分类： sports

The Trinidad and Tobago national cricket teams delivered a spectacular performance on the opening day of the T20 tournament at the 2025 Bolivarian Games in Lima, Peru, on December 4th, securing victories across all matches with exceptional individual displays.

In the women’s competition, the TT squad demonstrated formidable prowess with two commanding wins. Their opening match against Jamaica concluded with a comfortable seven-wicket victory, largely attributed to veteran off-spinner Anisa Mohammed’s brilliant 4/12 bowling figures across four overs. The rising talent Samara Ramnath provided crucial support with 2/14, restricting Jamaica to a modest 77/6 despite West Indies batter Rashada Williams’ resilient 47 not out from 61 deliveries.

The women’s team continued their dominance with a staggering 108-run triumph over Barbados. Opener Shunelle Sawh anchored the innings with a solid 46 off 45 balls, supported by valuable contributions from Britney Cooper (25 not out), Shania Abdool (23), and Djenaba Joseph (22). Barbados’ batting lineup collapsed dramatically against TT’s bowling attack, particularly spinner Karishma Ramharack who recorded impressive figures of 3/3, limiting Barbados to just 38/9.

The men’s team mirrored this success with equally impressive performances. They decimated host nation Peru by nine wickets, with spinner Damion Joachim producing a masterclass performance of 4/3 including two maiden overs. Opening batsman Kamil Pooran unleashed a devastating assault, hammering 54 not out from just 19 deliveries with four boundaries and five sixes, guiding TT to victory in merely 5.3 overs.

Completing their perfect day, the men’s team secured a second victory against Jamaica by six wickets. Pacer Shaaron Lewis led the bowling attack with 3/13, while Leonardo Julien’s unbeaten 60 from 41 deliveries ensured a comfortable chase of Jamaica’s 133/8 total.

The tournament continues on December 5th with TT positioned as early favorites following their comprehensive opening-day dominance.

The Trinidad and Tobago national bobsleigh team continues to demonstrate remarkable consistency in international competition, achieving their fifth consecutive extended podium finish at the Park City leg of the North American Cup on December 3. The four-man crew, affectionately known as the ‘Soca Sliders,’ captured fifth position among fifteen competing nations with a combined time of 1:37.51 across two heats.

Piloted by Axel Brown with team members Xaverri Williams, Shakeel John, and Micah Moore, the Caribbean squad delivered a strong opening run of 48.66 seconds followed by a slightly slower second descent of 48.85 seconds. This performance marks their third top-five finish within a fortnight, building upon fourth and fifth placements achieved during the previous Whistler, Canada leg of the competition circuit.

The victory was claimed by Brazil’s quartet featuring Edson Bindilatti, Davidson De Souza, Rafael Da Silva, and Edson Martins, who clocked an impressive 1:36.87. South Korea secured second position (1:37.23), while Canada claimed third (1:37.25) in a tightly contested event.

The Park City event follows an exceptional achievement by the Trinidadian team just four days prior, when the pairing of Brown and De Aundre John captured silver in the two-man bobsleigh event—the nation’s strongest performance in the young season. As of December 4, the team was scheduled for additional four-man competition, though results remained pending at time of reporting.

The Mayaro Resource Center in southeastern Trinidad became a hub of youthful athletic energy last weekend as more than 120 aspiring footballers participated in the transformative “Shine On” Youth Football Festival and Camp. This comprehensive development initiative, strategically organized by the All Mayaro Sports Foundation (AMSF) with sponsorship from energy company bpTT, provided specialized training for boys and girls aged 6-17 across a two-day immersive program.

Expert coaches delivered technical instruction focusing on fundamental skills including ball control, precision dribbling, accurate passing, and tactical awareness. The curriculum extended beyond physical techniques to incorporate essential mental conditioning and focus development. These learned competencies were subsequently applied in competitive age-group matches on the second day, allowing participants to demonstrate their enhanced capabilities in practical game scenarios.

The event culminated with an awards ceremony recognizing exceptional performers who exemplified the training principles. In a significant nod to local football heritage, the festival honored four distinguished Mayaro-born female athletes—Donna-Mae McIntosh, Shaquilla Hamilton, Linfah Jones, and Chrissy Mitchell—who have represented Trinidad and Tobago at elite international levels. Their recognition served as powerful inspiration for the next generation.

This developmental program operates within the broader framework of the annual Mayaro Football League, now in its 27th season with eight regional teams competing for the Razack Jan Memorial League and Leston Paul Knockout Cup titles. AMSF Chairman and TT Football Association Vice-President Jameson Rigues revealed ambitious plans to establish a permanent sports development academy that would maintain the impressive participant engagement witnessed during the camp.

The festival’s thematic direction incorporated input from Miss Mayaro and Miss World TT delegate T’Mia Francis, who utilized the platform to advance her ‘Beauty with a Purpose: Shine On’ initiative. Demonstrating social consciousness, girls’ camp uniforms featured purple and pink colors to raise breast cancer awareness while encouraging female participation in competitive sports.

Eleven-year-old standout participant Deshawn Charles expressed profound appreciation for the camp’s emphasis on discipline and respect alongside technical training, noting: “This camp inspired me to really put in the work to achieve my dream of making the national team.”

Mayaro MP Wilfred Nicholas Morris praised bpTT’s decades-long community support, while bpTT Vice-President Karissa Bissoon reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sporting development as a pillar of opportunity and empowerment for Trinidadian youth. The event also attracted officials from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, including former national footballer Ryan Stewart, underscoring its significance within the national sports landscape.

In a display of resilience and skill, West Indies batsman Shai Hope crafted a magnificent fourth Test century while veteran bowler Kemar Roach achieved his 12th five-wicket haul during the fourth day of the opening Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on December 5.

The Caribbean team faces a formidable challenge heading into the final day’s play, requiring 319 additional runs to achieve what would be a record-breaking victory against New Zealand’s imposing target of 531 runs. Despite the daunting task, West Indies concluded day four with renewed optimism thanks to an unbroken 140-run partnership between Hope (116 not out from 183 deliveries) and Justin Greaves (55 not out from 143 balls).

This crucial fifth-wicket stand rescued the visitors from a precarious position of 72 for four, elevating them to 212 for four at stumps. Hope’s commanding performance featured 15 boundaries and one six, demonstrating exceptional composure throughout his innings. Greaves provided steadfast support with six boundaries in his measured approach.

New Zealand’s victory pursuit encountered potential complications as pace bowler Nathan Smith was ruled out of further participation following his absence from batting in the second innings. Additionally, frontline seamer Matt Henry underwent hospital scans for a calf strain after delivering 11 overs on day four.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand declared their second innings at 466 for eight, with Roach’s impressive figures of five for 78 highlighting the bowling attack. The 37-year-old’s achievement moves him to 291 Test wickets, marking a particularly significant accomplishment after being omitted from recent series against Australia and India.

The final day’s play, scheduled for 6 pm TT time on December 5, will determine whether West Indies can complete an extraordinary comeback or if New Zealand will secure the victory.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service is pioneering a groundbreaking sports initiative that merges institutional camaraderie with national athletic ambition. The VALIANCE 3×3 basketball inter-station competition, concluding on December 5 after commencing on December 4, represents more than just an internal tournament—it’s a strategic move to strengthen the country’s basketball infrastructure.

This innovative program operates under the official FIBA 3×3 framework, meaning every game directly contributes to Trinidad and Tobago’s international ranking within the basketball federation. The timing is particularly significant as the nation sets its sights on qualifying for major global events including the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Poland and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Ricardo Dass emphasized the dual-purpose nature of VALIANCE, noting that while enhancing team spirit among officers, the initiative simultaneously identifies and develops talent for national representation. “Officers who demonstrate exceptional skill can transition into representative squads,” Dass explained, “creating a pool of experienced 3×3 players who may eventually represent Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage.”

The tournament’s organizational structure ensures all participating officers are registered on the official play.fiba3x3.com platform, guaranteeing that their performances count toward official rankings and national team eligibility criteria. Looking beyond the current competition, organizers have already begun discussions about expanding the event to include other national security agencies, potentially creating a more competitive developmental platform that could further elevate the country’s basketball prospects.