Samuel retains Golden Boots WIFA award; SVG dethroned

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ senior football team captain Myron Samuel held on to the Golden Boots Award in the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) tournament, which finished in Grenada last Thursday.

The award, presented to the player scoring the most goals in the tournament, saw Samuel’s four items bettering all other contenders.

Samuel, who was the awardee in St Lucia in 2015, the last occasion of the hosting of the tournament, registered the lone hat-trick in the 2017 edition. He blasted a triple versus invited team Barbados, in SVG’s 4-2 win.  Samuel’s goals and one from Chavel Cunningham conjured up the Vincentians’ solitary win in the tournament.

Samuel, who had helped St Vincent and the Grenadines lift the title two years ago, also scored against eventual winners Grenada, as his team went under 3-4 to the host.

Cunningham and Jahvin Sutherland joined Samuel on the score sheet.

St Vincent and the Grenadines were also beaten by St Lucia 1-2 in their opening encounter. Cunningham had netted for St Vincent and the Grenadines in their losing effort.

The Vincentians ended the tournament on four points from four matches, as they drew their last match 2-2 with second placed Dominica. In that final match, Dennis Prescott and Zenroy Lee recorded SVG’s two goals.

Apart from Samuel, the other individual awardees were Glenson Prince of Dominica and Grenada’s Nicko Williams.

Prince, a goalkeeper, earned the Golden Glove Award and Williams was adjudged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

The final team standings were Grenada – 7 points; Dominica – 6 points, St Lucia – 5 points, St Vincent and the Grenadines – 4 points and Barbados – 4 points.