Newly appointed St Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) Technical Advisor Claude Makélélé arrived in St. Kitts Saturday afternoon and was received by a high-level delegation at the KayanJet Lounge at the RLB International Airport.
The 50-year-old Makélélé, who as a defensive midfielder enjoyed a successful club career playing for French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), LaLiga giants Real Madrid and many-time English Premier League champions, Chelsea, arrived on the island with his agent Sofiane Youssef.
They were welcomed by SKNFA President Atiba Harris, First Vice President Shawn White, Second Vice President Cuthbert Caines, and St. Kitts and Nevis Senior Men's National goalkeeper and captain, Julani Archibald.
The pair was also greeted by Prime Minister Dr. The Hon Terrance Drew, Sports Minister Samal Duggins, SKNFA Technical Director Lenny Taylor, SKNFA General Secretary Techell Mclean, Senior Men's National Team Manager Jamir Claxton and National Team Coach Austin Huggins.
Makélélé, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed his pleasure at being the new Technical Advisor. “Football in this country is very important to me because I love this sport,” said the former player who was appointed technical mentor at Chelsea in 2019.
“It gave me many things in my life. It changed me and I want to give back.”
Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Drew, meanwhile, commended the SKNFA for taking this initiative of appointing Makélélé to this important role.
“This is the type of innovation, forward-thinking that we are looking for to develop sports,” Dr. Drew said. “I want to thank you for heeding the call from SKNFA to come to St. Kitts.”
The sports minister thanked SKNFA President Harris for the progress he has made in transforming football in St. Kitts and Nevis. Bringing Makélélé in as technical advisor is a step in the right direction. “We do not lack talent. We never did. We lacked the right training and expertise and to have a legend on our shores to impart his knowledge and experience, I think this is a step in the right direction,” the sports minister.
The man who was known as ‘The Octopus’ during his playing days because of his ability to cover ‘every blade of grass’ on a football field, has also served as an assistant manager at PSG and Swansea City and was a technical director at Monaco.
The Sugar Boyz are set to do battle against French St. Martin in Anguilla on March 23, after which they take on Aruba at Warner Park on March 27.
St Louis City extended their dream start to life in the MLS with a 3-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday making league history as the first expansion team to win its first four games.
The Missouri club powered past the Earthquakes with first-half goals from Nicholas Gioacchini and Joao Klauss, before Tomas Ostrak sealed the win in the 68th minute.
St Louis' fourth straight win surpassed the Seattle Sounders' three-win start in their debut MLS season in 2009.
The new franchise have scored 11 goals in four games, with Saturday's win marking their first clean sheet, having been forced to come from behind in all three other victories.
Argentinian midfielder Thiago Almada continued his stellar start to the new campaign with a double in Atlanta United's 5-1 win over Portland Timbers.
The 21-year-old, who was called into Argentina's squad for the upcoming international window, netted a stunning free-kick in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-0.
Montreal upset 10-man Philadelphia Union with a comeback 3-2 win aided by a game-changing video review for Chinonso Offor's 90th-minute equaliser which split opinions.
The goal had initially been disallowed upon video review, only for that to be overturned when it was realised Union left back Kai Wagner, who was off screen from the initial angle, had actually played Offor onside.
Reigning MLS Cup winners LAFC were held to a goalless draw at Seattle, while last year's beaten conference finalists New York City got past DC United 3-2.
New England made it three wins from four games with Gustavo Bou netting the winner in a 1-0 triumph over Nashville, while New York Red Bulls came from behind to win 2-1 over Columbus Crew.
Chicago Fire remain winless after blowing a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Cincinnati, while LA Galaxy are also without a win after a 1-1 home draw with Vancouver Whitecaps.
Charlotte bounced back from their losing start to the season with a 2-1 home win over Orlando City, while Toronto beat Inter Miami 2-0, Dallas won 2-1 over Sporting KC, Houston Dynamo downed Austin 2-0 and Miguel Tapias scored late to earn Minnesota United a 2-1 win at Colorado Rapids.
A century from Shai Hope in his first game as West Indies captain helped the tourists to a 48-run win over South Africa at Mercedes-Benz Park.
Hope hit 128 not out from 115 balls to lead West Indies to an imposing total of 335-8, their highest score against South Africa in ODIs.
His opposite number, Temba Bavuma, did even better as he managed 144 from 118 in reply, but a lack of help from elsewhere saw the Proteas fall short of the target.
Openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers put on 67 for West Indies' first wicket before the latter hit Bjorn Fortuin (2-57) to deep midwicket to the waiting hands of Ryan Rickelton for 36.
Hope and Nicholas Pooran steadied the innings after the further losses of Shamarh Brooks (0) and King (30) with a partnership of 86 before Pooran was dismissed by Gerald Coetzee for 39, but Hope established another solid stand with Rovman Powell (46) through the middle overs.
After Jason Holder went for 15, it looked like Hope may run out of partners as Akeal Hosein (2) and Odean Smith (1) departed quickly, but Alzarri Joseph (13 not out) played a solid supporting role in the final overs as Hope clattered some more crucial runs at the end of the innings.
The Proteas' chase got off to a good start as Quinton de Kock and Bavuma provided 76 for the opening wicket before De Kock was trapped lbw by Mayers for an aggressive 48 from 26 balls.
Bavuma kept things ticking over along with Rickelton (14) and Tony de Zorzi (27), while Rassie van der Dussen (8) and Tristan Stubbs (6) exited quickly as South Africa's captain was also running out of partners.
Marco Jansen (17), Fortuin (1) and Coetzee (1) were not far behind, before Bavuma's innings was finally over when he gloved one from Joseph (3-53) down the leg side and into Hope's waiting hands, with the same duo combining to dismiss Tabraiz Shamsi for a duck to secure victory.
It's the Hope that kills you
Hope seems to thrive in the 50-over game more than any other format, averaging 50.4 with the bat in ODIs – the best of any player for West Indies in the history of the format (min. six innings) – compared to 25.0 in Tests and just 17.9 in T20Is.
The new West Indies captain's unbeaten 128 here was his 14th ODI century, which he reached by clubbing five fours and seven sixes.
Bavuma's brave riposte not enough
It will be little consolation to Bavuma that he outscored Hope, but it was still an innings worthy of acclaim from the 32-year-old.
His 11 fours and seven sixes briefly gave the Proteas a chance, but a lack of support meant he was on a hiding to nothing.
Darren Bravo and Amir Jangoo scored second innings fifties but could not prevent the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force from suffering a 143-run defeat to the Guyana Harpy Eagles on Saturday’s day four at the Brian Lara Stadium.
The Red Force started the day 106-3 and lost their fourth wicket quickly as Jyd Goolie was run out for 18 in the 48th over with the score on 119.
Tion Webster then joined Bravo at the crease and the pair put on 25 before Webster was bowled by Veerasammy Permaul for 16 in the 55th over.
Bravo was next to go, falling agonizingly short of his third hundred of the season when he was dismissed by Permaul for a well-made 170-ball 95 in the 61st over.
The very next ball saw Permaul remove Imran Khan for a golden duck to leave the red Force reeling at 165-7.
Bryan Charles was next to go, falling for one with the score on 174.
Red Force were 175-8 at lunch needing a further 247 runs to win with Amir Jangoo (10) and Uthman Muhammad (0) at the crease.
Jangoo and Muhammad continued to fight after lunch until Muhammad was dismissed by Ronsford Beaton for 25 with the score on 211 in the 83rd over.
The last pair of Jangoo and debutant Justin Manick put on a valiant 57 for the last wicket before Manick went for 22 off the bowling of Kevin Sinclair.
Jangoo ended up 50 not out as the Red Force were bowled out for 268 in 97.5 overs.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 off 86.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Imran Khan 4-80, Bryan Charles 3-85) and 247-6 declared off 83 overs (Kemol Savory 101*, Leon Johnson 74, Darren Bravo 2-23, Bryan Charles 2-60)
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 160 off 52 overs (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22, Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37) and 268 off 97.5 overs (Darren Bravo 95, Amir Jangoo 50*, Veerasammy Permaul 3-58, Ronsford Beaton 2-53, Keemo Paul 2-73).
The Windward Islands Volcanoes completed a dominant 181-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions on Saturday’s day four at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
Jamaica entered day four on the brink of defeat and only one ball was needed on Saturday as Shermon Lewis dismissed Nicholson Gordon for two to complete his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and secure the win for the Windwards, with Jamaica being bowled out for 233 in 99.1 overs.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)
Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) and 233 off 99 overs (Aldane Thomas 55, Abhijai Mansingh 50, Derval Green 48, Shermon Lewis 5-22, Justin Greaves 2-42, Larry Edward 2-65).
Jamaican superstar Jhaniele Fowler was at her dominant best to help the West Coast Fever win a dramatic rematch of the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball League grand finale over the Melbourne Vixens at the RAC Arena in Perth on Saturday.
The end of the first quarter saw the Fever enjoy a 17-12 lead before the Vixens won the second by one to reduce the halftime deficit to four, with the Fever leading 32-28.
The third quarter saw the Vixens chip into the lead a little more to set up a tense fourth quarter with the score now being 48-46 in favour of the Fever.
The teams fought to the end in the final stanza, with the Fever eventually coming out 62-61 winners.
Fowler, who has won the league’s player of the year award for the past five seasons, shot a perfect 55/55 to lead the Fever to a win to kick off the defence of their 2022 title.
Elsewhere, Shimona Nelson scored 53 goals from as many attempts to lead the Collingwood Magpies to a 71-63 win over the New South Wales Swifts, for whom Romelda Aiken-George scored 30 goals from 35 attempts.
The Windward Islands Volcanoes are on the brink of a comfortable outright win over the Jamaica Scorpions in their third-round fixture at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
In pursuit of 415 to win, the Scorpions started the day by losing opener Kirk McKenzie for just one in the fifth over with the score on seven.
Leroy Lugg, after adding a further 21 with Nkrumah Bonner, was next to go, LBW off the bowling of Justin Greaves for 15 in the 13th over.
The third wicket fell when Bonner was dismissed by left-arm spinner Larry Edward in the 18th over for 17.
At lunch, the Scorpions were 52-3 off 27 overs, needing a further 363 runs for victory, with captain Paul Palmer Jr and Abhijai Mansingh at the crease on 10 and 0, respectively.
Palmer was the only man to be dismissed in the post-lunch session for the Scorpions, going for 21 in the 34th over with the score on 68.
Mansingh and Aldane Thomas combined to stage a revival for Jamaica with a 78-run fifth wicket partnership to leave the Scorpions 146-4 at tea, needing 269 runs to win. Thomas was on 43 while Mansingh was on 32.
The pair continued to provide some resistance after tea, adding a further 19 runs before Thomas was dismissed by Larry Edward for a fighting 55 off 102 balls.
Mansingh’s was next to go, LBW off Kenneth Dember for 50 to leave the Scorpions 196-6 off 82.5 overs.
The next two fell with the score on 204 in the 87th over as Jamie Merchant (5) and Marquino Mindley (0) both fell to Sherman Lewis.
Derval Green provided some entertaining batting toward the end of the day, making 48 before he became the ninth man to go leaving the Scorpions 232-9 after 97 overs.
In the end, final pair Nicholson Gordon and Patrick Harty survived the rest of the day as Jamaica found themselves 233-9 off 99 overs at stumps, needing a further 182 runs for an unlikely win on day four.
Shermon Lewis has, so far, taken 4-22 off his 14 overs for the Volcanoes.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)
Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) and 233-9 off 99 overs (Aldane Thomas 55, Abhijai Mansingh 50, Derval Green 48, Shermon Lewis 4-22, Justin Greaves 2-42, Larry Edward 2-65).
Kemol Savory made his maiden first-class hundred as the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force set up an interesting final day in their third-round fixture at the Brian Lara Stadium.
Friday’s day three started with Kemol Savory and skipper Leon Johnson at the crease aiming to put the Harpy Eagles further in control of the game.
The morning session saw them do just that as score was 96-3 off 34 overs at the start of the day and, by lunch, the pair added a further 91 runs to have the Harpy Eagles 187-3 after 65 overs, enjoying a healthy 351-run lead with Savory was not out on 76 while Johnson was on 54.
The post-lunch session was equally fruitful for the Harpy Eagles. Johnson eventually fell for 74 before Savory eventually brought up a maiden first-class hundred, finishing 101 not out off 222 balls as Guyana declared on 247-6 setting the Red Force a target of 412 for victory.
At the tea break, the Red Force were 5-1 after five overs. Jeremy Solozano was the man to fall for a nine-ball duck.
The Red Force lost two further wickets after tea with Keagan Simmons (8) and Jason Mohammed (13) both falling to Keemo Paul.
At stumps, the Red Force were 106-3 off 39 overs, requiring a further 306 to win, with Darren Bravo on 63 and Jyd Goolie on 14.
Keemo Paul has, so far, taken 2-38 off 10 overs for the Harpy Eagles.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 off 86.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Imran Khan 4-80, Bryan Charles 3-85) and 247-6 declared off 83 overs (Kemol Savory 101*, Leon Johnson 74, Darren Bravo 2-23, Bryan Charles 2-60)
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 160 off 52 overs (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22, Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37) and 106-3 off 39 overs (Darren Bravo 63*, Jyd Goolie 14*, Keemo Paul 2-38).
Jamaica’s Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay are among six nominees for the 2022 Concacaf Women's Player of the Year. The two are among six women’s players nominated along with Alicia Cervantes of Mexico, Jessie Fleming of Canada, Alex Morgan of the USA and Sophia Smith also of the USA.
Meanwhile, Reggae Boyz goalkeeper Andre Blake is among the six nominees for Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year. He is vying for the award alongside Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic of the USA, Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies of Canada and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico.
Fan voting opened on Friday, March 17, 2023, for the two categories. They will now be able to cast their votes at www.concacaf.com/concacaf-awards.
The 2022 nominees have been selected based on performance statistics and the input of technical experts. To be eligible to be shortlisted for these Concacaf awards, all players have met at least one of the following criteria:
Have played for a Concacaf Member Association's senior Men's or Women's national team (in eligible Concacaf and FIFA competitions and matches). Regardless of nationality, played for a club (in 2022) in a Concacaf and FIFA sanctioned top division Men’s or Women’s professional league in the Concacaf region.
Following the nomination process, Concacaf will continue its football-first philosophy with a voting process that ensures players, coaches, media and fans determine the winners.
Blake has 63 caps for Jamaica and represents Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has four MLS all-star selections and two MLS Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
He was also the recipient of the 2022 John Wanamaker Athletic Award, which is presented annually since 1961 to the "athlete, team or organisation that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel."
Shaw, the runner-up for the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year when Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation to ever qualify for a FIFA Women’s World Cup, Shaw played a huge role in helping her country qualify for their second straight Women’s World Cup, leading the Reggae Girlz to a Third-Place finish at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which punched their ticket to Australia/New Zealand.
In the tournament, Shaw scored three goals, including the game-winning score in the opening 1-0 win versus Mexico and a brace in the 4-0 victory against Haiti, which sealed Jamaica’s Women’s World Cup qualification. For her efforts, Shaw was named to the 2022 CWC Best XI.
Shaw was just as lethal in CWC Qualifying, amassing nine goals to help Jamaica top their group to then qualify for the CWC. Shaw had braces versus Bermuda (4-0), Grenada (6-1) and the Dominican Republic (5-1), and a hat trick against the Cayman Islands (9-0).
At club level with Manchester City in England, Shaw was equally prolific.
During the calendar year 2022, she scored 15 goals in 19 Women’s Super League games, seven goals in eight domestic cup games (Women’s FA Cup and FA Women’s League Cup) and two goals in two UEFA Women’s Champions League games.
Shaw’s three goals in the knockout stage helped Manchester City claim the 2021-22 FA Women’s League Cup.
Dumonrnay, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder played in seven matches with Haiti in 2022 and scored five goals. Of note were her three goals in Qualifying for the 2022 Concacaf W Championship, with a goal in the 6-0 win versus Cuba and a brace in the 21-0 victory over British Virgin Islands.
Dumornay then was a big part of Haiti’s campaign at the CWC in Monterrey, Mexico, creating headaches for opposing defenses with five steals and two clearances, while completing almost 82 percent of her passes.
Dumornay’s playmaking led to a penalty in Haiti’s opener versus the United States and then completed the tournament by twice hitting the post against Jamaica.
For her performance, she was named the winner of the 2022 CWC Best Young Player Award.
Dumornay helped Haiti finish third in their group to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Inter-Confederation Playoffs for Australia/New Zealand 2023, where she scored a brace to help Haiti secure a first ever Senior Women’s World Cup berth in a 2-1 win versus Chile.
Her top performances also carried into her club season at Stade de Reims of France. In 16 games during the 2022 calendar year, Dumornay scored eight goals.
At the conclusion of the voting period, on April 13, 2023, the player in each category with the most votes out of the 100 available will be named 2022 Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year and 2022 Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said she was honoured to receive the 2023 International Humanitarian Award from the American Friends of Jamaica at their Charity Gala held at the Intercontinental Miami, Florida last Saturday night, March 11.
The multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medallist was honoured for her work through the Pocket Rocket Foundation out of her desire to give back to the sport and create lasting change for high-school student athletes through sports and education.
Fraser-Pryce, who will be going for an unprecedented sixth world 100m title in Budapest in August, was glad that her philanthropy was being recognized.
“ I am honored to receive the 2023 International Humanitarian Award from @AFJCares for my work with @sfppocketrocketfoundation and beyond. One’s legacy isn’t measured by medals alone, but by impact. Your legacy is the result of your life’s work,” she said.
“I understand what it is like be born into circumstances that are outside of my control, and am grateful for the people that empowered me to realize that I had control of my future. Special shout out to Wolmers Girl School and many thanks to everyone who came together to make (the night) special.”
The woman, who many pundits believe is the greatest female 100m sprinter of all time, opens the 2023 season in Botswana on April 29.
Retired businessman Douglas Orane was also honoured at the ceremony.
Kieran Powell made his ninth first-class hundred to lead the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a seven-wicket win over the Barbados Pride on day three at the Queen’s Park Cricket Ground on Friday.
The day started with the Hurricanes 13-0 in pursuit of 247 for victory.
Initially, it looked like it would be an easy chase as Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell put on 69 for the first wicket before Hodge went off the bowling of Camarie Boyce for 34 in the 11th over.
It was quickly 87-2 as Akeem Saunders fell to Chaim Holder for nine in the 14th over. Holder got his second wicket when he dismissed Devon Thomas for four in the 20th over to leave the Hurricanes 101-3.
101-3 became 103-4 as Hayden Walsh became Holder’s third victim before lunch for just two.
At the interval, the Leewards were 147-4 off 30 overs needing a further 100 runs for the win with Powell on 74 and Jahmar Hamilton on 15.
Their partnership reached 120 before Hamilton went for 55 with the score on 223 in the 43rd over.
With no more runs added, Powell was next to go for a well-made 104 off 109 balls leaving the Hurricanes 223-6 off 43.1 overs.
The Hurricanes then lost a third wicket with the score on 223 when Jeremiah Louis was dismissed by Jair McAllister for a duck.
They lost another when Kofi James went caught off the bowling of Dominic Drakes for 14 leaving the Hurricanes 243-8, needing just four runs to win.
Cornwall, one ball after being dropped at slip, hit the winning runs off Jair McAllister in the 50th over to finish 10 not out.
Chaim Holder finished with 3-38 off 10 overs while Jair McAllister and Camarie Boyce took two wickets apiece.
Scores: Barbados Pride 322 off 91.5 overs (Shane Dowrich 124*, Chaim Holder 43, Rakheem Cornwall 6-50, Sheeno Berridge 2-39) and 78 off 23.2 overs (Zachary McCaskie 29, Sheyne Moseley 27, Rakheem Cornwall 5-19, Devon Thomas 5-22)
Leeward Islands Hurricanes 154 off 42 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 30, Jeremiah Louis 24, Colin Archibald 24, Dominic Drakes 3-38, Chaim Holder 2-7, Jair McAllister 2-36, Shemar Springer 2-48) and 247-8 off 49.2 overs (Kieran Powell 104, Jahmar Hamilton 55, Montcin Hodge 34, Chaim Holder 3-38, Jair McAllister 2-47, Camarie Boyce 2-59).
Seattle Sounders face Los Angeles FC on Saturday in what Brian Schmetzer has described as a game "between two of the biggest clubs" in MLS.
Reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC head to Lumen Field with two wins under their belt from their two games this season – they are second in the Western Conference, one place ahead of Seattle, who are also on six points but lost at FC Cincinnati last time out.
LAFC were beaten by Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday but have still progressed in that competition thanks to a 3-0 win in the first leg.
And Schmetzer knows the Sounders will have to be at their best to end LAFC's winning start to the MLS season.
"This feels like a game between two of the biggest clubs in the league," said Schmetzer.
"We're really focused on playing up to our potential and then we'll see what the scoreline says at the end of the game.
"They're defending champs, it's a big game, and I hope to see everybody out there. We'll need the fans."
Schmetzer's sentiment was echoed by Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan, who added: "This is another opportunity to send a statement out to the rest of the league, to ourselves, that we can compete with the best on a weekly basis."
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo, meanwhile, will be looking for more cutting edge from his side after their 2-1 defeat to Alajuelense.
"We're happy to be further in the competition, which was our objective," he said in a press conference.
"We created many chances, didn't finish. The only difference [from the first leg] was they scored a goal in the first half.
"We were a little too loose in our defensive transition. If we finish our chances early, the run of the game looks much different."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris scored in each of Seattle's first two home games this season. The only Sounders player to score in the team's first three home matches of a season was Obafemi Martins in 2015.
Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga has had a flying start to 2023, scoring five goals – including a hat-trick in the first leg against Alajuelense – and assisting a further two.
Bouanga has contributed to four goals in two matches so far this MLS season (two goals, two assists) after recording only three goal contributions (three goals) in 10 matches for LAFC last term.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE TO WIN
Seattle won their opening two home games of the MLS season by a combined score of 6-0. The Sounders have won their first three home matches of a campaign on two previous occasions, back in 2019 and 2021.
Indeed, that third victory in 2021 came against LAFC, whose inaugural MLS game was a 1-0 win over the Sounders in March 2018.
Since then, however, Seattle are unbeaten in six straight home meetings with LAFC (W4 D2).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 41 per cent
Los Angeles FC – 30.9 per cent
Draw – 28.1 per cent
Day two of the Guyana Harpy Eagles third-round West Indies Championship fixture against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Brian Lara Stadium was a historic one for Harpy Eagles left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
The 33-year-old took three wickets in the Red Force’s first innings and, in the process, surpassed Jamaican Nikita Miller to become the leading wicket-taker in regional first-class cricket.
Miller ended his career in 2019 with 511 wickets and Permaul now has 512.
“I’m very happy to be the leading wicket-taker in the region,” Permaul told CWI in an interview after day two.
“It’s something I was looking forward to and, eventually, it happened,” added Permaul who made his first-class debut all the way back in 2007.
Permaul also gave a nod of respect to the man whose record he broke.
“I have a lot of respect for Nikita Miller. He has done amazingly for Jamaica and is one of the best left-arm spinners we have seen in the Caribbean,” he said.
Permaul has also represented the West Indies at the highest level, taking 31 wickets in nine Tests.
Following her record-breaking collegiate indoor season, Julien Alfred has been named the South Central Region Female Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The 21-year-old Alfred re-wrote both the collegiate and Texas record books this season after being crowned the indoor sprints double champion with the No. 2 world all-time performances in both the 60m and the 200m.
The St. Lucia native lowered her 60m collegiate record six times this season including times of 7.05, 7.02, 7.00, 6.97, 6.95 and finally 6.94. She's the only collegian to ever run under seven seconds and did it three times this season. She followed up with a collegiate-record in the 200 with a time of 22.01 that also serves as the UT record.
Her Longhorn teammate Yusuf Bizimana was the SEC Male Track athlete after winning the 800m crown at the NCAA Championships with his personal-best time of 1:46.02.
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