Stabroek News

Clarke adapting to challenges of Covid-19

- By Emmerson Campbell (Emmerson Campbell)

Bodybuildi­ng champion, Kerwin Clarke is one to adapt to challenges in and out the gym.

The two-time Central American and Caribbean gold medalist and fivetime Mr. Guyana winner

told this publicatio­n that he is adapting to the reality of the pandemic Covid-19.

Clarke, 32, says that the challenges of the pandemic are best alleviated when there is an adaptation. Being unable to utilize the machines at the closed Space Gym, his home away from home, has been one of biggest obstacles.

However, he is now putting more focus on his nutrition to maintain his award winning physique.

The current situation is the current situation,” said Clarke yesterday “and there is nothing we can do about it besides adapting to life’s changes.”

The father of one has been practicing social and physical distancing, wearing masks and washing his hands regularly.

“These things are like second nature now,” Clarke stated.

“Muscles have memory and whenever the gyms re-open again, we will return to our normal training regimen but we all know nutrition play an integral role in the growth and developmen­t of the physique. So I’ve adapted to the situation by taking a more meticulous approach to nutrition in order to maintain,” he declared.

Clarke, who still has been pumping iron at a private facility, encouraged all readers of this article to “exercise and improvise” and do whatever means of cardiovasc­ular activity that can be done in a safe space preferably at home.

“Exercise is important in keeping the immune system high”.

The decorated muscleman is optimistic that Guyanese can come out as stronger champions following the pandemic.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica Tallawahs will be in search of a match-winning wrist spinner in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League draft.

West Indies white-ball specialist, Rovman Powell, who is expected to lead the franchise in the August 19 to September 26 tournament, said while the squad already possessed good pace in its attack, there was a need for a quality slow bowler.

“I think it’s a pretty decent bunch we have retained. Obviously, Chris [Gayle] will be missed, but we have batters in myself, (Andre) Russell, and Chadwick (Walton),” Powell said here recently.

“We have pace with Oshane (Thomas) and Russell, but what I think is needed is a good-quality wrist-spinner because every good team has one.

“I believe we will have to do the bulk of the shopping in the draft.”

The charismati­c allrounder was speaking against the backdrop of Tallawahs’ announceme­nt they had retained just four players for the upcoming season in Russell, Walton, Thomas and himself.

Last year, Tallawahs boasted several slow bowlers including homegrown left-arm spinner Chris Lamont, Trinidadia­n leg-spinner Imran Khan and Guyanese off-spinner Steven Jacobs but all three proved ineffectiv­e, with just 10 wickets among them.

Afghan left-armer Zahir Khan was their best spinner with eight wickets while Jamaican leg-spinner Ramaal Lewis chipped in with five wickets.

Overall, the Tallawahs season was a disaster. They lost eight of their 10 matches to finish bottom of the table and miss out on the playoffs for the first time in the league’s sevenyear history.

Powell said he expected the rebuilding of the franchise to coincide with improved performanc­es.

“Once that is done and the Tallawahs start winning, we will get back on the fans’ good side,”

Powell noted.

While organisers have forged ahead with their planning, the season still remains up in the air amidst the public health threat posted by deadly COVID-19 pandemic, and no date has been set for the draft.

There has been a cessation of cricket across the globe with the lucrative Indian Premier League, scheduled to start last March, postponed indefinite­ly by the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI).

CPL organisers have already floated novel ideas like employing social distancing in stadiums and strict quarantine measures in hotels, if the tournament was go ahead this year.

 ??  ?? Kerwin Clarke
Kerwin Clarke
 ??  ?? Afghan left-arm spinner Zahir Khan
Afghan left-arm spinner Zahir Khan

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