分类： sports

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has successfully secured renewed sponsorship for its youth development programs heading into 2026, marking a significant recovery from the complete loss of youth tournament funding experienced in 2024. This announcement was made by TTCB President Azim Bassarath during the board’s annual end-of-year luncheon at the National Cricket Centre in Couva on December 17.

The sponsorship package will comprehensively cover the Under-13 and Under-15 inter-zone tournaments, North/South Classics, along with four-team competitions at both Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Bassarath characterized this development as a strong vote of confidence in the organization’s restructured governance and enhanced focus on grassroots cricket development.

This financial backing arrives as the TTCB intensifies its youth cricket initiatives following a challenging period in early 2024. The previous sponsorship withdrawal stemmed from administrative disputes involving former treasurer Kiswah Chaitoo and a police investigation into financial mismanagement by another ex-employee. Despite these setbacks, the board successfully completed all inter-zone tournaments throughout 2025, culminating in Trinidad and Tobago’s championship victory in the West Indies Rising Stars Under-17 50-over tournament hosted domestically.

Notable among 2025’s achievements was the innovative Under-23 Cup, which strategically featured an Under-19 team competing against older opponents to accelerate player development through exposure to advanced physical, mental, and tactical challenges. The board also completed level one coaching certification programs across most zones, with plans to extend coverage to remaining areas.

The 2026 competition calendar will commence with the Under-15 inter-zone tournament on January 28, followed by Under-19 competitions starting February 20. The Under-17 tournament begins April 1, with Under-13 matches commencing April 23. Significantly, the TTCB has committed to maintaining its local Under-17 tournament despite the absence of regional competition at this level, emphasizing the importance of continuous development for this age group.

Beyond competitive events, the TTCB will collaborate with SporTT to conduct club development seminars nationwide, focusing on governance, administration, and organizational sustainability. Additionally, a coaching caravan will visit underserved communities including Toco, Blanchisseuse, Mayaro and Point Fortin, targeting both male and female players under 20 years old.

TTCB General Secretary Henry Chase affirmed that the sponsorship return indicates restored confidence in the board’s leadership after what he described as a ‘turbulent 2025’ period.

Indianapolis-based football academy Indy Premier SC achieved a spectacular double triumph at the Jewels of the Caribbean invitational tournament in Trinidad, showcasing a revolutionary approach to player development that prioritizes cognitive skills over traditional positional coaching.

The academy’s Under-17 squad delivered a breathtaking performance, securing victory in all matches while scoring 20 goals and maintaining a perfect defensive record without conceding any. Their Under-20 team mirrored this success, netting 12 goals while allowing only two across four matches to complete the championship sweep.

Trinidad-born head coach Kenrick Ramirez, who leads the program alongside Indiana Coaching Hall of Fame inductee Russell Gee and U20 defender Aubrey Robertson, attributes their success to a philosophy that emphasizes game intelligence, decision-making, and positional fluidity over rigid tactical systems. “We don’t teach positions,” Ramirez explained. “When you teach positions, decision-making becomes an issue. We have players who excel in multiple roles because they understand the game fundamentally.”

The academy’s preparation involved sophisticated data-driven analysis and GPS monitoring to manage player workload throughout the seven-day tournament. Despite rotating squad members constantly to maintain fitness levels, the team’s performance remained consistently dominant, including decisive victories against Trinidad and Tobago’s national team (4-0) and Jamaica’s national squad (5-0 and 3-0).

Ramirez’s strategic focus centered on three critical aspects: decision-making in the attacking third, transition to attack, and transition to defense. “We implemented an aggressive forward-passing game,” he noted. “When possession was lost, we immediately pressed because we identified defensive transition as a vulnerability in our opponents.”

Beyond the tactical achievements, the academy overcame significant logistical challenges, arriving in Trinidad with only 11 Under-20 players and supplementing their roster with U-17 athletes. Ramirez praised the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association for their exceptional organization and hospitality, which helped mitigate these complications.

The cultural experience formed an integral part of the journey, with players enjoying traditional ‘bake-and-shark’ at Maracas Beach and observing local league matches. The trip even included humorous superstitions, as two players took extended “bush-baths” after learning about the practice for eliminating bad luck—both subsequently broke scoring droughts and earned tournament honors.

Ramirez’s coaching journey emerged from personal adversity after a serious accident ended his promising playing career. His relocation to Columbus, Indiana, revealed the untapped potential for structured football development in a basketball-dominated region. At just 26, he became Indiana’s youngest club director and has since developed a proven framework that produces scholarship athletes and national team players.

Now as sporting director at Indy Premier, Ramirez oversees a nonprofit organization that has experienced substantial growth through unified leadership and a clear developmental vision. His ultimate measure of success extends beyond trophies: “We aim to develop responsible, well-rounded human beings who become good stewards of society. Winning naturally follows proper development.”

In less than two years since its February 2024 inauguration, the Giskar Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Facility has established itself as a transformative sporting institution in southern Trinidad. This world-class indoor complex located in Boodoo Trace, Debe has successfully addressed longstanding infrastructure deficiencies that previously hindered athletic development in the region.

The facility represents a significant advancement for cricket training in Trinidad and Tobago, featuring three full-length indoor practice lanes equipped with state-of-the-art bowling machines, specialized lighting systems, and integrated video analysis technology. This controlled environment enables year-round training unaffected by weather conditions, providing both emerging talents and established national cricketers with previously unavailable technical refinement opportunities.

Under the leadership of owner and director Keshava Ramphal—a High Performance Level 3 cricket coach and performance analyst with Cricket West Indies—the facility combines elite-level expertise with grassroots development initiatives. Ramphal’s current involvement with West Indies Under-19, West Indies A Team, and West Indies Academy programs brings professional standards to the facility’s operations.

The complex extends beyond cricket training to include a comprehensively equipped gym designed for sport-specific conditioning, strength development, and injury prevention. A dedicated health and recovery zone offers therapy services, ice baths, and structured wellness programs, addressing what facility manager Satesh Persaud describes as “an essential but often overlooked component of long-term athlete development.”

Giskar’s reputation has attracted numerous top-tier cricketers including Evin Lewis, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Mohammed, and national youth players Mbeki Joseph and Ryan Bandoo. During the recent CG United Super50 Cup, both Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Leeward Islands Hurricanes utilized the facility for match preparations.

Co-owner Shirley Ann Ramphal, holding a Master’s degree in biodiversity and conservation, has expanded the facility’s role to include corporate functions, fitness classes, and community wellness initiatives. The venue now serves as a hub for surrounding clubs and schools including Victoria Sports Club, Woodland Sports Club, and Presentation College San Fernando.

Testimonials from athletes highlight the facility’s impact. West Indies Academy player Steffi Soogrim, currently recovering from injury, noted the convenience of having world-class training infrastructure in southern Trinidad. Emerging all-rounder Ryan Bandoo, despite traveling from Couva, emphasized how the batting machines and specialized equipment have accelerated his development.

With plans to launch a sporting goods store by year’s end and increasing regional demand, Giskar Sports is positioning itself as the Southern Caribbean’s flagship venue for comprehensive athlete development and community engagement.

With the 2026 CONCACAF Under-17 Men’s Qualifiers approaching, Trinidad and Tobago’s national team coach Randolph Boyce has expressed strong optimism about the squad’s potential. The qualifying tournament, serving as the gateway to the 2026 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, will see TT host matches against Barbados, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, and regional powerhouse Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium from February 3-12.

The team entered an intensive residential training camp on December 15 to enhance tactical cohesion and individual skills. The talent pool received a significant boost on December 19 when five UK-based players—Kayden Bancey, Jashaun Christmas, Archie Lovatt, Ate Ormonde, and Eden Ormonde—joined the domestic contingent. This infusion of overseas talent comes as both the U-17 and U-20 national teams conduct simultaneous training camps.

Boyce, initially appointed as TT’s U-20 coach in August 2024 before transitioning to lead the U-17 program, revealed that response from international players has been overwhelming. San Juan Jabloteh coach Marvin Gordon has subsequently taken helm of the national U-20 team.

Via a TT Football Association (TTFA) media video released on December 24, Boyce explained the camp’s objectives: ‘The purpose was to bring in the boys after their Secondary Schools Football League season and to evaluate several international players from the US and England. The camp was well-represented and the players have put in the work.’

The coaching staff has assessed an impressive pool of 42 players, with Boyce particularly enthusiastic about the talent display. ‘We have a wealth of talent,’ he emphasized. ‘What they have displayed shows we have good resources to represent our country well.’

Evaluation criteria extended beyond technical skills to encompass tactical understanding, physical conditioning, and psychological preparedness. Boyce noted they were assessing ‘how disciplined they are, how they could work as a group together, and how they could function as a team.’

With approximately five weeks remaining before their opening qualifier against Barbados, Boyce and his staff face critical selection decisions. Practice matches served as examinations of player capabilities, and the coaching team must now evaluate which athletes best meet their competitive requirements.

The path to World Cup qualification is direct—the eight group winners from CONCACAF’s qualifiers will advance automatically to November 2026’s global tournament in Qatar.