Jeremy Garrett, captain of the Chase’s Academic Foundation Football Team, defending champions in the Digicel Schools’ Football tournament, is contending that Annai Secondary will offer the biggest threat to Chase’s endeavour to become repeat winners at this year’s staging of the Digicel tournament.
Flashback! Chase’s Academic Foundation’s Stephon Reynolds (yellow) battles with Annai’s Vasco Cabral in football action held at the St. Ignatius Community Centre Ground in Region Nine
Having created a dynasty in the Georgetown zone of schools’ football, Chase’s Academy finally won the prized Digicel Schools’ Football title last year with a hard fought 1-0 win over four-time champions Christianburg/Wismar Secondary at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
But before reaching that stage, Chase’s were made to work long and hard in the quarter-final match, held at the St. Ignatius Community Centre Ground in Region Nine, finally overcoming Annai Secondary 2-1 in overtime play. The predominantly sand-filled field and torrential downpours were not the only factors that made the Chase’s visit difficult, but the nimble play and constant attacks of the likes of Vasco Cabral (who scored the equalizer) and Nairon Williams made the victory such a nail-biting affair as to precipitate sickness on the faint of heart.
“As it stands right now, I don’t see Linden as the biggest threat in the Digicel (tournament) anymore; I see Annai [Secondary] as the biggest threat, since they gave us the hardest fight last year, when we defeated them 2-1; and most of their players from last year are still active and will be playing this year. So I don’t see Christianburg/Wismar [Secondary] as the toughest fight”, Garrett disclosed at the launch of the 7th staging of this tournament, on Wednesday at the West Demerara Secondary School.
The 17-year-old central defender felt that his teammates’ presence in the various Guyana Football Federation (GFF) training camps will auger well for them.
“The guys are very balanced. We are thankful to the Guyana Football Federation for the academies they have (held). (Those have) helped to keep us focused, fit, and technically strong. Most of the players in the academies are a part of Chase’s, so our preparation (is) coming good,” Garrett declared.
He added, “It is just to come together and have the final touches, so we can unite and win this Digicel (tournament)”.
The tournament, set to kick-off on June 12, will last for approximately six weeks before the grand finals are held on July 30 at the Leonora Stadium. More than 160 schools are expected to participate in this tournament, and each will be vying for the top prize of one million dollars – to be invested in a school project of their choice. Second prize is $700,000, third $400,000, and fourth $350,000.
