Youngsters give schools’ football good start

Junior footballers of the Central Leeward Secondary and the Bethel High School gave a peek into the future of the sport here, when they opened the 2015 Secondary Schools’ Tournament last Friday.

Not even the expansive Arnos Vale Playing Field inhibited them from showing off their wares.{{more}}

Displaying some level of maturity and understanding of the game, both outfits did in the main what was instructed.

“You could see these guys are being coached,” remarked Earl Paynter, a certified football coach.

Watched by approximately 300 spectators, mainly students of both institutions, who were dwarfed in the large setting, it was Central Leeward who ran away victors.

A penalty converted by Gareth Leigertwood in the 28th minute and a Shemar Welcome header in the 53rd minute gave Central Leeward a hold of the Tyrone “Tweety” Spence trophy.

Central Leeward is coached by Chester Morgan and the Bethel High, by Theon Gordon.

But the same type of game structure did not exist when the seniors took to the field.

Instead, both the Dr JP Eustace Memorial and Bethel High players resorted to individualism, thus making the match a dour affair, causing a few persons to suck their teeth.

“I enjoyed the junior match more… There was more constructive play,” Kendal John, a seasoned coach and football administrator noted.

The lone goal in the match came in the 62nd minute, when Dr JP Eustace Memorial’s Cordell Franklyn scored a free kick.

The opening match in both divisions of each year’s tournament within recent times features the previous year’s winners and runner-up, in a rematch.

Central Leeward, who owned the junior title in 2013, also triumphed over Bethel High in last year’s final 2-0.

Dr JP Eustace Memorial had smothered the Bethel High six-nil in the 2014 senior finals.

This year’s tournament kicks off in earnest this Tuesday, following last Friday’s hush-hush opening.(RT)