It was an afternoon of mixed weather patterns and mixed emotions at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue on Saturday, as the male and female final matches of the ExxonMobil Under-14 football tournament were staged.
While some celebrated their victories with tears of joy, those who weren’t as successful added tears to the puddles created by the sudden downpour after a morning of blistering sunshine.
Jitzak Martinez (26) was the key player in the Cummings Lodge victory
Prior to the heightened emotions, however, it took the East Ruimveldt Secondary girls just one goal to needle New Campbelville Secondary for the female championship.
On the other hand, an exhilarating display of top class football at the Under 14 level by the males resulted in Cummings Lodge lifting the trophy.
Although it was a team affair, the boys’ final was almost a one-on-one game, as Jitzak Martinez and Ian Daniels battled tirelessly to keep their respective sides — Cummings Lodge and Carmel Secondary — in the game.
Carmel Secondary appeared to have ‘done their homework’ on their opponents, Cummings Lodge, and as such mounted a solid defense accompanied by an agile goal-keeper, who leaped great distances to restrict the usually fast-scoring Cummings Lodge side.
ON the other hand, the Cummings Lodge goal-keeper, who had not been tested much throughout the tournament, was made to ‘work for his money’, as Carmel revealed their intention to score early on. These factors made for a goalless first half of play, but what was in store in the second half was nothing short of thrilling.
Jitzak Martinez was the first to find the back of the net, in the 30th minute, after being awarded a penalty for a handled ball in the box. Martinez’ scoring has been perfect, and the youngster kept his slate clean as he beat Carmel’s goalkeeper.
Carmel’s Ian Daniels refused to take the goal lying down, and after some urgent playing, the teenager was able to equalise the scores in the 43rd minute.
As regulation time expired, the final showdown became more intense with twelve minutes of extra time to be played. During this segment, Martinez found the back of the net once again, but Daniels was right behind him, needling the Cummings Lodge goal-keeper for a 2-2 score.
At the penalty mark, however, Cummings Lodge were determined to outdo their opponents, and after 7 tries each at the goal, Cummings Lodge were able to seal their victory with 5 penalties connected as compared to Carmel’s 4.
As expected Jitzak Martinez was awarded the Most Valuable Player accolade, and copped ‘the highest goal-scorer award’ for the 12 goals he scored throughout the tournament.
In the female final, a ‘well-oiled’ New Campbellville Secondary squad took on East Ruimveldt Secondary. Similar to what had transpired in the boys’ encounter, the first half went without a goal being scored, but the tides turned in the second half of play.
The once alert New Campbellville squad became lacklustre in their play, and that gave East Ruimveldt an opening in the 41st minute. The pressure being put on by East Ruimveldt got the better of their opponents, and an own goal in the 41st minute was all it took to hand East Ruimveldt the championship.
Sherry Rodrigues of East Ruimveldt Secondary was adjudged the Most Valuable Player, while Charlestown Secondary’s (third place) Carletta Ross was the Highest Goal-Scorer with 6 goals.
Earlier in the day, Dolphin Secondary managed to restrict Queenstown Secondary to a goalless scorecard in order to take the third boys’ title. Regulation time expired with the scores at a stalemate; but, in extra time, Nicholas Tappin guided the ball to the nets to give Dolphin Secondary their winning goal.
While the tournament was primarily sponsored by ExxonMobil, Demerara Distillers Limited, under their Pepsi Brand; and the Ministry of Public Health, under their Fight against Chronic Diseases campaign, were also sponsors. This second annual event was coordinated by the Petra Organisation.
