Guyana Panthers champions of inaugural Youth Academy Cup

The best of Guyana’s Under-16 football talents were on show on Sunday evening, marking the culmination of a week-long opportunity for those players to put their skills to the test.
After three preliminary competition days, Guyana’s Jaguars and Panthers team ascended to the final of the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Academy Cup.
There, the Panthers managed to get the better of their countrymen by way of penalties.
The first strike in the 1-1 regulation time game came in the 30th minute when Neeiaz Baksh, receiving an assist from Darius Chester just outside the box, lobbed the ball over the head of the keeper and into the opposing corner of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
The reply from the Jaguars came just at the end of the first half (40th+1), off the boots of Rondell Peters, who capitalised on a lapse from the keeper to tap the ball into the net.

With the scores still locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time, the affair went down to kicks from the penalty mark. The Panthers were able to rebound from missing their first shot, to win the game 4-3.
Following the game, Panthers Captain Malcolm Hendricks discussed the win, labelling his side the underdogs.
“The final was a very tough final against a team that we train together, know each other, we have great chemistry together, both teams and it was a very tough match. But we pulled through,” Hendricks shared.
The defender went on to ad, “It was important, because my teams were the underdogs. Jaguars was the best team, apparently to people. So, it was everything to us that we pulled through and we came out victorious and beating the champions apparently.”

Reflecting on the pressure of the penalty kicks, Hendricks told Guyana Times Sport, “I wanted to take the burden off my team and step up first, because all of us were nervous and I stepped forward and I missed and it was pressure for me and my team. When I walked back to my team, I couldn’t look them in their face, because I was the captain and I missed the first penalty. It was just different.”
Hendricks went on to reveal he relished the opportunity of being able to compete against local and international talents in his age group.
“It was good because we get to see football from different countries. Trinidad and Tobago was a good Academy; they performed, but we performed better. It was a good game between us and the first Academy, because we didn’t get to play the second one. But it was great football from both academies and club,” the youngster related.
For individual awards, Hendricks was named the Most valuable Player, while Quancey Fraser and Jaden Fraser, both Jaguars, shared the highest goalscorer award. Panthers’ Fabio LaRose was the best goalkeeper of the tournament, conceding a solitary goal.
The U16 tournament was hosted by the local Federation in preparation for the Regional U17 Championships, slated for 2025. Trinidad and Tobago’s Point Fortin and Tinto Academies were invited to and competed during the week-long tournament. (Jemima Holmes)