CAC Seniors hit cost snag in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The hosting of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Track and Field Championship in the Bahamas has hit a cost snag with government circumspect over the high price tag to get the Thomas Robinson Stadium track ready for the meet in June.{{more}}

The Nassau Guardian newspaper is reporting that the cost of upgrading the running track could reach as high as US$500,000, far beyond what the country had anticipated.

The final estimate for repairs to the surface for the June 24-26 CAC Seniors will depend on the IAAFs response.

After meetings with CAC organising committee last Thursday, sports minister Neville Wisdom is hoping the challenges could be resolved and that the track will be improved to ensure it qualifies for certification by the IAAF.

Track surface specialist Mondo recommended that the Sports Ministry asks for the IAAF’s advice on how to proceed with repairs to the track, prior to CACs, the Guardian said.

If the championships are held on the track in its current condition, the IAAF may not ratify a world record, or CAC record set.

And, CAC organisers are encouraging top-notch performances by the athletes at the event, and as a result, are offering lucrative monetary awards for records broken.

An individual world record performance will be worth US$50,000. A CAC record, US$20,000, and US$10,000 for a national record performance.

Latapy rejects international call-up from T&T

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago’s veteran star midfielder Russell Latapy has turned down an opportunity to return to international football for the current CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and says he would like to coach the Soca Warriors instead.

Scotland-based Latapy, 36, expressed regret at having to turn down an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) to rejoin the Trinidad and Tobago national team for the remaining 2006 World Cup qualifying matches, the Soca Warriors web site reported on Saturday.

Latapy, a former FC Porto and Hibernian standout, and Jack Warner, Special Advisor to the TTFF, discussed his possible return on Friday morning.

Latapy stated that at age 36 he did not think it would be suitable for him to return to international duty for T&T as a player, but added that the coaching job is a more logical pursuit for him.

“I believe that I would best serve my country as a coach. This is not an attack on the current head coach (Mr St Clair) or his staff, but the reality is that my eventual retirement from playing is definitely approaching,” stated Latapy, who also played club football in Jamaica for Port Morant United during the early 1990s.

Latapy expressed appreciation at being missed by the people of Trinidad and Tobago and said he strove to be an example throughout his international playing career, which spanned from age 11 until retirement at the age of 33.

Trinidad and Tobago lost their opening game in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying series last month, 2-1, to the USA and their preparation for the next games later this month against Guatemala and Costa Rica, suffered a setback when they placed a disappointing third – albeit without their professional players – in the Digicel Caribbean Cup finals in Barbados last month.