In true Digicel style the Sab sporting facility was plastered with red paraphernalia of the telecommunication giant. Dozens of young boys from eight football academies from around the island, battled it out on the lush green surface of what was once called Vigie
playing field, to determine who would be the ultimate Under 13 champion. In group one defending champions VSADC Youth Academy and GIG’s Soccer Academy of Soufriere found the going tough as they were eliminated by Gros Islet Youth Academy and Mabouya Valley.
Valley Soccer Academy and Vieux Fort North Youth Academy got the better of NYAH Youth Academy and Roseau Youth Academy In group two.
In the semifinal that followed Vieux Forth North Youth Academy defeated Mabouya Valley one goal to nil from a goal scored by Al Charles wearing the number seventeen in the second half of the match, while Valley Soccer Academy and
Gros Islet Youth Academy played to a one all draw. Sebastien Ribout scored in the first half from a penalty, while Nictus Lawerance equalized for Gros Islet sending the game into a penalty shootout 9–8 in favour of Valley Soccer Academy. Mabouya Valley got the better of Gros Islet 2 goals to nil in the 3rd place play off.
In the grand finale, a spirited Valley Soccer Academy defeated Vieux Forth North 1-0, a goal scored by Sebastien Ribout earned them the championship trophy for the second annual Digicel Junior Soccerama, the fair skin Sebastien turned pink playing in the scorching Sunday sun, got his just reward, when he received the trophy for the Most Goals Scored and MVP of the Tournament. Their smart looking orange top and blue pants uniform also earned them the Best Dressed trophy.
The Most Disciplined Team trophy went to Vieux Fort North and the efforts of young Shane Badal earned him the Best Goalkeeper award.
A Representative of the main sponsor said that they were satisfied with management of the tournament by Castries Football Council.
Digicel’s general manager OECS south Geraldine Pitt in an exclusive interview, answering a question on the cost for such an elaborate looking program said “For us
it’s not about the money, it’s more about our involvement in youth development.
Clearly we realize sports
is the way to go, it’s a way to keep the young people engaged and for us that’s
why we do it.
The soft spoken general manager went on to say “it is just another aspect of our sponsorship in cultural development and youth development in St Lucia.We do quite a lot more then sports, so the money is secondary.”
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