BELVEDERE:--- On Saturday, January 18, 2014 the 21st edition of the annual SMSEF Interscholastic Soccer Tournament started at the Johan Cruijff Court in Belvedere. A total of 14 schools, registering 38 teams, will be participating in this year. The official opening ceremony started mid-morning at 11:15 a.m. after three games had been played; the first game had started at 9:00 a.m.
The opening ceremony was attended by the honorable Prime Minister, Sarah Wescot-Williams, the honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs, Patricia Lourens-Philip and the Tournament's new sponsor representing TelEm, CCO Brian Mingo.
In his opening speech St. Maarten Soccer Educational Foundation (SMSEF) President David Forsythe announced that the organization will start to bring soccer to the districts of Sint Maarten to enable the kids in the neighborhoods to play the sport close to home. This initiative is part of an USONA funded project and also involves basketball and netball. In order to make this possible existing courts will be fixed up or established starting in the following districts: St. Peter's, Cay Bay and Simpson Bay Village.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams was honored by SMSEF for her years of support to the organization, especially in regard to the Interscholastic Soccer Tournament, and was made an Honorary Member of the SMSEF.
The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs, Patricia Lourens-Philip, opened the tournament by performing the official kick-off.
To involve all the participating schools in the official opening, the schools were asked to select two players from each team to participate in a penalty shoot-out. SMSEF was pleased that all schools attended and participated in this event. The following winners went home with a prize: 18+U Girls M.P.C. Sarah Courtar, 15+U St. Dominic High School Brandon Potmis, 13+U Leonald Connor Austel Richardson, 11+U Sr. Magda Quincy Wijngaarde, 9+U Sr. Magda Oliver de Vries, 7+U Learning Unlimited Sergio Vasseur, 13+U Girls Sr. Regina Aichelle Peters.
Opening Day results:
7+U age group category:
In the 7+U category Sr. Magda Rockstars played against Learning Unlimited Strikers. The game was full of energy and both sides went all out. Sr. Magda, however, had more luck in finding the back of the net. After the first half Sr. Magda had a 5 – 0 lead. The end result was Sr. Magda Rockstars 7 – 0 Learning Unlimited Strikers. Top scorer Sr. Magda Rockstars was Azaniah Oduber with 3 goals. In the same category Learning Unlimited Hotshots forfeited the game to Sr. Magda Greenboys.
9+U age group category:
In the 9+U category Sr. Magda Energetics faced newcomer Sr. Borgia. Sr. Borgia did not suffer any nervousness. The team was clearly well prepared and ready to play, resulting in a very exciting game for all involved, as well as the spectators. The lead kept switching between the teams. At half time Sr. Borgia had the lead with 3 – 2. Sr. Magda Energetics did not give up and in the end both teams went home winners with a well deserved tie 5 – 5. Top scorer for Sr. Magda Energetics was Jorginho Singodikromo with 4 goals. Top Scorer for Sr. Borgia was Amedeus Aventurin with 3 goals.
The second game in the 9+U category was between Sr. Regina and Leonald Connor. Leonald Connor is rebuilding its team with a lot of new faces after most of last year's players promoted to another age group. Sr. Regina, on the other hand can still count on a number of experienced players to carry the torch this year. The Sr. Regina 'veterans' did not disappoint. The team took a 7 – 0 lead in the first half and added 3 more in the second half for a final result of Sr. Regina 10 – 0 Leonald Connor. Top scorer for Sr. Regina was Thomas Bouman with 6 goals and 1 assist.
11+U age group category:
In the 11 +U category Sr. Magda FC faced Leonald Connor. After the first half the score was close Sr. Magda FC 2 – Leonald Connor 1. In the second half Sr. Magda FC stepped it up, adding 4 more goals, allowing 1 more for Leonald Connor. The end result was Sr. Magda FC 6 – 2 Leonald Connor. Top scorers Sr. Magda FC were Quincy Wijngaarde with 4 goals and Jeahru Richardson with 2 goals and 2 assists. The goal scorers for Leonald Connor were Gamy Charles in the first half and Hemproy Williams in the second half.
13+U age group category:
In the 13+U category Sr. Magda went up against Hillside Christian. The game was a nail biter. From start to finish the two teams kept each other in check. At half time Hillside Christian claimed the lead with 3 – 2 and even extending its lead to 4 – 2 in the second half. Sr. Magda showed character and battled back, scoring two goals to tie the game 4 – 4. Hillside Christian managed to put another one in the back of the net and time was running out for Sr. Magda. However, in the last minutes of the game Sr. Magda succeeded in putting another one between the posts. Both teams went home with a well deserved tie 5 -5. Top scorers for Sr. Magda were Jadon Gumbs with 3 goals and 1 assist and Gabriel de Vries with 2 goals and 2 assists. Top scorer for Hillside Christian was Khalid Tavernier with 3 goals.
Girls 13+U age group category:
The first game in the Girls 13+U category was played between last year's champion Sr. Regina and the up- and coming Girls of Sr. Magda. Sr. Magda managed to surprise Sr. Regina with quick early goal in the first half by Annabelle Verheij after an assist by Rawlisha Busby. The shock did not last long and Sr. Regina quickly started to dominate the game. Leading the Sr. Regina's offense was last year's top scorer Aichelle Peters. In the first half she got Sr. Regina back in the game by scoring the equalizer and assisting in the go-ahead goal. At halftime the score was Sr. Magda 1 – 4 Sr. Regina. In the second half Sr. Magda tried to find a way to break the Sr. Regina's defense, opening up for more counter attacks by Sr. Regina. Where Sr. Magda did not succeed to find the net, Sr. Regina kept capitalizing each opportunity. The final result was Sr. Magda 1 – 10 Sr. Regina. Top scorer for Sr. Regina was Aichelle Peters with 4 goals and 2 assists.
The second game in the Girls 13+U category was a match between Leonald Connor and Hillside Christian. Both teams played hard and created opportunities, but they both had a hard time putting the ball between the posts. Toward the end of the first half, Hillside Christian was awarded a penalty kick, which Desreena Boston was able to put in the back of the net, giving Hillside Christian a 1 – 0 lead. Leonald Connor kept attacking but had no luck scoring the equalizer. The final result was Leonald Connor 0 – 1 Hillside Christian.
Girls 18+U age group category:
From all the schools only M.P.C. registered an 18+U Girls team. In order to encourage this development, SMSEF found opponents for the M.P.C. Girls to play during the Interscholastic Soccer Tournament. Even though their opponents are not in their age group, it will give them the opportunity to play the game, to learn and to improve. It is SMSEF's hope that more secondary schools will follow next year.
The M.P.C. Girls played their opening game versus Soualiga FC Blue. It was the M.P.C. Girls first match on the Johan Cruijff Court. They started a little unsure in the first half, but after half time and talking to their coach Albert Gomes, they came out with more confidence and determination, succeeding to win more duels on the pitch and making some nice plays. However, M.P.C. did not manage to score a goal as yet. Experienced Soualiga FC Blue had less trouble finding the back of the net, scoring 6 times in the first half and 5 times in the second half, for a final result of M.P.C. Girls 0 – 11 Soualiga FC Blue. Top scorer for Soualiga FC Blue was Kerine Palmer with 4 goals.
