(from left) outgoing president Martin Lyn, Georgia Sinclair and Lance Rochester.
After serving 14 years as President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Jamaica (ASAJ), Martin Lyn has opted not to seek re-election, citing the need to refresh and reinvigorate the organisation with new leadership.
Lyn, whose time at the helm was spread across seven two-year terms, believes he has left the association in good standing with a solid platform on which the next president can build to drive the country’s aquatic sports product forward.
The new president will be selected at the ASAJ’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for December 5.
Georgia Sinclair and Lance Rochester, who served as vice presidents with responsibility for swimming and water polo respectively, under Lyn’s leadership, are said to be frontrunners in the race to take the reins.
“Sometimes you have to know when to step aside and let someone else take over. My accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves, and nobody can dispute the fact that I have done a significant amount of good during my time in charge. I also think it’s time for me to focus on other things as well and also allow the association to grow in a different direction,” Lyn told SportsMax.TV.
“For the first time in a while, there are people vying for the presidency and it is good that people’s ambitions towards leadership is stimulated. So, I am stepping down to allow the association to grow even bigger and better with fresh ideas because I have left a strong foundation on which the next president can build,” he added.
According to Lyn, his time at the helm boast outstanding contribution and great personal sacrifice, though his credibility, integrity and, by extension, leadership qualities, have been called into question on a number of occasions.
“The presidency is not an easy job in any federation. It wasn’t always easy to beg and beseech the minister (of sports) and Sports Development Foundation for funding or even to secure sponsorship, and of course, you and others don’t always see eye-to-eye for various reasons. But we have upgraded the system and most importantly we are in one of the best financial positions that we have been in, in years,” Lyn argued.
“The day-to-day running of the federation was up and down but the administration performed very well including the disciplinary committee. For the first time in a long time, we don’t have any disciplinary matters pending,” he noted.
Though celebrating some infrastructure development, as well as the recognition of five Jamaican officials on the World Aquatics list among his achievements, Lyn pointed out that he also had some regrets.
“Two regrets I have, and one is the fact that I have tried unsuccessfully to change the constitution of the ASAJ so that there are not so many gray areas because in the current constitution, there are a lot of loopholes. But the feedback was that we couldn’t just meet and discuss the constitution, so maybe I was a little premature in my approach, but it is something that I will encourage for the new administration to look at,” Lyn shared without going into details about his other regret, which had to do with how swim meets were conducted.
That said, Lyn left words of encouragement for the new administration which will boast familiar faces, as treasurer Florence Grizzle-Williams will battle incumbent Shauna Jackson for the post of Honorary Secretary.
Robyn-Ann Chin-Sang will be running unopposed for Vice-president in charge of artistic swimming, while Marlon McIntyre is the only candidate for the vice-president in charge of water polo.
Meanwhile, Hilary Brown-Nixon seems set to take the post of vice-president in charge of swimming.
“The first word of encouragement is to keep the train rolling, because we are on a very good path for success. I have dedicated a lot of time out of my life to do what I did, so which ever candidate takes over, they must be willing to invest the time and effort into moving the sport forward because it is to the benefits of the athletes and more so the country,” he ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Heart and skill: Role model Shanice Beckford targets successful Vitality Horizon series against England
Having spent years perfecting her game and inspiring others through her journey, Shanice Beckford views a return to the international stage for the Vitality Horizon Netball Series as another opportunity to parade her skills in front of aspiring players both at home and in England.
In fact, few players are as excited to hit the court as Beckford, especially after a lengthy break from international action, as the upcoming four-match series against England Roses will be the first time the Sunshine Girls have assembled since their bronze medal win at last year’s Netball World Cup.
Beckford’s enthusiasm reflects the strong bond within the team, which is a key factor as they prepare to face their fierce rivals.
England will host the first two games scheduled for November 16 and 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester, with Jamaica set to host the last two encounters on November 25 and 26 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
“I’m happy to be back with the team for another cycle,” Beckford told SportsMax.Tv, radiating positivity.
“Kicking off our first international series with two matches at home is a great feeling. It’s always good vibes when the team gets together so I am excited to be back with the girls and ready to give of my best as usual,” she added.
Beckford’s passion, resilience, and aspirations for the future stem from the fact that she went from humble beginnings in the inner city to being a familiar face in Jamaican netball, as she was determined to break stereotypes and pursue a path beyond her immediate circumstances.
“Growing up in the inner city, I just didn’t want to be treated as stereotype, so netball became my escape, offering me not just the sport but a way to build connections and dream beyond my surroundings,” Beckford, who currently represents West Coast Fever in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, shared.
Though her career spanning over 10 years is marked by remarkable moments such as winning three Commonwealth Games medals, three Fast5 medals, and a Netball World Cup medal, for Beckford, her greatest achievement isn’t a particular medal or title but the journey itself—the connections, skills, and personal growth she has experienced along the way.
Still, her path hasn’t always been easy as injuries, disappointing matches, and times of self-doubt have all tested Beckford’s resilience. However, she welcomed successes and setbacks as part of the transformative process, with humility being her guiding principle.
“Even the tough moments have taught me the importance of perseverance and sportsmanship and I cherish this journey and all that it has brought into my life. It feels like I was destined to walk this path, so I will always remain humble, no matter what, and trust the process regardless,” Beckford stated.
The versatile 29-year-old goal-attack, who has earned the love and support of fans worldwide, is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with England, as her agility, sharp shooting, and strategic play have seen her win numerous star player of the game awards against them.
As such, the longstanding rivalry between the two nations not only brings a familiar intensity but also makes Beckford and her number four-ranked Sunshine Girls teammates even more motivated for the challenge as they seek to topple the now number two-ranked England and make a move up the rankings.
“Facing off against England, our long-standing rivals, always brings an electrifying atmosphere and intense competition. Each match against them isn’t just about the battles on the court but is also an opportunity to see our growth as a team,” Beckford declared.
“It’s going to be a good matchup against the Roses. They’re coming off a series win against New Zealand and had decent competition with the Australia Diamonds. All four matches will be tough, but we are ready to secure a favourable outcome at the end,” she noted.
Finally, with this series marking the start of another four-year cycle in her career, Beckford remains focused on her personal and professional growth, with her ultimate ambition being simple yet powerful—continue inspiring others.
“I have been pushing myself to be at peak performance; I’ve put in a lot of work, thanks to my trainers, and I feel ready to compete. The aim is always to be at my best at all times, ensure I am sharpening my skillset, and get ready for another season in SSN,” she explained, emphasizing her dedication to continuous improvement.
“I will continue working hard to not only see where this journey takes me, but more importantly, to continue serving as an inspiration to young athletes who see me as a role model,” Beckford ended
Cavalier field seven players in Concacaf Caribbean Cup semis Best XI
Jamaican champions Cavalier FC had a number of standout performances in the recently-concluded Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals, and so it comes as no surprise that seven of their players are named in the organiser’s Best Eleven (XI) from those fixtures.
Cavalier, who are set to contest the two-leg finals against Dominican Republic counterparts Cibao FC on November 26 and December 3, will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form to cop the Caribbean Cup on this occasion. They lost last year’s final to Suriname’s Robinhood.
Among those that had standout performances for Cavalier are Suriname-born Shaquille Stein and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kaile Auvray, along with defenders Richard King and Jeovanni Laing.
The 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Best XI for the semifinal fixtures is:
Goalkeeper
Miguel Lloyd, Cibao FC – With four saves in two games, Lloyd helped decide a tightly contested series against Haiti’s Real Hope to help Cibao reach the final. He had a clean sheet in the second leg to seal a 4-2 win on aggregate.
Defenders
Jimmy Guillaume, Real Hope FA – Guillaume was active along the defensive line for Real Hope in the series against Cibao. He was one of the most effective passers of the semifinals with an 88% accuracy.
Richard King, Cavalier FC – King contributed to two clean sheet performances in their contest against Dominican Republic outfit, Moca FC. He had two steals and five shots in 190 minutes to help Cavalier reach the final.
Jeovanni Laing, Cavalier FC – Laing had three steals and one shot in 180 minutes to help Cavalier keep consecutive clean sheets and advance to the final.
Christopher Ainsworth, Cavalier FC – Ainsworth scored a goal to help Cavalier to victory in the second leg. He also had one steal for a defensive line that did not concede in the semifinals.
Midfielders
Rivaldo Correa, Cibao FC – Correa added two goals to his tally in the semifinals, along with one steal, to help Cibao reach the final with a 4-2 aggregate.
Jean López, Cibao FC – Lopez struck the opening goal of the series against Real Hope and contributed one assist and two steals.
Juan Díaz, Cibao FC – Díaz scored a goal and added three steals to help Cibao advance to the final, overcoming Real Hope.
Dwayne Atkinson, Cavalier FC – Atkinson continued his offensive rhythm in the current campaign with one goal, 10 attempts and two assists.
Forwards
Shaquille Stein, Cavalier FC – Stein struck a hat-trick to help Cavalier advance to the final while also taking the lead in the Golden Boot race.
Kaile Auvray, Cavalier FC – Auvray scored a brace, including the series-winning goal, to help Cavalier return to another Caribbean Cup final.
Reggae Girlz keeper Becky Spencer signs new Tottenham Hotspur deal aiming to make a lasting impact
Reggae Girlz goalkeeper Becky Spencer is set to remain with Tottenham Hotspur Women until 2026, after signing a new contract that will see her continue her contributions both on and off the pitch. Spencer, who joined Spurs from West Ham United in 2019, has been instrumental in the club's journey through the Women's Super League (WSL) and is looking forward to extending her legacy.
The 33-year-old Jamaican international, who has already featured in Tottenham’s first six games of the current WSL season, is thrilled to extend her stay. "I'm over the moon," Spencer shared with SPURSPLAY. "Having been here for a long time now, it was important for me to get this done. It’s amazing that the club wants to keep me here, and I'm really, really happy."
Spencer reflected on her time at Tottenham, recalling the club’s early days in the WSL. "When I first joined, we had just been promoted to the WSL, and the journey has been incredible. We’ve come a long way, and I’m excited to keep moving forward with the team," she said.
Over an 18-year career, Spencer has gained extensive experience in both England and the United States. Through highs and lows, including injuries and team transitions, she’s become a seasoned WSL veteran. Now approaching her 100th appearance for Tottenham, Spencer highlighted the special moments that have defined her time at the club, recalling her debut game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. "That first game against Chelsea was huge for us—just one-nil down and competing against top teams showed everyone we had arrived," she reminisced.
As she enters her sixth season with Tottenham, Spencer is committed to guiding younger players and helping the club grow. "Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to leave every club in a better place than I found it," she added. "I hope to be a mentor and make an impact off the pitch as well, so that when my time here ends, I can leave feeling proud of what we’ve achieved."
With Spencer’s leadership, Tottenham Hotspur Women look forward to building on last season's top-six finish and pushing even further in the competitive landscape of the WSL. For Spencer, the new deal is more than just an extension—it's a commitment to shaping the future of the club and ensuring its growth, both now and beyond her playing days.
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