分类： sports

In a tense and dramatic semifinal clash at Hasely Crawford Stadium on December 6, Signal Hill Secondary School secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Anthony’s College to advance to the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Coca-Cola national intercol final. The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute when substitute Siel Mills, who had just entered the pitch seconds earlier, calmly slotted the ball into an unguarded net. This opportunity emerged after St Anthony’s goalkeeper Necose Moore made a brilliant initial save against another substitute, Jahmiah Gibbes, but left his line exposed.

The match, while lacking in technical refinement, compensated with intense drama and physical commitment. Signal Hill’s advancement was largely safeguarded by an exceptional performance from goalkeeper Kaleb Romeo, who made two critical saves in the closing stages against St Anthony’s key playmaker, Mordecai Ford. Romeo first denied a powerful left-footed strike from Ford in the 82nd minute and then produced another spectacular stop deep into stoppage time to preserve his team’s narrow lead.

Signal Hill now prepares for a highly anticipated championship rematch against Naparima College, the 2025 premier division champions who narrowly defeated St Augustine Secondary in their semifinal on December 5. This final confrontation carries added significance for the Tobago-based team, as Naparima College previously denied them the premier division title with a 2-1 victory on November 27, a result that ultimately pushed Signal Hill to third place in the league standings.

The national intercol final is scheduled for December 10 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, where Signal Hill will seek redemption and their first national crown against their familiar rivals from Naparima.

In an extraordinary display of athletic prowess and mental fortitude, 18-year-old Victoria Deonarine from Trinidad and Tobago has redefined the limits of national freediving. On November 21, during the Blue Element competition in Soufriere, Dominica, the St Stephen’s College student plunged to a breathtaking depth of 45 meters without breathing apparatus, shattering her previous national record of 40 meters and surpassing the men’s national record in the process.

This remarkable achievement represents more than just a personal triumph—it marks a watershed moment for freediving in Trinidad and Tobago. The sport, which involves breath-holding until resurfacing rather than using scuba equipment, has historically flown under the radar in the twin-island nation despite its perfect aquatic environment.

‘Honestly, I’m still on a high from it,’ Deonarine confessed to Newsday. ‘It still feels surreal thinking about it because it is everything that I have been working towards and more.’

The Williamsville native described entering uncharted territory during her record-breaking attempt. While she had reached 40 meters in training, the competition dive pushed her into entirely new depths. ‘I didn’t really know what to expect,’ she admitted. ‘In the past, I never would have dove as deep as that. So, I was a bit nervous.’

However, Deonarine found her composure once she reached her starting position, surrounded by safety divers. ‘I felt calm, I felt capable because I knew that all of my training had prepared me for that specific moment,’ she recalled.

Her triumphant resurfacing was marked by a heart-shaped hand gesture and the draping of the Trinidad and Tobago flag across her shoulders—a symbolic celebration of national pride. ‘I’m just really proud to be able to carry my flag to new depths, to represent TT by doing what I love,’ Deonarine expressed.

The aftermath of her achievement has generated unexpected attention, with interview requests and messages from strangers sparking renewed interest in the sport. Deonarine sees this as an opportunity to promote freediving in her homeland. ‘We are an island surrounded by beautiful water, and so much can happen because people are just not really aware of freediving,’ she noted, highlighting the nation’s untapped potential for the sport.

Her coach, Saif Mohammed of ‘Out and Under,’ attested to Deonarine’s rapid progression through intermediate freediver certification, advanced breath-hold training, and first responder preparation. Mohammed believes her capabilities extend beyond national records to potential world championship contention. ‘There is a possibility that she can even go up for world records and not just national records,’ he stated.

Despite these aspirations, Deonarine remains grounded, prioritizing her academic commitments while maintaining training consistency. She envisions Trinidad and Tobago hosting international freediving competitions, particularly in Tobago, which could boost tourism and local participation.

For now, the young athlete focuses on her examinations, but her historic dive suggests this breakthrough merely marks the beginning of an promising international career in freediving.

In a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Trinidad and Tobago’s women’s team secured their place in the Bolivarian Games final with a decisive 74-run victory against Barbados on December 6 in Ayacucho-Lima, Peru. Maintaining an impeccable tournament record with four consecutive wins, the TT squad demonstrated exceptional skill both with the bat and ball.

After being sent to bat first, TT posted a competitive total of 120/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by veteran batter Britney Cooper, who delivered a masterful 53 runs from 48 deliveries, including seven boundaries and one maximum. Young talent Samara Ramnath provided crucial support with her 21-run contribution from 24 balls. Despite early setbacks that saw openers Shunelle Sawh and Djenaba Joseph dismissed within the first eight overs, the 61-run partnership between Cooper and Ramnath proved instrumental in building a defendable total.

Barbados’ bowling attack was led by Erin Deane, who claimed three wickets for 23 runs, while Elecia Bowman secured one for eight.

The Bajans’ response with the bat quickly unraveled against TT’s disciplined bowling unit. Restricted to a mere 16/2 during the powerplay, Barbados never found momentum against TT’s spin duo of Karishma Ramharack (1/5) and Anisa Mohammed (2/4). The batting collapse intensified as pacer Kirbyina Alexander dominated with remarkable figures of 3/4, supported by Brianna Harricharan’s 2/9. Barbados ultimately collapsed to 46 all out in 19.3 overs, falling dramatically short of the target.

With this commanding performance, the TT women advance to the December 7 final with tremendous momentum, while setting the stage for an additional showdown between TT and Barbados in the men’s championship match.

In a spectacular display of youthful talent, the Soca Strikers Under-19 team commenced their campaign in the TT Cricket Board’s Under-23 Cup with an emphatic nine-wicket triumph against the Scarlet Blazers at Brian Lara Cricket Academy on December 5.

The match witnessed two extraordinary individual performances that defined the contest. Opening batsman Saleem Khan delivered a masterclass with an unbeaten 107 runs from 109 deliveries, showcasing his batting prowess with 11 boundaries and three maximums. Meanwhile, West Indies under-19 representative Brendan Boodoo demonstrated bowling excellence with a devastating five-wicket haul that dismantled the opposition’s batting lineup.

The Scarlet Blazers, opting to bat first after winning the toss, struggled to establish momentum against the Strikers’ disciplined attack. Despite a resilient half-century from Sachin Emrit (50 not out) and contributions from R. Yearwood (39) and captain Rajeev Ramnath (20), the Blazers collapsed from a relatively comfortable 137-4 to a meager 190 all out in 41.2 overs. Boodoo’s leg-spin wizardry proved particularly destructive, claiming five wickets for just 21 runs across eight overs.

Chasing a modest target of 191, the Soca Strikers exhibited clinical efficiency. Though they lost an early wicket at 56 runs, Khan partnered with Aadi Ramsaran (61 not out) to forge an unbroken 140-run stand for the second wicket. Their dominant partnership guided the Strikers to victory at 196-1 with more than ten overs remaining, highlighting the team’s batting depth and composure under pressure.

The tournament continues with upcoming fixtures featuring Steelpan Titans and Cocrico Warriors at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, culminating in a final showdown at Brian Lara Cricket Academy on December 13.

Santa Rosa Park in Arima prepares for an exhilarating climax to the 2025 racing season with the prestigious Grade One Stewards Cup, scheduled for December 6. The featured event, contested over 1,200 meters on the main track, will showcase five exceptional thoroughbreds competing for one of Caribbean racing’s most coveted titles.

Heading the competitive field is the 2025 Tanglewood Hello World champion, positioned as the pre-race favorite following impressive recent performances. The field features formidable challengers including Triple Crown winner Headliner and American-bred contender The Goddess Nike, trained by renowned conditioner John O’Brien. Completing the elite roster are Sneaky Cheeky, representing trainer Ramesh Ramroop, and locally-bred standout C’est La Vie under the guidance of Jimmy Rampersad.

The racing program extends beyond the headline event, featuring the penultimate day of the season with six total races. The fourth race presents an intriguing matchup between 2025 Trinidad Derby runner-up Have A Great Day and third-place finisher Valiante, both testing their capabilities against experienced older competitors.

Adding international flair to the card, two simulcast events from Jamaica’s Caymanas Park will be incorporated: the Bruceontheloose Sprint Trophy (J$15,000,000 purse) and the prestigious Mouttet Mile (J$45,000,000 purse). The Mouttet Mile notably features Rideallday, an American-bred runner co-owned by Olympic sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce among other female owners, trained by Phillip Feanny.

Racing commences at 12:45 PM, with the Stewards Cup scheduled for approximately 3:45 PM, offering turf enthusiasts a full afternoon of world-class thoroughbred competition.