分类： sports

A promising young athlete from Saint Lucia has achieved a significant breakthrough in his sporting career, securing an international scholarship through a strategic football recruitment program. Kareem Francis, an accomplished midfielder from Monchy United, has been offered a comprehensive scholarship to attend Ranger College in Texas beginning fall 2026, where he will pursue engineering studies while advancing his football career.

The opportunity emerged from Francis’s standout performance during the Gros Islet Football League Showcase Classic in December 2025, where his technical skills and athleticism captured the attention of international scouts. As both a student at Castries Comprehensive Secondary School and a trainee at the Carlyle Thomas Football Academy (CTFA), Francis has demonstrated exceptional dedication to both academic and athletic pursuits.

His parents expressed profound pride in his achievement. Mother Maria James credited CTFA and Monchy United FC for creating the opportunity, noting that coaches had specifically identified Francis as a player with exceptional potential. “He is very excited, as this surprising opportunity came to hand,” she stated, emphasizing her emotional response as a parent witnessing her son’s success.

Father Kervin Francis highlighted the years of discipline and sacrifice behind this achievement, noting that his son’s success demonstrates how young athletes from the Caribbean region can compete internationally with proper mindset and work ethic. Beyond football, Francis has distinguished himself as a multi-sport athlete, representing Saint Lucia in Under-15 cricket as a top-order batsman and off-spinner, and earning multiple track and field medals during his primary school years.

Ranger College presents an ideal environment for international athletes, with their 2025 roster featuring 17 players from diverse backgrounds including Colombia, England, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Paraguay, Scotland, Spain, and Venezuela. Under Scottish head coach Ross Anderson, now entering his third year with the program, the Rangers completed the 2025 season with six wins and two draws in thirteen matches.

The recruitment initiative behind Francis’s scholarship appears poised to benefit additional Saint Lucian athletes. Scouts Daniel Fragachan and Manuel Hernández of MAD Sports Group are reportedly planning further opportunities for Caribbean players, potentially including a Texas-based showcase event in March.

In a dramatic conclusion to their T20 International series, the West Indies cricket team secured a morale-boosting 15-run victory against Afghanistan in Dubai. Playing for pride after conceding the series in the first two matches, the Caribbean side demonstrated remarkable resilience to claim their first-ever win at the Dubai International Stadium.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan’s decision to field first after winning the toss marked a strategic departure from previous matches, intended to test his squad under varying conditions ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. The West Indies, sent in to bat, built their innings around captain Brandon King’s determined 47 runs from 35 deliveries. Despite struggling to maintain momentum through the middle overs, late explosive contributions from Matthew Forde (27 off 11 balls) and Shamar Springer (16 off 9 balls) propelled the team to 151/7—the highest total recorded in the series.

Afghanistan appeared poised for a clean sweep when openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran established a solid 74-run partnership. However, the West Indies bowlers mounted a spectacular comeback through disciplined line and length, gradually stifling the scoring rate. The match turned decisively in the 19th over when Barbadian all-rounder Shamar Springer achieved a sensational hat trick, dramatically shifting momentum.

With Afghanistan requiring 20 runs from the final over, young bowler Ramon Romario Simmonds delivered under immense pressure, expertly defending the total to secure a memorable victory. This triumph provides crucial momentum for the West Indies as they prepare to face South Africa on January 27 in their final bilateral series before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

In a decisive ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup clash on January 22nd, the West Indies U-19 squad clinched their advancement to the Super 6 round by defeating South Africa. The match, held at the High Performance Oval in Namibia, saw the Caribbean side secure second position in Group D, positioning themselves behind group leaders Afghanistan while accumulating crucial points for the next phase of the tournament.

The encounter was historically significant as West Indies captain Joshua Dorne achieved a new milestone by becoming the most-capped Youth ODI skipper in West Indies U-19 history, surpassing the previous record held by test cricketer Kraigg Brathwaite.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Windies found themselves in trouble at 115-4 after a devastating over that claimed three quick wickets. The innings was resurrected by a magnificent century from Zachary Carter, who dominated the South African bowling attack with 114 runs from just 104 deliveries. Carter forged a critical 78-run partnership with Jonathan van Lange that stabilized the innings and propelled the team to a competitive total of 234 runs.

The Caribbean bowlers then delivered a spectacular performance, consistently applying pressure through disciplined line and length complemented by exceptional fielding. Shaquan Belle emerged as the standout performer, producing a devastating bowling spell that yielded six wickets for 40 runs. His relentless attack dismantled the South African batting lineup, preventing any substantial partnerships from developing and ultimately bowling out the Proteas for 179 runs.

The victory sets up an intriguing Super 6 opening fixture against Ireland U-19, with the West Indies aiming to maintain their winning momentum as they pursue championship glory in the prestigious international tournament.