Entertaining start to men’s netball competition
With three divisions and 19 participating teams, the competition set off its Round 1 well with loads of fun and entertainment.The three divisions in the competition include the premier mixed league, social “A” mixed league and social “B” league.The premier league division has six participating teams: BSP1, PNGFP, Mari Pasifika, Veupunama 1, Mona and Kamuna.The social “A” mixed league has seven participating teams: Matrix, BSP 2, NSL, Lasi, Veupunama 2 , APGV Rogonuma and RR Mixed and in the social “B” league, Graffiti, PNG Hardware, Lasi , LA Netters, PNG Construction and CPL/HHL.The competition official has praised the teams for the round one game, saying it was a great start to the competition.The PNG mixed and men’s netball lead coordinator Adam Parker thanked all players and spectators for turning up last Wednesday for the Round 1 games and apologised for a couple of hiccups. But he urged all participants to adjust to the changes in the coming rounds.Round 2 of the competition will start tomorrow evening at the Rita Flynn Courts at 6.30pm.DRAWPREMIER MIXED FIXTURES 6.30PM CRT 2 MONA vs BSP17.15PM CRT 2 KAMUNA vs VEUPUNAMA8.00PM CRT 2 PNGFP vs MARI PASIFIKASOCIAL A MIXED 6.30PM CRT 1 KP EAGLES vs RIPA RALA 17.15PM CRT 1 APGV vs MATRIX8.00PM CRT 1 BSP 2 vs LASIBYE: NSLSOCIAL B MIXED 6.30PM CRT 3 PNG CONSTRUCTION vs PNG HARDWARE7.15PM CRT 3 HHL/CPL vs VEUPUNAMA 28.00PM CRT 3 GRAFFITI vs LASI8.45PM CRT 1 AURA NETTERS vs SOS
Rocked by the recent FIFA corruption scandal, regional football authority, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), will continue its push towards turning a new page with upcoming elections for a new president.Long-time Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden is looking to be the man to lead the confederation into a new age of transparency, credibility and growth and has been taking this message across the region as he drums up support ahead of the May 12 presidential election.CONCACAF has long held significance in FIFA’s corridors of power, but as a wide-ranging investigation revealed, many within the organisation played major roles in under-the-table operations.The organisation’s last three presidents, Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit, have all been indicted by the US Department of Justice. Webb has since pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and racketeering charges.Mussenden, who distanced himself from the culture that clearly existed in the previous dispensation of regional football leadership, believes his experience in football administration, coupled with his base as a former Bermudian attorney general, would serve the region well.”I have been the president of the Bermuda Football Association for a number of years, so I have been around a number of years, and I have been encouraged by presidents of other countries, who have asked me to consider running,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.GREAT CONSIDERATION”I have given it great consideration, and I have seen how the previous presidents and general secretaries operate and I thought that with the right effort, the right support and with my background in legal affairs and football, that I could be an effective leader,” added Mussenden.”We took some serious damage, but from the bottom, there is only one way to go and that is up. CONCACAF has started the process with the reform package that we have been through over the past few months. We have been working on changes to our statutes to bring in greater checks and balances,” he said. “That is the first and early step in us working hard to demonstrate that CONCACAF can be one of the greatest confederations in FIFA, but also that we could be a credible organisation in the eyes of the people in our 41 countries.”Mussenden, an attorney-at- law, promises, if elected, to transform the organisation into an effectively run body with strong marketing, communications and tech-driven execution, while crucially committing to put into good use some US$10 million, which is being withheld as part of the ongoing corruption investigations.”Funds that have been seized and due to be returned … I understand that a significant amount of that will be due to CONCACAF as the victim and the money that comes back to CONCACAF, whatever it is, I think it should be used for development,” he said, before outlining his planned breakdown.”Thirty per cent should be used to develop various programmes, 20 per cent should be divided on a needs basis between the three unions, and the other 50 per cent should be divided equally among the 41 countries of CONCACAF because it should have been delivered to those countries in any event, and I will pledge to put this forward if elected,” noted Mussenden.COACHING EDUCATIONMussenden is also hoping to improve coaching education across the region and outlined plans to introduce a multi-tiered licensing system similar to that which exists at UEFA.He is also promising to work to ensure that the region continues to produce top-class referees and assistant referees, even as he underlined the need to pay close and immediate attention to bringing the confederation in line with best practices.The candidate says he has received encouraging reception from the various associations and believes he will get their support when voting begins.”I have had great encouragement from countries across the board and I feel very confident about the support … I have a good plan, I think I can get the respect of our member associations, I can get the respect of the people that we have to do business with and the region on a whole,” Mussenden noted.The CONCACAF presidential election will take place in Mexico City on May 12.
BERLIN (AP):Franco Di Santo claimed a 17-minute hat-trick yesterday as Schalke beat Asteras Tripoli 4-0 in the Europa League, while Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Tottenham, Ajax and Celtic were held to draws.Di Santo completed his feat with a penalty before half-time and Klaas Jan Huntelaar rounded off the scoring in the 84th with his 49th goal in UEFA competitions for Schalke to take charge of Group K with seven goals scored and none conceded in two games.Sparta Prague defeated APOEL 2-0 to stay two points behind the Gelsenkirchen-based side.Dortmund drew 1-1 at PAOK despite dominating possession. Robert Mak put the Greek side ahead in the 34th, before Gonzalo Castro equalised in the 72nd when Jonas Hoffman’s dummy deceived goalkeeper Robin Olsen. It was Dortmund’s third consecutive draw after starting the season with 11 straight wins across all competitions.Despite Adam Lallana’s fourth-minute opener, Liverpool could only draw 1-1 with visiting FC Sion thanks to Ebenezer Assifuah’s equaliser in the 11th. Rubin Kazan drew 0-0 with Bordeaux in the other group game.Late goalStephan El Shaarawy scored late for Monaco to snatch a 1-1 draw against Tottenham. Azerbaijani side Qarabag defeated Anderlecht 1-0 in the other Group J match.Ajax were held to a 1-1 draw at Molde in Norway. Molde’s 40-year-old captain Daniel Hestad became the Europa League’s oldest goalscorer when he converted from close range in the eighth minute, only for Viktor Fischer to equalise 11 minutes later.Molde leads Group A two points ahead of Celtic, which was held to a 2-2 draw at home by Fenerbahce after substitute Fernandao struck twice for the visitors.Leo Baptistao’s brilliant 54th-minute goal was enough for Spanish league leaders Villarreal to defeat Viktoria Plzen 1-0 at home for their first win. Rapid Vienna lead Group E after their 1-0 win at Dinamo Minsk.
LATEST STORIES 787 earthquakes recorded in 24 hours due to restive Taal Volcano IT happens: Facebook sorry for Xi Jinping’s name mistranslation End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend Duterte’s ‘soft heart’ could save ABS-CBN, says election lawyer And Robinson hopes that the next games, starting next Friday against San Sebastian, will enhance the Pirates’ camaraderie as they seek to break the glass ceiling and make it to the Final Four for the first time since it joined the league in 2011.“Hopefully it could really propel our drive, but again, it’s really looking at the vision of really showing that we have a good culture, we have good leaders on the team, we have good that individuals, that are again inspiring others. That’s really important to us,” he said. Red Lions learn the hard way against the Pirates Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netWith Lyceum on a 2-0 start in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament, coach Topex Robinson is giving full credit to the entire squad and not just a single individual.“Success is a team sport. It’s really about us, the entirety of the team,” he said.ADVERTISEMENT Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ Malacañang open to creating Taal Commission Robinson praised the versatile winger for his tireless efforts late.“(Reymar) has really been helping us. He’s deceiving because he looks like a big man but he really is a guard. He’s just confident and our trust on him is there. And today, he just bailed us out with his solid performance.“Caduyac strung the last five points for the Pirates, which proved to be the final blow to the powerhouse Red Lions.With the victory fortifying everyone’s claim from the preseason that Lyceum is indeed this year’s dark horse, Robinson was quick to pull his side back to earth and reiterated that it hasn’t proven anything yet.“Nobody wins a championship in the second game. We know that teams will be playing us harder. We just have to always be ready, prepared, and always be humble and hungry,” he said.ADVERTISEMENT CJ Perez has undoubtedly been the leader for the Pirates, but the youthful mentor has been adamant in pointing out that the hardworking forward can’t do it all alone.“That’s what I always tell him. CJ is gonna win games for us, and he’s gonna lose games for us. That’s the way of the world for us. But CJ knows that he will never be better than his teammates. He can never win it by himself,” said Robinson.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’And that manifested on Friday in Lyceum’s huge 96-91 win over defending champion San Beda.As expected, Perez was able to weave his magic and tow his team to the driver’s seat, but he needed the aid of his teammates, specifically Reymar Caduyac, to pull off the victory in the end game. MOST READ LIVE: Sinulog 2020 Grand Parade Missile-capable frigate BRP Jose Rizal inches closer to entering PH Navy’s fleet Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson View comments
PSC chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netWar-torn Mindanao gets a chance to become a hotbed for grassroots sporting excellence as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) envisions several projects there.PSC chair Butch Ramirez said they would revive the mothballed Mindanao Friendship Games, which would harness the island’s athletic talents and allow it to recover from the war that hit Marawi City.ADVERTISEMENT Kiss-and-tell matinee idol’s conquests: True stories or tall tales? View comments SBP bats for longer preparation in Gilas PH bid for world cup berth “We will try to erase the stigma of war and replace it with peace through sports,” said Ramirez. “Sports has been neglected in Mindanao by the previous administrations, now the people of Mindanao will experience it under the term of President Duterte.PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey will serve as point man for the agency’s new thrust in the region.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’SPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkRamirez said the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education committed to support the PSC’s grassroots sport programs. Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Jo Koy: My brain always wants to think funny Coco’s house rules on ‘Probinsyano’ set Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’
LATEST STORIES MOST READ OSG plea to revoke ABS-CBN franchise ‘a duplicitous move’ – Lacson Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Margot Robbie talks about filming ‘Bombshell’s’ disturbing sexual harassment scene It’s too early to present Duterte’s ‘legacy’ – Lacson Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
A little over 5,000 residents and business entities in one of Monrovia’s hard to reach communities of Paynesville have sounded an urgent appeal to be connected to the Liberia Electricity Corporation’s (LEC) power supply lines.In a week-long survey of permanent residents and business owners at the Moses Blah and Soul Clinic Communities in the Paynesville commercial district, potential power customers expressed their need for speedy connections of their homes and businesses.“We urgently want the LEC’s power supply connections owing to the growing wave of armed robberies and other related offenses in the two separate communities in Paynesville,” businessman Augustus Browne pleaded.“I and other business owners continue to lose hundreds of dollars and other valuable properties at the hands of suspected criminal gangsters marauding our communities over the five and half years in Paynesville,” Mr. Browne asserted.As an operator of a well stocked provision shop, Mr. Browne pointed out that the need for sustained power supply is critical at Soul Clinic Community in Paynesville.Browne recalled that since the LEC’s line crew installed light poles at the Parker Paint/ Wood Camp Junction, their communities have remained in perpetual darkness, and at the mercy of suspected criminal gangsters in Paynesville.A female businesswoman who owns a large building with two provision shops attached told the Daily Observer that she consistently appealed for LEC’s power connection in the Moses Blah Community but to no avail.Businesswoman Bertha Jones Washington said her two provision shops have on many occasions become targets of suspected criminal gangsters. Mrs. Washington disclosed that she has spent too much money over the last three years hiring the services of private security in order to protect the shops, occupants and stand-by generator.“I wish to appeal to the kind conscience of the managers and directors at LEC to consider the expansion of power supply on the main streets of the Coco-Cola Factory, Soul Clinic and Moses Blah communities,” Mrs. Washington pleaded.In a related development, the owners of several video and food entertainment centers have sounded an urgent call on the LEC’s management to consider, as an emergency matter, the provision of power supply in those populated communities.A leading video proprietor, Blamah Korhene, told the Daily Observer that LEC’s power supply in those areas would greatly enhance the profit margins of their businesses on the major streets of the Moses Blah Road in Paynesville.Businessman Korhene noted that the provision adequate and sustained power supply in crime-prone communities would deter suspected criminal gangsters from storming businesses and private homes. “I would be very grateful if the LEC’s line crew managers and directors could consider our community, which is infested with suspected criminal gangsters, as a top priority in this year’s plan of action,” Mr. Korhene stressed. Sometime ago top LEC’s managers and directors told the Daily Observer that plans and other vital documents had been crafted for implementation during this year’s Dry Season in Monrovia.Photo: Head-quarters of LEC situated Down Town commercial district of Waterside in MonroviaShare this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Dear Editor,I recalled Mr Moses Nagamootoo, who when in the Opposition during the period of the Donald Ramotar Administration, accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of politicising the State media. During his then sustained condemnation, he spared no effort in accusing the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the other arms of the State media of publishing Government propaganda.He used that as justification in calling for the cutting of budgetary allocations to GINA and the National Communications Network (NCN). The allocations for both entities were subsequently reduced to a dollar for consecutive years. The images of his famous gesticulation using his fingers to demonstrate the action of cutting with a pair of scissors still linger.Following the 2015 elections, Nagamootoo became Prime Minister and Beverley Alert, an executive of his party, the Alliance For Change (AFC), and an election candidate, was appointed to head GINA. Sometime after, she was replaced by what appears to be a more senior AFC official and election candidate, Imran Khan. Currently, another AFC executive is the General Manager of the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (GNNL), which publishes the Guyana Chronicle.Since 2015, Khan has not only been publicly promoting the AFC and its events through forms of communication that are now accepted as official, but has also spared no effort to pen disparaging articles against the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP which are published in the Guyana Chronicle and profusely shared elsewhere.By doing so, given that he heads GINA, now the Department of Public Information (DPI), he has officially made that State entity a political tool which spews hatred through Government propaganda. This is the same Mr Khan, when he was called out for disparaging the Indian High Commissioner some time ago, tried desperately to claim that the medium he used for such vile utterances, was not official but personal. His failed defence was just another form of his usual propaganda.Editor, the DPI’s budget and staff complement has increased steeply since the 2015 elections. While its role of accurately informing Guyanese on Government’s programmes and policies is not in question, Mr Khan using his official position for political rants which are carried in the State media is not in keeping with the mandate of the DPI and, by extension, the Guyana Chronicle.Given this has now become a fixture, it is clear that Mr Khan, who is paid by the State from taxpayers’ money, is using Government resources to foster the work of the AFC, a political party. Only recently, a letter, purportedly from some staff of the DPI, alleged gross misuse of funds by Mr Khan. A nexus can, therefore, be easily made.The stark reality is that two major entities of the State media are headed by politicians representing the Government, with one obsessed with constantly bashing the Opposition and its Leader. How is it that the Prime Minister doesn’t see this as a politicisation of the State media? It cannot be that he is unaware; therefore, it reeks of hypocrisy to the point of being unprecedented. What happened to his fingers regarding his gesticulation to cut?This is a clear case which warrants an intervention from President David Granger. After all, he heads the Government at whose feet the hypocrisy can be squarely placed.Sincerely,Anjanie Seebaran
Bomi County Superintendent, Samuel F. Brown says the spread of Ebola in the county would have been minimized if citizens had adhered to the advice of health authorities.During an interview with the Daily Observer recently, Superintendent Brown regretted that people in the county hold on to their traditions so strongly that they did not agree at the outset to suspend some of their traditional activities and practices as advised by health and county authorities.The uncontrollable spread of the virus in the county, said the superintendent, was the result of the refusal of some people to avoid contact with Ebola patients and washing of dead bodies. The denial of the existence of the Ebola virus also contributed to more people contracting it.The Bomi Superintendent expressed delight that the treatment and care centers in the county had been constructed to help contain the Ebola virus. He told this newspaper that citizens of the county are also now responding to advice from health and local authorities and are slowly suspending their traditional activities.He said the erection of an ETU in the county coupled with the training of health workers would greatly help to reduce and prevent new cases arising in the county. Because of the lack of treatment and care centers, people were compelled to be in close contact with their sick relatives thus contracting the disease themselves.It may be recalled that last August following the declaration of the state of emergency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ordered Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties quarantined because of the raging Ebola spread reported there.The traditional practices referred to by Superintendent Brown are rooted in the people’s religious beliefs namely, Islam, Christianity and African Traditional Religion.Islam is the dominant religion in the county and believers subscribe to washing of dead bodies and washing their faces with water which is afterwards used to wash a senior cleric.Those subscribing to the African Traditional Religion are said to deny that Ebola exists and they apply herbs to sick persons thereby contracting and transmitting the virus.Most Christians, on the other hand, hold on to the belief that the power of the Holy Spirit can cure any disease, and they believe in the laying of hands on the sick, including Ebola patients, to pray for them and extinguish the “evil spirits.”All these practices, rooted in the beliefs of the people, Mr. Brown said, are responsible for the rampant spread of the virus. But he indicated that people are becoming more responsive to the messages and advice from health authorities.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The Rental Housing Index (RHI) shows that in Fort St. John average rent plus utilities is $1,016 a month.It also puts the number of renters in the city at 2,930, and says that 36 percent of them pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, and in addition, 15 per cent of them are required to use more than 50 per cent of their income for rent.The new numbers were compiled in partnership with Vancity Credit Union, and its’ senior Vice-president Linda Morris says the index also shows “that almost one of every two renters in the province doesn’t have access to adequate and reasonably priced housing.”- Advertisement -“These findings point to the need to develop affordable housing alternatives through a variety of tools, ranging from policy changes to developing new partnerships which include land and capital investments,” Morris saidThe overall finding from the RHI underscores this as not just being a big city issue, and there’s greater need for more funding of affordable rental housing developments throughout the province.This is the first time substantial data regarding the state of rental housing in B.C. has been compiled for public use, and to access the R-H-I you can go online to www.rentalhousingindex.ca.Advertisement
As October comes to an end, the City of Fort St. John has proclaimed October 30th to November 11th the official ‘Poppy Campaign.’The Fort St. John Legion – Branch #102 received their proclamation from City Council on Monday afternoon.Brenda Haidn with the Legion gave City Council their own poppies to honour the upcoming Remembrance Day.- Advertisement -“Canadians have donated money to support the services we provide, to clearly show their recognition of the debt owed to so many Canadians who gave their lives for our freedom,” said Mike King, a long-time member of the Legion.The donations provide direct financial support Canada’s serving and retired veterans and their families, and all the funds are kept locally.In addition to supporting veterans in need, a portion of the poppy fund can also go to other initiatives, such as housing, medical appliances, drop-in centres, meals on wheels, transportation and related services where needed.Advertisement The public is also are invited personally to come to the Legion on November 11st at 10 AM to recognize Remembrance Day with veterans and their families.