Sprinter Carlos Brown Jr having a ‘phenomenal’ season
By TENAJH SWEETING
Reporter
Bahamian sprinter Carlos Brown Jr is having a phenomenal transition from the junior to senior level in athletics.
The 19-year-old exploded to a new personal and season’s best time of 10.04 seconds in the Olympic development 100m event at the 2025 Splice and Connect/ Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) CARIFTA Trials at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium over the weekend. He spoke about how it felt to shave adequate time off his previous personal best of 10.26 seconds in the 100m event. “It still feels unreal and it still doesn’t feel like I ran that time. The race didn’t feel that fast to be honest but I am just thankful to God that I ran the time and finished the race healthy,” Brown said. He also competed in the Olympic development 200m event and won with a winning time of 20.92 seconds. He came into that event with a seed time of 20.77 seconds. Prior to the start of the season, Brown Jr had a previous personal best of 10.30 seconds achieved at the 2024 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) New Life Invitational hosted at home.
The World Athletics under-20 (U20) finalist said
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season’s
WITH The Bahamas announcing a full 78-member team on the final day of registration, North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) president Mike Sands said the 2025 CARIFTA Games should be an exciting one to watch in Trinidad & Tobago over the Easter holiday weekend.
NACAC, which is the umbrella that the games fall under, is looking forward to one of the most competitive junior track and field competitions in the region.
“I was in Jamaica last weekend for the Boys Champs and although Jamaica had already selected their team and all of the other countries had staged their trials, I think we can expect to see a high level of competition in
over the weekend.
Freedom Farm wins bragging rights
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
AS a prelude of what to expect at the Bahamas Baseball Association’s Nationals in June in Grand Bahama, Freedom Farm got the early bragging rights over the weekend at the Eleuthera Mini 12-and-under Baseball Tournament.
They went into Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, and pulled off the mini tournament with a 14-4 win over the Junior Baseball League of Nassau on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Abaco Youth Association, playing in their first tournament outside of the island,
ended up with the bronze medal as they knocked off the host Eleuthera Baseball League 16-10.
Gianno Newball of Freedom Farm was named the most valuable player after he led the tournament with 10 hits, 18 runs batted in (RBI) and knocked in four home runs.
Among some of the other members of Freedom Farm were Takary ‘Big Dog’ Butler, Diego Hutchinson, Bosfield ‘B3’ Butler, George Ramsaran, Elliot Clarke, Xavier ‘X’ Petit, Andrew Seymour, Reid Ingraham, Dwayne Colebrooke and Daniel Adderley.
By TENAJH SWEETING Tribune Sports Reporter tsweeting@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN collegiate basketball players Deyton Albury and AJ Storr are on the move once again. Both players entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal following their early tournament exits in March.
For Storr, who played last season with the Kansas Jayhawks, it is his third time entering the transfer portal in the last three years. He started his collegiate tenure with the St John’s University Red Storm
WHILE it was the first time for his novice competitors to compete in an international tournament, head coach Jermaine Gibson said the four boxers from Grand Bahama gave a good account of themselves in Atlanta, Georgia.
The quartet of Amiel Bullard, 12, Dantae Anderson, 14, Jahmal Smith, 13 and Keano Cox, 20, all participated in the Sugar Bear Tournament along with four boxers from New Providence - Cayden Higgs, 12, Santao Fernander, 16, Lionel Pinder, 18 and Mario Goddard, 18.
While Higgs and Fernander returned home with
gold, all of the other boxers were awarded silver. Gibson, who serves as the vice president of the Bahamas World Boxing Federation and the chief executive officer (CEO) of the All-Out Boxing Club, travelled with coaches Valentino Knowles, president and CEO of the Aftershock Boxing and Robert Harris.
“I was very, very pleased with their performances, but these guys fought for the first time overseas,” Gibson said. “We decided to divide up our team so that more kids could get the exposure.
“So instead of taking the same set of guys all the time, we decided to take some of our novice fighters so that they can get the experience. They all fared well. They all came back with silver medals. They would have liked to win, but they are still getting to learn the rules.”
With the full support of the parents, Gibson said the club is continuing to grow
FAST TRACK: Sprinter Carlos Brown Jr, 19, exploded to a new personal and
best time of 10.04 seconds in the Olympic development 100m event at the Splice and Connect/BAAA CARIFTA Trials at the original Thomas A Robinson Stadium
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Gianno Newball, of Freedom Farm.
THE POWERADE POTCAKEMAN TRIATHLON 2025: A SPECIAL YEAR OF CELEBRATION AND COMPETITION
THE Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon returned for its 12th edition on Sunday, March 30, at Jaws Beach. With high energy, a fantastic atmosphere and ideal weather conditions, participants and spectators alike enjoyed a memorable day of endurance, sportsmanship and community spirit - all in support of Baark!’s ongoing spay, neuter and education efforts for animal welfare in The Bahamas.
Race day lucked out with the weather - calm waters made for a perfect swim, while the cool temperature provided great conditions for the run. Although participants faced some wind on the bike leg, they navigated the course successfully, making for a thrilling competition across all divisions.
In the men’s race, Malcolm Menzies triumphed, smashing the hour record with a remarkable time of 59:58, standing atop the podium after finishing a close second last year. Launy Duncombe followed in second place at 1:05:52, while Ayden Bain secured third with 1:10:08.
For the third consecutive year, Kami Roach dominated the women’s division, finishing in 1:22:31.
Laura Morley, improving from her third-place finish last year, claimed second place at 1:22:35, while Sienna Culmer-Mackey rounded out the podium in 1:25:31.
The relay division featured impressive performances, with “Kool Kids” - comprising Patty Barigelli (swim), Kevin Daley (bike), and Kounta Moussa (run) - dominating the competition with a winning time of 1:02:06.
Beyond the races, the event was a true community celebration. The Rotary team served over
200 burgers, hot dogs and veggie patties, highlighting the incredible turnout of participants, volunteers and supporters. Finishers were also treated to a refreshing Surfside drink, adding to the day’s festive atmosphere. Finishers of the FYP Puppy Tri were all rewarded with delicious Dunkin’ Donuts at the finish. Several vendors were set up throughout the event, and Baark! continued its fundraising efforts with a
raffle draw, featuring a top prize of a Pure Cycle Fixie Bike generously donated by Cycles Unlimited. Race volunteers, fondly known as the Potcake Patrol, were once again a key part of the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly and contributing to the event’s success.
Laura Kimble-Morley, president of Baark!, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the event’s longtime sponsors and
partners while also embracing the excitement of forming new relationships.
“The 2025 Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon was a true celebration of community strength and spirit. The incredible support from our sponsors, volunteers and athletes is what makes this event so special, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026. With another successful year behind us, the event continues to growbringing together athletes, families and supporters for our cause that’s making a real and lasting impact!”
Jonathan Thronebury, marketing director, Caribbean Bottling Co. added: “Powerade is proud to fuel active lifestyles, and it was an honour to help hydrate every athlete pushing their limits at this year’s Potcakeman Triathlon. Each bottle we handed out on race day wasn’t just about performance - it was about standing alongside Baark! in their mission to build healthier, more compassionate communities throughout The Bahamas. We’re truly grateful for the opportunity to support the athletes and Baark!’s mission year after year, and we look forward to continuing that support for many years to come.”
Event Sponsors: Powerade, JS Johnson, Think Simple, CBS, Modernistic, Tile King, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Albany, FYP, Bahamas Sotheby’s International Realty, Purina, Corner Bank, Jane Iredale, Scotia Wealth Management, Morley Realty, King & Co, Potcake Designs.
Event Providers: Bahamas Waste, Ronnie Archer Photography, Rotary East Nassau, Red Cross, BASRA,
Polar Ice, Nassau Rowing Club,
LCIS, Windermere Day Spa, Dasani, Graham Real Estate, Dunkin’ Donuts, Surfside, Cycles Unlimited, Sun Bum. Raffle Prize Donors: Cycles Unlimited,
Powerboat Adventures, Surfside, Shoreline Distribution, SunBum, Windermere Day Spa, Social House, Royal Blue Bahamar, Hands On Therapy.
ON THE REPLAY: The 12th Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon was staged at Jaws Beach on Sunday, March 30.
Cornèr Bank Golf Invitational
‘was a resounding success’
THE 2nd Annual Cornèr Bank Golf Invitational was a resounding success, bringing together valued clients and industry colleagues for a day of camaraderie, competition and celebration at the prestigious Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.
Cornèr Bank congratulates the winners of this highly anticipated event, which once again showcased exceptional talent and sportsmanship against the backdrop of one of the region’s most breathtaking courses.
Emerging as this year’s champions were the dynamic duo of Brendan Dunn and Anwar Mitchell, who demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork to claim the top spot in the tournament’s two-man scramble format.
Runners-up Leo Huber and Stephen Johnson and third-place finishers Jaiden Ward and Dorian Roach also delivered outstanding performances, making for an exciting and closely contested day on the greens.
The coordinated Jaiden and Dorian collaboration also captured the most creatively dressed team award.
“The energy and enthusiasm at this year’s Invitational were truly remarkable,” said Christine Russell, CEO of Cornèr Bank (Overseas) Limited.
“It is an honour to host this event and celebrate not only the sport but also the valued relationships we continue to build with our clients. Congratulations to our winners and to all who participated in making this another memorable tournament.”
Vittorio Cornaro, CEO of Cornèr Bank Head Office in Lugano, Switzerland, was in town for the event and added his congratulations.
“It is truly inspiring to see the passion and
The tournament concluded with a picturesque reception and awards ceremony, where winners were recognised for their achievements. Special awards were also presented for the Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin; Adriane Von Eckardstein captured both awards for the women’s category. In the men’s category, Brendan Dunn captured the closest to the pin challenge and the men’s Longest Drive went to Glen Ward and Craig Boorman.
for children under 12. The categories include 12-and-under, 13-17, 18-39, 40-59 and 60-and-over for male and females. Trophies and medals will be presented to the top finishers in all categories.
“Come one, come all as we celebrate” is the call for all physically challenged, families, churches and all civic groups. For more information, persons can contact Votebcp242@gmail.com,
telephone 242-524-1798 or log onto www.bcppaerty. org BASEBALL/ SOFTBALL RELOADED INVITATIONAL THE Reloaded baseball and softball programme for boys and girls is scheduled to hold its fourth invitational tournament April 18-21 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The event, organised by Stephen “Bishop” Beneby, is being sanctioned by the Bahamas Baseball Assocation, headed by Clarence “CJ’ McKenzie and will be sponsored by Pro Youth
Foundation. It will feature baseball teams for boys and softball teams for girls from Grand Bahama and New Providence. It’s also anticipated that some teams from the Family Islands will also be in New Providence to participate.
BASKETBALL PEACE ON DA STREET FAMILY NIGHT PLANS are underway for the staging of the Peace on Da Streets’ Basketball Classics’ Road to 30 years of existence. The event, being organised by the Hope Center under the theme “Shooting
camaraderie displayed at this year’s tournament. Events like these reflect the strong relationships we have built with our clients and partners in The Bahamas over the years.
“We look forward to celebrating our 30th anniversary next year in an even
bigger and more exciting fashion.”
The Cornèr Bank Golf Invitational continues to exemplify the bank’s commitment to excellence, client engagement, and fostering meaningful connections within the Bahamian financial services
sector. Looking ahead, the 3rd Annual tournament will be particularly special as the bank celebrates 30 years of excellence and service in The Bahamas next year. For more information about Cornèr Bank and its upcoming events, please contact info@corner.bs.
hoops instead of guns,” will be held from July 14-19 at the Michael ‘Scooter’ Reid Basketball Center. The highlight of the event will be the Family Night, scheduled for Sunday, July 20 at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium when the finals in all of the divisions will take place, starting at 3pm. There will also be the Mr Ship It Three-point shootout and the Joe’s Slam Dunk Contest. The night will conclude with the exciting Clergy versus Politicians match-up. Lots of prizes, including round trip tickets, will be up for grabs.
FAST TRACK ATHLETICS SPRING FLING INVITATIONAL THE Fast Track Athletics Club is scheduled to hold its 4th annual Spring Fling at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex May 16-17. The event is open to competitors from throughout The Bahamas. The action is slated to begin at 5pm on Friday, May 16 and at 10am on Saturday, May 16. It promises to provide fast competition, perfect prep for championship season and an unmatched
island atmosphere in Grand Bahama. The entry fee is $5 for children and $10 for adults. For more information on the meet, persons can email fasttrackmanagement00@gmail.com
1ST Place Winners - Jermaine Bullard, CEO of Holdunn Family Office, accepting for Brendan Dunn (not pictured), and Anwar Mitchell.
WOMEN’s Closest to The Pin Winner - Adriane Von Eckardstein.
CLOSEST to the Hole Winner - Craig Boorman.
2ND Place Winners - Leo Huber and Stephen Johnson.
3RD Place Winners - Jaiden Ward and Dorian Roach.
Bahamas Chess Federation unveils its national team
THE Bahamas Chess Federation is proud to unveil its national team for the upcoming 2025 SubZonal 2.3.3 Absolute & Women’s Chess Championships, to be held from April 11–18 at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Center in St. Ann’s, Trinidad.
This prestigious event serves as a critical qualifier for the FIDE World Cup, one of the most elite competitions in international chess.
As such, it holds significant weight for the players involved and for The Bahamas’ continued emergence on the global chess stage.
Representing The Bahamas will be three of our nation’s most accomplished and promising chess talents:
WFM Polina Karelina – The highest-rated Bahamian player by FIDE ranking
FM Cecil Moncur – The reigning 2025 Bahamas National Chess Champion
WCM Chika Pride – The 2024 Bahamas Junior Girls Champion
These athletes have earned their places through consistent dedication, elite performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
The Sub-Zone 2.3.3 region includes chess federations from across the
Caribbean, such as Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and many others.
The competition is expected to be fierce, with top players across the region vying for coveted titles and international recognition. Each of our representatives has set ambitious goals:
FM Cecil Moncur aims to become the first Bahamian International Master (IM) by winning gold in the Absolute section.
WFM Polina Karelina aspires to be the first Bahamian Woman International Master (WIM) by capturing gold in the Women’s section.
WCM Chika Pride is targeting the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title by scoring at least 6 out of 9 points - but a medal finish (bronze, silver, or gold) could see her make history as the first Bahamian to achieve the WIM title.
The Bahamas Chess Federation recently launched a bold si-year strategic plan, prioritising the elevation of Bahamian chess on the international stage.
Participation in high-level events like the Sub-Zonal is vital to this vision, providing our players with the experience, competition,
and exposure needed to reach the next level.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and our generous partners and sponsors who
continue to support our mission. However, to fully realise our goals, we welcome additional sponsors and partners to join us in advancing chess development in The Bahamas.
Your support makes a difference - not only for these players but for the future of Bahamian chess.
We invite you to partner with us in empowering our athletes and helping
them make history on the world stage.Follow our team’s progress throughout the championship as we proudly support Cecil, Polina and Chika in their pursuit of excellence.
HEAD COACH JERMAINE GIBSON SAYS BOXERS FROM GRAND BAHAMA
FROM PAGE E1
and, with each opportunity that presents itself, it’s important for them to see the importance of the programme. He noted that they have a mentorship programme where parents also play a role in assisting the boxers with their schoolwork.
Gibson noted that four of his elite boxers from his All-Out Boxing programme will be heading to the Rick Dean’s Gloves For Good Tournament, scheduled for May 10 at the Westport Country Playhouse in Hartford, Connecticut, next month. They are Keanu Greene, 17, Jiraya Francois, 17, Dante Anderson, 14 and Oswald Greene, 18. The event, hosted by former Bahamian boxer
Rick Dean, will be televised on HBO.
On June 7 in Grand Bahama, Gibson said the All-Out Boxing Club will combine with Aftershock to host Jamaica in a showdown between the two countries. “As our team continues to grow, we will be sending more kids to participate in rookie tournaments,” Gibson said. “These opportunities not only give them valuable experience and exposure, but also help to ignite their passion for boxing. “Additionally, it allows them to see how other teams are progressing, which motivates them to improve and reach higher levels.” Gibson is calling on all entities in
WCM Chika Pride – The 2024 Bahamas junior girls champion.
FM Cecil Moncur – The reigning 2025 Bahamas national chess champion.
WFM Polina Karelina – The highest-rated Bahamian player by FIDE ranking.
‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr and Yankees suffer third straight loss
By DAVE HOGG Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Tarik
Skubal allowed four hits over six innings, Spencer Torkelson hit the first of three homers in the fourth inning off Carlos Carrasco and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to five, beating the Yankees 5-0 yesterday and dealing New York its first shutout loss this season.
Skubal (1-2), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, struck out six and walked none, lowering his ERA from 5.91 to 3.78. He allowed singles to Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice starting the game, then retired 16 straight batters.
He escaped the first-inning trouble when he struck out AL MVP Aaron Judge, retired Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a groundout and threw a called third strike past Anthony Volpe.
Brant Hurter finished a six-hitter for his second save in a game that took 2 hours, 4 minutes.
Zach McKinstry and Dillon Dingler added consecutive homers in the fourth against Carrasco (1-1), who has a 7.71 ERA, and Kerry Carpenter homered off Ryan Yarbrough in the fifth.
New York has lost three straight games and has scored just two runs in the first two games of the series, shifted to daytime because of cold weather. The game started with a 34-degree temperature and 28-degree wind chill.
Goldschmidt had three hits and is batting .381.
Key moment Torkelson had a pair of hits off Carrasco on first pitchers, doubling on a sinker and hitting his third homer of the season on a slider.
day’s series finale. THE
Cody Bellinger missed the game with a case of suspected food poisoning.
Key stat After hitting .219 with 10 homers last season, when he spent 2 1/2 months in the minors,
ALONSO AND LINDOR LEAD METS PAST MARLINS 10-5 FOR 6TH STRAIGHT WIN
By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso drove in four runs, Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 10-5 yesterday for their sixth consecutive victory. Clay Holmes (1-1) struck out a career-high 10 in 5 1/3 innings for his first win with the Mets and second as a major league starter. Brandon Nimmo broke a fifth-inning tie with a tworun double, and Starling Marte blooped a two-run single.
Juan Soto had two singles and scored twice, including on Alonso’s wind-aided
RBI double that eluded Kyle Stowers in shallow right field. The temperature at first pitch, moved up three hours Monday to 4:10 p.m. because of a harsh weather forecast, was 43 degrees at blustery Citi Field. Derek Hill hit a two-run homer for the Marlins and made an incredible diving catch on the left-centre warning track to save three runs. Liam Hicks had three RBIs. With the Mets nursing a 6-5 lead, an intentional walk to Soto pushed a runner into scoring position and loaded the bases in the sixth. Alonso then laced a three-run double to
left-centre off reliever Ronny Henriquez. Holmes, a converted reliever, struck out five in a row during one stretch and was charged with four runs and five hits. His only other win as a starter came with Pittsburgh during his rookie season, when he pitched six shutout innings on July 14, 2018, to beat Milwaukee in the second game of a doubleheader.
Key moment An error by first baseman Matt Mervis and a walk to Alonso helped load the bases in the fifth for Nimmo, who was 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position before a two-run double off Calvin Faucher (0-1) that put New York
in front for good, 4-2. Two batters later, Marte blooped a two-run single just beyond the reach of diving second baseman Otto Lopez.
Key stat Lindor launched his first home run this season and the 21st leadoff shot of his career. He has a leadoff hit in five straight games. That’s the longest such streak by a Mets player since Jose Reyes had a seven-game run in 2011, according to Major League Baseball.
Up next Marlins RHP Max Meyer (0-1, 3.09 ERA), the third overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, starts the series finale this afternoon against RHP Tylor Megill (2-0, 0.87).
Detroit placed outfielder Manuel Margot (left knee inflammation) and catcher Jake Rogers (left oblique tightness) on the injured list. And they recalled outfielder Brewer Hicklen from Toledo and selected the contract of catcher Tomas Nido from the Mud Hens.
Torkelson is batting .310 with five doubles in 11 games.
Up next Yankees LHP Max Fried (1-0, 2.61) and Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.38), former high school teammates at Harvard Westlake in California, start Wednes-
NEW York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr, top left inset, bats against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning yesterday.
NEW York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. throws to first base for an out on a Detroit Tigers’ Colt Keith ground ball in the fourth inning during in Detroit yesterday.
(AP Photos/Paul Sancya)
NEW York Mets’ Pete Alonso (20) celebrates getting a double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in New York.
(AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Bend it like Declan: Rice curls
home two free kicks as Arsenal beats Madrid 3-0 in CL quarters
By MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press
LONDON (AP) —
Declan Rice put Arsenal on the brink of reaching the Champions League semifinals by curling home two free kicks that Real Madrid’s most famous “galacticos” would have been proud of.
Rice opened the scoring by bending one free kick around the Madrid wall in the 58th minute and sent another into the top corner in the 70th as Arsenal won the first leg of the quarterfinals 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
With Madrid great Roberto Carlos looking on in the stands, Rice put on a display of power and bend reminiscent of the many free kicks scored by the Brazilian defender in his day — or by his teammates David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Figo for that matter.
Unlike those names, Rice has not been known for his free kick prowess — until now. In fact, he had never scored from a direct free kick before in his career.
“It’s been in the locker, but I’ve hit the wall too many times or it’s gone over the bar,” Rice told broadcaster Amazon Prime. “Originally we were going to cross it and then I’ve just seen the wall and the goalkeeper’s position. So I thought just go for it.”
Mikel Merino added the third in the 75th to put Arsenal on the brink of returning to the semifinals for the first time since 2009.
In the other quarterfinal match Tuesday, Inter Milan won 2-1 at Bayern Munich.
ARSENAL’S DECLAN RICE, left, scores his side’s opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday.
Making matters worse for Madrid, key midfielder Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second booking in the final minutes and will miss the return leg at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 16. Rice and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka were both substituted after picking up knocks, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said neither looked like a serious injury. Only a handful of saves from Courtois prevented the scoreline from getting even bigger. “The second half was amazing, we played with full gas from the side,” Merino said. “When this side plays like that the crowd go with us.” While Madrid can never be written off at home,
even coach Carlo Ancelotti didn’t sound too hopeful of a comeback.
“If you look at the game tonight, there is no possibility,” Ancelotti said.
“But in football everything can happen. We have to believe.”
Kylian Mbappé had Madrid’s best scoring chance in the 31st when he was played through on goal by Jude Bellingham but the forward was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
It was the teams’ first meeting since 2006, when Arsenal eliminated Madrid in the round of 16. That was also the last time Arsenal came close to winning the competition for the first time, losing the final to Barcelona. Judging by this display, Arsenal could well
be a contender again this year. In one of the biggest European nights the Emirates has seen — the stadium opened for the 2006-07 season — Arsenal delivered one of its best performances of the season against a team that has won the Champions League six times since 2014.
And for once in this competition, Madrid simply didn’t have an answer.
The 15-time European champions seemed content to sit back and wait for counterattacks in the first half but was pegged back for most of the second.
“In the second half we forgot how to play good soccer. I won’t say we panicked, but we weren’t comfortable with the ball,” Courtois said.
(AP Photo/ Frank Augstein)
“They scored two great goals from free kicks and added a third. We didn’t respond well, 3-0 is difficult but we have to believe in this team. I believe it is possible.”
And while Courtois pulled off two spectacular double saves in the game, he couldn’t get close to either of Rice’s free kicks.
“Maybe I could have put another man in the wall, but I didn’t think he could bend it like he did,” Courtois said. “And the second goal is simply spectacular.”
Added Rice: “It’s not going to hit me now because there’s another leg to go.
“But in a few years time this will really hit me that what I’ve done tonight was really special.”
KANE MISSES, FRATTESI SCORES AS INTER BEATS BAYERN 2-1 IN 1ST LEG OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
MUNICH (AP) — Inter
Milan’s treble chances are still very much on after it won 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals Tuesday to inflict the German team’s first home defeat in the competition in almost exactly four years.
Lautaro Martínez scored in the first half, shortly after Harry Kane had hit the woodwork for Bayern in an uncharacteristic miss that had the England forward clutching his face in disbelief.
Substitute Thomas Müller, who announced on Saturday that he was leaving the German club at the end of the season, appeared to have rescued a 1-1 draw for Bayern with the equalizer five minutes from time but Davide Frattesi scored the winner three minutes later.
“Tonight wasn’t a walk in the park and we weren’t expecting one,” Müller told broadcaster Prime Video.
“We had a fair few chances, but unfortunately the last counter makes it 2-1.
“(Or) else it’s 1-1, a good fightback and the Müller story would have played out. I’ll have to complain to Inter.”
The result ended Bayern’s 22-match unbeaten home run in Europe — a streak stretching back to April 7, 2021, against Paris Saint-Germain — and kept up Inter’s hopes of returning to the same stadium for the Champions League final on May 31.
But first up it has to face Bayern in the return leg next Wednesday at San Siro, with the winner playing either Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals. “It’s a great
DEMOLISHES HAPLESS LEICESTER TO MOVE INTO TOP FIVE
LEICESTER, England
(AP) — Jacob Murphy scored twice in the first 11 minutes and set Newcastle on its way to a 3-0 win over a hapless Leicester in the Premier League on Monday.
Murphy’s goals were the main talking point, along with the secondhalf appearance of Jeremy Monga, who at 15 years, 271 days, became the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League.
Monga replaced Bilal El Khannouss for Leicester 16 minutes from time wearing a different, logo-less shirt from his teammates because he is too young to advertise the betting firm that sponsors the home side.
Murphy scored the opener after two minutes when he stole in at the back post to convert a low cross from Tino Livramento. Leicester had six men inside the six-yard box but the ball went past them all and Murphy made no mistake. The well-travelled winger scored a breathtaking second nine minutes later thanks largely to the audacity of Fabian Schär.
Schär’s attempt from inside his own half bounced back off the crossbar with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen well beaten but Murphy followed up to slam home the rebound with the Leicester defence AWOL.
Former Leicester winger Harvey Barnes scored the third after 33 minutes when he poked home a Joelinton shot that the keeper parried.
It was a damage limitation exercise from then on for Leicester, which became the first league team to lose eight consecutive home matches without scoring. It remained second to last, three points behind Ipswich and five behind Wolves.
INTER’S LAUTARO MARTINEZ, center, and Nicolo Barella, right, celebrate after the Champions League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)
sign, above all for us,” said Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, who was named player of the match by UEFA. “We have great self-esteem and we know that we can do great things if we play like this. “Maybe from an individual point of view there are teams that have more talent, that are stronger than us. But playing together we can cause problems for everyone.”
Arsenal stunned Real Madrid 3-0 in Tuesday’s other game, leaving the English team on the verge of a semifinal matchup against either Aston Villa or PSG. Inter had lost its last two meetings with Bayern 2-0
in the Champions League group stage in 2022-23 — the season the Italian team went on to reach the final.
However, it had beaten Bayern in the 2010 final to clinch a treble of the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup — something the Nerazzurri are looking to repeat this year.
Bayern was decimated by injuries, including to attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala after the Germany star tore a hamstring last weekend. Inter also had several players out.
Kane was looking to add to his tally of 10 Champions League goals this season and he should have done so in the 26th minute. The Bayern fans
were practically already celebrating when the ball came to him on the left side of the area, completely unmarked, but he instead curled onto the outside of the far post.
Kane fell to his knees with hands on his face in disbelief.
While Bayern’s star forward missed, there was to be no such mistake from Inter’s 10 minutes later in a move started and finished by Lautaro. The Argentina World Cup winner gathered the ball in the center circle and sent Carlos Augusto down the left. The Brazilian defender then crossed for Marcus Thuram to flick it backwards to an onrushing
Lautaro, who smashed it into the roof of the net. It was Lautaro’s sixth goal in his past four Champions League matches. Both teams had chances in the second half but Bayern began to up the pressure as the game went on and its siege eventually paid off with a cross to the back post for Konrad Laimer, who put it back over the defenders for Müller to prod home from three yards out. Bayern began to believe in the winner but that left gaps at the back and Nicolò Barella spotted the run of Carlos Augusto, who then sped into the box and rolled across for substitute Frattesi to tap in.
“It’s hard to describe, to be honest, with how it’s been and it makes us feel awful right at the moment,” Leicester defender James Justin said. “You feel disconnection and disappointment when you step off the pitch ... it’s not been good enough for a couple of months now.
“I don’t know how many games it’s been since we last picked up a point. It’s a horrible moment for the club with how we’re playing on the pitch and trying to regain any confidence. There were bright spells from the lads who came off the bench and that’s the one positive to take.
“There is still a chance for us and we have to fight and claw for it but we aren’t showing it on the pitch.” Newcastle moved into fifth, equal on points with the team above it, Chelsea.
KYLE WALKER UNDERGOES SURGERY
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan defender Kyle Walker underwent an operation Tuesday after fracturing his elbow during training.
It is not known how long Walker will be sidelined for but there are only seven rounds remaining in Serie A. The Rossoneri are also involved in the Italian Cup, with the second leg of their semifinal against Inter Milan set for April 23.
“AC Milan can confirm that Kyle Walker sustained a fracture in his right elbow today,” the Italian team said in a statement. “To ensure better healing and optimize recovery time, the player underwent surgery in Milan to repair the olecranon through osteosynthesis.
“The operation went perfectly to plan. Kyle will begin rehabilitation immediately.”
AJ STORR, DEYTON ALBURY ENTER NCAA TRANSFER PORTAL
before transferring to the Wisconsin Badgers in his sophomore year.
Last season, he played with the Kansas Jayhawks but averaged the lowest numbers of his collegiate career and played minimal minutes.
He played in a total of 34 games and started in four.
While playing for the Jayhawks, he averaged 6.1 points per game (ppg) and 1.7 rebounds while shooting career lows from the
field (38.4 per cent) and from deep (29.1 per cent).
Before joining the Jayhawks, the 6-foot-7 junior guard was a standout performer for the Wisconsin Badgers, starting in all 36 of his games played.
While suiting up for the Badgers, he turned in 16.8 ppg and 3.9 rebounds while connecting on 43.4 per cent of his field goals and 32 per cent of his threes.
Storr’s junior year with the Jayhawks ended with a 79-72 first round exit against the Arizona Razorbacks. He dropped 15
points on 4-for-7 shooting in the loss.
Albury is the latest Bahamian to search for a new collegiate home via the transfer portal. He spent his last season with the Utah State Aggies men’s basketball team after transferring from Queen’s University where he averaged 17 ppg to pair with 5.8 rebounds during the 202324 season. The 6-foot-2 guard also managed to secure the ASUN Newcomer of the Year award while playing for the Royals.
His tenure with the Utah State Aggies was filled with team success as the group finished with a 26-8 win/ loss record and 15-5 conference record for third in the Mountain West.
The team ended their season with a first round loss 72-47 against the no.7 UCLA.
Albury averaged 7.8 ppg, 2.5 boards and 1.7 assists while shooting 54.8 per cent from the field and 43.3 per cent from three in 34 games but his minutes dipped while playing for Utah State.
Since hitting the transfer portal, Albury has garnered the attention of a few respectable basketball programmes.
The two guards are not the only Bahamian collegiate players to hit the transfer portal.
Remaining players include Rhema Collins, Veronaye Charlton and Romad Dean.
Bahamian big Fredrick King made the decision to transfer from the Creighton Blue Jays to the Murray State Racers earlier this week.
CHAMPIONS Freedom Farm Baseball League.
Freedom Farm wins bragging rights
FROM PAGE E1
Ray Stubbs, who served as the head coach and was assisted by Garvin Newball, said his Freedom Farm baseball team went to Eleuthera and played good fundamental baseball.
“It wasn’t that much competition. Our guys put the bat on the ball, we made good plays and the pitching was good,” he said. “We didn’t have any challenges.
“When Freedom Farm moves, that’s how we move. We expected victory. From our president to the players, we don’t expect anything less.”
He noted that the battery combination of pitcher Gianno Newball and catcher Bosfield Butler provided the spark, but they also got some key performances from TaKaryi Butler. He said they did what they did and now they will prepare for the Nationals.
“Some teams say they didn’t have their full team,
so we will see what happens at the Nationals in June,” he said.
For JBLN, Alantonio Knowles, who was assisted by Anton Newbold, Norman Bastian and Deshaun Woods, said he was extremely proud of his team’s performance, even though they were not at full strength.
“Even though we came in second, they handled themselves extremely well on and off the field,” Knowles said. “Based on the competition, the heart and skills of our players was something that we were particularly pleased with.”
Knowles said while it was their “developmental team” in Eleuthera, it gave JBLN an indication of what they need to do to be ready for the Nationals in June.
“We took some of the players who may not make the team in June to hone their skills,” he said. “We wanted to get the experience of playing in a national event. But at the
nationals, you can expect JBLN to put on a much better show. We will have our top-notch players as we will go to Grand Bahama to show what we’re made of.”
JBLN’s team consisted of Kealan Cartwright, Briland Cunningham, Demetrios Cleare, Eugene Pratt, Jaleen Bowleg, Amard Taylor, Dawson Bastian, D’Mari Ferguson, Aryan Shetty and Philip Ferguson.
Pedro Williams, the coach for Abaco, said while it was the first time many of his players travelled to play outside of Abaco, it was a bit hectic for them.
“The games went very well. It was a bit short notice for us to complete the tournament on Saturday, but it worked out very well because we got a chance to go on a tour of Eleuthera on Sunday,” Williams said.
Williams was particularly pleased with his pitcher Zakai Curry, who led their team that also featured Nakai Pritchard, Dadon
Mills, Ahmad Bootle Jr and Rivante Armaly.
As they head back to Abaco, Williams says once the high school baseball season is completed, they will reassemble the team to get ready for the Nationals.
“In talking to them, they have told me that they will be back and more prepared to play Freedom Farm again.
“They blew us out in our game on Saturday, but they say it won’t be the same when they face them again,” Williams said.
“They just have to put in the work and we intend to do that because we want to prove that we have the ability to play against teams like Freedom Farm and JBLN and the teams from Grand Bahama, who didn’t participate in the tournament.”
Newly elected BBA president Clarence ‘CJ’ McKenzie, who was on hand to support the Eleuthera Baseball Association in hosting the mini tournament, said it was a great event.
“We had some competition from JBLN and Freedom Farm, who put on a show for the spectators,” McKenzie said. “The competition was stiff, including the bronze medal game between Abaco and Eleuthera.
“Anytime you have Freedom Farm and JBLN matchup against each other, you can expect some fireworks. They played a very competitive game in the final, but Freedom Farm got the better of the two.”
McKenzie commended the organisers in Eleuthera for putting on a splendid event in Palmetto Point where they were able to reconstruct the playing facility there.
The BBA now takes its attention to the Nationals from June 19-22 at the Emera Baseball Stadium in Grand Bahama for the 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U.
The senior nationals for players in the 16U and 20U will take place at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium June 6-9.
ANOTHER GEAR: Bahamian sprinter Carlos Brown
is elevating to a new level during his first year as a senior.
coming into his first year as a senior the focus is the World Athletics Championships set for September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan. “Coming into the season as a senior, my mindset is really focused on making the World Championships team and so far I am on the right track so we will see how it goes later in the season. Consistency is key, hard work, trusting in God and trusting in my coach’s word and training,” he said.
Brown, who trains with Swift Athletics under the tutelage of Andrew Tynes, had his fair share of nagging injuries during his final year as a junior but still managed to make some noise at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
He was the lone Bahamian to make a final and finished eighth in the 200m event with a time of 21.51 seconds.
The former CARIFTA medallist admitted that he feels healthier this season and is optimistic about the rest of the outdoor season.
“I would say I feel much better compared to last year because last year I was dealing with a lot of injuries but this year I am feeling a lot better,” he said.
“I am now focusing on the World Championships so later on we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, I will make the team and I am trusting in God once again.” Brown has seemingly found another gear in his first season on the senior stage and he appears to be on his way to achieving his goals.
Next up for the gifted sprinter will be the 2025 Pure Athletics Spring Invitational set for April 26 in Clermont, Florida.
MIKE SANDS: WE CAN EXPECT A HIGH LEVEL OF COMPETITION AT CARIFTA GAMES
Trinidad & Tobago,” Sands said.
“Bringing the best of the Caribbean together, we can look forward to this being one of the best that we have ever seen. We have about 26 member associations and all of them are expected to be represented with very large teams.” The track and field competition will be held simultaneously with the CARIFTA Swimming Championships at the National Swim Complex.
So to ensure that they maximise the resources available, Sands said the Local Organising Committee, which has the oversight for both competitions, will be hosting one massive opening ceremonies on Good Friday at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium in Port of Spain for both events. Both sports will then be divided with their own LOC staging the track and field competition from April 19-21 and the swimming from April 19-22.
“It’s always good to provide this type of
competition for our young people and so we expect that Trinidad and Tobago, with its Carnival background, will open up its country to put on a spectacular event.
Since the inception of the games in 1972 by Austin Sealy, who was serving as the president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago has hosted the yearly competition six times - in 1973, 1987, 1991, 1998, 2003 and 2005.
With CARIFTA being the most attended event staged by NACAC, Sands said a number of dignitaries, led by World Athletics’ president Lord Sebastian Coe and a large number of his staff, have already booked their tickets.
He noted that invitations have also been extended to two area presidents, who have accepted and there will be several ministers of sports and directors of sports, including The Bahamas’ Mario Bowleg and Kelsie Johnson-Sills, who are all making their way to Trinidad.
“CARIFTA is a reunion, but there’s nothing to
compare it to, not even Carnival, which is very big in Trinidad,” Sands pointed out. “So we expect the dignitary line to be full in attendance.
“It’s a good thing because I keep making the plea for the governments of our area, even up to Caricom level, to pay more attention to sports, to put sports on the agenda. The more they come to see the event, the more they will appreciate what CARIFTA does for the region.”
As for the competition, the games have been dominated by Jamaica, having won the past 38 editions.
The Bahamas was the last country to defeat Jamaica, winning back-to-back titles in 1983 in Martinique and 1984 here in The Bahamas.
Prior to that, Jamaica won the first three editions, only to lose for the first time to Bermuda in 1975 in Bermuda.
Their only other losses came to another two-peat by The Bahamas in 1980 in Bermuda and 1981 again in The Bahamas.
“Jamaica is a good benchmark for all of the countries to use because their success
speaks for itself,” Sands said. “We have to be realistic in whether or not you will dethrone Jamaica or you will continue to close the gap.
“When you look at small island nations like Dominica and St Lucia, they are getting gold medal performances on the international stage, so while they may not be in a position to win CARIFTA, they are making an impact because of their participation in the games.”
With The Bahamas announcing a full complement of athletes and based on the level of enthusiasm he’s experienced by the athletes and the parents, he anticipates that they will give Jamaica a run for their money.
But he was cautious in his comments, indicating that Trinidad & Tobago are hosting the games and they have always fielded formidable teams and there is also Barbados, who should be right up there.
“You can’t count anybody out of CARIFTA because there is always a rising star born at the games,” Sands lamented. “We get to see
the next generation of athletes and so it should be very competitive as it is every year.”
CARIFTA has also caught the attention of just about every major college
track and field programme in the United States as they don’t just send scouts, but their head coaches and assistants flock to the games to find the next superstar in the region.
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