Trinidad and Tobago is set to welcome regional rivals Dominica, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for the third edition of the Jewels of the Caribbean Invitational Women’s Football tournament as they intensify their respective preparations for next year’s Concacaf Under-20 qualifiers.
The tournament, scheduled for December 15-20, provides a platform for some of the Caribbean’s most promising under-20 female footballers to display their talents ahead of their 2025 campaigns.
As host, the Twin Island Republic will participate with two teams, the Red Angels and the White Angels, coached by former senior internationals Ayanna Russell and Dernelle Mascall, respectively.
Details of the event were revealed by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) on Wednesday.
“The Jewels of the Caribbean Tournament is fast becoming a staple on the Caribbean football calendar, offering valuable competitive opportunities for women’s teams outside of Concacaf and Caribbean Football Union-organized events.
“This year’s event is made possible through the backing of the NGO Female Forward, which played a key role in securing First Citizens Bank as the tournament's title sponsor. Additionally, FIFA has stepped in to assist participating associations by covering expenses such as accommodation, meals, and internal transport,” a release said.
The action kicks off on December 15 with a double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium. Jamaica and SVG will face off at 2:00pm, before the Red Angels and Dominica lock horns at 4:00pm.
On Monday, the White Angels will open their account against SVG at 7:00pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium. The tournament will conclude with the final and the third-place playoff, both to be held at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
TTFA president Kieron Edwards emphasized the broader significance of the tournament.
“This tournament is a tremendous step forward for women’s football in our region...it underscores the TTFA’s commitment to elevating women’s football and providing opportunities for growth and development,” Edwards noted.
The tournament marks the start of a busy period for Trinidad Tobago as their Under-20 team is grouped with Bermuda, Canada, and Dominica for the women’s qualifiers, scheduled for February 20-25.
Meanwhile, the Under-17 women will compete against Belize, Honduras, and the US Virgin Islands in their qualifying group from January 27-February 1.
Astana 1-3 Chelsea: Maresca's men secure qualification in freezing temperatures
Chelsea confirmed their spot in the last 16 of the Conference League by beating Astana 3-1 in bitterly cold conditions.
A temperature of -10 degrees was recorded in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the match was hosted, but it did not bother the Blues.
Marc Guiu got the visitors off to a good start, dribbling inside from the right and firing into the net after 14 minutes.
Enzo Maresca's side doubled their lead via an Aleksandr Marochkin own goal four minutes later, before Renato Veiga's header made it three.
Marin Tomasov pulled one back for Astana just before the break, but it was never likely to be enough.
The Blues cruised through the second half with a serenity that summed up their progress in the competition so far, with Maresca able to hand opportunities to several youngsters.
Johnson Charles returns to West Indies squad for T20I series against Bangladesh
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the squad for the upcoming three-match T20 International (T20I) series against Bangladesh, set to take place from December 15 to 19, 2024, at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This series, the last on home soil for the year, will mark the return of experienced wicketkeeper-batter Johnson Charles after being sidelined for the past two series due to injury.
Charles, a two-time T20 World Cup champion, brings a wealth of experience and firepower to the squad. His return adds depth to a team looking to end the year on a high note. Joining him in the lineup is Keacy Carty, who has earned his first T20 International call-up following an impressive Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season. Carty’s inclusion strengthens the middle-order options for the West Indies.
Rovman Powell will captain the squad, with Brandon King serving as vice-captain. Head Coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, emphasizing the importance of depth and experience for this competitive series. “The squad was carefully selected with the players available to us, and I believe this is our most settled squad with the experience needed to win championships,” Sammy said.
Sammy also highlighted the significance of the series for fans in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “We all would love to give the Caribbean people a good pre-Christmas gift by winning the series to close off the year, especially for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who didn’t get to see the West Indies team during the World Cup,” he added.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford will miss the series due to commitments in the Big Bash League, while Akeal Hosein will be unavailable for the final match for similar reasons. Jayden Seales will replace Hosein after the first two games of the series.
The series will serve as a stepping stone towards the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, with the squad’s composition reflecting a focus on continuity and long-term preparation.
West Indies CG United T20I Squad
Rovman Powell (Captain)
Brandon King (Vice-Captain)
Keacy Carty
Johnson Charles
Roston Chase
Justin Greaves
Terrance Hinds
Akeal Hosein
Alzarri Joseph
Evin Lewis
Obed McCoy
Gudakesh Motie
Nicholas Pooran
Romario Shepherd
Shamar Springer
Jayden Seales replaces Akeal Hosein after the first two games of the series.
West Indies vs Bangladesh CG United T20I Home Series Schedule
1st T20I: December 15, 2024, Arnos Vale Stadium, St. Vincent
2nd T20I: December 17, 2024, Arnos Vale Stadium, St. Vincent
3rd T20I: December 19, 2024, Arnos Vale Stadium, St. Vincent
The squad and management are eager to close out 2024 on a high note, with fans looking forward to an exciting and competitive series against Bangladesh.
Mbappe a doubt for Intercontinental Cup final with thigh injury
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been diagnosed with an injury to his left thigh, making him a doubt for next week's FIFA Intercontinental Cup final.
Mbappe was replaced during the first half of Madrid's 3-2 win at Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday, having given his side the lead with a 10th-minute goal.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards that Mbappe had suffered ischial (lower pelvis) discomfort, adding that he did not believe it to be a serious injury but Los Blancos would need to wait for the player to be examined.
The club have since announced: "Following tests carried out on Kylian Mbappe today by the Real Madrid medical department, the player has been diagnosed with a thigh injury in his left leg. His progress will be monitored."
Mbappe, who also scored in last weekend's 3-0 win over Girona but has endured an inconsistent start to life at Madrid, looks set to miss Saturday's LaLiga game at Rayo Vallecano, and now faces a race to be fit for the Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar.
Madrid will face the winner of Saturday's tie between Pachuca and Al Ahly on December 18.
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