GSDF/GFF U21 Female tourney...Scotiabank/Pepsi All Stars are inaugural champs

GSDF/GFF U21 Female tourney…Scotiabank/Pepsi All Stars are inaugural champs

Jan 04, 2013 Sports

The Scotiabank/Pepsi All Star team displayed outstanding skills to win the inaugural Guyana Sports Development Foundation / Guyana Football Federation Under-21 female football tournament which was held on Sunday December 30, 2012 held at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex Ground.

The wining Scotiabank/Pepsi All Star team display their silverware after the presentation.

The other competing teams were West Demerara and Berbice. Competition got underway with the champions taking on a young and inexperienced West Demerara side. The first ten minutes saw the teams trying to get the measure of each other while also trying to get a grip of the slightly soggy conditions of the field.
The deadlock was broken on 13 minutes when the experienced Scotiabank/Pepsi unit through Sasha James rocked the back of the West Demerara nets. The goal lifted the confidence of the team and they playing much more possessive ball with periodic quick buildups while covering and not leaving themselves exposed defensively.
The advantage was doubled in the 23rd minute when Kendra Thomas added her name to the score sheet. Two minutes later it was Althea Holligan who increased the lead for the All Star side. Four minutes on (29) Thomas was again on target, she completed her triple strike with another goal in the 46th minute.
Holligan sealed proceedings and a solid win with her second goal of the game in the 55th minute. West Demerara were able to score a consolation goal through Stacey Forbes in the 53rd minute, the game ended 6 – 1 in favour of the All Stars.
In the second game of the day, Berbice and West Demerara clashed with and the pressure was on both teams to win in order to keep their chances alive of advancing to the championship game.
Both teams played aggressively forcing the medic to make periodic runs on the field to deal with minor injuries; such was the intensity of proceedings which was witnessed by a sizable crowd with many of the parents in attendance.
Abioce Heywood of West Demerara broke the ice in the 20th minute when she hit a free kick just outside the top of the box that had goal written all over, the West Side girls went on to win the game 1 – 0.
In the final game of the day, Berbice faced the Scotiabank / Pepsi All Stars girls and the team from the Ancient County came out energised in a desperate bid to secure points to improve their chances of placing at least second.
Their hopes were however dashed when Kendra Thomas slotted in two goals (5, 15), Althea Holligan netting in the 25th minute and Sasha James a brace (32, 60) to seal a 5-1 win, and their second of the competition which sealed the title for them. Berbice were able to pull one back in the 29th minute, compliments of a Sarafina Lam strike.
The Scotia Bank All Stars Team emerged winners with 6 points from 2 wins, West Demerara placed 2nd with 3 points from 1 win and Berbice in the cellar without any points.
After the game the teams were presented with their trophies and medals. Treasurer of West Demerara FA Ms. Denise Lovell presented the winning trophy to Assistant Coach of the All Stars Team Ms. Andra Fredericks, while President of the Berbice FA Mr. Keith O Jeer presented to the Coach of West Demerara Ms. Chevon Monchoir with the 2nd place trophy.
All three teams received medals compliments of the Guyana Football Federation whose General Secretary Mr. Noel Adonis, Treasurer Mr. Dwayne Lovell and Technical Development Officer, Lyndon France were in attendance.
In an invited comment, Coach of the Scotiabank/Pepsi All Stars Female Team Joseph Wilson said that the weekly training that the team undergoes brought home the positive result. Wilson also stated that he has seen the players improve admirably and is hoping that many other tournaments of this nature are organised so that the females can improve their skills and awareness.
He reminded the public that to date it is the only the females who have represented Guyana at the Gold Cup Finals and the GFF should not gave up on the women.
President of the GSDF Colin Baker thanked Scotiabank, DDL under the Pepsi Brand and the Guyana Football Federation for their assistance in hosting the tournament. He also thanked the Ministry of Education for allowing access to the playing venue and the Referees Council in providing officials.
Baker also thanked the many parents for coming out and supporting the players in a well organised and competitive tournament. Stanley Harmon came in for praise for acquiring the beautiful trophies.
The tournament is being proposed on an annual basis and Baker said that he is hoping to attract teams from Bartica, Lethem, East Coast, East Bank, Georgetown and Linden and has thrown out a challenge to them to start preparing for this year’s edition.