Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Ariza Credit Union champions youth excellence

    Ariza Credit Union champions youth excellence

    Grenada’s athletic landscape witnessed another historic achievement as St David Track Blazers clinched their remarkable eighth consecutive championship title at the 2026 Ariza National Championships. The dominant performance across both track and field events solidified their position as Grenada’s premier athletic institution.

    The two-day national event, organized by the Grenada Athletic Association (GAA) with sponsorship from Ariza Credit Union, served as the official qualifying competition for the upcoming CARIFTA Games. Several athletes achieved the prestigious CARIFTA standards during the championships, earning them the honor to represent Grenada when the country hosts the regional games from April 4-6, 2026.

    Mervyn Lord, Chief Executive Officer of Ariza Credit Union, expressed immense pride in supporting the national championships: “We are thrilled that Ariza could contribute to your qualification to represent Grenada at the prestigious CARIFTA Games through our support of the Ariza National Championships. We wish our athletes every success as they prepare to represent Grenada.”

    The credit union extended congratulations to all participating athletes, schools, and clubs for their discipline and competitive spirit that contributed to the event’s overall success. Special recognition was given to the Grenada Athletic Association for their meticulous organization and execution of the national championships.

    Ariza Credit Union reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting youth development and sporting excellence throughout Grenada, demonstrating how corporate sponsorship continues to play a vital role in nurturing athletic talent and national pride.

  • Lilliput Rovers can take lead in Zone B of Sandals Major League

    Lilliput Rovers can take lead in Zone B of Sandals Major League

    The St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Major League enters a pivotal weekend with several crucial fixtures set to reshape the Zone B standings. All eyes are on the UDC field where Lilliput Rovers, currently second with five points, have an opportunity to claim the top position. A victory against Montego Bay Boys Club would propel them past Heights FC, who sit just two points ahead but don’t play until Sunday.

    Montego Bay Boys Club enters the match under pressure, having suffered consecutive defeats after a promising season opener. Their defensive vulnerabilities, evident in conceding four goals across their last two appearances, will be severely tested by Lilliput’s attacking prowess.

    Simultaneously, Reggae Youths aim to regain momentum against Granville United at the Granville Community Centre. Despite being held to a goalless draw by Wadada FC previously, Reggae Youths remain favorites against a Granville squad still reeling from a devastating 7-0 defeat to Faulkland FC.

    At WesPow Park, MoBay City FC hosts Bogue FC in what promises to be an engaging contest. Sitting comfortably in third position with four points from two matches, MoBay City is expected to dominate against Bogue FC, who recently celebrated their first seasonal victory.

    The weekend action continues Sunday with league leaders Heights FC facing Cambridge United at Jarrett Park, followed by the formidable Faulkland FC seeking their fourth consecutive win against Wadada FC. The matchweek concludes Monday with Norwood Strikers hosting Real MoBay AFC at Albion.

    All Saturday fixtures kick off simultaneously at 3:30 PM across various venues, setting the stage for significant shifts in the league table.

  • Humble Lion FC look to rebound in JFF Championships

    Humble Lion FC look to rebound in JFF Championships

    The Jamaica Football Championships resume today with a full slate of compelling Zone B fixtures, headlined by Humble Lion FC’s critical home encounter against Petersfield FC at Effortville Community Centre (3:30pm kickoff). Following a surprising 2-0 defeat to STETHS Elite FA last weekend—their first loss this season—Humble Lion dropped to second place. A victory today would propel them past inactive Roaring River and back to the summit, reasserting their status as one of the competition’s most consistent squads. The team will look to key players Nathaniel Henry and Douglas Whitely to engineer a swift return to winning form against a struggling Petersfield side that has managed just one win and two goals in three outings.

    Concurrent matches feature a high-stakes doubleheader at Drax Hall where two St Ann clubs, Lime Hall Academy and Sakka Club Brown’s Town—both locked on 10 points—aim to reignite their campaigns after disappointing draws last weekend. Lime Hall, whose three-game winning streak was snapped in a 1-1 stalemate with WiFi FC, host the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). The army team arrives with momentum after an emphatic 8-0 victory over Progressive FC but has only two wins from five matches. Meanwhile, Sakka Club, fresh from a six-goal thriller (3-3) with Tru-Juice, faces a Meadforest FC squad that has dramatically underperformed relative to last season’s semi-final finish, scoring just once in three games.

    Elsewhere, Reno FC pursues a third consecutive clean-sheet victory against St Bess United, a team mired in a three-game scoring drought. In Trelawny, Duncan’s United—without a goal in three matches—confront a resurgent Falmouth United, who exploded for a 7-0 win over Holland PYC last weekend. Falmouth’s offensive firepower, led by hat-trick hero Kevon Donaldson and four-goal scorer Ahmal Nugent-Hudson, presents a formidable challenge.

    Today’s complete fixture list:
    – Baptist Alliance vs Wifi United FC (York Sports Complex, 3:00pm)
    – Sakka Club Brown’s Town FC vs Meadforest FC (Drax Hall, 1:30pm)
    – Lime Hall Academy vs Jamaica Defence Force (Drax Hall, 3:30pm)
    – Progressive FC vs Tru-Juice FC (Carder Park, 3:30pm)
    – Reno FC vs St Bess United (Llandilo Sports Complex, 3:30pm)
    – Humble Lion FC vs Petersfield FC (Effortville Community Centre, 3:30pm)
    – Duncan’s United vs Falmouth United (Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium)
    – Holland PYC vs STETHS Elite (Lacovia Community Centre)

  • Chavez Penn and Rajay Hemmings winners on first day of Juco Indoor national champs

    Chavez Penn and Rajay Hemmings winners on first day of Juco Indoor national champs

    Jamaican collegiate athletes delivered an impressive performance during the inaugural day of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Indoor Championships in Topeka, Kansas on Friday. The competition witnessed exceptional achievements from Caribbean competitors across multiple track and field disciplines.

    Chavez Penn from Barton County College emerged victorious in the men’s high jump competition, clearing an indoor personal best of 2.15 meters. This triumph followed his ninth-place finish in the long jump event earlier in the day, where he recorded a leap of 7.25 meters.

    In the throwing arena, Rajay Hemmings of Iowa Western Junior College demonstrated consistency with three legal marks in the shot put, topping at 17.78 meters. Hemmings entered the championships with momentum from his NJCAA Region 11 title win, where he achieved an indoor best of 18.06 meters.

    Jamaican female athletes equally distinguished themselves. Natassia Burrell, formerly of Hydel High and now competing for Cloud County, secured second position in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.34 meters. Kahllah Bailey of South Plains College claimed third with a mark of 14.14 meters.

    Barton County’s Celine Riddle earned silver medal honors in the women’s long jump with a best effort of 5.95 meters.

    Numerous Jamaican competitors advanced to Saturday’s finals through outstanding preliminary performances. Mickayla Gardener of Central Arizona College established an NJCAA-leading time of 7.28 seconds in the women’s 60 meters, setting a personal best. The men’s 60 meters will feature Jayval Wright and Raheem Pinnock from Hinds Community College, who clocked 6.64 and 6.65 seconds respectively.

    Hurdles events saw strong Jamaican representation with Shaquane Gordon (Odessa College) leading men’s 60m hurdles qualifying at 7.83 seconds. Barton County teammates Asharria Ulett (8.41 seconds) and Camoy Binger (8.44 seconds) dominated women’s hurdles qualifying.

    Raheem Scott, former ISSA Championships gold medalist from Rusea’s High now at New Mexico Junior College, posted the third-fastest men’s 400 meters qualifying time (46.90 seconds personal best). Cindy Rose of Indian Hills College advanced to the women’s 800 meters final with the third-best qualifying time of 2:17.28 minutes.

  • Shaquane Gordon and Asharria Ulett among five Jamaican winners on Juco Day 2

    Shaquane Gordon and Asharria Ulett among five Jamaican winners on Juco Day 2

    Jamaican collegiate athletes delivered a spectacular performance, securing five individual national titles on the final day of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Indoor Championships in Topeka, Kansas. The event showcased exceptional talent from Caribbean competitors, particularly in sprint and hurdle events.

    Shaquane Gordon of Odessa College, a former ISSA Champs gold medalist, captured the men’s 60m hurdles crown with a dominant time of 7.69 seconds. His victory marked a Jamaican podium sweep, with Matthew Sullivan (Hinds Community College, 7.82s) claiming silver and Shevon Depass (Western Texas College, 7.83s) taking bronze.

    Barton County College’s Asharria Ulett mirrored this success in the women’s equivalent, blazing to victory in 8.25 seconds. She was followed by teammate Camoy Binger (8.40s) in second place, demonstrating Barton County’s hurdle program dominance.

    Central Arizona College’s Mickayla Gardner emerged victorious in the women’s 200m, achieving a personal best of 23.44 seconds. Meanwhile, Jayval Wright of Hinds Community College made history in the men’s 200m, setting both a personal best and new NJCAA record with his blistering 20.62-second finish.

    Keandro Gordon of Barton County rounded out Jamaica’s gold medal performances by capturing the men’s 600m title in a facility record time of 1:16.91, eclipsing the previous mark set in 2023.

    The championships also featured several notable podium finishes from Jamaican athletes across various disciplines. Barton County’s Chavez Penn added a silver medal in the triple jump (15.96m) to his high jump gold from Friday’s competition. Deijanae Bruce (Odessa College) earned silver in the women’s high jump, clearing 1.72m alongside gold medalist Kahdijah Bailey of Iowa Western.

  • ‘Knockay’ Joseph reflects on hard lessons, new hope for athletes

    ‘Knockay’ Joseph reflects on hard lessons, new hope for athletes

    Saint Lucia’s athletic landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, propelled by enhanced funding, superior infrastructure, and advanced technical support. This evolution has catapulted local talents like Julien Alfred, Ackeem Auguste, Daren Sammy, and Vino Barclett into the international spotlight, marking a new era for Caribbean sports.

    The stark contrast between past and present sporting conditions is vividly embodied by Zepherinus ‘Knockay’ Joseph, Mon Repos native and national long-distance running legend. Joseph, who represented Saint Lucia at the 2004 Athens Olympics and still holds multiple national records from 1500m to marathon, faced significant financial hurdles during his peak competitive years. Beyond his athletic achievements, Joseph has dedicated years of service as a police officer.

    In an exclusive revelation, Joseph detailed how systemic obstacles hampered his career progression. Following his Olympic participation, his application for an Olympic Solidarity scholarship was allegedly never submitted by the National Olympic Committee. The then-General Secretary reportedly confronted him about inquiries made directly to Olympic Solidarity regarding scholarship criteria—a move Joseph perceived as discouraging rather than supportive.

    When contacted by St. Lucia Times regarding historical scholarship procedures, SLOC President Alfred Emmanuel declined to address past events, emphasizing his focus on present-day operations: ‘We are in 2026 and my focus is dealing with the present.’

    Despite these historical challenges, Joseph acknowledges substantial improvements in Saint Lucia’s sports development framework. Current athletes benefit from increased opportunities, including international scholarships to institutions in Jamaica—an unthinkable scenario during Joseph’s competitive era. However, he notes a paradoxical decline in athlete participation despite these enhanced resources.

    Looking forward, Joseph remains optimistic about Saint Lucia’s athletic potential but emphasizes the need for proper technical support systems. ‘I envision a few more world titles coming our way,’ he stated, while cautioning that success requires creating the right environment for athletes. Although willing to mentor future generations, Joseph recognizes that formal coaching requires specialized expertise.

    His advice to aspiring athletes emphasizes consistency in training, openness to instruction, and maintaining humility despite local successes: ‘Never allow the little victories we have on home soil to get to their heads.’

  • Wenham Sheppard Possie Cup opener ends with 3-3 draw

    Wenham Sheppard Possie Cup opener ends with 3-3 draw

    The 2026 Wenham Sheppard Possie Cup Invitational kicked off with spectacular drama at Benjamin Park on March 5th, as Roosevelt Skerrit Bombers FC and Marigot United FC battled to an electrifying 3-3 draw in their tournament opener.

    The match exploded into action early when Roosevelt Skerrit Bombers FC established a commanding lead within the opening minutes. Devon George ignited the scoreboard in the 4th minute with a precise finish, followed shortly by an unfortunate own goal from Marigot United that extended the Bombers’ advantage to 2-0.

    As tensions mounted, match official Sabin maintained firm control of the contest, issuing disciplinary actions that would significantly impact the game’s trajectory. Vincent Joseph of Bombers FC received his first yellow card in the 11th minute, with teammate Ursha George following in the 12th minute. The disciplinary pattern continued when Richardo Leblanc was cautioned in the 19th minute. Moments later, Joseph received his second yellow card, resulting in automatic ejection and forcing Bombers FC to continue with ten players.

    Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Bombers demonstrated remarkable resilience. Stephan Martin of Marigot United capitalized on the situation in the 26th minute, scoring to narrow the gap to 2-1. Just when Marigot seemed to gain momentum, Devon George delivered a crucial blow during first-half stoppage time, securing his brace and restoring the Bombers’ two-goal cushion at 3-1.

    The second half witnessed a spectacular comeback from Marigot United. Beron Abraham found the net in the 55th minute, injecting new life into the contest. The equalizer arrived in the 61st minute when Raheem Bazil confidently converted from the penalty spot, leveling the score at 3-3. Both teams pursued a decisive winner in the remaining minutes, but neither could break the deadlock, resulting in a share of the points.

    Tournament organizers emphasized that the Wenham Sheppard Possie Cup Invitational continues to showcase the competitive spirit and football passion within Dominica’s North and Northeast communities. The event underscores community engagement, sportsmanship, and the ongoing development of football across the island.

    Attention now turns to the next fixture scheduled for March 6th at 7:00 PM, featuring Calibishie FC against North Side FC at Benjamin Park. Supporters from Portsmouth, Calibishie, Marigot, and surrounding regions are enthusiastically encouraged to attend and support their local teams throughout the tournament.

  • Rift Widens Inside Canoe Association Ahead of La Ruta Maya

    Rift Widens Inside Canoe Association Ahead of La Ruta Maya

    BELIZE CITY – A deepening internal crisis within the Belize Canoe Association has cast uncertainty over the upcoming La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, one of the nation’s premier sporting events. With just days remaining before the iconic four-day river marathon, the association’s leadership stands publicly divided over a controversial finish line relocation and allegations of organizer mistreatment.

    The conflict emerged when race organizers moved the traditional finish line from the BelCan Bridge to Haulover Creek, triggering immediate backlash from competitors. While paddlers remain committed to participating in the weekend event, significant factions within the sport’s governing body are advocating for protests including boycotting the new finish line and refusing media cooperation with the event’s broadcast partner, Love FM.

    Association President Jesus Linares maintains a conciliatory stance, emphasizing practical considerations given the event’s imminent start. “We can’t change it for this year because the race is Friday,” Linares stated, acknowledging the logistical impossibility of reversing the decision. “Whoever goes must respect the race and its rules.” Linares urged competitors to prioritize safety after four exhausting days on the river, warning that any attempt to continue past the official finish line would occur without safety oversight.

    In stark contrast, Vice President Elvin Penner has emerged as the rebellion’s vocal leader, accusing organizers of longstanding mistreatment of athletes. Penner publicly declared a media blackout against Love FM, stating: “I am not granting Love FM one single interview – not as vice president, not as Elvin Penner, not as Coop Sheet Metal’s team manager.” He framed the protest as a moral stand, challenging fellow association members to join his boycott.

    The safety discourse has become particularly contentious. While Linares characterizes the warnings about continuing past the finish line as legitimate safety concerns, Penner interprets them as intimidation tactics. “The message they sent through our president is: you protest and you drown, we’ll watch you drown,” Penner asserted, framing the organizers’ position as fundamentally antagonistic to competitors.

    This internal rift transcends typical pre-race disagreements, revealing fundamental divisions about athlete representation, organizational transparency, and the balance of power between event organizers and participants. The outcome of this weekend’s event may determine not only the future course of the legendary river challenge but potentially reshape the leadership and governance of Belize’s canoeing community.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Under-20 Football Team Praised After Securing Concacaf Championship Qualification

    Antigua and Barbuda Under-20 Football Team Praised After Securing Concacaf Championship Qualification

    In a landmark achievement for Caribbean football, Antigua and Barbuda’s Under-20 men’s national team has secured qualification for the 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship following a dominant performance in the qualifying rounds. The squad returned home triumphantly on Wednesday after an impeccable campaign where they not only topped their group but also maintained a perfect defensive record without conceding a single goal.

    Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, personally welcomed the team at the airport, characterizing their accomplishment as a moment of national pride. In his official remarks, Matthew emphasized the extraordinary nature of the achievement, noting that the combination of group dominance and defensive perfection represents a significant milestone for the nation’s football program.

    ‘The coaching staff and athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill and discipline throughout this campaign,’ Matthew stated. ‘Their achievement goes beyond mere qualification—it signals the maturation of our youth development systems and the potential for greater international success.’

    The minister further highlighted how the team’s performance reflects the growing competitiveness of Antigua and Barbuda’s football infrastructure, emphasizing that such successes validate ongoing investments in youth sports development. He particularly commended the players for embodying national pride and demonstrating unwavering determination against regional competitors.

    The 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship will showcase the region’s most promising young talent, with teams competing not only for continental supremacy but also for qualification to the prestigious FIFA Under-20 World Cup. This achievement positions Antigua and Barbuda as an emerging force in Caribbean football, with Minister Matthew concluding: ‘This team has illuminated a brilliant future for football in our nation.’

  • Northern/ Northeastern football fans in Dominica gear up for Possie Cup (Invitational) Tournament

    Northern/ Northeastern football fans in Dominica gear up for Possie Cup (Invitational) Tournament

    The northern football community in Dominica is poised for an extraordinary showcase of athletic prowess as the inaugural Possie Cup Invitational Tournament commences at Benjamin Park in Portsmouth. Orchestrated by the Portsmouth Bombers Football Club, this meticulously structured six-team competition promises to highlight elite regional talent while advancing the sport’s development across the island.

    This groundbreaking tournament features a strategic group-stage format with Group A comprising Roosevelt Skerrit Bombers FC, Marigot FC, and BAA Sharks United FC, while Group B pits Central Credit Union Dublanc FC against Calibishie FC and North Side FC. Teams will battle within their groups before top performers advance to the championship final.

    Tournament organizers emphasize the event’s multifaceted mission to elevate competitive standards while strengthening communal bonds through sport. Beyond providing high-caliber preseason preparation, the Possie Cup aims to enhance organizational capabilities, create sponsorship opportunities, and offer valuable exposure for both athletes and match officials.

    The football spectacle kicks off on March 5, 2026, with hosts Roosevelt Skerrit Bombers FC facing Marigot FC in the opening match. The tournament will unfold over several weeks, building toward the grand finale scheduled for March 29, 2026.

    Community engagement remains central to the event’s philosophy, with organizers explicitly inviting supporters from Portsmouth, Marigot, Bense, Calibishie, Dublanc, and beyond to demonstrate regional pride through enthusiastic attendance. The tournament additionally provides a strategic platform for local businesses to align with Dominican football’s growth trajectory.

    Upon conclusion, the competition will recognize excellence through multiple accolades including the Championship Trophy, Runner-Up Award, and individual honors for Most Valuable Player, Top Goal Scorer, and positional excellence across all field roles, complemented by a Fair Play Award.