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• Jamaica to host T&T U-17s for two friendly games in week-long camp

  Jamaica's Under-17 team will host their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts for two international friendly encounters this weekend.

  The games, which forms part of a week-long camp for both teams, will also see the young Soca Warriors, who are scheduled to arrive in the island on Wednesday, lock horns with a local club team during their visit. The first game is scheduled for the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence, CHBC on Friday at 4:00pm, while the second encounter will take place on Sunday at 9:00am.

  Trinidad and Tobago will then close their visit against the youth team of a prominent club, next Tuesday.

  Both the young Reggae Boyz, to be guided by former Reggae Boy midfielder Altimont "Freddy" Butler, Carlton Simmonds and Vassel Reynolds, and the Shawn Cooper-coached young Soca Warriors are preparing for the Concacaf Men's Under-17 Championship which was pushed back to 2025. The tournament was initially scheduled for August this year.

  According to recently installed Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, Kieron Edwards, this friendly initiative is in line with the TTFA’s application to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, which aims to provide additional resources to member associations for the elite youth national teams.

  Edwards insisted that there will be continuous efforts to provide opportunities for exposure and match preparation for the various national teams.

  “In keeping with the executive’s mantra to strengthen partnerships and our relationship with our brothers in CFU, we are pleased to be embarking on this journey to Jamaica,” said Edwards.

  “Despite the challenges, the commitment to the continued development of our high-performance programme shines through. This trip marks a pivotal step towards our U-17 team’s quest to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2025. It’s a testament to the dedication of all involved, securing this opportunity mere days after the new executive’s installation," he added.

  The current T&T U-17 selection features several players who have graduated from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association High Performance Programme and competed at the CONCACAF Boys Under-15 Championship in the Dominican Republic last August, recording memorable wins against Costa Rica and Qatar.

  T&T squad: Antuan Louison, Seth Hadeed, Jonathan Mason (Fatima College); Alejandro Harper, Eran Mc Leod (CIC); Nikosi Foncette, Kyron Baptiste, Josiah Simmons, Jimally Renne (Presentation College, Sando); Jasai Theophilus, Jayden Christophe (QRC); Dimitre Jones, Keston Richards (Arima North Sec); Jaydon Caprietta, Jeremiah Daniel, Adasa Richardson, Antonio Hills, Mikhail Clement (Naparima College); Salim Soanes (St Benedict’s College); Necose Moore (Chaguanas North Sec); Riquelme Phillips (Speyside High School)

• Windies to test T20 World Cup readiness against South Africa, Australia in Jamaica and T&T; final squad to be named this week

  With the ICC Men’s Twenty 20 World Cup now just about a month away, Darren Sammy and his West Indies team will up the tempo on preparations, before testing their readiness for the June 1-29 global showpiece, with a final warm-up match against Australia in Trinidad and Tobago.

  Sammy’s final squad, which is expected to be named sometime this week, will be one of nine teams to travel to the Trinidad and Tobago in May for eight warm-up matches, four of which will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, while the other four is scheduled for the historic Queen’s Park Oval. The teams will arrive in twin island republic on May 21.

  The revelation came from Cricket West Indies’s (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave during the recently-concluded CARICOM conference on West Indies cricket themed ‘Reinvigorating West Indies Cricket’, in Port of Spain.

  Grave explained that the final West Indies squad will not convene in full until they travel to Jamaica at the end of May to engage South Africa in three warm-up contests. However, he pointed out that there will be a camp in Antigua prior, which will involve members of the final squad, who are not plying their trade in the Indian Premier League.

  From Jamaica, the Rovman Powell-captained squad will then travel to Trinidad and Tobago for the clash against 50-over World Cup winners Australia, ahead of the tournament to be hosted in the Caribbean and United States.

  West Indies, the 2012 and 2016 champions, are hunting a third T20 World Cup title.

   “We’re going to have a week-long preparation camp in Antigua from May 12, before heading to Jamaica. We’re then going to leave Jamaica and come here to Trinidad and Tobago for a week’s preparation, including playing at the historic Queen’s Park Oval on May 30, in an evening fixture against one of the tournament favourites Australia,” Grave shared.

  “That will probably be one of the only games in the warm-up schedule that will be ticketed, and we certainly hope that the fans here in Trinidad, and particularly those in Port of Spain, will come out and rally behind the West Indies in that warm-up match, which is the final game we’ll play before we head to Guyana for the opening game on June 2,” he added.

  West Indies, who are drawn in Group C alongside New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea, will open against the latter at the Guyana National Stadium on June 2.

  Grave urged fans to come out and rally behind the West Indies outfit in their push to start the tournament on a high.

  “Making sure we have a huge party in Georgetown, and we get off to a winning start (will be crucial). We all know in these global tournaments, confidence and momentum are important and we can think of nothing better than starting with a victory in Guyana and ending it in Barbados on June 29 with a similar victory,” Grave said.

• Mayberry Investments supports Jamaican ice hockey team's Olympic quest

  Mayberry Investments Limited (MIL), a staunch supporter of Jamaican sports, has reaffirmed its commitment to athletic excellence by partnering with the Jamaican Ice Hockey Team. This impactful collaboration includes a significant sponsorship of US$10,000 to aid the team's participation in qualifying tournaments for the Winter Olympic Games in Chicago.

  As a prominent financial institution deeply rooted in the Jamaican community, Mayberry Investments recognizes the importance of nurturing local talent and showcasing Jamaica's prowess on the global stage. Through this partnership, the company aims to not only bolster the Jamaican Ice Hockey Team's pursuit of Olympic qualification but also to spotlight the nation's capabilities in winter sports.

  "We're thrilled to embark on this journey alongside the Jamaican Ice Hockey Team as they strive for Olympic qualification," expressed Chris Berry, Executive Chairman of Mayberry Investments Limited. "Our sponsorship underscores our steadfast commitment to fostering emerging talent and elevating Jamaica's presence in international sports. Witnessing the team's remarkable performance, we're resolute in our determination to nurture and propel them towards greatness," he added, highlighting Mayberry's unwavering support for the team's trajectory.

  The Jamaican Ice Hockey Team, renowned for its extraordinary journey since 2019, has earned global acclaim with an impressive record of 12 victories out of 14 games played. Their comprehensive triumphs against teams from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Lebanon solidify Jamaica's status as one of the premier associate teams on the international stage, as highlighted by Don Anderson, President of the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation.

  "We at JOIHF are immensely pleased that Mayberry Investments recognized the value of sponsoring our team for the Tri-State Challenger Series between Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Lebanon," remarked Anderson. "This sponsorship significantly contributed to boosting the team's physical and mental well-being, enabling us to overcome challenges and emerge victorious in the tournament. We cannot overstate our gratitude for this sponsorship, which was embraced wholeheartedly by our directors and, most importantly, the players, who proudly posed in front of the Mayberry banner, particularly when receiving the player of the match awards, which we achieved on 3 out of the 4 occasions we played."

  The team is slated to compete in the Challenger series, comprising three tournaments over the next three months, featuring matches against Puerto Rico and Lebanon. The series kicks off in Chicago on April 18–21, followed by events in New York on June 5–9 and Toronto on July 11–14. Anderson continued to commend Mayberry for its invaluable support, underscoring the significance of this partnership.

  "JOIHF and the entire team extend heartfelt thanks to Mayberry Investments for their investment in the team," Anderson emphasized. "As a result of this greatly appreciated gesture, Jamaica emerged victorious in the first stage of the series, positioning themselves favorably to vie for the overall trophy in Toronto in July. This sponsorship is a win-win for all involved. Much gratitude from all of us at JOIHF," he concluded.

  Through this collaboration, Mayberry Investments Limited aims to inspire a new generation of athletes and champion the values of resilience, determination, and teamwork. This sponsorship exemplifies Mayberry Investments Limited's enduring commitment to empowering local talent and fostering the growth of sports in Jamaica.

  -ENDS-