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The National Delegations congregated in the town of Soná and walked through the streets that were filled with thousands of supporters. When arriving to the Opening Ceremony stage for the Sands of the World Ceremony, two representatives of each delegation walked on stage, one waving the national flag while the other poured sand from their local beach into a glass container, symbolizing the peaceful gathering of nations through the love of surfing.

"It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games in Panama, in this incredible place of Santa Catalina and its amazing Panamanian waves that are feeding us a lot of energy that will transform this into a historic championship," remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerrre. "I want to give special thanks to President Martinelli, the Minister of Tourism Salomon Shamah, the organizers of the event Tuti de Leon and Patrick Castagnet and all of the Panamanians that since four years ago have been welcoming us with open arms and warm hearts to brighten our stay."

"First of all, we are bringing this event to the interior of the country where our nation's natural resources are and the spirit and culture," said Vice Minister of Tourism Ernesto Orillac. "By bringing all of these people from all over the world, will leave as ambassadors of our country."

"Everyone that is involved in sports knows that even with great support, a lot of work goes into putting on this kind of World Championship," said Panama's National Olympic Committee President Camilo Amado. "These types of occurrences have a great effect on our national athletes to help them develop and represent our country by improving year after year."

After a beautiful showcase of local Panamanian traditional dances, the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games was officially declared open.

Following the Opening Ceremony, the Official Press Conference took place featuring ISA President Fernando Aguerre, Panama's Vice Minister of Tourism Ernesto Orillac, Mayor of Soná Faustino Camaño, Reef Latin America Marketing Manager Alejandro Azpiazu, Panama's National Olympic President Camilo Amado, Team Panama's Gian Carlos "Oli" Gonzales, and Team Australia's Coach Mike McSuliffe. Dozens of Panama's media outlets were in attendance.

Competition starts on Sunday with The Morning Show at 7:40am (local time) followed by all 24 heats of the Open Men's Qualifying round. (Press Release)

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The confirmed countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

“There are only a few days to go before the Opening Ceremony and the start of the 2013 Reef ISA World Surfing Games. All National Teams have been announced and the athletes have begun to arrive in the surf town of Santa Catalina, Panama,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

“The surfers will be practicing at the world-class reef break waves in preparation for the World Championship that begins with the Opening Ceremony on Saturday and the competition on Sunday. Great surfing conditions and waves in the head high to overhead range in Panama’s 84 degree (29 C) water are welcoming the delegations. As I like to remind all competitors, representing your country for national pride is one of the highest honors. You are already a winner by competing on behalf of your National Surfing Team.”

“Plenty of contestable waves are lining up for the entire event; starting off with a solid SSW swell, then possibly ending with another good SW swell. At least for the first few days or so, conditions are looking good as well, with mornings offering the best wind with incoming tide,” said Surfline Forecaster Jonathan Warren. “At this point, we’re looking at head high sets or better for the entire event.” (surf.transworld.net)

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Well, even at the ripe ole’ age of 43, after 12 All-Star games, five World Series rings and with a Major League record of 617 saves, Rivera is still doing things even he himself has never done.

Seriously.

Simply known to generations of Yankees fans as “Mo,” the last player still wearing the No. 42 (it was retired by MLB in honor of Jackie Robinson, but Rivera was grandfathered in because he was wearing it before the league-wide retirement) has still got it.

Oh yes, and did we mention that he spent all of last year recovering from a torn ACL only to come back and dominate like he has thus far?

Yeah, that too.

Editor's Comment: So technically speaking, Mariano Rivera had the best April of his career. He converted all eight of his save opportunities since opening day, and now has a total of 617. He's on pace for another 40+ season, which he has already done eight times, most recently during his last full season in 2011 when he notched 44 before getting hurt early in the 2012 season. Mo's back, baby...

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The Mexicans, coached by the same Raul Gutierrez who led them to world glory on home soil two years ago, sizzled from the start. They opened their account with a tidy 2-0 win over Honduras before booking top spot in their group with a 5-1 demolition of outgunned Cuba in a game in which the fizzy Luis Hernandez grabbed a clinical brace.

A 2-0 win in their quarter-final over Guatemala was enough to see Mexico into the semi-finals and assured them a place at the U-17 world finals. But they weren’t content just to reach the big show, saving their best form for the home stretch. They beat Honduras for the second time in the tournament, this time 3-1, with an emphatic bicycle-kick from Marco Granados to reach the final.

Back-and-forth final

Played in front of a raucous home crowd at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Mexico looked like wilting under the pressure when they went a goal down five minutes after the interval. However, they showed the spirit of true champions, equalising seven minutes later when Panama goalkeeper Jaime De Gracia put the ball into his own net from a corner. With 20 minutes left to go in the game, Mexico sealed the deal – again from a corner – when Salomon Wbias swung his left boot at the ball and planted it into the net from close range.

A quick look at the stats shows just how dominant the Mexicans were throughout the competition, scoring an incredible 15 goals in five games and conceding just three.

Despite their loss in the final, Panama showed they are the fastest improving nation on CONCACAF’s footballing scene, securing their place in a second-straight U-17 world finals with some very lively performances. Coach Jorge Dely Valdes’s men played a sparkling brand of counter-attacking football, full of energy and cool finishing in front of goal. Ervin Zorilla scored three times and looks to be a real rising star in the region.

After finishing first in their group, the Panamanians came from a goal down to beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 and book their place in the semi-finals, where they held firm to beat Canada 2-1.

Honduras and Canada will be pleased with their performances. Having reached the semi-finals, both sides are more than capable of pulling off some upsets come kick-off time in UAE later this year. For Canada coach Sean Fleming, who brings his side back to the U-17 showpiece for the second straight time, it was a job well done. "It is a tremendous feeling and you cannot take these moments for granted," Fleming said. "The boys were immense and to qualify for our second-consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cup is a great achievement."

Americans miss out for first time

In one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, USA failed to reach the semi-final round. As a result, the Americans – who boast one of the world’s most consistent and organised junior programs – miss out on the U-17 world finals for the first time in the tournament’s history. Coach Richie Williams said he was “very proud” of his players, who came up short in the quarter-final against Honduras after impressively winning their group.

“We all worked really, really hard and put in 100 per cent,” said USA goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell, who conceded three in the USA’s quarter-final loss (3-1). "At the end of the day, we just didn’t get it done. It stinks. We’ll all have learned from this and it’ll make us better players and better individuals. It’s something tough and we’ll have to get stronger and get on with it.”

Mexico, Panama, Honduras and Canada join a growing field of competitors for UAE 2013, which will take place between 17 October and 8 November. So far, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan and UAE (as hosts) have booked their place in the tournament. The rest of the world’s continental qualifying campaigns will take place over the coming months. (FIFA.com)

Editor's Comment: So, Mexico won the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship tournament. Panama ended up in second place as the runner-up, very well done. Canada beat Honduras on penalty kicks so they got third. And Honduras ended up in fourth. Panama did a great job in hosting this tournament.

David Simmons presented CONCACAF's congress with a detailed report into allegations of financial mismanagement by former president Warner and ex-general secretary Blazer based on documents and interviews with 38 people.

"I have recounted a sad and sorry tale in the life of CONCACAF, a tale of abuse of position and power, by persons who assisted in bringing the organization to profitability but who enriched themselves at the expense of their very own organizations," said Simmons, a former Barbados chief justice.

Delegates responded angrily to the report with one describing Warner, who is Minister of National Security in the Trinidad and Tobago government, and American Blazer as "white collar thieves".

The report found that Warner, 70, did not disclose to CONCACAF, which represents soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, or world body FIFA that a $25.9 million Center of Excellence was built on land owned by his companies.

"Approximately $26 million of CONCACAF funds went into the Center of Excellence and that is no longer an asset of CONCACAF," said Simmons.

CONCACAF is looking at legal options regarding the Center but Warner released a statement dismissing the report's conclusions.

"I left CONCACAF and turned my back on football two years ago. Since then I have had no interest in any football related matter.

"CONCACAF's report today is of no concern to me and as far as I am aware it is baseless and malicious," he said.

"If after 20 years of being the president of CONCACAF all its committee could have found is some baseless claim against me involving the Center of Excellence then I will continue to sleep very soundly at nights," Warner concluded in his statement.

Blazer was not immediately available to comment but, like Warner, has always previously denied any wrongdoing.

NO CONTRACT

Simmons said Blazer, who stands down from FIFA's executive committee on May 30 when he will be replaced by newly-elected compatriot Sunil Gulati, received more than $20 million in compensation from CONCACAF, including $17 million in commission.

He added that the 67-year-old Blazer worked without a contract from July 18, 1998 and his compensation was discussed only three times in CONCACAF forums during 21 years.

The report also found "no business reason" for the renting of apartments used by Blazer in Manhattan and said the American had also tried to buy property in the Bahamas, in 2007, for about $4 million using football funds.

Blazer was described by Simmons as "entirely negligent" for failing to file income tax returns for CONCACAF in the United States which led to the body losing its tax-exempt status as a non-profit organization.

Concluding his report, Simmons said the auditors used by CONCACAF during the Warner era, Trinidad-based Kenny Rampersad and Company, were not independent and cited documented proof that Warner and Blazer were clients of the firm.

Warner walked away from soccer in 2011 and thus did not have to face a FIFA Ethics Commission inquiry relating to bribery allegations surrounding the body's presidential election while Blazer resigned as general secretary in December that year.

The Integrity Committee was not asked to look into the details of the 'cash for votes' affair that led to the row between Warner and Blazer and their subsequent departures.

HAVELANGE CENTER

Simmons began his address to the congress, including FIFA president Sepp Blatter, by highlighting the case of the Joao Havelange Center of Excellence in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The Integrity Committee reported that the Center in which CONCACAF invested at least $25.9 million, some of which included loans from FIFA, was built on land owned by Warner privately and not the confederation.

"Warner represented to FIFA that funds would be used to support development but never told FIFA that Center would be situated on land owned by his companies," said Simmons.

"There is no evidence that Warner or anyone else ever disclosed to the CONCACAF executive committee or congress that lands on which the Center was built was owned by his companies," he said.

Simmons said that in deals surrounding the Center, Warner "deceived persons and organizations" into believing the facility was CONCACAF's and not his.

Simmons said that neither Warner nor Blazer cooperated with the investigation.

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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On his arrival in the airport, Castellanos met with his rival Caballero where they warmly shook hands and posed for press photos.

On his exit from the airport, Mexican Castellanos received all kinds of comments from the fans, and talking with the press he explained: "I’m calm and confident. I had a great preparation and I will win this fight either by KO or decision. I have a great winning strike and I will try to keep it. I want to fight for the world title and I’m sure that I can get it if I win this fight”.

When asked about how hard would be for him to face a tall fighter like Caballero, Castellanos said that it won’t be a problem because he has faced and defeated other fighters like him and that he has also trained for this battle with sparring partners of the same physical stature.

Celestino Caballero is a beloved fighter in Panama, who is an example for its youth. He’s always looking to help his community. Caballero politely and diplomatically commented: “Robin is a great boxer who has a very dangerous punch.” Nevertheless, he promised to defeat Mexican Castellanos to conquer the WBC silver title. (boxingscene.com)

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The U.S. U-17 Men's National Team lost 3-1 to Honduras in the quarterfinals of the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship on Sunday. The loss eliminated the USA from qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

U.S. Men’s National Team head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann
's team had also suffered a 2-1 loss to Honduras earlier this year.

The U-17 MNT nearly took the lead in the third minute on a corner kick from midfielder Joel Soñora. Defender Shaquell Moore rose above everybody and his downward header was on target, but cleared off the line by a Honduras defender.

The USA fashioned another superb chance in the 13th minute, with Soñora dancing into the area after a flowing move. He sidestepped his man before trying to poke a shot past onrushing goalkeeper Christian Hernandez, who did well to block the effort.

Honduras grew into the game and generated their first dangerous chance in the 26th minute. Brayan Velazquez latched onto a ball over the top, holding off defender John Requejo, Jr. to get into the area. U.S. goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell came up big with a brave and vital save, springing off his line to smother the shot.

In the 42nd minute, Honduras took the lead. Alvaro Romero collected the ball from a throw in before squaring it for Christopher Alegria, who wound up a full 30 yards from goal to hit a sizzling drive that Caldwell got a hand to, but failed to keep out of the net.

The USA's response was instant, however, with Soñora grabbing the equalizer. Fed by midfielder Christopher Lema, Soñora dribbled and cut in from the left, where he let fly with a shot that flew past Hernandez to tie the score at 1-1 heading into the break.

Honduras reclaimed the lead early in the second half as goalscorer Velazquez turned provider, threading a beautiful pass that deceived the U.S. defense. Alberto Elis timed his run to perfection at the far post to latch on to the ball and poke it past a stranded Caldwell from five yards out in the 57th minute.

Eleven minutes later Honduras doubled their lead off a free kick. Kevin Alvarez struck his shot perfectly, curling the ball over the wall from 23 yards and past Caldwell who was helpless to keep out the world-class effort.

The USA tried to get back into the match, and generated a few chances against an increasingly defensive Honduras side but was unable to pull one back.

The best effort came in the 86th minute when Moore put a shot just wide after a goalmouth scramble. In extra time, Conor Donovan rolled his shot wide of the mark as well.

Additional Notes:

2013 will mark the first time the USA has not competed in the U-17 FIFA World Cup. The USA had qualified for 14 consecutive tournaments before missing out as a result of Sunday's loss vs. Honduras.

U-17 MNT head coach Richie Williams made one starting lineup change from the group finale against Guatemala, a 1-0 victory on April 11 to win Group C. Tyler Turner made his first start of the tournament in the midfield. Turner came off the bench as a second-half sub in the first two games of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship.

Corey Baird pushed up from the midfield to forward against Honduras while Junior Flores was moved to a substitute role after starting the previous match against Guatemala.

Seven players on the USA's starting lineup Sunday have ties to the Development Academy, including six players who are currently registered with Academy clubs.

The USA fell to 7-1-0 against Honduras in CONCACAF Youth Tournaments and Championships in this age group. The U.S. has outscored Honduras 24-8.

On Saturday, two teams clinched a spot in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup out of the CONCACAF tournament. Canada rallied twice from single-goal deficits to beat Jamaica 4-2 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, qualifying for its second straight U-17 World Cup and sixth overall.

Host Panama also clinched a World Cup berth with a 4-2 victory against Trinidad & Tobago, overcoming a first-half deficit. This marks Panama's second-straight U-17 World Cup appearance. (soccernation.com)

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The Rommel Fernandez stadium will be painted red to support La Roja in their goal of winning their first game in a Hexagonal before Honduras at 9:00 pm tonight.

Panama, currently at third place in the Hexagonal with 2 points, is coming off of their 1-1 draw against Jamaica.

Honduras, with 4 points and in first place, just played Mexico to a 2-2 draw at home.

Honduras has an advantage over Panama in the playoffs. In eight games played, the Hondurans have five wins, one draw and two defeats.

The teams played in 2012.

Panama surprised Honduras 2-0 in San Pedro Sula with Blas Perez scoring both goals.

In the home game they tied 0-0 in the Rommel.

Panama suffers two absences: the coach Julio Dely has been suspended one game by FIFA, and Alberto Quintero will miss the game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

The Honduran Carlos Costly and Panama's Armando Cooper are in doubt, due to injury. The American Jair Marrufo will be the referee. (Siglo)

Both teams are now have two points through two matches, which was tied with Mexico for second place when the match ended.

Until the equalizer, Jamaica seemed to be on their way toward to a win that would have put them atop the Hexagonal. Bristol City's Marvin Elliott scored a 23rd minute header off a Rodolph Austin corner kick. It was Elliott's first international goal in just his third cap.

Despite the game being played in Kingston, Panama were the aggressor for much of the match. They had more than 60 percent of possession and outshot the hosts 10-9.

Panama will next host Honduras on March 26. While Jamaica's next match is the same day in Costa Rica. (sbnation.com)

FIFA warned that if this action is repeated in the Rommel Fernandez Stadium during Panama's upcoming game against Honduras, then the game against Mexico on 7 June 2013 will be held behind closed doors (no fans in the stadium), and they could impose could impose other sanctions.

The FEPAFUT asks the Panamanians fans to be on their best behavior and to refrain from throwing objects onto the field during the game on Tuesday, March 26 between Panama and Honduras. (Panama America)

The Americans, who lost 2-1 to Honduras on Feb. 6, play their first home match of qualifying against Costa Rica on Friday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

The other U.S. home games are against Panama on June 11 in Seattle; against Honduras on June 18 in Sandy, Utah; against Mexico on Sept. 10 in Columbus, Ohio; and against Jamaica on Oct. 11 in Kansas City, Kan.

The men’s national team also will play Germany on June 2 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., as part of U.S. Soccer’s 100th anniversary celebration. The women’s national team is to play Canada at BMOM Field in Toronto the same day.

After the training session is complete, three players and coach Julio Dely Valdes will talk to the media.

Later today, the players will be taken to the runway of the Tocumen International Airport to board their charter flight to be taken directly to Jamaica.

The team will return to home soil on Saturday to prepare for their third playoff game, with Honduras. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: This is the second of a total of ten games Panama will play as part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Fourth Round. Their first game was against Costa Rica on 6 February 2013, in which they tied 2-2. This game will be played tomorrow night against Jamaica, in Kingston.

The meeting will bring together officials from the 40 members of the body which represents football federations from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

A specially appointed integrity panel is also weighing sanctions against Warner, the disgraced former FIFA vice president, and Blazer, the most senior American official at FIFA for 16 years.

"Members are obviously very disappointed, some of them deeply disappointed, and they have a right to be,'' CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb told The Associated Press at FIFA headquarters.

Lingering anger is expected toward Blazer, whose whistleblower role alleging a FIFA election bribery plot in 2011 cost Warner the CONCACAF presidency and led FIFA to investigate more than 20 Caribbean football leaders.

With Blazer not seeking re-election to his FIFA executive committee seat, CONCACAF members will choose between Justino Compean of Mexico and Sunil Gulati of the United States to serve them in Zurich for the next four years.

Webb said that it was a "possibility'' that feelings toward Blazer could affect the chances of Gulati, the president of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

"At the end of the day, it is human nature. I think that would be unfair to Sunil,'' Webb said. "It's possible but I would hope, and I would think, that our membership is much more mature and beyond that.''

Voting is scheduled on the day CONCACAF officials receive a full audit from consultants BDO, who previously described "material weaknesses and significant deficiencies.''

Webb said he hopes the Panama gathering will end two years of turmoil within CONCACAF.

"It's a necessary process for us,'' Webb said. "Obviously we cannot continue to live in the past and continue to revisit. It's a healing process.''

At a heated meeting in Budapest last May, members learned that Warner - not CONCACAF - legally owned and had an unauthorized mortgage on a FIFA-funded $22.5 million training center in his native Trinidad. Blazer's million-dollar payments from his 10 percent commissions, approved by Warner, on commercial deals he helped negotiate also provoked outrage.

Also, Warner and Qatari candidate Mohamed bin Hammam were implicated in offering $40,000 cash payments to Caribbean voters in Trinidad during bin Hammam's failed run for the FIFA presidency. Blazer helped to gather evidence for FIFA and bin Hammam was suspended before Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed.

Blazer stepped down as CONCACAF general secretary in late 2011, before the forensic audit was ordered.

On the sidelines of last year's FIFA Congress, CONCACAF countries elected Webb to succeed Warner and listened to BDO's interim findings.

CONCACAF, which had been run by Blazer in New York, reported itself to U.S. tax authorities for failure to report tax returns since at least 2007. It had "potential tax liabilities'' in excess of its $2 million reserves.

Webb said the audit and a report by the integrity panel, chaired by former Barbados chief justice David Simmons, will be presented to CONCACAF's executive committee on April 18, then to members the next day.

"They wanted transparency, they wanted clarity, they wanted to know what has existed in the past,'' Webb said.

He said he hoped Blazer and Warner would speak with the integrity panel and give "the level of respect, and the membership the respect, that we deserve.''

Still, he acknowledged the "huge transformation'' in CONCACAF `s status and revenues during their two decades running the organization.

"I would hope that, within time, we would appreciate the good as well and not only focus on and analyze and dissect the bad,'' Webb said.

Also in Panama, five of the 40 countries should be upgraded to full CONCACAF member status and move closer to FIFA recognition: The Netherlands territory of St. Maarten, French Guyana and French overseas departments Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Martin.

Webb said they could join FIFA by 2015 and "definitely'' be eligible to enter qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

This ranking reflects a one position improvement compared to the month of February 2013, when Panama was ranked at 42.

Peru shares the position with Panama with the same amount of points. Spain is number one in the FIFA rankings. (Dia a Dia)

Editor's Comment: Historically speaking, this ranking (41) is the best ever held by Panama.