Digicel National Schools’ Football Championships 2023: Dolphin Secondary take coveted Georgetown title

Story and photos by Jemima Holmes

In spectacular come-from-behind fashion, Dolphin Secondary were on Tuesday evening crowned Champions of the Georgetown Division in the Digicel National Schools’ Football Championships 2023.
This Broad Street, Charlestown outfit had to overcome an early scare from their challengers, Excelsior Academy, and fought tooth and nail on their way to the 2-1 victory in what was a game fit for a final.
The excitement in the Georgetown final started pretty early, when Excelsior Academy took the lead first in just the 2nd minute of the game. Albert Adams received a well-placed pass in front of the nets, and all it took was a simple tap-in to secure the first goal of the game.

That early goal appeared to be a wakeup call for the Dolphin outfit, who appeared to be much more proactive in the ensuing minutes. The combination of Gerry Burnette and Caldwell Peters at the top created a number of chances for the equalizer, but it was not to be just yet. At the other end of the pitch, Excelsior’s Dwayne James was a force to be reckoned with, but the one-man show was at times not enough to extend their lead.
In the 31st minute of the final, Dolphin’s Jequan Cole executed a left-foot strike from the edge of the box, and it went sailing across the face of the goal and into the corner of the net, for the equalizer. The resulting cheers from the massive crowd were deafening, and the half expired minutes later with the score locked at 1-1.
The second segment saw even more intense action, as both sides feverishly hunted the game-winning goal. All eyes were on Excelsior’s Brandon Solomon, who came close one a number of occasions, but like his teammates, nerves consumed the Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt outfit whenever they found themselves in the 18-yard box.
However, Excelsior’s inability to find the net was equally credited to Dolphin’s defenders in Candel Hazel and Arvin Samwaru, who were quite impressive in the back line.
A set piece for Dolphin Secondary occasioned their game-winning goal when the shot from the corner met Gerry Burnette at the ‘last post’. Burnette needed only to head the ball in for the leading goal.
The fireworks did not end there. Excelsior saw their opportunity to level the scores when a pass upwards met three strikers in the box. Taken on the chest, a youngster turned, dribbled his way into the goal, and burst into celebration, completely unaware that the linesman’s flag had been raised for an offside call.
Solomon got another chance at finding the back of the net, but the Dolphin keeper, being in the right place at the right time, scooped up the attempt.
In spite of the loss, both teams will go on to play in the National Championships, along with 11 other schools from the Georgetown district.
Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff, West Ruimveldt Secondary overcame Charlestown Secondary by a similar 2-1 margin. Donovan Welcome and Jos Sharples were the marksmen for West Ruimveldt, while Elijah Marcus netted Charlestown’s consolation in the 50th minute.
The Digicel Regional Championships action will continue next Thursday, when D.C. Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary and Bartica Secondary make their way to Georgetown for the Region 7 final. That game will be contested on Thursday, July 27th at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground on Carifesta Avenue. Kickoff is set for 17:30hrs.