Underdogs Leonora down SJTB on penalties for 1st Pee-Wee title

A true underdog story unfolded and ended in fairytale fashion on Saturday evening as Leonora Primary School won their first-ever Courts Optical Pee-Wee Under-11 football title, defeating opponents St John the Baptist Primary 6-5 on penalties.
The final was a sight to behold as the Region Three and Region Seven sides brought out their best shots and tactics in a bid to get ahead.
However, it was the little forward who is affectionately referred to as ‘Messi’ by his peers, 10-year-old Jhonathan Melvin who gave Leonora the lead. Capitalising on a set piece from the corner, Melvin planted himself at ‘last post’ needing only to slip the ball into the goal in the 17th minute for the lead.
However, Leonora’s hopes were dashed late in the second half when an infraction in the box handed SJTB the golden opportunity to equalise. Aaron Christian made no mistake, sinking the penalty opportunity in the 35th minute.

When extra time bore no fruit, the contest boiled down to a tense, nail-biting penalty shoot-out in which Leonora came out on top 6-5.
Melvin was later hailed as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Christian picked up the highest goal-scorer award with 12 goals in the competition. Leonora’s Akeem Johnson was adjudged to be the tournament’s best goalkeeper, following two brilliant saves in the final’s penalty shootout.
Earlier in the afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, West Ruimveldt Primary got the better of Redeemer Primary in the third-place playoff. West’s Ceon Rajkumar hit the game-winner in the 37th minute, during the 1-0 affair.
The top three teams were rewarded with trophies, medals and flat-screen televisions while the individual prize winners carted off vouchers, phones, and trophies. Schools placing from fourth to eighth also received trophies for their efforts.