16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Friday, June 22, 2018 SPORTS BOC chief Romell Knowles’ call for ‘protocol’ observance, timely Based on a published commu- although under the reported cir- nication, the Bahamas Associ- cumstances, the BAAA would ation of Athletic Associations be out of order, the onus to act (BAAA) engaged in an under- responsibly is more on the Cen- taking, in conjunction with the tral Bank. Central Bank of The Bahamas ports Indeed, it appears the protocol to have special coins minted to S failure is blatant. honor 2016 Rio Olympics 400 Also, it just makes good sense, meters gold medalist Shaunae for all who rightfully deserve to Miller and the Bahamian men’s be a part of the mix, to be given 1600 meters relay bronze med- every opportunity to participate alists. cope in the celebration of Olympic Apparently the Bahamas S excellence. Olympic Committee (BOC) was By Fred Sturrup It would certainly be more not brought into the picture. Nat- meaningful to our stalwart ath- urally, BOC President Romell gations representing the country and dignitaries. letes, if, in attendance to hon- Knowles took umbrage over the at the Olympics, the greatest Quite frankly, I hold the view or them are representatives of slight, inadvertent or intentional sports stage in the universe. that both the Central Bank of the Olympic Movement in the and he lashed out. Knowles is Therefore in fact, it would be the Bahamas and the BAAA country, as well. It is good that within his right to defend the ju- a serious breach of protocol for owe the BOC an explanation, if, Knowles publicly addressed the risdiction of the Olympic Move- any products to be produced coins as aforementioned, have situation. ment in the country. and put into the market without already been minted. An official letter of protest is Firstly, Team Bahamas at the being endorsed by the BOC. It If this is really the case, then in order, to both the BAAA and Olympics, falls under the pur- is the BOC that covers the full it’s an indictment against those the Central Bank of the Baha- view, only, of the Bahamas costs for the representation of at Central Bank, an honored in- mas. Olympic Committee. Accord- everyone selected to be a part stitution in this country, for un- ingly, any accomplishment at- of Team Bahamas for the Olym- dertaking such a project without •To respond to this column, tained, is under the auspices of pics. verifying which entity has the kindly contact Fred Sturrup at the BOC. In fact, the BOC has Only the BOC is authorized to legal authority to endorse Olym- [email protected] or on ROMEL KNOWLES full ownership of national dele- accredit competitors, officials pic matters. As a matter of fact, WhatsApp at 727-6363). BOC President Mbappe sends France into 2nd round with 1-0 win over Peru YEKATERINBURG, Russia and Dembele consistently got (AP) — Fast, exciting and now past Peru’s defense to set up the youngest scorer in France’s scoring chances. World Cup history. Peru was out-shot 12-10, with Kylian Mbappe is the one. only two of those chances on At 19 years and 183 days, target. Two others were blocked. Mbappe became the youngest player to score for France’s na- GROUP DYNAMICS tional team on soccer’s biggest Both teams play their final stage. And his reward was lead- group stage matches on Tues- ing his squad into the round of day. Peru will face Australia 16 with a 1-0 victory over Peru in Sochi while France takes on on Thursday. Denmark in Moscow. “I’ve always said that the World Cup is a dream for any KEY TO SUCCESS player,” said Mbappe, who was Deschamps got a boost from born a few months after France Giroud and Matuidi in the won the 1998 title. “It is a dream match against Australia and come true and I hope I will have wisely made the move to start more like this.” them against Peru. The chem- With two wins from two istry they found as substitutes matches in Group C, France is carried over and it sharpened through to the next round with a France’s attack. match to spare. Peru was elim- Peru again showed why it is inated. one of the most fun teams to Paul Pogba, one of France’s watch at this year’s World Cup, best players, set up the 34th-min- using creativity to open spaces ute goal for Mbappe. Pogba beat for scoring opportunities. But his defender and passed to Ol- that constant motion ate up a lot ivier Giroud, who then chipped of energy and hurt their control the ball toward goal for Mbappe as the match progressed. to easily tap in past goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. BACK IN ROUND 2 France’s coach Didier Des- France has reached the knock- champs made a pair of tactical out stages at back-to-back adjustments after an under- World Cups for the first time whelming performance in the since 1982 and 1986. Les Bleus team’s opening win over Aus- France’s Kylian Mbappe is challenged by Peru’s Jefferson Farfan, top, during the group C match between France and Peru at the finished fourth and third at those tralia. He put Giroud and Blaise 2018 soccer World Cup in the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Thursday, June 21, 2018. tournaments, respectively. Matuidi in the starting lineup (AP PHOTO/NATACHA PISARENKO) but kept the same 4-3-2-1 for- yellow card in the 23rd minute. to FIFA supporting the lifting of have nothing to hold against my finish, we couldn’t score.” 100TH APPEARANCE mation with Giroud up front. Guerrero nearly missed the the ban. players,” Peru coach Ricardo The three-prong attack of Thursday marked the 100th Both used their speed and World Cup before his dop- Guerrero had one of Peru’s Gareca said. “France is a hard Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann international appearance for passing to expose gaps in Peru’s ing ban was lifted by a Swiss best chances in the 87th minute team to harness. ... France cor- and Ousmane Dembele did little Lloris. The 31-year-old keeper backline. judge prior to the tournament. from a free kick, but his attempt rected its style over the course in the opening win over Austra- first played for France’s nation- Paolo Guerrero started for France’s goalkeeper Hugo Llo- went right at Lloris. of the game, this proves that lia, but the French trio was ac- al team in 2008 and has been a Peru after coming off the bench ris was one of three opposing “We gave it our best in two France is a great side.” tive Thursday in Yekaterinburg. fixture ever since. in the opening loss to Denmark. captains, along with Australia’s matches. We came into this Gareca said in both games Griezmann had a pair of op- He also now has made 76 ap- He came out with energy, but he Mile Jedinak and Denmark’s Si- match with a completely dif- his team’s ball control created portunities stopped within the pearances wearing the captain’s cooled down after receiving a mon Kjaer, who signed a letter ferent set of expectations, but I opportunities, “but we couldn’t first 15 minutes, and Mbappe armband. Eriksen scores his 1st goal in Russia, but Denmark draws SAMARA, Russia (AP) — It tain Mile Jedinak after a hand- Denmark has emerged from its wouldn’t think that he was as was the breakthrough everyone ball called on Yussuf Poulsen group three times, reaching the world class as he is.” expected of Christian Eriksen. that was confirmed by video quarterfinals in 1998. The team Eriksen, now 26, was the It just wasn’t the result. replay. missed the 2014 tournament in youngest player at the World Denmark’s attacking mid- “We expected it to be a very Brazil. Cup in South Africa. He now fielder scored his first goal of tough game and it was. Of But Denmark is on a roll has 79 appearances for the na- the World Cup in the opening course, we got the start we now, undefeated in 17 straight tional team with 23 goals. minutes against Australia on wanted, to be up 1-0 in the first matches. But his effort wasn’t enough Thursday, but ultimately the 10 minutes, but then the game During World Cup qualifying, against Australia. Danes settled for a 1-1 draw. changed,” Eriksen said. “But Eriksen scored 11 goals for the Denmark coach Age Hareide It was the Tottenham stand- they are a good side, they are Danes, third-best in Europe be- said at times his team appeared out’s 17th goal for Denmark in at the World Cup for a reason.” hind Poland striker Robert Le- tired. his last 20 international match- Eriksen had an assist in the wandowski with 16 and Portu- “We lost too many balls, Aus- es. opener, a 1-0 victory over Peru. gal forward Cristiano Ronaldo tralia got too many counterat- And it was dramatic, a precise Denmark has four points in with 15. tacks. We had to run too much,” left-footed strike from the cen- Group C, with the team’s final “Christian is a world class Hareide said. “You know what? ter of the box that sailed past match against France on Tues- player. We are very lucky he The World Cup is tough.” the outstretched arms of Aus- day in Moscow. Denmark’s players celebrate after Christian Eriksen scored the is Danish. We’re all quite hap- Still, the coach was sure Den- tralia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan Following France’s 1-0 victo- opening goal during the group C match between Denmark and py about that,” Denmark goal- mark would get through the in the seventh minute. ry over Peru in the late group Australia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Samara Arena in keeper Kasper Schmeichel group. Samara, Russia, Thursday, June 21, 2018. But then Australia settled in match on Thursday, the French (AP PHOTO/MARTIN MEISSNER) said a day earlier. “His im- “It’s got to be a decisive match and shut Denmark down. The secured a spot in the knockout portance to Denmark we have in Moscow,” he said, “and I do game-tying goal would be a round while Peru was eliminat- a win or draw against France, in its final match against Peru. seen all through qualification. believe we will advance to the penalty kick by Socceroos cap- ed. Denmark will advance with or a loss or draw for Australia In four previous World Cups, He is down to Earth and you last 16.”