Prime Minister Mia Mottley says the inaugural Prime Minister’s Cup football tournament is the Barbados Government’s way of providing opportunities and creating a platform for the country’s players to not only develop their talent, but also to excel.

The new semi-professional tournament, which has a total investment of US$75,000 (BDS $150,000) is scheduled to kick off in August with 24 teams –10 from the Barbados Football Association Premier League, the top six from Division One, and the top four from Division 2 and Division three, based on 2023 standings –to take part.

With well over 600 players set to parade their skills, Mottley pointed out that it forms part of an objective to establish a more compact football structure.

“If we are serious about the clear determination that we must be global citizens with Bajan roots, then we have to build the platform in which that can happen,” Mottley said during the tournament’s launch at the Barbados Football Association (BFA) headquarters, on Wednesday.

“The reality is whether it is boys or girls playing football, this country needs greater structure and greater opportunities in football if we are to rise to the next level. Some will be able to go on and find lucrative contracts. Some will be able to work in the ecosystem of football. We have a duty therefore to start to lift our game up. If we want to have a developmental role it means that Government must now step in to play that role,” she added.

Mottley stressed that taking on a tournament of this nature when no private sector company would, is a no brainer for her administration, especially given the fact that young people are becoming more and more interested in football.

“There are not a lot of companies who would step up to the plate, and they are also looking at many other national activities from cultural activities right back through. So the bottom line is that one of the limitations of being small is that the state sometimes must take the lead in terms of entrepreneurship. When Barbados became an independent country, Errol Barrow understood that, and that is why the Hilton hotel was built at a time when no Barbadian private sector entity would have taken that scale of risk to build that scale of hotel in a country this size,” the Prime Minister reasoned.

“If we are to change our fortunes in Barbados, we need to be able to ensure that we have the administrative structure and the opportunities in tournaments such as this. I hope that at some point there will be a regional professional league,” she noted.

Another significant aspect of the tournament is the fact that all players will be expected to take part in self-confidence and self-esteem building, conflict resolution, and entrepreneurship workshops.

“The fundamental difference with this tournament must be a clear understanding of the profiles and the opportunities for every player, so that we work collectively between the public and the private sector to ensure that we put these persons on a sustainable path for a livelihood,” Mottley declared.

Meanwhile, Omari Eastmond, chairman of the organising committee echoed the prime minister’s sentiments.

“It is a way to tap into our talent on the island and give them purpose, allowing them to strive in structured settings giving them a chance to have a financial reward,” Eastmond said.

Jamaica’s hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis finds herself in a state of uncertainty as she faces a significant hurdle in her prospects to make a long-awaited Olympic Games appearance in Paris.

Despite achieving a National Record of 71.83 metres in May, which ranked in the top 32 in the world this year, Clunis’s dream of competing on the world’s biggest stage is now hanging in the balance due to a blunder from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

The 28-year-old, who placed second and the JAAA National Senior Championships, initially believed she was on her way to the Olympics had her excitement turned to dismay when she learned that her name was omitted from the JAAA’s official list submitted to World Athletics.

“Following the Jamaican Olympic Trials, I was elated to receive notification of my official selection to Team Jamaica. Unfortunately, I have since found myself in a difficult position. Due to an omission made by the Jamaican Athletics Administration Association, my name was not officially submitted to World Athletics. As such, I do not have a position in the Olympic Games,” Clunis shared in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Still, as the clock ticks down to the July 26 to August 11 global multi-sport showpiece, Clunis remains hopeful that the JAAA will rectify the situation, allowing her to take her rightful place in Paris.

“I have been assured that all possible remedies are being explored and that there is hope that this issue may soon be resolved. I thank those who are fighting on my behalf for my rightful inclusion. I am a proud Jamaican. To wear our nation's colours at the Olympic Games will be the pinnacle of my athletic career,” Clunis declared.

While she awaits a resolution, Clunis’s plight underscores the importance of strong administrative leadership, as that oversight by the JAAA could very well rob an athlete that has shown remarkable dedication and prowess in her sport, the opportunity to achieve her dream on the global stage.

Last year, she became the first Jamaican, male or female, to compete in the Hammer Throw competition at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

“I pray for a swift and positive resolution, and until such time as one comes, will not have any further comment,” Clunis’s post ended.

With a new head coach on the horizon and a commitment to excellence, Roger Simmonds, general manager of Dunbeholden FC says the club is embracing a new era that is focused on strategic growth and, by extension, becoming perennial title contenders in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL).

In fact, it is the implementation of that for propelling the club to new heights, and Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde’s ability –or lack thereof –to align with the movement that Simmonds said resulted in the club parting ways with the coach on Wednesday, ahead of preseason preparation for the upcoming 2024-25 JPL season.

Hyde, who took the reins from Harold Thomas for the 2023-24 campaign, guided the St Catherine-based club to an eighth-place finish on 37 points, having won 10 of their 26 games, while losing nine and drawing seven.

"The club's management was always in dialogue with Mr. Hyde and the coaching Staff from the beginning of last season and throughout the season, as we sought to align our vision and philosophy while maintaining a high level of performance on and off the field,” Simmonds shared.

Dunbeholden FC in Concacaf Caribbean Cup action.

“Despite the on-field failures (8th place), we nevertheless tried to persevere, but there are difficulties with the alignment of our vision off the field and consequently we felt it was best for both parties to separate amicably before the start of the 2024/25 JPL Season. We have already identified his successor, and the club will make an announcement in another week or so,” he told SportsMax.TV.

Despite Hyde’s departure, Simmonds is optimistic about the future, and is eager to build on the foundation that was established two years ago when Dunbeholden contested its first ever JPL final since earning promotion at the start of the 2018-19 season.

It was on the back of that runner-up finish that Dunbeholden also made an historic appearance in the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, where they ended with four points from four games.

“We had some positives to celebrate such as the development and emergence of young players, as well as the continued strengthening of the club's structure. Despite numerous player and coaches’ movements (out), we were still competitive in all games throughout the season, which underscored the resilience of the club,” Simmonds stated.

“However, not making the JPL Playoffs after being a finalist the previous season, and not reaching the second round of the Concacaf Club Championships were major low points for us. As a result of the above and other reasons, we are cognisant of the fact that we have to be intentional about where we are going, how we should get there, and the team –management and players –that can get us there in our stated timelines,” he added.

Dunbeholden FC in JPL action against Mount Pleasant.

On that note, Simmonds stressed the need to enhance the club's performance and competitiveness in the JPL. Central to this strategy is the recruitment of a new head coach who aligns with the club’s ambitions and philosophy.

“The mandate for the club, management, technical staff, and players is that it cannot be business as usual. Operating a Football Club is an expensive venture and therefore a reasonable return on investment would be at least to be able to participate in the playoffs with the intention of securing Concacaf Football. With that said, we are in the process of re-energizing the team through employment of personnel, both on and off the field, for the new JPL season and in due course the information will be made available to the public,” he declared.

Having lost a number of players such as Demario Phillips, Atapharoy Bygrave, and others to Mount Pleasant FA, along with talismanic midfielder Nickoy Christian to Waterhouse, Simmonds, gave the impression that the club has not ruled out the possibility of bringing those players back in to strengthen the squad.

“We would have lost not just players, but coaches too which says we are doing something right. But, no final decision has been made as yet regarding any of those players,” he shared.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds says his ministry is open to assist in amending the country’s immigration laws, to bolster the Soca Warriors talent pool and improve their chances of securing FIFA World Cup qualification.

Hinds declaration was a response to calls made by senior Soca Warriors Head coach Angus Eve and former Soca Warriors captain Dwight Yorke, for a possible review of citizenship laws, to allow for heritage players to represent the twin island republic.

Currently, chapter two, section 17 (ii) of Trinidad and Tobago’s Constitution states that “A person shall not become a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, if at the time of his birth – (a) neither of his parents is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Both Eve and Yorke expressed views that Trinidad and Tobago’s laws, which limits representation to players whose parent(s) have Trinidad and Tobago lineage, places them at a disadvantage, as other Caribbean territories are capitalizing on heritage players whose grandparents have local lineage.  

Hinds concurred, and pointed out that discussions have already been had with Minister of Sport and Community Development Shamfa Cudjoe and Attorney General Reginald Armour regarding the matter.

“I certainly heard from the sports minister and AG, this is a matter that arose around us. National security is very open to any policy shifts that might emanate from the sports ministry in this regard. And it is the AG as the government’s legal adviser who will draft any necessary amendments to the immigration act or whatever might be necessary to facilitate that,” Hinds told T&T Newsday.

Having participated at the 2006 World Cup, Trinidad and Tobago has a grand opportunity to make another appearance at the 2026 global showpiece to be hosted jointly by Concacaf powerhouses United States, Mexico and Canada.

With those team not involved in qualifying, the Soca Warriors could secure one of three automatic spots to the tournament. They have already started the qualifiers with 2-2 and 7-1 scorelines against Grenada and Bahamas respectively.

They are scheduled to face St Kitts and Nevis and Costa Rica when qualifying resumes next year.

“If there is anything we can do to enhance that (the country’s sporting success) we most certainly would. The Minister of Sport did raise that matter with me and she is aware that she has the full support of this minister representing national security. We do nothing passively. We are very active on the job and in service of the people of TT,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eve welcomed the fact that the change is somewhat in motion, as he believes it will not only benefit sport, but all other sectors.

“If they are reviewing it for the betterment of, not just for football but for everyone as a whole in the country because there are a lot more professional people who can come back into the country in different capacities to continue in the development of TT,” Eve said.

“If it is looked at, it could possibly enhance what we do in TT by getting more professional people, whether it be sports, business or anything. It wouldn’t only augur well for sport, but holistically. It broadens our talent pool in different fields; people who can give back to the country that their parents or grandparents were born in,” he reasoned.

Jamaican athlete Leford Green will be inducted into the Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) Athletics Hall of Fame this September, celebrating a remarkable collegiate career and outstanding contributions to the university's track and field program. Green, a former student-athlete who excelled both on the track and in the classroom, expressed his overwhelming gratitude for the honor.

"I am overwhelmed. We have been working hard over the years. We have done a lot with regards to Johnson C. Smith and the track and field programme. As a matter of fact, I was Coach (Lennox) Graham's first recruit, so it is just overwhelming that I am being acknowledged for all the efforts and the achievements," Green shared.

These days a Unit Manager at Piedmont Airlines, Green's journey at JCSU began in 2008, where he quickly made a name for himself. In his sophomore year, he was named the 2008-09 CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, setting the stage for an illustrious collegiate career. He became the NCAA defending indoor 400m national champion in 2008 and led the JCSU men's track team with standout performances across multiple events. Notably, he set a new Clemson University facility record of 1:03.52 in the 500m during the 2009 indoor season.

Born in the parish of St Mary but raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Green earned his second All-American honours for his indoor performance and set a personal best in the 200m with a time of 20.41 seconds, the fastest collegiate time in the nation that year. His prowess extended to the outdoor track as well, where he secured automatic qualifying times for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the 200m and 400m.

Green's dominance continued at the CIAA Outdoor Championships, where he was named MVP after winning the 200m, 400m hurdles, and placing second in the 400m. His remarkable athletic achievements were matched by his academic excellence, as he maintained a 4.0 GPA in information systems engineering. Green also received the Pettis Norman Award at the JCSU Annual Athletic Banquet, recognizing him as Student-Athlete of the Year.

The pinnacle of Green's collegiate career came in 2011 when he was named NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. That year, he finished the season undefeated and won the NCAA title in the 400m with a time of 45.74 seconds, outpacing the nearest competitor by a full second. He also won the 400m hurdles at the NCAA meet in 2010 and contributed to JCSU's winning 4x400m relay team and fifth-place 4x100m squad.

Green's impact extended beyond his individual accolades. At his conference meet, he earned 2011 CIAA Male Athlete of the Meet honors after winning the 400m and 400m hurdles, finishing second in the 200m, and running a leg on the Golden Bulls' second-place 4x400m relay team. His efforts earned him the title of Division II Male Track Athlete of the Year in 2010.

Reflecting on his time at JCSU, Green highlighted his freshman year as especially memorable. "My freshman year. It was a transitional period for me and Coach Graham. Freshman year, pretty much won indoors, new to all that stuff and came out national champion in the 400m was exceptional for me so it just showed I could overcome and keep on going further and further."

 Green's achievements extended to the international stage, where he represented Jamaica at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing seventh in the 400m hurdles final. He also competed at the World Athletics Championships in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Additionally, Green won gold in the 400m hurdles for Jamaica at the 2010 and 2011 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico. After graduating, Green continued to contribute to JCSU as an assistant coach, mentoring the next generation of athletes.

Leford Green's induction into the Johnson C. Smith University Athletics Hall of Fame is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and excellence both on and off the track. His legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of student-athletes to strive for greatness.

The Barbados Royals have retained Hayley Matthews and Amanda-Jade Wellington ahead of the 2024 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).  

The Royals won the tournament last season and they are also bringing back Australia batter Laura Harris along with Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne and Qiana Joseph for their title defence. 

The new members of the squad are Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapaththu and Australian wicket-keeper Georgia Redmayne. 

There are six more spots in the squad left to fill and these players will be selected at the WCPL draft which will take place in July. 

The 2024 Massy CPL will take place in Trinidad from 21 to 29 August will all seven matches at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.  

The Barbados Royals squad before the draft is as follows: Hayley Matthews, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Chamari Athapaththu, Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Qiana Joseph, Laura Harris, Georgia Redmayne

There is no doubt that the journey to athletic excellence is a path often fraught with challenges, but for Bryan Levell, the hurdles he faced in his final year at Edwin Allen High School only served to strengthen his resolve.

Though frustrated that a troublesome hamstring strain kept him off the track for much of that season, Levell used the time to focus on rehabilitation and conditioning, and his patience and perseverance paid off, as he made a remarkable comeback at the JAAA National Senior Championships recently.

Not only did Levell break the 10-second barrier in the men’s 100m when he clocked a new personal best 9.98s in semis, he also went sub-20 seconds over the 200m to claim his first national title in another lifetime best of 19.97s at the National Stadium.

But beyond all that is the fact that the 20-year-old, as a first-year professional, defied the odds and secured a spot on Jamaica’s team for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

Levell eases across the line ahead of Andrew Hudson in the men's 200m final.

“It’s a great feeling. Representing Jamaica at the Olympics has always been my dream, and to achieve it in my first year in the professional ranks is beyond words, but I believe it is a testament to my hard work, dedication, and passion to go as far as I can in athletics,” Levell told Sportsmax.TV.

“Last year I was out for a couple of months due to a hamstring injury so I couldn’t get to participate in my final year at Boys’ and Girls’ Champs, which was incredibly frustrating, but thanks to God and my coach Shanikie Osbourne I am now healthy and stronger this year. It wasn’t easy, but we fought through the challenges, put in the work in training and we got it done,” he added.

Despite the physical and emotional toll of persistent injuries, which threatened to derail his transition to the professional level, Levell refused to throw in the proverbial towel.

Instead, the decorated Champs, Carifta, and Under-20 World Championship medalist, worked tirelessly with coach Osbourne to get through what he said is the toughest period of his athletic life to date.

“Honestly, I was demotivated a lot of times, especially when the injuries occurred, but I always kept the bigger picture in mind and encouraged myself that it wasn’t the end and I still had time because I was young. So at times, I was more focused on the comeback as opposed to the situation, and my family and coach were also pillars of strength,” Levell shared.

“I also knew the transition would be tough and would require a lot more work, but I was determined and ready to give it everything, and I was surrounded by a great support system, and that made all the difference,” he noted.

Levell in full flight during the 200m semis.

While looking ahead to the Paris Games, Levell also reflected on the lessons learnt along the way, as he stands ready to embrace the challenges to come with the same level of determination and focus on his goals.

“I would say it was all a big lesson for me to trust the process, be patient and never to give up. So I am working on both my mental and physical preparation for Paris, obviously it will be my first time on the world’s biggest stage and I want to do well…I want to continue improving and make my mark on the sport,” Levell declared.

“So my aim is just to focus on my lane in Paris, execute as best as I can and then take it from there. There’s a lot more I want to achieve so I just want to stay healthy, continue to put in the work and just be the best version of myself,” the soft-spoken athlete ended.

Stafanie Taylor will be back with the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2024 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).

Taylor led the Amazon Warriors to the final of the WCPL in 2023 where her team finished as runners up. 

She will be joined by fellow retained players Shabnim Ismail, Karishma Ramharack, Shemaine Campbelle, Natasha McClean and Shakera Selman. 

The newly signed players for the Amazon Warriors are Australian batter Erin Burns who won the WCPL with the Barbados Royals in 2023 and South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon who was with the Royals at the 2022 WCPL. 

There are seven more spots in the squad left to fill and six of these players will be selected at the WCPL draft which will take place in July. The final spot will be the last overseas player which will be confirmed before the start of the tournament. 

The 2024 Massy WCPL will take place in Trinidad from 21 to 29 August will all seven matches at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. 

The Guyana Amazon Warriors squad before the draft is as follows: Stafanie Taylor, Shabnim Ismail, Karishma Ramharack, Shemaine Campbelle, Natasha McClean, Shakera Selman, Chloe Tryon, Erin Burns

The Girls team representing Jamaica at the 30^th edition of the Junior Caribbean Squash Championship held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, experienced great success with the team bringing home 6 medals: 2 gold; 3 silver and 1 bronze.

Mehar Trehan was the sole gold medallist in the individual competition defending her title in the U17 Girls category defeating her compatriot, Elle Wilson 3-0.  Trehan was strong from the outset and dominated her category and defeated all her opponents 3-0; without dropping a set. Wilson had a more difficult route to the final and had to overcome Sarrayah Yearwood of Trinidad & Tobago in 5 games.

The doubles partnership of Sanjana Nallapati (Captain) and Katherine Risden captured the gold defeating their Barbadian counterparts and number 1 seed of Eboni Atherley and Joanna Atkins 2-1.  The Jamaican duo had to overcome a 1-set deficit to defeat the Bajans in a closely contested final; 9/11; 11/6, 11/9. 

In the Girls U19 catergory, Jamaica had two competitors, Katherine Risden, the #1 seed, and Sanjana Nallapati (Captain and #3 seed) vying for the top spot but they were denied gold both at the racquet of the eventual champion, Eboni Atherley of Barbados. Atherley dispatched Nallapati in the semis and Risden in the finals both with 3-0 victories. Risden and Nallapati captured silver and bronze respectively in the U19 girls individual competition. 

In her first Junior CASA tourney, Varenya Singh reached the semifinal of the U11 competition. Singh played with composure and grit for someone so young. She secured a 4^th place finish in the U11 girls individual competition. 

The Jamaican Girls continued their winning ways in the Team event by earning the silver medal losing out to Barbados after the matches were knotted at 3 games a-piece.

Jamaica started strong in the final with Risden overturning her individual loss to Atherley by winning 3-0. Captain Nallapati and U17 Girls Champion Mehar Trehan secured 3-0 victories. However, Barbados needed the final tie at U13 to equalize and force a count back in games.

Marley Price fought valiantly but lost to the #2 seed forcing a tiebreak. The tiebreak was broken on a countback of games won between the two teams. Throughout the team event, various team members played key roles to ensure Jamaica reached the final. In particular, Marley Price secured one game in the semifinal match which ensured Jamaica reached the final on game countback. 

Coach Tahjia Lumley stated, “the team is one of the best in terms of their fighting spirit and camaraderie. From the youngest to the oldest we are not far off! Gold in doubles and the girls going all the way in the team event! This was an extremely young boys team with many playing up in age-group. This has been an amazing experience for them and they are looking forward to continue to improve for next year’s event.”   

Jamaica finished 4^th in the overall standings with the girls in 2^nd place and boys team finishing in 8^th place. 

Jamaica’s medal haul was 2 gold; 3 silver; and 1 bronze. 

The team was coached by Tahjia Lumley and managed by Nathlee Boreland.

Despite enduring a failed Copa America campaign, England-born winger Demarai Gray believes Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz displayed some semblance of improvement in the tournament, which has left him excited at the prospects to come in their push for a 2026 FIFA World Cup berth.

Though they lost 0-1 to Mexico, 1-3 to Ecuador, and 0-3 to Venezuela -in what turned out to be Heimir Hallgrimsson's last assignment in charge -Gray pointed to the positives and the lessons learnt, which he is optimistic they will apply under the new Head coach for the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign. 

"I think it (Copa America) has shown us that there is more quality out there at international level and no matter the team, there are quality players and quality competition. That goes for us as well. We have quality players; it’s just about putting it together and developing. I’ve said it many times, I think we’re a work in progress. The improvement has been there and I think there’s a lot of improvement to come. Personally, I’m excited," Gray said in a sit down with FIFA.

The Boyz have already registered 1-0 and 3-2 victories over Dominican Republic and Dominica in their two qualifying fixtures to date, with British Virgin Islands and Guatemala next in their line of sight.

However, with the qualifiers on pause until next year, Gray explained that the Concacaf Nations League, which begins in September, and possible friendly encounters will serve in fine tuning their technical and tactical efficiency, as their main target is to secure one of three automatic berths to the global showpiece.

"There’s no better start than two wins and I feel like we just have to continue that in the rest of qualifying. The World Cup is something that we’re eager to reach, so it’s a great start and now we just have to maintain that level of performance," Gray said.

"There are a lot of different games that we have to play, Nations League, friendlies. The World Cup qualifying games are obviously very exciting because we want to get over the line as quickly as possible. But when you play for Jamaica, the fixture or whatever competition you’re playing in, it’s just exciting to be part of the team. At the end of the day, the goal is to win every game we play, so we’ll just take that mentality into each game. When the World Cup qualifiers come around, it will be very exciting for us," he added.

Gray, who joined Jamaica's set up in 2023, has no doubt that the current crop of Reggae Boyz possess enough quality to replicate the country's 1998 qualifying feat.

In fact, the 28-year-old was quick to point out that the Theodore Whitmore-led team that graced the global stage in France back then, has fuelled their aspirations to rise to the occasion.

"It (France 1998 team) is a special team. Sometimes in meetings we’ll watch clips and stuff of that team and now we’re trying to re-create those memories. As I’ve said, it's exciting to be part of that process, and I’m confident that we will be there with the players that we have here now," Gray said with an air of confidence.

"It is a dream for me. To participate in a World Cup, a competition you watch as a kid, I just think that for the boys and the nation it would be massive. I think we deserve it and we are going to work our hardest to get there," he declared.

With five goals and four assists in 14 games so far, Gray, who possesses speed and flair has become an indispensable asset in the Reggae Boyz team along with other heritage players, Michail Antonio, and Bobby Reid, just to name a few.

While speculations are rife that Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson could soon add to the country's bevy of dynamic attacking players, the reality remains that games are played on the pitch and not on paper, something Gray is well aware of.

"There’s always talk of guys potentially joining Jamaica, but what we have in this group is good, too. We have good togetherness here within the group, so whatever players we choose or call up is down to the federation. But what we’ve got in the squad now, I’m happy with it and it’s a great environment to come to work in," Gray noted, as he urged fans and neutrals alike to stick with the team. 

"We just ask for their full support, as they’ve always given the team, given to myself. I’m grateful for it. We just ask that they stay behind us and there are a lot of exciting times ahead," he ended.