分类： sports

In a powerful address at the 31st annual TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) awards ceremony in Port of Spain, West Indies women’s cricket star Karishma Ramharack delivered a compelling plea for the professionalization of women’s sports across Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region.

The accomplished off-spinner, recipient of both the 2024 First Citizens Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year and 2025 TTCB Female International Cricketer of the Year awards, drew from her six years of international experience to challenge prevailing attitudes toward female athletics. Speaking before an audience at Queen’s Hall on December 29, 2025, Ramharack emphasized that women’s sports should not be treated as recreational pastimes but as serious professional pursuits.

‘Women’s sports is not a side story. It’s not a phase. It’s not something young girls should try before choosing something practical,’ declared Ramharack, whose cricketing credentials include 90 international appearances across ODI and T20 formats. ‘What I see every day are women who are disciplined, strategic, resilient, and capable of excellence under pressure.’

The athlete provided concrete examples of professional commitment, describing the rigorous discipline required at elite levels: ‘The early mornings and getting my workouts in regardless of where I am in the world… Cutting sugar completely out of my diet and sticking to it, even when cravings hit… Choosing discipline over comfort, purpose over pleasure, every single day.’

Addressing parents and guardians directly, Ramharack urged a paradigm shift in how young female athletes are encouraged: ‘When your daughter shows interest in cricket, athletics, football, cycling, or any sport, don’t ask her how long it will last. Ask her how far she wants to go.’ She positioned sports as a viable career path that builds character and creates opportunities, emphasizing that ‘the next Olympian, medallist or the next leader in sport might be sitting in a classroom right now waiting for someone to take her seriously.’

Ramharack’s advocacy comes amid a successful competitive period for Trinidad and Tobago athletes. Following the men’s and women’s teams claiming silver at the recent Bolivarian Games in Peru, Ramharack and her colleagues are now focused on qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympic Games through increased competition under the TTOC banner.

After six years of anticipation and postponements, Trinidad and Tobago’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will finally inaugurate its girls’ premiership division in 2026. The breakthrough comes following confirmed full sponsorship from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), as announced by president Kieron Edwards in his year-end address.

The girls’ premiership was originally scheduled to debut in 2020 but faced successive setbacks due to the global pandemic and subsequent financial challenges. Despite previous assurances of a 2025 launch during the SSFL’s September league launch, logistical complications necessitated further delay according to league president Merere Gonzales.

Edwards emphasized the transformative potential of this new division for women’s football development nationally. Gonzales praised the TTFA’s commitment and outlined the league’s initial structure, which will feature top schools from each of the SSFL’s five zones to ensure competitive quality from the outset.

The inaugural season will implement a selective approach, potentially including one or two schools per zone, with plans to establish promotion and relegation mechanisms following the first season. This structure aims to create competitive incentives for championship division teams while expanding opportunities for female athletes.

Beyond immediate competition, the premiership is expected to significantly elevate the standard of girls’ football across Trinidad and Tobago. It will serve as a crucial talent pipeline for national team selection, particularly ahead of regional and international tournaments. Gonzales highlighted alignment with FIFA’s advocacy for increased female football investment and recognition.

The SSFL executive also focuses on strengthening youth pathways, with existing U15 and U13 divisions serving as foundational tiers. The long-term vision involves establishing a comprehensive development structure that nurtures talent from early stages through to senior levels, ultimately expanding the nation’s pool of female footballers and leaving a lasting impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s football landscape.

After six years of postponements, Trinidad and Tobago’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will finally launch its groundbreaking girls’ premiership division in 2026. The long-awaited initiative, initially scheduled for 2020, faced multiple setbacks including pandemic-related disruptions and financial challenges before securing full sponsorship from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

SSFL president Merere Gonzales expressed profound relief at the resolution of logistical constraints that previously hindered the competition’s implementation. The announcement came during TTFA president Kieron Edwards’ year-end address, where he confirmed the association’s complete backing of the pioneering women’s development program.

The inaugural season will feature a selective format, drawing the most competitive schools from each of the five SSFL zones to ensure high-quality matches from the outset. Gonzales revealed the league would begin with at least one representative institution per zone, establishing a foundation for future expansion through promotion and relegation systems.

This structural development represents a significant advancement for women’s football in the Caribbean nation, aiming to elevate playing standards and broaden the talent pool for national team selection. The premiership is expected to create a more attractive, high-intensity tournament environment that will motivate championship division teams to compete for top-tier status.

FIFA’s strong advocacy for increased female football participation has been instrumental in driving this initiative forward. Gonzales emphasized that while men’s football maintains prominence, equal recognition for women’s sports remains essential for comprehensive athletic development.

The SSFL simultaneously focuses on strengthening youth pathways, with existing U15 and U13 divisions serving as foundational tiers. League executives aim to further establish these developmental leagues across all zones, creating an integrated system that nurtures talent from early school years through premiership competition.

This landmark achievement promises to reshape Trinidad and Tobago’s football landscape, offering female athletes unprecedented competitive opportunities and solidifying the nation’s commitment to gender equity in sports.

The inaugural East-West Corridor Football League prepares to resume action on January 3 with several clubs aiming to preserve their flawless records. Legacy FC, Orange Field Firehouse, Tinto Academy, Trippy FC, and Wallerfield United all enter the new year with perfect winning streaks intact across the league’s various divisions.

In the Central division, Orange Field and Tinto currently occupy the top two positions, while Wallerfield United has dominated the East division with consecutive victories—including a decisive 3-0 triumph against FC Porto Arima during the league’s December 6 opening night.

The Southern division sees Legacy and Trippy FC leading the standings, both having secured two victories each. Trippy currently tops the six-team table with an impressive +7 goal differential following their match-day two win against South Stars.

The Tobago division presents a tightly contested race with Blue Nation and Kings United tied at the summit with four points each. Their opening match ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams securing victories in their subsequent fixtures.

Most competitive appears to be the 11-team North division, where four clubs—Sheriff Angels Belmont, Simeon Road FC, Trendsetter Hawks, and United Brotherhood—are deadlocked at four points each. The division witnessed one of the most lopsided results thus far when Cruzeiro FC delivered a spectacular 6-0 victory against Tinto’s northern outfit.

The league represents the brainchild of former national team captain David Nakhid, now serving as parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, operating through his David Nakhid Academy (DNA).

Trinidad and Tobago’s premier track cyclist Nicholas Paul has unveiled a meticulously planned competitive schedule for 2026, marking the commencement of his qualification journey for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The strategic roadmap features multiple elite international competitions designed to optimize his performance ahead of the crucial World Track Championships in October.

Paul’s campaign begins with the Pan American Track Championships in Chile (February 16-22), followed by consecutive UCI Nations Cup rounds in Hong Kong (April 17-19) and Malaysia (April 24-26). The cyclist will then compete at either the Commonwealth Games in Scotland (July 23-August 2) or the Central American and Caribbean Games in Dominican Republic (July 24-August 8) before heading to Shanghai for the World Championships (October 14-18) – his first official Olympic qualifier.

The accomplished athlete identifies tactical execution and marginal gains as critical focus areas for improvement. “I have to still work on my tactics in racing, that’s a big part of it now,” Paul emphasized. “Being able to actually get the marginal gains now, because that’s where I’m losing. I need to get the marginal gains on the track, in the gym, maybe equipment-wise.”

Paul approaches 2026 as a pivotal year in his career, noting that strong early performances could alleviate pressure during later qualification stages. Seeking his third Olympic appearance, the cyclist aims to secure Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic cycling podium after consistently ranking among top contenders in both the 2020 and 2024 Games.

Reflecting on his 2025 season, Paul described it as productive though less intense than previous Olympic years. His achievements included triple gold (team sprint, sprint, 1K time trial) and silver (keirin) at the Pan American Championships, plus fourth and seventh place finishes respectively in sprint and keirin events at the World Championships. The cyclist also claimed sprint gold and keirin silver at the Bolivarian Games during Trinidad and Tobago’s debut appearance.

Currently enjoying a period of recovery in his homeland, Paul is balancing rest with preparation for upcoming challenges. His exceptional 2025 performance earned him the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation’s Male International Cyclist of the Year award in December, further cementing his status as a national sporting icon.