分类： sports

The Trinidad and Tobago men’s senior football team is gearing up for a crucial phase in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with two high-stakes matches scheduled for November at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. The team is determined to secure six points to bolster their position in Group B, where they currently stand third with five points, trailing Jamaica (nine points) and Curacao (eight points).

Their first challenge will be against Jamaica on November 13 at 7 pm, followed by a match against Bermuda on November 18 at 8 pm. Both games are expected to draw significant local support, with fans eager to witness their team’s pursuit of World Cup qualification.

Tickets for the matches are available at various outlets across Trinidad and Tobago, including Cache outlets, 519 in C3 Centre, Fan Club in Trincity Mall, Jade Monkey in Crown Point, and Cookkin Vibez in Woodbrook. Prices are set at $200 for the uncovered section and $300 for the covered section.

The top team from each of the three groups will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, the two best second-placed teams will have a chance to advance through the intercontinental playoffs, adding further intensity to the competition.

Trinidad and Tobago (TT) is set to host the 2025 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Annual Senior Sevens tournament from November 21-23 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar. This marks the second consecutive year TT has been granted hosting rights under a three-year allocation bid. The event will feature 15 countries competing across men’s and women’s categories, with TT aiming to build on their 2024 performances. Last year, the TT men’s team reached the final but were defeated 38-0 by Canada, securing a runner-up finish that earned them a spot in the 2025 Junior Pan American Games. The women’s ‘A’ team placed third, while the ‘B’ team finished fifth. Mexico claimed the women’s title with a 19-12 victory over Jamaica. This year’s tournament will see a six-team women’s competition, including newcomers Bermuda and Guyana, alongside Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, and hosts TT. The men’s tier one category will feature eight teams, with Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, and Mexico joining TT. The tier two men’s competition will include Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Winners of the men’s tier one and women’s categories will qualify for the SVNS pathway, part of World Rugby’s HSBC SVNS model. Additionally, the top three men’s tier one teams (excluding Canada) and the top two women’s teams will secure spots in the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in the Dominican Republic. The tier two men’s winner will also have a promotion opportunity, provided they are a full RAN member union. The tournament will feature pool and knockout stages for men’s tier one, while tier two and women’s categories will adopt a round-robin format.

The West Indies cricket team has made a strategic move to strengthen their spin options for the ongoing three-match ODI series against Bangladesh by recalling left-arm orthodox spinner Akeal Hosein. This decision comes after the visitors suffered a 74-run defeat in the series opener, where spinners from both sides dominated the low and slow pitch at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

Hosein, along with left-arm fast bowler Ramon Simmonds, was added to the squad on October 20, replacing injured fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades. Blades has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour due to a stress fracture in his lower back, while Joseph is set to consult a specialist in England for shoulder discomfort.

The inclusion of Hosein is expected to provide the West Indies with much-needed firepower in their bowling attack, which struggled in the first ODI. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has reinforced their spin-heavy approach by adding left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed to their squad. The hosts have not lost a home ODI series since 2011, making the challenge even more daunting for the West Indies.

Khary Pierre, who made his ODI return after nearly five years, emphasized the importance of adapting to the spin-friendly conditions. “The wicket is very spinner-friendly, and as batsmen, we have to adapt quickly,” Pierre said in a pre-match press conference. Drawing from his recent experience in India, Pierre highlighted the need for discipline and patience on subcontinental pitches.

Despite the challenging conditions, Pierre stressed that the team’s focus remains on execution rather than the pitch. “We have to play on any wicket provided to us. It’s about adapting and playing the game the right way,” he added. With Hosein and Pierre leading the spin department, the West Indies aim to exploit the surface’s assistance and keep Bangladesh’s batsmen at bay.

Pierre, who described his comeback as a result of persistence and hard work, expressed his pride in representing the West Indies. “Playing for the West Indies is my biggest motivation. I’m here to help my team win games,” he said. The team will look to leverage Hosein’s experience in the powerplay as they seek to keep the series alive ahead of the final ODI on October 23.

Trinidad and Tobago’s swimming sensation Dylan Carter faced a challenging outing at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, securing a seventh-place finish in the men’s 50-metre butterfly final held in Westmont, Illinois, on October 19. Competing in lane seven, Carter showcased a strong start with the joint third-best reaction time among the eight finalists. However, his final time of 22.48 seconds left him 0.39 seconds behind the podium finishers. The event was dominated by Canada’s Ilya Kharun, who clinched gold with a blistering 21.69 seconds, followed by Switzerland’s Noe Ponti (21.80) and American Finn Brooks (22.09) in second and third places, respectively. Kharun had earlier set the tone by improving his heat time by 0.35 seconds to secure his spot in the final. Carter had advanced to the final with the sixth-best time of 22.62 seconds from heat seven, where he finished second behind Ponti. Earlier in the competition, Carter had shared a joint-fifth position in the men’s 50m backstroke final alongside France’s Lucien Vergnes, both clocking 23.17 seconds. Despite entering the backstroke final with the second-best time, Carter couldn’t replicate his earlier performance to secure a medal. The Swimming World Cup has seen Carter claim two medals so far: a bronze in the 50m backstroke in Carmel, Indiana, on October 11, and another bronze in the 50m freestyle in Westmont on October 17. The competition will conclude with its third and final leg in Toronto, Canada, from October 23-25.

The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) boys’ championship division is reaching its climax, with several teams securing their positions in the highly anticipated ‘Big 5’ playoffs. Speyside Secondary has already clinched the top spot in the Tobago zone, cementing their place in the playoffs after a dominant 10-0 victory over Pentecostal Light and Life on October 17. In the east zone, Hillview College remains unbeaten with 21 points and a staggering +48 goal difference, setting the stage for a decisive clash against second-placed El Dorado East Secondary on October 21. Meanwhile, the central zone sees Presentation College Chaguanas leading with 24 points, though Chaguanas North Secondary has appealed the SSFL’s decision to award Presentation a 3-0 win for their abandoned September 22 match. The south zone is equally competitive, with Palo Seco Secondary holding a slim one-point lead over Pleasantville Secondary, who recently triumphed 3-1 against Siparia West Secondary. In the north, Mucurapo West and East Mucurapo Secondary are locked in a tight battle for the final playoff spot. As the final round of matches approaches, the SSFL Appeals Committee is set to rule on Chaguanas North’s appeal, adding further intrigue to an already thrilling season.