标签： Jamaica

PORTLAND, Jamaica — The 41st edition of the Port Antonio Canoe Tournament commenced on Tuesday morning at the Ole Marina in Portland, albeit with a delayed start due to unfavorable weather conditions. Despite the challenges, the event drew significant participation, with 68 boats registered, including a strong contingent from St Mary. Daney-Ann Thomas, President of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, expressed optimism about the tournament’s outcome, acknowledging the resilience of the participants. ‘The weather may impact the results, but these canoe fishermen are professionals who eagerly anticipate this annual event. It’s our way of honoring their decades-long dedication to their craft. I’m excited to see what they bring in,’ she remarked. The fishing competition is set to conclude at 4:00 pm, followed by an awards ceremony. Yamaha serves as the primary sponsor for the event. Additionally, the 62nd Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament and the Sir Henry Morgan Anglers Tournament are scheduled to begin on Thursday, further enriching the week’s maritime sports activities.

In a landmark announcement, the United States has confirmed that Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica will join its bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The joint bid, formally launched in New York, marks a significant step in expanding the global reach of women’s football. The tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, aims to be the largest and most impactful Women’s World Cup in history.

The Swedish Football Association announced on Monday that Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and West Ham manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the national team. This decision comes in the wake of Jon Dahl Tomasson’s dismissal last week following a dismal performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the team suffered three consecutive losses and secured only one point in four matches. Potter, who was let go by West Ham in September, now faces the challenge of revitalizing a squad featuring star forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Swedish FA emphasized that Potter’s contract covers the ongoing qualifying campaign, including crucial matches against Switzerland and Slovenia in November, as well as a potential playoff in March. Should Sweden secure a spot in the tournament, the agreement will automatically extend to the finals. Potter, who previously managed Swedish club Ostersund FK from 2011 to 2018, expressed humility and enthusiasm about his new role, praising the quality of Swedish players competing in top global leagues. Despite the presence of high-profile talents like Isak and Gyokeres, Sweden has struggled offensively, failing to score in their last three matches and currently languishing at the bottom of Group B. Potter’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for Swedish football as they aim to reverse their fortunes and secure a place on the world stage.

Jamaican international footballer Kasey Palmer is set to miss eight to ten weeks of action following a knee injury sustained during the recent World Cup qualifying matches, as reported by UK media outlets. The Hull Daily Mail revealed that the 28-year-old midfielder returned from international duty last week with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury, potentially keeping him out of play until early next year. Palmer featured prominently in Jamaica’s 4-0 triumph over Bermuda at Kingston’s National Stadium last Tuesday but was absent from the previous match against Curacao due to a suspension. His injury comes at a critical juncture for the Reggae Boyz, who are vying for a spot in the World Cup. With two crucial games left in the final qualification round—an away fixture against Trinidad and Tobago and a home clash with Curacao in November—Jamaica currently leads Group B with nine points, narrowly ahead of Curacao with eight and Trinidad and Tobago with five.

Montego Bay United solidified their position at the top of the Jamaica Premier League with a decisive 3-1 triumph over second-placed Racing United on Sunday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. This victory marks their fourth consecutive win, propelling them to 22 points, a significant seven-point lead over Racing United and Portmore United, who are tied at 15 points after eight matches. Jourdain Fletcher continued his stellar form, netting his second brace in as many games, bringing his league-leading goal tally to seven. His performance was pivotal in Montego Bay’s comeback after a sluggish start, as they scored three goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half to seize control. An own goal by Racing defender Jimoy Jones in the 31st minute opened the scoring, followed by Fletcher’s opportunistic strikes in the 34th and 45th minutes. Jones redeemed himself with a goal for Racing in the 51st minute, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Montego Bay’s dominance. Fletcher narrowly missed a hat-trick when his second-half penalty was disallowed due to an inadvertent double touch. Meanwhile, defending champions Cavalier bounced back from last week’s loss with a 3-0 victory over Spanish Town Police, while Waterhouse FC settled for a second consecutive 0-0 draw against Dunbeholden FC.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) received a significant boost as Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele was named in the squad for their upcoming Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. The 28-year-old forward has been sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with France in early September. After undergoing rehabilitation at a specialized clinic in Qatar, Dembele resumed training last week and is poised to make his return in Tuesday’s crucial encounter. His comeback is timely for coach Luis Enrique, as PSG has been grappling with a string of injuries this season. Dembele missed PSG’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Strasbourg last Friday but could feature in Germany as the French champions aim to secure their third consecutive victory in the Champions League. Leverkusen’s Loic Bade, Dembele’s compatriot, praised the PSG star as a “complete player” with no apparent weaknesses, emphasizing the need for collective defense to counter his threat. Meanwhile, PSG also welcomed back forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, though midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves remain unavailable. Leverkusen’s new coach, Kasper Hjulmand, acknowledged PSG’s high-energy press as both a “weapon” and a “risk,” expressing confidence in his team’s ability to compete. Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, have drawn their first two Champions League matches this season and are eager to showcase their quality against the European giants.