标签： Saint Lucia

The 2026 Saint Lucia International Masters Football Invitational has wrapped up its six-day competition at the iconic Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, with both division titles heading back to the United States after two dramatic final matches held on Monday night. The tournament, which brought together veteran football talents from across North America, the Caribbean, and beyond, delivered tense, skill-filled action that celebrated the enduring passion of masters-level football.

In the hotly contested Over-40 division, the American side Ballers Forever claimed the championship title, overcoming the defending champions from Trinidad and Tobago to lift the trophy. Ballers Forever booked their spot in the May 25 final with back-to-back 2-1 victories: first defeating SSC Bimshire in the quarterfinals, followed by a narrow win over Hope International from St Vincent & the Grenadines in the semifinal. Waiting for them in the title match was Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force Past Players, the defending champions, who had stormed through their own knockout round with an 8-1 rout of Vieux Fort South and a 4-0 win against St Francois Masters.

The final got off to a strong start for the defending champions, as Stern John – Concacaf’s all-time leading goal scorer and current head coach of the Saint Lucia men’s national team – found the back of the net to put his side ahead early. The score held until the 56th minute, when challenger Ballers Forever earned a penalty that Kendel Jagdeosingh coolly converted to level the match. With just eight minutes left on the clock, a second penalty was awarded to Ballers Forever, and the side converted once again to lock in a 2-1 victory and secure the Over-40 crown.

Across in the Over-50 division, it was another American outfit, Pele Masters, that walked away with the title, defeating host nation side Masters Reloaded in a tense, physical match marked by pre-game controversy. The local Saint Lucian side, Masters Reloaded, entered the final as defending champions, boasting a roster stacked with former international stars including Earl “Ball Hog” Jean, Titus “Titi” Elva, and Andy “Butu” Jn Baptiste. Jean delivered a sensational semifinal performance, scoring a hat-trick to secure a 3-2 win over Canada’s La Familia and book a spot in the title match. Pele Masters advanced to the final with a dominant 5-1 win over Dennery United FC, but made headlines before kickoff when they formally protested the eligibility of a Masters Reloaded player, claiming the local side had fielded an unregistered competitor.

The protest ultimately did not change the match lineup, and the game got off to a tense start, with a lengthy stoppage for an injury leaving the first half deadlocked at 0-0. It was not until the second half that Pele Masters broke through, when forward Basil Burke fired an unstoppable long-range shot past the goalkeeper to score what would prove the match-winning goal, securing the Over-50 title for the American visitors.

When the final whistles blew, individual awards were handed out to the tournament’s standout players. Former St Vincent & the Grenadines international Kendall Velox of Pele Masters was named the Over-50 tournament MVP, while his teammate Trevor Isaac took home the honor of best goalkeeper. Ballers Forever’s Kendel Jagdeosingh, who scored both of his side’s goals in the Over-40 final, was recognized as the Over-40 MVP for his performance throughout the competition.

Closing out the week-long tournament, Alvin Malaykhan, CEO of Veterans in Sport Inc., the organizer of the invitational, praised the players and crowds that made the 2026 edition a success. “Over six unforgettable days, from May 20 to May 25, football legends from across the region and internationally came together in Saint Lucia to celebrate competition, camaraderie, culture and passion for the beautiful game,” Malaykhan said. “Your energy, discipline, sportsmanship and support helped create an atmosphere that once again showcased the true spirit of Masters football and Caribbean unity. This tournament continues to evolve into one of the Caribbean’s premier Masters football and sports tourism experiences, and it is all possible because of you.”

On May 21, the tight-knit cricket community of Babonneau, Saint Lucia, came together to hold the second annual Clash of the Leatherbacks player draft, marking the official countdown to the highly anticipated annual developmental Under-21 cricket tournament. This year’s event shines a spotlight on some of the island nation’s most promising young cricket talent, with a deliberate focus on nurturing emerging players for long-term growth in the sport.

Organized under the leadership of Babonneau’s head cricket coach Jervaughn Charles, the tournament adopts a unique 35-over playing format that strikes a balance between the fast-paced excitement of T20 cricket and the endurance-focused structure of 50-over cricket. Three competing teams will first go head-to-head in a double round-robin group stage, where each side will face off against the other two teams twice. After the group stage concludes, the top two teams by cumulative points will advance to a high-stakes winner-takes-all final match to claim the championship title.

Beyond the traditional points awarded for match wins – 10 points for each victory – the tournament also awards extra bonus points for standout individual performances in batting, bowling, and fielding, encouraging excellence across all aspects of the game from a young age. Charles emphasized that the entire competition is built around a core mission of player development, rather than prioritizing short-term winning at the expense of young talent growth.

A key new initiative for this year’s tournament is the intentional inclusion of under-15 players, a group that is often sidelined in youth competitions when senior youth teams prioritize immediate match results. To address this gap, special rules have been implemented to guarantee under-15 players meaningful playing time and greater engagement on the pitch, reflecting the organizers’ focus on investing in the sport’s future rather than just the current season. Beyond skill development, the tournament also aims to build camaraderie, friendship, and confidence among young players, creating a supportive community that helps them grow both on and off the field.

The draft process itself followed a structured nine-round format. The first four rounds were reserved exclusively for players based in the Babonneau region, to ensure local emerging talent gets priority access to the competition. After the local rounds, each team selected five marquee players from outside the Babonneau area to round out their rosters. Teams were given just one minute to deliberate on each pick, adding an element of excitement and strategy to the draft event. Following the conclusion of the draft, three full rosters were confirmed: Snapping Strikers led by captain Sacchin Cepal, Hawksbill Hitters captained by Yulieski Gustave, and Terrapin Thumpers, led by captain Alexi Khodra.

The tournament received a significant boost this year from a EC$5,000 donation from Ackeem Auguste, a top-order batsman who currently plays professionally for the West Indies and the Saint Lucia Kings. Auguste, who began his cricket journey in Babonneau’s development program, shared that the community’s cricket infrastructure was instrumental to his growth as a professional player. His financial contribution is a heartfelt gesture of giving back to the community that nurtured his talent from his earliest days in the sport.

Looking ahead, Babonneau’s cricket organizing team has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to growing the sport at the grassroots level, both within the Babonneau community and across the entire island of Saint Lucia, with a continued focus on identifying and developing the next generation of professional cricket talent.

A rising young cricket talent from Saint Lucia is set to get a career-defining opportunity to showcase his skills on a regional stage, after earning an invitation to Cricket West Indies’ prestigious Fast Bowling Assessment Camp scheduled to run from June 1 to 11, 2026, at Antigua’s Coolidge Cricket Ground and High Performance Centre in St John’s.

Cepal, a gifted right-arm fast bowler, will join a cohort of the most promising young pace bowling prospects from across the Caribbean at the 10-day development program. All on-site training and evaluation sessions will be led by Ottis Gibson, a highly respected Cricket West Indies pace bowling consultant who boasts an impressive resume as a former international Test player and a World Cup-winning head coach.

The assessment camp was developed as a targeted initiative within Cricket West Indies’ player development framework, focused on identifying emerging fast bowling talent, evaluating their current skill sets, and providing tailored support to nurture their growth ahead of future red-ball and white-ball international and domestic cricket competitions.

Cepal’s invitation to the camp came after a working visit to Saint Lucia earlier this year by Ramesh Subasinghe, head coach of the West Indies Academy. Subasinghe traveled to the island to run professional development workshops for coaches at the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre, helping upskill local instructors to better support emerging young athletes across the country.

While on island, Subasinghe also attended multiple local competitive matches to scout for new talent, including the final of the national PM Cup, where Cepal took home the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award for his standout bowling performances. That on-field display caught Subasinghe’s eye and secured the young bowler’s spot at the upcoming regional camp.

In an exclusive interview with local publication St Lucia Times on the sidelines of the player draft for the upcoming Clash of the Leatherbacks domestic tournament, Cepal shared his excitement about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Cepal, who will lead defending champions Snapping Strikers in the Babonneau-based competition as captain, said he feels deeply grateful for the backing he has received from his local cricket community.

“I feel really good, you know. Just playing with Babonneau, the players are always backing me. Just being able to go out there and execute my abilities, I just feel really good,” Cepal told reporters.

Jervaughn Charles, head coach of the Babonneau Cricket Team, has worked with Cepal since the bowler was a primary school student and still coaches him on the Babonneau senior side. In an interview, Charles highlighted that the young bowler’s greatest competitive strength has always been his unflinching fearlessness and willingness to take calculated risks.

“I believe one of the things that really stands out to me is his fearlessness. I remember Joshua in primary school, and me being a teacher there. I actually bowled to Joshua, and he had this fearless attitude where I remember he dil-scooped me over the school one day in primary school. And it just goes to show that he’s not afraid to take risks and put in the hard yards. And when other persons are afraid to execute their skills, Joshua is always ready to do what he has to do,” Charles said.

Charles added that he hopes Cepal’s breakthrough selection will serve as motivation for other young aspiring cricketers across Saint Lucia to adopt the young bowler’s strong work ethic and courageous approach to the game. Off the pitch, Cepal comes from a family deeply rooted in public service and cricket: his father Cyrus Cepal serves as District Education Officer for District One, as well as a local cricket administrator and umpire, while his mother Dr. Samina Cepal is a noted public health specialist and author. Cepal’s older brother Dhan Raj Cepal, who was also a rising cricket prospect, passed away in a 2019 car accident.

The sixth edition of the Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) T20, a tournament defined by unexpected twists and standout individual performances, wrapped up in dramatic fashion on May 23, as the undefeated City Blasters claimed the championship title with a lopsided 73-run victory over the Choiseul Craft Masters at the iconic Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds in Gros Islet.

The two finalists took wildly different trajectories to reach the season’s climax. The City Blasters, the league’s most consistent squad throughout the tournament, finished at the top of the group stage standings and secured their final berth with a win over Gros Islet in the first qualifying round, never dropping a match across the entire campaign. In stark contrast, the Choiseul Craft Masters narrowly scraped into the playoff bracket as the fourth-seeded team, forcing themselves to fight through two elimination matches to earn a spot in the finale: they first upset the Micoud Eagles in the eliminator, then knocked out the Soufriere Titans in the second qualifier to book their place against the tournament favorites.

Hours before the first ball was bowled, rain threatened to delay or even cancel the title decider, but the passing inclement weather failed to put a damper on the electric matchday atmosphere. The ground filled to capacity well before kickoff, with thousands of passionate fans, most clad in the Craft Masters’ signature orange, packing the stands to cheer on their underdog side. While the weather did not stop the match, the wet outfield and leftover moisture from the storm forced organizers to reduce the contest from the standard 20 overs per side to 18 overs.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the City Blasters turned the shortened format into an opportunity to showcase their explosive batting power. Overseas import Ryshon Williams led the charge with a blistering half-century, smashing 52 runs off only 17 deliveries to set the tone for the innings. Additional valuable contributions came from Vernillius Gabriel (37 runs), Blasters captain Stephen Naitram (41 runs), and all-rounder McKenny Clarke (35 runs), pushing the side to a daunting total of 219 runs by the end of their 18 overs. For the Craft Masters, medium-pacer Alvinus Simon was the most effective bowler on the day, finishing with impressive figures of three wickets for 36 runs.

Chasing a revised target of 220 runs to claim the title, the Craft Masters needed career-defining performances from their star batting line-up to pull off an upset. Instead, the top order collapsed almost immediately. Star batter Alick Athanaze, who had hit a century on his tournament debut just one match prior, fell leg before wicket to Blasters bowler Dillon John on the very first ball he faced, leaving the side reeling early. Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, with Clarke emerging as the match-winning bowler for the Blasters, finishing with extraordinary figures of four wickets for only 10 runs from 2.5 overs. While tournament Most Valuable Player Junior Henry chipped in with a quick 29 runs off 13 deliveries, and tailender Bronté Bess scored a late 33, the Craft Masters were eventually bowled out all out for 146 runs, 73 runs short of the target.

Following the final wicket, Blasters captain Naitram shared his unbridled joy at lifting the SPL 6 trophy after an undefeated season, crediting his squad’s depth and consistent performance for the title win. The team, hailing from Saint Lucia’s capital, continued to celebrate their championship victory long into the night.

Two prominent Saint Lucian organizations, the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation (SRDF) and the National Insurance Corporation (NIC), have partnered to roll out an exciting new corporate team event, Summit in Sneakers, scheduled to coincide with National Sneaker Day 2026. While National Sneaker Day is officially marked on June 24, the collaborative hiking challenge will take place on June 28, leading participants up the iconic Gros Piton Nature Trail.

This initiative merges two core organizational priorities: NIC’s commitment to expanding its national wellness platform for workers, and SRDF’s long-standing role as the steward of the protected Gros Piton Nature Trail, one of the Caribbean nation’s most famous natural landmarks. The event’s core mission is to encourage corporate groups to step away from their desks, connect through physical activity, and experience the beauty of the region’s mountain landscape first-hand.

Lovely Saint-Aimé Joseph, SRDF’s Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, emphasized the unique value of the outdoor challenge in modern work culture. “In today’s hyper-connected, fast-paced work environment, meaningful opportunities for team building outside the four walls of an office are growing rarer and more valuable,” she explained. “Unlike conventional conference room workshops or internal meetings, Summit in Sneakers creates an immersive space that fosters mutual encouragement, builds personal resilience, sparks shared joy, and delivers a tangible sense of collective achievement that no indoor event can replicate.”

Structured as a competitive team challenge, the event is open to corporate teams, non-profit organizations, and public sector institutions across the country. Each participating team will consist of 10 members, who will tackle the trail that includes four strategically placed checkpoints. Teams earn points for completing challenges at each stop, and the squad with the highest cumulative point total across all checkpoints will claim the title of Summit in Sneakers challenge winner.

To prioritize participant safety and minimize environmental impact on the protected trail, the event organizers have implemented a pre-registration requirement and timed wave departure system. This structured approach ensures the trail does not become overcrowded, and every team has space to enjoy a steady, comfortable pace from the trailhead to the summit.

On the morning of the event, participants will have access to pre-hike warm-up sessions led by trained instructors, full safety briefings to prepare them for the terrain, and organized guided departures for each wave. Along the route, designated team photo spots are set up to capture memories, and all finishers at the summit will get the chance to pose with a custom branded event frame and receive an official certificate of participation. The hike will kick off sharp at 7:00 a.m. from the Gros Piton Nature Trail trailhead in Soufriere.