CIFA’s Under-14 League final was a perfect test of determination and desire.
So precise was the measurement taken by this championship match that it left no doubts about the evenly matched teams of George Town and St. Ignatius. Both sides battled under a blazing sun on Sunday at the Annex in George Town and neither side yielded.
After 60 minutes plus an overtime period without a goal, the decision went to a penalty shootout. Two tired young goalkeepers toed the line and shouldered a great burden for their teams. Tall and sporting a shaved head, Tex Whitlock looked up to the challenge of clinching the win for George Town. At the start of the match, St. Ignatius keeper Connell Green appeared boyish and undersized. After an afternoon of war, however, he seemed larger and showed the hardened confidence of a grown man. Neither boy appeared in danger of shrinking from the pressure. Neither did.
Both keepers played like seasoned veterans, not the boys they were. Both stopped hard shots, both were cheered. In the end, however, Whitlock managed to get in front of the crucial kick that won it for George Town. Both coaches praised their teams for a memorable performance.
‘I’m proud of them,’ said George Town coach Ernie ‘Gillie’ Seymour. ‘As long as they come out and make a good effort-win, lose or draw-I’m proud of them. Catholic [St. Ignatius] really gave us a good game today. We are happy for them. It’s good for us to have a good opponent like them.’
Gareth Thacker and Andrew Harrison coached St. Ignatius.
‘I couldn’t have asked for any more from them,’ said Thacker. ‘My players were superb, total commitment throughout. This is our second straight final so it shows we’re doing well.’
‘Much thanks and encouragement is due to our district and community coaches who have made many sacrifices and in many cases gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that our youth can continue to enjoy and grow in the game they so love,’ said Jeffrey Webb, CIFA president. ‘Without the CIFA Competitions and Youth Committees, all of whom are volunteers, and the Cayman Islands Referees’ Association the season could not have been the success that it was. Congratulations to both teams on making it to the final round and especially to George Town, 2005 Under-14 League champs.’
‘This is a great group of kids,’ added Seymour. ‘They could be somewhere else doing foolishness but they play football. They’re good kids.’
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