分类： sports

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The intensity of the ISSA Urban High School Basketball Championships reaches its zenith this week as the semifinal rounds commence in both the Under-16 and Under-19 divisions. The quest for a place in the finals unfolds through a demanding best-of-three series format, with the U-16 matchups scheduled for Monday and the U-19 clashes set for Tuesday.

A remarkable display of athletic prowess sees three institutions—Jamaica College (JC), Campion College, and St. George’s College (STGC)—securing positions in the semifinals for both age categories. They are joined by Wolmer’s Boys’ School in the U-16 bracket and Camperdown High School contending in the U-19 semifinals.

Monday’s U-16 action will feature the defending champions, STGC, hosting Wolmer’s Boys, while Jamaica College travels for an away game against Campion College. Both contests are slated for a 3:00 pm tip-off.

The narrative deepens in the U-19 division, where Jamaica College aims to achieve a prestigious double by defending its senior title. Their path is blocked by a formidable St. George’s College squad, last year’s U-16 champions, now hungry to claim the U-19 trophy and expand their silverware collection.

Duane Cunningham, head coach for Jamaica College, expressed profound excitement for his players across both teams. “JC is one of three schools to have made it to both the U-16 and U-19 semi-finals. I’m excited for the boys who have put a lot of work into being where they are at right now,” Cunningham stated in an interview. He highlighted the unwavering confidence of his undefeated U-19 team while acknowledging the immense talent—and zero margin for error—of his U-16 squad, emphasizing the need to execute perfectly and harness JC’s renowned winning energy against well-coached, quality opponents.

Key players are poised to become decisive factors. Campion College, the defending U-19 champions and also undefeated, are powered by the exceptional talents of Zachary Lawrence, who is coming off a monumental 35-point, 23-rebound performance. JC will counter with a trio of stars: the in-form Oritsematosan Ikolo, who recently scored 21 and 29 points in successive games, alongside Jahlani Jones and Christopher Burgess. For their U-16 ambitions, JC will rely on Jamarie Watson, Siedu Hamm, and Dijon Wallder.

Meanwhile, Clifford Brown, coach of STGC, adopted a measured perspective, recognizing the monumental challenge ahead. “It’s an uphill task trying to win one of two, much less to contemplate winning both titles,” Brown remarked, committing his team to hard work and accepting whatever outcome may come, while hoping for divine support on their competitive journey.

The Light Blues of STGC will pin their U-16 hopes on captain Joshua Thombs, Jesehf McKenzie, and Rico-Hylton Junior. Their U-19 campaign will be spearheaded by captain Rusaughn Bent, Barrington Dennis, and Alexander Bailey, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the semifinal round.

PARIS — In a controversial intervention, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has publicly endorsed calls for football fans to boycott the upcoming World Cup matches in the United States, citing significant security apprehensions. The ex-football administrator aligned himself with remarks made by Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who previously collaborated with FIFA on governance reforms during Blatter’s tenure.

Blatter utilized social media to voice his agreement with Pieth’s assessment, stating, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.” This endorsement follows Pieth’s recent interview with Swiss publication Tages-Anzeiger, where he pointed to specific incidents of alleged state violence as justification for his travel advisory. Pieth referenced the January killing of protester Renee Good by an immigration agent in Minneapolis, an event which was subsequently followed by the death of another US citizen, Alex Pretti, last weekend.

The anti-corruption advocate presented a stark warning to prospective attendees, asserting that domestic developments—including the marginalization of political opponents and abuses by immigration services—create an unwelcoming environment for international visitors. “For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the United States! You’ll get a better view on television anyway,” Pieth advised, adding that authorities would likely deport fans immediately for even minor infractions.

The 2026 World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, represents the first tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Blatter’s involvement comes nearly a decade after his resignation from FIFA’s leadership in 2015 amidst multiple corruption scandals. He was succeeded by current president Gianni Infantino, who has since developed close ties with US political figures including former President Donald Trump.

This latest commentary from Blatter emerges approximately one year after he and former UEFA head Michel Platini were definitively acquitted on charges related to a controversial $2.5 million payment made by FIFA to Platini in 2011. Interestingly, Platini himself recently criticized Infantino’s leadership style, describing him as having “become more of an autocrat” who “likes the rich and powerful.”