Web Posted - Thu Jul 01 2004

By Adrian Jackson

If yesterday’s contested final between Christ Church Boys and St. Gabriel’s at the National Stadium is anything to go by, the future of football in Barbados looks very promising. Both teams exhibited great skill and flamboyance with the ball on the field as they completed dribbles and fine passes throughout the match.

Christ Church Boys became the first team to get pass the St. Gabriel’s defence for the 2004 competition, as they placed the ball twice in the “ole’ onion bag” to record a 2-1 victory.

A goal from Julian Nicholls in the first half placed Christ Church Boys in the lead, but their celebration was short lived after St. Gabriel’s David Jardine slipped one past the goal keeper to draw his team level and add more interest to the game.

Throughout the game, both teams took turns in applying pressure, but it was in the final eight minutes that the game reached its peak and with two minutes from time, Jabari Chandler, wearing the number nine jersey, powered the ball past St. Gabriel’s goalkeeper, Greg Hutson, which started a frenzy of celebration within the Christ Church Boys camp.

Yesterday’s title was the first for Christ Church Boys since 1982. Two appearances in the last seven years proved unsuccessful for Christ Church Boys, but they made the best of the situation yesterday to make up for past misses.

Physical Education tea-cher and coach of the champion team, Ancille Inniss was very pleased with the triumphs of his boys.

“This feeling can not be put into words”, said the delighted coach. “Positive ball contact and the beauty of the passing of the ball from the wings were the major factors for us winning this match which could have gone either way.” Inniss said that the boys were playing for Marlon Moore, who coached the boys on the weekend and on afternoons, “who is currently out of the island, but was convinced that these boys would be the champions at the end of the tournament”.

Coach of the St. Gabriel’s team, Stephen Jardine was philosophical about the outcome of the match. “Whenever there is a final there can only be one winner, unfortunately for us, we were not the winners here but the boys (St. Gabriel’s) played well”, said Jardine.

“I am very proud of my team” continued Jardine.

“I think that Christ Church (Boys) is a very good side and both teams exhibited excellent football skills for 11 year olds. Personally, I am happy to lose to a team of the calibre of Christ Church.”

In the earlier match, Hilda Skeene defeated West Terrace 3-2 to take third place honours, thanks to a sudden death goal from Jonathan Beckles.

Other goals for Hilda Skeene came from Sachin Mapp and Dario Griffith, while Shane Parris netted both goals in the match for West Terrace.

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BARBADOS