FOLLOWING four exciting matches, with stunning upsets in the semifinal round last weekend, the 2018-2019 Veterans In Sports Inc. Management Team and their hard working crew return to the Phillip Marcellin Ground in Vieux Fort where two new champions will be crowned in the Flow Plate and Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup respectively.
Today from 6.00 p.m. in the Flow Plate Championship Prophet and Kings will be seeking to make amends following their disappointing semifinal matchup against Laborie Veterans; PAK will play Vieux Fort North for the third place silverware in an encounter that could go either way.
Following the halftime entertainment by the Mystic Masqueraders all eyes will be on the pitch for the 8.00 p.m. start, as the excitement is expected to shift a few notches higher for the much anticipated Flow Plate Championship final between Dennery All Blacks and Laborie Veterans. Who will it be to lift the Plate Championship for 2019?
The winner of the Plate will take home EC$2000.00, 2nd place – EC$1500.00, 3rd place -EC$1000.00 and 4th place EC$800.00.
On Sunday 3rd, the big double header, the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup final and third place silver will be up for grabs.
From 5.00 p.m. two of the tournament’s favourites Gros Islet Veterans and Central Vieux Fort who were literally knocked out of championship contention and glory, will face each other for the Third Place playoff.
Despite the cold breeze coming from the Atlantic Ocean a stone throw away, the temperature is expected to rise a few notches as Cooyan, UMPA, Fastlane (Hot Topic) along with MC Donerville are expected to heat up the PMG.
Then for the Big One at 7.00 p.m. when Flow Lancers FC will seek to extend their unbeaten run as they take on Micoud Veterans in the grand final. This one is too early to call; will FLOW Lancers FC maintain their unbeaten run or will Micoud Veterans create history by taking the game into another penalty shootout?
For some of you who missed out on the quarterfinal and semifinal round, Micoud Veterans defeated defending champions Soufriere 5-4 on penalties and then via the same route a powerful Central Vieux Fort team 5-4 to secure their final spot.
The winner of the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup will pocket a whopping EC$10,000.00 and the Championship trophy; the second place team will receive $EC5000.00 and a trophy, third place team will take home EC$ 3000.00, while the fourth place will collect EC$2000.00.
Alvin Malaykhan, CEO Veterans In Sports Inc spoke to the VOICE just before press time on Friday and said,” We are poised for a mouthwatering end to a great tournament and what makes this tournament even more special is that no one anticipated the new teams in the finals of both championships would be the ones competing for glory. The tournament is taking a new twist, long gone the days when we could predict our final four.”
In terms of the quality of play in the 2018-2019 tournament, Malaykhan said, “The level of play has been excellent, the quality of football, exceptional, the fans have been entertained.”
According to the CEO, in terms of cash and prizes, close to EC$45,000.00 will be paid out for a number of individual awards – MVP of the Tournament, MVP of the Finals, Most Goals, Fastest Goal Scored, Best Dress Team, Most Discipline Team, all of which will carry a trophy and a monetary prize.
Over the two days of entertainment, one lucky football enthusiast/ fan stand to win a Television, an Amazon Firestick along with a host of other prizes from a number of draws. What more can one ask for at a Veterans Tournament.
In semifinal matches played this past weekend at the PMG, Plate Championship, Game 1, – Laborie Veterans defeated Prophets and Kings 5 -2 with Ashley Duncan scoring a hat-trick in the 5th, 52nd and 54th minutes; Laborie other two goals came from Kenliste in the 67th and Lance Powell in the 70th. For PAK the goal scorers were Flemming James in the 16th minute and Desmond Francis in the 86th minute.
In semifinal No.2, Dennery All Blacks defeated a highly favoured Vieux Fort North team 3-1, VFN taking the lead in the 51st minute through Benjamin Kiano; All Black-Dennery came from behind with goals from Benson Emile in the 61st minute (penalty spot),Mark Francis in the 70th minute and Franklin Dupigny in the 90th minute.
On Sunday 27th it was an evening that left a number of football supporters shocked as Gros Islet and Central Vieux Fort were both stunned by their opponents.
In semifinal No.1, Flow Lancers FC defeated Gros Islet 4-1; for FLFC, the goal scorers were Nigel Springer in the 30th and 42nd minutes, Anthony Paul in the 53rd minute and Lesley Charlery in the 56th minute. For Gros Islet, their lone goal came from the boots of Ian Thomas in the 21st minute.
Semifinal No.2, the stakes were high between Micoud Veterans and Central Vieux Fort, the scores were also locked at 0-0 after regulation time (90+4 minutes). In the penalty shootout, Micoud Veterans nosed ahead 5-4.
