A DOUBLE off the boot of Kadeem Blackman either side of play and another from Diquan Gomes propelled Mahaica to a comfortable 3-0 win over Buxton Stars and the championship trophy in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) Under-13 League which concluded on Friday afternoon at the Buxton Community Ground, East Coast Demerara.
The size of the Mahaica players was surely a big challenge for the home team and as much as they showed great heart, Mahaica more or less had things their own way in taking home the winning trophy.
In the third place game, another Buxton-based side Youth Developers had to ward off a spirited challenge from Melanie Tritons to win that encounter by the lone goal of the game that came off the boot of Shawn Rodney in the 50th minute, 10 minutes to lemon-time.
Mahaica, coached by former Pele FC coach Peter Gulliver, came with a plan and worked same to their benefit.Despite the height advantage, Buxton’s little stars took the fight to the Mahaica side early in the piece and were doing a fine job until the 22nd minute when Kadeem Blackman tucked in the first of his double from a scrimmage in front of the goal.
That advantage increased in the 45th minute from a powerful shot off the boot of Diquan Gomes with the sealer coming two minutes to game time (60th) from Blackman.
Adjudged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player was Buxton Star’s Shamar Scott who apart from scoring three goals was the bedrock of his team’s defense. Tafari Rogers of Melanie Tritons ended as the tournament’s leading goalscorer, hitting the network on four occasions.
BV/Triumph United’s Shamar Singh was named the Best Goalkeeper while the Fair Play Award went to Youth Developers.
Special medals for their contributions to their teams, donated by coach of Buxton Stars, Sherry Abrams, were awarded to Nigel Manifold of Mahaica, goalkeeper of Buxton Stars Elton Sullivan; Shamar of Youth Developers and Joshua Liverpool of Melanie.
Nine teams participated in the competition that was sponsored by the Guyana Football Federation as part of their ongoing policy of supporting youth development.
The next youth tournament that the federation will be supporting in the EDFA will be played at the Under-17 level and that is expected to kick off in mid-September.