At the Jamaica Rifle Association (JRA) Jamaica Cup on Saturday, July 27, Corporal Shayon Francis, the top-ranked female pistol shooter in Jamaica, was announced as the newest brand ambassador for Spectrum Systems Limited, Jamaica's leading roofing supplier.

Francis was previously a member of the historic Super Six all-female shooting squad that proudly represented Jamaica at the PanAmerican Handgun Championships in Florida in 2022. During that competition, the team clinched a Bronze medal and Francis has been on the rise since.

Francis now holds the top ranking as Jamaica's leading female pistol shooter. Typically, she achieves a position in the top ten among all shooters at the Jamaica Rifle Association, where her competitors are predominantly male.

Shayon’s upcoming 2024 schedule includes the Smoking Barrel Regional Standoff in Barbados from August 30 to Sep 1. She is also set to participate in the Fast and Furious Woodleigh Qualifier on Oct 27.

Shayon, a native of St. Thomas in Jamaica, rose to the top of her sport by virtue of commitment to excellence, determination, and hard work, constantly practicing to hone her skills to become one of the region's best shooters, male or female.

Spectrum Managing Director Andrew Stanigar is happy to have Francis on board, "We previously sponsored the Super Six shooters and also the Spectrum Shooting tournament at the JRA, so this is a continuation of our support of the sport. Shayon is the number 1 in shooting for women in Jamaica, and so, it's a no-brainer that she will be backed by the number 1 roofing company, Spectrum Systems Ltd."

As part of the sponsorship, Francis will enhance Spectrum's branding and corporate image as she will be included in advertising campaigns alongside other brand ambassadors, race car driver Sara Misir and Reggae Boyz captain, Andre Blake.

Francis looks forward to representing Spectrum Systems, “I am thrilled and deeply grateful for Spectrum Systems Ltd.'s generous sponsorship as I gear up for my upcoming matches. Although my sights are set on the ultimate goal of World Shoot in South Africa 2025, I understand the significance of each upcoming match. With Spectrum Systems Ltd. by my side, I am equipped with the resources for more training sessions, enabling me to stay primed and deliver my A-game in all the matches” she said.

The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced the formation of a new Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing Advisory Board, with the aim of promoting healthy living initiatives throughout the Caribbean region. The board, which will meet quarterly with senior CPL staff, includes prominent figures such as West Indies men's white-ball coach Darren Sammy and West Indies women's captain Hayley Matthews.

The advisory board also features Dr. Akshai Mansingh, CPL’s Joint Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, Principal Medical Officer at the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health. This diverse team of experts is tasked with advising the CPL on leveraging its platform to create and promote health and wellness programs.

Pete Russell, CPL’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, "Health, fitness, and wellbeing are very important issues across the Caribbean and around the world, and we want to use cricket and our platform as a force for good in this area. We are looking forward to working with the advisory board to create meaningful and long-lasting programs that have a positive impact on health and wellbeing across the region. Starting this season, there will be activities at the games that will create a fun vibe around health and fitness, allowing everyone to join in and be part of it."

Darren Sammy, the newly appointed West Indies men's head coach, emphasized the importance of health and wellbeing, especially for young people. "The health and wellbeing of the Caribbean people is hugely important to me, especially our young people who we work very hard through my foundation. I am excited to be involved in this great initiative from CPL and I look forward to being involved in creating meaningful programs that come from this new collaboration."

Hayley Matthews, West Indies women's captain and a passionate advocate for women's and girls' participation in sports, shared her enthusiasm as well. "I am passionate about women and girls across the Caribbean being involved in sport and fitness, and I am looking forward to working with the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Board and CPL to create initiatives that will encourage participation. As someone who manages a sporting career while suffering with diabetes, I hope that I can add a unique perspective to the discussions."

The CPL's Health, Fitness, and Wellbeing Advisory Board represents a significant step towards integrating health and wellness into the fabric of Caribbean cricket, ensuring that the sport not only entertains but also contributes positively to the community. The upcoming season will see the introduction of various activities at games designed to promote a fun and engaging atmosphere around health and fitness, inviting fans and participants alike to join in and be part of this initiative.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Saturday that Deandra Dottin has decided to come out of retirement and will be available for selection to represent the West Indies Women's international cricket team once again.

In a heartfelt letter to CWI, Dottin expressed her enthusiasm to return to the game.

"Representing West Indies in international cricket has always been a matter of great pride and passion for me. After a period of reflection and thoughtful dialogue with various parties within Cricket West Indies, including Cricket West Indies President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, I am pleased to inform you that I am eager to return to the game that I love, and contribute my utmost to the West Indies women’s team across all formats, with immediate effect," she said.

She continued, "I am confident that my experience, maturity, and skills will add value to the team as it has done in the past, and I am prepared to furnish my best efforts in every match and training session to ensure the team’s winning trajectory in international cricket. Moreover, I am enthusiastic about mentoring younger players and contributing to the overall development of women's cricket in our region."

CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, welcomed Dottin's return, acknowledging her talent and potential impact on the team.

"Deandra is a player of immense ability and experience. We are pleased with her decision to return to international cricket and be eligible for selection. There is no doubt that she could add significant value to the West Indies Women's teams," he said.

Dottin, who will lead the Trinbago Knight Riders women’s team for the third consecutive year in the upcoming WCPL tournament, last played for West Indies in 2022. She has played 270 international matches across the ODI and T20I formats. In 2010, she scored the first Women’s T20I century. Last month, MCC awarded Dottin with Honorary Life Membership of the club.

West Indies Women will have a camp in August 2024. The players will also be engaged in the CPL next month.

The next international assignment will be the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh from October 2-19 later this year.
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It was heartbreak for Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shanice Beckford, and Kadie-Ann Dehaney as West Coast Fever narrowly missed out on making the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League grand final following a nail-biting 72-73 loss to Melbourne Vixens in the preliminary final at the John Cain Arena on Saturday.

Fowler-Nembhard, who enjoyed superb form throughout the season, scored 60 goals from 62 attempts, including four two-goal Super Shot efforts, while Beckford scored four goals from four attempts, and Alice Teague-Neeld scored two goals from two attempts and three from the Super Shot line.

However, it was not enough to deny the Vixens, who got their goals from Sophie Garbin, who scored 40 goals from 40 attempts, and Kiera Austin, who had 33 goals from 32 attempts, including four from the two-goal Super shot line.

With the win, the Vixens have booked themselves a date with reigning champions Adelaide Thunderbirds in next week's grand final.

In what was a keenly contested encounter, West Coast Fever showed first, with Dehaney getting her hands onto the ball early. 

The Fever defensive pressure suffocated the Vixens attack, allowing the Perth-based team to establish a five-goal lead before the home side were able to settle their nerves. The Vixens clawed back the deficit to make it a one-goal game at 18-19 heading into the second quarter.

There was nothing to separate the teams in the second quarter, as they exchanged 19 goals apiece in pulsating end-to-end action, but the Fever remained one-goal ahead at 38-37 at half-time. 

Though the Fever upped the tempo with consistent defensive pressure at the top of the third quarter, they later lost momentum as the Vixens came to live and outscored their opponents 20-14 to take a 57-52 leading heading into the final quarter.

The Vixens maintained the momentum at the top of the final quarter and even extended their lead at one point.

However, with their usual never-say-die response, the Fever produced a late rally through Fowler-Nembhard and Teague-Neeld, who both scored a few Super Shots in the dying minutes. But too late was the cry as the Vixens held firm for the one-goal win and more importantly, gets a another shot at the Thunderbirds, who hammered them in the major semi-final.

Jamaica’s young Reggae Boyz ended their failed Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship campaign without a goal or a point after a 0-3 loss to Cuba in their final Group A fixture at the Estadio Leon in Mexico on Friday.

With the victory, Cuba finished third in the group on four points and booked their spot in the quarterfinal round as one of the two best third-place teams. They join group winners United States, who finished with maximum nine points following their 1-0 win over runners-up Costa Rica (four points).

The Jamaicans were again undone by poor defending and a lack of offensive intent, which basically summed up their presence in the tournament, as they showed very little quality from the start.

In fact, they had a slim opportunity to bring their campaign to life but needed to beat Cuba to make it possible. Instead, it was the Spanish-speaking Caribbean team that marched on, as Michael Camejo dazzled Jamaica’s defence with nippy footwork before firing home in the 35th minute.

Cuba doubled their lead in the 42nd courtesy of David Perez, who capitalised on a defensive error.

Romain Blake got Jamaica’s lone attempt on target in the 47th, but was denied by Yurdy Hodelin.

Karel Pérez then wrapped up victory for Cuba when he converted from the penalty spot in the 86th.

Cuba will face the Group B winner, Honduras, in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, United States, through an all-important strike from Nikolas Tsakiris, his second of the tournament, saw off 10-man Costa Rica.

After Aiden Harangi’s early effort was denied by the crossbar, Tsakiris then found the game’s solitary goal in the 37th to ensure three-time champions United States remained unbeaten heading into the knockout stage.

Costa Rica lost Alberth Barahona to a straight red card in the 50th minute.

United States, the reigning champions, will square off against the best third-place team from either Group B or C in the quarterfinal.

Elsewhere, Canada and Honduras also booked their spots in the quarterfinal after contrasting 2-1 and 5-2 victories over El Salvador and Dominican Republic in their final Group B encounters at the Sergio Leon Chavez Stadium.

Both Canada and Honduras ended on seven points each, but the latter secured top spot by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Canada await the runner-up of Group C.

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

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.