West Terrace Triumph

West Terrace Primary are the new kings of primary school football, clinching the National Sports Council (NSC) BICO Primary Schools’ Football Competition title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Arthur Smith Primary in Wednesday’s final at Orange Hill.

Multi-talented 11-year-old Alex Jones-Ifill proved the difference-maker, scoring the decisive goal with a brilliant solo effort in the second half. The skilful athlete—who recently returned from Nicaragua with a bronze medal in the NACAC Under-13 Boys’ Pentathlon—picked up the ball near midfield, sprinted into the box, and fired home from the right side.

Jones-Ifill was named tournament MVP after leading his team to glory in a tense and even contest that saw Arthur Smith enjoying more possession and creating the better early chances. Despite being under pressure for much of the game, West Terrace’s defensive line held firm, with goalkeeper Amir Watts delivering a heroic performance. Watts was deservedly named both Player of the Final and Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament after making a series of crucial, last-ditch saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Arthur Smith’s midfield dynamo Torian King, who directed play with composure and vision, was named Best Midfielder of the Tournament. However, it wasn’t enough to break West Terrace’s resistance on the day.

Elsewhere in the awards, Giovonni Greaves of All Saints Primary secured the Top Goal Scorer honour for the tournament, showcasing his consistent attacking threat.

The competition’s third-place playoff saw George Lamming Primary get the better of St Cyprian’s Boys’ School to claim bronze and round out a thrilling season of primary schools’ football that brought crowds and cheers back to the sidelines.

The football title capped a remarkable sporting year for West Terrace Primary, who also lifted the Herman Griffith Primary Schools’ Cricket Competition trophy and won the boys’ division of this school year’s National Primary Schools’ Athletic Championship.

Starting XIs for the final

West Terrace Primary: GK Amir Watts; Jehzario Adamson-Forde, Cairo Millar, Janeico Clarke, Tiago Renwick, Liam Mason, Treshae Rogers, Zayden Haynes-Pearce, Neymar Forde, Alex Jones-Ifill, Roni Watson.

Arthur Smith Primary: GK Fabio Jones; Tyrell Carew-Stephens, Tristan Carew-Stephens, Wykavion Gilkes, Tyriq Small, Kobea St Pierre, Asaiah Agard, Giovanni Edwards, Adyn Boyce, Torian King, Tazario Holder-Moore.

Subs: Armani Durant, Tevon Matthews.

rohansonnwaithe@barbadostoday.bb