When the 2004 RBTT Intercol South Zone final kicks off at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium on Saturday, none of the conventional powerhouses will be taking the field.
The most prestigious schools football competition yielded two big surprises yesterday, as both defending zonal champions Naparima College and St Benedict's College followed Princes Town out of the Intercol to lesser opponents in a single double-header.
St Benedict's, the "La Romaine Lions" owed their early exit to some spirited play from Vessigny Government Secondary, who last week disposed of the "Green Hornets"---albeit somewhat controversially. There would be no grounds for protest this time, though, as St Benedict's could not find the net in 90 minutes, a feat Vessigny managed twice.
St Benedict's, as expected, had a much brighter start to the match than their opponents, who had only just managed to avoid automatic relegation in the Secondary Schools Football League just two weeks earlier. They were more confident coming forward, but had only themselves to blame for not finding the go-ahead goal in the first half.
Instead, it was Vessigny who broke the deadlock in the 37th minute from the penalty spot, Kurt Williams slotting the spot kick past St Benedict's custodian Jeremy Tenia to give his team the lead at the interval.
The second period was more of the same, St Benedict's finding the openings, but not exploiting the chances that came their way. Robert O'Brien forced a brilliant save from Kona Modeste in Vessigny goal, in the 55th, Modeste diving to his left at full stretch to preserve his team's lead. A minute later Shirvon Abraham cleared off the Vessigny goal line, then Akeil Belfon had two chances, one cleared by a defender in a dangerous area, and then a header that floated just over an open Vessigny goal.
Not helping the Lions' cause, Belfon got himself sent off for an unnecessarily harsh tackle on Alvin Alexander down the right flank. Vessigny at the same time were guilty of errant shooting, as they appeared unable to find the mark from open play. But in the 90th minute, Karym Balthazar changed that. Receiving the ball inside of the six-metre box, he turned and unleashed a rocket into the roof of the net.
"Naps" handed the other South Intercol final slot to Fyzabad Composite, another team just outside the relegation zone this year. The defending South Zone champs would have foreseen an easy victory over a team they had defeated twice this season, but Kerwyn Baptiste showed Fyzabad had other ideas, getting on the scoresheets in the third minute of the game.
Although Naps found the equaliser in the 48th minute through Javed Mohammed, Dezi Lara's 57th minute own goal was all Fyzabad needed for the 2-1 win, and an unlikely place in the final.
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