In what is hoped will be a memorable year for Jamaican track and field star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the legendary sprinter has announced the launch of her new hair care line, AFIMI. The announcement comes as Fraser-Pryce prepares to compete in her final Olympic Games, aiming to make history by winning a record-extending fifth Olympic 100m medal in Paris.
Fraser-Pryce, 37, has faced injury challenges over the past few years and has only had four races this season, three of which were at the Jamaican national championships in late June. Despite her limited time on the track, her entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive. The three-time Olympic gold medalist shared the news of her latest venture on Instagram, posting a video that features her running on a track, enjoying the beach, and proudly standing beside her products, all while wearing various hairstyles that showcase the versatility of her yet-to-be-released hair care line.
In her Instagram post, Fraser-Pryce, adorned in Jamaican colors, is seen wearing braids, lace front wigs, and other styles, emphasizing the multi-use nature of AFIMI products. The caption reads, “Hair is your most powerful form of self-expression and has been an exciting way to reinvent myself every time I step on the track. From the main stage to the finish line, my hair has helped me set the tone for many fearless victories. That’s why it’s so important that it gets the care it needs. I’ve designed these products with you in mind to keep your hair feeling and performing its best no matter what comes your way. This line is a vibrant tribute to Jamaica, inspired by its lush resources and welcoming essence — each ingredient naturally sourced from the earth to enhance your natural beauty. AFIMI, It’s for you, no matter who you are.”
Fraser-Pryce is no stranger to making bold statements with her hair. Whether at the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Games, she has consistently used her hair to express her vibrant personality and Jamaican pride. At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, she won her fourth world championship gold medal in the 100 meters with a stunning rainbow-dyed hairstyle. In 2022, she claimed her record fifth world 100m title in Eugene, Oregon, while sporting a beautiful blonde look with green and yellow highlights.
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships, she left fans speechless with a striking orange wig featuring elements of hot pink during her first 100m heat. Similarly, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, she wore a yellow-to-orange ombre wig while taking home the silver medal in the women’s 100m race.
Fraser-Pryce's love for hair dates back to 2013 when she launched Chic Hair Ja, a store that retailed virgin human hair and hair care products in Kingston. The store enjoyed a successful run until 2017. That same year, she revamped and rebranded her hair care line to Lady Shelly, adding natural products to the lineup. Lady Shelly featured products made in Jamaica with natural ingredients, catering to all hair textures and positioning itself as a multicultural hair care line.
As Fraser-Pryce prepares for her final Olympic Games, fans are eagerly anticipating not only her performance on the track but also the stylish hair looks she will undoubtedly bring to Paris. With AFIMI, she continues to inspire and empower, showing that her influence extends far beyond the world of athletics.
Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon is reportedly said to be closing in on a deal with Charlton Athletic.
According to the South London Press, the south-east London club is “closing in on a transfer” for the “pacey 19-year-old winger,” who represents Arnett Gardens Football Club in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Dixon’s agent, Kevin Cowan, told the local media recently that a number of clubs from Belgium, Denmark, and Portugal, as well as the US-based MLS, stated their interest in the player.
However, it is Charlton Athletic, which competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system, that is the current frontrunner.
“The expectation is that he’ll eventually transfer abroad during the summer, but we’re still evaluating the different possibilities,” Cowan said.
Should Dixon transfer to Charlton, he will join fellow Reggae Boy Karoy Anderson, a product of Charlton’s Academy, who made his international debut for Jamaica in 2023.
Ricardo Fuller, who paraded his skills from 2012–2013, and Michael Hector, who left the club in June, are the other notable Jamaican internationals that have graced the club that plays its home games at The Valley.
Dixon, who made his senior Reggae Boyz debut in Concacaf Nations League action against United States in March, tallied six goals in 13 appearances for Arnett Gardens last season. He also has two goals in eight international appearances so far.
The dates for the substantive anti-doping hearing for Jamaica’s national squash champion Julian Morrison have been set with his fate to be decided by an Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel on September 3-4.
The dates for the substantive hearing were set during an initial hearing featuring the representatives of both Morrison and the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) on Thursday afternoon.
Morrison is challenging the provisional suspension imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic agent.
The suspension came following an out-of-competition test conducted on January 18th, 2024, where Morrison's results showed the presence of Boldenone in his system.
However, Morrison and his representatives strongly assert that the substance entered his body inadvertently, likely through contamination.
The Shacman/Tank-Weld 200 Bird Sporting Clay Shoot concluded on Sunday after two days of intense competition at the lush Worthy Park Sugar Estate in Ewarton, St. Catherine. The event saw Craig Simpson crowned as the national sporting clay champion, while Aliana McMaster retained her title as the Ladies champion for the third consecutive year.
Participants faced challenging conditions, including rain, wind, high humidity, and extreme heat. These elements, combined with tricky target presentations, tested the shooters' skills and resilience. After the regulation 200 bird shoot, the top six scorers were selected for the decisive Super Six shoot-off.
Craig Simpson, Chad Zaidie, Christian Sasso, Andrew Hopwood, Roman Tavares-Finson, and JJ Ralston emerged as the top six shooters. The Super Six shoot-off, consisting of a 25-bird target shot over three rounds, ended in a tie between Simpson and Zaidie at 178 each. A subsequent shoot-off saw them tied again at 190 after two rounds. The third and final shoot-off broke the tie, with Simpson hitting seven out of eight targets under extreme pressure to clinch the championship by just one bird.
Reflecting on his victory, Simpson shared, “Yesterday was one of the most difficult sporting shoots I have shot in a long time, and I had to dig deep. I wanted the sporting clay title this year. This is my third win this year, and I was really hungry for it. I wanted to close out the year with the 200 Bird championship.”
Regarding the Super Six shoot-off, Simpson added, “I had a strong first station, shooting all eight targets. The middle was tough, but I managed to hold on and tie with Chad. Chad is a top-quality shooter and pushed me to earn it today. It was a very entertaining, high-class shoot-off.”
Khaleel Azan, past president of the Jamaica Skeet Club and coach of many local shooters, praised Simpson for his hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport. He also commended all the Super Six shooters, especially the two junior shooters, Roman Tavares-Finson and JJ Ralston, for their exceptional performance.
In the Ladies category, Aliana McMaster scored 142 to secure her third consecutive title. Her mother, Wendy McMaster, finished second with a total score of 132, while Toni Barnes placed third with 113. Aliana expressed her satisfaction with her performance, especially given the challenges she faced this year. “It feels amazing because I had to battle with so many things this year, especially with CSEC and school. I’m really happy that I could pull through and defend my title.”
Aliana described the competition as particularly challenging, noting, “It was my first time being in the super squad for A Class, and it was definitely a new environment. The course was very tough on the first day, and I had to be on my game. Today, I did much better.”
The top three shooters in the various classes were:
A Class:
Christian Sasso: 168
Roman Tavares-Finson: 165 (S/O)
Andrew Hopwood: 165 (S/O)
B Class:
Brandon Laing: 149
Todd Lazarus: 139
Dominic Simpson: 115
C Class:
Justin Samuda: 140
Anthony Desnes: 137
Richy Duquesnay: 135
D Class:
Stephen McConnell: 131
Cameron Lee: 125
Philip Burgess: 123
E Class:
Fraser McConnell: 112
Che Rowe: 109
Kevin Chin Shue: 102
Ladies Class:
Aliana McMaster: 142
Wendy McMaster: 132
Toni Barnes: 113
Juniors:
JJ Ralston: 154 (S/O)
Roman Tavares-Finson: 154 (S/O)
Mark Desnoes: 151
Hunters or Beginners:
Tatrecia Mitchell: 112
Nick Dawson: 109
John Chin: 102
The MLS All-Stars were routed 4-1 by their Liga MX counterparts in Wednesday's All-Star Game in Columbus, with two goals in two second-half minutes taking the game away from them.
Without injured Inter Miami duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the MLS All-Stars fell behind after 16 minutes.
Jonathan dos Santos was allowed far too much time to cross from the right, and German Berterame steered his header past the despairing dive of Roman Burki.
The MLS side levelled almost immediately, with Columbus Crew star Cucho Hernandez a popular scorer at his Lower.com Field home, sweeping Diego Rossi's low cross home.
The Liga MX All-Stars would re-establish their lead four minutes before half-time as Oussama Idrissi drove infield before crashing a shot into the bottom-right corner, and they would pull clear in the second half.
After Hany Mukhtar and Riqui Puig both struck the woodwork, Juan Brunetta doubled Liga MX's lead in the 67th minute, tapping home after Gustavo Ferrareis headed across goal.
Brunetta was also involved as Liga MX killed off the contest one minute later, his incisive pass allowing Maximiliano Meza to spin and tuck a left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner.
Data Debrief: Third time lucky for Liga MX
This was the third time a team made up of Liga MX's finest had provided the opposition for the MLS All-Star Game, with the MLS side having won the previous two in 2022 and 2023, the latter via a penalty shoot-out.
The MLS All-Stars have now won just two of the last eight editions since beating Bayern Munich and Tottenham in back-to-back All-Star Games in 2014 and 2015.
Jamaican superstars Leon Bailey and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw have both been shortlisted in the male and female categories for the Concacaf Player of the Year Awards, following their exploits for both club and country in the 2023–24 campaign.
The nominees, who were selected for the coveted Confederation Award based on performance statistics and the input of football experts, were announced on Tuesday as fan voting also opened to allow football enthusiasts to vote for their favourite players.
To be eligible to be shortlisted, players must have played for a Concacaf Member Association's senior Men's or Women's national team in eligible Concacaf and FIFA competitions and matches. Additionally, regardless of nationality, players must have represented a club in the 2023–24 season in a Concacaf and FIFA-sanctioned top division Men’s or Women’s professional league in the Concacaf region.
Bailey, 26, had a superb season with English Premier League (EPL) outfit Aston Villa last season, in which he earned a few Player of the Month awards. He scored 10 goals and registered nine assists to help the club to a fourth-place finish in the league.
Though his appearances, or lack thereof, on the international scene were marred by controversy, the dynamic winger did enough to make the shortlist, which also includes Adalberto Carrasquilla of Panama and Houston Dynamo.
Jonathan David of Canada and French club Lille; Canada’s and Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies; Santiago Gimenez of Mexico and Feyenoord; and American Christian Pulisic, who also represents AC Milan, are the other nominees.
Meanwhile, Reggae Girlz and Manchester City striker Shaw, had an unforgettable 2023–24 season in which she was named the 2023–24 Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) Player of the Season and was named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Women Footballer of the Year.
The 27-year-old, whose season was cut short due to a broken leg, registered 21 goals in just 18 appearances and also provided three assists.
Shaw was the first player to score three WSL hat-tricks in a calendar year last year, and between November 2023 and January 2024, the forward again registered three trebles in just four matches.
Finding the net in both WSL Manchester derbies, the Jamaican’s clinical finish at the Etihad Stadium in March also saw her become City’s record goalscorer, as she swept past Georgia Stanway in the process.
By all indications, Shaw, who won the Concacaf Player of the Year award in 2022, seems set to repeat the feat on this occasion, but she will have five other nominees to contend with.
They are Charlyn Corral of Mexico and Pachuca Femenil; Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay of Olympique Lyonnais; Adriana Leon of Canada and Aston Villa women; Mexico’s Jacqueline Ovalle of Mexico and Tigres Femenil; and American Sophia Smith of Portland Thorns.
The voting process, which includes players, coaches, media, and fans, will determine the winners.
A total of 100 votes will conclude the process, with 41 votes to be cast by Men’s national team head coach—one for each Concacaf Member Association—and 41 Men’s national team captain with the same stipulation.
One vote each for the nine representative members from the Concacaf region will make up the nine media votes, while the remaining nine van votes will come through www.concacaf.com/awards. The player with the most fan votes will receive four votes in the overall voting process, second place three votes, and third place two votes, regardless of how many people vote online.
The process is the same for the Women’s award.
At the conclusion of the voting period, on August 2, the player in each category with the most votes out of the 100 available will be named 2023/24 Concacaf Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year.
Fast bowler Jeremiah Louis has been ruled out of the final Test between West Indies and England due to a hamstring injury, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced in a statement. In response, the visitors have opted for a like-for-like replacement, bringing Akeem Jordan into the squad.
Louis, who did not feature in the first two Tests, sustained the injury during the second Test at Trent Bridge. He will stay with the squad to receive further treatment. Meanwhile, Jordan, who was playing cricket in the UK at the time of his call-up, has already joined the squad and will participate in Wednesday's training session at Edgbaston.
Jordan is yet to make his Test debut but has made a mark in 19 first-class games, taking 67 wickets since 2022 at an average of 24.10. His impressive performances include two five-wicket hauls, with a best innings haul of 5 for 44.
The West Indies squad already includes seam-bowling options like Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, and allrounder Jason Holder. Despite their efforts, the visitors are currently 2-0 down in the series, having lost the Richards-Botham Trophy with one game still to go. The West Indies faced heavy defeats at Lord's by an innings and 114 runs, and at Trent Bridge by 241 runs last week.
The third Test is set to commence on Friday, July 26, at Edgbaston, where the West Indies will be hoping to salvage some pride and end the series on a positive note.
Trinidad and Tobago's Andre Raymond knows all too well that opportunities in football often come with their fair share of challenges and setbacks. Though those setbacks are sometimes harrowing, much like his jail-time experience in Portugal, Raymond, like the professional he is, has learned to smile in the face of adversity.
In fact, it is Raymond's resilience and determination that ensured a bad situation took a positive turn and brought him back on track to pursue his professional dreams, as he recently signed with St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, where he had an encouraging start in a 2-0 win over Morton on Saturday.
“I was very happy with my debut. I needed to get some minutes in the tank and build a bond with the team and the intensity was really high—it was really good,” said Raymond, whose last competitive outing was a friendly international against Guyana in May.
“I didn’t know the coach [Craig Levein] had asked Dan [Phillips] about me. Then, in March, I got a phone call saying he was interested. He’d done some research and liked what he saw, so things started moving then. I made my mind up straight away; I wanted to join St Johnstone because the Scottish league is a top league,” he told The Courier.
Prior to his move to Scotland, Raymond, whose speed, defensive acumen, and ability to contribute offensively made him a sought-after player, caught the eye of scouts from various clubs, including SC Braga, one of Portugal’s top football teams.
The opportunity to sign with Braga seemed like the perfect next step in Raymond’s burgeoning career. However, his aspirations were abruptly halted by an unexpected turn of events.
During his trip to finalize the deal with SC Braga, Raymond was detained by Portuguese authorities for overstaying on a previous visit. This oversight resulted in him being thrown into prison for two days.
“I was at university in America and did one semester. While I was at home, my friend was going with an academy team to Spain. I was dropping him off at the airport, and the coach of his team asked me what I was doing and why I wasn’t playing football and going with them,” Raymond recalled.
“He wanted me to go with them, so he spoke to my dad about it, but my mom was saying, ‘No way, you have to go back to school,” he shared.
In the end, Raymond managed to persuade his parents, and a few days later, he joined the Academy team in Spain for the tournament.
“After that, we went to Portugal, and I ended up with Braga, but then some stuff happened—I got arrested because we’d been away from home for so long, and I ended up staying for four months instead of three. I went back home to get my documents and then back to Portugal for pre-season with Braga, but they didn’t let me in and threw me in jail,” Raymond explained.
“I was in there for two days; it was horrible. I was allowed a 15-minute phone call and locked in a cell. I know it was only two days, but that was enough. It was a new experience, that’s for sure, and I wouldn’t want anyone to go through it,” he added.
The detention not only affected Raymond personally but also jeopardized his professional prospects. The deal with SC Braga fell through as the club, wary of the legal complications, decided not to proceed.
For Raymond, it was a devastating blow, as the young defender was on the brink of a significant career milestone.
“They sent me back to Trinidad, and I had to spend three months out of Europe before I could go back. But, because of the length of time it was, Braga had moved on and signed another left-back, and that left me without a club.
“I felt like giving up football again, to be honest, but I got the chance to sign for Vilar De Perdizes, so I decided to do that. My mom wanted me to go back to school, but my dad said I should push on and keep going,” Raymond revealed.
Through resilience and his father’s unwavering support, the now 23-year-old continued to push and inevitably caught the attention of St Johnstone through a timely referral from his Soca Warriors teammate Dan Phillips.
Now a part of the St Johnstone squad, Raymond is eager to leverage his skills and experiences to help the Perth-based club succeed while continuing to develop as a player.
“I spent the last few months of the season watching the team play, looking at the players, the style of play, and the atmosphere in the stadium. All the time I was speaking to the manager and hoping they would stay in the Premiership, and I was very happy that they did,” Raymond said.
“I wanted Dan to stay, but he has goals and aspirations of his own. We still speak a lot. He told me to come here because it’s a good club and I would fit in here. He said that my style of play would match up with Scottish football, and I’m feeling that too because I like to defend, but I also like to get forward,” he ended.
Hosts West Indies produced a dominant display of bowling to tie their five-match Women’s T20 Series against the USA 1-1 on Monday at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago.
The USA won the opening fixture on Saturday by 37 runs. Batting first, the Americans made 106-8.
Ritu Singh made 29, and captain Anika Kolan 22, but the visitors were helped mightily by their hosts with 25 extras.
Selena Ross took a tidy 3-12 to lead the bowling attack with her left-arm medium pace while right-arm medium pacer Jahzara Claxton took 3-20.
In the West Indian response, only Samara Ramnath (28) and Brianna Harrichan (20) got to double figures, as the home team was held to 69-9.
On Monday, the USA chose to bat first once more. It was a completely different story from the first game as this time they were bundled out for just 65 in 18.1 overs.
Only Kolan (10) and Sasha Vallabhaneni (22) got notable scores.
Ross was back among the wickets, taking 2-8 from her three overs, including a maiden. Kenika Cassar (2-17) and Trisha Hardat (2-18) also bowled well.
West Indies made quick work of their reply, reaching 69-2 in just 13.1 overs.
The Bajan duo of NaiJanni Cumberbatch and Asabi Callender led the charge with 27* and 20, respectively.
The third match of the series is on Wednesday at the same venue.
Cucho Hernandez is certain the top players from across MLS and Liga MX will give everything to win when they face off in Wednesday's All-Star Game at his club home in Columbus.
Lower.com Field – home to MLS Cup holders the Columbus Crew – will play host to the 28th edition of the MLS All-Star Game, with a team comprised of Mexican football's finest the opponents.
This will be the third edition of the All-Star Game to use the inter-league format.
The MLS All-Stars beat their Liga MX counterparts on penalties in 2021, then triumphed 2-1 in a repeat fixture in 2022 with Carlos Vela and Raul Ruidiaz scoring.
Though Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will miss Wednesday's game due to injury, Hernandez is expecting a high-quality contest and is relishing the chance to play alongside those he is used to facing.
"Nobody holds back," he said. "Even when it's a game of ping pong, you want to win. That's how we are as players.
"We were born competitors and it'll definitely be an intense game that both teams want to win.
"What I really like is meeting new people. Sometimes you see this level of players on television and say, 'What a player!' or 'What a golazo!'
"Then he's here beside you and you can chat with him. It's a really nice experience."
Hernandez, who was selected by his club boss and All-Stars coach Wilfried Nancy, could be partnered in attack by Denis Bouanga, who won the 2023 MLS Golden Boot and has 16 goals in the competition already this term.
The forward, though, insists his priority is always team success, saying: "I try to be as decisive as possible for the team with the players around me, to bring something each day.
"That all speaks to the collective, I'm not being decisive and making my team win so I can be named MVP or get the Golden Boot."
Club America coach Andre Jardine will lead the Liga MX All-Stars after capturing both titles on offer in 2023-24 – the Apertura and the Clausura.
Like Hernandez, Jardine – who has selected a squad containing the likes of Salomon Rondon, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Sergio Canales – will take the game seriously.
"We won't be able to do much tactically, because we will hardly have training, but there is great quality with these players and we want to win," he said.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MLS All-Stars – Luciano Acosta
As the reigning MLS MVP and the captain of the All-Star side, FC Cincinnati talisman Acosta should take centre-stage, particularly with compatriot Messi ruled out.
Acosta's 82 chances created in MLS this year are more than any other player in the competition, while his 26 goal involvements (11 goals, 15 assists) are also the most in the league.
Liga MX All-Stars – Salomon Rondon
Rondon has already proven his worth on US soil this year, firing Venezuela to the Copa America quarter-finals, where they were edged out on penalties by Canada.
Only Golden Boot winner Lautaro Martinez (five) bettered his tally of three goals at the tournament, with those efforts coming from chances worth 2.44 expected goals (xG). The target man also ranked joint-eighth for chances created with eight, recording one assist.
MATCH PREDICTION: MLS ALL-STARS WIN
Victories have been hard to come by for the MLS All-Stars in recent years, though the calibre of opposition has certainly played into that.
Indeed, since beating Bayern Munich and Tottenham in back-to-back editions of the game in 2014 and 2015, the MLS All-Stars have only triumphed on two of seven occasions.
However, their conquerors through that spell have been Arsenal (twice), Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Their two victories both came versus teams made up of Liga MX's finest, and given the level of attacking talent found in Nancy's squad, not to mention the experience of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, they go in as favourites.
Dan Ryan has never been shy about his admiration for Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and so it comes as no surprise that the West Coach Fever head coach believes the towering goal shooter is the best to ever grace that position in netball history.
Fowler-Nembhard celebrated her 35th birthday by putting on yet another shooting masterclass in the Fever’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League minor semi-final victory over Sunshine Coast Lightning at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday.
The five-time league MVP scored 67 goals from 69 attempts—the two missed chances being late Super Shot attempts—as the Fever downed the Sunshine Coast Lightning 72-62 to book a preliminary final date with Melbourne Vixens.
On the back of that performance, Fowler-Nembhard extended her lead atop the Nissan Net Points (1704.5) standings as well as the goals scored ladder, shooting her 880 goals with 96% accuracy.
For Ryan, the Perth-based franchise could not have asked for a better first-choice goal shooter.
“She’s the greatest goal shooter our game has ever seen,” Ryan declared.
“Because she has such high standards every single weekend, everyone has such incredibly high standards for her. We’re so grateful that she’s in our team, and we have a real priority to ensure we get the best out of Jhaniele, with who sits in front of her,” he added.
Beyond her scoring abilities, Ryan also praised Fowler-Nembhard’s leadership skills, which he pointed out often come to the fore when her compatriot and goal attack Shanice Beckford has an off-game.
“She’s been an incredible leader. The way she’s leading that front line, she’s happy to take a 2v1 if she needs to, and she’s backing in Shanice when she needs to. We’re seeing mum mode from Jhaniele out there, and we absolutely love it,” Ryan noted.
Shanice Beckford
Fowler-Nembhard’s perfect first half performance kept the Fever in touch with the Lightning, 16-18 at the end of the first quarter, before the 2022 champions put the foot down in the second half to keep their premiership hopes alive.
They outscored the Lightning 36-27 after the main break, had nine gains—eight of which they converted to goals—and five defensive rebounds to put an end to the Lightning’s season.
The performance was much to the delight of Ryan, who believes the manner in which his team upped their tempo in the second half augurs well going into their next encounter.
“We’ve been tracking really nicely over the last month and playing some great netball. We knew we were in a good spot heading into Sunday’s game, and we really wanted to make sure we found an extra gear,” Ryan reasoned.
“The first half was a real grind and a real challenge, and we were certainly under the pump. I am really proud of the girls for the way they stuck at their jobs, and when the moments popped up in that second half, we took them. To win by ten in a do-or-die semi-final is an amazing result.” he shared.
The Fever’s renewed form in winning their last four encounters, comes at the right time, following a mid-season wobble that saw them slip from the top of the standings into third place at the end of regular season play.
Those off colour mid-season games, Ryan said, have served as motivation for his side, which is now aiming to possibly carry their rich vein of form all the way to the grand final against reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds.
But first, West Coast Fever will have to get past the Vixens on their return to John Cain Arena this Saturday.
“Our team has been on a really important journey across the season, and we always connect back to the mid part of the season where we went win-loss-win-loss for a while,” Ryan stated.
“The learnings we were getting out of those moments were invaluable, and we’ve got great confidence now in these pressure games. We’re really grateful for another opportunity to play netball under finals pressure; we know we’re in great form and we’re going to be really hard to beat at our best,” he ended.
Despite a slightly improved performance, Jamaica’s young Reggae Boyz suffered another defeat and is now all but out of contention at the Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship, as Costa Rica and United States seem set to secure the top two Group A spots to the quarterfinals in Mexico.
In fact, United States, who registered a 4-0 win over Cuba, are already through to the knockout stages as they lead the group on six points, while Costa Rica’s 3-0 win over Jamaica propelled them into second place on four points. Cuba sits third on a point, while the young Reggae Boyz, are yet to get on the board.
The young Reggae Boyz, looked much better than they did in a 0-9 trouncing to United States, but their misery continued on Monday at the Miguel Aleman Valdez Stadium in Celaya.
This, as they lost Makai Bond Welch to a straight red card in the 71st minute, while goalkeeper Joshua Grant, who ended the match with five saves, was consistently called upon to keep them in the game.
Grant made consecutive stops in the 19th to deny Esteban Cruz and Jose Pablo Aguero on the rebound. He also came up big to deny Walter Ramirez in the 30th minute and Alberth Barahona in the 45+3.
Jamaica got their efforts from Makai Bond Welch, who was denied by Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Berny Rojas in the 45+5, while captain Adrian Reid Jr’s shot from a distance went just wide as the score remained goalless at the break.
However, Costa Rica eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot as Claudio Montero converted in the 50th.
Andy Rojas doubled Costa Rica’s lead in the 67th with a laser-sharp effort from just outside the 18-yard box, which gave Grant no chance at a save.
After Makai Bond Welch was given marching orders, the Central Americans capitalised on the numerical advantage, as Andy Rojas completed his brace and the victory in the 83rd, when he fired home from Ramirez’s cross.
In the feature contest, Ethan Kohler opened the scoring for United States in the 15th, before Zavier Gozo added another in the 26th.
Taha Habroune put the three-time champions further ahead in the 58th, with Marcos Zambrano capping the win in the 90+1.
Despite the loss, Cuba still stands a chance of progressing should things play out in their favour in the final fixtures on Thursday.
This, as Jamaica will have to blank the Spanish-speaking Caribbean team by a wide scoreline to stand a slim chance of possibly securing one of the two best third-place spots up for grabs.
Meanwhile, a wide margin of victory for Cuba over their Caribbean neighbours could see them secure one of those two third-place slots or even second position, provided United States hammer Costa Rica in the top-of-the-table clash.
As Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum enters into the second year of its partnership with the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), it launched new-look jerseys at the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Festival.
The patrons of the festival, held at the Catherine’s Hall Sports Complex on July 18, 2023, experienced a fashion show showcasing six of the 14 team’s jerseys.
The fashion show unveiled the new kits for JPL 2024 season winner Cavalier FC, and the runner-up Mount Pleasant Football Academy. Also highlighted were the jerseys for Harbour View FC, Portmore United FC and Arnett Gardens FC and Montego Bay United FC (MBUFC).
On hand to see the show were executives of MBUFC, who lead the only top-tier professional football club from Jamaica’s western region, including Coach Rodolfo Zapata, General Manager Sumil Reid and Director Anthony Cameron.
“These jerseys are another manifestation of the Wray Rum partnership with the JPL, said Kerry-Ann Bryan, brand manager of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum. “Our patrons at the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Festival were the first to see and appreciate this next layer of support.
“Wray & Nephew has been a storied sponsor of football in Jamaica. We offer over $300 million in support across the Jamaica Football Federation national men’s and women’s programmes as well as to the JPL and Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA),” Bryan explained after the jerseys were revealed.
The kits were produced in partnership with Admiral and brandish bold colours, unique patterns, and details that represent each club, its surrounding community and showcases each Football Club’s history. The 14 JPL teams will utilise the home and away vibrant kit designs for 2024/25 season.
Having launched the kits, Rum Fest eventgoers had the opportunity to get first dibs on their jersey pick from the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum football-themed festival booth.
The JPL and Admiral collection can also be purchased online via the Admiral website, or at the Locker Room Sports location in Kingston.
Lionel Messi will miss the annual MLS All-Star game in Columbus on Wednesday due to his ongoing ankle injury, MLS has confirmed.
The Argentina captain sustained the injury during his nation's Copa America final victory over Colombia on July 14.
Messi subsequently left the pitch in tears, and watched from the dugout as substitute Lautaro Martinez struck an extra-time winner in Miami.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was expected to be part of the annual clash between an MLS XI and Liga MX XI.
However, he was listed as unavailable on the MLS website along with fellow Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez, though their team-mates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are both included.
The likes of Hugo Lloris, Christian Benteke and Federico Bernadeschi also feature in the MLS roster, while Andre-Pierre Gignac and Salomon Rondon will feature for the Liga MX All-Stars.
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