Major Desmon Brown, the General Manager of Independence Park Limited, has provided assurances that the playing surface at Jamaica's National Stadium will be in excellent shape for the Reggae Boyz opening World Cup qualifier against the Dominican Republic on June 6, despite a busy upcoming schedule of events.
The National Stadium is set to host a series of high-profile events, starting with the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on May 11, followed by the Jamaica Premier League final on May 19, and the INSPORTS Devon Biscuits Primary School Championships from May 23-25. Additionally, the Racers Grand Prix will take place on June 1, just five days before the crucial World Cup qualifier.
With various athletic competitions taking place, including throwing events like the discus, Major Brown expressed concerns about maintaining the integrity of the playing surface, particularly due to the potential damage caused by shot put activities.
"The discus and the javelin are not a problem. It’s the shot put that is the problem," explained Major Brown, highlighting the challenges posed by the heavy metal ball which can create deep divots in the field.
“We did it sometime ago for Champs when we had to do it for like four days. What we did is that we took it up every night and put it back in the mornings otherwise it would kill the grass. If they throw the shot put, it takes three to four weeks to sort it out.
“It’s a sand field so (the shot put) compresses the sand and then you have to dig it up so that the grass can grow back through it.”
To mitigate this issue, Major Brown detailed a specialized plan involving the use of plywood and sand to protect the grass from damage caused by shot put. This method, although expensive, is effective in ensuring the field remains playable and in good condition for the upcoming football qualifier.
Despite the rigorous schedule of events, Major Brown emphasized that the playing surface has significantly improved in recent years, thanks to dedicated efforts to control weeds and maintain overall quality.
"We have a group of people who are very dedicated to getting that field back in good condition, so even with the events that we had recently, we are working on it to get it back," assured Major Brown.
Importantly, organizers of the international track meets have confirmed that only the discus will be contested during the upcoming Jamaica Athletics Invitational and the Racers Grand Prix, alleviating concerns about potential damage caused by shot put competition.
With Major Brown's strategic plans and diligent efforts, football fans can rest assured that the National Stadium will provide a suitable and safe venue for the Reggae Boyz as they kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign against the Dominican Republic on June 6.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Hoping for the best: Eve on edge about players' fitness as T&T faces tight window ahead of qualifiers
Having selected what he believes is the best crop of players to secure qualification to the 2026 Fifa World Cup, Trinidad and Tobago’s Head coach Angus Eve is no hoping everything will go accordingly, both where performances and player fitness is concerned.
In fact, Eve, who named his provisional 39-player squad last Friday, would love nothing but to have his final Soca Warriors squad –when narrowed down –hit the ground running with positive results to start their Concacaf World Cup qualifying campaign against Grenada and then Bahamas on June 5 and 8 respectively. They will host Grenada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, before visiting Bahamas a few days later.
"These 39 players are the ones we think can give us the best chance to start off on a positive head and try to win these two matches and start off with six points in the qualifiers, one game at a time,” Eve said in a recent interview with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) media.
The tactician, who is aiming to host a camp between June 1 and June 3, pointed out that it was a challenge to gather the team earlier due to players’ club obligations. It is for this reason that he is hoping players will come into camp fit and ready to go, given that they will only assemble a few days before kick off.
“Players' safety (is a concern) and all these kinds of things. It is terrible that the window starts on (June) 3rd and we have to play on the 5th, so players have to travel on the 3rd, most of the players. On the 1st and 2nd we still have players playing matches outside. We have the locally-based players playing in a final this coming week, a couple days before the game. We still have to look and see who will come through those games unscathed,” Eve shared.
That said, Eve explained the reason behind gifting players such as Tyrese Spicer, Dantaye Gilbert and Steffen Yeates, their first senior team invitation. While Spicer, 23, and Gilbert, 19, has represented the twin island republic at the youth level, Yeates, 24, is breaking into his first national team.
“Young Spicer has been doing tremendously well for Toronto FC. We did try to get him and [Wayne] Fredericks for the two Jamaica friendlies, but he [Spicer] had an injury at that point in time and also Fredericks had an injury in that time, so we never got them. It is a delight for us to actually have the opportunity to call him [Spicer] up,” Eve noted.
“We have also been behind Steffen Yeates since last October. We have really been having good conversations with him, but there were some administrative issues. We think we are very close to sorting out his documents, so we wanted to put him in the training squad, so just in case that his documents come through, he will already be in the squad,” he added.
Like Spicer and Yeates, Eve said Netherlands-based Gilbert was always a part of his plans, but he wanted to bide his time with the young midfielder.
“We have been following Dantaye; the tricky thing about these things is that when a young player goes to Europe you want (to allow) him to settle in at his club first before you drag him out of his club. If he stays over there for three, four months and get that quality training in that high-intensity environment then he is going to be better for us when he comes back to the national team,” he ended.
T&T Provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Denzil Smith (Club Sando), Aaron Enill (Prison FC), Christopher Biggette (Defence Force), Adrian Foncette (Miscellaneous Police FC).
Defenders: Andre Raymond (unattached), Jesse Williams (Chattanooga FC—USA), Sheldon Bateau (SK Beveren—Belgium), Leland Archer (Charleston Battery—USA), Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic—USA), Ross Russell (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers), Aubrey David (CS Cartagines—Costa Rica), Alvin Jones, Robert Primus (both Miscellaneous Police FC), Isaiah Garcia, Justin Garcia (both Defence Force), Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay Utd—Jamaica), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA).
Midfielders: Duane Muckette, Michel Poon-Angeron (both AC Port of Spain), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada), Kristian Lee Him (Eskilstuna), Dantaye Gilbert (Jong PSV—Netherlands), Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC—Canada), Molik Khan (Minnesota Utd II—USA), Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone FC—Scotland), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United—USA)Matthew Woo Ling (Defence Force), Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA).
Attackers: Kaile Auvray, Nathaniel James (both Mount Pleasant FC—Jamaica), Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), Reon Moore (Pacific FC—Canada), Malcolm Shaw (Cavalry FC), Levi Garcia (AEK Athens—Greece), Tyrese Spicer (Toronto FC—Canada), Ezekiel Kesar (Point Fortin Civic), Kevon Woodley (Morvant Caledonia Utd), Ryan Telfer (HFX Wanderers—Canada).
Broadbell ready for season opener at Racers Grand Prix
One of Jamaica's premier hurdlers, Rasheed Broadbell, is set to electrify the track once again as he competes on home soil at the highly anticipated Racers Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday.
Broadbell, whose exceptional performances have made waves on the international stage, is returning with renewed vigour and determination following his spectacular victory at the Commonwealth Games. That triumph at the Commonwealth Games marked a significant milestone in his career, as the gold medal in the 110m hurdles not only demonstrated his exceptional talent, but also cemented his status as one of the leading hurdlers in the world.
That victory fuelled his ambitions and set the stage for a promising season ahead. Broadbell revealed that he has been undergoing an intensive training regimen in preparation for his season opener at the Racers Grand Prix.
“Every year my season opener surprises me. I may not know what to expect. It's the first race of the season and the first race since I fell at the world championships so for me I’m just trying to get in race rhythm and execute what I have been practising at training. Preparations have been going great and I pray it remains that way," he said.
The 23-year-old, who is no doubt targeting a spot on Jamaica's team to this summer's Paris Olympic Games, will be up against compatriot and reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, as well as American standout Trey Cunningham and rising star Tyler Mason in what is expected to be one of a several explosive events at the National Stadium.
“It has been a roller coaster journey thus far; grateful for every part of it, most of all I just give God the thanks for bringing me through every bit of it," Broadbell shared.
“My preparation for the Grand Prix is just a part of the bigger preparation which is the Olympics and to get myself into race shape for the upcoming Olympic trials also my mindset towards this competition is to just get out there, execute, finish healthy and give some excitement to the home crowd," he added.
As Broadbell gears up for the Racers Grand Prix, the nation is eager to witness one of their own in action. Broadbell's presence at the Racers Grand Prix promises to be among the highlights of the night, as he is poised to deliver unforgettable moments and inspire the next generation of Jamaican hurdlers.
The event is set to begin at 6:00pm.
Tickets are available for purchase online at racersgrandprix.com and mysticonlinetix.com, while physical tickets are available at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
Speed, Power, and Glory: Women athletes set to ignite the track at Racers Grand Prix 2024
The anticipation for the 2024 Racers Grand Prix is reaching new heights as a stellar lineup of women athletes prepares to grace the track on Saturday, June 1, at the National Stadium.
Since its inception in 2016, the Racers Grand Prix has become a cornerstone of the local track and field calendar, achieving World Athletics Continental Tour Silver status and attracting top-tier talent from around the globe.
In the highly anticipated Women's 100m event, all eyes will be on the dynamic showdown between Julien Alfred and Alana Reid. Alfred, known for her explosive speed and technical prowess, is set to challenge the competition with her relentless drive for victory. Meanwhile, Reid brings a wealth of experience and determination, making her a formidable contender on the track. Reid is the Jamaican junior record holder for the women's 100m.
Sports analyst and lead commentator of the Racers Grand Prix, Ricardo Chambers, when asked about predictions for the women's 100m said,
“This should be an interesting race. Julien Alfred hasn't competed since she finished 4th in 11.15 (+3.5) at the Texas Invitational on April 27. One of the women who beat her that day is the USA's Celera Barnes who is in this field. Alana Reid has been competing a lot. She's already run 8 100-metre races this year but has dipped under 11.20 only once. This is the time of year you expect especially the US and Jamaican athletes to start tapering for their trials, so I expect to see a much truer reflection of the form these athletes are in. Given how things have gone this season, there's no clear favourite and so the intrigue sets up a real fine race.”
Shifting the focus to the Women's 100m Hurdles, fans can expect an exhilarating clash between Megan Tapper, Ackera Nugent, and Devynne Charlton. Tapper's agility and precision over the hurdles have earned her accolades on the international stage, while Nugent's emerging talent and raw speed make her a rising star to watch. Charlton, with her seasoned experience and strategic approach, adds depth to the competitive field, setting the stage for an unforgettable race.
Commenting on the lineup of women athletes, Devon Blake, CEO of Racers Grand Prix, stated, "The women's events at this year's Racers Grand Prix exemplify the strength, talent, and dedication of female athletes in track and field. We are proud to showcase their exceptional skills and fierce competitiveness, contributing to the event's status as a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet."
The Women's events at the Racers Grand Prix promise to deliver thrilling moments of athleticism, determination, and sportsmanship, highlighting the diversity and excellence of women's track and field. The action-packed matchups hit the track on June 1 as these remarkable athletes take center stage and inspire fans worldwide.
The success of the Racers Grand Prix is made possible by the generous support of its esteemed sponsors. Leading the pack is Adidas, a longstanding partner whose commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with the event's ethos. The Sports Development Foundation's continuous partnership has been instrumental in elevating the meet to new heights year after year. KFC, Gatorade, JN Bank, Digicel, and Airport Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) bring their unique expertise and resources to enhance the spectator experience and showcase Jamaica's vibrant sporting culture on a global stage.
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