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TRIPLE MEDAL JOY IN BELIZE

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas fourmember team returned from the Caribbean Under-23 Cycling Road Championships in Belize over the weekend with three medals.

The duo of Kami Roach and Sienna Mackey picked up a silver and bronze respectively behind the Cuban gold medalist in the girls division of the time trials.

The other medal came from Barron Musrove Jr in the boys’ time trials.

“This is a big milestone for me as this is my first time actually medaling in an international cycling race,” Musgrove Jr said. “I mean I won races before but this is going to be in Bahamian history books for years.”

Musgrove Jr, following in the footsteps of his father, Brron ‘Turbo’ Musgrove, a former national team member, now the secretary general of the Bahamas Cycling Federation and president of the New Providence Cycling Association, said the event was a very competitive one.

“The competition for me was very rough and painful for me as there was a lot of headwind and the road was very rocky,” he said. “But I kept my pace at 22/23mph going and coming to the end at 26/28mph. But it

Charlton fourth to end season

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor

BAHAMIAN Devynne Charlton closed out her 2025 season with a fourth place finish in the women’s 100 metres hurdles at the Athlos NYC25 on Friday. The all-women’s event was held at the iconic Icahn Stadium in New York and featured some of the biggest names in track and field in a powerful display of womanhood, strength, and excellence in sport. In walk-out songs for each athlete competing and a live musical performance. The winners were interviewed and presented with Arthlos crowns by American women’s tennis icon Serena Williams, whose husband Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, was the founder and organiser of the women’s invitational track and field event to highlight and invest in female athletes. Charlton, 29, started off her year by repeating as the world indoor 60m hurdles champion with another world record in March in Nanjing, China, The Bahamian indoor and outdoor national record holder closed out the year that included a sixth place finish at the World Championships

in Tokyo, Japan, with a fourth place finish in New York in a time of 12.71 seconds. As usual, Charlton got off to a fast start, but midway in the ten flights of hurdles, the field caught up with

champion Mesai Russell, whom she trains with at the University of Kentucky with Bahamian head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene, won the race in 12.52 to earn $60,000 for her efforts.

It was an improvement from Russell, who got third place in the first edition of the meet last year behind Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.

It was an American sweep of the top three spots this year as Grace Stark got second in 12.60 for a paycheck of $25,000, while Alaysha Johnson was third in 12.66 for $10,000. Johnson was second last year. For her fourth place performance, Charlton collected $8,000. She was the only Bahanian to compete in the event. Last year, Charisma Tatlor held that distinction, placing sixth in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Now that the season is over, Charlton and her Barrier Breakers Foundation will prepare for the Devynne Charlton Invitational now scheduled for February 2, 2026 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Some of the top athletes from around the world, including the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) regon, are expected to participate.

takes one to hurt the most to gain the title. And that’s exactly what I did.” Roach, the top female cyclist and triathlete, returned to the competition winning her third medal after she doubled up with a pair of silver in the time trial and road race in her last appearance at the championships two years ago.

“It was super hot but I went all out for the time trial and was very excited about my second place finish,” Roach said. “I was happy to share the podium with my teammate,

Sienna.”

Bahamas’ team manager Rowston Jones said the competition was well organized with a strong field of competitors that included Tianna Campbell from Trinidad and Tobago, who is a World Tour Rider in Women’s cycling. Additionally, on the men’s side, Jones noted that Cory and Justin Williams from Belize, both very established cyclists, participated, which made the competition even stiffer.

“I’m pleased with their

BAHA MAR BOW FOR STAR CLARKE

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN tennis

standout Sydney Clarke continues to build momentum on her professional journey after competing in the EV Motors Doubles Tournament over the weekend at the John McEnroe Tennis Centre at Baha Mar.

The 23-year-old, who recently helped lead the Bahamas to an undefeated run in El Salvador at the Billie Jean King Cup, earned promotion to Group ll of the Americas Zone said the experience has fueled her drive to keep improving as she transitions fully onto the professional circuit.

Clarke has begun competing regularly on the ITF Pro Circuit, marking her debut on the tour as she works toward qualifying for

EV Motors hosts tennis tournament

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

EV MOTORS, in part-

nership with the John McEnroe Tennis Centre, hosted its inaugural tennis tournament this past weekend at the Baha Mar resort.

The two-day mixed doubles tournament featured eight sponsored teams in competition for a grand prize of two brand new Jetour X70 Plus jeeps.

Despite periods of rainy weather throughout the weekend, the event was a success. Tournament director Derron Donaldson praised the collaboration and turnout.

“It was a great weekend despite of course the weather but we pushed through, but All in all it was a great partnership,

great vision, and mindsets involved, and a lot of hard workers trying to get this event to the end and this event is the first of its kind here,” he said. “We had a lot of talent out here, former talent, some probably aching right now but it’s good to have them all out and bring the tennis community together,” he added. After two days of competition, Lerikah Russell and Jack Tomlinson, sponsored by Pitt Realty, emerged as the champions. They defeated the runner-up team of Rasheed Carey and Mackenzie Herman, who represented Baha Mar. Russell expressed excitement about the win and the feeling of winning the grand prize.

“I just want to thank God first for keeping both of us healthy and for this

awesome opportunity, we want to thank everybody in charge of putting this great tournament together, and all the spectators for coming out, it was a wonderful tournament,” she said.

“It feels amazing, I really needed that and I’m truly grateful.”

Her partner, Tomlinson, echoed her sentiments. “It feels awesome, when you have a good partner she makes it pretty easy, so it was a fun tournament and it feels great to get the win.”

The success of the tournament highlighted the growing popularity of tennis in The Bahamas and also the increasing role of sustainable brands like EV Motors in supporting not only tennis but also local sports.

Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr

THOMPSON PROUD OF PICKLEBALL SINGLES PERFORMANCE

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH he’s juggling his time between work and play, Justyn Thompson said he was pleased to put together a good effort to win the men’s singles at the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Open in Fort Lauderdale, Florida over the weekend.

Thompson pulled off his first three matches in the round robin to go undefeated in his bracket. Then in the final, he out-scored Eric Greene of Cayman Islands 11-2 to clinch the gold.

“Overall I felt pretty good and confident about playing in the tournament,” Thompson said. “I had mixed feelings because I struggle with training as often and don’t have the opportunity to travel and compete consistently like the average professional player.”

Thompson made a last minute decision to play in

the tournament a few days before the registration was closed, but he indicated that was training and appreciated that his job at Baha Mar allowed him to practice on the courts and to go to the gym. He noted that he even changed his diet, which helped in his paration for the tournament.

“My overall performance was better than I expected. I played with more confidence than I usually would,” Thompson said.

“My training sessions were intense leading up to the tournament so I knew all I had to do was just go on the court and play.

“I had a positive feeling about the outcome of the tournament during my first match when I was hitting shots I would normally struggle with in practice. So I just tried my best to continue believing in my abilities.

This was Thompson’s sixth international tournament he’s played in and he was thrilled to walk away with his best performance ever. He noted that he had to play much better because the competition was of a high level with some of the top players in America competing with a lot of prize money up for grabs.

Cycling trio scoop medals

CLARKE from page one

performances in the Time Trial event,” he said. “To come away with three medals is definitely a big deal and very encouraging for our cyclists.

“We didn’t fare as well in the road race that was held on Sunday. Our women did not complete the course and one of our men suffered a puncture that took him out of the race as he was standing on the side of the road for a while waiting for our vehicle to get to him.

“By the time we got to him and changed his wheel, the field was too far ahead, and he was unable to chase on.”

Despite what they encountered, Jones said he was still pleased with Team Bahamas’ performance.

“These events highlight the gaps in capabilities between the competitors from different nations. Part of it is culture,” he stated.

“You can tell by the turnout of spectators on the side of the road along the course and at the start/finish line that cycling is a big part of the culture here in Belize and it receives a lot of support.

“That helps to add to the level of competition cyclists have the opportunity to be exposed to.”

Having achieved some success in the past from Jay Major in 2015 and both Kami Roach and Antinece Simmons, both silver medalists at this event, Jones said Sienna Mackey winning a bronze in her first event, shows that the Bahamas still have the talent.

“It’s as our cyclists move up to the elite level where they start to compete against professional cyclists that the gaps in abilities start to show,” he said.

“It’s not an impossible feat for us to be competitive at the elite level. However, there is much more work to be done.”

*This tournament was different because at least eighty percent of the

players there were signed athletes that have some sort of financial assistance or have some sort of contract representing a league or brand,” Thompson said.

“Whereas on the other side, I am not and would usually have to support myself when traveling and competing. So this tournament I felt I had to prove myself more than the players to show someone from the Bahamas can compete at the highest level with them.”

And having played singles for the first time in a tournament at this high level, Thompson said he will continue training and making his presence felt on the circuit.

“I hope to inspire other Bahamian people to become involved in the sport, which is in the process of being included in the Olympics in the future,” he said. “I hope to be one of the players from the Bahamas that is competing.”

This tournament was just a jumpstart to his ultimate goal.

CLARKE from page one

to go up from here but I think that winning Billie Jean King was definitely a confidence booster and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the rest of the year goes,” she said.

Closer to home, Clarke is also setting her sights on reclaiming her title at the Giorgio Baldacci National Tennis Tournament in December, which serves as a key qualifier for the national team. “I’m hoping to reclaim my title at the Giorgio Baldacci Nationals so I can qualify for the team again next year,” she said.

As she continues to progress through the early stages of her professional career, Clarke is also seeking additional sponsorships to help support her as she represents the Bahamas en route to qualifying for the Olympics.

“It’s going to be a challenge but I’m up for it, definitely trying to lock in more sponsorships especially when trying to play more on the tour and making my presence felt and I’m slowly getting there and I’m hoping that with the previoustwi tournaments and once I do get my foot in the door I know that I’m going to be unstoppable,” said Clarke. Clarke’s commitment and steady process have made her one of the brightest young talents in Bahamian tennis and she is determined to keep moving forward.

ISLAND HOOPS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Hoops Basketball, an initiative founded by local basketball enthusiast Dwajaneil Dorsett along with Benjamin Clarke, Wendell Dean and Jadyn Gomez, is quickly becoming one of the most

recognised movements in Nassau’s casual basketball community. Started at the beginning of 2025, the initiative provides a safe, structured, and competitive environment for basketball players of all ages who simply love the game. According to Dorsett, the idea was born out of concern for the decline of safe, organized casual basketball

runs around Nassau. “I was tired of trying to find runs and couldn’t find much people to play with, it felt like the game was dying and guys weren’t really interested in playing because they couldn’t find any good runs in Nassau,” said Dorsett.

What began as a few outdoor sessions has now evolved into a

well-organised community staple. The first runs took place on outdoor courts around Nassau, but as participation grew, Island Hoops transitioned into using indoor facilities such as the D.W. Gymnasium and the Anatol Rodgers Gymnasium. The gyms now serve as a host for regular games attracting players from a wide range of skill levels. Dorsett said the goal goes far beyond just pickup games. “ We want to rebuild a basketball culture that once thrived,” he said. Looking ahead, Dorsett envisions the initiative expanding into a full-fledged basketball tournament and, eventually establishing its own gymnasium to further support the

growth of the game. For those interested in getting involved or keeping up with upcoming runs, more information can be found on social media platforms under the name Island Hoops. With its growing popularity, Island Hoops Basketball is steadily reviving the spirit of casual basketball in Nassau.

BELICHICK: I NEVER SOUGHT TO LEAVE NORTH CAROLINA JOB

By BOB SUTTON Associated Press

BILL Belichick has denied reports that he’s been seeking an exit strategy from his North Carolina coaching role.

“Some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that is categorically false,” Belichick said Monday during his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson.

“Glad I’m here. Working toward our goals and the process.”

Next up for the Tar Heels (2-3, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) is Friday night’s game at California (4-2, 1-1).

During the second of two off weeks in a threeweek span, the subject of Belichick’s status and future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director Bubba Cunningham reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school.

“It’s a learning curve,” Belichick said Monday. “We’re all in it together, but we’re making a lot of progress.”

On Monday, there was double the media turnout compared to Belichick’s normal game-week availability. University chancellor Lee Roberts also attended along with high-ranking

officials in the athletics department.

With only one game during a span of nearly a month, it has allowed off-field drama to command plenty of attention. Yet Belichick was spotted attending a high school game Friday night, perhaps an indication of normal inseason functions in terms of recruiting.

Belichick said the program has approximately 40 high school players committed for the next recruiting class.

Results on game days haven’t given Tar Heels fans much reason to be encouraged.

“Obviously we’re all a little frustrated with the results, but the only thing we can do is continue to work and improve,” Belichick said.

“We’ve made a lot of progress. Right now, unfortunately, the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that, but I’m confident that it will.”

The former Super Bowl-winning coach disputed suggestions that there’s division within the team and a lack of progress.

“We’ve made a lot of improvements,” Belichick said. “I think that’s exciting for all of us to see, certainly for the individual players to see it, in the units that they work with. So I don’t know what kind of perspective some of those people have that are saying that.” Offensive lineman Christo Kelly, who talked

about the team coming together and buying into the process, said the Tar Heels shouldn’t be bothered by reports regarding Belichick.

“Some of that outside noise stuff doesn’t affect what we do day-in and dayout,” Kelly said.

Belichick referred to the Tar Heels as a developmental programme, calling them similar to other teams he has overseen.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of programmes where things started and where things ended up are honestly where they should go,” he said.

Belichick is in the first year of a deal that guarantees $10m in base and supplemental pay for each of the next two seasons.

Team general manager Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive who’s largely a partner with Belichick in this college endeavor, is making $1.5m for each of the next two seasons.

Belichick defended Lombardi, who has been the subject of criticism stemming from some local media reports.

“I think Michael has done a great job of keeping the people close to the Carolina programme up to date in what we’re doing, what our process is,” Belichick said.

“We’re all working together. We’re all learning together.”

North Carolina has been blown out in three games against power conference

opponents, including a 38-10 belting from Clemson in the most-recent game that resulted in a largely empty stadium in the second half. The Tar Heels surrendered 28 first-quarter points in that game.

Running back Caleb Hood announced last week that he was ending his playing career. Belichick said he had a conversation with Hood similar to ones he has had with many athletes through the years.

“For him, it was time, so I respect that,” Belichick said.

There was a light moment Monday when Belichick was asked about a phone call he made to ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit during the weekend. He said he was answering a text sent by Herbstreit, though the timing wasn’t ideal.

“I didn’t realise he was on the air,” the coach said. Also last week, the school announced that cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been placed on suspension for violating rules connected to improper benefits. He’s on leave while the school “further investigates other potential actions detrimental” to the team and school.

This comes following months-long tabloid-level interest involving Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who has been on the sidelines prior to games.

Failures on sports’ biggest stages provide unique glimpse into how to overcome adversity

By KYLE HIGHTOWER

AP Sports Writer

ATHLETES confront failure as often as success during competition.

For professional and Olympic athletes, those shortcomings can play out in singular and devastating fashion in front of worldwide audiences.

From seven-time Olympic gymnast Simone Biles’ bout with “the twisties” during the 2020 Tokyo Games, to former Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner’s infamous error in the 1986 World Series, fanbases never cease to dwell upon these painstaking moments.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering joined that club when he mishandled a bases-loaded comebacker that led to his team’s elimination from the MLB playoffs.

“Just kind of keep going with it. It’s hopefully starting a long career,” the third-year pitcher said through blurry eyes when asked how he was coping after the game. “Just keep in the back of my head. ... Get over this hump. Keep pushing.”

Moving past that kind of failure isn’t easy. It’s a subject even Pope Leo XIV addressed in a social media post earlier this year.

“In our competitive society, where it seems that only the strong and winners deserve to live, sport also teaches us how to lose,” the post said. “It forces us, in learning the art of losing, to confront our fragility, our limitations and our imperfections.

Sports psychologists who work with amateur and professional athletes say it requires not only acceptance of the failure but coping tools to return to performing at a high level.

Here are some of the strategies used by athletes, who are in many ways great people for the general public to learn from as it pertains to overcoming adversity.

Prior preparation

While no one can predict future events, getting into the headspace for what could happen can be rehearsed.

Robert Andrews, the founder and director of The Institute of Sports Performance, has 30 years of experience in private practice as a mental training consultant and licensed therapist. During that time he’s worked with Biles and others Olympians in the last five Summer Games, as well as players from the NBA, NFL and MLB. One of the components in the set of techniques Andrews uses to build confidence and belief is preparation.

“(Kerkering) got highly reactive on that play,” Andrews said. “The key playoff situation he found himself in, made him more vulnerable to rushing things and throwing off balance and all the things that he did that he’ll sadly remember for the rest of his life. But mental preparation is a huge part of that. ... I call it being mentally and emotionally centered in a situation like that. So we would have done a lot of mental preparation work to prepare him for a situation like that.” Alex Auerbach is a

performance psychologist who currently works with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s also worked with Olympians, NBA and MLB players, as well as elite military units and Fortune 500 companies.

He said the “release, reset, refocus” routine is one that athletes can practice “to quickly let go of mistakes in the games or during performance”.

“The biggest thing is learning to redirect your attention to the task at hand,” Auerbach said via email. “When we make a mistake and dwell on it, that rumination interferes with efficient motor execution. ... If they can bring attention back to the present and the task at hand, they can minimize disruption to their performance.”

Adversity strikes, now what?

When the inevitable does strike and the game or competition is over, the work to repair mentally is just beginning.

Step one, Andrews said, is to avoid social media, where hateful messages — and in extreme cases even death threats — can often be waiting after failures in these situations.

“I’ve worked with a lot of baseball players and softball players who have missed the throw down to third base that cost them the game, and that catcher couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher,” Andrews said. “Their brain freaks out. They get the baseball version of

‘the twisties.’ So he’s going to need some days to do some work around this.

... Get loved up, surround yourself with people that are going to support you through this.” Andrews uses a protocol called EMDR — eye movement, desensitisation, and reprocessing — which teaches the part of the brain that gets engaged in an event like that how to calm down and process the experience.

“It helps them work through it to where they don’t have the yips, so they’re not afraid to go out and field a ground ball again,” Andrews said. “They work, but you got to calm that part of the brain down significantly well before next season.”

That also can’t happen too soon, however. The brain, like anything in the human body, needs time to heal after trauma. Andrews advice? Give it a month or so and then start teaching the nervous system “how to process the shock of that event.”

An open mind helps The good news, Auerbach said, is that people are becoming more receptive to employing mental strategies following setbacks.

“Especially in baseball, athletes are more receptive than ever to mindset work. There’s an increasing appreciation for the role mental health and performance play in facilitating top performance for these athletes,” he said.

The latest idea to save the NBA All-Star Game: US vs the World. And there’s no shortage of intrigue

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

IMAGINE this lineup:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, all on the floor at the same time as teammates.

MVPs. Scoring champions. NBA champions. Triple-double machines. Defensive wizards. International players, all together in one highly decorated, incredibly accomplished, flat-out-scary lineup the likes of which probably has not been seen too many times in basketball history.

The NBA seems on the brink of making it possible.

Changes to the All-Star format are most certainly coming, once again, and the plan that the NBA has settled on is one that has US players going up against players from the rest of the world in a tournament setting. Think Ryder Cup golf or 4 Nations FaceOff hockey, and it just so happens that this season’s All-Star weekend at Inglewood, California, is smack in the middle of another national-pride sporting event — the 2026 MilanCortina Olympics.

“I talk to a lot of fans, and All-Star Games for whatever reason take on particular interest around basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

“I think we should be able to create something that’s fun, exciting, engaging. Not expecting guys to play the way they would in the finals necessarily or even in a playoff game, but yet to go out, play hard, put on a good show for the fans.”

The plan, which isn’t yet finalised, calls for a three-team tournament: two American teams and one international team, all with eight-man rosters.

The reason: Roughly twothirds of NBA players are American and one-third are not, which is why the NBA thinks it’d be fair to give Americans two-thirds of the roster spots.

“Hopefully, it’s going to be better,” said Jokic, the

Denver star. It has become almost an annual exercise for the NBA: fixing the All-Star Game. Silver and other league officials — and to be fair, some players as well — desperately want the product to be better and more competitive. They tried having captains like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Antetokounmpo pick the teams for a few years, and not much changed. They tried go back to the standard Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format, and it wasn’t great either. Having a final score of 211-186 in Indianapolis in 2024 was the last straw in many respects, so the NBA last year tried a mini-tournament on for size and few people cared for that.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry was MVP of that All-Star event, a fourteams-of-eight competition that had a 41-25 final score in the title matchup and saw the final game stopped for about 20 minutes for a tribute to TNT and its run as a league broadcaster.

“I honestly thought last year went great until it dragged on for a long time,” Curry said. “We all know that All-Star has changed over the years, but there has to be some type of solution for keeping the players fresh and loose and keeping the action going. Last year it came to a screeching halt. But whatever the format is, I know we’re going to keep taking swings at the plate to figure it out, and that’s what the league is supposed to do.”

International players have said they love the idea of a US vs The World concept. Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee star, has talked about it previously and playfully said that the league should give him credit for the idea.

“The NBA’s going to take all the credit. But I love it, man,” Antetokounmpo said.

“I think it’s going to be exciting for people to watch. I’m going to play hard. I’ve always been playing hard, but I think it’s going to put a little bit more juice to the game. … All players have ego. Nobody wants to be embarrassed. Guys will play harder because they don’t want to become — I don’t know how you say this — they don’t want to become viral. I’m excited for this

format.” The league has been working on the plan for a few months, and Silver has said he hopes that it can be formally announced by the start of the season. The season begins October 21.

“The World vs US? We’ll see how it goes. I think it’s interesting,” said Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, who was a first-time All-Star last season.

“I wanted to play in the East vs. West game, me personally, but I think I will have my opportunity to do that one day. … Playing for the US., I know we’re going to be playing hard. I think it will be good.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and scoring champion from the champion Oklahoma City

Thunder, knows the league wants a more competitive All-Star event. He isn’t sure if the format is a reason why someone would play hard or not.

Like everyone else, he’s interested to see how it plays out.

“Guys that make it are grown men and they’re going to compete if they want or not compete if they don’t want to. And I think that’s what it’s going to come down to,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“So, the change in the format, it’s good, it’s fun. It keeps the fans engaged. It could be interesting. It’s what the league is supposed to do. They do a great job of that. But I think it’s just going to come down to if the players want to play or not.”

Prize winners from school soccer

CAPE VERDE - POPULATION 525,000 - QUALIFIES FOR WORLD CUP

PRAIA, Cape Verde

Associated Press

CAPE Verde will play in the World Cup for the first time after beating Eswatini 3-0 to win its group in African qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Monday.

The archipelago of volcanic islands off the western coast of Africa secured one of the nine automatic spots for the continent. It will be the second smallest country by population to feature in the tournament after Iceland in 2018.

Dailon Livramento scored in the 48th minute, Willy Semedo in the 54th and Stopira in stoppage time to secure the home victory and first place in Group D. At the final whistle, fans chanted in the stands while players celebrated on the field.

“What a historic moment,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a video message. “Congratulations to everyone in Cape Verde for making the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Your flag will fly and your anthem will be heard at the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.

“Your work on football development in recent years has been incredible and this is a moment where your stars will become

global and power a new generation of football lovers across Cape Verde.” The Blue Sharks finished with four more points than Cameroon, which couldn’t manage more than 0-0 against Angola at home. Cape Verde, a nation of about 525,000 people, arrived needing a victory, and could have qualified even with a loss as long as Cameroon didn’t defeat Angola. The nine group winners automatically qualify for the World Cup. The

four best runners-up play in a mini tournament of two semifinals and a final in November. Cameroon can still advance as a runner-up. The repechage winner advances to FIFA’s playoff tournament against opponents from Asia, CONCACAF, South America and Oceania.

Tickets for the Cape Verde match were sold in record time, according to FIFA, and the government declared a half-day holiday across the country

so people could watch the game.

The 2026 World Cup is the first with an expanded field of 48 teams, up from 32. In the other Group D match, Mauritius and Libya drew 0-0. In Group C, Lesotho defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 at home.

Tunisia ends run with another win With its spot in the World Cup already secured, Tunisia closed its African

qualifying run with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Namibia. Ali Abdi converted a 28th-minute penalty kick and Hannibal Mejbri and Ferjani Sassi added secondhalf goals to secure Tunisia the best record in African qualifying. Tunisia won Group H with 28 points from 10 matches, outscoring opponents 22-0. It dropped two points and finished 13 points ahead of secondplaced Namibia. Also in Group H,

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Close battles in school soccer

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE New Providence Public Primary Schools Sports Assocation’s 2025 Dawn Knowles Primary School Soccer Tournament wrapped up on Friday with some close encounters to determine the champions.

At the Roscoe Davies Developmental Center at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, Eva Hilton Shockers prevailed 2-1 on penalty shots to snatch the boys’ title from the Sybil Strachan Mighty Warriors. The teams played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation.

The Uriah McPhee Barracudas got third place as they blanked CW Sawyer Ospreys 1-0.

On the other side of the coin, the Yellow Elder Eagles whitewashed Garvin Tynes Knights 4-0 to parade round the field with their first girls’ championship title.

Third place went to the Palmdale Primary Panthers after they blanked Thelma Gibson 2-0.

Boys final

Eva Hilton out-scored

Sybil Strachan 2-1 on penalty shots after the game was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. David Thurston and Christian King booted in the pair of free kicks for the win in the extra period penalty shots.

Head coach Zindora Munnings said the team played the way she and her assistant coach expected them to perform.

“They decided to play together in the last couple of minutes, even though Sybil Strachan scored the first goal,” Munnings said. “They collected their mental state and they came back and scored to go down to the shootout.”

Tito Hanna, the assistant coach, said their team played with a lot of heart throughout the tournament and that showed in their ability to achieve their success.

Sybil Strachan’s coach, Greer Thompson, said they gave it their best shot right to the very end.

“I felt the boys went out there and they did their best,” Thompson said. “To God be the glory. Next year we will come back stronger.”

The 11-year-old King,

who is in the sixth grade at Eva Hilton, was named the most valuable player.

“It feels great, very emotional and so I’m very happy that we won this year because last year we lost,” King said. “We were very sad, but this year we came back to win. We’re a great team.”

Alexander Smith, the top goal scorer, said he was very pleased with his performance.

“I scored a lot of goals,” said Smith, a nine-year old fifth grader. “The team’s performance was alright.”

Third place

Uriah McPhee nipped CW Sawyer 1-0 in what coach Wanda Burrows

called a good game. “In the semifinal, we lost to Sybil Strachan on the penalty kicks, but came back against CW Sawyer and we did what we had to do,” Burrows said. “We got off to a slow start because we had some of the boys reach late, but I was so pleased that they came together ssnd got third place.”

Girls final Yellow Elder soared above the Garvin Tynes with a 4-0 whitewashing, leaving coach Latahara Forbes singing the praises of her team. “We are so excited and so happy. We thank God after three years of working

wirth most of these girls whom we started working with from grade four, we moved up from fourth place last year to finally win it this year.

“The girls put in the work and with the addition of Everlyn Shaw and Michael Butler, we came together and we got the victory. We are excited and so happy.”

Yellow Elder’s team captain Latavia Barr, the MVP, said it was an “awesome” feeling, not only winning the girls’ title, but also being named the MVP.

“It was good,” said Barr, a sixth grader, on their accomplishment. “I just hope they do good like us next year and win it again.”

Crystal Eneas, one of

Garvin Tynes’ coaches, said their team played exceptionally well.

“We had expectations of taking the championship title home to Garvin Tynes, but our star player Rahjanae Major got injured and her team had to carry her the rest of the way.”

Major, a 12-year-old sixth grader and team captain, won the golden boot, but she said after suffering an injury in an earlier game during the day, she was still hoping that they would prevail in the final.

“Even though we didn’t go home with first place, we still came out with something,” said Major, who admitted that winning the individual award “made

up” for their loss in the final.

Third place

Palmdale Primary blanked Thelma Gibson 2-0.

Coach Ashley Oembler, assisted by Keva Bridgewater, said at the beginning of the tournament, the girls were a bit nervous and the two girls that played on club teams in the Bahamas Football Association helped to carry them through.

“Everyone pulled their weight and they got out of their comfort zones to help us to get to this point,” Oembler said. “When we got to the semifinal round, the girls were determined to leave with something.

“So I’m really proud of all of them, especially Kayanna Dean and Majahstii Hepburn, who pulled the weight for the team and everyone else who would have executed in the games.”

Here’s how the teams got to the medal rounds:

Boys’ semifinals

Sybil Strachan blanked Uriah McPhee 2-0 on penalty shots after a scoreless draw at the end of regulation.

Eva Hilton blanked CW Sawyer 3-0.

Girls’ semifinals Yellow Elder blanked Palmdale 1-0 on penalty shots after a scoreless draw at the end of regulation.

Garvin Tynes out-scored Thelma Gibson 2-1 on penalty shots after a scoreless tie at the end of regulation.

Patron Dawn Knowles, the former long-time Physical Education Coordinator for the public schools at the Ministry of Education, said she was delighted to have her name tagged onto the tournament.

“We grew to this point here,” she stated. “It was a growing process and it took many people, who were involved and we had to have a lot of permission from the Ministry of Education, the administrators at the schools, the coaches and the parents.

“But we got it done. I have to take my hats off to the physical education coaches. Without their support, this would never have happened.”