The English-speaking Caribbean finally has an annual awards ceremony to aptly honour the many sportsmen and women who have achieved so much for the region over the past 60 years.
The inaugural Caribbean Awards Sports Icons at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica last Friday had some of the great athletes of past and present attending the glitzy affair.
Organised by Al Hamilton, MBE, the London-based sports promoter, over 250 filled the Pegasus ballroom. Stars like cricketer Jimmy Adams, Aileen Bailey, Nesta Carter and Grace Jackson (all track) attended.
Former European and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champ Derrick Williams was one of a big group of England-based people who made the long trip for the occasion.
International cabaret star Stella Starr flew in from her home in Monte Carlo to perform with her usual panache to rapturous applause.
Digicel were the night’s main sponsors and this event was backed by Jamaica’s Ministry of Sports who sent Ali McNabb as its rep as the minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange was having medical treatment overseas.
The football honour was fully deserved although a slightly surprising one considering how well Caribbean players have done in the past decade.
It was won by Lindy Delapenha, the 81-year-old veteran who was the first Jamaican to play professional football 60 years ago, for Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.
Delapenha blazed a trail for the likes of modern day stars like John Barnes, Ricardo Gardner and Dwight Yorke.
Another football recipient was Austin ‘Jack’ Warner the FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president, one of the most powerful men in the sport. He got the administrator’s award.
Warner had been on business in Egypt, then New York, but he ensured he was there on the night, albeit arriving late when his 20 minute flight from Montego Bay was delayed for three hours.
The Trinidadian Warner said: ‘I’m gratified for this award because in my country an award like this to me is non-existent. I always admire Jamaica how they give respect to their sports persons. They are second to none in the Caribbean.’
The boxing award went to Jamaica’s Mike McCallum, one of the greatest fighters of the modern era. He won world titles at three weights – light-middle, middle and light-heavy – and was avoided by all the best fighters of his day.
Las Vegas-based McCallum won his first world title in 1984, the WBA light-middle belt. He said: ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve been in Jamaica, maybe three years. But when I came off the plane, I thought I was in Miami, the place looks so good.
‘I know all those times I was fighting you were all fighting with me and I just want to say thanks.’
Other winners were Sir Garfield Sobers (cricket), Veronica Campbell-Brown (female track), Alberto Juantereno (male track), Jennifer Frank (netball). Special awards for excellence at the Beijing Olympics went to Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser.
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