Prep retains U11 title after thrilling final

Supporters of ‘the powerful game’ have come to expect a day of thrills and disappointments during the CUC Primary Football League (PFL) and Girls’ Primary Football League (GPFL) finals and third-place games and this year was no different.

With the hordes of parents and well-wishers gathering at the famous T.E. McField Stadium (Annex Field) this past Saturday, the chance of holding aloft silverware was aplenty for the nation’s young players as the 2024 primary football competitions came to a fitting conclusion.

Cayman Prep’s Under 11s are simply unstoppable. For the last seven seasons (not counting the 2020 Covid-19 affected year when there were no leagues), Cayman Prep has dominated the Under 11 Champions Cup competition and in doing so, remained undefeated. Add yet another championship trophy to the shelf although they were made to work for this one. Prospect Primary were up for this special one and the game itself did not disappoint.

With play primarily concentrated around the midfield area, both schools ‘prodded and poked’ without much offensive success. Both defences and goalkeepers stood strong as mistakes in the rear guard were at a minimum. The game came to life after the break as Prospect Primary’s Zach Salaveri’s ferocious goal-bound drive was somehow miraculously put around the post by Prep’s shot-stopper.

As it often happens, the ‘footballing gods’ smiled kindly on Cayman Prep as Juveri Fisher latched on to a loose ball in the Prospect Primary box and fired his school into the lead with virtually no time left on the clock. With the sounding of the final whistle, the Prep players were overcome with joy while the Prospect Primary players fell to the ground utterly distraught. Cayman Prep had retained the coveted Under 11 title by the slightest of margins and in doing so, racked up their eighth successive Under 11 championship 1-0.

The Justin Henry Most Valuable Player Award of the final was presented to Prep’s midfield talisman Jake Loxton.

The Under 11 Champions Cup third-place was claimed by Cayman International School (CIS) who defeated Sir John A. Cumber Primary 4-0.

In the Under 11 Consolation Cup Final, Marie Martin Primary overcame Island Primary 4-2 in an exciting penalty shootout (2-2 full time; 0-0 extra time; 2-0 penalties).

In the Under 9 Champions Cup Final, CIS came from a goal down to defeat Sir John A. Cumber Primary 3-1 in yet another thrilling encounter. The Gerome Graham Most Valuable Player Award went to CIS’ Cameron McBain for his outstanding play in the final.

In the Under 9 Champions Cup third-place game, Prospect Primary defeated Island Primary 9A 2-1.

In the Under 9 Consolation Cup Final, Marie Martin Primary was involved in yet another penalty shootout as they defeated Cayman Prep 9B 5-4 in sudden death penalties. Following a 0-0 stalemate after regular and extra time and two each in the penalty shootout, it took a CUC PFL record-setting 11 attempts during the sudden death penalty shootout to crown a winner.

Two titles from two finals for Marie Martin Primary.

In the GPFL Champions Cup Final, Cayman Prep came from a goal down to defeat a very good NorthEast Schools team 2-1. This was NorthEast Schools’ first season in the CUC GPFL and they were a joy to watch. The Marie Martin Most Valuable Player Award was presented to Prep’s Sophie Pearson for her valuable contribution to Prep’s victory.

Sir John A. Cumber Primary’s young ladies clinched the CUC GPFL Champions Cup third-place title with a 3-0 blanking of St. Ignatius Catholic.

In the CUC GPFL Consolation Cup Final, Island Primary got past Red Bay Primary 4-0.

The CYFL thank Miss Marie Martin and Miss Janaya Henry for presenting the respective MVP awards and to Progressive Distributors and Gatorade for their ongoing support of the CUC PFL and GPFL. Thanks also to the many young volunteers who officiate the primary school football games throughout the year.

Visit www.caymanyouthfootball.ky  for all the CUC PFL and GPFL news and scores.