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A resolute display by Presentation College (San Fernando) saw the “Pres Lions” hold off St Anthony’s College 7-6, courtesy kicks from the penalty spot, to clinch the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Coca-Cola National Intercol crown, today.
In front of a crowd estimated at 3,000 patrons, the “Westmoorings Tigers” were unable to penetrate Presentation’s sturdy defence—despite being awarded a controversial second half penalty kick—with the scores deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of regulation time.
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After the first six efforts in the shootout, Presentation led 3-2 through successful efforts from Vaughn Clement, Levi Jones and Nikosi Foncette, after St Anthony’s first kicker, Russel Francois, was denied by the legs of opposing goalkeeper and captain Kanye Lazarus.
However, Presentation’s fourth kicker Chaz Forde skied his shot overbar while left back Duhrell Young’s clipped the bar and went over, which allowed St Anthony’s right back Daniel Rose the chance to shoot for the trophy.
But Rose could not get past Lazarus, who saved to his left to pull the Lions back level.
In the sudden-death stage, Isaiah Jacob, Micah Brathwaite and Cody Cooper were on target for Presentation, while Theo Crovador, Mordecai Ford and Rondell Harewood replied for St Anthony’s.
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Tyrell Pemberton then made it 7-6 for the South Zone champions. But St Anthony’s midfielder Amare Dunbar failed to hit the target, as he placed his right-footed shot wide of the target, to Lazarus’ right, to spark wild celebrations by the pro-Presentation crowd.
“We are made of steel—we have one of the stingiest defences in the league,” Presentation coach Shawn Cooper told Sportsmax, during the post-game press conference. “The boys dug deep, take nothing away from St Anthony’s, [but] we stood up.”
The veteran coach, who is also the current Men’s National Under-17 Team head coach, described today’s victory as “the proudest moment of my life”.
“In 2007, I dedicated the National Intercol for (my son) when I won it with Naparima and, today, God is good,” said the Presentation coach, whose son, Cody, scored their last penalty.
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Cody hailed his father’s role in the team’s success.
“I’ll like to thank my father because he made a big impact,” said the central defender. “He told me that I trained for big games like this, and I executed here today.”
Earlier, Presentation started brighter of the two teams with 15-year-old midfielder, Foncette, taking the game’s first shot on goal—an audacious lob from 30 metres, which went just wide of goalkeeper Josiah Morris’ left post.
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St Anthony’s responded in the 15th minute through captain and playmaker Aalon Wilson-Wright whose shot from distance was well-held by Lazarus.
Wilson-Wright caught the eye with his energy, decision-making and movement off-the-ball. On the half-hour mark, the Tigers leader released Crovador with a diagonal pass down the left flank only for Joshua Miller to blast wide from the latter’s cross.
The North Zone winners grew bolder still in the second half and Harewood and Dunbar both hit half chances overbar before the game’s major talking point emerged in the 65th minute.
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Crovador went after a pass by Andell Fraser in the penalty area and it appeared, to the naked eye, that Brathwaite cleared the ball for a corner before clipping the boots of the St Anthony’s attacker.
However, referee Crystal Sobers awarded a penalty, to the disgust of the Presentation squad.
Lazarus kept his composure, though, and dived to his right to save Fraser’s spot kick.
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“I know I was going to save it—I did my homework,” said Lazarus, who was adjudged the game’s man of the match. “I saw when they took penalties and [Fraser] was one of them, and I know where he was [aiming at].”
Presentation striker Clement might have wrapped up the match in regulation time, after he was sent clear on goal by midfielder Adah Barclay. But his right-footed shot was blocked by an alert Morris.
And, on the stroke of full-time, Wilson-Wright drilled a freekick inches wide of Lazarus’ left upright. It paved the way for penalties.
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St Anthony’s coach Ronald Daniel commended his players for their effort.
“I’ll complement the boys on the hard work they did,” he said. “Today, destiny was in their hands but they gave it away. This is part of football. We have to face it.”
It was a successful afternoon for south Trinidad, as Pleasantville Secondary copped the SSFL Coca Cola Girls Intercol title after defeating Miracle Ministries 2-1 at the same venue.
(Teams)
St Anthony’s College (4-3-3): 22 Josiah Morris (GK); 19.Daniel Rose, 5.Russel Francois, 13.Jeremy Bobb, 18.Rondell Harewood; 8.Amari Dunbar, 16.Davoure Thomas (9.Mordecai Ford 87), 10.Aalon Wilson-Wright (captain); 11.Joshua Miller (14.Jean-Marc Thomas 60), 17.Andell Fraser, 7.Theo Crovador.
Unused substitutes: 30.Germany Jackson (GK), 23.Tyrell Voisin, 3.Obadiah Eyeadelrosiyhia, 4.Lemuel Hercules, 26.Malik Addley, 29.Kanye Glasgow, 6.John Abdul, 15.Keemali Decaine, 21.Akeem Harewood, 27.Terique Theobald, 2.Ishmael Castang, 20.Jamarli Mootoo.
Coach: Ronald Daniel
Presentation College (San Fernando) (4-5-1): 1.Kanye Lazarus (GK) (captain); 16.Micah Brathwaite, 5.Cody Cooper, 25.Tyrel Pemberton, 12.Duhrell Young; 7.Kaielle Elliott, 15.Adah Barclay, 21.Nikosi Foncette, 6.Levi Jones, 14.Maliq Brathwaite (20.Chaz Forde 79); 10.Vaughn Clement.
Unused substitutes: 28.Jerelle Thorne (GK), 2.Terrance Worrell, 11.Isaiah Jacob, 17.Djibril Felix, 9.Caleb Boyce, 18.Josiah Bain, 19.Kwesi Seales, 13.Isaiah Joseph, 23.Gabriel Collins.
Coach: Shawn Cooper
Referee: Crystal Sobers
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Joel Bailey is an experienced sport writer with over two decades’ experience at the Trinidad Newsday.
Congrats Pres! Deserved winners.
Congratulations to Presentation College, San Fernando! National and South InterCol Champions of 2023! Hard work and perseverance paid rich dividends as the school is also celebrating 75 years of existence. To all concerned – job well done!