Don’t Cry for Fidel

THERE always comes a time when, forced by circumstances, you must do what you would have preferred not to. Mourning Fidel Castro’s death in words is my challenge today. But it is one which also allows the opportunity to reflect on the 40 years since his words inspired those of us here to establish the first Saint Lucia-Cuba Friendship Association in the wake of the 1976 terrorist bombing of the Cubana Airline in Barbados.

A Fourth Veterans Hat-Trick

Image: Defending champions Soufriere (Photo: Anthony De Beauville)

SEVENTEEN goals were scored in six games last weekend in Veterans In Sports Inc Football Tournament played at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort in front of appreciative crowds. The highlight was the tournament’s fourth hat-trick scored by VSADC’s Guy Jn Baptiste versus Behind the College All Stars. Defending champions Soufriere edged out Vieux Fort South 2 – 1, Micoud had a similar margin of victory over Dennery and FLOW Lancers played to a goalless draw with Congorians.

Holder Shoots Up In ODI Rankings

Image of Jason Holder

WEST INDIES captain Jason Holder has shot up in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers and also moved up in the lists for batsmen and all-rounders after a fine show in a One-Day International tri-series in Zimbabwe that Sri Lanka won on Sunday. Holder’s nine wickets in the tournament were not enough to help the World Twenty20 champions reach the final as Zimbabwe edged them out in a rain-reduced last league match, but the haul was enough to propel him nine places up to 15th in the rankings for bowlers.

Two SLFA U-21 Quarter Finals Today

Image of VFS goalkeeper Leon Alexander (PHOTO: Anthony De Beauville)

FOOTBALL action continues today in the Saint Lucia Football Association Under-21 male tournament with a double-header at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in the second set of quarterfinal matches. From 6:00 p.m. Gros Islet will do battle against the SLFA National Under-17s while Vieux Fort South with the experienced Leon Alexander in goal will host Canaries at 8:00 p.m. Leon was adjudged the best goalkeeper in the recently-held Blackheart tournament which the Vieux Fort South senior team won.