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• Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams arrive in Jamaica for Inaugural Island Vibes tournament

  The Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams have arrived in Jamaica for the inaugural Island Vibes Tournament, set to take place from September 20-22. This new event will see Jamaica's National U16 team face off against Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team in a two-match series, while the Trinidad and Tobago U18 team will compete against Denbigh High School, the winners of the recent Youth Summer Invitational and the first holders of the Marva Bernard Trophy.

  Jamaica’s U16 squad, composed of talented schoolgirl representatives from both urban and rural schools, has been preparing for this series over the past six months under the leadership of co-coaches Nardia Hanson and Kerry-Ann Brown. The team, which was the runner-up to Denbigh High's U18 team in the recent Youth Summer Invitational, comprises a well-rounded mix of defenders, center court players, and shooters. The squad includes defenders Henicka Henry, Kyara Johnson, Denesia Laing, Ashley Kentish, and Sashane Smith. The center court is represented by Shamwua Hall, Jody-Ann Flemmings, Brianya Allen, Natasha Pringle, Reniecia Jones, and Jada Campbell, while the shooting duties will be handled by Kaelyn-Keandra Smith, Kheresha Peccoo, Syranna Brown, and Kalee Martin.

  Vice President of Netball Jamaica, Simone Forbes, expressed excitement about the opportunity for the Jamaican girls to play in an international series. "The Coaches and the girls are excited about this opportunity to play an International Series," said Forbes. "Our sponsors Carimed, Wisynco, NHT, Budget Car Rentals, and INSPORT have pledged their support, and so this will be an interesting series which we anticipate will help us to promote Youth Development in the Region. We are very happy that the teams from Trinidad and Tobago were able to come to compete. We encourage all school coaches and members of school teams as well as the public to come out and support all our girls."

  Trinidad and Tobago's President, Sherry-Ann Blackburn, also expressed her enthusiasm for the competition. "We are all excited and gearing up for intense competition in Jamaica this weekend. Our national Under 16 and Under 18 teams have gone through rigorous training supervised by our dedicated technical staff. We are happy to be a part of this new and innovative series and hope it will help to make a real difference as the Region continues to put structures in place to build high-performance teams."

  The Island Vibes Tournament promises an exciting lineup of matches at the Leila Robinson Courts, Independence Park Limited. The action kicks off on Friday, September 20, with Denbigh High taking on Trinidad and Tobago's U18 team at 6:00 PM. Following that, Jamaica's U16 team will clash with Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team at 7:15 PM. The series concludes on Sunday, September 22, starting at 4:30 PM when Denbigh High faces the Trinidad and Tobago U18s once again. The final match, scheduled for 5:45 PM, will feature the Jamaica U16s against the Trinidad and Tobago U16s. The tournament will culminate with a closing ceremony and medal presentation at 7:00 PM.

  The event is also supported by several sponsors, including Confidence, Kendel, Wata, Powerade, NHT, Budget, Stewart’s Automotive, ILE, and JACE Management. It is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, further showcasing the region's commitment to youth development in sports. Arleene Findlay serves as the Competition Manager for the tournament.

   

• Jamaica's Michail Antonio, Kasey Palmer, and Guyana's Isaiah Jones named in 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League A Best XI for September window

  JThe September window of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League A group stage is now complete, and standout performances have led to Jamaica's Michail Antonio and Kasey Palmer, along with Guyana's Isaiah Jones, being named in the Best XI for the group stage fixtures.

  Palmer was a crucial figure for the Reggae Boyz, dominating the midfield with his commanding presence. Defensively, he was a rock, securing eight steals and disrupting the opposition's play consistently. In addition to his defensive work, Palmer was also efficient in possession, completing an impressive 92.42 percent of his passes, making him a key conduit in transitioning from defense to attack. His dynamic performance in the midfield was instrumental in Jamaica's strong start to the Nations League campaign.

  Leading Jamaica's attacking efforts, Antonio once again demonstrated why he is one of the country's top forwards. Antonio contributed a goal and was a constant threat to opposing defenses, taking five shots over the two group-stage matches. His ability to put pressure on the opposition and create scoring opportunities played a vital role in Jamaica's offensive strategy. Antonio's inclusion in the Best XI reflects his consistent ability to impact games at the highest level.

  Guyana's Jones also earned his spot in the Best XI with a standout performance in the group stage. Jones scored a crucial brace in Guyana’s visit to Martinique, securing the team's first points of the campaign with a significant draw. His efforts were pivotal for Guyana, showcasing his goal-scoring instincts and resilience on the international stage.

  The Best XI also features notable performances from players like Nicholas Hagen of Guatemala, who was instrumental in his team's unbeaten start with key saves and a clean sheet against Costa Rica. Costa Rica's defensive duo, Juan Pablo Vargas and Francisco Calvo, made the list for their commanding performances, each contributing both defensively and offensively to Costa Rica's solid start. Honduras' midfielders David Ruiz and Kervin Arriaga impressed with their all-around play, with Ruiz particularly standing out as a young talent to watch.

  The inclusion of two Jamaican players in the Best XI highlights the team's strong performance in the early stages of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League. With both Michail Antonio leading the attack and Kasey Palmer anchoring the midfield, the Reggae Boyz have demonstrated their quality and potential as they aim for success in the competition. The recognition of these players also underscores the depth and talent present in the Caribbean football scene, showcasing their impact on the regional stage.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

• Spieth expecting to be tournament ready for 2025 PGA season

  Jordan Spieth is expecting to return to action for the 2025 PGA Tour season after undergoing successful wrist surgery last month. 

  Spieth, who last competed at the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, failed to find his best form during the recent campaign out on the course. 

  The former world number one started the season strong, finishing third in The Sentry and then, a few weeks later, tied for sixth in the WM Phoenix Open

  But the American missed the final two playoffs in the BMW Championship and Tour Championship, while also missing seven cuts, one of which included the Masters. 

  Spieth was seen sporting a cast on his first appearance since the surgery and was able to reveal the timeline for his return to action. 

  "I think that by 2025, by Jan. 1, it's my goal to be tournament-ready," Spieth told Golfweek in a Q&A published on Monday.

  "And for me, that would be not just going out and seeing how it feels, you know, but expecting to play at my ceiling."

  Spieth has three major wins and 13 overall victories on the PGA Tour but has not emerged victorious since the RBC Heritage in April 2022.

  The American did not earn entry into the 2025 season-opening tournament. However, he is able to play in the Sony Open in Hawaii at the start of January.

  While the 31-year-old's main reason for surgery was to see him return to form, he also detailed the personal reasons for his decision to go under the knife. 

  "I would say the number one reason why I ended up getting it done was because it affects my way of life at home," Spieth said.

  "Like when it would dislocate and I couldn't get it back in, it would happen when I'm getting my daughter out of the bath, I'm putting a sweatshirt on or it just so random that it was like, I didn't want it to continue, and it happened more and more.

  "And it wasn't going to heal itself based on a number of different docs and scans and whatever. So it's just inevitable."