Roberts calls for prayers for Adams.
T&T Newsday Reports.
SPORT Minister Anil Roberts yesterday called on the nation to send prayers to young Akeem Adams, the 22-year-old footballer who is still in need of a heart transplant.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing, Roberts said the Cabinet had taken steps to send a new passport to Akeem as his current passport has expired since he fell ill in Hungary after a practice session last week.
“The prayers of the entire Cabinet and the people of Trinidad and Tobago go out to our national footballer young Akeem Adams who is fighting for his life,” Roberts said.
“He has undergone several surgeries, he is receiving blood and he requires a heart transplant so we ask the nation to keep him in their prayers.”
Of Adam’s passport, Roberts said, “His passport was expiring so we are putting systems in place to attempt to get a renewal of his passport while he is out there. And if there are any further developments medically, we will keep the nation up to date.
But he has been receiving a lot of support from his football family out there.
People are coming in droves, including the fans of his football club (Hungarian premier division club Ferencvarosi) and those who saw him play, to donate blood.” Roberts said though Akeem has stabilised he is still in a critical situation.
Also at the press briefing, Roberts announced funding to the tune of $5 million for assisting sportsmen and sportswomen in a series of events due in 2014. These include: CAC Games; the Youth Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.
“The government continues to support our athletes before they get success,” he said.
Roberts denied a claim made by the Opposition that world champion hurdler Jehue Gordon was not properly funded by the State. The Minister said Gordon was given $300,000 and, in one instance, had a massage therapist flown to him at a cost of $36,000.
He said under the PP Government an average of $59 million has been allocated per year to sporting organisations, when compared with between $17 million and $35 million under the PNM.
Roberts also wished the Red Force cricket team good luck in today’s match against the Mumbai Indians.
“We also want, on a brighter note, to say congratulations to the Red Force cricket team and wish them luck as they go into the semi-finals of the campions league,” Roberts said.
