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• Pepetho Barrett's unforgettable experience at the UEFA Champions League final: "This is such a dream come true..."

  For Pepetho Barrett, a devoted Real Madrid fan, attending the UEFA Champions League final between Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium was a dream come true. Barrett, who won an all-expenses-paid trip courtesy of JustBet and SportsMax, described the event as “an experience of a lifetime.”

  Departing from Norman Manley Airport last Wednesday, Barrett was filled with excitement and anticipation. “This is such a dream come true for me. I am still pinching myself and don’t think I am over the shock. I am so thankful to JustBet and the team,” Barrett exclaimed before his departure.

   JustBet ensured Barrett had a packed itinerary, which included a tour of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and sightseeing around London before the grand final. Barrett was accompanied by his father, Pepetho Barrett Sr., and fellow winner from Guyana, Keith Dowridge.

   Reflecting on the match, Barrett shared his thoughts: “Just as I predicted it would. I am not disappointed, good experience. Evenly contested game. Dortmund dominated the first half but did not translate that into goals. The second half saw Real Madrid taking center stage and actually scoring goals. Hala Madrid!”

  

  The match held special significance for Barrett, as it marked the final game for Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos. “This match was very special for me because I am a long-time Real Madrid fan, and this is the last match for Toni Kroos. He is a Madrid legend, and to retire with a win is so exceptional. I look forward to watching him in the Euro,” Barrett added.

  The highly anticipated UEFA Champions League final took place on Saturday, June 1, at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

  “I am ready again. Let’s do this trip again. I think I will continue to bet and bet,” Barrett said jokingly, indicating his excitement for future opportunities.

  Kamal Powell, Head of Marketing at Supreme Ventures Limited, expressed his delight in making such dreams a reality for fans. “We are elated to make this dream a reality for two of the many football fans out there. Sports betting is our fastest growing segment at Supreme Ventures, and so it made sense for us to enhance our customers' betting experience by partnering with SportsMax to offer a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the UCL Finals.”

   For Barrett, the trip was not just about the game, but about experiencing football at its highest level and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

   

   

   

   

   

   

• France 3-0 Luxembourg: Mbappe plays part in all three goals in routine win

  Kylian Mbappe assisted two goals and scored the other as France eased to a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg in Wednesday's international friendly at Stade Saint-Symphorien in Metz.

  In a game in which Olivier Giroud came on to become Les Blues' oldest-ever player aged 37 years and 249 days, new Real Madrid superstar Mbappe stole the show as France kicked off their preparations for Euro 2024 in a serene manner.

  The former Paris Saint-Germain forward crossed for Randal Kolo Muani to head home the opener two minutes before half-time after a jinking run down the left, before fizzing in a delivery for Jonathan Clauss to settle himself and flash home a second in the 70th minute.

  Mbappe was not finished there as he was teed up by former club-mate Bradley Barcola to slide in the third of the game for France, who did have one moment of concern as Dayot Upamecano departed with a knock.

  Data Debrief: Mbappe overtakes two fellow greats

  Mbappe has now assisted 28 goals for France, which is two more than Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry. Indeed, over the past 50 years, only Antoine Griezmann (30) has provided more.

  While the victory was straightforward enough for Didier Deschamps' men, who face Canada in their final pre-Euro 2024 friendly, their expected goals return (xG) of 1.46 - compared to 0.13 for Luxembourg - was lower than many would have anticipated.

• Kick-off time for Reggae Boyz World Cup qualifier adjusted due to inadequate stadium lighting

  The kick-off time for Jamaica’s opening game of the World Cup Qualifiers against the Dominican Republic on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at the National Stadium in Kingston has been rescheduled to 3:30 pm by CONCACAF. The change comes after an assessment by CONCACAF deemed the stadium’s lighting insufficient for an evening match, despite recent efforts to enhance the lighting.

  Last week, Jamaica's Sports Minister, Olivia Grange, announced plans to upgrade the stadium's lighting on the weekend. The upgrades included new lights on Tower Four and additional lamps on the stadium canopy, intended to significantly enhance the lighting and meet the international standard of 1,000 lumens.

  "The National Stadium lights over time have been less than optimal," Minister Grange stated. "Independence Park Limited has installed LED lights on Tower Four and some additional lamps on the canopy, pending further upgrades. This latest shipment of equipment, once installed, will improve the lighting substantially."

   Despite these improvements, the recent evaluation by CONCACAF revealed that the lighting still fell short of the minimum acceptable standards, prompting the adjustment to an earlier kick-off time.

   The Reggae Boyz and their supporters are now gearing up for an afternoon showdown, hoping to start their World Cup Qualifying campaign on a high note. The team’s management and players are focused and ready to give their best performance in front of a home crowd.

  Fans eager to support the Reggae Boyz can purchase tickets at www.jff.football, with prices set at $1,500 JMD for bleachers and $5,500 JMD for grandstand seats. The team looks forward to robust support from their fans at the National Stadium on Thursday afternoon.