分类： sports

In a historic achievement for Trinidad and Tobago, young gymnast Yandy Stafford clinched the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup held in El Salvador on November 6. Stafford triumphed in the vault event, delivering a flawless performance that earned her a score of 13.35 and a place in the record books. This milestone marks a significant moment for Trinidad and Tobago in the realm of international gymnastics.

Stafford was part of a five-member national team that traveled to El Salvador on November 3 to compete against some of the region’s most talented young gymnasts. The team included Shanika Joseph, Asia Ali, Zariah Gittens-Dopwell, and Caeli La Roche, representing both the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) hopes level two and level one divisions. All five athletes participated in the all-around competition on November 5, with Stafford finishing fifth in her division with a total score of 46.75.

On the second day of competition, Stafford showcased her versatility by qualifying for three event finals: vault, beam, and floor. While she placed sixth in the floor exercise with a score of 11.45, her defining moment came during the vault finals. Executing a Yurchenko pike vault with precision and a perfect landing, Stafford secured the gold medal, a first for Trinidad and Tobago in this prestigious event. She later concluded her day with a seventh-place finish on the beam.

The Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup is a biennial event aimed at preparing young athletes for senior elite competition by the age of 16. Following their strong performances in El Salvador, Stafford and her teammates are now gearing up for their next challenge: the 2025 Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) in Couva on December 6 and 7.

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as the semifinals of the RBC Royal Slam College Basketball competition kick off on November 8 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua. Four elite schools will battle for a spot in the championship, with Fatima College, Presentation College San Fernando, St Mary’s College, and Queen’s Royal College (QRC) vying for glory. The action begins at 4 pm with Fatima College taking on Presentation College, followed by St Mary’s College facing QRC at 6 pm. The stakes are high, as the winners will advance to the gold-medal match on November 9 at noon, while the third-place playoff will commence at 10 am. The semifinalists have little time to recover, making endurance and strategy crucial. Fatima College enters the semifinals with momentum, having dominated QRC 112-67 in their final preliminary-round game on October 26, thanks to standout performances from Williams Francis, Zachary Julien, and Idriis Martin. St Mary’s College also impressed, securing their Group B victory with a 96-83 win over St Anthony’s College on October 25, led by Nkobi Ince’s 35 points and Zane Peters’ 31 points. This weekend, one of these four teams will emerge victorious, claiming the prestigious RBC Royal Slam title and etching their name in college basketball history.

In a tightly contested rescheduled Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premiership fixture, Trinity College (Moka) and San Juan North Secondary played to a 1-1 draw at Trinity College Grounds in Maraval on November 7. San Juan North, currently positioned 13th in the 16-team league, took the lead in the first half with a goal from Malique Marrast. However, Trinity Moka quickly responded as Anton Joseph equalized before halftime. Despite both teams pushing for a decisive goal in the second half, neither could break the stalemate, resulting in a shared point. The outcome had minimal impact on the league standings, with Trinity remaining in sixth place and San Juan North holding onto their 13th position, just two points above the relegation zone. Both teams have one league match remaining to conclude their campaigns.

The TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) is set to witness an early-season blockbuster as defending champions Defence Force face off against title contenders Miscellaneous Police FC on November 9 at the St Police Barracks. The match, scheduled for 7 pm, promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the league’s most formidable teams. Police FC has begun the 2025/26 season in dominant fashion, securing back-to-back victories. They opened their campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh on October 24, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against MIC Central FC Reboot on November 1. In contrast, Defence Force has struggled to find their rhythm, starting their title defense with two consecutive draws. They were held to a goalless stalemate by 2023/24 champions AC Port of Spain in their opener and then squandered a lead to draw 2-2 with FC Eagles on October 31, conceding a late stoppage-time goal. Despite their slow start, Police FC coach Todd Ryan remains wary of the defending champions. ‘Police and Army, that’s probably the biggest rivalry in top-tier football,’ Ryan remarked. ‘We don’t care what start they got…they’re still unbeaten from last season. We need to ensure they stay at the bottom of us.’ Ryan emphasized the importance of this match, calling it a ‘local derby’ and a crucial step toward achieving their ultimate goal: qualifying for Concacaf football. Meanwhile, Defence Force’s interim coach Devorn Jorsling remains optimistic, dismissing their early struggles as a temporary setback. ‘When the smoke clears, we will be champions of the league,’ Jorsling asserted. The clash is part of a packed matchday, with Caledonia AIA vs. Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and AC Port of Spain vs. FC Eagles also set to take place on November 9.

As the FIFA international match window approaches, Trinidad and Tobago (TT) men’s football team coach Dwight Yorke is leaving no stone unturned in preparing his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. With critical matches against Jamaica on November 13 and Bermuda on November 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Yorke has been conducting intensive training sessions to ensure his team is in peak condition.

The Eastern Football Association (EFA) 2025 tournament witnessed intense quarterfinal action on November 2, with reigning champions Malabar Youngstars securing a hard-fought 2-0 extra-time victory over Wallerfield FC at the Arima Velodrome. The match remained scoreless during regulation time, but Malabar Youngstars showcased their championship pedigree in extra-time, with Kendell Boneo and Jeremiah Williams delivering crucial goals to seal their semifinal berth. Williams, last year’s Man of the Match in the EFA final, once again proved pivotal in the team’s success. Wallerfield FC, who finished fourth in Group B, put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short. In another quarterfinal clash at the same venue, Athletic United triumphed over Eastern Connect FC in a dramatic penalty shootout (7-6) after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra-time. Eastern Connect took an early lead through Avery Cabralis, but Marcus Griffith equalized for Athletic United, setting the stage for the nail-biting shootout. Meanwhile, at the Phase 2 La Horquetta Recreation Ground, FC Maloney dominated Heatwave with a commanding 4-1 victory, thanks to goals from Gary Bart, Isaiah Edwards, Saleem Henry, and Kerry Mitchell. In the other La Horquetta quarterfinal, CPC Athletic International Academy (AIA) edged out CG Poseidon 2-1, with Dalon Sankar and Isaiah Isaac scoring the decisive goals. The semifinals, scheduled for November 9 in La Horquetta, will see FC Maloney face Athletic United at 5 pm, followed by Malabar Youngstars versus AIA at 7 pm. The 2025 EFA champions will receive a $15,000 prize, with $10,000 and $5,000 awarded to the second and third-placed teams, respectively.

As the FIFA international match window approaches, Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s football team, under the guidance of head coach Dwight Yorke, is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team is set to face Jamaica on November 13 and Bermuda on November 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. With high stakes on the line, Yorke has been diligently working to ensure his squad is in peak condition.

Trinidad and Tobago (TT) made a resounding statement on the first day of the XXXVIII Carifta Aquatics Championships 2025 Water Polo tournament, held at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex in Florida on November 7. The TT teams showcased exceptional skill and determination, securing multiple victories across various age groups. The Under-16 and Under-19 male squads delivered back-to-back wins, while the U-14 co-ed team, along with the U-16 and U-19 female teams, also triumphed in their opening matches. The U-16 boys set the tone with a hard-fought 13-11 victory over Bahamas, despite a closely contested first half. They later extended their dominance with a 20-14 win against the same opponent. The U-19 males were equally impressive, defeating Curacao 24-11 and overwhelming Cayman Islands 27-3. On the female side, the U-19 team secured a commanding 12-3 win over Cayman Islands but faced a setback with a 13-3 loss to Bonaire. The U-14 co-ed team started strong with an 18-5 victory over Curacao but fell to Bahamas 10-4 later in the day. The U-16 females also began their campaign with a 17-12 win over Cayman Islands. The tournament continues on November 8, with the final matches scheduled for November 9.