POWER House emerged champions of the Guyana Squash Association’s Smalta Easter Junior Squash Team tournament which concluded on Saturday night at the Georgetown Club courts.

In the finals against Assassins, both teams were tied with three wins and one loss at the end of the contest, but it was Power House who managed to hold on for the championship by virtue of having won 12 matches in the tournament, compared to Assassins’ 10.

Gansters managed to take third place with two wins and one tie, while Mitochondria and Kungfu Pandas ended up in fourth and fifth respectively.

Earlier in the day, Assassins upstaged Mitochondria through outstanding play from future star Alexander Cheeks, who came from one game down to topple Matthew Phang for the first time.

There were also two special prizes which were won by Remy Rodrigues (Sportsmanship) and Lydia Alphonso (MVP). These awards were voted on by the five team captains.

This was the juniors’ last warm-up tournament before the much anticipated national championships, scheduled for next month, after which the national squad will be trimmed in order to intensify training for the Caribbean championships billed for July.

In results from Saturday’s matches; (Assassins defeated Mitochondria 3-2); first string – Nicholas Narain lost to Keisha Jeffrey 11-5, 0-11, 8-11, 3-11; second string – Ryan DaSilva lost to Steven Xavier 9-11, 9-11, 6-11; third string – Jason Van Dyk defeated Akeila Wiltshire 11-4, 11-4, 11-5; fourth string – Alexander Cheeks defeated Matthew Phang 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 and fifth string – Alexandra Phang received a walkover from Immanuel Barker.

(Gangsters defeated Fungfu Pandas 3-2); first string – Mary Fung-A-Fat lost to Kayla Jeffrey 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 8-11; second string – Victoria Arjoon defeated Lee Fung-A-Fat 11-2, 11-5, 11-7; third string – Ricky Rodrigues defeated Nicholas Peters 11-6, 11-7, 11-3, fourth string – Kristina Cheeks defeated Taylor Fernandes 11-9, 11-2, 12-10 and fifth string – Adesina Trim gave a walkover to Lydia Alphonso.

Warner backs Latapy to transform T&T’s fortunes
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidadian football czar Jack Warner has defended the appointment of new national head coach Russell Latapy and has backed the former midfield star to resuscitate the country’s quickly fading FIFA World Cup hopes.

Latapy last week replaced Francisco Maturana after the Colombian quit the post following T&T’s poor run of form in the CONCACAF final round qualifying tournament.

Warner, a special adviser to the local federation and the driving force behind the country’s qualifying campaign, said he believed Latapy would succeed in the position and needed the country’s support.

“This country has 1.3 million people and unfortunately we also have 1.3 million coaches and everybody knows what is best for the team. But we have to make decisions in the team’s best interest and at this time we are totally committed to supporting Russell Latapy as head coach …,” said Warner.

“We have to give him our support and we believe he can do it. Those people who believe … even those who played with him and who are critical now of his appointment and think he doesn’t have enough experience … I want to say to them that you have to begin somewhere and where else can we begin than at home.”

Trinidad & Tobago are at the bottom of the final round standings on two points and without a win in their three outings to date.

Warner, however, said he believed T&T would beat Costa Rica in their next game on June 6 and this would serve as a catalyst to go on and qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“Therefore everything we can do to give Russell a chance to succeed we shall do. I want to say … that the game against Costa Rica on June 6 we shall win and that will turn our chances around,” Warner contended.

“We shall take that success and turn it around as far as our qualification for South Africa is concerned. It will not be easy I know this but we have to take match by match and use each one as if it is our last match.

“I feel very optimistic that we shall qualify. Times are tough especially financially but we will be putting our best foot forward. We are readily behind coach Latapy to ensure he has everything he needs to be successful in that game,” the FIFA vice-president added.

Latapy, widely considered the finest player T&T has ever produced, served as assistant coach at Scottish Premiership club Falkirk for two years before leaving in January.

In his new post, he will have as his assistant, former St Vincent and the Grenadines head coach, Serbian Zoran Vrane.