The lows and highs of 2019
WITH THE end of the year a mere few days away, it is time for reflection on the high and low points in sports.
Although there will be contending points of view at both levels, Foster’s Fairplay will participate in the exercise from which the final choice will be made. It is recognised that there are those readers who would prefer a quick ‘cut to the chase’ approach by naming only one which is fitted into the position, top or bottom.
However, in one case, there will be contenders and they will be recognised.
Starting with the bottom of the ladder of 2019 sporting moments is the entire saga of women’s football. It alone provided both satisfying and distasteful stories that one is tempted to stick to that sport to arrive at both conclusions.
Taking the bright side first, the qualification of the Reggae Girlz for the biggest show they will ever experience, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, took place in 2018. However, the sweet flavour of that historic event lingered and got even more palatable when the shining spark that was Kadijah‘Bunny’Shaw and her band played music sweet to the ears of all Jamaica, simply by being there when the even more melodious sounds of a presence at the big dance were heard in France. It was a joy to behold and as it was with their male counterparts, coincidentally in the same country, 21 years prior; it will be of everlasting memory.
Then, threatening to erase all that glory and prestige came a publicly showcased row between first the Girlz and then the coaches, both groups in pitched battle with the Jamaica Football Federation over payments contracted and not made. It was, to say the least, most disappointing and at the same time, an ugly and unbecoming display of the type of behaviour that should have been played out in the confines of the boardroom.
Why was it necessary to contaminate the aura of achievement surrounding the Girlz by both sides involving themselves in this unnecessary public‘cass-cass’? It transformed what should have been a moment of glory to one of shame, and all sides should share the blame. While viewing it all together, Foster’s Fairplay sees this entire saga – the transformation of what should be one of the finest episodes to one that brought disgrace as the lowest moment in the nation’s sporting calendar for 2019.
To speak to a point made earlier, Foster’s Fairplay has three contenders to vie for the highest rating in the sports in which the country or region has been engaged in 2019. The first look is at cricket.
Despite being overpowered in two very recent limited-over cricket series by the world’s number one, India, the losses at 1-2, present an encouraging moment in the quest of the West Indies to regain a more acceptable ranking in the sport.
The team was beaten but not disgraced, and the message sent is enough to suggest that a better day lies ahead, and that provides a measure of hope and satisfaction that it can happen. A lot depends on the will of the front-line players, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmeyer and Nicholas Pooran, along with skipper Kieron Pollard and a fit Andre Russell to outperform their opponents even though the bowling is a bit suspect.
Coach Phil Simmons will need to have his thought processes churning at full speed to bring in the right expertise that should be tasked with getting the bowling department in a position where it can make early inroads in the batting of their opponents and thus minimise those solid match-winning opening partnerships. Only this type of action will bring about the desired effect in the team’s performance.
In the football department, coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore has brought the Reggae Boyz to the final round of six, which will allow competition for 3-1/2 spots to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. This must, in the view of this columnist, provide candidacy for the top performance for 2019.
All things considered, Foster’s Fairplay’s vote for the best performance in sports for 2019 goes to the women’s 4x100m relay team which won the gold medal at the XVII IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Doha.