Republic Bank U18 League: Wharton leads Chase to 2nd consecutive U18 League championship

Chase’s Academic Foundation continued their reign in the school football realm, adding another accolade to their trophy case on Sunday evening, to secure back-to-back titles in the Petra-organised Under-18 Schools’ Football League, which was sponsored by Republic Bank.
Both teams headed into the final match of the League level on 18 points, both accumulating six wins in as many games.
Eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Bryan Wharton began Chase’s Academic Foundation’s onslaught, weaving his way through the defence and executing a left-footed shot into the corner of the net in the second minute.
Then, Wharton returned three minutes later on the opposite wing, producing a similar shot to the first goal, this time with the right foot for the second goal.

In the ninth minute, an infraction in the box from Dolphin’s defence resulted in a penalty opportunity which Wharton lined up for. Though his initial shot was blocked, Wharton sunk the rebound to give Chase an early 3-0 lead.
Though Dolphin Secondary managed to keep a lid on Chase for the remainder of the first half, Wharton would return in the second segment to get the scoring going again.
The youngster found the back of the net in the 49th and 50th minutes to complete his five while Dolphin Secondary pulled one back in the 50th by way of a penalty taken by their goalkeeper Brian Bower.
By that point, Chase was a man down from the red card call that allowed them to give away a penalty, but that did not stop the onslaught as Nyron Barrow, Omar Sam, and Neeiaz Baksh found the back of the net in the 51st, 62nd and 64th minutes respectively.
When the game concluded, Wharton shared his thoughts on his team’s and their opponents’ performance.

“I think was a good performance overall from the team, but we just didn’t want to concede tonight. Probably, we were expecting a better fight, but still grateful for the victory most of all,” Wharton said about the championship-deciding contest.
“Just stick to what we do best, go out and perform ‘cause we got the quality players that could win the game for we at any time.”
The teenager added regarding the point at which he realised the win would be an easy one for Chase, “From since we score the first goal, I think the game was getting a little more easier, because they start giving up and we start constantly pressuring them and get more goals.”

In other League matches on Sunday, braces off the boots of Zaphenath Hutson (16th, 63rd) and Seon Grant (20th, 55th) helped South Ruimveldt to a 7-0 win over East Ruimveldt Secondary while a quintet of goals off the boots of Jeremiah Griffith in the 12th, 30th, 33rd, 39th and 43rd minutes, powered West Ruimveldt to an 8-0 win against President’s College.
Wharton was both the League’s MVP and Highest Goal Scorer with 15 goals in the competition. His teammate, Flavio LaRose was the best keeper, conceding just one goal in seven games.
Despite the loss, Dolphin Secondary, alongside Chase’s Academic Foundation, will move on to represent Guyana at the KFC Goodwill International tournament in a matter of weeks.
In addition to a spot in the KFC tournament, Chase’s Academic Foundation pocketed $300,000 and Dolphin Secondary $150,000, while third and fourth place finishers Waramuri Secondary and West Ruimveldt Secondary will receive $75,000 and $50,000. Each of the prizes will go towards a school project of the schools’ choosing.