No fanfare for women’s football finale

Judging by what transpired at Sunday’s Inter-District Football third place playoff and finals at Mindoo Phillip Park, our women footballers have definitely taken a back seat to their male counterparts.
Both games ended 2-2 after regulation time  with penalty kicks being used to decide the winner. In the finals, Marchand won the title beating the National Under-20 side 4-2 on penalty kicks. In the Third Place Playoff which preceded the final, it was Vieux Fort North defeating Micoud 3-2 on penalty kicks.
Sunday’s games should have been a grand finale to close out the competition, but it was anything but that.  In comparison, the men’s championship game is a more glitzy affair.
Although some competitions like the Revival Veterans Football Tournament were put on hold due to the fact the country was election mode, the St Lucia Football Association went ahead away and scheduled the game for Sunday. As expected with rally’s taking place that day including one in nearby Marchand, Mindoo Phillip Park drew only a handful of spectators to the game.
Furthermore the weather was atrocious Sunday, so you could imagine the condition of the field at Muddy Phillip Park especially during the first game-the third place playoff between Vieux Fort North and Micoud. It rained heavily throughout but nevertheless the ladies persevered with Vieux Fort North eventually winning on penalty kicks 3-2.
In the finals, the National Under-20 side played a Marchand team with a blend of youth and experience, which undoubtedly led to them winning the title following penalty kicks. During regulation time which ended 2-2, Melisa Henry and Ashlene Edward scored for Marchand. Goal scorers for the Under-20 side were Jeanio Ambrose with an own goal by Vincentia Reid.
There was very little fanfare for the ladies during this competition but hopefully next time around they will be treated equally or even better than their male counterparts.