分类： sports

After six years of anticipation and postponements, Trinidad and Tobago’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will finally inaugurate its girls’ premiership division in 2026. The breakthrough comes following confirmed full sponsorship from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), as announced by president Kieron Edwards in his year-end address.

The girls’ premiership was originally scheduled to debut in 2020 but faced successive setbacks due to the global pandemic and subsequent financial challenges. Despite previous assurances of a 2025 launch during the SSFL’s September league launch, logistical complications necessitated further delay according to league president Merere Gonzales.

Edwards emphasized the transformative potential of this new division for women’s football development nationally. Gonzales praised the TTFA’s commitment and outlined the league’s initial structure, which will feature top schools from each of the SSFL’s five zones to ensure competitive quality from the outset.

The inaugural season will implement a selective approach, potentially including one or two schools per zone, with plans to establish promotion and relegation mechanisms following the first season. This structure aims to create competitive incentives for championship division teams while expanding opportunities for female athletes.

Beyond immediate competition, the premiership is expected to significantly elevate the standard of girls’ football across Trinidad and Tobago. It will serve as a crucial talent pipeline for national team selection, particularly ahead of regional and international tournaments. Gonzales highlighted alignment with FIFA’s advocacy for increased female football investment and recognition.

The SSFL executive also focuses on strengthening youth pathways, with existing U15 and U13 divisions serving as foundational tiers. The long-term vision involves establishing a comprehensive development structure that nurtures talent from early stages through to senior levels, ultimately expanding the nation’s pool of female footballers and leaving a lasting impact on Trinidad and Tobago’s football landscape.

After six years of postponements, Trinidad and Tobago’s Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) will finally launch its groundbreaking girls’ premiership division in 2026. The long-awaited initiative, initially scheduled for 2020, faced multiple setbacks including pandemic-related disruptions and financial challenges before securing full sponsorship from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

SSFL president Merere Gonzales expressed profound relief at the resolution of logistical constraints that previously hindered the competition’s implementation. The announcement came during TTFA president Kieron Edwards’ year-end address, where he confirmed the association’s complete backing of the pioneering women’s development program.

The inaugural season will feature a selective format, drawing the most competitive schools from each of the five SSFL zones to ensure high-quality matches from the outset. Gonzales revealed the league would begin with at least one representative institution per zone, establishing a foundation for future expansion through promotion and relegation systems.

This structural development represents a significant advancement for women’s football in the Caribbean nation, aiming to elevate playing standards and broaden the talent pool for national team selection. The premiership is expected to create a more attractive, high-intensity tournament environment that will motivate championship division teams to compete for top-tier status.

FIFA’s strong advocacy for increased female football participation has been instrumental in driving this initiative forward. Gonzales emphasized that while men’s football maintains prominence, equal recognition for women’s sports remains essential for comprehensive athletic development.

The SSFL simultaneously focuses on strengthening youth pathways, with existing U15 and U13 divisions serving as foundational tiers. League executives aim to further establish these developmental leagues across all zones, creating an integrated system that nurtures talent from early school years through premiership competition.

This landmark achievement promises to reshape Trinidad and Tobago’s football landscape, offering female athletes unprecedented competitive opportunities and solidifying the nation’s commitment to gender equity in sports.

The inaugural East-West Corridor Football League prepares to resume action on January 3 with several clubs aiming to preserve their flawless records. Legacy FC, Orange Field Firehouse, Tinto Academy, Trippy FC, and Wallerfield United all enter the new year with perfect winning streaks intact across the league’s various divisions.

In the Central division, Orange Field and Tinto currently occupy the top two positions, while Wallerfield United has dominated the East division with consecutive victories—including a decisive 3-0 triumph against FC Porto Arima during the league’s December 6 opening night.

The Southern division sees Legacy and Trippy FC leading the standings, both having secured two victories each. Trippy currently tops the six-team table with an impressive +7 goal differential following their match-day two win against South Stars.

The Tobago division presents a tightly contested race with Blue Nation and Kings United tied at the summit with four points each. Their opening match ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams securing victories in their subsequent fixtures.

Most competitive appears to be the 11-team North division, where four clubs—Sheriff Angels Belmont, Simeon Road FC, Trendsetter Hawks, and United Brotherhood—are deadlocked at four points each. The division witnessed one of the most lopsided results thus far when Cruzeiro FC delivered a spectacular 6-0 victory against Tinto’s northern outfit.

The league represents the brainchild of former national team captain David Nakhid, now serving as parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, operating through his David Nakhid Academy (DNA).

In a strategic move ahead of the 2026 TT Cricket Board Premiership I season, Bess Motors Marchin Patriots have secured the signature of dynamic Trinidad and Tobago Red Force opening batsman Kamil Pooran. The 29-year-old right-handed batter brings substantial first-class experience to last season’s runners-up, having featured in eight First-Class matches and four List A appearances throughout his career.

Pooran’s acquisition represents a significant coup for the Patriots, as the explosive batsman played pivotal roles in Central Sports’ consecutive Premiership I championship victories in 2024 and 2025. His recent form has been particularly impressive, highlighted by a match-winning performance in the inaugural West Indies T20 Breakout League final where he smashed 73 runs from just 44 deliveries to propel TT Legions to the title. Additionally, Pooran contributed to Trinidad and Tobago’s silver-medal campaign at the recent Bolivarian Games in early December.

The Patriots officially announced the signing through their social media channels on December 18, expressing enthusiasm about their new acquisition. The club’s statement emphasized Pooran’s proven track record as a pressure player ready for the big stage, noting that his addition would substantially enhance both the quality and depth of their batting lineup while elevating team standards.

This signing strengthens an already formidable Patriots squad that features multiple award-winning performers, including Evin Lewis—last season’s Premiership I Cricketer of the Year who amassed over 600 runs—and Kashtri Singh, both of whom were among the league’s top five cricketers for the 2025 campaign.

The 2026 TT Cricket Board Premiership I season is scheduled to commence on January 24, with the reinforced Marchin Patriots positioned as strong contenders for the championship.

In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago cycling, elite sprinters Njisane Phillip and Makaira Wallace of JLD Cycling Academy, alongside professional enduro rider Alexi Costa-Ramirez, have received a High Court directive to present a settlement proposal to the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF). This judicial instruction emerged from a virtual hearing presided over by Justice Westmin James on December 30, focusing on the federation’s controversial scheduling of national selection trials for the Pan American Track Championships.

The court-mandated proposal aims to resolve the dispute surrounding the TTCF’s announcement of mandatory trials scheduled for January 17—a date that falls fewer than 12 weeks before the prestigious continental championships. The athletes, represented by attorney Dr. Emir Crowne, previously sought an injunction against the trials, asserting that the timing contravenes the federation’s constitutional provisions and established selection protocols.

Central to the cyclists’ legal challenge is their claim that the TTCF’s own policies explicitly require national trials to be conducted at least 12 weeks prior to international competitions. They further argue that this abrupt scheduling departure from established practices could potentially jeopardize Olympic qualification opportunities, which frequently depend on meticulously planned continental championship timelines.

TTCF president Rowena Williams acknowledged that no definitive decisions were reached during the hearing but expressed optimism regarding reaching a mutual agreement by January 2. The federation maintains that trials represent a legitimate selection methodology, noting that previous team selections have incorporated both competitive trials and discretionary choices. The TTCF additionally asserts that the January trial date received proper authorization through a council meeting attended by all three athletes involved in the current dispute.

Should the settlement negotiations prove unsuccessful, Justice James indicated the High Court stands prepared to issue a prompt ruling on the matter, potentially setting a significant precedent for athlete-federation relations in Trinidad and Tobago sports governance.

In a display of holiday-season athletic excellence, Trinidad and Tobago’s premier 3×3 basketball talents dominated Basketball Fan TT’s annual Christmas Cup competition on Boxing Day. The quartet comprising Chike Augustine, Tyrik Singh, and twin brothers Ahkeel ‘Smally’ Boyd and Ahkeem ‘Fatto’ Boyd, competing under the team name ‘Bad Santa’, captured the tournament championship with a decisive 18-11 victory over Oil Birds in the final showdown.

The event, hosted at Bon Air Basketball Court in Arouca, provided spectators with high-energy entertainment as the nationally recognized players demonstrated their court prowess. The victory marks back-to-back Christmas Cup titles for Singh, who previously triumphed in the 2024 edition with his former team ‘Three Wise Men’ alongside teammates Jason Friday and Jelani Valley.

Adding to his team’s accomplishments, Ahkeem ‘Fatto’ Boyd secured individual honors by claiming the tournament’s three-point shooting contest championship. His perimeter marksmanship, recently showcased while representing Trinidad and Tobago at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup tournament in León, Mexico last November, proved superior against formidable competition.

Beyond the athletic achievements, the event served charitable purposes through a successful food donation drive. Participants and patrons contributed both perishable and non-perishable food items, with all non-perishable donations designated for charitable distribution selected by the winning Bad Santa team.

Basketball Fan TT extended gratitude to local sponsors and community supporters including Bon Air/Arouca/Cane Farm councillor Maria Baptiste, who provided the venue and entertainment infrastructure. The organization also acknowledged contributions from Action Sounds, Bless Convenience for the People Mini Mart, Chords on Steel, Country House Supermarkets, Kiss Baking Company, Los Alumnos de San Juan, PartyVerse Supplies, and numerous volunteers who ensured the event’s success.

The Harvard Cricket Clinic, a renowned Trinidad and Tobago youth development institution, will commemorate its 60th anniversary by paying tribute to founding coach Lenny Kirton throughout its 2026 season starting January 4th. The organization announced on December 29th the establishment of a $5,000 memorial bursary in Kirton’s name, to be awarded to the most outstanding graduate at June 2026’s closing ceremony.

The bursary criteria extend beyond cricketing prowess, emphasizing holistic development including discipline, educational achievement, and social skills. This approach reflects Kirton’s philosophy during his tenure, where he mentored future West Indies stars including Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, and batting legend Brian Lara. Remarkably, the clinic also nurtured 400-meter hurdles world champion Jehue Gordon before his track and field ascendancy.

Kirton, who passed away in April 2020 at age 82, was remembered as instrumental in maintaining focus on education and social development alongside athletic training. His sister Juliet Brooks expressed appreciation for the recognition, noting her brother’s private nature but believing the honor would have pleased him given his dedication to youth development.

The clinic’s new leadership team consists of former Trinidad and Tobago youth captain Lester Cassimy and ex-sports editor Valentino Singh, both 1970s alumni of Kirton’s program. They acknowledge cricket’s evolution from amateur pastime to professional career path in Trinidad and Tobago, promising operational modernization while preserving the clinic’s developmental ethos.

Supported by former national youth player Umesh Persad, Nadine Gonzales, and ten accredited coaches, the revitalized program will feature professional coaching, modern techniques, athletic conditioning, sports psychology, competitive match experience, performance analytics, and leadership development for participants aged 5-18.