Teams competing for Spider Cup

The Gros Islet Football League consisting of 15 teams got underway with an opening ceremony Saturday afternoon on the Gros Islet Playing Field. Up for the grabs is the prestigious Spider Cup.
Following a march past with only seven of the 15 teams in attendance and the singing of the national anthem, formal proceedings got underway with Jennifer Gaston in the role of MC.
Speaking on behalf of the Gros Islet Interim Football Committee, Brian Boxill thanked the teams who were present for the opening. He made special mention of the Police side for “having accepted an offer of partnership to be part of this league and to assist us with discipline and safety.”
St Lucia National Lottery (SLNL) continues to pay a very important role in this competition, having sponsored it for the past four years. Speaking on behalf of the SLNL, Cuthbert Elisee said: “I think the sponsorship has gone up and I am
hoping we will see beautiful football. We are pleased at the SLNL for making funds available, so that young people could be engaged in meaningful activities. With the SLNL every penny that is spent playing the lotteries goes back into youth and sports activities.”

The teams will be competing for the “Spider Cup” named after and sponsored for the last five years by Minister of Sports and Parliamentary Representative, Lenard “Spider” Montoute.
During his brief address he said: “I am pleased to see this competition has grown from strength to strength, to the point where we have 15 participating teams. I welcome new participants the Police who accepted to participate in this competition. I hope will have a very high standard of football this year.”
Montoute pointed out that as Parliamentary Representative, he’s worked towards improving facilities throughout the length and breadth of the Gros Islet constituency, to provide the best facilities to develop your talent and to practice their sport.
He mentioned the lighting of the Gros Islet Playing Field and said “this development will be replicated in other parts of the constituency like Grand Riviere, Corinth and Monchy.”
Montoute went on to say: “All this is done to facilitate you. What is required of you now is to go out there, take advantage of the opportunities and facilities that you have, give of your best, demonstrate a very high standard and ensure that Gros Islet football is dominant in St Lucia football.”
Following the inspection of teams by the parliamentary representative and Boxill, three friendly matches were played. In the first encounter the St Lucia Under-18 Select edged Gros Islet Under-21 Select 2-1; Gros Islet South Select got past Gros Islet North Select 3-2; and
Behind the College All Stars defeated Gros Islet Veterans 3-2.
League play in the Gros Islet Football League got underway Sunday with two games. In the first encounter, arch rivals Caye Mange and Coco Pere matched each other stride for stride. The contest was finally decided by a 59th minute strike from diminutive Romiel Felix (Coco Pere) which gave them a 1-0 victory.
In the second game, Orion surged to a 2-0 advantage against Glace United, thanks to a brace from veteran Rafferty Nolien who scored in the 14th and 22nd minute. Tyson Paul made it 3-0 in the 56th minute.
Glace United got their only goal in the 84th minute, after Hervon Volney capitalized on a defensive blunder which made the final 3-1 in favour of Orion.