Cayman Prep maintains primary school football dynasty

History was again made during the finals of the 2023 CUC Primary Football League (PFL) this past Saturday, December 9 at the Annex Field – the traditional home of football in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Prep 11A team won an unprecedented eighth consecutive Under 11 title and have won 10 league titles to their name since 2012, losing only one to Red Bay Primary in 2014.

What a day it was! Exciting finals and third-place games kept the crowds entertained and even a few heavy morning rain showers couldn’t dampen the spirits of the primary school heroes on the field. School pride was on the line.

Under 9 Boys Consolation Cup Final:

Cayman Prep 9B claimed the day’s first title with a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Island Primary, who enjoyed their first season in the league and their first CUC PFL runners-up cup

Under 9 Boys Champions Cup Third-Place:

Cayman International School secured third place in the Under 9 division with a 5-1 win over newcomers Footsteps School. Goals from Skyler Russell, Hayden Burton, Hugo Chaloner and two from Charlie Burch secured the win with Alex Gaina getting the lone goal for Footsteps School.

Under 9 Boys Champions Cup Final:

Prospect Primary dethroned Cayman Prep 9A as Under 9 champions with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the defending champions. Cayman Prep 9A took the lead early in the contest and held on for most of the match before Prospect’s Seth Maison equalised late in the second half and captain Cam’ron Clarke coolly slotted home from the penalty spot a few minutes later to secure the trophy.

Although on the losing side, Cayman Prep’s Jake Loxton was awarded the Gerome Graham Most Valuable Player Award for his exemplary play during the final.

Under 11 Boys Consolation Cup Final:

Sir John A. Cumber Primary put on a dazzling display of intricate football to beat Joanna Clarke Primary 5-1 and take home the Under 11 Boys Consolation Cup to West Bay. Aiden Wilson’s four well-taken goals in the 5th, 8th, 14th and 31st minutes and a fifth from Deaundre Ebanks in the 22nd minute were more than enough to end Joanna Clarke’s hopes of lifting a title in 2023. Joanna Clarke’s Caiyden Ebanks pulled a goal back for his school in the 15th minute, which gave his team mates a glimmer of hope, but they could not capitalise on their chances as the Sir John A. Cumber Primary defence stood strong.

Under 11 Boys Champions Cup Third-Place:

Cayman International School secured their school’s second third-place finish of the day as they defeated Prospect Primary 4-3 in a thrilling game. With the score tied at 1-1 following full time and five minutes of extra time, penalties would decide this encounter. Both schools missed one of their three penalties but Cayman International School would secure the win in the first round of sudden death penalties as Prospect Primary missed their initial sudden death spot kick.

Under 11 Boys Champions Cup Final:

Cayman Prep 11A secured their eighth consecutive Under 11 title with a convincing 6-2 victory over St. Ignatius Catholic. Catholic’s Jayden Wambugu caused a stir when he opened the scoring in the 16th minute but Prep responded eight minutes later as Charlie Homer equalised in the 24th minute. Things went ‘sideways’ for St. Ignatius as Prep roared into the lead with goals from Jonny Jones, Asher Small, Luke Ivey (2) and Johnny Watkins. Young Wambugu scored a late consolation goal in the dying minutes for St. Ignatius but it was too little too late for a comeback.

Cayman Prep’s Elias Reid was presented with the Justin Henry Most Valuable Player Award for his consistent defending throughout the game, rarely putting a foot wrong when it counted.

CUC and the Cayman Youth Football Leagues (CYFL) organisation thanks Progressive Distributors and Gatorade for their ongoing support of the CUC PFL and GPFL and to the youth officials, Chastine Rankine and Shirley Amerally for their assistance throughout the 2023 season.

Visit www.caymanyouthfootball.ky  for the CUC PFL and GPFL final scores and standings.