Santa Rosa edge Waramuri to lift Girls’ Pee-Wee title

The trophy exchanged hands and new champions were crowned, but ultimately the glory stayed in Region One (Barima-Waini) when Santa Rosa Primary’s girls pipped their regional mates and defending champions Waramuri Primary in a heart-thumping conclusion to the MVP Sports Girls’ Under- 11 Pee- Wee football tournament.
Tensions were high as old rivalries between the two hinterland villages were reignited at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
The final clash was fittingly supported by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne-Shadick, a Region One native herself, who vibrantly cheered on the teams alongside her fellow villagers.
Eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Roveena Johnson struck first, capitalising on some chaos in the box to slip the ball past the keeper in the 12th minute. However, before the half could expire, the tournament’s defending champions, Waramuri, got a lifeline when Alita Marks outran the Santa Rosa defence and sent a right-footed shot blasting past the outstretched hands of the keeper in the 23rd minute.

The half expired with the scores still locked 1-1, but that would soon change after the second-half resumption. Johnson, again, made a charge down the field, this time choosing to pass it across the goal to Naomi Henry, who made no mistake with finishing in the 28th minute.
The many Santa Rosa supporters, clad in a similar lilac as their team, burst into animated screams again when Johnson sent another shot past the keeper in the 38th minute.

Waramuri, again, had a chance to rescue their title defence when a handled ball in the box by a Santa Rosa player gifted Waramuri a penalty opportunity. Alita Marks completed her brace, perfecting the shot in the 39th minute, but alas, it was a little too late for the little Waramuri ladies as time expired with the score 3-2, in Santa Rosa’s favour.
Earlier in the afternoon, Marian Academy had a reprieve from their semi-final loss, needling St John the Baptist Primary to take home the third-place trophy. Haley Habekorn was the striker to watch, netting the game-winner in the 21st minute.
Santa Rosa’s Jamiera was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament while her team-mate, Johnson was both the MVP and the tournament’s highest goal-scorer, netting 19 goals in her team’s unbeaten run.
The tournament champions were rewarded with $100,000 in kind while the runners-up will receive $75,000, also in kind.