ACCORDING to the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Inc., nine Clubs have been provisionally selected to participate in the 2019 Presidents Cup Club Championship.
In this year’s Promotional Cup Club Championship, 13 out of the 19 Football Leagues around Saint Lucia participated in an effort to get the champions from each league to prepare for the 2019 Presidents Cup Club Championship.
According to the SLFA, as part of the Club Licensing process, every club must have an active Youth Programme in order for it to be certified by the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Inc. Thus any club, in spite of them winning their league championship would not be allowed to participate in the President’s Cup if they had not played in the various youth championships this year.
As such, a number of clubs failed to meet the criteria resulting in the following clubs advancing to participate in the 2019 Presidents Cup Club Championships: Victory Eagles FC – Vieux Fort South, Togetherness Youth FC – Mabouya Valley, Bays FC – South Castries, B 1 FC – Marchand, New Generations FC – Babonneau, GMC FC – Gros Islet, Lancers FC – Castries, 1987 All Stars FC – Anse La Raye and RV Juniors FC – Roseau Valley.
The Finals of the Saint Lucia Football Association Northern Zone Under 17 Football competition is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Sunday 8th September) at the SAB Playing Field from 3.00 pm between New Generation FC and FC Pioneers.
Preceding the Finals will be the Third Place Play Off between GMC FC and Big Players at 1.00 p.m.
Meanwhile, New Generation FC is eagerly awaiting the commencement of the Guardsman Under 11 and Under 14 youth football tournament scheduled to kick off later this month.
The matches are expected to be played at the Gros Islet and Corinth playing fields.
To date, the Club has already participated in one Under 11 and two Under 14 tournaments this year, with the best achievement being qualifying for the semi-final of the Aurelien Soles Cup in the Under 14 division.
On Thursday 5th September, despite a soggy outfield the finals of the Saint Lucia Football Association Western Zone Under 17 Football competition between CT Foundation and 1987 All Stars provided the enthusiastic crowd with lots to cheer about at the Marigot Playing Field on Thursday 5th September 2019.
Notwithstanding the late start pre-tournament favourites 1987 All Stars soon got into their stride to dominate the early proceedings. They were soon rewarded with a penalty in the 2nd minute of play only to see the kick saved by the CT Foundation custodian.
A few minutes later they were denied the opportunity to go one up when the goal was ruled outside.
However, against the run of play CT Foundation surged into the lead with a goal by Dwayne Louis via the penalty spot in the 6th minute and before the 1987 All Stars players could settle they soon found themselves 2 – 0 down with a goal by Ozem Toussaint in the 20th minute.
Not to be undaunted 1987 All Stars continued pressing forward and was soon rewarded with their first goal by Hanson Frederick in the 22nd minute. This was followed by the equalizer by Dahmani Berthier in the 27th minute.
By then it was all 1987 All Stars as they ended the first half 4 – 2 up with two further goals from Jaden Lafeuille in the 31st minute and Joantae Seraphine in the 35th minute respectively.
On the resumption there was no stopping the lads in lemon green and white as they completely dominated the proceedings and despite squandering numerous scoring opportunities they were still able to register two unanswered goals via the boots of Seth Frederick in the 61st minute and Hanson Frederick in the 67th minute.
When the final whistle sounded it was a jubilant 1987 All Stars who were basking in their 6 – 2 victory over CT Foundation FC to lift the coveted trophy.
Dahmani Berthier collected the award for the Most Goals in the tournament in addition to the Tournament’s MVP award. For both awards he will receive a pair of football boots and a football.