Carib Scope

分类： sports

  • Isabel Nicholas Wins Six Golds, Breaks Seven Records at Goodwill Championships

    Isabel Nicholas Wins Six Golds, Breaks Seven Records at Goodwill Championships

    One of the Caribbean’s most promising young swimming talents, 16-year-old Isabel Nicholas from Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a career-defining performance at the 2025 Goodwill Swimming Championships hosted in Trinidad, cementing her status as a rising star in regional aquatics. Over the course of the multi-day competition, Nicholas claimed an extraordinary eight medals: six gold and two silver, and capped off her dominant run by taking home the coveted High Point Trophy for her age division.

    Nicholas was not only the top-performing athlete from her home nation, she also re-wrote the meet’s record books. The young swimmer set seven new age-group records across the events she entered, including one that toppled a long-standing mark that had stood for more than a decade. In the 50-meter backstroke, Nicholas touched the wall at 34.54 seconds, breaking the 2015 previous record of 35.56 seconds set by Chelsea Winter. She also secured a new all-time championship record in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing the race in 1 minute 11.70 seconds.

    Beyond her success at the Goodwill meet, Nicholas’s standout results have put her in a strong position ahead of the 2027 CARIFTA Swimming Championships, one of the most prestigious regional youth aquatics competitions in the Caribbean. As of her performance at Goodwill, Nicholas has already hit or exceeded the qualifying time standards for at least eight individual events at the upcoming regional games, marking her as one of the competitors to watch in two years’ time.

    Following her historic performance, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Sports issued an official statement congratulating Nicholas on her historic haul of medals and records. The ministry described her results as “outstanding” and emphasized that the young swimmer continues to demonstrate “tremendous promise” for future international competition. The government body also extended congratulations to the entire Antigua and Barbuda national swimming delegation, praising every team member for competing with integrity and representing their country with national pride throughout the Goodwill Championships.

  • Payment For National Team Players and Beacon’s Historic Softball Chip

    Payment For National Team Players and Beacon’s Historic Softball Chip

    On the August 17, 2026 edition of *Sports Monday*, broadcast in partnership with Belize’s National Sports Council, host Shane Williams opened the program by highlighting a glaring contradiction at the heart of Belize’s international sporting success: while elite national teams have pulled off historic, barrier-breaking wins on regional stages, many have been left without formal recognition or financial compensation for their achievements.

    First, Williams recapped the standout performance of Belize’s men’s national volleyball team, which claimed the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Central American Championships. The team was greeted with a rapturous heroes’ welcome on their return home, complete with national television appearances, a celebratory motorcade across the country, and a formal dinner with top political leaders. Beyond these ceremonial honors, however, no financial reward was extended to the winning athletes.

    The disparity becomes even starker for Belize’s under-20 men’s national basketball team, which delivered what is being called the country’s most impactful sports result in half a century. The team earned a third-place finish at the Central American and Caribbean Games, a placement that secured Belize a coveted spot in the upcoming PanAm Games — a milestone not seen since the legendary Golden Girls softball team made history 50 years prior. Unlike the volleyball team, the young basketball squad received no public heroes’ welcome, and their groundbreaking accomplishment received barely any mainstream media or official attention.

    Now, Devin Daly, a former national team player who currently serves as Belize’s Minister of State for Youth and Sports, is pushing to change this inconsistent treatment of elite athletes. Daly told *Sports Monday* that he and Sports Minister Mahler are currently advocating for a formal, standardized policy that would guarantee outlined financial compensation to national teams or individual athletes who earn medals or top qualifying placements at international tournaments. While the exact structure and size of compensation packages are still under negotiation and have not been finalized, Daly confirmed that he supports formalizing rewards for these high-achieving athletes.

    Shifting focus to this week’s domestic sporting action, Williams turned first to the 34th annual Women’s National Softball Championships, hosted by the Belize Softball and Baseball Federation in Camalote Village. Seven teams competed for the national title, and the semi-final round delivered all the drama fans expected. In a matchup between the Belize Bank Bulldogs and the Camalote Elites, Karlene Lewis — the tournament’s leader in batting average — opened scoring opportunities with a first-inning single to left field. Belize Bank Bulldogs captain Molly Coye capitalized on the set-up, driving in the first run with a hard hit that the second baseman could not handle.

    Lewis extended the Elites’ lead in the fourth inning, hitting a double down the left field line that brought two runners home, putting the Elites up 4-1 heading into the final frame. The Bulldogs mounted a dramatic comeback push in the bottom of the seventh: Joline Davis sent a hit through the gap between third and shortstop with one out, setting up a late rally. Agnes then hit a line drive up the middle that scored two runs, narrowing the Elites’ lead to just one run in the final at bat. The Elites held on, however, when a checked-swing ground ball rolled straight to first base for the final out, sending Camalote through to the championship match against four-time defending champions Beacon Softball Club.

    The Elites entered the final already fatigued, having played three consecutive games after fighting their way out of the loser’s bracket, and they could not overcome the dominant performance of Beacon’s star Mexican pitcher Anna Rosas. Beacon’s offense stayed red-hot as well, led by tournament home run champion and shortstop Sharet Vernon, who once again led the charge at the plate. By the late innings, Beacon held an insurmountable 8-0 lead, and Rosas’ final pitch was almost anticlimactic — until the team and fans realized what had been accomplished: Beacon had secured an unprecedented fifth consecutive national championship, a feat many considered unachievable. This year also marked the first time the Belize Softball and Baseball Federation was permitted to award cash prizes for the tournament, with the five-peat champions taking home $1,500 for their win.

    In men’s tennis action, the three-day Billy Musa Sr. Open Men’s Championship concluded at the Pickwick Tennis Court with a hotly contested final between Ismar Amaya and Braulio Bautista. Amaya secured the open championship title with a smooth, well-timed approach to the net that sealed the win. Williams extended congratulations to all organizers and competitors who made the tournament a success.

    Looking ahead to next week, Belize is set to host the Caribbean Junior Road Cycling Championships this coming weekend. Williams reminded local motorists that major roads will be closed for a period during the event, and encouraged drivers to plan ahead and exercise patience. He also issued a call to Belizeans to line the race route with national flags to cheer on the home team’s young competitors.

    Before closing the broadcast, Williams reminded the public that the first-ever Belize Sports Summit is scheduled for September 2 and 3 at the Belize Civic Center. The event is open to sports executives, coaches, players, and fans, and Williams encouraged all interested parties to attend. Signing off, Shane Williams reiterated his closing message: friendly competition unites communities, and a love of sport is a core part of Belizean life — encouraging all Belizeans to keep playing and supporting local sports.

    This broadcast transcript is published as a direct record of the live television program.

  • Tridents climb to top of CPL table after nine-run win over Kings

    Tridents climb to top of CPL table after nine-run win over Kings

    In a rain-shortened thriller at the Darren Sammy Stadium on Sunday, Barbados Tridents pulled off a nine-run victory over St Lucia Kings to surge straight to the summit of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) standings. The fixture was cut to 18 overs per side due to inclement weather, but that did nothing to dampen the intensity of the contest.

    Barbados won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 177 runs for the loss of five wickets. The innings was anchored by Player of the Match Sherfane Rutherford, who delivered a blistering knock of 61 runs off just 31 deliveries, decorated by three boundaries and five towering sixes. Openers Brandon King chipped in with a quickfire 39 from 28 balls, while wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock added a useful 28 runs off only 15 deliveries to accelerate the Tridents’ total late in the innings. For the St Lucia Kings, captain Roston Chase claimed two wickets for 30 runs, and seamer Shadley van Schalkwyk matched his effort with two wickets for just 25 runs.

    In response, St Lucia Kings got off to a solid start and stayed on track with the required run rate for much of the chase, but a series of middle-order wickets derailed their progress, finishing on 168 runs for seven wickets. Akeem Auguste led the Kings’ batting with a heroic 63 runs off 34 deliveries, while Chase contributed 34 runs and Matthew Forde remained unbeaten on 24 off 17 balls at the end of the innings. For the Tridents, spinner Gudakesh Motie turned the game with a clinical three-wicket haul for 22 runs, and Afghanistan spin star Mujeeb Ur Rahman supported him with two wickets for 27 runs to seal the win.

    The result marks back-to-back wins for Barbados Tridents to open the 2024 CPL campaign, but newly appointed Tridents captain Chris Green refused to get carried away by the early table-topping position. “It certainly wasn’t a polished performance,” Green told reporters post-match. “We’ve had two games now go right down to the back end, and particularly with the ball being ahead of the game for a long period of time, we’ve let the opposition back in. But there’s also been some good batting. I thought the left-hander (Auguste) batted really well and took them to a position at the back end where they could be dangerous. That said, our senior batters – King, de Kock and Rutherford – are in tremendous form, so hopefully they can keep going.”

    Green added that the camp’s strong team culture has been key to their fast start, saying: “I think the results obviously help, but regardless of winning or losing, I feel like we’re a close-knit group. Even last year when I came in late, the group was really tight together, and I feel like that’s a credit to the management and all the players that keep their emotions in check, knowing that the game can swing either way. We’ve had a great start to this tournament, winning two from two on the road. We know it’s gonna get harder as the tournament progresses, but as we get back to Barbados, hopefully we can play our best cricket towards the back end. It’s too early to get excited about being top of the table.”

    For St Lucia Kings captain Roston Chase, his side fell just short in a tight contest, attributing the loss to conceding too many runs in the first innings before a mid-innings collapse in the chase. “Well, I thought we initially gave them 10 to 15 runs too much,” Chase explained. “But having said that, I thought that when we went out to bat we started well and were on target, but then we lost our way a bit and we didn’t get there in the end.”

    Chase also extended his gratitude to the home crowd that turned out in large numbers to support the side at the Darren Sammy Stadium. “Yeah, the fans have been great for us. I want them to continue coming out and supporting us. We love to see the fans in the stands in blue, and it gives us energy. It gives us that passion to go out there and try to do our best. I just want them to keep coming out and supporting us.”

  • Antigua and Barbuda Pitbulls Head to St. Lucia for Youth Basketball Classic

    Antigua and Barbuda Pitbulls Head to St. Lucia for Youth Basketball Classic

    A youth basketball team from Antigua and Barbuda, known as the Pitbulls, kicked off their journey to neighboring St. Lucia on Monday to compete in one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated regional youth tournaments, the fifth annual Aloysius Daniel Youth Classic.

    Hosted at the Beausejour Indoor Stadium, this year’s tournament will run from August 17 through 21, bringing together six competitive teams from five different Caribbean nations. Alongside the traveling Pitbulls and host nation St. Lucia’s representative squads, competitors will travel from Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana to contest for the regional title.

    Unlike many last-minute preparations, the Antigua and Barbuda side has dedicated months to refining their strategies and building team cohesion, with training sessions kicking off as early as May to ensure they are in peak form for the cross-regional competition. The 15-player roster is led by captain Nathan Matthew, a standout player from St. Joseph’s Academy, and includes a mix of emerging young talent: Erije Joseph, Aiden Lewis, Tristan Thibou, Yohan Nicholas, Gabriel Desuza, Noah Massiah, Iczjaire Sebastian, Kadeem Simon, Raheem Sawyer, Jahaziel Santana, Elijah Charles, Kamal Mason, Marcus Murphy and Zende Dorsett.

    The team’s technical staff brings combined years of coaching experience to the tournament, with Cedric David, Bradbury Browne and Edward Shaw stepping in as lead coaches. Oleno Knight fills the role of team manager, while Carl Knight serves as the overall school basketball coordinator supporting the program’s development.

    For fans following the Pitbulls’ progress, the team has a clear match schedule laid out for their campaign. They will open their tournament play against the ECA Tigers at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, followed by a evening match-up against the ECA Lions at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Thursday will see them face off against D-UP Academy at 4 p.m., before they wrap up their group stage play against BFTV at 2 p.m. on Friday.

  • Antigua Racing Cup Gets Earlier Dates Under Caribbean Sailing Association’s New Five-Year Calendar

    Antigua Racing Cup Gets Earlier Dates Under Caribbean Sailing Association’s New Five-Year Calendar

    In a major announcement made from St. John’s, Antigua, the Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has revealed sweeping changes to the region’s elite competitive sailing schedule, alongside the launch of an ambitious new championship award to celebrate the sport’s top performers. The updated five-year racing calendar will consolidate all of the Caribbean’s most prestigious sailing events into a tightly packed four-month core season, a restructuring designed to elevate competitive opportunities while retaining the region’s signature laid-back, adventurous sailing culture.

    The new condensed circuit is tailored to meet the needs of both professional sailing teams and high-level amateur Corinthian competitors, offering a clear, uninterrupted window for athletes to mount full competitive campaigns across the region. At the same time, the restructuring preserves the flexibility that draws recreational sailors to the Caribbean, allowing casual participants to continue crafting their own unique sailing experiences in the region’s iconic waters.

    “This updated calendar brings much-needed clarity and forward momentum to our sport,” shared Bastien Poutier, President of the CSA, in a statement following the announcement. “By concentrating all our marquee events into a single four-month window, we are able to create a true, cohesive circuit for serious competitive sailors — all without losing the adventurous spirit that has always defined Caribbean racing.”

    ### A Refined, Streamlined Competitive Schedule
    The overhauled season retains the region’s most beloved events while adjusting dates and formats to create a more cohesive circuit. The iconic St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, widely recognized as the Caribbean’s largest sailing gathering, will remain the anchor event of the new season. The Antigua Racing Cup has been shifted to an earlier date on the calendar to fit the new timeline, while the popular St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) is set to return April 8–11 with a fully refreshed format.

    STIR’s updated structure will integrate the popular Three Sheets Distance Race & Rally directly into its schedule, and add an all-new wing foiling class to complement existing CSA open fleets and one-design racing fleets, expanding opportunities for a new generation of sailing athletes.

    ### A New Prestigious Award Culminates in a High-Stakes Finale
    To complement the calendar restructuring, the CSA has launched a prestigious new annual championship that recognizes the top overall performing team across the Caribbean’s six major regattas. Eligible events for the new trophy include the RORC Nelson Series, RORC Caribbean 600, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Antigua Racing Cup, and BVI Spring Regatta.

    The inaugural winner of the CSA Majors Trophy will be crowned at the BVI Spring Regatta, which will serve as the high-stakes grand finale that closes out the core four-month season. The new award joins two existing circuit-wide honors — the Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy and the Travellers Trophy — all of which recognize consistent excellence from boats that compete and win across multiple stops on the Caribbean circuit.

  • CFU Challenge 2026 (U-14) : Haiti crushes French Guiana [5-2]

    CFU Challenge 2026 (U-14) : Haiti crushes French Guiana [5-2]

    The 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Boys Challenge got underway on August 17, 2026 at the Cap Cana Sports City complex in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Haiti’s young national squad, nicknamed the Grenadiers, made an unforgettable opening statement with a dominant 5-2 victory over French Guiana’s Yana Dòkò side.

    Leading the charge for Haiti was attacking standout Jodley Sheeck Delmas, who delivered a once-in-a-tournament performance by finding the back of the net four times, powering his side to an opening win that puts Haiti atop Group B in the provisional standings heading into the second round of group matches.

    The first breakthrough for Haiti came just 10 minutes into the fixture, when winger Wensley Dumorne whipped in a precise cross that forward Jerry Petit-Homme guided under the opposing crossbar to put Haiti up 1-0. Sixteen minutes later, Petit-Homme turned from goalscorer to provider, playing a pinpoint free kick into the path of Delmas, who volleyed home to double Haiti’s lead to 2-0.

    French Guiana responded in the 37th minute, when Railey Jean Marie converted a penalty to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Delmas quickly restored Haiti’s two-goal advantage five minutes before halftime, curling a spectacular free kick into the net from a tight, difficult angle to make the score 3-1.

    Just before the break, Haiti was awarded a second penalty, but Ronelson Pelé Janvier’s strike was turned away by French Guiana goalkeeper Dos Anjos. Delmas did not let the missed chance dampen his momentum, however: just one minute into the second half, he controlled a short corner, cut inside a covering defender, and fired a powerful shot past the keeper to complete his hat trick and push Haiti’s lead to 4-1.

    French Guiana pulled another goal back in the 64th minute, when Railey Berg Jean Louis pounced on a loose ball in the 18-yard box to make the score 4-2. But Delmas put the result beyond all doubt four minutes later, unleashing a blistering long-range strike from outside the penalty area that found the top corner, closing out his four-goal haul and sealing the 5-2 final score for Haiti.

    Haiti’s starting lineup for the opening fixture featured 10 players from domestic Haitian clubs, with one addition based in the United States: starting goalkeeper Benoît Athan Pierre of NEFC (USA), Marc-Evens Lubin of Ideal FC, Kendy Dolbrun of Flamengo FC, Eddyson Paul-Jean of EFAT, Cedric Claremond of Les Rouleurs FC, Marvens Fenelon of La Reserve, Woodney Charleston of SLGA, Wensley Dumorne of MERCURE, Delmas of EXAFOOT, Janvier of Les Rouleurs FC, and Petit-Homme of FC Toro.

    Following the opening win, Haiti sits alone at the top of Group B’s provisional standings with three points from one match, holding a +3 goal difference after scoring five and conceding two. Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago each sit on one point after drawing their opening fixture 1-1, while French Guiana sits at the bottom of the group with zero points and a -3 goal difference after their opening defeat.

    The young Grenadiers will look to build on their strong opening when they face their next Group B opponent, Trinidad and Tobago’s Young Warriors, on Tuesday, August 18 at 12:00 PM local and Haitian time, at the same Cap Cana Sports City venue. Haiti will wrap up their group stage campaign against Puerto Rico on August 19. All matches from the 2026 CFU Challenge are broadcast live for free on the CFU’s official YouTube channel.

  • Saint Lucia finish sixth at Goodwill Swimming

    Saint Lucia finish sixth at Goodwill Swimming

    The 30th edition of the Goodwill Swimming Championships concluded on August 16, 2026, at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago, after three days of intense junior-level competition across the Caribbean region. This long-running developmental event brought together 250 up-and-coming swimmers aged 18 and under from 14 Caribbean territories, with a key eligibility rule designed to prioritize emerging talent: participants are barred from having already competed in elite regional and international events including the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships, CCCAN, CISC, and World Aquatics competitions. The championship’s core mission is to create a critical competitive bridge for young swimmers, helping them transition from local club meets to higher-stakes international competition.

    Team Saint Lucia turned in an impressive performance at this year’s event, finishing sixth overall in the team rankings. The 33-member national squad collected a total of seven medals: four gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal. Leading the overall team standings was The Bahamas, which secured its fourth consecutive overall team title in dominant fashion. The Bahamian squad amassed 122 total medals and broke seven championship records throughout the competition. Host nation Trinidad & Tobago took second place with 94 medals and six new meet records, while Jamaica (63 medals) and Barbados (58 medals) claimed third and fourth place respectively. Antigua & Barbuda wrapped up the top five with eight total medals, just ahead of Saint Lucia’s sixth-place finish.

    Individually, Saint Lucia’s standout performer was Miles Andrew, who dominated the 9-19 boys age group to top the category rankings with 60.5 total points. Andrew claimed three gold medals during the competition, including a new championship record in the 50m freestyle with a winning time of 27.40 seconds. He also took gold in both the 100m freestyle and 50m breaststroke events, and added two silver medals to his personal haul with strong finishes in the 100m breaststroke and 50m backstroke.

    On the women’s side, Jaimie Devaux emerged as Saint Lucia’s top young competitor. A student at St Joseph’s Convent, Devaux placed seventh overall in the competitive 13-14 girls category with 29 total points. She earned one gold medal in the 100m breaststroke and picked up a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke to round out a successful meet.

    In addition to Andrew and Devaux, several other young Saint Lucian swimmers earned valuable ranking points for their team, including Khiara Hippolyte in the 11-12 girls division, Nathan Lewis, Khalil Maraj and James Sylvester in the 13-14 boys division, Emma Fortune in the 9-10 girls division, and Liam Charlemagne in the under-9 boys division. The results mark a successful outing for Saint Lucia’s emerging generation of competitive swimmers, highlighting the depth of young talent developing across the island’s aquatic programs.

  • Youth basketball series to feature regional, international teams

    Youth basketball series to feature regional, international teams

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated under-18 boys’ basketball competitions is set to tip off next week, with a historic expansion that marks a major milestone for the annual tournament. The fifth edition of the Aloysius “Loloy” Daniel Youth Classic Tournament will open its gates on Monday, August 17, at Saint Lucia’s Beausejour Gymnasium, with six days of competitive action running through to closing games on Friday. For the first time in the event’s five-year history, squads from five separate territories will travel to compete, turning a regional competition into an international showcase for young basketball talent.

    The tournament carries deep legacy for Saint Lucia’s local basketball community, as it was created to honor the memory of Aloysius “Loloy” Daniel, a former Saint Lucian national basketball player and lifelong advocate for grassroots sports development. Daniel, who relocated to Canada in his later years, passed away three years ago, and the annual youth event has become his permanent tribute, nurturing the next generation of Caribbean basketball talent in his name.

    Prior to this 2026 edition, the tournament had only hosted one international competing side: New Chapter Academy (NCA) Warriors from neighboring Trinidad & Tobago. The Warriors have dominated the competition since their first participation, claiming the championship title three consecutive times. This year, however, the competition pool has grown far beyond its original regional scope: alongside the returning Trinbagonian champions, squads from Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, and even the United Kingdom will join three host teams from Saint Lucia to compete for the 2026 crown.

    The full competing lineup includes the 2022 inaugural tournament champions East Coast Academy, which will field two squads – the Tigers and the Lions – plus Saint Lucia’s Basketball For The Future, D-UP Basketball Academy from Guyana, Antigua Pit Bulls, and M2KMAS Basketball from the United Kingdom.

    Over the five-day competition, all six squads will compete in a full round-robin format to determine final standings. Match schedules are structured to allow fans ample access to the action, with tip-off times set for 2:00 p.m. every day from Monday through Thursday, and an earlier 1:00 p.m. start time for the final day of play on Friday. Opening day will feature three highly anticipated opening matchups: the ECA Tigers will tip off the tournament against Basketball For The Future, the ECA Lions will face off against D-UP Academy, and the Antigua Pit Bulls will challenge the three-time defending champion NCA Warriors in their opening outing.

  • Jamaica defeat St Kitts and Nevis 4-0 at CFU Under-14 Boys series

    Jamaica defeat St Kitts and Nevis 4-0 at CFU Under-14 Boys series

    In an impressive opening display at the 2026 Caribbean Football Union Under-14 Boys Challenge Series hosted in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica’s youth men’s football squad delivered a dominant 4-0 victory over St Kitts and Nevis on August 17, catapulting the defending champions straight to the top of Group C in the tournament’s group stage.

    Played at the purpose-built Cap Cana Sports City venue, the match set the tone for Jamaica’s title defense campaign from the opening minutes. In just the 8th minute of play, young attacker Kylon Gayle broke the deadlock with a stunning direct free-kick goal, putting Jamaica ahead early and putting the St Kitts and Nevis defense on notice for the rest of the fixture.

    Tai-Sean Headly doubled Jamaica’s advantage right after the halftime break, extending the team’s lead before he notched his second of the match from the penalty spot in the 42nd minute, pushing the scoreline to 3-0 heading into the final stretch. Midfielder Basil Trail put the finishing touches on the comprehensive win, slotting home the team’s fourth goal in the 52nd minute to seal the shutout.

    The result puts Jamaica in a strong early position as the side chases back-to-back titles in the regional youth competition. The Jamaican U-14 squad last lifted the trophy in 2024, where they secured an emphatic 7-1 victory over French Guiana in the final match to claim the regional crown.

    In the other Group C fixture played on the same matchday, Aruba and Curaçao fought to a balanced 1-1 draw, leaving both teams with one point to start their tournament campaigns, behind Jamaica’s full three points from their opening win.

  • NYAH, GMC, NGFC take Youth Challenge football titles

    NYAH, GMC, NGFC take Youth Challenge football titles

    The third annual Caribbean Youth Challenge, a flagship event tied to the regional “Kick Out Crime and Violence” social initiative, wrapped up a week of high-intensity youth football action with five final-round matches at Saint Lucia’s Francis Baba Lastic Grounds in Gros Islet. Organized by the Gros Islet Football League, the tournament brought together the island nation’s most promising young footballers, plus a visiting youth squad from Barbados’ National Sports Council (NSC) to compete for regional honors across age divisions.

    Competing exclusively in the Under-14 bracket, the Barbadian NSC Tridents turned heads throughout the week with an undefeated run to the tournament final. The side earned its spot in the title clash after a solid 3-1 semi-final win over local side Lancers FC. In the other Under-14 semi-final, Saint Lucia’s NYAH FC secured a 2-0 shutout against Monchy United, with striker Mavalon Bernard putting on a first-half masterclass, finding the back of the net just one minute into the match and adding a second in the 16th minute to seal the win.

    In the hotly contested Under-14 final, it was NYAH FC that claimed the regional title, thanks to a decisive ninth-minute goal from Darnell Boohlie that held up as the match-winner. Despite falling short of the top spot, NSC Tridents coaching staff described the cross-border trip as a rewarding developmental experience for their young players. In the division’s third-place playoff, Monchy United took home the bronze with a 2-0 victory over Lancers FC.

    The Under-17 division crowned GMC United as its new champion, extending the club’s multi-year streak of strong performances in Saint Lucia’s youth football circuit. The Corinth-based side delivered a dominant display in the marquee final, shutting out Valley Soccer 3-0 to claim the title. Sherdon Sylvester opened the scoring for GMC in the 27th minute, captain Shaquil Martelly doubled the lead right before halftime in the 42nd, and Devonate Ayemany put the result beyond doubt with a third goal in the 55th minute.

    Marchand punched their ticket to the Under-17 final with a convincing 2-0 semi-final win over NYAH FC, while New Generation advanced with a 3-0 victory against Pioneers, benefiting from an early own goal before adding two more first-half strikes to secure their spot in the title match. In the Under-17 final, held on the same day as the popular Babonneau Carnival, New Generation claimed the silver division title with a 2-0 win over Marchand, with Dershavee St Marthe scoring in the 10th minute and Jackson Joseph adding a second just nine minutes later to seal the victory. In the third-place playoff, Pioneers defeated NYAH FC 3-1 on penalties after the two sides finished regular time tied 1-1.

    Beyond the two published age divisions, the tournament also crowned New Generation FC as Under-11 champions, marking a successful multi-division outing for the Saint Lucian club during the 2026 edition of the challenge.