分类： sports

Hillview College has cemented its place in the 2026 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premier Division after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Palo Seco Secondary on November 8. The match, held at Hillview’s home ground in Tunapuna, marked the culmination of a stellar season for the east zone champions. With this win, Hillview completed a perfect run in the First Citizens Boys’ “Big 5” playoffs, securing nine points from three consecutive victories. The team had previously triumphed over Presentation College Chaguanas and Mucurapo West Secondary, showcasing their dominance in the championship division. The game against Palo Seco was a tense affair, with Hillview taking the lead in the 40th minute through Ky’Mani Prieto. However, Palo Seco equalized in the 66th minute after Akil Baptiste capitalized on a goalkeeping error. Despite Palo Seco goalkeeper Kristan Woods’ heroic saves, which earned him the MVP award, Hillview’s Jahmarley Ellis sealed the win with an 82nd-minute goal. This loss marked Palo Seco’s second consecutive defeat in the tournament. The Big 5 playoffs will continue on November 12, with Hillview hosting Speyside Secondary and Palo Seco facing Presentation College Chaguanas. Speyside, the Tobago championship division winners, are yet to play a match due to postponements. The top three teams in the Big 5 will advance to the 2026 SSFL Premier Division.

In a historic achievement for Trinidad and Tobago, young gymnast Yandy Stafford clinched the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup held in El Salvador on November 6. Stafford triumphed in the vault event, delivering a flawless performance that earned her a score of 13.35 and a place in the record books. This milestone marks a significant moment for Trinidad and Tobago in the realm of international gymnastics.

Stafford was part of a five-member national team that traveled to El Salvador on November 3 to compete against some of the region’s most talented young gymnasts. The team included Shanika Joseph, Asia Ali, Zariah Gittens-Dopwell, and Caeli La Roche, representing both the Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) hopes level two and level one divisions. All five athletes participated in the all-around competition on November 5, with Stafford finishing fifth in her division with a total score of 46.75.

On the second day of competition, Stafford showcased her versatility by qualifying for three event finals: vault, beam, and floor. While she placed sixth in the floor exercise with a score of 11.45, her defining moment came during the vault finals. Executing a Yurchenko pike vault with precision and a perfect landing, Stafford secured the gold medal, a first for Trinidad and Tobago in this prestigious event. She later concluded her day with a seventh-place finish on the beam.

The Pan American Junior and Youth Artistic Gymnastics Cup is a biennial event aimed at preparing young athletes for senior elite competition by the age of 16. Following their strong performances in El Salvador, Stafford and her teammates are now gearing up for their next challenge: the 2025 Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which will be hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) in Couva on December 6 and 7.

The stage is set for an electrifying showdown as the semifinals of the RBC Royal Slam College Basketball competition kick off on November 8 at the Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua. Four elite schools will battle for a spot in the championship, with Fatima College, Presentation College San Fernando, St Mary’s College, and Queen’s Royal College (QRC) vying for glory. The action begins at 4 pm with Fatima College taking on Presentation College, followed by St Mary’s College facing QRC at 6 pm. The stakes are high, as the winners will advance to the gold-medal match on November 9 at noon, while the third-place playoff will commence at 10 am. The semifinalists have little time to recover, making endurance and strategy crucial. Fatima College enters the semifinals with momentum, having dominated QRC 112-67 in their final preliminary-round game on October 26, thanks to standout performances from Williams Francis, Zachary Julien, and Idriis Martin. St Mary’s College also impressed, securing their Group B victory with a 96-83 win over St Anthony’s College on October 25, led by Nkobi Ince’s 35 points and Zane Peters’ 31 points. This weekend, one of these four teams will emerge victorious, claiming the prestigious RBC Royal Slam title and etching their name in college basketball history.

In a tightly contested rescheduled Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premiership fixture, Trinity College (Moka) and San Juan North Secondary played to a 1-1 draw at Trinity College Grounds in Maraval on November 7. San Juan North, currently positioned 13th in the 16-team league, took the lead in the first half with a goal from Malique Marrast. However, Trinity Moka quickly responded as Anton Joseph equalized before halftime. Despite both teams pushing for a decisive goal in the second half, neither could break the stalemate, resulting in a shared point. The outcome had minimal impact on the league standings, with Trinity remaining in sixth place and San Juan North holding onto their 13th position, just two points above the relegation zone. Both teams have one league match remaining to conclude their campaigns.

The TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) is set to witness an early-season blockbuster as defending champions Defence Force face off against title contenders Miscellaneous Police FC on November 9 at the St Police Barracks. The match, scheduled for 7 pm, promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the league’s most formidable teams. Police FC has begun the 2025/26 season in dominant fashion, securing back-to-back victories. They opened their campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over San Juan Jabloteh on October 24, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against MIC Central FC Reboot on November 1. In contrast, Defence Force has struggled to find their rhythm, starting their title defense with two consecutive draws. They were held to a goalless stalemate by 2023/24 champions AC Port of Spain in their opener and then squandered a lead to draw 2-2 with FC Eagles on October 31, conceding a late stoppage-time goal. Despite their slow start, Police FC coach Todd Ryan remains wary of the defending champions. ‘Police and Army, that’s probably the biggest rivalry in top-tier football,’ Ryan remarked. ‘We don’t care what start they got…they’re still unbeaten from last season. We need to ensure they stay at the bottom of us.’ Ryan emphasized the importance of this match, calling it a ‘local derby’ and a crucial step toward achieving their ultimate goal: qualifying for Concacaf football. Meanwhile, Defence Force’s interim coach Devorn Jorsling remains optimistic, dismissing their early struggles as a temporary setback. ‘When the smoke clears, we will be champions of the league,’ Jorsling asserted. The clash is part of a packed matchday, with Caledonia AIA vs. Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and AC Port of Spain vs. FC Eagles also set to take place on November 9.

As the FIFA international match window approaches, Trinidad and Tobago (TT) men’s football team coach Dwight Yorke is leaving no stone unturned in preparing his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. With critical matches against Jamaica on November 13 and Bermuda on November 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Yorke has been conducting intensive training sessions to ensure his team is in peak condition.