分类： sports

The sport of freediving in Trinidad and Tobago stands poised for transformative development following a pivotal meeting between national record-holder Victoria Deonarine and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts. The December 9 discussion at the ministry’s offices marked a potential turning point for the previously niche activity, now positioned for recognition as an official national discipline.

The 18-year-old Williamsville student, accompanied by coaches Saif Mohammed and Danielle Bachew, detailed her recent athletic breakthrough at the Blue Element competition in Dominica. On November 21, Deonarine shattered her own national record by achieving a remarkable 45-meter dive, capturing ministerial attention and sparking institutional interest.

Minister Watts, having monitored Deonarine’s performance during the international event, initiated the post-competition meeting where he committed substantive support for her international competitive aspirations. This institutional endorsement represents a significant advancement for both the young athlete’s career and the sport’s development within the Caribbean nation.

Deonarine described the challenges previously facing freediving enthusiasts, including inadequate funding structures, underdeveloped club infrastructure, and limited training facilities. Her earlier application for Elite Athlete Assistance failed to materialize, forcing reliance on community donations from friends, family, and strangers to finance her Dominica participation.

Training limitations further complicated her preparation. Requests to utilize the National Aquatics Centre proved unsuccessful, while corporate facilities required club affiliations impossible for unrecognized sports. Deonarine consequently conducts most depth training in northwestern peninsula waters capable of accommodating 40-plus meter dives, with alternative sites in Las Cuevas and Speyside, Tobago proving logistically impractical for regular training.

The ministerial recognition effectively addresses these systemic barriers. Deonarine emphasized how this support “could make it a lot easier for me to compete in future competitions” while acknowledging Watts’ recognition of her “potential to be on that same level as international competitors.”

Beyond personal athletic ambitions, Deonarine envisions broader developmental impacts. “This meeting basically takes one step to make the sport into a club or a community,” she noted, expressing particular enthusiasm about “the growth that the sport’s getting” through institutional validation.

The St Stephen’s College student maintains ambitious objectives extending beyond national records to international competition and inspirational representation. “When people see TT athletes in these competitions,” she affirmed, “it means a lot for TT.” With ministerial support now secured, Trinidad and Tobago’s freediving community anticipates accelerated development and competitive emergence on the global stage.

In a thrilling TT Premier Football League encounter on December 10, Caledonia AIA delivered a stunning performance to defeat AC Port of Spain 3-2 at St James Police Barracks. The victory propelled Caledonia from ninth to seventh position in the 12-team standings, while AC Port of Spain missed a crucial opportunity to advance to fourth place.

The match showcased Caledonia’s explosive counter-attacking strategy, with Tobago forward Jariel Arthur emerging as the standout performer. Arthur opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a precise right-footed finish after connecting with Malachi Celestine’s setup during a rapid transition. Despite AC Port of Spain’s equalizer through defender Mario Williams’ header in the 16th minute, Arthur restored Caledonia’s advantage with a spectacular right-footed volley in the 32nd minute.

AC Port of Spain fought back valiantly, with striker Shackiel Henry netting his fifth season goal just before the hour mark to level the score at 2-2. However, Celestine secured the victory for Caledonia in the 67th minute with a clinical finish past veteran goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, completing a remarkable attacking combination that began with Arthur’s through pass.

In the subsequent match of the double-header, MIC Central FC Reboot and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers played to a goalless draw. Central FC dominated proceedings but failed to convert numerous opportunities, including a point-blank miss by Jameel Neptune in stoppage time. Rangers goalkeeper Jadel Poon-Lewis delivered an exceptional performance with multiple crucial saves.

The league action continues on December 12 at Phase 2 La Horquetta Recreation Grounds, featuring defending champions Defence Force against second-placed Prisons FC, followed by Rangers versus San Juan Jabloteh. The current standings show Police FC and Prisons FC tied at 16 points atop the table, while Eagles FC remains at the bottom with just one point from six matches.

The Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella will transform into a hub of youthful athleticism from December 19-21 as it hosts the rebranded NLCL Nations Cup International Holiday Fun Festival. Formerly known as the Community Cup, the tournament has been revitalized by Next Level Consulting Limited (NLCL) to feature four competitive age brackets: Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15 divisions.

The competition will showcase emerging football talent from clubs across Trinidad, with international representation from Northern Stars United of St. Lucia, marking the event’s growing regional appeal. The official launch on December 11 generated significant excitement among club representatives and young athletes eager to conclude their year with competitive matches.

Tournament organizers Brian Jordan, chairman of the Next Level Foundation, and NLCL chairperson Janine Jordan emphasized the dual nature of the event, highlighting both its competitive structure and its primary focus on enjoyment and community engagement for players and families alike.

The launch event featured inspirational addresses from Trinidad and Tobago national team player Andre Raymond and renowned sports broadcaster Gyasi Merrique. Raymond shared his personal football journey, stressing the transformative impact of supplemental training beyond team practices. “Doing additional work with my father fundamentally improved my skills,” Raymond revealed. “My schoolmates noticed dramatic improvement when I returned after form one – evidence that individual dedication produces tangible results.”

Merrique offered alternative perspectives on sports involvement, encouraging attendees to remain alert to opportunities beyond traditional athletic paths. Drawing from his own transition from player to sports journalist, Merrique advised: “Keep your head on a swivel searching for opportunities when one door closes. Always be ready and alert to avoid missing chances that could positively impact your life.”

The tournament’s successful organization was credited to numerous sponsors including NLCL, Next Level Foundation, Bermudez (Dixee), Ramsingh’s Sports World, Oasis Water, TECU Credit Union, Frutopia, hydration partner Gatorade, and several local businesses and individual contributors. Chairperson Jordan articulated the event’s broader mission: “Our objective through NLCL is saving our youth through football. If we can guide even one individual toward success, we have fulfilled our purpose.”

Naparima College has etched its name in Trinidad and Tobago football history by capturing an unprecedented triple crown of Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) titles, culminating in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Signal Hill Secondary in the Coca-Cola National Intercol final on December 10.

Under the strategic guidance of coach Angus Eve, the team completed a remarkable clean sweep of the 2025 season by adding the national title to their premiership and south zone Intercol trophies. The decisive moment came in the 22nd minute when Signal Hill goalkeeper Kaleb Romeo’s uncharacteristic error resulted in an own goal that ultimately separated the sides at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Eve, a former national team standout who returned to Naparima’s dugout at the season’s commencement, attributed the success to collective discipline and tactical execution. “They didn’t care what starting lineup we did, or what players we put in, they were all consistent throughout the season,” Eve remarked during post-match celebrations. “Sticking to the game plan was key. We wanted to play good and attractive football for the fans.”

The final tested Naparima’s resilience as Signal Hill employed a defensive approach that frustrated the home side for large periods. Despite creating numerous opportunities, Naparima struggled to break through until Romeo’s misfortune. The team’s defensive unit, anchored by goalkeeper Mikhail Clement, maintained composure during Signal Hill’s late surge to preserve the narrow advantage.

This triumph marks Naparima’s fourth triple-crown achievement, having previously accomplished the feat in 1999, 2015, and 2018—the latter two under Eve’s leadership. The coach emphasized that beyond the silverware, the victory represents the culmination of a philosophy centered on player development and institutional loyalty.

Midfielder Jacob O’Reilly earned man-of-the-match honors for his instrumental role in linking defense and attack, embodying the team’s work ethic and tactical understanding. The post-match celebrations saw players join the school band in jubilation, waving flags and lifting the National Intercol trophy—a fitting conclusion to a season defined by vision and unwavering dedication.

In a dramatic TTCB Under-23 Cup semi-final clash at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva on December 10, Cocrico Warriors secured a hard-fought 14-run victory against Soca Strikers Under-19s in a high-scoring encounter that showcased exceptional individual performances despite the rainy conditions.

The Warriors, sent to bat first, posted an imposing total of 298 runs in 45.2 overs, setting a challenging target for their youthful opponents. The innings featured substantial contributions from multiple batsmen, with Khaleem Mohammed’s explosive 77 from just 58 deliveries providing early momentum. He was well supported by Olando James (63 off 65) and wicket-keeper Gerard Chin, who scored a steady 54 from 65 balls.

West Indies Under-19 allrounder Brendan Boodoo emerged as the standout performer for the Strikers, delivering an exceptional all-round display. The talented youngster claimed three crucial wickets for 71 runs during his ten-over spell, including key breakthroughs that temporarily halted the Warriors’ scoring momentum. Aarion Mohammed complemented these efforts with impressive death bowling figures of 3/43.

During the chase, the Strikers faced immediate adversity when opening batsman Levi Ghany was dismissed by a perfect yorker from Joshua James on the very first ball of the innings. Captain Saleem Khan followed shortly after, leaving the team struggling at 12/2.

Boodoo then orchestrated a remarkable recovery, crafting a magnificent century that kept his team’s hopes alive. His 112-run masterpiece from 101 deliveries featured powerful stroke play and intelligent running between wickets. He found able partners in Aadi Ramsaran (59 off 82) and Christian Lall (59 off 52), building partnerships of 114 and 102 runs respectively that brought the Strikers within reach of victory.

The match reached its critical juncture when Boodoo was finally dismissed in the 40th over with the score at 239/4, requiring 60 runs from the remaining 63 deliveries. Leg-spinner Aneal Rooplal (3/52) then triggered a dramatic collapse, taking two quick wickets in consecutive overs. Joshua James sealed the victory with a devastating double-wicket maiden in the 45th over, finishing with impressive figures of 4/73.

The Warriors will now advance to face Steelpan Titans in the tournament final scheduled for December 13 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

Trinidad and Tobago delivered an extraordinary performance at the 2025 Carifta Artistic Gymnastics Championships, held December 4-5 at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva. The host nation’s gymnasts captured an astonishing 168 medals (85 gold, 57 silver, 26 bronze), decisively outperforming competitors from Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, and Jamaica to retain their overall championship title.

The competition’s most historic moment came when Trinidad and Tobago’s Emma Garcia achieved perfection on the uneven bars, earning the only perfect 10.000 score awarded throughout the entire championships. Her flawless execution generated widespread celebration among athletes, officials, and spectators, creating one of the most memorable highlights of the two-day event.

Featuring 195 female gymnasts aged 7-19, the championships showcased routines across multiple competitive tiers: USA Gymnastics (USAG) developmental programs levels 1-10, Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) levels 1-3, and FIG junior and senior elite divisions.

Trinidad and Tobago established immediate dominance by sweeping all-around titles across nearly every level. In early USAG divisions, Reyelle Joseph (level 1, 7-8), Skylar Malchan (level 2, 7-8), and Andaya Singh (level 2, 9-10) claimed victories. The success continued with Ricquel Marcellin (level 3, 7-9) and Larisah Nevins (level 3, 10-12).

Middle levels saw Coniyah Jones (level 5, 7-11), Isabella Khan (level 5, 12-15), and Kaydence Fortune (level 6, 8-12) continue the gold medal streak. Higher levels featured Gabriella Christopher (level 8, 8-13), Gabrielle Webb (level 8, 14-18), Shanika Joseph (level 9, 8-13), and Sidney Charles (level 10, 14+), who reinforced her status as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading senior athletes.

PAGU levels brought additional success with Zariah Gittens-Dopwell (level 1) and Yandy Stafford (level 2) capturing all-around titles. Jamaica’s Mariah Gordon (PAGU level 2) and Zuri Matandara Clark (FIG junior elite) were among the few non-TT champions, with Sidney Charles adding the FIG senior elite crown to her accomplishments.

The event, organized by the TT Gymnastics Federation under regional Carifta coordinator Steve Butcher, received significant support from platinum sponsor Capital Markets Elite Group. This backing enabled organizers to secure international FIG and USAG-certified judges from Panama, Colombia, Canada, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, ensuring world-class officiating throughout the championships.