Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Charles struggles while Holder and Powell shine at ILT20 2025

    Charles struggles while Holder and Powell shine at ILT20 2025

    The recently concluded ILT20 2025/26 season presented divergent narratives for West Indian cricketers, with Saint Lucia’s Johnson Charles experiencing a notably subdued campaign compared to his explosive 2025 performance. Representing the Sharjah Warriorz, Charles concluded the tournament with a modest average of 24.40, failing to secure positions among the league’s elite run-scorers or strike-rate leaders, ultimately finishing at 16th overall.

    The tournament’s batting dominance was instead demonstrated by Sam Curran, crowned Player of the Series with 397 runs, and Muhammad Waseem who amassed 370 runs. Charles’ contributions were limited to sporadic highlights, including a solid 77-run innings against the MI Emirates and two scores of 43 against the Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers. These inconsistent performances raise significant questions regarding his selection prospects for the imminent T20 World Cup, scheduled for February in India and Sri Lanka.

    In stark contrast, Barbadian all-rounder Jason Holder orchestrated an exceptional tournament while captaining the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The towering cricketer finished joint third in the bowling rankings, claiming 15 wickets at an impressive average of 16.33, including best figures of 3/18 against the Dubai Capitals. Holder additionally contributed valuable cameos with the bat throughout the competition.

    The Knight Riders’ coaching staff featured West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo as Head Coach, supported by deputy Ottis Gibson, creating a distinctly Caribbean leadership environment. Further highlighting West Indian prowess, Rovman Powell secured seventh position in the overall batting rankings, averaging 38.42 with an unbeaten top score of 96, reinforcing the region’s continued cricketing talent despite Charles’ underwhelming season.

  • Government prioritises basketball development with major upgrades and plans for indoor facility

    Government prioritises basketball development with major upgrades and plans for indoor facility

    The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has embarked on an ambitious basketball infrastructure development program, signaling a new era for the sport nationwide. Minister of Sport Samal Duggins has confirmed that a state-of-the-art indoor basketball facility will be constructed at Warner Park as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the multi-purpose sports complex.

    While long-term plans progress, the government has immediately allocated approximately EC $400,000 (Eastern Caribbean dollars) for significant upgrades to Basketball City at Victoria Road. The extensive renovations include complete demolition and reconstruction of the court foundation to international standards, removal of obstructive older structures, installation of modern drainage systems, replacement of spectator bleachers and seating supports, and comprehensive modernization of lighting systems that previously hampered viewing experiences. Additional improvements encompass renovated bathroom facilities and dressing rooms.

    Glenville Jeffers, President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Basketball Association (SKNABA), emphasized the critical nature of these investments, noting that no major renovations had been undertaken at Basketball City since the 1980s. Jeffers highlighted the dual benefit of maintaining outdoor facilities alongside future indoor developments, stating that outdoor venues remain essential for national competitions, revenue generation, summer camps, and community access.

    Minister Duggins acknowledged the nostalgic significance of Basketball City while stressing the necessity of modern indoor facilities for the sport’s advancement. The government has developed three distinct design concepts for indoor facilities and is proceeding with construction plans accordingly. The initiative aims not only to elevate basketball development but also to strengthen community bonds through organized sports rivalries and increased accessibility for neighboring educational institutions including Washington Archibald and Basseterre High Schools.

  • From ‘choking’ to champions: Babonneau’s cricketing transformation

    From ‘choking’ to champions: Babonneau’s cricketing transformation

    The cricketing landscape of Babonneau has undergone a remarkable transformation, achieving unprecedented success in the 2025 season. The men’s squad emerged as Prime Minister’s Cup champions and reached the semifinals of the Premier Two-Day Cup, a significant improvement from their group stage exits the previous year. Simultaneously, the Under-13 team made history by advancing to the finals of the inaugural youth cricket championship.

    Central to this athletic renaissance is Head Coach Jervaughn Charles, an educator who identified psychological barriers as the primary obstacle to success. “Inconsistent performance has historically plagued our teams,” Charles revealed in an exclusive interview with St. Lucia Times. “We frequently faltered during critical moments. For 2025, we established a clear objective: to compete at the highest level across all formats with unwavering self-belief.”

    The program’s training methodology underwent comprehensive restructuring to overcome environmental challenges. Charles described previous training conditions as “dicey” due to unpredictable weather patterns. Rather than conceding to meteorological limitations, the team intensified their focus during available practice windows, implementing a rigorous five-day weekly regimen complemented by practice matches.

    A groundbreaking innovation emerged with the “Clash of the Leatherbacks” Youth Tournament—a seven-match series featuring three competing teams: Snapping Strikers, Hawksbill Hitters, and Terrapin Thumpers. This skill-based competition awarded points for batting, bowling, and fielding proficiency during group stages, providing invaluable development opportunities for emerging talents.

    “The tournament produced remarkably noticeable improvements in our youth players,” Charles observed. “It enabled precise identification of individual strengths and weaknesses that will inform our 2026 development strategy.”

    This cricketing revolution received crucial support from sponsors including the National Lotteries Authority, Hot Ink Printing, B.T.S.M., Golden Eggs, and former MP Virginia Albert Poyotte. Despite persistent infrastructure challenges common across the island, Babonneau Cricket remains committed to expanding participation across age groups, enhancing facilities, and establishing women’s cricket programs to build upon this year’s extraordinary achievements.

  • BNA president hopeful revamped domestic action can begin in March

    BNA president hopeful revamped domestic action can begin in March

    In a significant development for Caribbean netball, newly re-elected Barbados Netball Association (BNA) President Nisha Craigwell has outlined comprehensive plans for the upcoming domestic season while addressing ongoing facility upgrades and international commitments. Craigwell, who recently secured her second presidential term, expressed cautious optimism about the Netball Stadium redevelopment project’s completion timeline, targeting alignment with the association’s March 15 anniversary date for season commencement. The BNA leadership acknowledges that the stadium’s readiness will fundamentally determine whether games proceed at the traditional venue or transition to community-based locations throughout Barbados. Craigwell revealed transformative intentions for restructuring the domestic competition format, citing the need to reignite excitement among participants where approximately 90% engage purely at recreational levels rather than national team aspirations. Historically featuring up to eight divisions and seventy teams, the association recognizes the administrative challenges of this expansive structure and intends to implement strategic modifications. These changes aim to enhance both competitive quality and management efficiency while strengthening the pipeline for national team development. Concurrently, Barbados’ netball program maintains ambitious international engagements including the Under-16 regional tournament in Trinidad (April 10-18), CAC Games in the Dominican Republic (July), and World Cup Qualifiers in St. Vincent. The stadium renovation, reportedly progressing toward late March completion, represents a critical infrastructure component supporting both community participation and elite athlete development throughout the netball ecosystem.

  • Another ‘blow to sports’ in the west, says Smith after WA president visit called off

    Another ‘blow to sports’ in the west, says Smith after WA president visit called off

    Jamaica’s western sporting community has suffered a significant setback following the abrupt cancellation of World Athletics President Lord Sebastian Coe’s scheduled visit to the hurricane-damaged Montego Bay Sports Complex. Stephen Smith, President of the County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA), characterized the cancelled Tuesday visit as “another blow to sports” in the region, highlighting ongoing neglect of athletic infrastructure in western Jamaica.

    The cancellation appears directly linked to protracted ownership uncertainties surrounding the multi-sport facility, which sustained severe damage during Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Lord Coe had specifically interrupted his vacation in Turks and Caicos to assess hurricane damage and meet with track and field stakeholders regarding potential support mechanisms from World Athletics.

    Smith expressed profound disappointment, noting that local representatives had anticipated productive discussions about revitalizing the deteriorated facility. “We were hoping that we would have had some good news from Lord Coe,” Smith stated, suggesting even partial assistance from World Athletics could catalyze additional government or private sector investment.

    The complex’s track, originally laid in 2002, has remained unusable since 2018 due to hazardous conditions that render it dangerous for athletic competition. This deterioration compounds existing challenges for western Jamaican sports programs, with both football and track and field suffering from inadequate facilities.

    Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle acknowledged uncertainties regarding appropriate counterparts in Montego Bay contributed to the visit’s cancellation. The facility’s management has been in limbo since November 2024, when Montego Bay Multi Sports Development Limited submitted the sole bid to operate the complex to the St James Municipal Council—a proposal that remains unanswered after fourteen months.

    The situation underscores broader concerns about infrastructure investment disparities in Jamaican sports, particularly in regions outside the capital.

  • Alex Thomas to be assistant coach to Argentine Javier Ainstein at Waterhouse

    Alex Thomas to be assistant coach to Argentine Javier Ainstein at Waterhouse

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Waterhouse FC has strategically strengthened its coaching staff by appointing Alex Thomas as assistant coach to work alongside head coach Javier Ainstein for the remainder of the season. The appointment marks a significant development for the Jamaican football club as it seeks to enhance its technical leadership.

    Thomas brings substantial coaching expertise to his new role, having previously served as head coach at both Arnett Gardens and Molynes United. He replaces Jermaine Miller, who had been serving as interim coach following Marcel Gayle’s dismissal in December. Thomas’s most recent achievement includes leading Hydel High to the quarterfinals of the prestigious ISSA Manning Cup competition.

    The collaboration between Thomas and Ainstein shows immediate promise, with sources indicating the two coaches established strong alignment on strategic direction during their initial meeting this Tuesday. Thomas’s coaching credentials extend beyond Jamaica, having previously managed Slingerz FC in Guyana where he guided the team to an impressive second-place league finish while maintaining an unbeaten record throughout 2024.

    Football excellence runs deep in the Thomas family legacy. The 42-year-old coach follows in the footsteps of his older brothers, including the late Omar Thomas and former Reggae Boyz captain Shavar Thomas, who was recently appointed head coach of Connecticut United in the United States’ second-tier MLS competition.

    Alex Thomas’s football pedigree includes both playing and leadership experience at the highest levels. He represented Wolmer’s Boys in the Manning Cup and achieved the historic distinction of captaining Jamaica’s first youth team to qualify for a World Cup—the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand. Two years later, he contributed to Jamaica’s second youth World Cup qualification for the 2001 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, which was captained by his brother Shavar.

    Thomas’s international experience extends to the senior national team, having earned one cap for the Reggae Boyz under Serbian coach Bora Milutinović during the Lunar Cup tournament in China.

  • Argentine hired to ‘re-energise’ Waterhouse, push for Concacaf qualification

    Argentine hired to ‘re-energise’ Waterhouse, push for Concacaf qualification

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a strategic move to revitalize their campaign, Waterhouse Football Club has announced the immediate appointment of Argentine tactician Javier Ainstein as head coach. The UEFA A licensed professional takes charge of the eighth-placed team with a clear mandate: to secure CONCACAF qualification during the critical second half of the Jamaica Premier League season.

    The club’s Wednesday release emphasized that Ainstein’s extensive 15-year coaching pedigree across both CONMEBOL and CONCACAF regions brings unique tactical sophistication and player development expertise. Having meticulously studied the Jamaica Premier League for years, the Argentine has already assimilated rapidly into the club’s Drewsland environment.

    Club President Donovan White articulated the strategic vision behind the appointment: ‘Securing CONCACAF qualification remains our definitive objective this season. Coach Ainstein embodies the discipline, competitive mentality, and innovative approach essential for rejuvenating our squad’s push toward international qualification.’

    Chairman Bruce Bicknell reinforced the comprehensive nature of this transition, noting Ainstein’s central role in shaping transfer window strategies. ‘We’re strategically leveraging this transfer period in consultation with Coach Ainstein to enhance squad quality and competitive balance. Our focus is unequivocally fixed on ascending the standings and achieving our seasonal targets.’

    The appointment signals Waterhouse FC’s commitment to implementing international best practices and innovative methodologies as they endeavor to reclaim regional prominence. The club’s next challenge arrives Sunday at Waterhouse Mini Stadium in a highly anticipated 7:30 PM showdown against defending champions Cavaliers SC, offering an immediate test for the new coaching regime.

  • Coach Nurse: WI U-19s ready for anything at Youth World Cup

    Coach Nurse: WI U-19s ready for anything at Youth World Cup

    With unwavering confidence and thorough preparation, the West Indies men’s under-19 cricket team has commenced their campaign for ICC World Cup glory in Africa. Head coach Rohan Nurse declared his squad fully equipped to handle diverse challenges—from formidable opponents to arid pitch conditions—as they pursue cricket’s most prestigious youth championship running from January 15 to February 6.

    The 15-member contingent, featuring captain Joshua Dorne and 2024 World Cup standout Jewel Andrew, departed from Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport on January 6. Their journey follows an impressive preparatory phase that included Youth ODI series victories against Sri Lanka (4-3) and England (5-2) in late 2025, providing crucial momentum ahead of the global tournament co-hosted by Namibia and Zimbabwe.

    West Indies will engage in preparatory matches against Ireland (January 10) and Japan (January 13) before launching their Group D campaign against Tanzania on January 15. Subsequent group stage matches against Afghanistan (January 18) and South Africa (January 22) at Windhoek’s High Performance Oval will determine their progression to the Super Six phase. The tournament structure advances top three teams from each group, with semi-finals scheduled for February 3-4 and the championship finale at Harare Sports Club on February 6.

    Coach Nurse emphasized the squad’s tactical versatility: “We’ve assembled a balanced attack featuring quality fast bowlers and attacking wrist-spinners. Our players have demonstrated adaptability in both setting targets and chasing totals during recent series, which positions us favorably for World Cup challenges.”

    The team draws inspiration from West Indies’ historic 2016 under-19 World Cup triumph in Bangladesh, where current international stars like Shimron Hetmyer and Alzarri Joseph secured victory against India. Nurse has incorporated this legacy into motivational sessions while emphasizing the opportunity for this generation to create their own history.

    “We’re daring to dream,” Nurse stated. “Our minimum objective is advancing beyond the previous tournament’s performance. These young men understand the significance of representing the Caribbean and are ready to embrace this platform for professional development and regional pride.”

  • All Sectors Netball shoots off on January 10

    All Sectors Netball shoots off on January 10

    The Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena in Tacarigua will host the opening day knockout tournament of the 2026 Courts All Sectors Netball League on January 10, commencing at 3 pm. This season marks a significant milestone with the introduction of a male division, reflecting World Netball’s growing emphasis on men’s participation at the international level.

    Four teams will compete in the groundbreaking male division: Bermudez United, Defence Force, Police, and Reboot Tigers. The league structure features 22 teams across four divisions, including five in premiership, eight in championship, five in alternative, and the four male teams.

    Defence Force and Police return to the premiership division following Jabloteh’s withdrawal, joining Reboot Tigers, Unit Trust Sparks, and University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). The championship division sees University of Southern Caribbean (USC) moving up from alternative division, alongside Fire Youth, Bermudez United, Defence Force, Police, Reboot Tigers, UTT, and University of the West Indies (UWI).

    The league serves as crucial preparation for elite competition, particularly significant as Trinidad’s senior national team prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland this July. Traditional competitions including the Fast 5 format will continue, alongside major knockout tournaments honoring the league’s founders – the Jean Pierre and Steve Sarjeant challenge trophies, named after two of the six original founders from 1991 who have since passed away.

  • Philip Thomson’s unique cricket columns reissued

    Philip Thomson’s unique cricket columns reissued

    A cherished collection of cricket memoirs by the late columnist Philip Thomson has been reintroduced to the public through a collaborative publishing effort between Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC), Thomson’s family, and author-producer Nasser Khan. The newly released hardcover edition of “Ramblings From The Distant Past” features 17 feature columns that capture Thomson’s experiences at QPCC and Queen’s Royal College during what many consider cricket’s golden era.

    The second edition represents a significant enhancement over the original 1996 publication, now presented in full color with an extensive collection of historical photographs from Thomson’s personal archives and specially commissioned watercolor paintings by renowned artist Jackie Hinkson. The book also incorporates line drawings from the late John Newel Lewis’s Ajoupa collection, obtained through special permission from his family.

    Thomson’s writing showcases extraordinary recall coupled with an engaging narrative style that transforms personal cricketing anecdotes into universally appealing humor. As noted in the original media release, his columns were “highly anticipated and readers laughed heartily at the many amusing and brilliantly recounted anecdotes.”

    Veteran sport reporter Everard Gordon, in his 1996 review titled “Thomson’s Ramblings will have you laughing,” attested to the book’s broad appeal, noting that even readers unfamiliar with cricket terminology could appreciate the stories. Gordon described how his frequent outbursts of laughter while reading made his family question his sanity.

    The reissue project was spearheaded by Thomson’s son Robert and niece Jennifer de Verteuil in partnership with QPCC officials. They emphasized that beyond the entertainment value, Thomson’s writings possess significant historical importance that deserves preservation and renewed public attention.

    The book is currently available at Queen’s Park Oval and various retail outlets including Paper Based Book Shop, National Trust Heritage, and Nigel R Khan, with ordering available by calling 461-0666.