Vincentian ‘Crew’ takes regional Street Football Title

St Vincent and the Grenadines, represented by Team Crew of Sion Hill, reached for greatness when they pouched the inaugural Guinness Street Football Challenge, last Saturday night at the National Tarmac in Guyana.{{more}}

The combination of Dwayne Dennie, Paul Farrell, Juma Gilkes, Theon Gordon, Kumar Govia, Rohan Thomas Jr., Kirk Williams and Nicoli Williams carried the flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines all the way to the top in the five-nation play-offs.

The support staff comprised Kasai Simmons, Brand Manger at the St Vincent Brewery Ltd, who travelled as Manager, and Kenson Stoddard as Coach.

In last Saturday’s final, Team Crew defeated Back Circle Stallions of Guyana 2-0, with goals by Dwayne Dennie and Juma Gilkes, to cop the US$4,000 winner’s purse and the trophy.

The Vincentians also locked horns with Drifterz of Trinidad and Tobago, Ghetto City of Antigua and Barbuda and Team St Lucia.

In the preliminary round of competition, Team Crew defeated Team St Lucia 1-0; drew with Ghetto City 0-0, but prevailed on penalties 2-1.

Team Crew lost to Back Circle Stallions, two goals to nil, and to Drifterz, 2-1 on penalties, after both teams played to a goalless draw.

Team Crew reversed their fortunes against Drifterz in the semi-finals, winning 2-1 on penalties, as both teams played to a stalemate in the allotted twenty minutes regulation time, thus setting up their meeting in the final with Back Circle Stallions.

Coach of Team Crew Kenson Stoddard and Captain Nicoli Williams concurred it was a deliberate ploy to play an open game against the Trinidadians, knowing they would have met them in the semi-finals.

Also part of the prize is the construction of a Street Football pitch in the team’s community.

The jubilant Vincentian representatives returned home last Sunday morning and were met by Minister of Tourism, Youth and Sports Cecil Mc Kie and Parliamentary Secretary in that ministry Elvis Charles, as well as officials of the St Vincent Brewery Ltd.

The welcome ceremony at the ET Joshua Airport was followed by a motorcade through the Sion Hill community, which climaxed with a short celebration on the Sion Hill Village hard court, where the victorious team honed their skills.

Team Crew earned the right to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines after taking the local finals held at the Arnos Vale Netball Complex on June 8. (RT)