f Paria - Ins and Outs of Trinidad & Tobago 2013

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The Trinidad and Tobago
experience
Sports
Roundup
by Sheldon Waithe
In 2009, there was no time for any post-Olympic
hangover as far as sport in Trinidad and Tobago was
concerned. A number of competitions and tournaments,
both home and abroad, provided ample opportunities
for our sportsmen and women to either confirm their
performances thus far, progress a burgeoning career or
reverse any previous disappointments.
The national sport of cricket continues to carry
a banner of excellence, though T&T were unable to
repeat their regional triumph in the four-day version
of the game, relinquishing their crown to Jamaica
and eventually finishing an unexpected fourth in the
competition.
However, their One Day International game continues
to progress. T&T, as holders of the West Indies
Twenty/20 title, were the Caribbean representatives at
the Airtel Champions League held in India. Under the
guidance of the astute captain Darren Ganga, the young
T&T squad comprised stars like the Bravo brothers,
Rampaul, Ramdin, Simmons and Barath. This further
enhanced their reputation as a formidable cricket team
by negating their 20:1 competition odds, beating the
international opposition with scintillating cricket that
garnered fans worldwide. Alas, the Airtel Final proved
one game too many and T&T, the people’s favourite,
lost their only match at the last hurdle but left their
inimitable mark upon the viewing millions.
Football continues to dominate the sporting
headlines with the only professional league in the
Caribbean, the Digicel Pro League, going from strength
to strength. All eleven pro teams now enjoy a loyal fan
base and the fans in turn are enjoying great football.
Such was the desire for further competition that a
knockout competition, the Lucozade Goal Shield, has
been added to the programme. It is also a competition
with a difference as extra prize money will be allocated
based on the number of goals scored, something that is
abundant in local football. With the Under-20 national
team qualifying for the World Cup in Egypt in 2009,
T&T hosting the Women’s Under-17 World Cup in 2010,
added to the smattering of Trinbagonian players in
football leagues worldwide, there is little doubt about
the strength of the sport in T&T.
Sadly, the local boxing world began the year in
mourning as all-time great, Jizelle Salandy, passed
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