RETRIEVE Unknowns upset one of Linden’s top street football teams, New Era Russians, Saturday night, at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard-court to win the Mackeson Super16 Championship trophy and the first prize of $250 000 in the process.

After a nil-all deadlock in regulation time, and that same score-line after two periods of extra time, eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament from Retrieve Unknowns, Ryan Noel, ensured his penalties delivered the fatal blow to Russians.
It was a surprise that penalty kicks had to decide a game in which Russians were completely out-played after their impressive semi-final win. Retrieve Unknowns’ Darrel George tormented New Era Russians’ defence all night with superior skill and control.
George brushed the ‘small goal’ post twice in the game and sent open chances wide as the young Retrieve team played with tremendous pace. They simply ran the tiring Russians into the ground and should have ended the game in regular time, but squandered the chances.
The Amelia’s Ward-based New Era Russians will pocket $150 000 and trophy while third-placers will get $100 000 and fourth-placers $40 000 with trophies. Topp Class defeated We-Is-The-Boss 4-1 to secure the third prize in the competition.
Rawle Gittens had a brace while Shawn Eastman and Ashton Angel scored one each for Topp Class in their third place game. Charley Henry was the lone goalscorer for We-Is-The-Boss.
New Era Russians had dismissed We-Is-The-Boss 2-0 in the first semi-final while the eventual champs Retrieve Unknowns won on penalty kicks against Topp Class.
A simple presentation ceremony will be scheduled for the prize winners. Mackeson Brand Manager, Jamaal Douglas, said that he was happy with the impressive response the tournament received in Linden and committed to a continued effort.
“It is good to see so many people supporting this event under this brand and I hope to build on this for the future as we continue to grow this tournament,” Douglas said briefly at the closing ceremony Saturday night in Linden.
The tournament began a week ago in Amelia’s Ward and had three playing nights. Amelia’s Ward FC vice-president, Patrick Dey coordinated the event, which was hailed a definite success for the mining town communities.