Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
Leonora Primary clinches 2025 Courts Pee Wee U11 title after penalty thriller
Kaieteur Sports – It was pure football drama on Saturday evening at the Ministry of Education Ground as Leonora Primary had the last laugh, lifting the 2025 Courts Pee Wee Under-11 Football Championship after a nerve-shredding 6–5 penalty shootout victory over St. John the Baptist Primary (SJTB). The pulsating finale brought the curtains down on the 12th edition of the Petra Organisation’s flagship U11 tournament in spectacular fashion.
Leonora Primary crowned 2025 Courts Pee Wee Under-11 Champions.
Coming out of Region Three, Leonora faced a well-drilled and determined St. John the Baptist outfit that had shown class all tournament long. Both sides had dazzled over the past five weeks, but it was Leonora who rose to the occasion and etched their name into the history books as 2025 champions.
The clash kicked off at a blistering tempo, and the crowd didn’t have to wait long for fireworks. In the 17th minute, young star Jhonathan “Messi” Melvin lived up to his nickname, curling home a beauty straight from a corner kick to put Leonora 1–0 up. The strike sent the fans into a frenzy as Leonora seized the early momentum.
Aaron Christian of SJTB (left) receiving his Most Goals award from Deputy CEO of Ministry of Education Marti De Souza.
However, football is never short on twists. In the 35th minute, controversy struck when the referee pointed to the spot for a handball infringement inside the Leonora box. Up stepped Aaron Christian, the tournament’s most lethal finisher, who coolly slotted the penalty low and hard past the keeper to level things 1–1 and set up a grandstand finish.
With both teams giving everything in regulation time, the match ended locked at one-all. Extra time saw end-to-end action, with Leonora pressing forward and Melvin dazzling the crowd with his dribbling and awareness, but neither side could find the breakthrough. That meant only one thing — penalty shootout!
The shootout started nervously for Leonora as Melvin’s first attempt was denied, allowing SJTB to edge ahead. But Leonora’s goalkeeper Akeem George quickly turned hero, pulling off a spectacular save to keep his team alive. The shootout went into sudden death, with both sides converting under immense pressure. Then came the decisive moment, another clutch save from George! The Leonora bench erupted as their young custodian sealed the 6–5 win and the championship title.
The little master Jhonathan Melvin in full flow against St John the Baptist Primary.
Scenes of jubilation followed as Leonora’s players, coaches, and supporters flooded the pitch in celebration. The Ministry of Education Ground echoed with chants of victory as the champions lifted the 2025 trophy high under the evening sky.
At the post-match presentation, the Petra Organisation and sponsors hosted a brief but heartwarming ceremony. A few lucky fans received special awards, followed by the tournament prizes. Aaron Christian walked away with the Golden Boot for Most Goals, Akeem George was named Best Goalkeeper, and the sensational ten-year-old Jhonathan “Messi” Melvin earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his all-round brilliance.
Speaking after the game, a beaming Melvin said, “God came through for us. I knew we had to finish strong. I wanted to win this title for my school, so I gave it everything, and it paid off! Leonora’s triumph not only earned them the coveted trophy and medals but also a $300,000 cash prize toward a school project of their choice.
The 2025 Courts Pee Wee U11 Tournament was made possible through the generous support of Courts Optical, alongside partners including the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Sky Tec Enterprise, Sterling Products Limited, Demerara Mutual, and MVP Sports.
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