored by Ricks & Sari Agro Industries Ltd. held on the West Demerara yesterday in hot and sticky conditions.
The Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club (CWCC) member who has not been placing in the top flight among the seniors for quite some time saved the best for yesterday, blazing the field in a race that is held in memory of Rodrigues who had served as President of the CWCC and the Guyana Cycling Federation.

Family members of the late Regan Rodrigues take some time to pose with the top performers of the 6th annual 50-mile road race.

The race commenced at the Wales Police Station at 09:00hrs proceeded to Bushy Park on the East Bank of Essequibo before returning to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
Niles’ winning time was One hour 51 minutes 19 seconds better than last year’s time of One hour 59 minutes 47 seconds; his club mate Robin Persaud took that race but was unable to place yesterday.
Jude Bentley continues his consistency since his return to competitive riding by following Niles to the line, the former prevailing in a sprint. Albert Philander, Tony Simon, Eric Sankar and Mark Lewis closed out the top six finishers in that order.
Christopher Holder comfortably won the junior category ahead of Paul De Nobrega. The lone female competitor was Marica Dick of Berbice.
Leading the upright category was Kester Croal who crossed the line in front of Kunta McKenzie and Mario King. Another Berbician, veteran Gary Benjamin, continues to stamp his authority with yet another top place, relegating Virgil Jones to the runner up spot, Linden Blackman occupied the third place.
Taking the trophy as the first over-60 competitor was 63 year-old Monty ‘Truck Tracker’ Parris who said that he rode with the late Rodrigues as a juvenile and was very happy to be a part of the race.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who was on hand to offer words of congratulations to the 45 competitors after the race, complimented the Rodrigues family for continuing to honour the memory of Regan Rodrigues with the event.
Kumar stated that the late Regan was a great sports enthusiast and a sportsman of the highest class who later became a sports administrator who displayed high standards.  “He was committed to sports and its development and always supported with his finances.”
A number of the Rodrigues siblings were on hand to assist with the distribution of trophies, cash and hampers made up of Ricks & Sari Products. The top three riders overall apart from all the other category winners received hampers.