University of Technology’s Stephanie McPherson ran another world leading time for the women’s 400 metres at the UTech Classic at the National Stadium yesterday. McPherson who clocked a world-leading and personal best 50.78 seconds for the distance at the inter-collegiate championships a week ago, lowered her time to 50.74 but she still felt she could have done better. “I wanted to run a faster time but the heavy wind affected me, but I am looking forward to the remainder of the season as I am hoping to make the National team to the World Championships this year,” McPherson, a former Mannings’ School student, said after winning her event yesterday. G.C. Foster College’s Anastasia Leroy continued her good early season form, placing second in 53.54 as her former high school teammate, Bobbi Gaye Wilkins-Gooden, in her first competitive race in two years, was third overall in 53.67. Scare for Blake Olympic 100 metres silver medallist Yohan Blake gave his supporters a scare in the men’s 100 metres which was being run at press time. Blake stopped half way the event which was won by St Kitts’ Kim Collins. An official from Blake’s camp said the athlete felt some stiffness in […]
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Jamaica’s Under-17 footballers drops out of the CONCACAF FIFA Under-17 Championship after they were beaten 4-2 by Canada in the quarter-finals in Panama yesterday. The young Reggae Boyz were aiming for a semi-final place which would have given them automatic qualification to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup later this year in the United Arab Emirates. Jamaica went ahead twice in the game, as they led 2-1 at half-time but the confident Canadians dominated the second half and in the process scored three times. Khallil Stewart, who had an outstanding game for Jamaica, netted both goals for the junior Reggae Boyz in the fifth and 44th minutes. Andrew Gordon, led the way for Canada, with a double in the 38th and 75th minutes. Hanson Boakai (61st) and Jordan Hamilton (79th) were the other scorers for the the Canadians. [column2] [/column2] [column2_last] [/column2_last] The speedy and skilful Stewart gave the Wendell Downswell-coached Jamaicans a dream start when he burst inside the 18 yards box to fire home from close range. However, the Jamaican defenders were caught napping in the 38th minute, as Gordon arrived at the back post to head home from inside the six-yard box. SLIM ADVANTAGE Stewart restored the […]
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[column2] [/column2] [column2_last] [/column2_last] LA CHORREA, Panama — Barbados twice rallied from one-goal deficits to register 2-2 draw with Jamaica in a Group A game of the 2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship at Estadio Agustin Muquita Sanchez on Monday night. The tie kept both Caribbean teams alive for a quarterfinal berth. The Barbadians (0-0-1, one point) can book a spot in the knockout round with a victory over host Panama (0-0-1, one) on Wednesday night. The Reggae Boyz (0-0-2, two) can advance if either team wins. The top two teams in each group reaches the quarterfinals. In a lively and entertaining first half in which defense seemed to be a forgotten craft at times, both sides attacked freely and often, keeping both goalkeepers on their toes. The Jamaicans dominated the early minutes and quite fittingly drew first blood in the seventh minute, converting a counterattack some 19 seconds ater goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson saved a Barbados shot. Raffique Bryan raced into the penalty area, beat two defenders and chipped keeper Keon Harding from 12 yards for a 1-0 Jamaica advantage. The goal seemed to wake Barbados up from its slumber as it mounted several offensive attacks. The Caribbean side came close […]
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LA CHORRERA, Panama – Miliciades Molina scored in second-half stoppage time to give host Panama a 1-1 draw with nine-man Jamaica on Saturday in the Group A opener for each at the 2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship. The late equalizer thrilled the capacity crowd at the Estadio Agustin “Muquita” Sanchez, but disappointed the young Reggae Boyz, who nearly held on for victory despite ending the encounter two players short. In front of its home supporters, Panama attacked from the opening whistle. Within 59 seconds, Luis Zuñiga attempted a bold bicycle kick that did not land far from its intended target. In the 25th minute, a Zuñiga strike from 30-yards out fell to the feet of an unmarked Ismael Diaz inside the Jamaican box. The 15-year-old turned and shot. His effort from 12 yards, however, was well saved by goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson. The Canaleros would regret that miss 15 minutes later, as Junior Flemmings netted from the penalty spot to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, after Micahel Seaton was taken down by Felix General. Panama showed no signs of letdown, starting the second half robustly. After breaking into the Jamaican box alone, Ismael Diaz would have equalized in the 54th […]
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Double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt has passed on his congratulations to Bayern Munich on winning the Bundesliga title in record time. Bolt, who defended his 100m and 200m Olympic titles at London 2012, is occasionally in Munich to see renown sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who also works with the Bayern team and the Germany side. The 26-year-old specifically thanked Dr Mueller-Wohlfahrt after his 100m victory in London having been treated by the German doctor in the build-up to the Olympics and says the pair speak by telephone “from time-to-time”. He is also friends with some of Bayern’s players. Bayern won the Bundesliga title for the 22nd time in the competition’s 50 year history on Saturday with a 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, thanks to Bastian Schweinsteiger’s second-half goal, and Bolt offered his congratulations. “It’s impressive what Bayern have done this season,” Bolt told German daily Bild on Sunday after Bayern won the title with six games left, a new Bundesliga record, and hold a 20-point lead. “To be champions with such a lead and so early in such a strong league, is extraordinary. “First of all, I want to congratulate Basti (Schweinsteiger) and the team, who, just like […]
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Lack of funding will force Jamaica to kick off this weekend’s final round of CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup football qualifiers short on international match experience, raising caution flags about the players’ readiness for competition. The Young Reggae Boyz begin their bid for a return to the World Cup against Panama on Saturday without the benefit of any warm-up games against non-local competition in nine months because the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) could not afford the exposure for the players. Jamaica will also play Barbados on April 8 in their final Group A fixture. “The federation is strapped for cash just now,” said head coach Wendell Downswell, who guided the U-17s to the 2011 World Cup in Mexico. “So we’ve not been able to get any form of international games, apart from the games that we played (earlier) in the qualifying rounds.” Without that test, it’s difficult to predict how the Boyz will react in the qualifiers. “It hurts the team to an extent,” Downswell said. “International exposure … you use that as a measuring stick.” Jamaica reached Panama by winning Caribbean round games against Antigua and Barbuda (4-0) and Bermuda (5-0) last July. The squad has since been […]
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Tournament Schedule 12-team event will decide confederation’s representatives to U-17 World Cup PANAMA CITY, Panama — Defending U-17 World Cup champion Mexico will face Honduras and Cuba, while host Panama will meet Barbados and Jamaica in the first round of the 2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship. The tournament draw, which was held today and conducted by CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz at the Hotel Sheraton Panama, determined the first-round opponents for the April 6-19 event. Host Panama and Mexico, by virtue of its 2011 World Cup finish, were pre-seeded into Group A and Group D, respectively. “We are very excited about this tournament, which will showcase the next generation of our Confederation’s upcoming talent,’ said CONCACAF President, Jeffrey Webb, during his opening speech. “We wish the best of luck to all the qualified teams and hope one of the four teams representing our region at the World Cup will retain the title for this category. Team Jamaica The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, the winners of which will qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, October 17-November 8. It will be the first time Panama has […]
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Furious Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto said it was an “embarrassment to football” that Friday’s World Cup qualifier with the United States was played in strong snow, while his federation promised to make an official protest. The U.S. won 1-0 but Pinto was riled the game was played on a snowy field with a covering that became deeper as the game wore on. “It was an embarrassment to football, disrespectful to the game,” an animated Pinto told reporters. The game was played at the 19,374 capacity Dicks Sporting Goods Park, home of Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, nestled at the foot of the Rockie Mountains. Pinto said the “legal conditions” for playing the game were not in place and a Federation official told Costa Rican media that an official protest would be made to FIFA on Saturday. The referee stopped the game briefly in the 55th minute but only to ask ground staff to clear snow from the pitch markings and the game resumed after a few minutes. Costa Rica’s players showed little dissent on the field, going close to an equalizer in the second half, but they vented their anger after the game. “Honestly, it was robbery, […]
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