[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was a full and exciting day of youth football on Saturday May 12th at the Sab Sporting Facility when the final matches were held in the Piton Malta Castries Football Council (CFC) / Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Northern Zone Youth Football Tournament, as well as the Gros Islet Football League Saint Lucia Football Association Guardsman U14 Tournament.
A large crowd turned up to watch the youth teams battle for trophies and medals in the U10, U14 and U17 age groups.
In the first match of the day, the U10 third place playoff Valley Soccer Club took on their Castries rivals VSADC Pinehill U10. From the first whistle VSADC Pinehill U10 took the attacking initiative and had Valley Soccer Club under pressure. This however, did not result in any goals and the match was tied at the half time.
The second half proceeded in much the same fashion. The normally clinical Jahnard Modeste of VSADC Pinehill U10 had three opportunities to give his team the lead when he broke away facing only the goal keeper, however, he uncharacteristically spurned all three chances. Valley Soccer Club rode their luck and a clinical finish in the second half was enough to give them third place in the U10 division.
In the U10 finals, Massy Stores Northern United of Gros Islet took on B1 of Marchand. Massy Stores Northern United featuring striker Thierry Morielle came into the match as the favorites, but B1 who upset group winners VSADC Pinehill U10 and Valley Soccer Club in previous matches were quietly confident.
They held their own early on as the first half was tied at 1-1. However, in the second half, Morille stamped his authority on the match with a five-minute brace and Ashton Phillip scored the fourth goal to give Massy Stores Northern United the U10 championship.
The U17 third place play off featured VSADC Lucozade U17 versus New Generation from Babonneau.
The match was an open affair as both teams played attacking football. New Generation were gifted a goal in the 16th minute when a mixed up between VSADC stand in goal keeper Nathan Weekes and defender Ziggy Hinkson, allowed a free kick from Shanicus Louis to bounce into the goal.
VSADC Lucoazade U17 had several opportunities to equalize the match but poor finishing by midfielder Mitchell Jean, condemned his team to defeat and handed New Generation the third place trophy.
The U17 finals between Valley Soccer Club of Castries and Big Players lived up to its billing as the headliner of the day. The match featured national U17 selectees Rio Longville of Valley Soccer Club and Jeanie Lesmond of Big Players. During the round robin and knockout stages, Big Players were a rampant offensive juggernaut while Valley Soccer Club consistently found a way to win tight games.
True to form, Big Players struck first when they talisman Lesmond blasted one home in the second minute of play.
Being a goal behind spurred on Valley Soccer Club. They played a physical game which seemed to unsettled Big Players. Their persistent paid off when Longville inevitably got his team’s equalizer in the 32nd minute.
From that moment onwards the game featured frantic attacking play with the Valley Soccer custodian Jeanquin Mathurin making several miraculous saves to keep the score levelled. At the end of regular time the game was still tied and the extra time could not produce a result. The matter was eventually settled via penalty kicks.
Longville made the shift to goal and while he was able to stop one penalty, Big Players were crowned champions, when Niall Bergasse of Valley Soccer Club blasted his effort over the bar to resign his team to a three goals to four defeat.
At the end of the matches, Parliamentary Representative for Central Castries, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun assisted in handing over the trophies and medals for the first, second, and third place teams in the U10 and U17 divisions, as well as individual awards.
The awards were as follows. U10: Best Goal Keeper, Keyvez Francois of Massy Stores Northern United; Female Award, Azun George of B1; Most Goals, Thierry Morielle of Massy Stores Northern United; MVP, Thierry Morielle of Massy Stores Northern United.
U17: Best Goal Keeper, Jeanquim Mathurin of Valley Soccer Club; Best Defender, Tscimba Alexander of Big Players; Best Midfielder, Kimani Cherubin of Big Players; Golden Boots and Best Forward, Jenaie Lesmond of Big Players.
The Castries Football Council thanked the general public for their support throughout the tournament at all three venues. Additionally, special mention is made of the Gros Islet and La Clery Football Leagues for allowing use of their venues, sponsors, SLFA and Piton Malta, match officials, participating clubs and the volunteers of the tournament organizing committee.
Next up for the CFC’s youth program is the 2018 Castries Football Council Youth League slated to begin in mid-August.
