HAVING seen their male counterparts defy the odds to take the Petra Organisation/Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football championships earlier this year, Stella Maris Girls Under-11 team will be looking to emulate the Boys and walk off with the Ministry of Health/Health (Guy) 2000 Inc./McAl Smalta Girls Under-11 Pee Wee crown this afternoon.They go up against giant killers St Stephen’s Primary in the final which kicks off at 14:00hrs with the third place playoff in the said tournament between pre-tournament favourites Enterprise Primary and West Ruimveldt Primary at the Ministry of Education ground.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Ms. Gale David, who accompanied her students to all their matches, said they were all excited and ecstatic about competing in the final and completing the double, even though they were surprised by the results the girls give them.
“To be honest with you, we are all happy for them that they have reached this far and it would be great for them to complete the double and follow in the same footsteps of their male counterparts and if they do, we have something in store for them.
“However, having said that, I must say that we are surprised they have reached this far, since most of them save one – Ludesha Reynolds – have no knowledge of the game, so we were tasked with taking them through fundamental drills such as passing, taking the ball etc,” said David.
She added, “The girls were eager to learn and even compete in the tournament and when they made the semifinals, the excitement coming from them was overwhelming and all they kept talking about is winning and being like the boys, who are more sports-oriented.
“I must say that the hard work put in has paid off with them reaching this far and will be rewarding when they lift the title, as they themselves are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to cart off the crown, turning up everyday at the practice sessions from Monday to now and putting in their extra efforts.”
However, while David is very optimistic about her school’s fortunate run in the tournament that resulted in quarterfinal victory over North Georgetown, before they stopped West Ruimveldt in the semis, winning both contests by penalty kicks, St Stephen’s can relate with her when it comes to the performance of their players and will be coming as their stumbling block.
A 2-1 penalty-kicks victory over South Ruimveldt in the quarterfinal was followed by a 10-9 sudden-death penalty-kicks semi-final victory over Enterprise, where their custodian Kezia Parkinson was their hero on both occasions.
The short custodian looks out of sorts during the course of regulation time, but gets an adrenaline drive when it comes to penalty kicks, using her feet to keep out four of South Ruimveldt’s kicks in the quarterfinal, followed by an incredible save in the sudden-death shoot out with Enterprise.
It may very well boil down to the battle of the custodians, since Reynolds comes from goal-keeping genes. Her father Richard Reynolds executed similar duties for the Golden Jaguars, while Parkinson brings out her ‘A’ game at that moment.
Tiesha Conway, Destiny George, Sara Matthias, Rannata Fox, Aaliyah Parks, Shawntel Stewart and Akeila Glasglow will look to penetrate Parkinson’s goal area during regulation time for Stella Maris and hand them the win.
Players of the calibre of Naomi Curry, Shevon Forde, Melissa Watkinson, Odelli Straughn, Ashanti Corlette and Breanna Jordan will be looking to breach Stella Maris’ defence and rock the back of the net, for St Stephen’s, thus making the contest a mouthwatering one.
In the third place play-off Enterprise, led by the experienced Aliyah Alleyne, includes Akeisha Glasglow, Alliana George and Jada Alleyne, going up against a determined West Ruimveldt Primary, for whom Amanda McKenzie, Latisha Sutherland and Ashanti Sampson will look to lead them to the third-place position.
(By Calvin Roberts)
