Nzingha Prescod spoke at the press conference to announce the passage of NYC legislation creating the Offi ce of
Sports, Wellness & Recreation in the Mayor’s offi ce. Tomas Garita
By Nelson A. King
The 2021 CONCACAF Futsal Championship
(CFC) continued on Tuesday at
the Domo Polideportivo de la CDAG in
Guatemala City, Guatemala, with Suriname
and Canada rallying for big wins.
In Group B, CONCACAF said “a spirited
comeback” from Suriname resulted
in a 5-4 win over Mexico.
“El Tricolor raced out to a 3-0 lead
through Cesar Paniagua, Daniel Soltero
and Abraham Atri, only to see Suriname
answer with goals from Vangellino Sastromedjo,
Gillian Maatrijk and Nazario
Doesburg to make it 3-3 at halftime,”
CONCACAF said.
“An Eddie Sanchez own goal gave
Suriname the lead, but Mexico would
answer through Paniagua’s second of
Caribbean L 50 ife, MAY 7-13, 2021
the day,” it added. “In the end, though,
the spoils would go to Suriname thanks
to a late score from Roche Pita.”
CONCACAF said Canada made their
debut in Group C and picked up three
points with a 4-2 win over Haiti.
Bernick Monfort and Mitchell Syla
gave Haiti a 2-0 halftime lead, but CONCACAF
said “the second half belonged
to Canada”.
Goals from Damion Graham, Ian
Bennett, Safwane Mlah and Bila Diko-
Raynauld gave the Canadians the win,
CONCACAF said.
It said El Salvador and the United
States stayed unbeaten in Group D.
CONCACAF said the Cuscatlecos
opened the action on the day with a 2-1
victory over Cuba.
Ricardo Castillo gave the Spanishspeaking
Caribbean side a 1-0 lead in
the first half, but second half goals
from Alan Solis and David Sandoval
earned El Salvador the three points,
CONCACAF said.
It said the action was “just as tight”
in the group’s other match, with the US
holding off Nicaragua 4-2.
Jeremy Klepal and Eduardo Buenfil
each scored in the first half to give the
US a two-goal advantage, CONCACAF
said. It said Klepal then added his second
of the day in the second half, only
for Nicaragua to answer with goals
from Bryan Corea and Patrick Luna.
However, Tomas Pondeca scored a late
insurance goal to seal the win for the
US, CONCACAF said.
By Azad Ali
Cricket West Indies (CWI) is hoping
an accelerated rollout of Covid-19
vaccines by regional governments can
result in a sufficient improvement in
health conditions, so as to facilitate the
staging of first class cricket in the coming
months.
The governing body has been banking
on a shortened first class season,
but with Covid-19 cases rising in several
countries, speculation over a cancellation
has heightened in recent weeks.
However, CWI CEO Johnny Grave,
said CWI remained “optimistic and
hopeful” of an improvement in the
pandemic, so some amended version
of the first class season could be staged
before the Caribbean Premier League
(CPL) scheduled to get underway in
August.’
Patriots
Continued from Page 49
Bravo as a fierce competitor and
while the 37-year-old will be missed,
there will be opportunities for other
players to rise to the challenge.
TTKR Director, Venky Mysore said
the all-rounder played an integral
role in building the franchise into a
champion team.
He noted that Bravo also captained
the team which earned three championships
in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Russell confirmed that St. Kitts and
Nevis, home of the St. Kitts and
Nevis Patriots franchise, will host all
matches in the 2021 CPL and that
fans will be allowed in to see the
games live with the stadium being
allowed to accommodate 50 percent
capacity.
He also revealed that the CPL draft
will take place towards the end of May
and hinted at some “big moves” by
some players in the off-season.
Jonel Powell, St. Kitts and Nevis
minister of Education, Youth, Sports
and Culture explained that players
will be required to adhere to all the
necessary quarantine requirements
on entry and once they have satisfied
the quarantine period and they have
a negative test for Covid-19 thereafter,
they will be allowed to integrate
into the public.
tions.
“This legislation is historic because
it’s the first step towards changing
the exclusionary nature of our current
sports system,” said Prescod, two-time
Vincentian American Fencing Olympian
and East Flatbush, Brooklyn resident,
who was selected as an athlete director
on the USA Fencing Board of Directors,
beginning on Jan. 1, 2021.
USA Fencing said Prescod, 28, whose
mother is Vincentian lawyer, Marva
Prescod, was elected with 2012 Paralympian
Cat Bouwkamp, of Fishers, Ind.
“Every child is deserving of quality
sport education, not just those who
can afford it,” the Olympian said. “This
bill will integrate sport into the lives
of young New Yorkers and equip them
with the tools to become the best version
of themselves in sport and in life.
They deserve that opportunity.
“I would like to thank the public
officials who have made this office a
reality —
Councilmember Rodriguez, Public
Advocate Jumaane Williams, Speaker
Johnson and Brooklyn Borough President
Eric Adams,” she added. “I would
like to thank the community partners
that have been instrumental in making
the case for city support of equitable
sport. I’d like to thank all the organizations
that have helped address this
issue of sports equity, including Ernst
& Young.
“Finally, I would like to thank my village,”
Prescod continued. “My mom and
sister, and the Peter Westbrook Foundation.
This platform would not exist without
them, and it’s part of Peter’s legacy!
Much love to them and my city.”
She said the Mayor’s Office of Sports,
Wellness, and Recreations would be
responsible for creating strategies and
initiatives to support youth sports activities
throughout New York, and create a
pipeline for disadvantaged children to be
placed in competitive sports programs
and competitions.
The Office would also provide access
to sports-related opportunities for students
and promote the role of sports in
education and recreation; make recommendations
for the growth of professional,
amateur and scholastic sports
recreation; and coordinate sports initiatives
with other city agencies, including
the Department of Education, the
Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, and the Department of Parks
and Recreation.
In addition, Prescod said the Mayor’s
Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreations
would be responsible for creating
strategies and initiatives that will help
the City become a major sports competitor
across the country and the world.
Continued from Page 49
Continued from Page 49
OLYMPIAN BACKS SPORTS OFFICE
CPL 2021
Suriname, Canada rally for big wins at CFC
First class
matches
uncertain