…Clarke nets hat-trick, Essequibo Islands send Parika/Salem packing

DICQUAN Clarke recorded the tournament’s first hat-trick, as Essequibo Islands Secondary became the first team to advance to the next round of this year’s Digicel Schools Football Championship, after picking up a 6-1 win over Parika/Salem Secondary when the seventh edition of the competition kicked off yesterday at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.
Before the start of the tournament, the two teams were met by Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James and Director of Sport Christopher Jones, who both wished them well.
Jones and James then participated in the ceremonial ‘kick off’ to get the tournament started, as the teams wasted no time at running at each other.
Reon Venture scored his first of two goals of the day in the 13th minute to give Essequibo Islands the advantage, but Jamal Baker equalised for Parika/Salem in the 40th minute to balance the scores.

However, Clarke got the first of his hat-trick just before halftime (44th minute), to put Essequibo Islands Secondary in the lead (2-1) at the close of the first stanza.
But it was all Essequibo Islands after the resumption of the second half. Clarke scored his second in the 48th minute then Venture completed his brace in the 52nd minute.
Clarke completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute and David Charter’s strike in the 64th minute was the icing on the cake for Essequibo Islands Secondary who will now play Vergenoegen Secondary on Wednesday June 21.
Meanwhile, the Championship continues today with Leonora Technical tackling Professional Learning Institute at 15:30hrs at the Leonora Track and Field Centre.
On Wednesday, Mahaicony Secondary tackle Belladrum Secondary at the Belladrum ground in West Berbice from 15:30hrs, while Vreed-en-Hoop and Patentia squaring off at L’Aventure ground from 15:30hrs.
At the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, Berbice High will collide with Berbice Educational Institute at 15:30hrs.
Play continues throughout the week at various venues.
One hundred and fifty schools, drawn from the ten administrative regions of Guyana, will once again vie for what is considered as the country’s ‘Holy Grail’ of schools football.
One million dollars will go the winning school for a project of their choice, while second through fourth will pocket $700 000, $400 000 and $350 000 respectively.
However, the tournament which will see Georgetown divided into north and south, will see the winners of each zone win $100 000 towards a school project.
Chase’s Academic Foundation are the defending champions for the tournament, while the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School, popularly known as Multi, are the most decorated team.
The Linden-based team have played in every final since the inception of the tournament, winning four consecutive titles, only losing in the inaugural year to the Georgetown Technical Institute and in last year’s final.