Chase Academy crowned King of schools football
-Jobe Caesar’s goal brings end to Wismar/Christianburg’s reign
A 24th minute goal from Jobe Caesar ended a dynasty as Chase Academy edged four time champion Wismar/ Christianburg Secondary 1-0 yesterday in the Digicel Schools Football Championships grand finale at the National Stadium in Providence.
The dynamic midfielder ended the hegemony of the Linden heavyweight in a sublime manner in front of a disappointing sized crowd for an event of such magnitude.
Awarded a spot-kick just outside the box on the right side, Caesar scored arguably the goal of the event with a thunderous right foot strike into top right corner, giving the custodian no chance and sending their supporters into a frenzy.
It was a goal that earned Caesar the event’s Most Valuable Player award. With the win, Chase Academy secured $1,000,000 toward the funding of a school project and the championship trophy while the losing team pocketed $700,000 and the runners-up accolade.
Chase Academy became the second team from the Georgetown zone to claim the title following Government Technical Institute’s (GTI) victory in the inaugural edition. Although the scoreline might point to an evenly fought affair, Chase Academy dominated the exchanges, creating several chances while restricting their foes to long range efforts.
The first chance of the match fell to Caesar in the 14th minute as a left side free-kick was parried away desperately by the custodian.
The incident served as a warning for the Linden unit as Caesar broke the deadlock under similar circumstances 10 minutes onward with a free-kick into the right corner.
Stephon Reynolds should have made it 2-0 one minute later, latching onto a left side cross from Kelsey Benjamin unmarked inside the right of the box, only to direct his first time finish over the crossbar.
Nicholas McArthur was the next guilty party in wasting a chance to double his side’s lead in the 32nd minute, directing his header over the crossbar from the centre of the box, after receiving a cross unchallenged inside the centre of the box.
For the defending champions, their best attempt came in the 36th minute as a right foot shot from Shaquille Campbell sailed narrowly wide of the lower left corner.
Nonetheless, McArthur was once again the culprit in the 43rd minute, racing into the right side of the area before flashing a powerful effort wide of the lower left hand corner.
The second half mirrored the first period as Chase Academy crafted the better of the opportunities. Ryan Hackett fashioned the chance for Georgetown unit in the 62nd minute, rifling a powerful left foot strike from the top of the box which sailed just over the crossbar.
Similarly, Reynolds almost doubled their advantage in the 75th minute as a first time strike from right side of the box sailed just wide of the top right corner.
In the earlier third place playoff at 16:00hrs, South Georgetown winner Sir Leon Lessons defeated four time Region #5 winner Bush Lot Secondary 4-2.
Adrian Aaron scored a brace in the 30th and 45+1 minute while Omari James and Keifer Brandt netted in the 55th and 69th minute respectively. For the loser, Tyrone Miller and Shaquille DeHarte scored in the seventh and 71st minute each.
Due to the result, Sir Leon Lessons walked away $400,000 towards a school project and the respective trophy while the loser received $350,000 towards a school initiative and the corresponding trophy.
On the individual side of the presentation, the Best Goalkeeper accolade went to Chase Academy’s Kevis Fraser with only two concessions while the Highest Goal Scorer award went to Keifer Brandt of Sir Leon Lessons with 17 goals.
Also, meeting the teams prior to the start was Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde, Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Digicel CEO Kevin Kelly and Digicel Sales Executive Sherwin Osbourne.