分类： sports

The Trinidad and Tobago (TT) men’s rugby team is set to compete in the 2025 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament, scheduled to take place at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar from November 21 to 23. The 12-member squad includes nine players from last year’s team, which reached the final before falling to Canada. Notable returning players include Nigel Ballington, Shakeel Dyte, Keston Earle, Agboola Silverthorn, Keishon Walker, and dead-ball specialist Ruari O’Farrell. The tournament will feature teams from Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and defending champions Canada. The TT team will be led by coach Jonathan O’Connor and managed by Chad Simeon. The men’s tier one knockout matches will begin on November 22, with the final set for November 23. The women’s category will see TT compete against Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica, and reigning champions Mexico. The top three men’s teams (excluding Canada) and the top two women’s teams will qualify for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, the men’s tier two winner, if a full member union of RAN, will earn a promotion opportunity.

In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, CTS College’s Darius Harding and Tableland Secondary’s Mariah Charles emerged as the champions of the Secondary Schools Track and Field (SSTF) National 5K race, held at North Eastern College, Sangre Grande on November 13. The event, which saw participation from over 650 student-athletes, was a testament to the young talents’ endurance and determination.

Harding, the standout performer in the boys’ category, clocked an impressive 16 minutes and 49 seconds, making him the only competitor to finish under 17 minutes. Queen’s Royal College’s Isaiah Alder secured second place with a time of 17:33, while Toco Secondary’s Darreon Thom took third in 17:48. Notably, El Dorado East Secondary’s Brion Scott, who won gold in the boys’ under-17 800-metre event at the Carifta Athletics Games earlier this year, finished fourth overall but topped his age group with a time of 17:55.

On the girls’ side, Charles was the undisputed star, not only winning the under-15 age group but also claiming the overall female title with a time of 23:03. St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain’s Zahzara Williams came in second among the girls with a time of 23:26, followed by her schoolmate Arya Siewrattan in third place with 24:11. The Bishop Anstey High School under-15 duo of Aaliyah Griffith (24:23) and Keanna Cummings (24:42) completed the top five.

The event also highlighted the depth of talent across various age groups. Arima Central Secondary’s Mikael Serrette (18:02) finished fifth overall and topped the under-17 category, while North Eastern’s Raymond Lewis placed ninth overall and won the under-15 category with a time of 19:24. Other notable performers included Presentation College San Fernando’s Shane Bissoon (18:05), Presentation College Chaguanas’ Christopher Radhay (18:47), Trinity College Moka’s Asayeis Leith (19:20), and Toco’s Shaquan Olton (19:29).

The SSTF National 5K race not only showcased the athletic excellence of these young competitors but also underscored the importance of fostering talent at the grassroots level. The event was a celebration of sportsmanship, perseverance, and the spirit of competition, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed it.

Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s football team has faced significant criticism following their underwhelming performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Former FIFA vice-president Dr. Jack Warner, speaking to Newsday after receiving his doctorate from the University of Trinidad and Tobago on November 18, expressed his belief that the team did not deserve to advance to the World Cup. Warner highlighted the team’s inability to secure victories against Jamaica and Curaçao, stating, ‘If a team can only beat Bermuda in a group of four and can’t beat Jamaica and Curaçao, they don’t deserve to be in a World Cup.’ He emphasized that the nation should be relieved to avoid further embarrassment on the global stage. Despite his disappointment, Warner, who played a pivotal role in TT’s historic 2006 World Cup qualification, offered his assistance to help rebuild the team, stating, ‘Whenever they ask me, I am here. I have no bitterness.’ TT finished third in Group B with six points, securing only one win against Bermuda. Head coach Dwight Yorke has taken full responsibility for the failed campaign, acknowledging that he could have made different decisions but praised the players’ efforts. As TT concludes their qualifiers against Bermuda, Jamaica and Curaçao vie for the group’s automatic World Cup spot, with Curaçao poised to make history as the smallest nation to qualify.