Karl Tillett speaks with Jaheed Smith on Sports Monday
Good evening sports fans and welcome to Sports Monday for August 9th, 1999. I am Karl Tillett sitting in for James Adderley once again.
Football action was to headline this edition of the show but it was a case of “suppose they had a game” and only one team showed up – ergo no game. Luis Angel Firpo of Salvador did a non-appearing act and gave Belize’s National Champion Juventus a relatively meaningless 3 points and a default “W”. Not showing up does have more implications, however, as head referee Ruperto Vicente explains.
Ruperto Vicente, Head Referee
“It will mean several things. Among them would be that the team who did not show up loses the points they would have gotten if they won here in Belize. Since they did not show it means that Juventus will get the 3 points for the game. There will be other the implication which would mean negotiations with Juventus team in meeting the bills that should have been paid here in Belize.”
Raul Pelayo, Juventus’ owner had this explanation of what went down why the game did not go off and what it meant as far as CONCACAF rules go.
Raul Pelayo, Owner, Juventus
“Actually we received a call this morning about 7 whereby the manager of Angel Firpo Mr. Carlos Aquino mentioned that the team was at the international airport in El Salvador and they had missed their flight for the reason of excess weight that the plane had. That was the reason that he gave us. All teams have been advised by CONCACAF three months ago, when they received the schedules for these games, whereby they know that they should have been prepared just like Juventus, like Acros, like everybody else. And you cannot afford to miss a flight. Because football locally is one thing, you possibly could be pardoned. But in international matches where CONCACAF is concerned that is a totally different story.”
He explained further what the cancellation meant in financial terms for both teams.
Raul Pelayo
“There is compensation that has to be paid to the club Juventus. They must realize actually that we spent $15,000 to visit them in Salvador, plus hotel and many other expenses that we had, and they should be here because we expect to receive back out gate entry as well. They made money; it’s time for us to make money as well for the return.”
Payment, professionalism and pride people! Last week the news was bleak as we got trashed on the international level with the U-23 team losing in Panama and Acros falling to FAS at home. Think that was bad? Well Acros went to Guatemala and got bombed 5-zip. That is 15-nil in their last 3 international games. Ouch!
Still there is light in the Jewel and we did promise cheer this week. So we take a look at a special up and coming track and field athlete, namely Jaheed Smith of Belize City. He is the son of Darrel Smith and Ann Jones and is actually closely related to the internationally famous Marion Jones. Standing almost 6 feet tall and only 13 years old, this youngster has been making an impression both nationally and internationally. He has been running since the early 90s and is the current Central American Infant B record holder in his specialty, the 60 metre sprint. Internationally he has won 4 medals including 2 gold in the 60 metres and actually has a total of 16 medals, 14 of which are for 1st. place. He has also amassed some 25 ribbons, 21 1st place, during his primary school years.
We caught up with Jaheed at the National Stadium and had a few words with him. We also spoke with his coach Fred Evans who is himself an athlete and who has been involved in coaching track and field since 1965. Fred is a certified level 2 coach specializing in jumps. That certification is from the International Amateur Athletic Federation, track and field’s governing world body. Fred waxes eloquent about this young star.
Fred Evans, Coach
“His potential, I would say, is unlimited. By this I would say that he is good enough — talking just about natural ability — that he could be the number 1 sprinter in the world say 10 years from now.”
He feels that Jaheed has not yet been challenged and can do even better against tougher competition.
Fred Evans
“He has not really had any competition in his age group. From he was 10 years old he has been blowing away the competition. Every time he steps on the track he sets a new Central American record and he should have had a chance to compete against some of the people in the Caribbean who are better than some of the Central American guys in his events. The Central American people are pretty good at long distance but they aren’t as good as most of the Caribbean people in the sprints.
So he would have been challenged a little more in the Caribbean. Why he wasn’t selected and sent to this competition, I don’t know. He needs to be challenged. We don’t know how good he is because he has never really been challenged.”
So too does Jaheed! More, he is shooting for the Olympics.
Q: “The coach says that you have never really been challenged, do you agree with that?”
Jaheed Smith, Athlete
“Yes.”
Q: “You run left everybody?”
Jaheed Smith
“Yes”
Q: “Your best time he says, is 9.2 seconds in the 60 metres. You think if you got pushed you could do better than that? What are your plans for the future?
Jaheed Smith
“I’m striving to go to the Olympics to represent the country.”
Fred Evans
“In order for Jaheed Smith to attain his potential he needs financial support. We need a proper weight training facility for athletes. We have a number of weight training facilities but these are primarily for body builders. He needs proper monitoring of his weights workouts. I don’t think he has really done any weight training up to now. Up to now all that’s been happening is his natural process of development.
As you get older the competition steps up as compared to outside. From like 13 or 14 onwards he needs to start to concentrate more on specialized training.”
Because of the lack of proper infrastructure he suggests that Jaheed might have to leave Belize to perfect himself. However, as he puts it, improving the track and field facilities in Belize would be an investment in the future of Belize.
We understand that a track and field contingent leaves for Salvador in September and Jaheed will be among them. We look forward to positive results.
In the meantime keep your goals in front of you. Love, light; I’m Karl Tillett. Goodnight.
