Two teams, Goodwood Tigers and Greenhill Bagatelle FC – walked away with the lion’s share of awards at stake in their respective divisions at the prize distribution function of the 2016 RBC Royal Bank West Penn Community Youth Football League on August 20 at the Diego Martin North Secondary School.
Cash prizes, trophies and medals were handed out to the top performers in the league, which is celebrating its second year of partnership with RBC. A total of 16 teams took part in the 2016 tournament, played from May 1 to July 31.
RBC Royal Bank T&T’s sponsorship was hailed by West Penn Sports & Culture, organisers of the tournament, “as a major platform for the youths who live in Trinidad’s western peninsula to develop their football skills and for the various communities to pursue sport for peace and development”.
Manager of RBC West Mall Branch, Suzanne Delph said the bank took pride in making communities in which it operated, develop and thrive. “This competition gives you an opportunity not only to develop your talents in football but also to grow as young adults as well.
Sport is an excellent avenue to move ahead in life and we at RBC see our partnership with West Penn as a fantastic investment in the future of T&T. We congratulate you on a wonderful job in organising this tournament especially as it serves to bring the various communities in the west closer together” Delph explained.
Playing for the first time in the tournament, Goodwood Tigers received $3,000, a trophy and gold medals as Under-17 league champions. They also won the One-Day competition and copped awards for Most Valuable Player, Mark Robertson; and Golden Boot, Nkosi Salandy.
Greenhill/Bagatelle received $2,000, a trophy and gold medals as league champions and also captured the One-Day title. Joseph Solomon received the Golden Boot award. Their trophy haul bulged even bigger as Garfield “Papa” Augustine was voted Coach of the Year, and they won the accolade of Most Disciplined Team, an award they shared with St James Youths. The only award to elude them was the MVP which went to Anthony Walcott of Big Valley United FC.
West Penn Chairman, Selwyn Luces, said the league had overcome some growing pains but had broadened its reach in the second year with a total of 16 teams, four more than the first year. “One of the overriding objectives for West Penn is to break down barriers and bring communities in the west closer together.
We believe that the RBC Youth Football Tournament is a major steeping-stone in that direction. We are delighted that we have been offered this opportunity by RBC to give our youths a sound platform to develop their sporting skills and move forward in life,” Luces pointed out.
A stirring appeal was made to the youths by St. Anthony College’s teacher and coach, Imran Gopaul, to make full use of the opportunity presented to them through the league. “Sport has tremendous positive power. Sport teaches us discipline. It gives us something to believe in. It gives us hope. I urge you to grasp this opportunity with both hands. We owe RBC a debt of gratitude for providing this sound platform for the youths of our communities. Let us support and energise each other,” Gopaul urged.
Honor Roll - Under-17 Division League Competition
Champions: Goodwood Tigers
Runners-Up: Cocorite Stars
3rd Place: Patna/River Estate
One-Day Competition
Champions: Goodwood Tigers
Runners-Up: Panta/River Estate
3rd Place: St Lucien FC
Most Valuable Player: March Robertson (Goodwood Tigers)
Golden Boot: Nkosi Salandy (Goodwood Tigers)
U-14 Division - League Competition
Champions: Greenhill/Bagatelle FC
Runners-Up: St James Youths
3rd Place: Big Valley United FC
One-Day Competition
Champions: Greenhill/Bagatelle
Runners-Up: Big Valley FC
3rd Place: Blue Basin/Waterwheel FC
Most Valuable Player: Anthony Walcott (Greenhill/Bagatelle)
Golden Boot: Joseph Solomon (Greenhill/Bagatelle)
Overall
Coach of the Year: Garfield “Papa” Augustine (Greenhill/Bagatelle)
Most Disciplined Team: Greenhill/Bagatelle & St James Youths (tie).