RISING Stars emerged champions of the Desruisseaux Football League Knockout Competition when they defeated Lion Heart 3 – 2 in a hard fought encounter in front of what can best be described as a massive crowd at the Desruisseaux Playing Field on Sunday.
Rising Stars opened the scoring through,Jonathan Emmanuel in the 15th minute.Terry Austin doubled the score line in the 23rd minute, and Lion Hearts Marvin Gilbert made it 3 – 0 with an own goal in the 32nd minute, but with two minutes remaining before the half time whistle Rising Stars Ernie Charlery in an attempt to clear the ball in the danger area scored an own goal to make it 3 – 1.
It was game on going into the second half as both teams came out firing. With their respective crowd support behind them the atmosphere at the DPF was electrifying. But it was Lion Heart’s Alvaton Joseph who would cut the deficit to one in the 66th minute of play. That’s how the score line remained up until the final whistle.
Meanwhile, in the Under – 16 final, Ti Rocher defeated Blanchard 7 – 1.
President of the Desruisseaux Football League and President of the Youth and Sports Council Gibeon Ferdinand spoke to The VOICE after the encounter. He said, “It’s been a very long season. It started last year and went into 2016 for the first time in many years. I think we have achieved our goals which were basically to get the football competitions to the various levels. We had the under – 16 and two senior tournaments.
“We have seen Ti Rocher FC in both the under – 16 and the seniors winning the competition and now we have Rising Stars coming back and winning the knock-out. It’s been a very good season. Traditionally, Desruisseaux has always produced a very entertaining brand of football. The community comes together. This year was no exception. It’s really been a joy to be part of this. We had eleven clubs this year. We have had quite a lot of participation”.
He said the sponsors had been good to the community especially National Lotteries Authority, the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, and several local entrepreneurs who have always been giving them support.
“It is just an example of how well we have done as a community. And I am very proud of the outcome of the tournament as well as the participation and performance of the teams, the coaches and the clubs”, Ferdinand added.
VOICE: Any plans for lighting the playing field?
Ferdinand: In fact, the quality of the fields in the community has always been an issue. It’s been many years we have been clamouring for it. I suspect as I said at one time, it looks like I will have to do it myself one of these days. The surface of the field is not vey good. The teams cannot practise after 6:00 p.m. It gets dark early most of the time. It’s very difficult to have the full programme executed, including youth programmes where you have to cater for both male and female male, young and old. But if the lighting is available, I think we would be able to run it through and plan it better and access the facility any time. That is something I think we need to look at as a district. I suspect after so many years I have to take on that responsibility by myself. Maybe in another capacity, but for now I can agree that the facility really does need some attention.
Meanwhile, the Desruisseaux Multi-Purpose Centre will be a hive of activity when the League in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Council stages its prize giving ceremony tomorrow.