NORBROOK Strikers crowned themselves champions of the KSAFA/Guardian Life-Guardian Group Under-10 Summer Football Championship at the National Water Commission field in Mona on Sunday when they overcame Total Football Academy (TFA) 1-0 courtesy of a second-minute strike from Milan Stewart.

Norbrook Strikers took home the top prize of $70,000 and the championship trophy for their troubles while runners-up TFA were awarded $60,000 plus a trophy as well. All the players received medals and goalscorer Stewart was named finals MVP.

The leading goalscorer for the competition was Daveeno Rodney of Fire Strikers Academy with 5 goals. TFA players claimed two individual awards with Jaydon Davis named top defender while the best goalkeeper award went to Aiden Anderson. Domonic Spence of Norbrook Strikers was the top midfielder.

Liguanea United received $50,000 for their third-place finish while Red Hills/Benders received $40,000 for finishing fourth.

The Presidents’ Cup was won by Ballaz Academy after they clipped Santos 1-0, also courtesy of a second-minute strike, from Kirk Holgate to take home a cash prize of $40,000. Santos received $20,000. Holgate was named finals MVP.

Richard West, head coach at Norbrook Strikers, says the work that they have put in at the academy is now bearing fruit.

“We continue to grow from strength to strength. I am very happy and elated, I am very proud of these boys. We have worked so hard from little after COVID till now and the work has been paying off.”

He credits the strong support system within the organisation for the growth of Norbrook Strikers over the last few years.

“A strong support from the parents, a strong support from the coaches, discipline at training from the boys…a lot of factors, but very, very strong support from parents and coaching staff is what is key,” West insisted.

Norbrook Strikers was one of the better ball-playing teams at the tournament and West said that playing the game properly is encouraged.

“We encourage good football. Some of us joke and say, ‘It’s better we look good and lose’…but we try our best to play attractive football, while winning.”

For Norbrook Strikers, last weekend was picking up where they left off from when the series unexpectedly came to a halt at the end of 2019.

At the Easter edition in 2019 they made it to the semi-finals and then went on to win the September event. They were beaten finalists in December 2019, showing an extraordinary level of consistency throughout that year.

Winning on Sunday was very special for West who could not hide his joy.

“It means a lot, to be honest. Being a young team, I was telling my coaching staff that we were entering them this year to ready them for next year so they showed me not to take them lightly.”

West believes that the extra effort showed by his young players to prepare is what is leading to their unexpected success.

“I am proud of both teams. We entered a younger team as Shortwood FC and they made the President Cup quarter-final. These boys are passionate about their football.

“For example, there is a group that comes from far from where we train and they organise their own taxi to come to training, and I respect and love that commitment — and they are there more than some players that live nearer to the field,” he explained.

Guardian representative Fitzroy Brown commended the KSAFA team for doing a good job in running the competition over the two days and praised the efforts of the coaches and boys and girls on show.

“When we start at this level and they are starting to do the right things, I know in the future it will be easier for them to move to the next level,” he said.

KSAFA President Wayne Shaw was happy with what he saw over the two days and thanked the persons involved in making it a success.

“I am very pleased with the staging of the Guardian Life-Guardian Group/KSAFA U-10 Summer edition.

“The standard of football by the youngsters was good. You can see that the coaches are doing a good job. Technically the players are doing very well.

“I want to say thanks to Guardian Life-Guardian Group for their continued sponsorship of this very important aspect of youth football, and a special thanks to our hydration provider, Wisynco,” he concluded.

— Dwayne Richards