Black Immigrant Daily News

For the last two decades or so, Portugal arrived at every major tournament with all eyes on Cristiano Ronaldo.

The team’s hopes of doing well at World Cups and European Championships were mostly dependent on whether Ronaldo could successfully lead his team to victory.

He will still be Portugal’s biggest star in Qatar, but this time there will be lot more to Portugal than Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old forward has been showing signs of a letdown for the first time in his career, and will enter what could be his last World Cup without the status of indisputable starter.

Ronaldo has been playing fewer minutes at Manchester United, and even with Portugal he recently was relegated to the bench, something unimaginable not long ago.

“It was a tactical and technical decision,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said when he left the all-time leading scorer in international soccer on the bench in a Nations League match against Spain in June.

Now Santos has a greater cast of players who can share the spotlight with Ronaldo. Portugal has a very good new generation of players that includes Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Jo?o F?lix.

Premier supportSome of the Portuguese players who will be sharing the spotlight with Ronaldo have been thriving in the Premier League recently.

Silva is a regular starter in a Manchester City team that also includes Portugal defenders Jo?o Cancelo and R?ben Dias. Bruno Fernandes has been doing well as Ronaldo’s teammate at Man United, and Liverpool’s Diogo Jota will only miss the World Cup because of an injury.

F?lix’s debutWhile Ronaldo could be making his World Cup farewell, Jo?o F?lix is set to make his debut.

It wasn’t long ago that F?lix was being touted in Portugal as the next Ronaldo, drawing widespread comparisons with the star after a quick rise through the youth squads at Benfica.

Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix runs with the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Levante at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

F?lix, who will be 23 at the World Cup, remains one of Portugal’s main hopes for the future, but the hype surrounding him has faded a bit since he signed with Atl?tico Madrid and struggled to immediately meet expectations.

He was off to a good start this season and appeared to be finally settling in with the club, but again gradually lost time on the field. He also hasn’t been a regular starter with Portugal recently, playing fewer minutes under Santos entering the World Cup.

Veteran PepeAnother veteran Portugal player who may be appearing in his last World Cup is Pepe, who is two years older than Ronaldo and is set to lead the defence at the tournament for a fourth consecutive time.

Known for his leadership and toughness, Pepe has been an indisputable starter for the national team at centre back. He will enter the tournament just shy of 130 appearances with Portugal, which is third on the all-time list.

He also played in four European Championships for his country, including when Portugal won the title in 2016.

The veteran defender may not be in his best shape entering the tournament in Qatar, though, after picking up a knee injury that was expected to sideline him ahead of the tournament.

Recent setbacksAfter finally breaking through with a major title at Euro 2016, Portugal also added the title of the inaugural edition of the Nations League at home in 2019. But it didn’t make it past the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup and at Euro 2020.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Switzerland, at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

There was concern about the team’s disappointing performances in recent important games, including when it failed at home against Serbia with an automatic World Cup spot on the line and against Spain in the final round of its group in this year’s Nations League.

The setbacks have led many to question Santos, and speculate whether this generation could have been doing better with someone else in charge.

“I’m not worried,” Santos said when asked about those doubting him. “I have a contract until 2024.”___By TALES AZZONI

AP Sports Writer

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The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture & Heritage has announced the appointment of a young Caymanian as Assistant Director of Sports – Programmes.

Emily Kelly’s duties involve overseeing the department’s 20 coaches and sports coordinators to support them in delivering community programmes, camps, workshops, recreational leagues and events, along with school coaching sessions.

She will also help to develop and maintain strong working relationships with local sports associations and organisations to increase collaborative efforts, and devise methods of assessing and evaluating programmes to maximise the department’s potential, according to the ministry.

Director of Sports Kurt Hyde said: “I am so pleased to welcome Ms Kelly to the team. Her skills, experience and drive are going to greatly enhance our community programmes and assist in ongoing talent identification and development.”

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Richmond, Virginia (Bachelor of Arts). She brings a wealth of US collegiate coaching and administrative experience to her current role. Her time at Division 1 and Division 3 institutions includes two years of coaching at the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia; and one season coaching at her alma mater.

Ms Kelly went on to study a Master’s programme in Sports Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Centre. Its curriculum sparked her interest in the administrative side of college athletics, allowing her to support student-athletes with a more holistic approach to athlete development.

Kelly then secured an administrative role as the LEADS Programme Coordinator (a leadership development programme that provides a comprehensive and educational view of leadership for student-athletes) at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts.

Prior to joining the Department of Sports, she was Director of Student-Athlete Development at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. During that time, Ms Kelly facilitated numerous leadership and life skills workshops, guiding athletes on building a well-rounded portfolio, identifying transferrable skills, and marketing themselves as they begin to navigate life beyond sport.

Speaking about her first post on island, the former Cayman National U17 and U20 footballer said: “I’m thrilled to join the Department of Sports and work alongside so many individuals who are passionate about our islands’ sports engagement, and empowered me when I was a young athlete.

“The opportunity to contribute to building a more collaborative culture to enhance the development of young Caymanians in sports — both as athletes, and those who aspire to work in the industry — energises me greatly. I’m eager to help elevate the sports landscape across our islands, and feel very grateful to be in a position to do so.”

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Passersby ran for cover on Thursday morning as gunplay erupted in Vieux Fort, a short distance from the Vieux Fort bus stand.

Multiple eyewitnesses reported that at about 8:30 am, there was an exchange of gunfire between two men, one of whom appeared to have sustained a foot injury and hobbled away from the scene.

The other shooter is said to have ridden away on a bicycle.

Spent shell case on ground

According to the eyewitnesses, police were quickly on the scene.

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The latest shooting incident has renewed concern about the safety of residents.

The President of the Southern Minibus Association, Marcellinus Faisal, said he was not present when the shooting occurred.

But he disclosed that based on the information he received, Thursday morning’s gunplay occurred as students were on their way to school.

“You don’t feel safe because any stray bullet can take you,” Faisal told St Lucia Times.

He declared that the authorities have to get guns out of the hands of criminals.

In addition, Faisal spoke of the need for a more significant police presence on the streets.

“You hardly find the police patrolling the streets, especially in the area where the bus stand is where you have a lot of commuters coming to take the bus,” he asserted.

Faisal also called for a greater police presence in Vieux Fort crime hotspots.

Headline photo: Armed police officers at scene of shooting

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PARAMARIBO — Een vrouw die geruime tijd doelloos rondliep in de omgeving van Leidingen is uit veiligheidsoverwegingen overgebracht naar het

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