Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:21 AM
DSFC Semi Final Stage…Christianburg/Wismar cautiously optimistic of retaining title
By Michael Benjamin
Approximately six weeks of gripping and entertaining football is coming to an exciting climax as the four top teams battle for a place in the finals when two semi-final encounters of the Digicel Schools’ Football Championship get underway this
Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary coaches Anthony Stephens and Delon Peters just after wrapping up a training session yesterday afternoon.
afternoon at different venues.
Defending champions, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary will clash with Betterverwagting Secondary School at the latter institution’s Community Centre Ground while over in Berbice, Bushlot Secondary will face off with Waramadong Secondary at the Burnham Park, New Amsterdam.
The competition has indeed been stiff as teams from schools countrywide battled ferociously in matches held in almost all of the ten regions. Christianburg/Wismar Secondary has had the distinction of winning all of the preceding versions of the tournament and they are just as confident of replicating the feat this year.
To date the Linden based team has played four matches in this edition and started their trek to championship honours with a scathing 8-0 drubbing over Linden Foundation. Their second victim, New Silver City Secondary, went down 2-0 before they also disposed of Mackenzie High and Vryman’s Ervin 4-2 and 8-0 respectively.
Yesterday afternoon, the players were hard at work on the Guyana Defense Force Ground, honing their skills for this afternoon’s encounter under the watchful eyes of their coaching team comprising Anthony Stephens and Delon Peters and both principals are confident of retaining the title once again.
“My ultimate goal is to win the championship but I am taking this tournament one game at a time; my primary aim at this moment is to take care of Betterverwagting (Secondary School)” declared Coach Stephens when asked for a prediction. He said that he has prepared his men to the hilt and is confident that they will ‘bring home the bacon.’ “I am eagerly looking forward to this afternoon’s game and anticipate a keen battle,” he said.
Last year when the Linden based institution clashed with Waramadong Secondary in the finals at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary, they had trailed for the larger part of the game but had staged a remarkable comeback after registering two quick goals, the equalizer and then the decider. Several of the players that had participated in that match are now past the age of eligibility yet Coach Stephens remains confident that his charges are capable of retaining the spoils.
“We have lost our captain, Benny Neblett and a potent right back, Romain Adams as well as the dependable Marmalaque Davidson but to my mind the replacements could more than suffice,” a confident coach Stephens pronounced.
He said that strikers, Donovan Francis and Shane Luckie are quite capable of doing the job and will receive support from Jahshawn Moore and Ezra Ashby. He further said that Keyshawn Dey, one of last year’s point men, will be shifted from defense into the central midfield position.
Coach, Delon Peters, feels that the tournament is a good one and tipped his hat to Digicel for their efforts to promote youth football. He said that the quality of the tournament has improved remarkably and visualizes continued progress over the coming years.
“This tournament has made our school a household name and our victory has had a ripple effect on the entire sports department,” said Coach Peters. He also said that their winnings, which were to be used for an identified project has been channeled into the rehabilitation of the field as well as equipment for other sport disciplines. “We are a sports oriented school and the input of Digicel has served to strengthen that department,” he said.
Pressed to predict the outcome of this tournament Coach Peters cagily said, “We are keeping one eye on today’s game and another on the finals.”
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