The Upper Mazaruni Under-15 male and female Football Tournament commenced last Sunday with a spectacular march past, followed by exhilarating football action from the young ballers.
The air was filled with enthusiasm and anticipation as each team proudly paraded itself on the field before spectators who came from various villages to rally behind their favourite teams.
The electric atmosphere of the ceremony not only showcased the strong community support, but also highlighted the significance of this tournament in bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, all with a shared love of football.
As the teams took their positions, ready to showcase their skills and determination on the field, the opening ceremony set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable journey of competition, camaraderie, and sportsmanship in the Upper Mazaruni U15 Football Tournament.
In an exhilarating first match of the tournament, between Jawalla and Waramadong, the action was non-stop and the goals were plentiful. Just 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the game, Galieon Henry of Jawalla stole the ball from the defence and unleashed a powerful shot into the corner of the net, giving his team an early lead.
The first half ended with Jawalla in the lead 1-0, but
Waramadong came back strong in the second half. At the 3-minute mark, they were awarded a penalty, which was expertly converted by Devinson Mendason with a powerful shot that levelled the score.
Waramadong continued to press forward, and in the 9th minute of the second half, Prem Agard scored a magnificent header that sailed over the defence and goalkeeper to leave Jawalla stunned and trailing.
In the dying moments of the game, Waramadong sealed their victory with a third goal, courtesy of Devinson Mendason, who capitalized on the goalkeeper’s mistake to score his second goal of the game.
With the final whistle, the first match concluded with Waramadong emerging victorious by a score of 3-1 over Jawalla. It was a thrilling start to the tournament, and showcased the skill and determination of both teams.
The second match of the tournament, in which Kamarang opposed Phillipai Combined, was a spectacular display of skill and talent, with the
excitement starting as early as when 15-year-old Timothy Rodrigues netted the first goal for Kamarang in the third minute of the game.
Rodrigues didn’t stop there, but continued showing incredible prowess by scoring two more goals in quick succession – a stunning strike from outside the eighteen-yard box, followed by a toe-punch goal from the 5-metre box – to complete his first hat-trick of the tournament and leave the crowd in awe.
Continuing Kamarang’s dominance, Iyaz joined the scoring frenzy with a goal in the eighteenth minute, swiftly followed by another in the twenty-second minute, to bring the score to an impressive 4-0 in favour of Kamarang.
Not to be outdone, Garvel Rodrigues added to Kamarang’s tally with a well-taken goal in the twenty-ninth minute, further solidifying their lead. The onslaught continued as Gavin Mc Calmont found the back of the net in the forty-fourth minute with a powerful shot that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
With time running out, Garvel Rodrigues confidently converted a penalty in the final minute to seal Kamarang’s victory with a resounding 8-0 win over Phillipai Combined. It was an extraordinary performance that showcased Kamarang’s strength and skill on the field.
