By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH three major international meets and hardly any money left to send their national teams off, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations got some last minute support from Percy’s @ The Island Game.

Counsel and Attorney for Percy’s @ The Island Game said they are willing to make a contribution to the BAAA to send the 35-member team to the Junior Central American and Caribbean Championships in Morelia, Mexico, if no other corporate sponsor is willing to step up.

The Junior CAC Championships, along with the IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, July 22-27 and the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Kamloops, British Colombia, Canada, August 8-10 have the BAAA in dire need of approximately $150,000 to cover the team travel and accommodations.

In responding to the request from the BAAA, Munroe said Percy’s @ The Island Game is willing to assist the BAAA to ensure that the junior athletes get to compete on the world stage.

“This is a continuation of the tradition that was established more than 50 years ago by its founder Percival ‘Percy’ Munnings of a concern for our country,” said Munroe, who added that history will show that the company contributed to the economic progress by funding the Treasury and the then PLP Government’s delegation to the Bahamas Constitutional Conference in London, England.

“Percy contributed to the social and sporting development of this country by his support over the years for sports. Percy believed in the influence that the discipline of sports had on young men, and personally made it possible for a number of cricket and other sporting ventures to be realised that would otherwise not have been possible.”

As they continue his legacy, Munroe said The Island Game is mindful that there are people in the Bahamas who are content to bask in the glory of the accomplishments of our athletes while failing to assist in any way and at the same time criticising those who do participate and those who assist.

“Percy’s @ The Island Game is prepared to openly support this effort in the hope that others will step up to the plate and assist with the laudable programmes of the BAAA,” Munroe said. “Anyone who feels that Percy’s @ The Island Game should not be participting with the BAAA is free to step up to the plate and replace the sponsorship and ensure that they put their money where their mouth is.”

The team is scheduled to leave today in the hopes of getting into Mexico in time to get acclimatised for the championships that start on Friday. Failing that, they will have to leave on Thursday. It is estimated that it will cost the BAAA between $50-60,000 to fund the trip.

Munroe declined to disclose the exact figure they intend to fund the BAAA for the trip.

BAAA President Mike Sands, who was celebrating his birthday, was joined by BAAA treasurer Philippa Arnett-Willie as they accepted the contribution from Percy’s @ The Island Game.

Sands said the deceased Munnings was an avid track and field fan and they welcome the effort to keep the legacy alive and Munroe, who is a friend and supporter of the BAAA.

“We sent out a clarion call and I don’t think he’s referring to last minute on our part because at the end of the day, we have had ongoing fund-raising efforts,” he said. “Fortunately, or unfortunately, when the BAAA travel, they travel with a sizeable team because that is the nature of track and field, unlike a lot of other sports where the numbers may not be as significant as track and field.

“So when we are faced with that challenge, we put out the clarion call and so it just doesn’t happen at the last minute. It just so happens that in this particular circumstance, we are at a serious situation and so we continue to make the appeal to the public to assist us.”

Sands said too many times, they are faced with the dilemma of trying to ensure that their teams get to travel once the athletes have qualified to compete at the various international meets. But he noted that the challenge is not having the necessary funding when it is time to travel.

He encouraged corporate Bahamas to come forth and assist rather than waiting on the athletes to achieve their success and then they join the bandwagon.

After attending a service on Sunday morning at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Sands said they were inspired by the message from Bishop Neil Ellis and so they left encouraged and convinced that they will get the support they need and Percy’s @ The Island Game stepped in just in the nick of time.

The team, managed by Laura Pratt-Charlton, assisted by Winston Marshall and coached by Bernard Rolle, is made up of the following:

TEAM BAHAMAS

Under-18 girls

Brianne Bethel, Jenae Ambrose, Serena Brown, Brashe Wood, Bria Sands, Charisma Taylor, Dreshanae Rolle, Andira Ferguson and Amber Ford                       

Under-18 boys

Keanu Pennerman, Tyler Bowe, Henri Delauze, Kinard Rolle, Tavonte Mott, Aaron Ross, Travis Ferguson, Blayre Fernander, Ken Mullings, Scharann Cash and Samson Colebrooke

Under-20 girls

Keianna Albury, Devynne Charlton, Talia Thompson, Mesha Newbold, Dannielle Gibson and Brendia Ferguson

Under-20 boys

Deedro Clarke, Cliff Resias, Ian Kerr, Khyle Higgs, Denzel Pratt, Ashley Riley, Xavier Coakley, Trae Carey and Laquan Nairn.