SPORTS SECTION E
Friday, March 20, 2026
FIFA MINI-ARENA - E4
‘Lil Mike’ one of the top 20 beach soccer goalies in the world By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Michael ‘Lil Mike’ Butler Jr in action on beach soccer pitch.
WHILE he’s now expanding his horizon as a libero in volleyball, Michael “Lil Mike” Butler Jr has emerged as one of the top 20 beach soccer goalkeepers. The list was released on Wednesday with Butler Jr being named to the shortlist of goalkeepers from around the world. From the list, men's captains and coaches will also vote for the Beach Soccer Stars 2025 award for Men's Best Goalkeeper. Talented Butler Jr, the 27-year-old son of national team manager Michael Butler Sr, is the captain of the men's beach soccer team and head coach for the women's beach soccer national team.
In addition to his national duties, Butler Jr also ventured into the US Pro Open last year where he increased his stock as a goalkeeper with some outstanding performances. "It was a bit of a shock, excited, but still expected," Butler said."I almost forgot about the rankings at the end of the season. But I had a good start to my season last year. "We had the World Cup qualifier here and although we didn't qualify, I played well. I was the captain of the team. Then I went to the pro league in the summer and we won the pro tournament in San Diego where I was the best goalkeeper and went to the section pro open like I'm going to in Virginia. We came second and I had a great performance."
Team Bahamas went on to play in El Salvador in December and while Butler Jr admitted that it wasn't one of his best performances, it still helped in him getting in the top 20 ranking in the world as a goalie. "It means the world to me. It just proves that Bahamians are some of the most talented and gifted athletes on the planet," Butler Jr stressed. "I've been around the world and played around the world, but I've noticed that there's no one with better natural talent and ability than Bahamians. We just get beat out by the population of these other countries. “But with the raw ability to pick up and learn things so far, there's nothing like
SOCCER - SEE Page E3
Carl Hield looking for Commonwealth title shot By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NOW that he's back home with his third international belt and his first under the World Boxing Council, Carl “Flashy” Hield could be preparing for a British Commonwealth super welterweight title shot. The 39-year-old Hield remained undefeated in 15 professional fights after he won the WBC title on February 28 in Pereira, Colombia, after Venezuelan Carlos Eduardo Jimenez couldn't answer the bell to start the fourth round. In the process, he was awarded the vacant WBC FECARBOX super welterweight title to add to the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedecaribe and National Boxing Association (NBA) Latin super welterweight titles
he previously held. After taking a short break to recuperate, Hield is in the ring training at the Strikers Boxing Club under the supervision of his trainer/ manager Ronn Rodgers for a possible British Commonwealth title shot. "He's been training. He's been back in the gym after taking a week off to rest," Rodgers said. "We're trying to line up the British Commonwealth title fight for him. "I'm still waiting on the Commonwealth belt organisation to get back to me as far as the sanctioning and belt fees are concerned. We want to see if we can get on a card over there in the UK. So our next challenge is to fight for the Commonwealth title this year." Depending on what decision is made, Rodgers said Hield could put on an exhibition show at the end of
April on the beach, but they don't want to release any information until they hear from the British Commonwealth organisation." Hield, unharmed during his last fight in Colombia, has been back in the gym training since Monday. He's expected to get in some sparring to get him back up to speed in his training. "It's amazing to have someone behind you who believes in you because the British Commonwealth title is the next big route for me," Hield said. "The British Commonwealth title fight would put the extra mileage on me getting a big fight this year or even the world title fight earlier next year." As he has done in preparation for all of his fights, Hield said he will continue to give 150 per cent in his training sessions. "Every training camp is a better
training camp, depending on who you are going to fight," Hield said. "But whenever the fight comes up, I will be ready to fight." Coming off his last fight, Hield said he was disappointed when he arrived home with three belts but he didn't get any type of recognition from the government. "I'm just focused on my goal of being a world champion. But I was really disappointed knowing that as one of two Bahamian boxers keeping The Bahamas name out there in the boxing world and to come home without any recognition was a little disappointing." In dedicating his fight to his number one fan, his deceased mother Norman Hield, Hield once again thanked his sponsors Gurus, Rigger242, R&R Sports Management,
READY TO RUMBLE: Carl ‘Flashy’ Hield and his manager Ronn Rodgers. Strikers Boxing Gym and the West End Construction and Repairs. He noted that he can't wait to get back in the ring to fight again, hopefully for
the British Commonwealth title or to defend one of the three titles he currently holds. "Whoever steps in the ring, I want to be ready to fight," Hield stressed.
Bahamas Bowling Federation completes national team roll-off By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DESPITE only having a four lane arena to work with at the ICONS Bowling and Entertainment Center, the Bahamas Bowling Federation completed their national team roll-off earlier this month. The trials was held on Sunday, March 8, at ICONS at The Pointe where the federation selected the top eight finishers in the men and women divisions to make up the national team. The bowlers selected will be participating in several international tournaments with the view of qualifying The Bahamas for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The team selected is a good mixture of veterans, rookies and our youth bowlers and is as follows: Females Janice Hoyte, Jonice Lockhart, Tara Johnson, Camille Burnside, Kayla Nixon, Tara Culmer, Santa Kerr and Angela Smith. Males - Stan Bethel Jr, Leonardo Davis, Henry Theofile, Sonith Lockhart, Ansel Ferguson, Kevin
Williams, Vaughn Gibson and Bradley Fowler. Among the international tournaments that the bowlers will compete in are: The Female Pan Am Championships in Bogota, Colombia, June 7-13, IBF World Youth Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia, June 27 to July 7, Pan Am Senior & Super Senor in Monterrey, Mexico, August 29 to September 5, IBF World Cup Championships in Munich, Germany, from October 12-21 and the Pan Am Champion of Champions in San Jose, Costa Rica, October 25-30. Burnside, the newly elected president of the federation, said they had about 26 bowlers who participated in the trials, which showed that there is still a lot of interest in the sport. "We are trying to tell them that the federation is trying to bring bowling back to the level that it was prior to COVID-19," Burnside said. "The majority of the bowlers who participated in the trials were among the top bowlers who are currently participating in bowling."
BOWLING - SEE Page E3