分类： sports

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has outlined his strategic vision for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Afghanistan, emphasizing player development over immediate results. Speaking upon the team’s arrival in Dubai, Sammy revealed his primary objective is to solidify individual roles within the squad rather than focus solely on winning matches.

The Caribbean squad commenced preparations in Dubai ahead of Monday’s series opener, with batsman Johnson Charles scheduled to join the camp on Saturday. Sammy explained that while victory remains desirable, the management team’s central focus involves ensuring each player develops a comprehensive understanding of their specific responsibilities ahead of June’s ICC T20 World Cup.

“Our paramount concern revolves around role execution, particularly for those athletes who will feature in our World Cup roster,” Sammy stated during a pre-training session interview. “We’ve dedicated the past two years to establishing these specialized roles, and while some players have demonstrated full comprehension, others require further refinement. These matches provide the perfect platform for such development.”

The 16-member squad features several absentees, creating opportunities for emerging talents to press their claims for World Cup selection. Sammy acknowledged the missing personnel but framed their absence as a strategic advantage, allowing management to assess depth options while preparing core players against quality opposition in conditions mirroring those expected in India.

“This series offers invaluable preparation against a formidable Afghan side in conditions comparable to what we’ll encounter at the World Cup,” Sammy noted. “For our younger contingent and fringe players, it represents a chance to build toward future campaigns. For our established players, it provides competitive match practice against world-class opposition.”

The two-time World T20 champions seek to build momentum ahead of their bid for an unprecedented third title, with Sammy expressing optimism about launching their campaign positively despite the incomplete squad availability.

Jamaica’s All-Schools national youth team commenced their CASA Youth Classic title defense in impressive fashion on Friday, securing a commanding 4-0 victory against Tekkerz FC at Lauderhill Sports Park, Florida.

The young Reggae Boyz demonstrated remarkable adaptability and finishing prowess, with St Catherine High’s Kadean Young leading the offensive charge with a brace in the 8th and 76th minutes. Excelsior High’s Kimarly Scott extended the lead shortly after halftime in the 50th minute, while STETHS’ Kaieem Lewis completed the comprehensive victory with a 62nd-minute strike.

Head coach Keon Broderick emphasized the strategic importance of the opening match triumph, noting initial challenges with the artificial turf surface. “The first half began somewhat tentatively as most players were unfamiliar with the astroturf conditions,” Bronderick explained to the Jamaica Observer. “However, once they adjusted to the playing surface, the team settled into an effective rhythm.”

Broderick elaborated on the tactical shift that enabled their second-half dominance: “Our opponents performed commendably in the first period, but our lead forced them to adopt a higher defensive line after halftime. This created exploitable spaces behind their defense which we instructed our players to target with penetrating runs – instructions they executed perfectly.”

While praising the overall performance, the coach maintained perspective: “This represents a solid foundation that we can certainly build upon as the tournament progresses.”

The defending champions continue their campaign against ESP in their second group stage match Saturday evening at 8:30 PM local time, with qualification for Sunday’s championship final as their primary objective.

The Puma JAAA Fuller-Anderson Development Meet at GC Foster College witnessed a spectacular display of sprinting prowess this Saturday, headlined by two of Jamaica’s most promising track stars. Olympic and World Championship silver medalist Kishane Thompson and World Championship relay medalist Tia Clayton emerged victorious in their respective 60-meter dash events, signaling strong early-season form.

In a tightly contested men’s final, Kishane Thompson of MVP Track Club delivered a commanding performance. Launching from lane five, Thompson exhibited formidable power and acceleration to cross the finish line in 6.52 seconds, despite a significant tailwind of +2.8 meters per second. He narrowly edged out a fierce challenge from Sprintec’s Odaine McPherson, who clocked 6.53 seconds. Adding to the race’s prestige, World Championship 200m bronze medalist Bryan Levell of Uptimum Track Club secured third place with a time of 6.54 seconds.

The competition’s intensity was further highlighted in the preliminary heats, where a notable upset occurred. World Indoor 60m bronze medalist Ackeem Blake of Dynamic Track Club was surprisingly defeated, finishing third in his heat with a time of 6.70 seconds. The heat was instead dominated by MVP teammates, with Nishon Ebanks claiming victory in 6.61 seconds and Rohan Eatson following closely in second at 6.63 seconds.

On the women’s side, Tia Clayton delivered a breathtaking performance, executing a flawless race from start to finish. She blazed to a new personal best of 7.02 seconds (aided by a +1.2 m/s wind), decisively shattering her previous record of 7.14 seconds. Clayton faced relentless pressure from her clubmate, Jonielle Smith, who also achieved a personal best of 7.06 seconds to secure the runner-up position.

The field was exceptionally deep, with pre-race favorite Natasha Morrison, who held the season’s fastest entry time of 7.09 seconds, ultimately finishing third in 7.21 seconds. She was followed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Shaniqua Bascome of Uptimum, who set her own personal best of 7.22 seconds. In Section B of the women’s event, the powerful Theianna Lee Terrelonge, a former Edwin Allen High School standout now representing Uptimum, triumphed with a time of 7.23 seconds, which ranked as the sixth-fastest overall on the day, ahead of Utech’s Krystel Sloley (7.31 seconds).

The English Premier League witnessed a significant shift in dynamics this weekend, headlined by a stunning result at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick, commencing his second interim tenure as Manchester United’s manager, masterminded a commanding 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester City. The win, fueled by second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, showcased a revitalized United squad that thoroughly outplayed the reigning champions.

This outcome proved highly beneficial for Arsenal, who nonetheless failed to capitalize fully. The league leaders were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by a resilient Nottingham Forest, missing a chance to extend their lead at the summit. The Gunners’ attack was stifled despite controlling possession, leaving them with a seven-point advantage over a chastened City.

Elsewhere, the pressure intensified for Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank. His side suffered a demoralizing 2-1 home defeat to a struggling West Ham United, prompting audible calls for his dismissal from the Spurs faithful. The loss, sealed by a stoppage-time winner from Callum Wilson, leaves Tottenham languishing in 14th place.

Liverpool also faced disappointment, dropping two critical points in a 1-1 draw with lowly Burnley at Anfield. Despite taking the lead through a Florian Wirtz strike, the Reds conceded a second-half equalizer to Marcus Edwards, a result midfielder Wirtz described as ‘feeling like a defeat.’

In London, Chelsea secured a confident 2-0 win against Brentford under new manager Liam Rosenior, with goals from João Pedro and Cole Palmer. Sunderland edged Crystal Palace 2-1, while Leeds United secured a vital 1-0 victory over Fulham to bolster their survival hopes.

MELBOURNE — The Australian Open 2026 commenced on Sunday with a spectacular lineup of matches featuring top contenders and legendary veterans. World number one Carlos Alcaraz embarks on a historic campaign to complete his career Grand Slam, while defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka seeks redemption after last year’s final defeat.

Alcaraz, the Spanish sensation who has already claimed titles at the US Open, Wimbledon, and Roland Garros, aims to become the youngest male player to achieve a career Grand Slam—surpassing his compatriot Rafael Nadal’s record. The 22-year-old expressed unwavering determination, stating, ‘I’m just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here.’ He begins his quest against local hopeful Adam Walton on Rod Laver Arena.

In the women’s draw, Belarusian powerhouse Sabalenka launches her campaign for a third Melbourne title in four years. Fresh off her victory at the Brisbane International, she faces French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Sabalenka reflected on her strong season start, noting, ‘I can’t complain about my start of the season. I think I played some great matches there, showed great tennis.’

The tournament also witnesses the remarkable return of 45-year-old Venus Williams, who becomes the oldest woman ever to compete at the Australian Open. Despite recent struggles and a current ranking of 576, the seven-time Grand Slam champion remains undaunted: ‘I love challenges, so I’m up for the challenge.’ She faces Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a tough opening match.

Other notable players include last year’s men’s finalist Alexander Zverev, who begins against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, and women’s 12th seed Elina Svitolina, both entering the tournament with recent warm-up event victories.

LONDON, United Kingdom — Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner launched a scathing critique against the club’s board following a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday, marking the Eagles’ tenth consecutive winless match. The Austrian manager expressed profound frustration with the leadership’s transfer policy, claiming his squad has been left undermanned and unsupported.

Glasner, who confirmed his impending departure at season’s end on Friday, faced the latest setback without captain Marc Guehi, who is finalizing a move to Manchester City. This development follows the August sale of playmaker Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and ongoing speculation regarding star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta’s potential transfer to Juventus before January’s window closes.

The manager’s tenure reached its zenith last season when he guided Palace to their historic first major trophy by clinching the FA Cup. However, the team’s title defense ended humiliatingly last weekend with elimination by sixth-tier Macclesfield.

Palace’s performances have noticeably deteriorated in recent weeks, with players appearing physically drained after competing in 34 matches across four competitions this season. Glasner vehemently defended his squad’s effort while directing criticism toward the hierarchy for failing to provide adequate reinforcements.

“I feel we are being abandoned completely,” Glasner told the BBC post-match. “I can’t blame any player—they’ve given everything for weeks and months. With only 12 or 13 available squad members, we feel absolutely no support.”

The manager particularly condemned the timing of Guehi’s departure: “Selling our captain one day before a Premier League match shows zero understanding. This was our first full training week since September, and they undermine our preparation completely.”

Despite the current turmoil, the 51-year-old tactician remains highly regarded, with reported interest from Premier League giants Manchester United and Tottenham for next season.

In a tense Santiago Bernabeu atmosphere, Real Madrid clinched a crucial 2-0 victory over Levante on Saturday, marking a significant rebound for new coach Alvaro Arbeloa following a tumultuous week. The win, fueled by second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Raúl Asencio, narrowed Madrid’s gap with league leaders Barcelona to just one point ahead of their Sunday fixture against Real Sociedad.

The match commenced under a cloud of palpable frustration from home supporters, who directed jeers at star players Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham in response to recent disappointments. These included a painful Spanish Super Cup final loss to Barcelona, the sudden departure of coach Xabi Alonso, and a midweek Copa del Rey elimination to second-tier Albacete. Notably, Mbappé was spared the whistles despite starting, as he continues managing recovery from a knee sprain.

Arbeloa, celebrating his 43rd birthday, acknowledged the fans’ right to express their high expectations, stating, “I’ve always respected the Bernabeu; they whistled me a lot too as a player. It’s one of the aspects that make this club so great, how demanding the fans are.” The first half reflected the strained mood, with the team lacking energy and creating few chances against a Levante side languishing in 19th place.

The second half saw a tactical shift from Arbeloa, introducing substitutes Franco Mastantuono and Arda Güler, which injected much-needed impetus. The breakthrough arrived when Mbappé earned and converted a penalty, notching his 19th league goal this campaign. This goal also marked a personal milestone, being his 50th in just 53 La Liga appearances—a rate marginally slower than the club’s all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved it in 51 games. Asencio later sealed the victory with a precise header from Güler’s corner.

In parallel La Liga action, Villarreal’s aspirations for a historic title challenge suffered a severe blow with a 2-0 defeat at Real Betis. Goals from Aitor Ruibal and Pablo Fornals in the second half secured the victory for Betis, a result compounded by Santi Comesana’s red card for a reckless challenge on Giovani Lo Celso. The loss leaves Villarreal eight points adrift of Barcelona, significantly damaging their championship ambitions. Betis midfielder Dani Parejo lamented the outcome, suggesting a draw would have been a fairer result, citing his team’s creation of clear chances but lack of finishing precision.

Meanwhile, Vedat Muriqi delivered a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick for Mallorca in their 3-2 triumph over Athletic Bilbao.