Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Mark Wade boasts an admiration for Jamaica’s achievements, especially their historic performances and advancement in international football, that is not only personal but rooted in a hope for Bermuda to achieve similar success.
Simply put, Wade is on a clear mission to elevate Bermuda’s football programmes to the heights reached by nations like Jamaica on the global stage.
With only an historic 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup appearance under their belts, Wade believes emulating Jamaica’s success as the Caribbean’s number one team across both genders is not far-fetched, provided his island—with a population of just over 63,000—takes the necessary steps to ensure the continued improvements of their men’s and women’s programmes.
The success of Jamaica’s men’s programme across the region and internationally includes Gold Cup runner-up finishes, Copa America appearances, and the famous 1998 World Cup appearance. These are complemented by Under-17 World Cup appearances in 1999 and 2011, as well as an Under-20 World Cup appearance in 2001.
Meanwhile, the women’s programme has achieved back-to-back World Cup appearances, including a knockout stage run at last year’s edition, as well as runner-up finishes in the Concacaf Women’s Championships.
“Bermuda is very small. We only have 63,000 people, so being able to have relationships with bigger countries like Jamaica and countries who've had good performances on the international stage into a World Cup in three different age groups, we want to do the same thing. And having these types of relationships and being able to hear the different discussions that have gone on with the minister of sport [Olivia Grange] and so on and so forth, can only bode well for us, and I can take some information back to Bermuda,” Wade told SportsMax.Tv during a recent visit to Jamaica with Concacaf President Victor Montagliani.
As Wade discussed his vision, he pointed out Jamaica’s recent initiatives, such as their athlete insurance programme, which provides crucial coverage for players’ health and wellbeing. For Wade, such a programme could be transformative for Bermuda, where athletes have traditionally faced limited insurance options.
“So here in Jamaica you had a programme where three-year-olds were playing football. So we've done that in Bermuda as well. But one of the things that we found that was interesting in our discussion was that Jamaica has an insurance programme for athletes, and that's something; maybe I'll go back and press our sports minister to kind of put it into place because that's very important for our athletes,” Wade shared.
Beyond financial stability, Wade expressed his excitement for the future of Bermuda’s men’s and women’s programmes, as he pointed out that the last few years have been filled with incremental progress.
In fact, Wade sees this as a pivotal moment to capitalize on that momentum, especially with a strategic plan in place that they are currently working towards fulfilling with the necessary backing.
“I think our prospects are really good. Our women, and I think this might be a really controversial thing to say, but our women are doing a lot better than our men in terms of their performances on the international stage. So we're trying to close that gap a little bit. We had a team that did very well in the Under-14 Challenge series, so we're hoping to kind of build on that. Our goal, as stated in our strategic plan, is for Bermuda to make it to a World Cup final in any gender and any age group,” Wade, who has been at the helm for the past eight years, stated.
“That is our strategic goal, and that's what we're working towards. In Bermuda, our biggest supporter is FIFA and closely followed by our government and then Concacaf, so we're able to kind of manage those funds, primarily because most of our staff are volunteers, so we have been able to efficiently use the money that we do get to get things done,” he ended.
Antigua and Barbuda celebrated a remarkable double success in international bodybuilding at the weekend, as Melissa Seaforth secured gold in the Czech Republic, while Kimberly Percival claimed silver in London.
Seaforth, an IFBB Elite Pro, dominated the Bikini Fitness category at the IFBB Pro Pepa in the Czech Republic.
Her gold medal performance adds to a recent string of impressive achievements, including top-five finishes at both the IFBB Pro Grand Gala in Italy last week and the Arnold Classic World Championships two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, in London, reigning Sportswoman of the Year Kimberly Percival also continued her outstanding run of form with a silver medal in the Bikini Fitness class at IFBB’s Night of Champions 2024.
Kimberly Percival was second in London.
Percival, who holds the current World Champion title, has been on an exceptional run, having secured victories at both the IFBB Pro Grand Gala and the Arnold Classic World Championships in recent weeks.
With the dual podium finishes by both athletes who have consistently performed at the highest level of the sport, the Ambassadors continue to establish themselves among the world’s elite competitors, bringing notoriety to Antigua and Barbuda.
Another top-five finish for the country was Tony ‘Tiger’ Jacobs, who finished fourth in the Men’s Physique class at the same event in London.
Jacobs was awarded his Pro Card at the Roger Boyce Classic in Barbados in June of last year.
Morris Cyrus, a hero of St Andrew Technical High School's (STATHS) legendary 1987 season, is lending his support to an initiative aimed at constructing a Medical Counseling and Wellness Centre at his alma mater. Cyrus, along with other STATHS sporting legends, will be featured in a special webathon on November 2, hosted by STATHS78 and Friends Incorporated, with the aim of raising funds for this critical project.
Led by sports agent Claude Bryan, who chairs the initiative, the project seeks to modernize STATHS’ outdated sick bay and establish a facility that offers health and counseling services for students. For Cyrus, being a part of this effort is both a privilege and a responsibility.
To kick off their fundraising efforts, there will be a three-hour webathon on Saturday from 6-9 pm. The event will highlight the lives and achievements of 16 sporting legends who attended STATHS. Among these legends are the late Jamaica and West Indies cricketer Richard "Danny Germs" Austin, Olympian Mike Fray, Reggae Boy Jeadine White and, of course, Cyrus.
"It's an honour but one I share with the entire squad," said Cyrus, now an IT director, acknowledging the collective spirit that fueled their memorable 1987 triumph. "I know I always get the limelight, but it was a group effort. It’s always a pleasure to give back to St Andrew Technical, and after speaking with [Claude] Bryan a couple of years ago, I was excited to support such a meaningful cause. To represent the ‘87 team in this effort is truly an honour.”
The 1987 STATHS team, under Cyrus’s leadership, etched its name in Jamaican high school football lore by winning the Manning Cup in grand style, defeating favorites Excelsior High 6-1 in the final. Their distinctive 2-6-2 formation gave STATHS freedom to attack, with wingbacks leveling a four-man midfield that kept Excelsior on the back foot. Cyrus scored an hat-trick in the encounter, setting the tone for the historic victory, as Chris Davis, Andrew Hart, and Dennis Brown added to the tally.
Following the Manning Cup, STATHS faced the unbeaten Rusea’s High School in the Olivier Shield, where Cyrus’s goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a team featuring future Reggae Boyz talents like Michael Graham and Aaron Lawrence. The 1987 team’s success, which also saw four members selected to the All Manning Cup team, was, according to Cyrus, a result of their bond, discipline, and focus.
Reflecting on the needs of STATHS beyond athletics, Cyrus highlighted the importance of academic excellence and well-rounded development for students. "Over the years, I’ve seen publications showing how high schools perform academically in Jamaica, and I’m not too pleased with what I’m seeing out of St Andrew Technical,” he said. “We need to shift the emphasis toward improving the school's performance academically. Sports are a subset, but we’re raising kids to become productive contributors to society."
Cyrus’s commitment to supporting STATHS extends beyond the webathon. He believes the school’s needs range from educational resources and beautification to nutrition and wellness initiatives, emphasizing that strengthening its academic performance will empower future generations.
Alex Roldan converted the decisive spot-kick for the Seattle Sounders as they came out 5-4 victors in a penalty shootout with the 10-man Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Roldan stepped up to slot home the winning penalty after a 0-0 draw on Monday, putting the Sounders a game up in the best-of-three series.
Adalberto Carrasquilla saw red for his part in a fracas midway through the second half at Lumen Field, where Erik Sviatchenko's miss in the shootout proved costly.
The Sounders were ultimately worthy winners, though, given they had 19 shots to Houston's seven, with the visitors failing to get a single attempt on target and mustering just 0.45 expected goals (xG) before penalties were required.
And Seattle held their nerve in the shootout, converting all five of their penalties.
In Monday's other playoff game, Yamil Asad grabbed FC Cincinnati's winner in a 1-0 victory over New York City FC.
Luciano Acosta, the 2023 MLS MVP, delivered a brilliant cross from which Asad headed home in the 51st minute.
Teenage Hadebe, Luca Orellano and Nicholas Gioacchini squandered chances to put Cincinnati 2-0 up, but NYCFC could not make their luck count, and their frustration was compounded when Tayvon Gray was dismissed for a flailing arm into Acosta's face.
Acosta was excellent throughout, creating seven chances in total and having four shots.
He has now recorded 14 goal contributions in his career against NYCFC (six goals, eight assists).
"I knew [Acosta] was going to play the ball to me," Asad said. "It's too easy to play with him. He's our MVP, he played a great game."
Eric Ramsay has backed Kelvin Yeboah to be Minnesota United’s “main man” as they prepare for the first game of their best-of-three series against Real Salt Lake in the MLS playoffs.
Yeboah arrived from Serie A side Genoa in August, and has made an instant impact for the Loons, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in nine league outings.
The 24-year-old’s 0.89 goals per 90 minutes ranks fourth in MLS, and his head coach, Ramsay, believes he can play a starring role for his side in the postseason.
“He is coming here as a marquee player,” Ramsay said. “He’s our big threat. He is our main man at the top of the pitch at the moment, so with that comes a certain amount of pressure that you imagine the top players have had to deal with their whole career.
“His life is going to be more difficult in front of goal than it was in the early stages because I feel like he caught a few teams by surprise. I think now everyone knows the threat that he poses.”
Minnesota ended their regular season with a 4-1 thrashing of St. Louis City, though Ramsey said there were still areas for improvement ahead of travelling to America First Field.
“As the season has gone on, we are more established from the perspective of general principles of play. I’m trying to make sure we are homing in on individual details.”
Salt Lake, meanwhile, come into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, with the victory setting a new all-time single-season points record (59).
Pablo Mastroeni’s side are also on a six-game unbeaten run, though the Claret and Cobalt boss highlighted the importance of the home supporters for their fixture with the Loons.
“The focus is really being more dangerous with our possession,” Mastroeni said.
“We’re working on the mindset, which is to be aggressive, the tactical piece, which is the positioning to be aggressive, and then the overall understanding of how to get balls in the box to threaten their backline.
“It’s been a fantastic year of support, really. I think this is a great opportunity for fans and the team alike to really come together and be that 12th man that really boosts this group forward.
“Because it’s going to be the most important game of our season, and I know for sure that the fans will show up.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango
Arango set a single-season Salt Lake club record with 29 goal contributions in 2024 (17 goals, 12 assists).
He has, however, recorded just two goal contributions in his last 11 matches after recording 27 in his first 19 games of the season, and he will be hoping to return to form against Minnesota.
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Lod notched 20 regular season goal contributions for Minnesota this term (seven goals, 13 assists), five more than any of his team-mates.
The Finland international has also enjoyed recent meetings with Salt Lake. He has scored three times in his nine appearances against them, only scoring more against Houston Dynamo (four) in the MLS.
MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN
This will be the first postseason meeting between Salt Lake and Minnesota. More than half (nine) of the 17 all-time meetings between the sides have ended in draws, including each of the last four (Minnesota W5, Salt Lake W3).
The Claret and Cobalt have advanced in all six playoff ties in which they have won a match at home but have also been eliminated in all six playoff ties in which they played at home but failed to win (D4 L2).
This week’s hosts also have only one home playoff win since 2014 (D3 L0), a 2-1 win over Portland Timbers in the 2019 First Round.
But it is new territory for Minnesota. This will be their first multi-leg playoff series after playing six previous single-leg knockout ties (W2, D1, eliminated on penalties, L3). The Loons have scored at least once in all six of its previous postseason games.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake – 48.6%
Draw – 25.8%
Minnesota United – 25.6%
Leaders St Benedict's College (35 points) can clinch their second Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division crown in three years on Tuesday when they face the relegation-threatened Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School (seven points) at the Mahaica Sporting Complex in Point Fortin in round 14 action.
St. Benedict's, winners of the premier division in 2022, have a six-point lead on the 16-team table ahead of challengers Presentation College San Fernando and holders Fatima College (both 29 with points).
With only a point against the visiting Miracle Ministries team, Benedict's will be able to claim the premier division crown while, on the other hand, their opponents will be looking to climb out of the relegation zone.
In Trincity, the 13th-placed Trinity College (10 points) will also have their eyes set on steering clear of the relegation zone when they host the third-placed Presentation.
Trinity are just one point ahead of the 14th-placed Speyside Secondary in the relegation zone, and a victory against the national intercol holders will be a huge step in their race for survival.
At the Arima Velodrome, hosts Arima North Secondary (24 points) will aim to keep their unbeaten 12-game run going when they welcome the second-placed Fatima.
The fourth-placed Arima have conceded just six goals in the league this season, will look to keep their defense strong against the league's highest scorers Fatima who have scored 40 goals.
At their Westmoorings base, St Anthony's College (24 points) will try to crack into the top four when they play the 12th-placed Signal Hill Secondary (ten points).
At the Speyside recreation ground, Speyside (nine points) will go after a much-needed three points when they host struggling St Mary's College (13 points).
At Fatima ground in Mucurapo, the cellar-placed East Mucurapo Secondary (six points) will also go in search of precious points when they entertain Queen's Royal College (17 points).
QRC are in ninth spot and well clear of the relegation zone, but Mucurapo will desperately need to find the winning touch if they are to remain in the premier division for another season.
At Lewis Street, San Fernando, four-time premier division champs Naparima College (22 points) will try to return to winning ways when they meet the tenth-placed San Juan North Secondary (13 points).
At Serpentine Road, St Clair, there will be an intriguing middle-table clash when the eighth-placed Malick Secondary (17 points) tackle a resurgent, seventh-placed St Augustine Secondary (21 points) outfit.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) is excited to announce the start of the highly anticipated CG United Super50 Cup 2024, which begins in Trinidad from Tuesday 29 October to Saturday 23 November.
This premier List A regional tournament is an essential platform for showcasing the region's best cricket talent and a vital part of our preparation for future international competitions, including the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027.
Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket, highlighted the tournament within the context of a bustling period for West Indies cricket: “We are in an exciting and busy period for West Indies cricket, with our Maroon Warriors just reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup and our senior men fresh off their tour of Sri Lanka and gearing up to battle rivals - England. The CG United Super50 Cup allows our players to showcase their talents at a crucial time. As we prepare for the Bangladesh tour, performances here could be a springboard for many players looking to represent the region. This tournament is an integral part of our development plans as we build towards the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.”
He continued: “We are maintaining the bonus points system, as it aligns for our Key Performance Indicators for our ODI performances, and we look forward to seeing how the players equip themselves for this level of competition.”
Rupert Hunter, CWI’s new Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the significance of the event and CG United’s support:
The CG United Super50 Cup continues to be a cornerstone in the development of West Indies cricket, providing our players with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a competitive stage. We are incredibly grateful to CG United for their dedicated support, which has helped strengthen our vision for the future of cricket in the region.
For the second consecutive year, teams will also be competing for increased prize money, with the winners set to receive US$100,000, while the runners-up will take home US$50,000. Both semi-finalists will be rewarded US$25,000 each.
In addition to the thrilling on-field action, fans will be able to watch matches live on ESPN Caribbean for games held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA). Matches from the Queen’s Park Oval (QPO) and the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at the University of the West Indies Sport and Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC) will be streamed live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.
Tickets are available for all matches at both Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Fans can purchase a 10-match package at a discounted rate of US$20/TT$150, while individual day tickets are priced at TT$20/US$3. Semi-final tickets cost US$8/TT$50, with final tickets at US$15/TT$100. Tickets are available online at www.tickets.windiescricket.com.
The eight teams competing in this year’s CG United Super50 Cup are:
The match schedule for the CG United Super50 Cup is as follows. Games at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy begin at 1pm AST| 12pm JA time and games at both UWI SPEC and the Queen's Park Oval begin at 9am AST|8am JA time.
29 October: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v CCC at UWI SPEC
29 October: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
30 October: West Indies Academy v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at QPO
30 October: Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA
31 October: CCC v Guyana Harpy Eagles at UWI SPEC
1 November: Barbados Pride v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at QPO
1 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
2 November: West Indies Academy v Jamaica Scorpions at UWI SPEC
3 November: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Barbados Pride at QPO
3 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Leeward Islands Hurricanes at BLCA
4 November: CCC v West Indies Academy at UWI SPEC
5 November: Jamaica Scorpions v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO
5 November: Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA
7 November: Guyana Harpy Eagles v Jamaica Scorpions at QPO
7 November: West Indies Academy v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at UWI SPEC
8 November: Leeward Island Hurricanes v Windward Islands Volcanoes at UWI SPEC
8 November: CCC v Barbados Pride at BLCA
9 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Guyana Harpy Eagles at QPO
10 November: Jamaica Scorpions v CCC at QPO
11 November: Barbados Pride v Windward Islands Volcanoes at QPO
11 November: West Indies Academy v Guyana Harpy Eagles at BLCA
12 November: Jamaica Scorpions v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at BLCA
13 November: West Indies Academy v Barbados Pride at UWI SPEC
13 November: CCC v Windward Islands Volcanoes at BLCA
15 November: Leeward Islands Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions at BLCA
16 November: Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride at QPO
17 November: CCC v Leeward Island Hurricanes at QPO
17 November: West Indies Academy v Windward Island Volcanoes at UWI SPEC
20 November: Semi-Final 1 at BLCA
20 November: Semi-Final 2 at BLCA
23 November: FINAL at BLCA
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino believes Lionel Messi is still "the best in the world", despite backing Vinicius Junior to scoop the Ballon d'Or.
Messi claimed the award for a record-extending eighth time last year after leading Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar during the 2022-23 voting period, but he has not been nominated this year.
But that saw the Inter Miami boss question the criteria for the Ballon d'Or this time around, having seen first-hand the 37-year-old's impact in the MLS this season.
Messi led the Herons to a record points haul in the Eastern Conference, while also notching 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 league games.
The Argentine recorded another assist in Miami's 2-1 win over Atlanta United in the first game of their best-of-three series in the playoffs.
He now has a division-high 31 goal involvements so far this term, though five players are only one behind him, including team-mate Luis Suarez.
Messi also broke the record for the most assists in a single MLS game with five assists, while also scoring a brace to clinch the Supporters' Shield, the 46th trophy of his career.
However, Martino acknowledged the impressive season Vinicius had at Real Madrid, with the Brazilian starring in Los Blancos' LaLiga and Champions League successes.
Vinicius scored 24 goals and added 11 assists in all competitions last term, and Martino said he would be a worthy winner of football's most prestigious individual accolade.
"It [the Ballon d'Or] has never been something that caught my attention, nor was it clear to me whether the award is for the best in the world or of the year," Martino said.
"Vinicius Junior probably has the merit [of being the best last season], although if you ask me who is the best right now, it's Messi."
However, reports ahead of the ceremony suggested Madrid cancelled plans to attend after learning Vinicius had not won the award.
It is believed that Manchester City's Rodri has emerged victorious after winning the Premier League title and leading Spain to the European Championship crown.
Should the 28-year-old win the trophy, he would become the first Spaniard to win the award since Barcelona's Luis Suarez back in 1960.
Rodri would also be the first player to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for an English club since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, when he was turning out for Manchester United.
The intense rivalry between Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls and England’s Vitality Roses will see its next chapter when the teams meet in a crucial four-match Test series in November.
The Roses and the Sunshine Girls are currently second and fourth with 189 and 187 rating points, respectively, in the Netball World Rankings based on matches up to October 6.
Sandwiched between the two is New Zealand with 188 points while Australia have a comfortable lead atop the rankings with 209 rating points.
The series will see the Jamaicans travelling to England for matches on November 16 and 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester before hosting the Roses at the National Indoor Sports Centre on November 25 and 26.
As has been previously stated, this rivalry has been one of the most competitive in global netball and, to give some context, here are the results from various series and matchups between the two over the last 10 years.
The teams met on five occasions in total in 2015. They met in a three-match Test series in January in Jamaica which the hosts won 2-1 before meeting twice at the Netball World Cup in Australia in August.
Drawn together in the Group Stage, England defeated the Sunshine Girls 54-50 in the preliminaries before producing a dominant display in the bronze-medal game, winning 66-44.
A year later, the teams met again in a three-match Test series, this time in England with the Jamaicans once again coming out 2-1 winners.
Current Sunshine Girls captain and best goal shooter in the world at the moment, Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, kept it simple when recalling her favourite memory facing the Roses throughout her illustrious career.
“My best memory playing against England throughout my career has to definitely be any time we’ve beaten them,” she told Sportsmax.tv at a Sunshine Girls training session at the National Indoor Sports Centre last Friday.
“I take great joy in going up against them, especially beating them on their home turf,” she added.
A major tournament was once again the setting for the pair’s next meeting, this time at the 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series in Australia.
Jamaica defeated England 47-38 in the round robin stage but it was England who had the last laugh, defeating the Sunshine Girls 34-29 when it mattered most to win the title for the first time.
The teams next locked horns in the last four at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
England entered that game in red hot form, dominating everyone in the preliminary round on their way to a 5-0 record while Jamaica’s only loss up to that point in their five preliminary round games was to Australia.
The teams fought to the death in the semi-final with England eventually coming out victorious 56-55 before winning another nail-biter, 52-51 over Australia, to win gold.
Jamaica took bronze with a 60-55 win over New Zealand.
Current Sunshine Girl and global netball star, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, described that semi-final as a bittersweet moment when asked about her most vivid memories of facing the Roses in her career.
“I would say it’s a bad and a good memory because at least we were able to challenge England to that extent,” she told Sportsmax.tv.
A few months later that same year, the Girls got their revenge with a 3-0 Test series whitewash over their counterparts at home. The 2023 Suncorp Super Netball player of the year described this series as the best moment of her national team career, so far.
Moving on to the 2019 Netball World Cup which was hosted by England where the rivalry renewed in the preliminary round.
The hosts came out winners 56-48 and went on to claim bronze while Jamaica failed to advance to the semi-finals, finishing fifth.
Jamaica came out on top over the Roses at the 2020 Netball Nations Cup in England. They met in the third round with the Sunshine Girls coming out 70-66 winners before eventually losing the final 56-67 to New Zealand.
2021 saw England’s Roses secure their first Test series win over the Sunshine Girls since 2013 with a 2-1 win in Nottingham.
The two sides last met in January 2023 in a three-match test series played in Manchester and London which saw the Vitality Roses defeat Jamaica 73-52 in the first match, take a narrow 58-61 loss in the second match, and claim the series with a 63-59 win in the third and final test.
Amazingly, the two sides didn’t meet at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham or last summer’s Netball World Cup in South Africa.
The Sunshine Girls took silver in Birmingham while the Roses finished fourth. The World Cup saw England take home a historic silver medal while Jamaica took bronze.
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the latest edition of this rivalry but one thing’s for sure, it will be exciting.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has marked a groundbreaking milestone in West Indies cricket by awarding year-long annual contracts to fourteen female players across the region. This first-time initiative is a significant step forward in CWI’s strategic commitment to Elite and High Performance cricket and signals a continued investment in the growth of the women’s game in the Caribbean. This expansion brings the total of contracted regional players to 104 for the year and 164 in total including Senior and Academy players.
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, noted the significance of this initiative:
"Awarding contracts to these talented female players underscores CWI’s commitment to advancing cricket in the region. We are extremely proud of the Maroon Warriors, who are on their way back from an impressive semi-final showing at the Women’s T20 World Cup. The only way to ensure that West Indies teams, both men and women, have consistent showings at the international level is to ensure the development and growth at the regional level. CWI is dedicated to making this further investment in our regional talent and building a strong foundation for future success, which is in line with our strategic plan.
"These contracts reinforce CWI’s goal of supporting players as they progress along the pathway to elite performance, creating a sustainable pipeline of talent that can perform on the global stage. Alongside the female contracts, CWI has also renewed annual contracts for 90 male players across six territories, maintaining its commitment to building regional strength across both men’s and women’s cricket."
Contracted Regional Players List 2024/25:
14 Female Contracted Players:
Barbados: Shanika Bruce, Alisa Scantlebury
Guyana: Shenetta Grimmond, Plaffiana Millington, Mandy Mangru
Jamaica: Celina Whyte
Trinidad & Tobago: Shalini Samaroo, KD Jazz Mitchell, Reniece Boyce
Leeward Islands: Melicia Clarke, Kimberley Anthony
Windward Islands: Earnisha Fontaine, Abini St. Jean, Nerissa Crafton,
90 Male Contracted Players (by territory):
BARBADOS
Kadeem Alleyne (U25*), Shaquille Cumberbatch, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Matthew Forde, Chaim Alexis Holder, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Smith, Jomel Warrican and Kevin Wickham (U25*).
GUYANA
Kevlon Anderson (U25*), Ronaldo Alimohamed, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Matthew Nandu, Ashmead Nedd, Raymond Perez, Veerasammy Permaul Kemol Savory, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Isai Thorne (U25*), Sylus Tyndall and Sachin Singh.
JAMAICA
Andre Bailey, Brad Barnes, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brown, Gordon Bryan, John Campbell, Jordan Johnson (U25*), Abhijai Mansingh, Kirk McKenzie (U25*), Odain Orland McCatty, Marquino Mindley, Romaine Morris, Jeavor Royal, Peat Salmon and Ojay Shields
LEEWARD ISLANDS
Jewel Andrew (U25*), Colin Archibald, Jaleel Clarke, Rahkeem Cornwall, Daniel Doram, Karima Gore, Justin Greaves, Jahmar Hamilton, Kofi James, Jeremiah Louis, Mikyle Louis, Cameron Pennyfeather, Javier Spencer, Oshane Thomas and Hayden Walsh.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Navin Bidaisee (U25*), Yannic Cariah, Bryan Charles, Cephas Cooper (U25*), Shannon Gabriel, Jyd Goolie, Terrance Hinds, Amir Jangoo, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Isaiah Rajah and Tion Webster.
WINDWARD ISLANDS
Sunil Ambris, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Shadrack Descartes, Johnnel Eugene, Keon Gaston, Khamal Hamilton, Ryan John, Noelle Leo (U25*), Darius Martin, Kimani Melius, Stephan Pascal (U25*), Jeremy Solozano, Shamar Springer and Gilon Tyson.
*Territorial Boards are mandated by CWI to have a minimum of two U25 players in their pool of 15 contracted players.
CWI congratulates all the contracted players and remains committed to supporting their development.
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Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera were on target as Los Angeles FC edged out the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Sunday.
LAFC, the 2022 MLS Cup champions, will book their place in the next round should they win north of the border next week.
Ryan Gauld netted in the 94th minute for the Whitecaps, but it was too little, too late for the Canadian side, who hammered the Portland Timbers in the wildcard round.
LAFC have now won seven straight playoff games against Western Conference opponents, while Bouanga has netted eight goals in nine postseason appearances.
Hugo Lloris, however, says LAFC must sharpen up.
"The performance is not [good] enough, but we got the result so that's the most important thing," Lloris said.
"We need to increase [our levels] if we want to have ambition. A win is a win, so that's positive, but there were things we need to fix if we are to improve."
Elsewhere, Orlando City also made a winning start to their playoff campaign as they beat Charlotte FC 2-0.
Facundo Torres put Orlando ahead in the 32nd minute at Inter&Co Stadium, with Martin Ojeda doubling the hosts' tally 14 minutes from time.
A frustrating day for Dean Smith's Charlotte team was compounded when Pep Biel was sent off late on, though they will at least have home advantage when they look to turn the best-of-three series around next time out.
Emil Forsberg believes the New York Red Bulls have the capacity to hurt the Columbus Crew in Game 1 of their MLS playoff tie, despite a poor end to the regular season.
The Red Bulls finished seventh in the Eastern Conference despite only winning one of 10 matches after the Leagues Cup break, finishing their campaign with a 3-2 defeat at home to the Crew, in which Forsberg scored.
They will now face the MLS Cup holders again in a three-match first-round series, and Forsberg believes they have shown they can get at Wilfried Nancy's champions.
"I think we were dangerous, we hurt them, we created chances and we showed them and ourselves what we can do when we play with that kind of intensity," Forsberg said.
"We're a really good team when we can do that, and we know we can hurt them. We have a lot to take with us into the playoffs.
"When it comes to the playoffs, it's small details, whether you have your day or not, whether you're mentally prepared for every situation that can occur.
"That's something I'm going to push with the guys."
Nancy, meanwhile, was pleased to see Columbus tested in their final regular-season game, as New York recovered from 2-0 down to level before Malte Andersen hit a last-gasp winner.
"Yeah, we had many highs, and after that, we had 10 minutes where we allowed New York to play their style, and they did it well," Nancy said after the match.
"I'm happy that it happened, to be honest with you, because we played a really good first half. After that, the second half was also interesting.
"This is perfect because sometimes we have to feel certain things to get better. We found a way to win the game, and this is also good for team spirit."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez's assist against the Red Bulls last week was his 32nd goal contribution of 2024 (19 goals, 13 assists), breaking Stern John's Crew record of 31 set in 1998.
The forward has five goal contributions against New York (two goals, three assists), only totalling more against Atlanta (eight) and Orlando (seven).
New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg
Forsberg scored both of the Red Bulls' goals in their 3-2 defeat to the Crew on Decision Day, and only Lewis Morgan (13) has bettered his nine strikes for the team in 2024.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN
The Red Bulls won just 18 points from their final 18 regular-season matches of 2024 (three wins, nine draws, six defeats).
They were one of nine teams to collect 20 points or fewer since that run began in early June, but the only one of those nine sides to make the playoffs.
Having lost 3-2 to the Crew in their last game, they approach this one as major outsiders. The Red Bulls have lost each of their last six away playoff matches dating back to 2018, being outscored 15-5 in those matches.
The Crew, meanwhile, have won the MLS Cup in each of the last two seasons in which they made the playoffs (2020, 2023), advancing from eight consecutive playoff ties. This equals the best such run in MLS history, after D.C. United won eight straight ties from 1996 to 1998.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 64.3%
New York Red Bulls – 16.6%
Draw – 19.1%
Darin Richards and Yeonie Campbell claimed top honors at the Jamaica Rifle Association’s (JRA) Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, held at the JRA's head office and shooting range on Mountain View Avenue in Kingston. The event, a qualifier for the 2025 IPSC World Cup in South Africa, drew fierce competition as shooters battled under scorching conditions for coveted spots on the national team.
Richards took home the title in the Standard Division, a win he credited to his disciplined approach to mastering steel targets. “It was very awesome. The stages were very challenging," Richards said, describing the intensity of the competition. "I personally had some issues but was determined. I did my best, and I thank God I won my division.” His focused preparation paid off, earning him 741.42 points ahead of Paul Dixon, who scored 711.12, and Thomas Jones with 681.69.
In the Production Division, Campbell, also the JRA's pistol captain and match director, secured the win with an impressive 766.90 points. Balancing her roles as organizer and competitor, she described the experience as both rewarding and intense. “It was very pressuring. I had to organize the match itself...The team of us worked very hard to put on the production, and I am glad it came across very well,” Campbell shared, noting that winning her division made the effort all the more fulfilling. Campbell finished ahead of Sanjay Wilson (709.32) and Josimar Clarke (689.36).
Other notable performances included Ryan Bramwell’s victory in the Production Optics Division, scoring 1049.81 points. Bramwell, a seasoned competitor who made a switch to Production Optics for the event, comfortably outscored Chris Hart (946.20) and Adrian Randle (946.02). Alrice Palmer dominated the Open Division, scoring 1011.28 points, while Petrano Belafonte (971.93) and Alvin More (964.49) finished in second and third, respectively.
JRA President Rohan Wilson praised the event, noting its success since its inception in 2015. “I am very grateful that it was a safe day. I am very grateful that everyone came out and enjoyed it,” Wilson said. “The weather, the heat was grueling, but all in all, it was a successful day. The sport of practical pistol is still a very relevant sport.”
Island Car Rentals, the event’s main sponsor, supported this year’s Jamaica Cup IPSC Level 3 shoot, adding further prestige to an already impactful competition.
World Athletics has officially ratified Jaydon Hibbert’s world U20 triple jump record of 17.66m, achieved on July 21, 2023, at the Herculis meet in Monaco. The Jamaican standout set the record at just 18 years old, surpassing his previous best of 17.54m set in Albuquerque earlier that year on March 11.
Notably, Hibbert's mark of 17.87m set at the SEC Championships in May 2023, was not the mark ratified by World Athletics.
Hibbert’s leap of 17.66m was one of three U20 world records recently ratified by World Athletics, alongside impressive marks in the women’s 5000m and javelin events. Medina Eisa of Ethiopia set the world U20 record in the 5000m with a time of 14:21.89 at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 14, 2024, finishing second to Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet. Eisa’s time shattered the previous record of 14:30.88 held by Tirunesh Dibaba since 2004. Meanwhile, China’s Yan Ziyi set a world U20 javelin record of 64.41m, also on September 14, in Quzhou, improving on her earlier record of 64.28m from April.
Hibbert, a former youth star from Jamaica, has been steadily rising in the international athletics scene, with his performance in Monaco marking a breakthrough moment. His achievements have raised expectations for his potential as he continues to develop in the discipline.
Alongside these U20 achievements, World Athletics also ratified Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s world high jump record of 2.10m, achieved in Paris in July. The Ukrainian star surpassed one of the longest-standing records in the sport, set by Stefka Kostadinova in 1987. Mahuchikh’s historic jump of 2.10m was part of a spectacular season, as she went on to win Olympic gold in Paris in August.
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