By Rawle Toney

FOUR-time champions and the tournament’s most storied team, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, got off to a perfect start in this year’s DIGICEL Schools Football Tournament with a 5-0 win over the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) yesterday.
Playing at the Wisburg Secondary School ground, the team popularly known as ‘Multi’, will play New Silvercity Secondary on July 14, thanks to a double from Jehu Regis, and a goal each from Omar Brewley, Jermaine Mason and Darwayne Adolphus.

After losing for only the second time in the tournament last year to Chase Academy in the final, the Linden-based team vowed to return stronger this year to redeem the title which they call their own.
It was obvious that LTI were no match for Multi who ran riot on their defence for the duration of the match. So dominant were Multi on both ends of the pitch, that LTI were not able to get a shot off throughout the contest.
The first half ended 2-0 with Multi finding the net through Regis (13th minute) and Adolphus just before the stroke of halftime.

The second stanza saw Multi show off their offensive power, as Brewley stroked home a beautiful header; towering above three defenders to place the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach.
Brewley then beat several defenders and then unselfishly set-up Regis for his second goal in the 55th minute.
Mason, ten minutes later, collected a pass from Brewley to score the game’s fifth goal to hand Multi a comfortable win.

The team have played in every final of the DIGICEL tournament from its inception.
After losing to the Government Technical Institute (GTI) in the inaugural tournament, Multi went on to win four consecutive finals but Chase Academy ended their reign last year, defeating them 1-0 in the final at the Guyana National Stadium.
The final for this year’s tournament will be played at the Leonora Track and Field Centre on July 31.