Cougars FC crowned BFA Senior Men’s League champions

…following dramatic draw with Paradise

Cougars Football Club were crowned champions of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Senior Men’s League on Sunday evening after playing to an entertaining 3-3 draw with arch-rivals Paradise FC in the final match of the tournament at the All Saints Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam.
The tournament, which featured six teams and was played on a round-robin basis, concluded with a triple-header that drew a lively crowd of football supporters to the venue.
Cougars entered the final game at the top of the standings and secured the title after sharing the points with Paradise in a thrilling encounter that saw both teams display attacking football throughout the contest.
Cougars took an early 2-0 lead through goals from Amare Caesar and Alex Antonio, putting Paradise on the back foot in the opening stages of the game. Paradise responded before the halftime whistle when Curtland Richmond found the back of the net to reduce the deficit.
In the second half, Cougars extended their advantage when Tyrick Ogleton scored to make it 3-1, but Paradise refused to surrender and quickly responded with a goal from Jevell Fraser.

With time running down and Paradise pressing relentlessly for an equaliser, Cougars’ goalkeeper Reshaun Deane produced several impressive saves to deny multiple attempts on goal.
However, with just two minutes remaining on the clock, Paradise finally broke through when Deon Moriah scored the equaliser to level the game at 3-3, bringing a dramatic finish to the contest.
In the other matches of the evening’s triple-header, Trafalgar Titans FC were awarded a walkover victory against Fyrish Black Sharks FC, while Kildonan Young Warriors defeated Ithaca FC 3-1.
At the conclusion of the competition, Cougars FC finished at the top of the standings with 23 points from 10 matches, recording seven wins, two draws, and one loss to capture the championship.
Trafalgar Titans FC finished second with 19 points from 10 matches, with six wins, one draw and three losses, while Ithaca FC placed third with 18 points from 10 games, recording six wins and four losses.
Paradise FC ended the tournament in fourth position with 17 points from 10 matches, after registering five wins, two draws, and three losses.
Kildonan Young Warriors finished fifth with 12 points, while Fyrish Black Sharks FC placed sixth with one point.
The competition was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, with the champions receiving $500,000, while the runners-up collected $300,000. The third-place team earned $200,000, and the fourth-place finishers received $100,000.

Individual awards were also presented at the end of the tournament. Deon Moriah, who scored nine goals during the competition, captured the award for most goals, while Reshaun Deane of Cougars FC was named best goalkeeper.
The tournament brought together six teams – Cougars FC, Trafalgar Titans FC, Ithaca FC, Paradise FC, Kildonan Young Warriors and Fyrish Black Sharks FC – and was widely praised for the competitive football displayed throughout the season.