Guerra up for First Citizens award

TT national men's football team attacking midfielder Ataulla Guerra was one of several surprise nominees for the First Citizens Sports Foundation Awards, which will recognise dozens of this country's best performers over the past year at its annual gala on March 16.

Guerra, 31, who plays for USL Championship (USA second tier football league) club Charleston Battery, led his team in goals and assists last season, which prompted his recall to the TT men's national team for the first time in three years when the Soca Warriors played the United Arab Emirates in Spain last September – a match in which he scored.

Karyn Forbes was the TT Football Association's (TTFA) nominee for Sportswoman of the Year for the annual event which will be held at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, from 7 pm.

Senior and junior, male and female athletes in 32 sports, will vie for a number of awards.

The foundation issued a media release yesterday with the names of top athletes nominated by their respective national sporting organisations. The release noted "the foundation’s selection committee, headed by Chairman Dr Terry Ali and aided by sporting associations (through the nominations of athletes), has worked through an exhaustive and thorough process in deciding on the various nominations."

Chequeda De Boulet, 18, who on Saturday was named the TT Badminton Association Junior and Senior Female Player of the Year after her dominance for club and country, received a nomination. She was the natural pick as badminton's nominee for the First Citizens award in the junior and senior divisions.

Tennis star Breanna Stempfli is back as the association's pick for the senior women's athletes, while teenager Aidan Carter, who emerged as one of the country's most promising talents in any sport in 2018, was nominated for the Junior Sportsman of the Year.

Returning as one of the clear favourites for the Sportsman of the Year award is Nicholas Paul, who with Teniel Campbell for the Sportswoman award, were nominated by the TT Cycling Federation for their success last year.

Jereem Richard and Michelle-Lee Ahye, winners of the Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year awards for 2017, repeat as athletics' nominees.

Senior nominees

Sport*Male athlete* Female athlete

Athletics*Jereem Richards*Michelle-Lee Ahye

Rally Club*Ryan Pinheiro*N/A

Automobile sports*Muhammad Ali*N/A

Badminton*Alistair Espinoza*Chequeda De Boulet

Body building*Dexter Simon*Crystal Khan

Boxing*Michael Alexander*Tianna Guy

Canoeing/Rowing*Nicholas Robinson*Felice Chow

Chess*Joshua Johnson*Gabriella Johnson

Cricket*Shannon Gabriel*N/A

Cycling*Nicholas Paul*Teniel Campbell

Football*Ataulla Guerra*Karyn Forbes

Gymnastics*Joseph Fox*N/A

Golf*Wanjoo Lee*Yeji Lee

Hockey*Mickell Pierre*Amie Olton

Horseracing*Ricardoo Jadoo*N/A

Judo*Jelanie Boyce*Gabriella Wood

Karate*Shiva Isaac Sookdeo*Chennise Charles

Netball*N/A*Samatha Monique Wallace

Powerboat*Jason Ross*N/A

Power lifting*Rondel Hunte*Keanna Alexander

Rifle*Roger Daniel*Marsha Bullen-Jones

Rugby*Leon Pantor*Nicolette Pantor

Yachting*Andrew Lewis*Kelly-Ann Arrindell

Squash*Colin Ramasra*Alexandria Yearwood

Swimming*Dylan Carter*Shania David

Table tennis*Aaron Wilson*Catherine Spicer

Taekwondo*Brandon Joseph*Megan Lawrence

Target archery*Daniel Ragbir*Priyanka Dhanie

Tennis*Nabeel Mohammed*Breana Stampfli

Triathlon*N/A*Jenna Ross

Volleyball*Daniel Williams*Krystle Esdelle

Women's cricket*N/A*Merissa Aguilleira

Junior nominees

Sport*Male athlete* Female athlete

Athletics*Timothy Frederick&Tyriq Horsford*Shaniqua Bascombe

Rally club*Scott Pinheiro*N/A

Automobile sports*Isa Deen*N/A

Badminton*Andrew Babwah*Chequeda De Boulet

Boxing*Tyron Thomas*Ornella Ramnath

Canoeing/Rowing*Josiah Clarke*N/A

Chess*Alan-Safar Ramoutar*Gabriella Johnson

Cricket*Navin Bisaisee*N/A

Cycling*Enrique De Comarmond*N/A

Football*John Paul Rochford*Aaliyah Prince

Golf*Zico Correia*N/A

Hockey*Teague Marcano*Shaniah de Freitas

Judo*Tyrone Charles*N/A

Karate*Nathan Griffith*Chelsea Winter

Netball*N/A*Kelelicia George

Power lifting*Adam de Leon*N/A

Rugy*Jahreem George*Fayola Jack

Yachting*Simeon Duncan*N/A

Squash*Seth Thong*Sigourney Williams

Swimming*Kael Yorke*Gabriela Donahue

Table tennis*Derron Douglas*Priyanka Khellawan

Taekwondo*Odysseus Petropolous*N/A

Target archery*Rahul Mahabir*Shemariah Ali

Tennis*Aidan Carter*Cameron Wong

Triathlon*Logan Raymond*Rachel Grosberg

Volleyball*Daynte Stewart*Tsyan Selvon

Women's cricket*N/A*Steffie Soogrim

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