Chase’s Academy prevail in nail-biting final for KFC Goodwill Championship

After losing twice to the same opponent, most recently on Wednesday last, Chase’s Academic Foundation held their nerve on Sunday night during the final of the KFC Goodwill International tournament, to serve up a dish of revenge to Trinidad and Tobago’s St Benedict’s College, winning the encounter 8-7 on kicks from the penalty spot.
Scripting contrasting wins in their respective semi-finals on Friday last, the pair met for the second time in the tournament, with St Benedict’s going into the contest with the upper hand.
However, it was a defender’s and goalkeeper’s game as both sides brought out their best performances to keep the strikers at bay.
While there were occasions when the crossbar and goalpost played devil’s advocate, neither of the two could find the back of the net, resulting in a deadlock after regulation and extra time.

At the penalty spot, Chase’s took first strike and both teams connected their first attempt. However, on St Benedict’s second attempt, Captain Derrell Garcia had his shot stopped by eventual best goalkeeper of the tournament, Flavio LaRose.
It appeared to be smooth sailing from there on out for Chase’s, who needed only to connect their remaining kicks for the win, but there would be a twist as Neeiaz Baksh had to watch his shot sail over the crossbar, giving St Benedict’s a lifeline.
Both sides avoided any further mistakes, but on the eighth kick, LaRose again produced the goods, punching out the shot that was aimed at the right corner of the goal to secure his team’s victory.
Attempting to discuss what became his team’s 4th school football title this year, an emotional Bryan Wharton was at a loss for words.

“Can’t even explain the feeling, it’s a wonderful feeling because this was we goal going into the year, winning the KFC because that’s the international tournament. It feels like we conquered Guyana already so, to get this international tournament, I’m really glad. I think it’s great, well-played and good performance from everybody,” Wharton expressed.
Chase’s Captain went on to reflect about his team rebounding from a loss to St Benedict’s last week, “We just think we had to dig deeper and everything is happen for a reason, God set it exactly the way how he wanted it.”
“I think that win against Jamaica was like a final to me and that win like motivate me to go and dominate against Trinidad, but it was a good fight.”

Earlier in the third-place playoff, Jamaica’s Clarendon College bounced back from their loss in the semi-finals, trouncing Annai Secondary 7-2 to pick up third place.
Nicholy Forbes netted a brace in the 25th and 52nd minutes, while one goal each came off the boots of Patrick Page, Terron Williams, Romario Thompson, Anthony Reid and Leckeem Mullings in the 9th, 22nd, 72nd, 86th and 89th minutes.
On the other hand, Adrian Cabral and Josh Glasgow attempted a comeback for Annai at the top of the second half with goals in the 59th and 63rd minutes respectively.
For the tournament’s individual awards, Chase’s LaRose was adjudged best goalkeeper while Clarendon’s Nicholy Forbes was the highest goalscorer with 13 strikes in five games.
Meanwhile, the highly-anticipated Most Valuable Player (MVP) award was bestowed upon Chase’s defender Raydon Krammer who has now earned a three-month stint with Academia de Futebol Real Brasil.
Sport consultant and talent scout Narada Wilson, who made the decision, shared some insight as to why Krammer was his pick.
“I’m going to justify why I chose the young man for the opportunity. I’m basing this on academics, these are student-athletes, the first thing that goes is that they’re students and then athletes. Two, I look at games three times, I wasn’t here but I look over all the games that they played to ensure that the ratio and the rubrics that I use match up. I watched all of these games 3 o’clock in the morning; his passing average is 83.2 per cent, 218 passes, 201 completed,” Wilson divulged.
The talent scout continued, “There were other players yes, three players from Jamaica stood out, three players from St Benedict’s, two from Annai and then there were three players on Chase’s Academy as well, but when I send these guys to Brazil, I need to make sure for two-three months, could acclimatise, adapt, is coachable, intelligent, accepts the opportunity and also puts his country, his family and his friends on the map. I’m hoping that as the years grow I could expand from one to two, to three players every year.”
The new champions of the tournament not only carted off the spanking new, hand-crafted trophy but also a US$5000 cash prize. Second, third and fourth place received US$3000, US$2000 and US$1000 respectively.