…Parima retain female title
…Moruca sweep volleyball competition
Port Kaituma male football team dominated Waramadong in the final of the annual Indigenous Heritage Games football tournament on Sunday evening when they ran out 2-1 winners to hoist the championship trophy and pocket the winning purse of $325,000 and also took home a beautiful trohpy.
Waramadong’s youthful team and general diminutive physical make up impeded their ability to really penetrate Port Kaituma’s defence as they were constantly bullied off the ball. Port Kaituma of Region Number One were the more aggressive of the two sides as they attacked from the first whistle going close to taking the lead on several occasions.
Captain of the female Moruca volleyball team, Annalisa Vincent collects the championship trophy
However, they were not to be denied as Cornell St Romain struck from just outside the box to beat the Waramadong custodian and hand his side the lead in the closing minutes of the opening half.
At the interval, the new champs were enjoying a small but significant 1-0 lead. Upon the resumption, Region One had a penalty disallowed when the players encroached the penalty area, however they took a 2-0 lead shortly after through Floyd Thomas and from then on there was no looking back. Waramadong pulled one back through a consolation effort from Lynden Joseph who scored in the late stages of the game to give the Region Seven fans something to cheer about. Leroy Domingo of Port Kaituma was adjudged the Most Valuable Player while Kieron Solomon of the 2016 champions, Mabaruma was the tournament’s leading goal scorer.
Port Kaituma will have their name inscribed on the Lien Trophy. Waramadong won $275,000 and a trophy for their spirited effort.
The final of the female football tournament between 2016 champions and Central Rupununi was decided from the penalty spot after 70 minutes of regulation time and 15 minutes of added extra time failed to produce any goals from either side.
For the second successive year, Parima won the trophy as they held their nerve to edge out Region Nine, 3-0 on penalties. Both sides missed their first attempt from the spot but Parima settled down quickly and began finding the target. However, Central Rupununi seemed anxious and their next three attempts were sent powerfully but too wide and high of the uprights. Hitting the target for the repeat champions were Olivia Oselmo, Betsy Gonsalves and Jean Edmond. The Most Valuable player of the tournament was 14-year old Narisa Dick of Parima while Region Nine’s Sonia Griffith was the highest goal scorer.
Parima now have their second inscription on the Lien Trophy and pocketed $325,000 while Region Nine won $275,000 and a trophy.
Meanwhile, new champions were crowned in the volleyball tournaments which ended under lights also on Sunday. Defending male champions, Orealla of Region Six were dethroned by Moruca of Region One after the two teams made it through to the final of the very competitive tournament. Vance Harding of Region One was adjudged the Most Valubale Player.
It was a clean sweep for Moruca as their female side also won their competition. The talented ladies were challenged by Mabaruma, also of Region One in the final. Captain of Moruca, Annalisa Vincent was the female tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The champions in both categories pocketed $50,000 while $25,000 went to the losing finalists. Trophies were also handed out.
The annual Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Heritage games began last Friday September 22 at the Everest Cricket Club ground and concluded on Sunday evening with a large gathering of spectators attending the three-day event.
