Junior Mafia played five near-flawless matches to retain its status quo as Eastern play-off kings, when the team became the third consecutive challenger to defend its zonal title, when the Guinness Street Football Challenge continued at the La Horquetta basketball court, on Saturday.
A host of current and former professional footballers including Defence Force FC midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar and Super League’s Joe Public attacker Brent Antoine, were virtually untroubled en route to the final, which the team won 2-0 over Drug Free.
The spectators, many of whom came out in support of the three teams from La Horquetta were entertained by the deft touches by top street players of the community.
The final was decided by two second half items from Kerry Joseph and Ricardo Bennett. Junior Mafia proved to be the highest scoring team in this year’s competition as well as one of the soundest in defence, as it ended with 13 goals with just one conceded.
Joseph, the scorer of a opening goal in the final ended with three on the day, while Bennett scored two. Balthazar was the joint top scorer on the day with three goals, equal with Gorane Highly of team Overcome, which bowed out to Junior Mafia 2-0 in the semifinal.
Two relatives of Balthazar, Garvin Balthazar and Derrick Balthazar helped the team with two goals and one goal, respectively, during the preliminary stage. Antoine also scored two goals in the group stage.
The zonal win saw Junior Mafia join Drifterz Answer Back (Tobago) and Skillz that Killz (South) into the national play-off for a second year running.
Action will switch to the Edinburgh 500 basketball court, on Friday from 6 pm, in a rescheduled Central Zone play-off. The original play-off two weeks ago was cancelled due to the rainy conditions. A day later the North-East play-off will be challenged at the Constantine Park basketball court, from 5 pm.