CATEGORY:SPORTS(FOOTBALL) ----------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA by Lester Smith It was the right start for defending senior champions Mc Donald College (MDC) and other schools in the 2007 Republic Bank RightStart Cup Youth Football Tournament. The tournament which got started at the Fond Recreation Ground last Thursday featured a colorful display of the participating schools as they paraded around the field supported by the Mc Donald College Drum Core. One of the noticeable features of the march past was the appearance of a number of female teams as will be featured throughout the nine week long tournament. The opening was attended by Republic Bank Officials, Ministry of Sports Officials and also Officials of the GFA. Coordinator of Sports, Ministry of Sports, Conrad Francis declared the tournament opened in the absence of the Minister of Sport. Then it was time for the feature match of the evening in front of a capacity crowd. Managing Director, Republic Bank, Daniel Roberts led the inspection of the teams preceded by the FIFA Fair Play Flag, the Republic Bank Flag and the FIFA Anthem. Defending Champions Mc Donald College wasted no time in getting on the score card when Kennal Edward netted the first goal of the match in the 3rd minute of play. Minutes later the second goal came off the boot of Daryel Jeffrey. Then it was all a MDC affair as the northern giants sought to demolish their southern counterparts. Akim Peters extended the lead further scoring two spectacular goals. The match which ended 7-1 in favor of the Mc Donald College also included goals coming from the boot of Nixon Smith, Josh Charles and Lisdon Jules. A dejected PBC was able to score a consolation goal in the 70th minute. The goal which was considered to be the goal of the match was well executed from a solo run from striker Rodney Thomas as he patiently waited for the MDC goalkeeper to commit himself then he composed himself and directed the shot well out of the reach of the MDC goalkeeper. The Republic Bank RightStart Cup Youth Football Tournament continued on the following day with five matches. Grenville Seconday School (GSS) played away to Westerhall Secondary School (WHSS) and whipped them 9-0 at the La Sagesse Playing Field. Top gaolscorer for GSS was Rudolph Paul who netted five (5) goals. Three (3) goals from Javon Abraham and one (1) from Ron Pierre completed the nine (9) goal drubbing of Westerhall Secondary. The goal fest continued that same afternoon. This time it was over at Tanteen. Grenada Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School (GSDASS) scored a whooping ten (10) goals to defeat the Boca Seconday School (BSS) 10-0 at Tanteen. Demron Daniel scored six (6) goals to lead the tournament in goalscoring. Akim Lalite netted three (3) and Kevin Federick scored from the penalty spot. What might be considered an upset was the clash between the Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS) and the St. David’s Catholic Secondary School (SDCSS) over at the Belle Vue Playing Field. Once a power house in school’s football, GBSS has been lacking form in recent years. SDCSS enjoyed the sweet victory scoring three (3) and restricting the Tanteen Boys to only two goals. A goal each for Kenson James, Mandraker Cuffie and Vaughn Whiteman was enough to seal victory for SDCSS while Alec Jones scored twice for GBSS. Happy Hill Secondary School (HHSS) managed a narrow edge victory 1-0 over Wesley College (WC) at Queens Park. Scoring the lone goal of the match was Kamal Samuel. Last year, Samuel won one of two football scholarships to attend the Republic Bank RightStart Cup Easter Soccer Camp in Trinidad. It was a western derby at the Cuthbert Peters Park when archrivals St. John’s Christian Secondary School (SJCSS) and St. Rose Modern Secondary School (SRMSS) clashed in a heated battle to prove their worth in the Parish of St. John’s. Well, both teams proved to have equal worth when they played to a 1-1 draw. Scoring for SJCSS was Shevon Sampson (scholarship winner in the 2006 tournament. He attended the Republic Bank RightStart Cup Easter Soccer Camp in Trinidad) and Kevon Jones netted for SRMSS. Action continues in the Republic Bank RightStart Cup Youth Football tournament on Friday September 28th with the following matches: ZONE A BSS Boca Secondary School SRMSS St. Rose Modern Secondary School WC Wesley College HHSS Happy Hill secondary School SJCSS St. John’s Christian Secondary School SMSS St. Mark’s Secondary School GSDASS Grenada Seventh Day Adventist Sec. School ZONE B MDC Mc Donald College SDCSS St. David’s Catholic Secondary School WHSS Westerhall Secondary School GBSS Grenada Boys Secondary School GSS Grenville Secondary School SAASS St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School PBC Presentation Brothers College The top two winners in each Zone will advance to the Semi finals.