分类： sports

The Jamaica Women’s Premier League witnessed a display of sheer dominance as three-time defending champions Frazsiers Whip maintained their flawless start to the season with an emphatic 11-0 victory over Mile Gully FC at Anthony Spaulding Complex on Saturday.

The champions demonstrated offensive brilliance with three players achieving hat-tricks, extending their remarkable shutout streak against the Manchester club to three consecutive matches dating back to last season. Shanel Spence completed her triple by halftime, while Christina Salmon and Nevillegail Able secured their trifectas during second-half stoppage time. Carlletia Savizon contributed a brace after the interval.

In the day’s second fixture, Arnett Gardens saw their perfect record vanish as Cavalier FC secured a 1-1 draw. Shikira Douglas put Arnett ahead within two minutes of kickoff, but Brooklyn Harmony Grant’s 85th-minute equalizer earned Cavalier a hard-fought point.

Meanwhile, Carder Park hosted a thrilling six-goal spectacle as WiFi United and Real Mona battled to a 3-3 stalemate. Olivia Ashbourne’s double performance highlighted the back-and-forth encounter that saw multiple lead changes before Jelissa Coke’s late intervention ensured shared points.

Elsewhere, Venicia Reid’s hat-trick propelled Los Perfectos to their third consecutive victory with a 3-0 clean sheet against struggling Real MoBay AFC at Jarrett Park. Federal United edged Springers United 3-2 in a closely contested match at Irwin High School, where a decisive own goal proved the difference maker.

The scheduled fixture between UWI Women’s and Proven Girls was postponed due to severe weather conditions affecting Kingston and St. Andrew.

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — A historic 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup inter-continental playoff match delivered a gut-wrenching ending for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz on March 31, as a 100th-minute set-piece goal pushed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a 1-0 extra-time victory and shattered Jamaica’s hopes of returning to the global tournament for the first time since 1998.

After 90 minutes of tight, physical play, neither side could break the deadlock, forcing the winner-takes-all clash into extra time. It was a corner that decided the tie: former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe delivered a cross that found its way into the back of Jamaica’s net, securing DRC’s spot at the 2026 World Cup. This marks the Central African nation’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when it competed under the former name Zaire.

Jamaica’s road to the final playoff was rocky from the start. The side failed to secure an automatic qualification spot after dropping critical points in the final group match: a home draw against Curacao left them unable to overtake their group leaders. Despite the setback, the Reggae Boyz still claimed a spot in the inter-continental playoff as one of the highest-ranked second-place finishers, and advanced to the final playoff with a semi-final win over Oceania’s New Caledonia last Thursday.

Throughout the 90 minutes of regulation, DRC controlled much of the attacking play, but two would-be goals from star striker Cedric Bakambu were ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), keeping the score level at 0-0. Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake turned in a man-of-the-match performance, making multiple key saves to keep DRC off the board even after the VAR interventions.

While the Reggae Boyz managed to seize control of possession briefly in the opening stages of the second half, and earned three consecutive corner opportunities in that stretch, they were unable to convert any of their chances into a goal. For the majority of the match, Jamaica rarely threatened DRC’s goal, leaving them unable to respond after Tuanzebe’s late extra-time winner.

The match ended with heartbreak for the Jamaican side, with post-match photos showing defeated players reacting to the loss, even as DRC players offered sportsmanlike comfort to their opponents. For DRC, the result ends a 52-year wait for a return to the World Cup, while Jamaica will extend its 28-year absence from the tournament. The game was held at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron, located in the Jalisco state city of Zapopan.

A dynamic display of horsemanship unfolded across a ten-race card, highlighted by multiple riding triumphs and a dominant stable performance. Champion jockey Dane Dawkins and top rider Tevin Foster each secured a riding triple, while conditioner Peter-John Parsard saddled a stable triple in a showcase of racing excellence.

The day’s action commenced with US-bred Olivia D’Oro (7-5), expertly piloted by Dawkins, securing a hard-fought victory in the seven-furlong maiden event. The three-year-old filly repelled a sustained challenge from the heavily favored Unbelievable Power to win by one and a half lengths, initiating a successful day for both jockey and trainer.

Dawkins’ prowess was further demonstrated aboard Emperorofthecats (5-1), who triumphed under challenging conditions of torrential rain and limited visibility in the seventh event. The veteran campaigner’s victory marked his 19th career win from 41 appearances. The jockey sealed his impressive four-timer in the featured Gregory Park Sprint, guiding Money Market (9-2) to a near three-length victory over speedy front-runner She’s That Girl.

Tevin Foster, narrowly missing the 2024 championship by just one winner, answered with a triple of his own. He opened his account with certainty Sudden Flight (3-5), an eight-year-old gelding who dominated the five-furlong straight gallop by over five lengths. Foster continued his success with Princess Fianie (9-5), securing a nose victory in race five, and closed his triple with maiden colt Greyt Magnum (7-1), who won comfortably by four lengths.

The training accolades were distributed among several conditioners. Ray Phillips earned the Training Feat Award for Greyt Magnum’s impressive development, while the Best Winning Gallop was executed by Adira, with Foster receiving the Jockeyship Award for his guidance of the five-year-old mare to her second career victory.

After a 28-year absence spanning 10,362 days, Jamaica stands on the precipice of FIFA World Cup qualification as they face DR Congo in a decisive intercontinental playoff final. The historic match at Mexico’s Estadio Akron represents the Reggae Boyz’ final opportunity to secure a place in the 2026 tournament hosted across North America.

Despite their inspirational journey, Jamaica enters the contest as underdogs against the formidable Congolese side, ranked 48th globally. The African squad boasts an impressive record with just one defeat in their last ten outings, including notable performances against African powerhouses Senegal and Nigeria. This contrasts sharply with Jamaica’s historical struggle against African opponents, having secured only two victories in 22 previous encounters.

Interim Head Coach Rudolph Speid expresses confidence in his squad’s preparation, emphasizing extended training time and exceptional team camaraderie. “We have worked tremendously and sufficiently,” Speid noted, highlighting the selection challenges posed by 27 well-performing players.

The Jamaican squad acknowledges their underwhelming 1-0 semi-final victory against New Caledonia but remains focused on the ultimate objective. Captain Andre Blake summarized the team’s mentality: “It doesn’t matter how, we just need to win the game.”

Their task is complicated by DR Congo’s constellation of elite talent, including Newcastle’s £55-million forward Yoane Wissa, West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Real Betis striker Cedric Bakambu. Congolese Head Coach Sebastien Desabre has cultivated a unified squad mentality, describing his team as “soldiers going into battle for their country” with everyone “pulling in the same direction.”

The victorious nation will join Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan in Group K of the 2026 World Cup, ending either Jamaica’s 28-year drought or DR Congo’s 52-year absence dating back to their 1974 appearance as Zaire.

HOLLAND, Trelawny — An atmosphere of pure ecstasy enveloped Holland High School on Monday as the entire institution converged to honor its newest sporting icon, Shanoya Douglas. The young sprint sensation had just shattered records and expectations alike by securing two gold medals at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, marking the first such victory in the school’s 21-year history.

The festivities commenced early, with the school’s marching band fueling the excitement as students danced, blew horns, and united in thunderous chants of ‘Holland a big deal!’. The celebration was punctuated by the distinctive rhythmic clanging of Dutch pot covers—a traditional Jamaican expression of jubilation—adding to the cacophony of pride.

The crescendo of cheers reached a peak as Douglas, accompanied by her family, stepped onto the school grounds. The palpable admiration reflected a community galvanized by her extraordinary achievement on the national stage.

Principal Dayle Evans, addressing the gathering, heralded the moment as a ‘historic genesis’ for the school. He expressed profound gratitude and issued a bold prediction that these medals would inaugurate a new era of athletic excellence for Holland High. Evans specially commended track and field coach Garth Smythe for his instrumental role in nurturing talent.

Coach Smythe, while celebrating Douglas’s success, also highlighted the grit displayed by the Class Four sprint relay team. Despite not reaching the finals, their execution from starter’s gun to finishing tape captured the attention of the entire stadium and stood out as a personal highlight of the championship for him.

The praise for Douglas was universal. Head boy Jamie Ferguson noted the pride he felt seeing the school’s name gain prominence on social media, emphasizing how Douglas’s hard work had put Holland High on the map. Custos of Trelawny Hugh Gentles applauded her discipline and perseverance, stating that her journey serves as an inspiring example for all students across the parish.

A community member named Sheldon captured the local sentiment, declaring, ‘We proud of Shanoya, man; we happy to see Holland on the map.’ He drew comparisons to sprint legend Usain Bolt, expressing unwavering confidence in her future.

Douglas’s performances were nothing short of spectacular. She clocked a personal best and world-leading time of 10.98 seconds in the Girls’ Class One 100m, becoming the fourth-fastest Jamaican junior ever. She further cemented her status among Jamaica’s all-time great junior sprinters by breaking the national Under-20 record in the 200m with a time of 22.36 seconds.