By Azad Ali
The regional CARIFTA Games
hangs in the balance as a final decision
on the fate of the 2021 Games
will be announced in May.
Last week, the North American,
Central and Caribbean Athletics
Association (NACAC) hosted a special
information session for the CARIFTA
family.
The Zoom meeting was attended
by member federations as well as
chairs of NACAC commissions and
working groups.
This year’s edition of the CARIFTA
Games is scheduled for Aug. 13-15, in
Bermuda. The regional junior meeting
was not held in 2020 because of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Bermuda
transferred its hosting responsibilities
to 2021.
The global pandemic eliminated
the possibility of staging the Games
on Easter weekend. NACAC had chosen
July 2-4 as the new dates, but
was forced to postpone again because
of the scheduling of the Caribbean
Examinations Council (CXC) external
exams.
The August dates are now under
threat. Bermuda is currently experiencing
a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
member Mia Bean spoke about a
non-negotiable requirement that
any unvaccinated visitor to Bermuda
must be quarantined for 14 days.
The LOC is expected to meet with
the Bermuda government officials
before the end of the month deadline.
Caribbean L 30 ife, APR. 30-MAY 6, 2021
From the pitch to the kictchen
By Nelson A. King
The Confederation of North, Central
America and Caribbean Association
Football (CONCACAF) said on Wednesday
that 13 member associations will
compete in Guatemala from May 3-9 in
the 2021 CONCACAF Futsal Championship
(CFC).
Semifinalists will qualify for the FIFA
Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021, CONCACAF
said. The 13 member associations
participating in the 2021 CFC have
submitted their final 14-player rosters.
“In order to be eligible to play in the
2021 CFC, all players are subject to and
must fully comply with the criteria stipulated
in the applicable FIFA player eligibility
regulations,” CONCACAF said.
“In accordance with the competition
regulations, changes to the final
Former West Indies Cricket Captain Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan poses in
front of an international drinks bar in his Providence, Guyana RS53 Resto-
Bar & Grill. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
rosters will only be allowed in the event
of force majeure or injury,” it added.
“Any changes made must be prior to
each team’s first group stage match.
Additionally, such replacements must
be approved by CONCACAF.”
All matches in the 2021 CFC in Guatemala
City, Guatemala, will take place
at the Domo Polideportivo, “a venue
that has a long history of hosting international
Futsal competitions, including
the 2000 FIFA Futsal World Cup,” CONCACAF
said.
After round-robin play (May 3-5), it
said the first- and second-place finishers
in each group will advance to the
quarterfinals.
The quarterfinal matches will be
played on May 7, with the four winners
qualifying for the semifinals of this
competition and earning a spot in the
FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021.
The semifinals and final will take
place on May 8 and 9, respectively.
CONCACAF said fans will be able to
follow all the matches on Concacaf’s
partner networks, including TUDN
(USA-Spanish), One Soccer (CAN), Teletica
and Repretel (CRC), RTVG (Guatemala),
TCS (SLV), Televicentro (HON),
Medcom (PAN), Flow Sports (Caribbean
English) and other local partners.
The FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania
2021 was initially scheduled to take
place Sept. 12 – Oct. 4, 2020, but due
to the COVID-19 pandemic the Bureau
of the FIFA Council announced on May
12, 2020, that the tournament would be
rescheduled for Sept. 12 – Oct. 3, 2021,
CONCACAF.
By Tangerine Clarke
Three months ago, during a time of
pressing uncertainty, retired West Indies
Cricketer Ramnaresh ‘Ronnie’ Sarwan
opened his ultramodern restaurant, RS
53 ‘RestoBar & Lounge’ — just a stonesthrow
away from the Providence Stadium
where he had trilled fans for many years.
It has always been the sportsman’s passion
to become a restaurateur. But due to
his hectic touring schedule, he was forced
to give up his shares in the “Windies Restaurant
& Sports Bar” in Ontario, Canada,
but not his dream to serve fine fare to fans
and foodies alike.
During a recent, chance meeting with
Sarwan at the Block M Providence, East
Bank of Demerara location, where I had
gone to taste the food patrons were raving
about, I heard all about the enthusiasm he
has to serve fine fare to fans, he said, had
supported him from the stands during
cricket season.
This aspiration was realized after the
sportsman retired at a young age 40, the
perfect timing for a sportsman, and fitting
for him to dedicate his time to provide
great service to fellow Guyanese and
tourists.
“This is what prompted me to open
a restaurant in my homeland. I always
had the intention of doing so, and
there is no better place, and time than
now to do so. All those years I have
played at the stadium, fans came out
to support me, and I feel this is the
time to give back to Guyana,” he said.
The expansive space located on a
second floor level in a business mall, is
accessible via a winding staircase that
leads to indoor and outdoor dining.
In addition to a bar that serves
international drinks and cocktails,
there is comfortable seating, from
where patrons get to enjoy sporting
events from large overhead television
screens.
The menu has a wide selection,
including rib-eyed steaks, lamb-chops,
pastas, and American fare.
The international flare adds to the
up-scale joint that has delicious choices of
Mediterranean, and Asian Indian fusions.
But according to Sarwan, the menu
changes ever so often to accommodate
the taste buds of Guyanese, and patrons
from every part of the world.
So far, Sarwan said the support has
been great, and he is very grateful that
people are coming out to support the
restaurant.
“My goal is to ensure that when people
come to dine, they enjoy the meal. There
will be hiccups, but we are prepared to
take complaints in good stride, and use
them to improve our service. We are here
three months now, and we have made a lot
of improvement, since,” he assured.
2021 CONCACAF Futsal Champ. rosters confirmed
CARIFTA
Games
hangs in
the balance
Former West Indies cricketer captain Ramnaresh ‘Ronnie’
Sarwan opens restaurant in Guyana