Latest update February 10th, 2025 7:48 AM
2013 Digicel Schools Football Championship…Charity outlast Aurora to become 3-time champions
– play Waramadong next
By Rawle Welch
Defending champions Charity were given a reprieve via an unfortunate defence error en route to a hard fought 3-2 triumph over a tenacious Aurora in the final of the Region 2 Zone of the 2013 Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Championship which was played on Friday, at the New Opportunity Corps ground on the Essequibo Coast.
Digicel’s Jermaine George (red jersey) hands over the winning trophy to Charity Captain Fazal Williams in the presence of teammates and Co-ordinator Lawrence Kellman (right) on Friday.
The partisan crowd that made their loyalty clear towards the Aurora team watched in disbelief when a powerful strike from a corner awarded to Charity slammed into a defender and lobbed over the head of goalkeeper Dawane Thomas, before landing in the goal five minutes from full time to break a 2-2 deadlock.
The effect was sunken hearts and elimination for an Aurora team that played their hearts out with ten players on the pitch since the 16th minute of the game when Kofi France was ejected after being served two yellow cards.
It was a gutsy performance against a team that have won the title since the inaugural year and worthy of recognition.
The highly anticipated match lived up to its billing as Aurora played positive from the start, going on the attack and stunned the opposition as early as the 5th minute when a poor clearance from the Charity central defender was intercepted by Aurora’s striker Renaldo Bazil, who ran on to the ball, rounded the advancing Leeland Smith stationed between the uprights, before tapping the ball into an empty goal.
Bouyed by their early advantage, Aurora continued to look for more openings and nearly increased their lead through another defensive recklessness, luckily this time Bazil’s effort was a poor one that sailed harmlessly over the crossbar to the relief of the champions and their band of supporters.
Shortly after, France suffered the ignominy of picking up a second yellow card in quick succession, forcing referee Kayode Lambert to issue marching orders.
However, instead of being restricted by the development, Aurora remained positive, but curtailing the encouraging expeditions of the calm and collective Fazal Williams was becoming burdensome for the shorthanded backline.
They were lucky to escape a spectacular bicycle kick from Williams which landed just outside the left upright with a surprised Thomas unmoved.
Charity Captain and double goalscorer Fazal Williams (green outfit) seen on the attack in their clash against Aurora on Friday.
Growing in confidence, Charity won a free kick after a player was brought down just outside the 25-yard box and it was Williams who strode up to take it.
Noticing a hole in the wall, Williams delivered with unerring accuracy so much so that not a single player moved or even managed to get the ball to touch him as it crashed into the back of the net to level the proceedings in the 36th minute.
The half came with no team able to gain the ascendancy and the game locked at 1-1.
The resumption saw more flowing football and not surprisingly Aurora took the fight to Charity with Bazil creating havoc with his mesmerising speed.
However, Charity was able to take the lead for the first time in the contest through a moment of football mastery.
Williams it was who collected a pass from the left flank, snaked his way past two defenders, before curling a shot past the flailing hands of Thomas into the far corner in the 57th minute.
Urged on by their supporters to get the equaliser, Aurora did not disappoint when substitute Clevert Thomas was left alone in the penalty area following a floated cross from the left that had eluded the goalkeeper and he made no mistake, punching the ball into the open goal.
Both teams battled for the go ahead goal as fans shouted instructions from the sidelines, but excellent defending put paid to all ambitions.
In the end, it took a slice of luck to hand Charity the title once again and set up a showdown with last year’s beaten finalist Waramadong sometime this week in Region 7.
Digicel representative Jermaine George in his remarks congratulated the teams for a well played game as well as the spectators for their support.
He then urged the teams to remain discipline even as they seek to enhance their skills and closed by stating that he was eagerly looking forward to the game against Waramadong.
Co-ordinator Lawrence Kellman in his speech extended praise to both teams for the fine exhibition that they provided for the fans, adding that he too is looking forward to the clash against Waramadong.
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