分类： sports

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In a highly anticipated move, Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that legendary captain Lionel Messi will return to the starting lineup for Tuesday’s international friendly against Zambia. This match marks Argentina’s final appearance on home turf before embarking on their campaign to defend the FIFA World Cup title.

The decision comes after Messi began Friday’s underwhelming 2-1 victory over Mauritania on the bench. Scaloni’s announcement signals a strategic shift to field a full-strength squad against Zambia, providing what he described as ‘the final test’ for his established core players before the global tournament.

While the 38-year-old maestro hasn’t formally committed to World Cup participation, Scaloni expressed strong expectations that Messi will feature in what would be his record-extending sixth World Cup appearance. ‘The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup — which, theoretically, will be his last,’ Scaloni stated. ‘We want him to enjoy it, because later on, you really miss playing in events like these.’

The coach emphasized that Friday’s lackluster performance against Mauritania didn’t reflect the team’s true capabilities. ‘I am convinced that the team’s performance level is not what we saw the other day,’ Scaloni asserted. ‘If we see that the team isn’t quite there, we’ll look for other options. But they deserve a vote of confidence.’

Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary 55-player roster to the Argentina Football Association, with the final 26-man squad scheduled for confirmation by late May. The coach acknowledged that while established players maintain an advantage due to familiarity, they must demonstrate consistent performance levels. ‘Everyone knows what happened the other day cannot be repeated,’ he warned, emphasizing the pursuit of ‘something as close to perfection as we can get’ in squad selection.

The financial stability and developmental trajectory of Jamaican football are poised on a knife’s edge as the national team prepares for its most consequential match in decades. On Tuesday, the Reggae Boyz will face DR Congo in a FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff final in Guadalajara, Mexico, with the victor claiming one of the tournament’s final berths.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts has articulated the profound implications extending far beyond national pride. Qualification would mark Jamaica’s first World Cup appearance since 1998 and inject a minimum of US$10.5 million into the nation’s football infrastructure—funds described as critical for sustaining the sport’s development.

Financial analysis reveals the staggering investment already made: over JMD$500 million expended during the qualification campaign, with nearly JMD$480 million allocated during the final CONCACAF qualifying round between September and November 2025. This substantial expenditure underscores the economic magnitude of Tuesday’s outcome.

Ricketts emphasized the comprehensive benefits of qualification: “Every component of the sport would benefit from an injection of 10 or more million US dollars—from development, commercial, and administrative standpoints.” The president warned that failure to qualify would represent “a major disappointment” with repercussions across Jamaica’s football ecosystem.

The financial context reveals a remarkable turnaround story. The JFF announced last year it was nearing elimination of debt that once exceeded JMD$400 million, achieving financial stability by April 2025 with the removal of its “going concern” status. This hard-won progress could be jeopardized without the World Cup windfall.

With the federation overseeing more than 10 national teams across junior and senior categories plus numerous development programs, Ricketts noted qualification would provide “a shot in the arm” particularly for youth initiatives. “Once we are commercially viable,” he added, “the sky’s the limit.”

Despite previous setbacks in automatic qualification, Ricketts expressed confidence in Jamaica’s technical staff and players, acknowledging the challenging path while maintaining optimism: “The ball is round and anything can happen on the day. We are hoping that the breaks will come our way.”

In a spectacular conclusion to a weather-disrupted five-day event, Jamaica College (JC) and Edwin Allen High School emerged victorious at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, dethroning the reigning champions at Kingston’s National Stadium.

Edwin Allen’s female athletes delivered a commanding performance, amassing 338.5 points to secure their eleventh title since their inaugural win in 2012. This triumph further solidifies coach Michael Dyke’s legacy as one of the championships’ most accomplished mentors. Despite a final victory in the 4x400m relay by Hydel High (3:33.72), who finished ahead of Edwin Allen (3:35.30) and Holmwood Technical (3:39.61), the overall title had already been decisively claimed.

On the boys’ side, Jamaica College ended Kingston College’s four-year dominance with a stylish victory in the Boys’ 4x400m relay, clocking 3:08.18. KC pushed relentlessly throughout the championships but settled for second in 3:08.68, competing without key athlete Jason Pitter. William Knibb secured third place (3:09.23), while Calabar faced disqualification due to a false start. This victory marks JC’s 23rd hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy and their first championship title since 2021, though KC remains the historically most successful institution with 36 titles.

The competition faced significant weather challenges when lightning forced a nearly two-hour suspension at 3:35 pm. Despite the interruption, neither JC nor Edwin Allen lost their competitive momentum in the final sessions.

Notable individual achievements included Ryan Achau of Kenya and St Jago High, who claimed his second gold medal with a spectacular 5,000m victory in 14:42.32—the second-fastest time in championship history. Addison James of Edwin Allen shattered the Boys’ javelin record with an impressive 70.30m throw, surpassing the previous mark of 65.11m set by Tarique Daley in 2025.

Hydel High mounted a formidable challenge throughout the competition, gradually reducing Edwin Allen’s lead from 35.5 to 20 points after 28 of 46 finals. Zavien Bernard led their charge with victory in the Class Two high jump (1.76m), while Keneisha Robinson added gold in the Class Four 70m hurdles (10.68).

Edwin Allen responded through Tiana Godfrey, who set a new record in the Class Three 80m hurdles with 10.80, breaking Camoy Binger’s 2022 mark. The competition intensified as KC similarly pressed JC, narrowing the deficit to 47 points before weather intervened.

Post-event celebrations featured gospel artist Jermaine Edwards performing ‘Beautiful Day’ amidst fireworks, creating a festive atmosphere for the victorious schools. The championships demonstrated exceptional athletic prowess despite challenging conditions, highlighting Jamaica’s continued excellence in track and field development.

In a poignant display of athletic excellence and team spirit, Edwin Allen High School captured its 11th ISSA/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships title in a ceremony at the National Stadium on Friday evening. The victory was marked by a profound tribute to their late teammate, Taneisha Gayle, whose memory was honored with a life-sized cutout prominently displayed during the award presentation. GraceKennedy Chief Executive Officer Frank James presided over the ceremony, personally awarding the championship trophy to the Edwin Allen team. The emotional moment underscored how the team had channeled their grief into determination throughout the competition, ultimately prevailing against strong challengers to maintain their dominant position in Jamaican high school athletics. This championship victory represents not just another title for the institution’s impressive record, but a symbolic triumph of perseverance and unity in the face of tragedy, setting a powerful example for young athletes across the nation.

The Jamaica Premier League enters a decisive phase this weekend with a series of high-stakes encounters that could dramatically reshape the standings. Sunday’s headline fixture features a monumental clash between league leaders Montego Bay United and defending champions Cavalier SC at Jarrett Park, with both teams urgently needing victory to achieve their respective season objectives.

Montego Bay United’s position at the summit has become increasingly precarious, with their advantage narrowing to just three points over second-placed Mt Pleasant FA, who hold two games in hand. MBU’s recent form has shown vulnerability, exemplified by their midweek 1-1 draw with Molynes United following a surprising 3-1 defeat to Chapelton Maroons.

Meanwhile, Cavalier SC arrives at this critical juncture battling to maintain their playoff positioning amid a concerning run of two consecutive losses. The defending champions find themselves fighting to secure a top-six berth as the regular season approaches its conclusion.

The weekend action extends beyond this marquee matchup, with several other compelling contests scheduled. The Portmore derby pits Portmore United against Dunbeholden FC, with Portmore strengthened by the acquisition of former Reggae Boy Corey Burke, who has immediately impacted the scoreboard with goals in his first two appearances.

Chapelton Maroons carry significant momentum into their encounter with Molynes United, riding a wave of consecutive victories that has positioned them within striking distance of the top six. Their opponents, Molynes United, have experienced a concerning decline into the relegation zone.

Harbour View, enjoying a three-match unbeaten streak, face a struggling Tivoli Gardens side that has failed to secure victory in their last four outings. Both clubs will be desperate to collect valuable points to bolster their postseason aspirations.

The weekend concludes with Monday fixtures featuring Racing United versus Treasure Beach, Waterhouse FC against Spanish Town Police, and a potentially season-defining encounter between Arnett Gardens FC and title-chasing Mt Pleasant FA.

Sunday’s full schedule:
– Tivoli Gardens vs Harbour View — Edward Seaga Complex
– Chapelton Maroons vs Molynes United — Turners Oval
– Montego Bay United vs Cavalier SC — Jarrett Park
– Dunbeholden FC vs Portmore United — Dunbeholden Complex

Monday’s matchups:
– Racing United vs Treasure Beach — Anthony Spaulding Complex (5:00 pm)
– Waterhouse FC vs Spanish Town Police — Drewsland (6:00 pm)
– Arnett Gardens FC vs Mt Pleasant FA — Anthony Spaulding Complex (7:30 pm)