Elite No Match For Scholars
October 27, 2009
By Beverly Melbourne
Defending Champions Elite were no match for Scholars International last Sunday evening at the TE McField Sports Centre (Annex) when they dismissed the defending champions 4-1 en-route to taking the 2009-2010 Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) Premier League title.
It was Elite who netted first after finding the back of the net as early as in the 5th minute. Elite felt sure they were on top of their game but in the 27th minute Nikolai Hill leveled the score and cramped their style.
If this was not enough in the 37th minute ace forward Nahun Rodriquez scored ending the first interval 2-1.The second half was just as interesting as both teams fought desperately for the equalizer.
The defending champions could not manage the charging West Bayer team and many time champions as they continued to press hard going forward and penetrating the Elite defense line.
In the 68th minute Scholars International was on target again when Hill completed his double pushing the score to 3-1.
The defending champions seemed to have given up but their opponents were on a goal scoring spree and in the 86th minute sealed the issue with a goal from substitute and former national player Roy Forbes ending the game 4-1.
A confident Technical Director of Scholars International Antonio Smith said that the season is young and he is still not pleased with the teams overall performance but he is confident that they will peak and get better as the season progresses.
“It’s a long season and it’s a young season as well winning all our games so far is good but we will have to keep up to the standard of the competition. I and the other Coaches will be working hard to put the unit together including the two newly transfered players Roy Forbes and Encuma “Bulla” Brown.”
“The basic technical aspects such as putting passes together are what we are working at now to build the unit. This weekend we face Roma. This will not be a walkover game as every team will want to beat Scholars International. This will be another game just like the others,” Smith commented.
A disappointed Technical Director Gregory Ebanks said that the game was a good game but his goal keeper had an off game and as a result of that Elite lost.
Basically, I think my goal keeper had an off game both teams played well we just lost concentration and Scholars International succeeded. They are leading with seven clear points now and look unstoppable. They play maturely they have great speed and a flair of winning. Any team who wants to beat them has got to prepare hard and have luck on their side.
“Teams have their ups and downs and we are not going to throw in our towels. This Sunday we meet Tigers and as usual we have respect for all of our opponents. Elite need to be more humble and as the league progresses we have the potential to get better in due course,” Ebanks stated.
The game between Bodden Town and Roma which should have been played earlier was postponed due to the poor weather conditions it will be played on Thursday at 7pm at the Bodden Town Play Field.
In the other games played at the Ed Bush Stadium Sunset beat Tigers 2-1and George Ton clipped Future 1-0.
Elite: Rene Carter, Benjamin Cupid, Derrin Ebanks, (Glen Cholette), Jason Ebanks, Jedd Ebanks, Nicholas Ebanks, Donovan Godet (Chris Welcome), James Josephs Dave McLaughlin, Abijah Rivers and Alexander Belcher (Jairo Sanchez).
Scholars International: Encuma Brown, Jermaine Brown, Loranzo Brown (Roy Forbes), Michael Brown ( Phillip Berry), Chris Douglas, Nikolai Hill, Fabian Welcome, Nahun Rodriquez, Romeo Thomas, O’Neil Taylor and Leon Whittaker (Morris Brown).
Referee: Kenville Holder, Assistant Referees Dwayne Ebanks and Swason Owen, Fourth Official Nolan Foster.
Match Commissioner: Donnelle O’Sullivan.
Scholars International has gained fifteen points from five games, Sunset and George Town are on eight, Tigers on seven, Elite on five, Bodden Town on four, Roma and Future on three.
All interested companies interested in sponsoring the CIFA Premier League are asked to contact the CIFA office at 949-5775 or email cifa@candw.ky or info@caymanfootball.ky
