分类： sports

In a dramatic opening chapter to his tenure, Scottish-born coach James Baird has experienced both triumph and setback as the newly-appointed leader of TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) club 1976 FC Phoenix. The Tobago-based team’s recent performances reflect the challenges ahead, with a promising 2-1 debut victory against Point Fortin Civic on December 14 quickly overshadowed by a disappointing 4-1 defeat to FC Eagles just one week later.

The 42-year-old former goalkeeper brings extensive international experience to Phoenix, having played professionally across Scotland, Iceland, the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago. His coaching credentials include positions with the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and most notably as goalkeeper coach for the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team in 2021.

Baird’s connection to Tobago runs deep, having married on the island and previously played for Tobago United in 2007 during what he describes as a career ‘down spell.’ This personal history makes his current role particularly meaningful. ‘Tobago means a lot to me. To coach a Tobago team is something special,’ Baird told Newsday in a recent interview.

Despite Phoenix’s precarious position—just two points above last place in the 12-team league—Baird maintains realistic optimism. His immediate target is a mid-table finish this season, with ambitions to build a more competitive squad in subsequent years. ‘If we could get a little extra in the transfer window, I think we could make a push for mid-table,’ Baird stated, emphasizing the importance of creating an attractive environment for players despite geographical challenges.

The coach identified several key players including defender Jeremiah Bristol, midfielder Antonio Pantin, veteran Trevin Caesar, and forward Teejay Cadiz—who leads the league with eight goals—as foundations for improvement. Baird believes the marginal nature of Phoenix’s defeats demonstrates untapped potential rather than fundamental inadequacy.

Baird’s coaching philosophy emphasizes tactical sophistication over his goalkeeping background, favoring aggressive, high-intensity football. With their Boxing Day match against Caledonia postponed, Phoenix and their Scottish coach now look toward 2026 as an opportunity to transform their struggling season into a redemption story.

Trinidad and Tobago’s boxing representatives demonstrated exceptional prowess at the Ronald Wilson Memorial tournament, hosted by the Barbados Boxing Association on December 19. The event, held at Bridgetown’s Graydon Sealy Secondary School, featured seven competitive bouts including three schoolboy matches representing various local gyms.

In the women’s welterweight division (65 kg), Tianna Guy delivered a commanding performance against Barbados’ Tiffany Delice. Guy established dominance from the opening bell with precise combinations of jabs and power punches that disrupted her opponent’s rhythm. The Trinidadian contender maintained relentless pressure throughout the second round, forcing the referee to halt the contest and award Guy a decisive technical victory.

The heavyweight division (80+ kg) witnessed an impressive rematch between TT’s Eyed George and Bajan boxer Kemara Stuart. Their encounter marked a repeat of November’s Golden Fist Promotions’ Fight Night II event in Petit Valley. George showcased superior technique and determination, ultimately securing victory through unanimous decision from the judges.

The tournament also highlighted emerging talent through schoolboy bouts featuring competitors from Downes Gym, Four Hill Gym, and Shaka School. Notable victories included Shaka School’s Malachi Estwick and Jaden Shorte, along with Four Hill’s Damarie Jack. International participants from Guadeloupe, Gueliann Mirre and Ethan Procrain, triumphed in their light middleweight and welterweight matches against Barbadian opponents Jaquan Grant and Nathan Walcott.

Miscellaneous Police FC has claimed the top position in the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) standings just before the Christmas holiday, following a crucial 2-1 victory over third-placed Club Sando at St James Police Barracks on December 20. This result propelled Police FC to 22 points, establishing a narrow two-point advantage over defending champions Defence Force, who remain undefeated this season with 20 points from eight matches.

The league’s Boxing Day fixtures promise high-stakes drama with an anticipated double-header at Sangre Grande recreation ground. Defence Force will face last season’s runners-up MIC Central FC Reboot at 5 pm, followed by Police FC’s encounter with fourth-placed Prisons FC at 7 pm. Prisons, despite beginning the season with five consecutive wins, have recently struggled with three losses in their last four outings.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, FC Eagles orchestrated a remarkable resurgence with a 4-1 triumph over 1976 FC Phoenix at Mahaica Sporting Complex. Despite conceding an early goal to league top scorer Teejay Cadiz—his eighth of the season—Eagles mounted an impressive comeback. Coach Reshad Wint’s strategic double substitution at halftime proved instrumental, with Jomoul Francois scoring twice in his return from a two-year injury absence and Miquel Williams providing dynamic wing play.

In the subsequent Mahaica fixture, Caledonia AIA delivered a commanding 4-0 performance against hosts Civic, featuring a first-half brace from Malachi Celestine complemented by goals from Jariel Arthur and Ernesto Rodriguez.

The December 20 action also saw AC Port of Spain climb to sixth position with a 2-1 victory over Prisons, while Police FC’s winning goal against Club Sando came from Tobago-born striker Mickaeel ‘Jem’ Gordon during first-half stoppage time after goalkeeper Teshorne Ragoo mishandled a right-side cross.

Current TTPFL Tier One Standings:
1. Police FC: 22 pts (9 matches)
2. Defence Force: 20 pts (8 matches)
3. Club Sando: 18 pts (9 matches)
4. Prisons FC: 16 pts (9 matches)
5. MIC Central FC: 16 pts (9 matches)
6. AC Port of Spain: 14 pts (9 matches)
7. Jabloteh: 12 pts (9 matches)
8. Caledonia AIA: 10 pts (8 matches)
9. Point Fortin: 7 pts (9 matches)
10. 1976 FC Phoenix: 6 pts (9 matches)
11. Eagles FC: 4 pts (8 matches)
12. La Horquetta Rangers: 4 pts (8 matches)

In a stunning display of resilience and skill, The Chosen Few quartet overcame early tournament adversity to capture victory at the New Chapter Global Sports Academy (NCA) GENESIS 3×3 Basketball Series. The dramatic finals unfolded on December 20 at Princess Royal Basketball Court in Arima, where eight carefully drafted teams competed in the fast-paced basketball format.

The tournament journey proved particularly challenging for The Chosen Few—comprising Samuel Edwards, Matthias Phillips, Kai Sunich, and standout performer Jervais Edwards-Caracciolo—who concluded the group phase with a disappointing 0-3 record. Entering the knockout stage as considerable underdogs, the team miraculously found their rhythm and embarked on an impressive winning streak that ultimately propelled them to the championship match against The Mighty Men.

Led by tournament Most Valuable Player Taalib Daniel, The Mighty Men established early dominance in the final, racing to a commanding 5-0 advantage. However, The Chosen Few mounted a spectacular comeback through enhanced defensive coordination and strategic offensive execution. The match evolved into an intense back-and-forth contest with both teams exchanging scores under mounting pressure.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived with under three minutes remaining when Edwards-Caracciolo seized control, delivering a spectacular 14-point performance that shifted momentum decisively in his team’s favor. Their remarkable resurgence culminated in a 21-17 victory against the previously dominant opponents.

Despite the loss, Daniel’s exceptional tournament performance deserved recognition, as he contributed 12 points during the final match and accumulated 49 points throughout the competition. In the third-place playoff, The Watchmen secured bronze medal honors with a 15-12 victory against The Ark Builders, powered by Antonio Vasquez’s 11-point contribution.

The GENESIS tournament represents a strategic initiative by NCA to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s international presence in 3×3 basketball. Academy officials emphasized their commitment to developing young athletic talent through meaningful competitive exposure and creating structured pathways toward international competitions, including qualification for the 2026 FIBA 3X3 Under-18 World Cup.

In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 East Zone Division Two table tennis championship, Warrenville United Table Tennis Club emerged victorious following a decisive 8-1 triumph over Arima Table Tennis Club. The final matches, held at Arima New Government Primary School on December 21, capped off an intense six-round, four-team round robin tournament that saw Warrenville and Hawks finish level on ten points each.

The championship was ultimately determined by the slimmest of margins—superior win-loss ratio—with Warrenville’s record of 33 games won against 21 losses narrowly outperforming Hawks’ 30 wins and 24 losses. This mathematical advantage secured the title for Warrenville despite the points deadlock.

Warrenville’s triumph was spearheaded by an exceptional team performance. Shahjahan Khan and Samir Hosein maintained perfect records in the final contest, both remaining undefeated throughout their matches. Triston Soomarie contributed significantly with two victories from his three encounters, demonstrating remarkable resilience after suffering a single defeat.

The individual matches showcased exceptional skill and determination. Khan delivered particularly impressive performances, including a hard-fought five-set victory against Kenny Second (11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10) that demonstrated tremendous composure under pressure. Hosein’s consistent dominance was evident throughout his straight-sets victories against multiple opponents.

Supporting players Jewel Serrette, Justin Bachan, and Adeeb Rajab provided crucial contributions during earlier rounds, building the foundation for Warrenville’s eventual championship success.

In the final standings, Wasa secured third position with nine points (29 wins, 25 losses), while Arima finished fourth with seven points and a 16-38 win-loss ratio. Individual honors went to Wasa’s Joel Henry, who recorded the tournament’s highest individual match wins at 17, followed by Hawks’ Emmanuel Chuniesingh (16 wins) and Warrenville’s Khan (13 wins).

The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) has recognized FIDE Master Quinn Cabralis as its most outstanding player of 2025 following a remarkably dominant competitive season. Cabralis achieved his breakthrough by capturing the National Chess Championship title in September, completing the tournament undefeated against eleven national finalists at Cascadia Hotel in St. Ann’s. His impressive record included eight victories and three draws, marking a significant career milestone after illness forced his withdrawal from the previous year’s finals.

Cabralis maintained his winning momentum throughout the year, securing third place in the National Blitz Tournament and claiming victory in the National Swiss Tournament at Hillview College in El Dorado during November—again without suffering a single defeat. His earlier success included winning the second National Qualifier in Arima last May.

The newly crowned national champion demonstrated remarkable consistency across all chess formats, simultaneously elevating his international FIDE rating in every discipline and solidifying his status as Trinidad and Tobago’s premier chess competitor.

In women’s chess, Aradhana Ramnarine Singh emerged as the standout female player of the year after achieving a rare feat—becoming only the second player in three years to defeat Venezuela-born Women’s FIDE Master Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez (who now represents Trinidad and Tobago) in the national female finals. Singh continued to excel throughout the competitive calendar, securing third place in the Female National Swiss Tournament and finishing as runner-up in the National Rapid Tournament among women competitors.

The current national girls’ U18 champion represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Central American and Caribbean Youth Championship in Puerto Rico earlier this month. Despite missing several tournaments due to academic commitments at Naparima Girls’ High School, Singh established herself as one of the country’s top female junior players under the guidance of coach Dev Soondarsingh.

The TTCA underwent administrative changes in 2025 with Sandy Razark assuming the presidency. The association also mourned the passing of long-serving member Roderick Noel in August, who served as FIDE rating officer and was remembered for his dedicated contributions to local chess development.

Looking forward, the TTCA is preparing to field both male and female teams at the 46th World Chess Olympiad scheduled for September next year in Uzbekistan.