分类： sports

The Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) has officially launched its 2025/26 season, marking the fourth year under its current banner. The league, described by TTFA third vice-president Jameson Rigues as the ‘heartbeat of TT football,’ aims to strengthen the nation’s men’s football team by fostering a robust local competition. The season was unveiled at the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s VIP lounge in Mucurapo on October 19, with the action set to commence on October 24 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago. The opening double-header will feature San Juan Jabloteh vs. Miscellaneous Police FC at 6 pm, followed by Terminix La Horquetta Rangers vs. 1976 FC Phoenix at 8 pm. For Phoenix, this season offers a chance to reconnect with their Tobago fanbase after playing the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign without home fixtures. They are scheduled to feature in at least six Bacolet double-headers by early January. Reigning champions Defence Force, who enjoyed an unbeaten run last season, will begin their title defense against 2023/24 winners AC Port of Spain at the Arima Velodrome on October 25. Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up, MIC Central FC Reboot, will face cellar-placed Point Fortin Civic on October 26 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. The league, running from October 2025 to March 2026, plans to introduce a knockout tournament alongside the First Citizens Cup, which Defence Force successfully defended last season. Acting CEO Yale Antoine also revealed intentions to implement promotion and relegation at the season’s end, with both on-field and off-field performance being considered. However, clubs with teams in both tiers—Police, Defence Force, Prisons, and Eagles—will be exempt from this system. The prize structure remains unchanged, pending Cabinet approval, with winners receiving $150,000, runners-up $90,000, and third-placed teams $50,000. Rigues emphasized the TTPFL’s role in youth development, unity, and providing a pathway for aspiring footballers. He stated, ‘When our local leagues thrive, our national teams thrive. And when our national teams thrive, our people stand taller.’ The league continues to attract sponsors, including ADM, KFC, and Stag, with efforts ongoing to enhance branding and marketing.

GROS ISLET: A unique jewellery collection celebrating the achievements of Olympic champion Julien Alfred has been unveiled, with proceeds dedicated to supporting her charitable foundation. The “Julien Alfred Legacy Collection,” crafted by Eleanor Prospere, founder of Fearless Jewellery, was officially launched at a fundraising event for the Julien Alfred Foundation on October 11. The foundation is committed to nurturing the development of young athletes in St Lucia, Alfred’s home country. Inspired by Alfred’s gold medal-winning performance in the 100-metre sprint at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the collection includes unisex bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Each piece is designed around the shape of the Olympic medal and incorporates symbols of St Lucian national pride, such as the flag and the national flower. “Her victory was transformative for St Lucia. She has truly put our nation on the global stage,” Prospere shared with the St Lucia Times. “I wanted to create something that would allow everyone to celebrate her success.” After receiving approval from Alfred and her manager, Prospere personally financed and produced the collection. The launch aligns with the establishment of Alfred’s foundation, ensuring her legacy inspires and supports the next generation of athletes. CMC

The Santa Rosa Park in Arima is set to host a thrilling day of horse racing on October 25, 2025, with the highlight being the Fly Junior Sprint, a Grade Three contest over 1,100 metres on the turf course. This penultimate event of the racing season has attracted a competitive field of five thoroughbreds, with the American-bred Sneaky Cheeky emerging as the pre-race favorite. The race will also feature three other American-bred runners, including Midnight Lover, El Chico Malo, Striking Chrome, and The Goddess Nike, each representing top trainers and owners in the industry. Additionally, the day will mark the first juvenile contest of the season, a 1,000-metre race on the main track, featuring three promising two-year-olds. Barbadian apprentice rider Raheem Thorpe, the leading apprentice for the 2025 Barbados racing season, has secured four rides on the six-race card, including the feature event aboard Sneaky Cheeky. The racing action is scheduled to commence at 12:45 pm, promising an exciting day for turfites and punters alike.

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.