AYM and Waterloo Starlets prevailed against the persistant weather conditons and the tough challenges from the opposition to clinche the national titles in the boy’s and girl’s under-17 age groups respectively at the finals of the 15th edition of the Republic Bank ‘Right Start’ Youth Football Tournament.
The event climaxed at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain on Sunday with 60 teams, all of which were vying for top honours in three age groups.
In the final of the boy’s under-17 division, AYM lifted the title behind an exciting 1-0 victory over favourite SKHY Football Academy.
Waterloo Starlets copped the girl’s title in the same fashion, edging its more fancied opponent, Petrotrin FC by a similar margin.
San Juan Jabloteh captured the boy’s under-15 division crown when it edged Step by Step 1-0.
The final day saw the skill level of the players sigficiantly improved from the qualifying rounds, while the coaches also came in for high praise as goals were at a premium on the day.
In the boy’s under-12 division final, St Ann’s Rangers defeated Gasparillo Youths 1-0; while St Clair Coaching School, the “Pride and Joy” of Tobago, bagged the under-ten division crown after defeating Fulham FC also 1-0.
The teams and players will be honoured at a prize-presentation ceremony which will take place later this month on a date and venue to be announced.
The day’s programme saw teams participate in over 150 matches that were full of fun, excitment, disappointment and triumph for all participants.