Carib Scope

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  • Derde helft WK 2026: Mexico wint spannende wedstrijd, drie rode kaarten en vroege goal

    Derde helft WK 2026: Mexico wint spannende wedstrijd, drie rode kaarten en vroege goal

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicked off on June 11 with a vibrant, culturally rich opening ceremony hosted at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium, before host nation Mexico claimed a confident 2-0 victory over South Africa in their Group A opening match.

    The opening celebration set a joyful tone for the tournament, showcasing Mexico’s deep cultural heritage and diverse global traditions to a packed stadium of tens of thousands of cheering fans. Global music superstar Shakira, a two-time FIFA World Cup anthem performer with long-standing ties to the tournament, delivered an electrifying headline performance that had the crowd dancing and singing along, building widespread excitement for the upcoming month of elite football competition.

    From the first whistle, the host nation dominated play against South Africa. Mexico earned their first goal just nine minutes into the match, becoming the earliest opening-game goal at a World Cup since Philipp Lahm’s sixth-minute strike for Germany against Costa Rica in 2006. The opening goal came after a sloppy pass from a South African defender put Colombia-born Mexican striker Julian Quinones in a one-on-one breakaway with South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Quinones stayed calm under pressure and slotted the ball between Williams’ legs to find the net, triggering deafening celebrations from the home crowd.

    The first half saw two early yellow cards, issued to South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena and Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez, both for late tackles, before a mandatory hydration break at the 25-minute mark allowed both sides to reset tactically. As the first half wound down, Mexico continued to pile on the pressure: Raúl Jiménez saw a curling shot saved by Williams in the 41st minute, and Quinones hit the post on a follow-up attempt, but South Africa managed to hold the line to go into halftime down just one goal.

    The second half started with no substitutions from either side, but it quickly unraveled for South Africa. In the 52nd minute, South Africa went down to 10 men after Yaya Sithole was issued a straight red card for a reckless tackle from behind on Gutierrez that stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity, handing Mexico a man advantage and a dangerous free kick just outside the 18-yard box.

    Mexico made their numerical advantage count in the 67th minute, when Raúl Jiménez doubled the host’s lead with a powerful headed finish off a pinpoint cross from Roberto Alvarado. The goal marked Jiménez’s first ever World Cup goal, sending the home crowd into a fresh frenzy of celebration.

    Discipline continued to be an issue for South Africa in the closing minutes, when Themba Zwane was sent off for violent conduct, leaving South Africa to play the final stretch with just nine players on the pitch. Mexico’s César Montes also picked up a red card in stoppage time for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, bringing the total red cards for the match to three. Despite the late reduction to 10 men, Mexico held firm to secure a clean sheet and a full three points to open their tournament.

    Following the opening match, the next Group A fixture is scheduled to kick off at 23:00 the same day, with South Korea set to face the Czech Republic.

  • Dottin hoping to peak at the right time

    Dottin hoping to peak at the right time

    As the much-anticipated ICC Women’s T20 World Cup approaches its kickoff this Friday, all eyes are turning to West Indies’ star all-rounder Deandra Dottin, who is laser-focused on hitting her competitive stride just as the tournament enters its crucial stages. The Caribbean side will mark their tournament debut with a high-stakes opening match against defending champions New Zealand this Saturday, a opener that already has cricket fans around the globe buzzing.

    In a pre-tournament warm-up fixture against Australia held Thursday, Dottin delivered a standout individual performance even as her team fell to a six-wicket loss. The Barbadian native notched the highest score of the match for her side, hammering 48 runs off 38 deliveries against the strong Australian bowling attack. This result marked the West Indies’ second consecutive warm-up defeat, following a loss to India earlier this week.

    In a post-warmup interview, Dottin opened up about her personal preparation strategy and mindset heading into the World Cup. She emphasized that her primary goal in the practice matches was to spend extended time at the crease, shake off pre-tournament rust, and build momentum gradually, rather than posting flashy scores early. This intentional slow build is designed to ensure she peaks at the perfect moment for her team when the official tournament points are on the line.

    Dottin admitted she had put in months of rigorous off-season work, making targeted adjustments to her technique and game plan. In the early stages of preparation, she confessed she had struggled with self-imposed pressure, growing frustrated when results did not match the high standards she sets for herself. Now, however, she sees the slow start to her warm-up form as a positive sign rather than a setback. “I wasn’t supposed to peak too early,” she explained. “Now that I’m actually getting some runs and getting a feel of it, then it’s really good it’s coming at the right time.”

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Haïti gedwongen tenue te wijzigen vanwege oorlogssymboliek

    Derde helft WK 2026: Haïti gedwongen tenue te wijzigen vanwege oorlogssymboliek

    Just days before kicking off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the Haiti men’s national football team has been required to make last-minute changes to their official match kit after global football governing body FIFA banned a historic battle-themed graphic printed on the original design.

    Kit manufacturer Saeta confirmed the adjustment in an official Instagram statement released Wednesday, noting that FIFA raised objections to the illustration depicting the 1803 Battle of Vertières. The design, which integrated Haiti’s national flag, was created to symbolize the country’s hard-won independence. The original controversial kits were already worn by the squad during two pre-tournament friendly matches held in Florida, United States.

    In its statement, Saeta emphasized that the original design was never intended to carry political messaging. Instead, it was conceived as a tribute to all Haitian people who work daily to build a better future for their nation. The Haitian squad wore the original kit in friendlies against New Zealand on June 2 and Peru on June 5, prior to FIFA’s ruling.

    FIFA’s official equipment regulations explicitly prohibit the display of any political, religious, or personal messages, slogans or imagery on match-day kits. Following FIFA’s ruling, Colombia-based manufacturer Saeta has modified the kit to bring it into full compliance with tournament rules.

    “During the pre-tournament assessment process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements of the original design could be interpreted in a way that violates their equipment regulations, and ultimately requested adjustments to the design,” Saeta explained in the statement. “Although this interpretation differs from our original intention, Saeta respected the governing process and implemented FIFA’s final requirements.”

    Haiti is set to kick off its first World Cup finals campaign in 52 years this Saturday, June 13, with their opening Group stage match against Scotland in Boston. Following the opening clash, the side will face South American powerhouse Brazil in Philadelphia on June 19, before rounding out their group stage fixtures against African contender Morocco five days later in Atlanta.

  • Today is D-Day: FIFA World Cup 2026

    Today is D-Day: FIFA World Cup 2026

    After years of anticipation, the 2026 FIFA World Cup – the largest edition in the tournament’s 96-year history – officially gets underway on June 11 in Mexico City, launching a six-week festival of football that will feature 104 matches across three host nations. The opening day’s schedule begins with a star-studded opening ceremony at Mexico City Stadium, headlined by Colombian pop icon Shakira and acclaimed Nigerian afrofusion artist Burna Boy, who will take the stage to perform the tournament’s official anthem “Dai Dai”. The ceremony is set to kick off at 11 a.m. local time, with two hours later the host nation’s team stepping onto the same pitch for their opening Group A clash against South Africa.

    Later the same day, the Group A action continues at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron, where South Korea will face Czechia to round out the first day of tournament play. Ahead of the opening Mexico-South Africa fixture, statistical forecasts generated from 10,000 computer-simulated match outcomes give Mexico a 66% probability of securing three points to open their campaign, while South Africa holds just a 14% chance of an upset victory. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos did not shy away from the magnitude of the challenge ahead of kickoff, telling reporters that his squad is prepared to compete for every possession against what he described as the strongest side in Group A. He also noted that the energy of 85,000 cheering Mexican supporters in the stands creates an additional competitive edge that the host side will carry into the match.

    While the world turns its attention to the opening of the world’s most-watched sporting event, the lead-up to the tournament has not been free of controversy. Multiple protest movements have surged across Mexico City in the weeks and days before kickoff, with demonstrations organized by teachers, transport labor unions, small-scale farmers, and family members of missing persons. Protesters have blocked major roadways near Estadio Azteca and dismantled temporary World Cup installations around the capital, demanding policy changes including higher public sector wages, pension reform, and urgent government action on long-unresolved national social issues.

    A separate diplomatic controversy has also emerged in the lead-up to kickoff: a Somali referee appointed to officiate matches at the tournament has been barred from entering the United States, one of the three 2026 host nations. Citing anonymous sources, Agence France-Presse reports that a U.S. State Department official confirmed the entry denial was issued over alleged links to suspected members of terrorist organizations, a claim that has not been independently verified as of opening day.

    Beyond social and diplomatic tensions, the 2026 tournament also makes history as the most expensive World Cup ever staged. For the first time in the competition’s history, FIFA implemented dynamic ticket pricing, a model that increases match ticket costs as consumer demand rises. During the initial ticket sales window, the governing body received more than 500 million requests for tickets, pushing prices for some high-demand seats to unprecedented levels. The steep pricing has already had unintended economic consequences for local host communities: Reuters reports that projected waves of international football fans have failed to materialize, leaving hotels in host regions scrambling to cut room rates to fill vacancies, while overall cross-border flight bookings for tournament visitors remain well below pre-tournament projections.

    As the opening ceremony gets underway, football fans across the globe are now waiting to see if on-pitch action can overshadow the pre-tournament disputes, and whether the expanded 48-team format – which created the historic 104-match schedule – will deliver a memorable tournament that lives up to expectations.

  • South Korea defeat Czechs to make strong World Cup start

    South Korea defeat Czechs to make strong World Cup start

    GUADALAJARA, Mexico – In an opening Group A clash full of missed opportunities and late drama, South Korea kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a tense 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday, as second-half substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu netted the decisive winner deep in the second half.

    Tipped by many as a contender to progress from the group stage, Son Heung-min’s side controlled the tempo and carved out scoring chance after scoring chance in the opening 45 minutes, but failed to turn their dominant possession into a breakthrough. The Tottenham Hotspur winger was at the heart of most of South Korea’s attacking threat: he sent one powerful effort soaring over the crossbar early on, then produced a blistering solo run that saw him cut inside to the left, evade two tight Czech marking challenges, and drag his final attempt just wide of the post.

    A far-from-sold-out stadium crowd watched as the tightly contested match turned on its head just after halftime. Against the run of play, the Czechs broke the deadlock through Ladislav Krejci, who rose unmarked at the near post to plant a powerful header beyond Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, giving his side an unexpected lead against the run of play.

    South Korea’s persistent pressure finally paid off in the 67th minute, when Hwang In-beom drew level with a cleverly crafted equalizer. The midfielder faked a shot to throw off his marker and the Czech goalkeeper, before gently lifting the ball over Matej Kovar into the back of the net to level the score.

    The Czech thought they had re-taken the lead shortly after, only for their effort to be ruled offside by match officials, in a call that turned the tide of the game permanently. Hwang, who had already found the back of the net, turned provider for the winner just 13 minutes before full time, delivering a pinpoint cross from the right flank that Oh slotted home cleanly to put South Korea ahead.

    As the final whistle blew on a frantic final 10 minutes of play, a relieved Son Heung-min dropped to the turf in celebration, his side having secured all three points despite an hour of wasted chances. Up next for South Korea is a high-stakes clash against co-hosts Mexico on June 18, who kicked off their own campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over South Africa earlier the same day. The Czech Republic will face South Africa in Atlanta on the same matchday, looking to bounce back from their opening defeat to get their tournament back on track.

  • JTTA celebrates emerging talent at youth league finals

    JTTA celebrates emerging talent at youth league finals

    On a bustling Monday at the University of Technology (UTech) Auditorium in Kingston, Jamaica, the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) hosted the national finals of its 2026 Preparatory and Primary School League, bringing together over 200 talented student-athletes hailing from every corner of the island to compete for national titles.

    The one-day event crowned champions across four team divisions, with Hillel Academy claiming the preparatory girls’ crown, AISK taking home top honors in the preparatory boys’ bracket. In the older primary school categories, Greater Portmore Primary secured the girls’ championship title, while Whitfield Primary and Infant School emerged victorious in the primary boys’ division. Beyond the standard division titles, the event also hosted a high-stakes Champions of Champions invitational bracket, where Hillel Academy repeated its winning streak to claim the female team trophy, and Whitfield Primary and Infant School held its ground to take the men’s team title.

    Individual competition produced equally exciting results, with standout athletes claiming gold across the two age-group divisions. Alexandra Montaque of Greater Portmore Primary took the top spot in the Under-11 Girls’ singles draw, while Yashme Anderson of Whitfield Primary and Infant School claimed the Under-11 Boys’ singles title. In the older Under-13 division, Axys Johnson of Hillel Academy secured the girls’ singles crown, and William Lei of AISK took home the boys’ singles gold medal. A correction to initial reporting: the preparatory girls’ team title was awarded to Hillel Academy, not AISK as previously noted.

    Ingrid Graham, president of the JTTA, opened post-event comments by praising the exceptional quality of play on display and celebrating the steady growth of table tennis at the grassroots level across Jamaica. “The JTTA Preparatory & Primary School League continues to highlight the exceptional talent within our school system. We are proud of every participant and encouraged by the continued growth of youth table tennis at the school level,” Graham shared in her remarks.

    Graham added that the tournament serves a critical functional purpose beyond celebrating young talent: it acts as a national scouting event, identifying top emerging players in the Under-11 and Under-13 age groups who will go on to represent Jamaica at upcoming international championships hosted in Mexico.

    Aubyn Henry, JTTA’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer, emphasized that the impact of the annual school league stretches far beyond the competitive table tennis court. “When more than 200 young Jamaicans compete and grow through sport, the impact goes far beyond the table. This league represents opportunity, growth and excellence,” Henry explained.

    Lacey Gordon, JTTA’s director of sponsorship, extended public gratitude to the organization’s industry partners and sponsors, whose ongoing backing made the 2026 finals event possible. “Our sponsors and partners play a vital role in making this event possible, helping to create opportunities for young athletes to develop and showcase their abilities,” Gordon noted. In an official statement, the JTTA echoed Gordon’s thanks, confirming that sustained partner support continues to strengthen youth sport development across the country and expand access to competitive opportunities for young Jamaican athletes from all regions.

  • Canada draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup

    Canada draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup

    In a momentous milestone for soccer in North America, the first ever FIFA World Cup finals match held on Canadian territory delivered a dramatic, evenly-contested result in Toronto on Friday, as co-host nation Canada fought back from a first-half deficit to secure a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    Bosnia-Herzegovina got off to a flying start, capitalizing on a set piece opportunity in the 21st minute to break the deadlock. Midfielder Jovo Lukic rose above Canada’s defensive line to power a pinpoint header into the back of the net, putting his side ahead and putting the co-hosts on the back foot early in their historic outing.

    For much of the second half, Canada’s squad pushed relentlessly for an equalizer, probing Bosnia-Herzegovina’s defense with repeated attacking forays. The breakthrough finally came when forward Cyle Larin converted a well-worked chance to level the score, sending the pro-Canadian crowd at the Toronto venue into raptures.

    The result leaves both teams with one point apiece from their opening group stage encounter, setting up an exciting run of remaining matches as they jockey for position to advance to the knockout round of the tournament. For Canadian soccer, the occasion itself marked a historic turning point, bringing a World Cup finals match to Canadian soil for the first time in the competition’s century-long history.

  • Shantae Foreman finishes second in long jump at NCAA championships

    Shantae Foreman finishes second in long jump at NCAA championships

    The second day of the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships delivered a string of stunning upsets, personal bests, and historic records at Eugene Oregon’s iconic Hayward Field on Thursday, headlined by a once-in-a-generation 100-meter run from University of Georgia’s Adejah Hodge.

    The British Virgin Islands Olympian left spectators and competitors stunned as she crossed the 100m semi-final finish line in a blistering 10.63 seconds with a legal +0.9 m/s wind reading. The time not only smashed her previous personal best of 10.77 seconds set in April, it also elevated her position as the world’s top-ranked 100m sprinter this season, and broke both the collegiate and championship meet records. The prior mark of 10.75 seconds, set by American star ShaCarrie Richards in 2019, stood for five years before Hodge’s historic run. The result also ranks Hodge’s performance as the fifth-fastest women’s 100m in history globally.

    In the women’s long jump, Clemson University’s Shantae Foreman pulled off one of the day’s biggest personal breakthroughs to claim a surprise second-place finish. The Jamaican athlete jumped 6.69 meters, with a +0.2 m/s wind reading, an massive improvement of 22 centimeters over her previous outdoor personal best of 6.47 meters. That mark, which Foreman had matched twice before — first at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, and again at the NCAA East Regional just two weeks prior — was left far behind, and Foreman’s new jump catapults her into the top 10 all-time for Jamaican women in the event. Now, she enters Saturday’s triple jump competition as the overwhelming pre-event favorite to claim the national title.

    Multiple other athletes from Caribbean nations competing for U.S. collegiate programs earned spots in upcoming finals through strong semi-final showings. University of Florida’s Gabrielle Matthews turned in a rare double qualification, advancing to both the women’s 100m and 200m finals after impressive performances. In the 100m, Matthews clocked 11.02 seconds (+0.6 m/s) to secure her spot, behind Florida State University’s Shenese Walker who ran 10.94 seconds (+0.3 m/s). Texas’s Carleta Bernard just missed out on a finals spot, finishing with a 11.17 second run that left her outside qualification.

    In the 200m semi-finals, Matthews continued her strong form by lowering her own personal best to 22.22 seconds (+1.7 m/s) to take second place behind Hodge, chopping 0.19 seconds off her prior top mark of 22.41 seconds.

    University of Georgia’s Dejanae Oakley, the current world leader in the women’s 400m, put on a dominant display in the 400m heats, cruising to a win in her semi-final heat with a 49.93 second clocking. The result secured her place as the top qualifier heading into Saturday’s final, where she will look to improve on her second-place finish at the 2023 championships.

    In the women’s 100m hurdles, Ohio State’s Janela Spencer clocked a season’s best 12.77 seconds (+1.2 m/s) and Texas Tech’s Tonie-Ann Forbes ran 12.86 seconds in the same wind conditions to secure their spots in the final. Clemson’s Oneka Wilson just missed out on qualification, crossing the line in 12.93 seconds (+1.0 m/s). In the day’s only field event for other competing athletes, Purdue University’s Britannie Johnson placed 20th overall in the women’s shot put with a throw of 16.02 meters.

  • Jamaica launches ambitious movement to become ‘sports capital of the global south’

    Jamaica launches ambitious movement to become ‘sports capital of the global south’

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Later this June, a groundbreaking cross-sector gathering will bring together top stakeholders from 10 key fields spanning athletics, commerce, tourism, public policy, investment, media, technology, education and athlete development to Kingston for the first ever Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit.

    Hosted across two full days on June 29 and 30 at the University of Technology, Jamaica, the landmark event centers on a bold strategic question: how can Jamaica translate its long-standing global reputation for producing elite, world-beating athletes into a fully developed, globally competitive domestic sports industry?

    In an official statement shared publicly, summit organizers framed the gathering as one of the most ambitious collaborative initiatives ever undertaken for Jamaica’s sports sector. It forms a core part of a broader national and regional strategy to position Jamaica as the leading sports hub of the Global South.

    The summit is organized by Absolut Ventures Limited, the creative team behind the world’s first and only televised freestyle football reality competition. Programming will focus on untapped opportunities that emerge at the intersection of sports, tourism, direct investment, emerging technology, infrastructure development, media, health and wellness, youth empowerment and broad-based national economic expansion.

    “Jamaica has already proven time and again that we can compete and outperform the very best nations on the global sporting stage,” noted Alrick McKenzie, founder and summit director of the Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit. “Our next critical step is building out the foundational systems, cross-border partnerships, scalable investment opportunities, and modern infrastructure that will allow sports to evolve into a far more powerful economic engine for our country. This summit exists to bring the right stakeholders into one room to hold these critical conversations and deliver tangible, meaningful outcomes for Jamaica.”

    Simon Preston, a veteran sports consultant, analyst and media officer with deep ties to Jamaica’s athletic sector, emphasized that the summit comes at a critical juncture for the nation’s sports ecosystem. He called it a timely and essential step toward building a more structured, sustainable future for the entire sector.

    “Jamaica already holds an extraordinary, globally recognized sporting brand, but the current opportunity lies in building a stronger, more interconnected ecosystem to support that brand,” Preston explained. “We host nearly 50 distinct sporting disciplines across the island, and this summit offers the perfect space for leaders across different disciplines to gather, share insights, learn from one another, and collaborate to build a stronger Jamaica.

    Preston went on to highlight the depth of Jamaica’s underleveraged sporting success beyond its globally famous sprinters: “Jamaica ranks eighth in the world for lacrosse, third globally for netball, and is home to the fastest male and female sprinters alive today. These impressive achievements are powerful assets we can leverage to help every domestic sporting discipline reach its full potential.”

    “The Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit creates a dedicated platform for substantive, solution-focused conversations around athlete development pathways, investment attraction, infrastructure improvement, technological integration, governance reform, sports tourism and commercial expansion,” Preston added. “If Jamaica is to fully maximize the global influence its sporting talent has earned, we must connect our world-class talent to real, scalable opportunities, and this summit is designed to lead that charge.”

    Attendees can expect a full schedule of dynamic programming, including keynote addresses from industry leaders, intimate fireside chats, interactive panel discussions, hands-on skills-building workshops, dedicated networking sessions, and high-level strategic working sessions. Participants will include representatives from national sporting associations, elite active and retired athletes, C-suite corporate leaders, global venture capital and impact investors, senior tourism sector executives, national and local policymakers, and leading education stakeholders.

  • Ancelotti warns Brazil can compete with anyone at World Cup

    Ancelotti warns Brazil can compete with anyone at World Cup

    EAST RUTHERFORD, U.S. – Ahead of Brazil’s opening Group C match against Morocco this Saturday in New Jersey, iconic Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti has expressed firm belief that his five-time World Cup-winning squad has what it takes to outcompete the world’s best national teams and bring an end to the nation’s 24-year wait for a new global football title.

    At 67 years old, Ancelotti boasts one of the most decorated resumes in club football management, having lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy five times across his career. This tournament, however, marks his first ever appearance as a head coach at the men’s World Cup, taking the reins of a Brazilian side that has not claimed the sport’s biggest prize since their 2002 victory.

    Speaking to reporters ahead of the high-stakes opener, Ancelotti framed the opportunity as a one-of-a-kind milestone in his decades-long career. “It’s a new experience, it’s a new responsibility to represent the country of football,” he said. “At the end of the day, this role boils down to two words: responsibility and honour. This is a unique, incredibly beautiful moment in my career.”

    The veteran manager made clear that his squad enters the tournament with quiet confidence, backed by a healthy mix of top-tier talent and proven veteran leadership. “We have a team that can compete with every team in the world, we’re convinced of that. It’s a team with quality and experience, and with absolute confidence that it can compete with anyone,” Ancelotti added.

    Looking ahead to the broader tournament landscape, Ancelotti predicted that this 2024 World Cup will be one of the most evenly matched competitions in recent memory, noting that his side has put in the work needed to hit the ground running against Morocco. Brazil’s Group C also includes Scotland and Haiti, two sides the manager did not dismiss as lower-tier competition.

    The path to the World Cup has not been smooth for Brazil, however. The team’s qualifying campaign was far from solid, dropping six of their 18 matches to finish fifth in the CONMEBOL standings – a result that would have sent them to intercontinental play-offs under previous qualifying formats. The squad has also faced significant roster setbacks heading into the tournament: key forwards Rodrygo and Estevao were forced to withdraw due to injury, and star veteran Neymar will miss Saturday’s opening clash.

    Neymar, 34, has not featured for the Brazilian national side since 2023 after picking up a right calf injury in mid-May. Ancelotti confirmed that the star is on track to return to team training as early as next week, and emphasized that Neymar remains a critical part of the squad’s plans even as he recovers.

    “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible,” the coach said. “We called him up not only for his football ability, which is indisputable, but also for the experience and example he can give to the younger players in the group.”