Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake has once again been named to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Week.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper has been in inspired form for Major League Soccer (MLS) club Philadelphia Union so far this season and claimed his spot in goal for week 32’s best selection, with another inspired performance.

The custodian was at his very best in a draw at Atlanta United FC on the weekend and made at least 5 big saves to earn his team a share of the spoils.  In truth, the Union found themselves on the back foot for most of the encounter.

Perhaps his biggest and most important save came in second-half stoppage time as Atlanta found its all-time leading goalscorer alone at the back post but Blake was there for the close-range reaction stop to keep Josef Martinez from unlocking the tie.

On the back of another outstanding season, the Jamaican is firmly in the running for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honours, an award that he won in both 2016 and 2020.  Earlier this month, the player achieved another significant milestone for the Philadelphia Union after reaching 200 appearances.

One big-hitting left-hander Evin Lewis has surpassed another, Chris Gayle, for the most sixes scored in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history.

On Sunday, the 30-year-old managed just 19 for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in a lopsided 49-run loss to the St Lucia Kings but despite the defeat, there was a positive side.  Lewis's two sixes in the innings moved him level and then one clear of legendary T20 star Chris Gayle.

Gayle has remained at the top of the six-hitting leader board for some time on 172 from 85 matches.  Lewis's new high of 173 has come in 86 matches.  Kieron Pollard is in third place on 152.

Lewis, who was recently named to the West Indies World Cup squad, has long listed the big Jamaican as the player he idolized the most over the years.  Gayle arguably the most dominant batsman to ever play the format leads many of the boundary-hitting statistics, including the most sixes with 1056.

The United Soccer League and the Caribbean Football Union last Wednesday announced a new long-term partnership that will help shape the future of the game across the Caribbean Football Union’s 31 member nations. The wide-ranging agreement will create more professional opportunities for Caribbean players, coaches, referees, and front office staff in the USL Championship and USL League One.

The two organizations will collaborate to increase and enhance player scouting across the Caribbean region including at events such as the Caribbean Club Championship and Caribbean Cup. Soon, the USL will create and announce details of a combine for select players from across the CFU member nations to compete in front of USL technical staffs.

The USL will support the CFU’s endeavour to build certification programs for coaches, sporting directors and executives designed to boost professional development and open the door to coaching opportunities in the USL. USL Sporting Director Mark Cartwright and club technical staff will share best practices on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in Caribbean professional leagues.

The USL and CFU will explore development opportunities for Caribbean referees within the USL ecosystem, from the youth to the professional ranks.

The USL will welcome CFU executives to league meetings where they will have the opportunity to participate in educational sessions and meet and interact with the owners and executives from USL’s league office and clubs. The CFU will provide USL executives the same opportunity at meetings or events it may conduct throughout the year.

“Caribbean football has made tremendous contributions to the USL over the years and this partnership creates an exciting opportunity to augment that legacy,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “We are thrilled to work with the Caribbean Football Union and its members to grow the sport throughout the region and impact our communities together.” 

Caribbean players have featured prominently in the USL’s history. In the Championship’s 11 seasons, three league MVPs have hailed from countries that are members of the CFU (Yordany Alvarez/Cuba, 2011; Kevin Molino/Trinidad and Tobago, 2012/2014; Dane Kelly/Jamaica, 2017), while Kelly and fellow Jamaican Kenardo Forbes are the current all-time leaders in Championship history in regular-season goals and assists respectively.

This past year, both Forbes and fellow Jamaican Neco Brett were voted to the Championship’s All-League Team, while 39 players from the Championship and League One were selected to compete by 14 countries within the CFU to play at the senior international level.

“We in the Caribbean Football Union are both pleased and excited by this partnership. Part of our role in the CFU is to lobby for our member associations in all spheres and to court opportunity for administrators, coaches, players and our referees. This agreement does just that, opening pathways for the CFU, and it brings to the USL a tangible benefit, because our people in the Caribbean have the ability to add value wherever they are placed. This collaboration marries talent with opportunity. Everyone wins,” said CFU President Randolph Harris.

The partnership will see the USL look to offer opportunities for training, exposure, and career development both at the USL’s league office and with the league’s clubs for students enrolled at CFU Knowledge Zone—an online training initiative of the CFU. 

Reggae Girlz forward Tiffany Cameron has been named the Player of the Year by the Hungarian Football Federation for the 2021-22 season.

Cameron, 30, was announced as the winner at the HLSZ Gala Dinner on Monday after scoring 23 goals and providing 10 assists to help her club Ferencvarosi TC win the Noi NB I, the premier women’s league in Hungary, by 14 points.

She joined Ferencvarosi in 2020 after a season in Norway with Staebek. Cameron has also played club football in Germany, Sweden, Cyprus and the USA in her career.

The Canadian-born striker, who can also play midfield, has made twelve appearances for the Reggae Girlz, scoring five goals.

Rusea’s, Frome Technical, Clarendon College and Dinthill Technical all secured massive wins on a goal-filled Saturday in the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup.

Dinthill were the biggest winners on the day, putting 10 past Enid Bennett without reply at home to move to a perfect nine points from three games and maintain their spot atop Zone K. In Saturday’s other Zone K matches, Charlemont got a 2-0 win over McGrath at home while Guys Hill beat Ewarton 2-0 at Tacky High.

At Clarendon College, the hosts opened their campaign with a 7-0 win over Kellits High. The early leaders in Zone H, however, are Edwin Allen High who got their second win in as many games with a 4-1 win over Lennon High at Lennon.

Rusea’s and Frome were both in dominant form in Zone B with 7-0 and 9-0 wins over Hopewell and Merlene Ottey, respectively. Rusea’s now have two wins from two games to lead the zone while that was the first game for Frome.

In a Zone M double header at Glenmuir High, the hosts got a 3-1 win over Denbigh shortly after Central High got by Tacius Golding 4-1.

In Zone O, Port Antonio secured a 5-0 win over Fair Prospect at Carder Park.

In Zone A, Green Pond scored a shock 2-1 win over Cornwall College to get their second win and move to the top of the zone. St. James High beat Anchovy 2-0 at Jarrett Park in the other Zone A fixture.

In an exciting Zone C encounter at Muschett High, the hosts suffered a 3-4 defeat at the hands of Herbert Morrison. William Knibb won their season opener 3-0 win over Spot Valley at home.

In Zone D, Manning’s moved to nine points from three games with a 3-1 win over Godfrey Stewart while, at the Crawford Sports Complex, Belmont Academy got on the win column 1-0 over Grange Hill.

STETHS also moved to three wins from as many games in Zone E with a 2-0 win over Maggotty at home. The other zone encounter saw Munro College get their second win with a 1-0 home triumph over Lacovia.

Both Zone G fixtures ended in stalemates. At Alphansus Davis High, the hosts played out a 1-1 draw with Holmwood Technical while Christiana and Alston drew 2-2 at Christiana.

In Zone I, Ocho Rios beat Oracabessa 3-2 at Clemhard’s Park while there were no goals between Browns Town and York Castle at Addison Park.

There were also nine matches played on Friday.

In Zone J, Horace Clarke secured a 3-1 win over St. Mary High at the Highgate Community Centre to move to seven points from three games and lead the zone. At the Westmoreland Oval, Annotto Bay beat Wycliffe Martin High 3-0 while Tacky and St. Mary Tech drew 2-2 at Tacky.

In Zone L, Paul Bogle moved to nine points from three games with a 3-1 win over Seaforth at York Oval. At Eastern Banana Complex, St. Thomas Tech got a 4-0 win over Robert Lightbourne while Yallahs beat Morant Bay 3-0 at Yallahs.

In Zone N, Vere Technical beat Kemps Hill 2-0 at home to move to six points from two games. Foga Road won their season opener 2-0 over Winston Jones at home.

In Friday’s only Zone O game, Titchfield and Happy Grove played out a 0-0 draw at Carder Park.

Action continues Monday with four games. Sydney Pagon will battle B.B Coke at home in Zone E.

The other three matches will be in Zone L as Morant Bay and Paul Bogle will square off at Morant Bay, Seaforth battle Robert Lightbourne at Seaforth and Yallahs will host St. Thomas Tech.

The Jamaica Football Federation has expressed sorrow at news of the passing of former national player Chris Zaidie who died on Sunday after a prolonged battle with lung cancer.

 The 55-year-old Zaidie played briefly for Jamaica between 1992 and 1993 but excelled at St George’s College High School where as a player he won the coveted ‘triple’ in 1983 and 1984. The triple comprised the Manning Cup, Walker Cup and the Olivier Shield.

 “The JFF joins the local football fraternity in mourning the passing of former national player Christopher Ziadie, who died peacefully in the United States on Sunday,” the JFF said in a statement Monday.

 “Christopher was an individual who cherished the game and gave many years to its development whether as a player or administrator in another instance.

 “He wore his emotions on his sleeves and was not afraid to stand up for his teammates in any situation. Chris played with distinction for various clubs and institutions both locally and internationally, but was most proud and honoured to play for Jamaica.

 “We know that his passing will not only leave a void in our lives but in the hearts of all those who knew him. The President of the JFF, Michael Ricketts, conveys sincerest condolences to his family and close friends, especially at St Georges College where his exploits were first recognized.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Zaidie represented Kingston Lions and Boys Town FC locally. He also coached Jamaica’s U20 team in 1999 as well as at Jamaica Premier League team Waterhouse FC.

He leaves behind two children.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has come out in support of national player Damion Lowe, who was the alleged victim of racial abuse during a Major League Soccer match between Inter Miami and DC United on Sunday.

The MLS is investigating the incident.

“The JFF strongly condemns and abhors racism in any form whether on or off the field and we stand ready to give whatever support is necessary to Damion,” said the JFF in a statement on Monday.

 The incident involved D.C. United forward Taxi Fountas, who it is alleged used a racial slur while addressing the Reggae Boyz defender.

According to reports, the game came to halt for several minutes after Fountas and Lowe exchanged words in the 59th minute. Both players were issued yellow cards. D.C. After the game resumed, DC United coach Wayne Rooney substituted Fountas in the 66th minute.

 In a statement, MLS said that it has “zero tolerance for abusive and offensive behaviour and (they) take these allegations very seriously.” An investigation will begin “promptly.”

D.C. United issued its own statement, saying that the club is “aware of the allegations involving a player during the match against Inter Miami CF” and “will work closely with Major League Soccer and Inter Miami to investigate the incident.”

 In July, SWNT player Trudi Carter was the target of racist taunts coming from a section of the crowd in Mexico at the Concacaf W tournament.

30-time champions Jamaica College were held to a 0-0 draw by St. Catherine High in their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup fixture at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Friday.

JC are now second in Group B with one win and a draw in their first two games. Group leaders St. Jago High got their second win in as many games with a 5-1 win over hosts, St. Mary’s College. In the group’s other game, Cedar Grove were beaten 1-0 at home by Holy Trinity.

In Group E, Mona High beat Hydel 3-1 at Royal Lakes to move to six points and lead the group on goal difference. Wolmer’s Boys are also unbeaten so far after securing a 2-0 win over Kingston High at Breezy Castle. Camperdown and Papine High played out a 1-1 draw at the Alpha Institute in the group’s other clash.

In Saturday’s Group D fixtures, STATHS got their second win with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Dunoon at home while Norman Manley beat Tarrant 1-0 at Maxfield Park.

Action continues on Tuesday with 10 matches. In Group F, Jose Marti will host Kingston Technical, Clan Carthy will take on Excelsior at the Alpha Institute while Cumberland will host Campion College.

In Group C, Haile Selassie will visit Tivoli, Charlie Smith will take on Edith Dalton James at the Tony Spalding Sports Complex while Vauxhall will take on Bridgeport at home.

Tarrant will host Dunoon in the lone Group D fixture.

In Group E, Hydel will tackle Kingston High at Royal Lakes, Papine will host Wolmer’s Boys while St. Catherine and St. Jago will do battle at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Saint Lucia Kings made it three wins on the spin in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a thrilling one-run victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Sunday night.

The Knight Riders won the toss and opted to field first and that decision appeared to have backfired when Johnson Charles’ half-century got the Kings off to a lightning start.

Although the Knight Riders pegged the Kings back in the middle overs a devastating 33 off 14 balls from David Wiese ensured the Knight Riders were set a very difficult 148 to win.

 The Knight Riders’ task became even more difficult when they lost three early wickets inside the PowerPlay including that of Nicholas Pooran for a duck. 

 They never really recovered from that and left themselves too much ground to make up in the back end resulting in the narrow defeat.

 The Kings had got off to a flier in the PowerPlay with the tournament’s top scorer Charles hitting another barnstorming fifty. His partnership with Niroshan Dickwella added 59 runs before Ravi Rampaul carried on his good form by removing the latter.

 When Rampaul removed the set Charles it led to a squeeze on the Kings scorecard as 82-3 quickly became 117-5.

 However, David Wiese was able to produce an excellent counter-attacking innings at the death to help the Kings post a challenging 147.

 The Knight Riders' response saw their top order fail again as Leonardo Julien, Colin Munro and Nicholas Pooran all fell inside the powerplay to Roston Chase.

 That left the middle and lower order too much to do and despite a late salvo by Andre Russell in the final over of the game, it was too little too late.

 The two sides swap places in the table following the results and both will now head to Guyana with all to play for in the race for the playoffs. 

Scores: Saint Lucia Kings 147-6 (Charles 54, Wiese 33; Rampaul 2-10, Narine 2-31) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 146-6 (Seifert 44, Pollard 34; Chase 3-17, Joseph 2-26) by 1 run.

Western Conference leaders LAFC re-discovered their form after a recent slump with a 3-1 home victory over Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

Carlos Vela scored a double, with both goals coming from the penalty spot, as LAFC secured only their second victory from their past eight games.

LAFC have a 15-1-0 record when scoring first this season although Houston leveled the game in the 24th minute from Corey Baird's classy goal after Vela netted an eighth-minute spotkick.

Vela restored LAFC's advantage from the spot on half-time after Fabrice Picault's handball was spotted by the VAR, with Ryan Hollingshead lifting home a third in the 52nd minute.

LAFC remain top of the Western Conference, nine points ahead of second-placed Austin, with two more matchdays until the postseason begins.

Gonzalo Higuain scored a 94th-minute winner to boost Inter Miami's playoffs hopes with a 3-2 road win over DC United, who had Christian Benteke net his first goal for the club.

Higuain struck the winner in the fourth of eight stoppage-time minutes, with a first-time strike from Deandre Yedlin's low cross from the right.

Benteke had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a back-post left-foot volley, before Leonard Campana's double for Inter.

Taxiarchis Fountas equalised in the 57th minute before Higuain's late winner, which means Inter are seventh in the Eastern Conference, moving above Columbus Crew, who conceded again late in a 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers on Sunday.

The Crew were denied all three points with Santiago Moreno lashing home a 95th-minute equaliser for the Timbers, after Kevin Molino's first-half strike.

Former Jamaica national football footballer Christopher Zaidie died on Sunday after a bout with cancer. He was 55.

Between the 1980s and 1990s, Zaidie, a midfielder, was a staple in local football in Jamaica.

As a member of the St. George’s College Manning Cup team between 1980 and 1984, Zaidie was teammates with the likes of Ziggy Marley, Andrew Price, Christopher Morgan, Michael Forbes, Nicholas Zaidie, Brian Hamilton and Garfield Pearcy. Under the guidance of the late coach Dennis Zaidie, he won the coveted triple twice – Manning Cup, Nutrament Shield, and Olivier Shield in 1983 and the Manning Cup, Walker Cup and Olivier Shield in 1984.

Dennis Zaidie and Jackie Bell, who coached Premier League club Santos, would perish in a motor vehicle accident in Mexico in 1986 having gone there to watch a match in the FIFA World Cup.

Chris would go on to represent Jamaica during the 1994 World Cup campaign, playing six matches between 1992 and 1993.

Price, who is now the head coach at Jamaica Premier League club Humble Lion and three-time Manning Cup champions Calabar High School, has been close friends with Zaidie since they played against each other in Alberga Cup football in the late 1970s– Zaidie for St Peter and Paul, Price for Alpha.

“Chris was more than a teammate, he was a friend and a brother and somebody who I could depend on and he could on me,” Price recalled of Zaidie, who at the time of his death worked as a teacher in Miramar, Florida.

“We were close from we were kids and played Alberga Cup football. We ended up at George’s and as schoolboys played for Kingston Lions in the now defunct Caribbean semi-professional league and Boys Town FC.”

Zaidie is survived by his wife Debbie and two children.

Barbados Royals confirmed their spot in the playoffs of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with a commanding DLS victory against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday.

The Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to field first and that appeared to be the right decision. 

Taking wickets at regular intervals the Amazon Warriors made it difficult for the Royals to negotiate the conditions and only a late order rally from Jason Holder and Mujeeb Ur Rahman ensured the Royals ended with a reasonable total of 107-6 from an innings shortened to 16 overs due to rain.

However, that total proved more than enough as the Royals' bowling attack offered no freebies when the Amazon Warriors came to bat.

Led by Mujeeb and Rahkeem Cornwall they ensured the run rate become untenable as the Royals cruised to victory. Guyana Amazon Warriors’ cadre of spinners imposed themselves on the game taking all six wickets to fall in the Barbados Royals innings.

 Having reduced the Royals to 62-5 when the rain delay came, Imran Tahir then removed David Miller immediately after the restart but Jason Holder and Mujeeb Ur Rahman compiled a 39-run partnership off 16 balls to give the Royals a total to defend.

 111 to win suggested an advantage to Amazon Warriors but Mujeeb and Rahkeem Cornwall produced spell-binding bowling in the first four overs to restrict the Warriors to 12 runs for the loss of one wicket.

The Amazon Warriors couldn’t get going as a disciplined Royals bowling performance increased the pressure with a plethora of dot balls. 

 In the end, what should have been a tight game became an easy win for the Royals as they coasted to victory by 29 runs.

Scores: Barbados Royals 107-6 (Holder 40, Cornwall 20; Hemraj 3-15, Sinclair 2-12) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 81-9 (Smith 15, Hetmyer 12; Cornwall 2-12, Simmonds 2-21) by 29 runs (DLS)

 Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the 13-member squad for the first two CG United One Day International (ODI) matches against New Zealand Women to be played from September 19 to 25 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Experienced right-handed/wicketkeeper batter Natasha McLean makes a return to the West Indies Women’s team since she last played the five-match T20I series against England in Derby in 2020. However, Shemaine Campbelle, initially named in the 17-member squad has unfortunately been ruled out of the full eight-match white ball Series with an injury.

“The CG United ODI Series against New Zealand is another opportunity to continue to build the team. The panel once again has blended developing and senior players," said Lead Selector Anne Brown-John.

"Unfortunately, Shemaine Campbelle has been ruled out of the series through injury. While this is a blow to both the batting and wicket-keeping departments, it allows the upcoming wicket keepers to showcase their talent. It is hoped that particularly the batters will use this CG United ODI series to get some big scores which will boost confidence.”

West Indies Women’s squad for 1st and 2nd CG United ODIs: ​ Hayley Matthews (Captain),​ Aaliyah Alleyne,​ Shamilia Connell,​ Afy Fletcher,​ Shabika Gajnabi,​ Chinelle Henry, ​ Kyshona Knight, ​ Natasha McLean,​ Chedean Nation,​ Karishma Ramharack,​ Shakera Selman (Vice-Captain), ​ Stafanie Taylor and Rashada Williams.

Cherry-Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond and Jannillea Glasgow are the reserves.