分类： sports

The 2025/26 Norman Windball Cricket League quarterfinals delivered thrilling performances and decisive victories, headlined by reigning champions Acono Sauce’s commanding advance. On January 11 at Buggy Haynes recreation ground in Tacarigua, Acono Sauce delivered an emphatic 85-run triumph against Supersonic to secure their premier division semifinal berth.

Acono’s batting lineup demonstrated formidable power, amassing 148 for six within their allotted 12 overs. Opening batsman Hanuman Moonsammy spearheaded the charge with a explosive 63-run performance, receiving substantial support from Raj Persad (23), Sarvesh Dindial (21 not out), and Ariz Khan (17). Supersonic’s response proved inadequate as they struggled to 63 for seven, with only Christopher Calderon (16) and James Sooknarine (10) reaching double figures. Joshua Ramrattan’s bowling excellence (three for 15) effectively dismantled Supersonic’s batting order.

CSK mirrored this dominance with a crushing 68-run victory against More Fire International. Avian Mejias and Imtiaz Mohammed both contributed 24 runs to establish CSK’s total of 109 for five. More Fire’s batting collapsed spectacularly, managing merely 41 for eight against CSK’s relentless bowling attack led by Keron Noreiga’s impressive three for five figures.

The tournament witnessed contrasting contests as Big Drip Heavy Hitters edged Savannah Crew Sports by ten runs in a tense low-scoring encounter. Israel Mangaroo’s 35 runs propelled Heavy Hitters to 77 for seven, ultimately defending their total by restricting Savannah Crew to 67 for seven.

Minibar Reload secured their semifinal position with a 22-run win over Poison Sports. Kadeem Williams (34 not out) and Kapil Harry (22 not out) orchestrated a crucial 54-run partnership to set a competitive target of 82 for three. Poison Sports faltered at 60 for five, overwhelmed by Kyle Dookran’s extraordinary bowling performance of three for two from just two overs.

The competition’s best-of-the-rest bracket saw Knock Squad defeat Backyard Ballers by 31 runs on January 10, highlighted by Kelvin Danpatia’s spectacular six for 14 bowling figures. The tournament continues with best-of-the-rest semifinals scheduled for January 17-18, while premier division semifinals are set for January 25.

In a significant recognition of officiating excellence, Trinidad and Tobago has secured an unprecedented 14 appointments to the FIFA referees panel for 2026. The appointments, announced by FIFA on January 6, include assistant referee Caleb Wales, who previously demonstrated his expertise at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The distinguished roster features referees Timothy Derry, Cecile Hinds, Nikolai Nyron, Andrew Samuel, Crystal Sobers, Kwinsi Williams, and Nathalya Williams. They are joined by assistant referees Kirt Charles, Evelyn Carissa Douglas, Keron Myers, Melissa Nicholas, Shash Ramsaroop, and Ainsley Rochard. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) formally congratulated the officials through a media release on January 12.

TTFA President Kieron Edwards characterized this development as a pivotal moment for the nation’s football community. He emphasized that these appointments result from years of dedicated sacrifice, continuous development, and unwavering commitment to excellence rather than mere chance. Edwards noted that the officials have earned regional and international respect through their disciplined approach and thorough preparation.

The TTFA stated that these appointments not only reflect the consistency and professionalism of Trinidad and Tobago’s refereeing program but also reinforce the country’s reputation for producing officials capable of performing at the highest levels of international football. This achievement underscores the football body’s conviction that Trinidad and Tobago can produce world-class quality both on and off the field, with referees being considered essential components in the growth and development of the sport within the nation.

In a remarkable display of spin bowling prowess, Trinidad and Tobago women’s cricket team secured their inaugural victory at the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze tournament on January 15th. The match, held at Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, St Vincent, witnessed TT defend a modest total of 95/7 by bowling out Windward Islands for 79 with just three deliveries remaining.

The victory was orchestrated primarily by the spin duo of veteran off-spinner Anita Mohammed and emerging talent Samara Ramnath. Mohammed, drawing from her extensive experience as former Red Force skipper, delivered a masterclass with figures of 3/10, while Ramnath complemented brilliantly with 3/12. Their combined effort dismantled Windwards’ batting lineup after they appeared comfortably positioned at 58/5 with eight overs remaining.

TT’s batting performance initially seemed concerning as their top order collapsed dramatically, managing only 18 runs collectively from the first five batters. At a precarious 39/6 after 12 overs, the match seemed slipping away until Mohammed (29*) and Lee-Ann Kirby (28) staged a crucial 54-run partnership that ultimately proved match-winning. Kirby later contributed with the ball as well, claiming 2/8.

In parallel tournament action, Barbados women continued their dominant run with a second consecutive victory, defeating Jamaica by six wickets. Chasing Jamaica’s 110/6, built on contributions from Abigail Bryce and Rashada Williams (both 33), Barbados reached 111/4 with three overs to spare thanks to openers Eboni Brathwaite (36) and Tristan Holder (23).

The tournament resumes on January 17th with TT facing Leeward Islands, Barbados taking on Windwards, and Jamaica meeting Guyana.

The Woodbrook Youth Facility witnessed thrilling conclusions to the Ventures International Indoor Hockey tournament on January 11th, with Queen’s Park Cricket Club I (QPCC I) and Magnolia emerging victorious in the men’s and women’s senior divisions respectively.

In the men’s championship showdown, QPCC I delivered a commanding performance against TT Defence Force, securing a decisive 5-1 victory. Captain Jordan Vieira showcased exceptional leadership and skill, contributing four goals to his team’s triumph. The first half saw QPCC I establish overwhelming dominance with Vieira netting three goals and Evan Farrell adding another, creating an insurmountable 4-0 lead by halftime. Though Defence Force managed to score through Tarrell Singh in the second period, Vieira’s additional goal ensured QPCC I maintained control throughout the match.

The bronze medal in the men’s competition went to TT Police Service, who staged an impressive comeback against Malvern after initially trailing 1-2. The police squad demonstrated remarkable resilience with goals from Caleb Guiseppi, Jordan Reynos, Che Modeste, and Dwain Quan Chan, ultimately prevailing 5-2.

Meanwhile, the women’s final provided equal drama as Magnolia clinched the 2026 title with a narrow 2-1 victory over Paragon. Savannah De Freitas opened the scoring in the 11th minute, followed by Robyn Dash extending the lead in the 22nd minute. Paragon captain Alanna Lewis managed to reduce the deficit just two minutes later, but her team couldn’t find the equalizer despite persistent efforts. The Police women’s team secured third place with a 4-2 win over GT Vibez, powered by Abosaide Cadogan’s impressive hat-trick and additional support from Kyona Sampson.

The tournament also featured competitive action in the mixed veterans division, where Police claimed championship honors with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over QPCC. The match required extra time after ending regulation deadlocked at 2-2, with Wayne Legerton emerging as the hero by scoring the dramatic winner to complete his hat-trick and seal the championship for Police.

In a significant legal victory for national sports governance, the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF) has received judicial authorization to conduct its scheduled selection trials for the 2026 Pan American Track Cycling Championships. The High Court’s ruling, delivered on January 13 by Justice Westmin James, rejected an emergency injunction application that sought to halt the trials scheduled for January 17.

The legal challenge was initiated by Just Living Daily Cycling Academy, Heatwave Cycling Club, and elite cyclists Njisane Phillip, Alexi Costa-Ramirez, and Makaira Wallace. The claimants argued that the January trial timing violated the TTCF’s selection policy requiring trials to be held at least 12 weeks before championships, potentially disadvantaging foreign-based athletes. They further alleged breach of contract, negligence, abuse of power, and breach of legitimate expectation.

Justice James determined that the legal threshold for interim relief had not been satisfied, noting that the claimants’ case appeared relatively weak at this preliminary stage. The judge emphasized that granting an injunction would effectively override democratic decisions made by the federation’s council, which had twice voted to proceed with the January trial schedule.

Critical to the court’s decision was the timing of the legal challenge. Justice James noted that the January trial decision had been known since at least September 2025, yet the application was filed mere days before the scheduled trials. The judge found this delay significant and noted the claimants had provided no satisfactory explanation for their tardiness in seeking relief.

The court also identified material non-disclosure issues, noting that claimants had failed to reveal their participation in earlier planning and emergency meetings regarding the trial schedule. Justice James further ruled that financial damages would constitute adequate remedy should the claimants ultimately prevail in their case, as any losses from non-selection or missed opportunities could be compensated monetarily.

TTCF president Rowena Williams welcomed the ruling, stating it provides clarity and reassurance for all stakeholders. The federation emphasized its commitment to conducting fair, transparent, and well-managed trials that serve the best interests of Trinidad and Tobago’s cycling community.