分类： sports

Signal Hill Secondary made a significant leap in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Mary’s College on November 6. The match, held at Signal Hill grounds in Tobago, saw J’meke Watkins deliver the decisive goal in the second half, ensuring a triumphant result for the home team. This win propelled Signal Hill from tenth to seventh place in the standings, overtaking St Mary’s, Queen’s Royal College, and Arima North Secondary. All three teams are now tied with 19 points, but Signal Hill holds a superior goal difference. Despite having six matches postponed earlier in the season, Signal Hill remains optimistic about their chances of breaking into the top three if they secure victories in their remaining games. Meanwhile, St Mary’s College slipped to tenth place with 18 points, leaving them with only one match to salvage their season. The current league leaders include St Benedict’s College (33 points), followed closely by Naparima College and Presentation College San Fernando, both with 31 points. Defending champions Fatima College trail in fourth place with 29 points. As the season nears its conclusion, the competition intensifies, with several teams vying for the top spots in this highly contested league.

The West Indies cricket team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, scheduled from December 2 to 22. A high-performance camp, currently underway in Antigua, is bringing together a select group of regional players to fine-tune their skills and strategies. The camp, which runs from November 4 to 18 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, is spearheaded by Ramesh Subasinghe, head of the West Indies Academy, and assistant coach Rohan Nurse. They are joined by CWI senior talent manager Jamal Smith and former Windies wicket-keeper/batsman Shane Dowrich, who is serving as a pathway coach. The focus of the camp is on technical and tactical refinement, match simulation, and mental readiness. CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe emphasized the importance of the camp, stating that it is designed to address the specific challenges of playing in New Zealand. Batsmen will work on areas of vulnerability and adapt to local conditions, while bowlers will focus on managing workloads and identifying effective lengths and areas. The camp also includes wellness oversight and gym-based strength and conditioning programs, aligned with CWI’s high-performance protocols. Notable participants include veteran pacer Kemar Roach and Trinidadian seamer Anderson Phillip, alongside batsmen Kevlon Anderson, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, and wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach, as well as fast bowlers Johann Layne and Ojay Shields. Roach, who last played for the West Indies in January during their Test tour to Pakistan, is a strong contender for the New Zealand series due to injuries to frontline seamers Alzarri and Shamar Joseph.

The Trinidad and Tobago (TT) women’s football team is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Concacaf Women’s Qualifiers with a series of practice matches and exhibition games. On November 8, the team will participate in an exhibition game against the Mayaro XI, a men’s team, at the Mayaro Resource Centre. Although the TT team is not competing in the Mayaro Football League, this match serves as a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their skills ahead of the qualifiers. The team recently faced a 4-1 defeat against Jamaica in a practice match on October 28, despite a promising 1-1 tie at halftime. Jinelle James, the TT Football Association’s director of women’s football, revealed that the team has scheduled additional practice games against boys’ Secondary Schools Football League teams and is working to arrange matches against regional opponents. The qualifiers will kick off on November 30 with an away game against Barbados. TT is placed in Group F alongside El Salvador and Honduras, with matches scheduled against Honduras on March 4 and El Salvador on April 17. The top six group winners will advance to the eight-team Concacaf Women’s Championship, joining pre-seeded teams Canada and the US. Meanwhile, the team’s coaching situation remains under review, with Densill Theobald and Damian Briggs currently serving as co-coaches following the unexpected resignation of former coach Angus Eve last month.

Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) men’s Under-20 football team has been drawn into a challenging group for the Concacaf Men’s Under-20 qualifiers, set to take place from February 23 to March 4, 2026. The team, led by coach Randolph Boyce, will compete in Group E alongside Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, and Sint Maarten. The qualifiers, which include 32 Concacaf member nations, are divided into six groups, with the winners advancing to the 2026 Concacaf Under-20 Championship. This championship, scheduled for July 25 to August 9, 2026, will feature 12 teams, including six pre-seeded nations: Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the United States. The tournament will not only determine Concacaf’s representatives for the 2027 FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup but also serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Costa Rica, one of the host nations for the qualifiers, is expected to be the strongest contender in Group E. TT, placed in pot two based on the Concacaf Under-20 men’s rankings as of August 5, 2024, will need to overcome this formidable opponent to progress. Last year, the team, then coached by Brian Haynes, was eliminated in the first round after finishing second to Canada. With Boyce now at the helm, TT aims to improve on their previous performance and secure a spot in the championship.

In a nail-biting encounter at Eden Park on November 6, New Zealand narrowly defeated the West Indies by three runs in the second T20, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. The match was a high-scoring spectacle, with New Zealand setting a formidable target of 207/5, thanks to a blistering 78 off 28 balls by Mark Chapman. The West Indies, despite a valiant effort from their middle to lower order, fell just short, finishing at 204/8. Rovman Powell (45) and Romario Shepherd (34) spearheaded a late surge, but the visitors couldn’t cross the line. Mitchell Santner (3/31) and Ish Sodhi (3/39) were pivotal in New Zealand’s defense. Shepherd, reflecting on the loss, emphasized the team’s resilience and batting depth, while looking ahead to the next match at Saxton Oval on November 8. The series remains finely balanced, with both teams eager to gain the upper hand.

The Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Union (TTRU) has officially announced a 13-member women’s squad set to compete in the 2025 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament. The event will take place at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar from November 21 to 23. The team, revealed via a TTRU social media post on November 5, includes seasoned players such as Nicolette Pantor, Kalena Burke, Ornella George, Fayola Jack, and the versatile Ketara Munroe. The squad will be led by coach Richard Staglon. This year’s tournament will feature six women’s teams, including Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica, and reigning champions Mexico, alongside Trinidad and Tobago. The men’s competition will see eight teams in the tier one category, with six additional teams in tier two. Notably, the top three men’s tier one teams (excluding Canada) and the top two women’s teams will secure qualification for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, the tier two men’s winner, provided they are a full RAN member union, will earn a promotion opportunity. Last year, the Trinidad and Tobago men’s team finished as runners-up, while the women’s ‘A’ team placed third behind Mexico and Jamaica. The women’s ‘B’ team secured fifth place. The upcoming tournament promises intense competition as regional teams aim to challenge Canada’s dominance and secure coveted spots in future international events.

The Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) has rescheduled its third matchday to November 9, consolidating all six games into a single day across various venues in Trinidad. This adjustment aims to facilitate the training and preparation of the men’s national football team, led by coach Dwight Yorke, for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica and Bermuda on November 13 and 18, respectively. Originally, the matches were planned for November 7-9, including a double-header at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago. However, to accommodate Yorke’s request for a practice game against a TTPFL select XI on November 7, the league has shifted its schedule. While the venue for the practice game remains undecided, the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo or the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva are the likely options. TTPFL acting CEO Yale Antoine confirmed the changes on November 4, emphasizing the league’s commitment to supporting the national team’s World Cup campaign. The rescheduled matchday will feature key clashes, including Caledonia AIA vs. Terminix La Horquetta Rangers and Miscellaneous Police FC vs. Defence Force at the St James Police Barracks. Additionally, the postponed matchday one fixture between Phoenix and Rangers has been rescheduled for November 15 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, following flight delays on the league’s opening night. The fourth matchday will now take place on November 19, instead of the originally planned November 14-16.

The inaugural Subway Road Race Tobago Edition, held on November 1 at the Parade Grounds near Dwight Yorke Stadium, brought together runners, walkers, and fitness enthusiasts for a vibrant celebration of health and community spirit. The event, a collaboration between Subway TT and Scarborough-based A+ Fitness Studio, aimed to promote an active lifestyle while raising funds for the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Christopher Mitchell emerged as the overall and men’s category winner, completing the 12K race in 50 minutes and 18 seconds. Kade Sobers and Kwame Gordon secured second and third places, respectively. In the women’s category, Alexia John led the pack with a time of 53:07, followed by April Francis and Kenya Muir.

The scenic race route, which passed through Bacolet, Scarborough, and both Subway restaurants on the island, was filled with positive energy as participants of all ages took part. Johann Mendoza, vice president of Subway TT, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming community support, emphasizing the company’s commitment to fostering well-being beyond offering healthy food.

Proceeds from the race registration and fundraising efforts will directly benefit the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, aiding their critical work in providing support, advocacy, and safe housing for survivors and their families. Anthea Alfred of A+ Fitness Studio highlighted the event’s dual focus on physical health and community impact, calling it a perfect fit for their mission.

Organizers declared the event a resounding success and announced plans to make the Subway Road Race – Tobago Edition an annual fixture, further strengthening its role in promoting fitness and community solidarity.

In a thrilling second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semifinal, Mount Pleasant Football Academy secured their place in the final with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Defence Force, despite a 1-0 loss in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 5. Defence Force, the TT Premier Football League champions, fought valiantly but fell short of overturning the significant deficit from the first leg. Mount Pleasant now awaits the winner of the semifinal clash between Universidad O&M FC and Cibao FC, who are set to face off after press time on November 6. Defence Force’s captain Kevin Molino gave his team a glimmer of hope with a 13th-minute goal, but their reliance on counter-attacks and limited possession (32%) proved insufficient against Mount Pleasant’s solid defense. Goalkeeper Isaiah Williams shone for Defence Force with seven crucial saves, but Mount Pleasant’s first-leg dominance ensured their progression to the final and a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Defence Force still has a chance to qualify for the Champions Cup through the third-place playoff against either Cibao FC or Universidad O&M FC.