分类： sports

Naparima College secured their second Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) championship of the 2025 season with an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Presentation College San Fernando in the Coca-Cola South Zone Intercol final. The decisive match unfolded at Couva’s Ato Boldon Stadium on December 1, showcasing Naparima’s formidable offensive capabilities against their city rivals.

The match’s narrative transformed dramatically in the second half when striker Riquelme Phillips delivered a spectacular hat-trick performance. Substitute Xarion France compounded Presentation’s distress with a clinical fourth goal during extra time, sealing Naparima’s commanding victory. This triumph propels Naparima into the National Intercol quarter-finals, positioning them for a potential triple crown of SSFL titles this season.

Presentation College initially demonstrated promising momentum during the opening minutes, earning a penalty opportunity in the fourth minute after Naparima defender Sebastian James fouled striker Isaiah Jacob in the box. However, Naparima goalkeeper Mikhail Clement anticipated perfectly, diving left to deny Jacob’s spot kick in what became a pivotal turning point.

The Lions maintained territorial dominance throughout the first fifteen minutes but gradually yielded control as Naparima established midfield superiority. Despite several scoring chances from Jacob, Presentation consistently lacked the finishing precision required to convert opportunities into goals.

The match evolved into a midfield stalemate during the latter first half, with Naparima’s Jabari Rodriguez, Jayden Caprietta, and Jacob O’Reilly applying sustained pressure on Presentation’s defensive lines. Both teams remained scoreless at halftime despite numerous attempts.

Naparima emerged from the break with renewed offensive intensity. The breakthrough arrived in the 63rd minute when defender Camron Bovell’s long aerial pass triggered defensive miscommunication between Presentation’s goalkeeper Marcelo Phillip and his defender. Phillips capitalized on the collision, expertly lofting a shot into the far post beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

Thirteen minutes later, O’Reilly executed a strategic steal in Presentation’s territory, delivering a perfectly weighted pass to Phillips who finished clinically against the outrushing goalkeeper. Phillips completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute through coordinated play with Caprietta, expertly shifting to his left foot before firing into the top right corner.

The final blow came during added time when substitutes Arron Raymond and France combined effectively, with France delivering a powerful right-footed finish that eliminated any remaining hope for Presentation. The victory reinforces Naparima’s status as premier contenders while Presentation must regroup for subsequent seasons.

In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Barbados Pride emphatically ended their seven-year championship drought by crushing Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with a commanding nine-wicket victory in the CG United Super50 Cup final. The November 29 showdown at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba witnessed the visitors dismantle the home team’s ambitions with remarkable efficiency, chasing down Red Force’s modest total of 168 runs with 20.3 overs remaining.

Barbadian skipper Kyle Mayers orchestrated the triumphant campaign with an unbeaten 89-run masterclass, demonstrating the aggressive yet intelligent leadership philosophy he implemented throughout the tournament. ‘My approach centers on empowering players through positivity and fearless cricket,’ Mayers revealed following the championship victory. ‘We aimed to be strategically aggressive while maintaining smart decision-making in crucial moments.’

The Pride’s bowling unit established the foundation for their success, with Joshua Bishop’s exceptional performance earning him the Curtly Ambrose Award for his eight wickets at an impressive average of 13.37. The team’s depth proved particularly advantageous this season, as Mayers noted: ‘Barbados possesses widespread cricketing talent. Our achievement stems from assembling these quality players and positioning them for optimal performance.’

For the Red Force, the final represented a disappointing conclusion to a challenging tournament plagued by weather disruptions and inconsistent performances. Captain Joshua Da Silva acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, particularly regarding their familiarity with home conditions. ‘The pitches weren’t up to standard, especially during daytime matches where excessive spin created difficulties,’ Da Silva conceded. ‘I accept responsibility for our batting performance—we simply didn’t execute adequately.’

Despite the defeat, Da Silva highlighted several positive developments, including the emergence of young talents Cephas Cooper, Abdul-Raheem Toppin, and Shatrughan Rambaran. The tournament also marked the final Regional Super50 appearance for veteran Jason Mohammed, who concludes his career with a record 3,827 runs, leaving both a significant void and opportunities for new players to shape the team’s future.

The victory secured Barbados’ eighth overall title in the regional 50-over competition while extending Trinidad and Tobago’s wait for a record fifteenth championship to the 2026 season.

The Trinidad and Tobago women’s national football team delivered a commanding performance in their Concacaf W Qualifier debut, securing an impressive 5-0 victory against Barbados at Kensington Oval on December 1. The match marked a spectacular beginning to their campaign in Group F, which also includes El Salvador and Honduras.

Despite initial challenges adapting to the cricket pitch’s unusual bounce, the visiting team established early dominance. Captain Kennya “YaYa” Cordner broke the deadlock in the 12th minute with a clinical finish from close range after goalkeeper Lisa Harding parried a powerful header from defender Kedie Johnson.

The first half saw several near-misses for Trinidad and Tobago, including Alexcia Ali’s disallowed goal for offside and Nikita Gosine’s free kick striking the crossbar. Barbados’ best opportunity came from Rianna Cyrus, whose weak shot failed to trouble TT goalkeeper Simone Eligon.

Strategic positional adjustments at halftime proved instrumental in TT’s second-half explosion. Johnson, shifted to left back, unleashed a spectacular 30-yard left-footed strike in the 77th minute that dipped dramatically beyond Harding’s reach. This breakthrough ignited a scoring frenzy in the final stages.

Substitute Ariana Borneo made an immediate impact after her 67th-minute introduction, adding a third goal with a exquisite left-footed curler from outside the box in the 82nd minute. The offensive barrage continued as Aaliyah Prince showcased exceptional dribbling skills before slotting home a precise finish just moments later.

The comprehensive victory was capped in stoppage time when Lorall Romain drilled a fifth goal through a crowded penalty area following an indirect free kick awarded for a goalkeeper infringement.

The win provides ideal momentum for Trinidad and Tobago, who now await their next qualifier against Honduras on March 3, followed by a home fixture against El Salvador on April 16. The tournament structure sees only group winners advancing to the 2025 Concacaf W Championship, which serves as the qualifying pathway to both the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Five Rivers Secondary School delivered a breathtaking display of offensive dominance on December 1, securing their place in the National Coca-Cola Intercol girls’ semifinal with a devastating 9-0 victory over Holy Faith Convent Couva at Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva.

The match transformed into a personal showcase for striker Hackeemar Goodridge, who netted an impressive four goals in what became a one-sided championship division encounter. Goodridge’s remarkable performance was complemented by Ahmeeda Bowman and Jayda Herbert, each contributing two goals, while Shaquilla Daniel sealed the commanding win with a solitary strike.

Five Rivers established control from the opening whistle, creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout the first half. Goodridge initiated the scoring spree in the seventh minute after capitalizing on a defensive miscue from Holy Faith Convent. Bowman extended the lead to 2-0 in the 27th minute with a skillful individual effort, evading defender Azariah Huggins before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Jael Moore.

The eastern zone champions demonstrated relentless pressure, with Goodridge securing her second goal just three minutes later after finding herself unmarked in the penalty area. Herbert joined the scoring parade moments afterward, taking advantage of another defensive error to push the advantage to 4-0 before halftime.

Five Rivers maintained their aggressive approach after the interval, with Goodridge completing her hat-trick in the 47th minute assisted by Herbert. The prolific striker added her fourth goal just five minutes later with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Despite the overwhelming lead, Five Rivers continued their offensive onslaught. Daniel converted her opportunity in the second half, followed by Herbert’s second goal in the 68th minute from a rebound situation. Bowman concluded the spectacular performance with a magnificent individual effort in the 81st minute, weaving through Holy Faith’s defense before firing past Moore to complete the historic victory.

Holy Faith Convent struggled throughout the match, managing few meaningful attacks and demonstrating defensive vulnerabilities that Five Rivers exploited mercilessly. The victory sends Five Rivers into the national semifinals with tremendous momentum and a statement-making performance.