An elated CWSS receive their Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers trophy from Guyoil’s Ms Madramootoo
Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) are now two-in-two for school football tournaments this year, after a dominant performance on Sunday night led the Linden outfit to lift the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League trophy.
After three years of competing in the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers school football league, it was redemption at last for CWSS, as they held their nerve in the 3-1 affair to win their first Guyoil title, having come eerily close in the past two editions.
Although being unlikely finalists, Golden Grove looked good for the title, up until the final game, where they appeared lopsided and disorganised.
A look at the third- place play-off earlier on Sunday afternoon
CWSS were quick to adjust, and capitalising on this, Linden’s Lamar Jules converted a freekick from Captain Kelvin Hintzen, for their first goal in the seventh minute.
Demoll Warner etched his name on the scoresheet next, playing his signature long-range shot from the brink of the 18-yard box. A dancing Warner again took aim at the goal in the 34th minute and watched as it was almost scooped up by Golden Grove’s keeper, Emanuel Lewis, but his mistimed dive gave the ball just enough space to roll into the back of the nets.
Demoll Warner(left) and Lamar Jules (right ) – both in red – were responsible for CWSS’s first and second goals in the final
The first half finished 2-0, but Linden were quick to add a third in the second segment, after being handed a penalty opportunity in the 68th minute. Taken by Captain Hintzen, the shot into the top left corner of the net was faultless.
Golden Grove, though the win was out of their reach, saved themselves of absolute embarrassment with a consolation goal in the 69th minute. A heated sprint side by side with the CWSS defenders, was won by Omarion Burrowes and when the lad caught the goalkeeper, Jamil James, off his mark, he tucked in the ball for Golden Grove’s only goal.
In the third-place playoff, a last-minute goal snatched Cummings Lodge’s dreams of capturing a runner-up trophy or prize. Cummings Lodge were the first to score in the 37th minute with a goal off the boots of Fabian Figueria. They held off their opponents, President’s College, for much of the remaining minutes, but a handled ball in the box gave PC the scoring opportunity they needed.
With Michael Joseph connecting the penalty, PC were able to finish the encounter 1-1. The draw was just what the boys in purple needed to end the league in third place.
In individual prizes, CWSS’s Hintzen and James were adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and best goalkeeper respectively, while Dolphin’s Jequan Cole was the highest goal scorer with 10 goals. The most disciplined school in the tournament was determined to be Friendship Secondary.
While Christianburg Wismar’s 18 points in the Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers League ensured they would go back to Linden with the $500,000 grand prize, Golden Grove had to settle for the $300,000 second place prize. President’s College received $200,000 for their third-place effort while fourth-place finishers Dolphin Secondary grabbed a $100,000 prize. The prize monies will go towards projects for the schools.
In addition, coordinators of the tournament, the Petra Organisation, conducted a social media competition, which was won by PC.
By virtue of finishing first and second in the Guyoil League, CWSS and Golden Grove will go on to play in Petra’s Invitational International Schools’ football tournament, which is set to feature teams from Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. (Jemima Holmes)
