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Latinos Took Home the Gold
April 26, 2004
By Kenisha Morgan
The Foster’s National League came down to two strong
contenders, Latinos FC and Scholars International this past
weekend at the Annex.
It was Latinos FC who turned out to be the better of the
two teams charging ahead after ninety minutes regular play
and ten minutes extra time to take the 2004 Foster’s
National League title.
After locking heads with 2 goals each at the end of regular
play the teams charged ahead into extra time to the delight
of spectators, who occupied every conceivable location that
offered unrestricted view. In addition to the portable bleachers
scattered around the field at the Annex, spectators were glued
to the fence for the entire proceedings while others opted
for the trees and buildings surrounding the venue.
Spectators were not to be disappointed, the action on the
field kicked into high gear at the very start of the match
and never dulled there after. The fancy footwork and dearing
attempts at goal were proof of the talent that exists in these
islands.
The match, which kicked off with much pomp and pageantry
treated spectators to an impressive opening ceremony culminating
in a three and a half minute long fireworks display.
It was clear that both participants and spectators were in
for a very entertaining evening, within four minutes of kickoff
Latinos already had a goal in the net, courtesy of #17 Alexis
Espinal.
With determined desperation Scholars hammered the opponent’s
goal. Latinos keeper Alexis Reve at one point seemed impervious;
blocking every attempt Scholars made, but in the 20th minute
Scholars’ Carlos Andrade scored the equalizer, tying
the teams at one goal each. Eighteen minutes later Carlos
Webster scored the second goal for Scholars and the fans were
beside themselves with glee.
For the next fifty or so minutes it looked like Scholars
had done it again, holding Latinos 2-1 until the game had
entered stoppage time. In was in those 30 seconds after the
90th minute that Nemroy Forbes saw his opportunity and equalized,
sending the game into extra time.
After much jubilation both teams regrouped with even greater
determination to end the match quickly and seize the prize.
After only ten minutes extra time striker David Arch of Latinos
sealed the deal, scoring the golden goal that gave Latinos
FC their first ever Foster’s National League title.
Latinos President William Connolly says taking home the championship
is a great victory for Latinos fans, the team and for football
in general. “Judging from the crowd support at the Annex
on Sunday we have been able to put back a certain level of
excitement into local football. We have a lot of people to
thank for our success, not only the team who put in a lot
of work on and off the field, but also our sponsors FIS Money
Gram and Next Level Night Club plus our ever supportive and
loyal fans.”
Future plans for the club he says, includes a youth program
for the 2004-05 season and further development for the senior
men’s team. He added that fans can also look forward
to a stronger senior team, “We intend to take a week
or two off then we will be working on individual skills. You
should see a more dynamic team next season.”
The team ended the night with a victory lap
around the ‘Annex’ field chanting excitedly and
stopping every now and then to indulge their admiring fans
with pictures. The rejoicing didn’t end there; the club
was prepared seeming to know that victory was theirs all along.
Club executives had scheduled a major celebration as the aftermath.
They certainly had a lot to celebrate.
Latinos starting eleven for the Foster’s National League
Grand Finale. Standing (L-R) Alfredo Challenger, Nolan Solomon-Hydes,
Alexis Reve, Mitchell Grant, Nemroy Forbes and Marshall Forbes.
Squatting (L-R) Nicholas Silvera, Carlos Carter, Alexis Espinal,
Marco Duarte and Alan Montoya
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