After stumbling to a similar opponent just one year ago, Chase’s Academic Foundation completed their redemption arc on Sunday night, as they entertained scores of school football fans at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, on their way to a fourth Milo Schools’ Under18 Football title.
Last year’s runners-up, Chase met with Waramuri Primary Top in the final, almost a direct copy of 2023’s final, which featured Santa Rosa Secondary instead.
Nevertheless, Chase’s Academy was the more composed of the two sides and controlled possession from the onset.
Then, 18 minutes into the contest, Chase’s Captain, Bryan Wharton weaved his way around the Waramuri defence and from the corner of the 18-yard box, made the shot into the right corner of the goal to put his team ahead.
Just two minutes later, in the 20th, the tournament’s eventual highest goal-scorer, Omar Sam slipped one past the Waramuri keeper after a build-up in the box to extend Chase’s lead.
A look at the final showdown between Chase’s Academy (blue) and Waramuri Primary Top
2-0 down at the half was a familiar position for Waramuri, who had been in the same position against Dolphin Secondary during last week’s semi-final, but this time around, they were unable to dig themselves out of the hole as Chase’s Academy kept up the intensity.
Then, in the 60th minute, Wharton found himself in a 2-on-1 battle with the Waramuri defence. This time, the Chase Captain opted for a chip over the head that escaped the hands of Waramuri’s leaping keeper to put Chase’s Academy ahead by 3.
Waramuri were still considering a comeback, and Chetram Thomas almost inspired it when he executed a shot across goal to pull one back for Waramuri in the 70th minute; it was the first time in the entire tournament that Chase’s Academy conceded a goal. As expected, Chase’s tightened their defence to restrict Waramuri’s advances. It was a little too late for the Region One side, as the final whistle was soon sounded with the score still 3-1 in Chase’s favour.
When the celebrations died down, Chase’s Captain dedicated the victory to their Head Master, Henry Chase.
A snapshot from the third-place playoff featuring Dolphin Secondary (orange) and President’s College
“I think we started off pretty good; we get a goal in the first 10 minutes; that give us the momentum to go through. We had a bit of stumble in the second half, but we still come out victorious,” Wharton shared with sport Journalists.
The Chase Captain added, “I think we owed Sir Chase this one here. So, we had to go and give it we all out there tonight and yeah, we got the victory. Thankful.”
On the other hand, Waramuri were not sore losers as Captain Odell Holmes explained that it just wasn’t their night.
A smiling Holmes related, “Well, I think it was an excellent game. I’d like to congratulate Chase for wonderful playing tonight and I think every day is not your day. You can be the best team, but not every day can be your day and I think tonight wasn’t our night.
“I had thought so, but my plans and my coach’s plans didn’t work out tonight,” Holmes disclosed about the team’s intention to make a comeback in the second half.
Earlier in the third-place play-offs, Dolphin Secondary whipped President’s College 6-1 to grab the remaining podium position. Ezekiel Frank David opened the scoring in the 19th minute, after which President’s College’s Shemar Barrington equalised in the 32nd.
However, David would break the deadlock in the 55th minute and thus opened the floodgates for his team. Gerry Burnette netted in the 66th minute, Caldwell Peters struck in the 68th and Kellon Alleyne scored in the 70th, while an own goal in the 85th pushed Dolphin’s tally to six.
While Omar Sam was the tournament’s highest goal-scorer with 13 strikes, Wharton was named Most Valuable Player. Chase’s goalkeeper, Duquain Samuels was named best goalkeeper, while Waramuri were adjudged that the most disciplined team.
Chase’s Academy won $300,000, Waramuri Primary Top $200,000, Dolphin Secondary $150,000 and President’s College $75,000; all of which will go towards a school project of their choice.
