BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE sports fraternity in St. Kitts and Nevis woke up on Friday (June 6) to the shocking realisation that one of the Federation’s brightest starlets Tesril Nisbett had died earlier that day at the JNF Hospital following an illness.
Nisbett, a resident of Brownehill in Nevis, was an outstanding footballer and javelin thrower. She had represented the Federation in both sports and attained many successes.
Upon hearing of her passing, SKNVibes spoke with a number of individuals with whom Nisbett were acquainted.
National Female Football coach Isaiah Morris: “Tesril was a hard worker. She never gave up! She was a striker...very fearless and she was very technical on the ball. All in all, she has done a lot for football. It is very hard for me to find words to say. She was a very good footballer and she had a lot going for her.
“When I learnt of the passing, it was about 5:30 this morning (June 6) and up until now I haven’t gotten myself together. It has been really hard for me, to be honest, to see that that I won’t be able to coach her again. And when she comes home we usually play basketball together, and to see we won’t be able to do that again has really affected me.
“On behalf of myself and the National Women’s Football Team, I would like to express condolences to the family. She’s gone but definitely not forgotten. Everything happens for a reason, but God knows best.”
Lester Blackett, President of the Nevis Amateur Athletic Association: “She was an extremely talented individual, not just in track and field but also in football, having played for the national team.
“She has the national record in the javelin and she had represented St. Kitts and Nevis in a number of regional competitions, including the CARIFTA Games, including the one held in St. Kitts in 2008 and in 2009 she won a bronze medal in St. Lucia. I would like to express my condolences to the family of Tesril and I hope that with the help of God will guide them through this difficult period.”
Wakeley Daniel, Nisbett’s track and field coach and coach of the Gladiators Track Club: “For the most part, we are deeply saddened about her passing. The entire island is saddened by the passing of a great athlete and a great human being.
“Tesril accomplished a great deal in track and field and football. Being her track and field coach, she had numerous accomplishments. She had already won a medal at the CARIFTA Games and participated in regional and international meets such as the PanAm Junior Games.
“Tesril will surely be missed by each and every one of us. She was bubbly, but when it came to her track and field she was highly talented and she had what you called a work-horse mentality. And that is why she was able to excel and gained so many accomplishments in track and field. But like I said, she will be missed. It is truly a difficult time, especially for the members of the Gladiators Track Club. We are all broken up by the passing of Tesril.
“On behalf of myself as her coach, Gladiators Track Club, Nevis Amateur Athletic Association and the track and field community of St. Kitts and Nevis, I like to say to her family that you are in our thought and our prayers.”
Nisbett was selected as the 2010 Nevis "Sportswoman of the Year" for her success as an all-round athlete at the 5th Annual WINNFM Inside Edge KFC Sports Awards Ceremony held on March 8, 2013
