dic.30.2007
Recently retired footballer, Neil "Shaka" Hislop was announced as the recipient of the 2007 Alexander B Chapman Award.
The announcement was made by Master of Ceremonies Anthony Harford last evening (Saturday 29 December) at the Gala Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)10th Annual Awards ceremony hosted at the ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel in St Anns and in the presence of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards and Dr. Jean Ramjohn.
Hislop has done a lot of work for the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign in England, In 2004 he was elected to the Show Racism The Red Card, Hall Of Fame.
It is for his work and conduct off the field that the former St. Marys College student, FIFA World Cup and English Premier League standout earned the recognition of the TTOC.
Hislop is out of the country and his award was collected by his father retired Magistrate George Hislop.
Other distinctions announced were 2007 Pan Am Games road cycling silver medalist Emile Abraham as the TTOC Sportsman of the year award while shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown, Pan Am Games bronze medalist received the national Olympic Committee's Sportswoman of the year Award. Borel-Brown's mother collected on behalf of her daughter.
16 year old tennis player Olivia Bennett received the Junior Sportswoman of the year award.Ranked #172 on the International Tennis Federation(ITF) World Junior ranking list, Bennett won the singles and doubles titles at the Trinidad leg of the ITF Junior circuit and finished runner up in the Carthago Cup in Tunisia.
She reached the quarterfinals and doubles final in JITIC, the leading junior tournament in Central America and the Caribbean, In addition Bennett won the Orlando Open in Florida in June and captured the under-18 doubles crown at the ITF event in Mexico, where she was also runner-up in singles. She also led the national women's team in the regional Fed Cup qualifying tournament in Uruguay.
Her award was collected by T&T Tennis Association president Michael Cooper as Bennett is in Mexico at a tournament.
Multi talented Gavyn Nero received the Junior Sportsman of the year Award.
Nero, a double Junior middle distance regional track and field champion also performed with credit in triathlon and cycling. In addition the Fatima College lower six student represented his school in the sport of rugby.
National men's hockey team captain Kwandwane Browne was announced as the Sports Personality of the year.
For the second year running the TTOC did not announce a Sport and Education Award winner.
Ohio State University, Professor Dr. Packianathan Chelladurai's feature address focused on "factors behind excellence in sport".
The Honourable Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt in his turn at the podium was unambigious in outlining his vision and expectations for sport in T&T.
TTOC President Larry Romany during his address made the point that no meaningful and sustainable developemnt could take place without the involvement of the sport specific intellect of NSOs.
In his vote of thanks TTOC Secretary General Brian Lewis acknowledged the "sterling and selfless" contribution of Mr.Alexander Chapman.
Chapman's 50 plus years of active service as an international, regional and local sport administrator came to an end following his recent retirement as a regional Vice Prsident of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Lydian singers and Juenes Agape provided the well received entertainment.