Jabari Francis and Shanice Maynard copped the “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) awards, as Atlantic distributed prizes to the top footballers in this year’s Atlantic Primary Schools Football tournament, yesterday at the VIP Room of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.
Francis led his school Bon Accord Government to their 11th national primary schools title with a very consistent season and ensured their victory in the finals by scoring two goals at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, against Whim Anglican.
Maynard was also instrumental in Longdenville Government lifting the girls title with a 1-0 victory over Pentecostal Light and Life also at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, last week. The two will be among 50 players chosen from the league, who will undergo coaching sessions with Manchester United coaches Eamon Mulvey and Kevin Ward this weekend at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
This is Atlantic’s gift to them for being among the top two percent from all the players that participated in the league this year. Twenty-five boys and 25 girls from the nine educational districts will attend the sessions. Staged every year for the season’s top footballers, the development camp exposes the children to football skills training.
Atlantic’s head of branding and communications Derek Daniel was on hand and told the students that the programme is not only about football. “Let me say very early that the programme is called Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development project. It is more than football and the youngsters will be taught life skills through sport to assist them in their overall development,” Daniel said.
“I remember sitting out an entire season at Fatima College but I did not give up. I used it as motivation to get better for the next season. The youngsters will be schooled on how to handle disappointment and this would make them better individuals as their career progresses.” Mulvey shared that he was looking forward to working with the youths and he himself is here to develop more as a coach.
HONOUR ROLL
MVPs - Girls
Caroni - Shenice Maynard (Longdenville Primary)
PoS and environs - Quincella Browne (St Agnes AC)
North Eastern - Kimberley Joseph (Lower Cumuto)
St George East - Shakeema Edward (La Horquetta North)
South Eastern - Crissy Mitchell (Mayaro RC)
St Patrick - Zalria Lee-Sam (Vance River RC)
Victoria - La Rina Narine (Vos Primary)
Tobago - Tsian Leith (Pentecostal Light & Life)
Overall MVP: Shenice Maynard
MVPs - Boys
Caroni - Ellon Murray (Couva South)
PoS and environs - Kaile Farrell (Eastern Boys')
North Eastern - Justin Garcia (Valencia South)
St George East - Darion Moreno (Arima Boys' RC)
South Eastern - Merlik Campbell (Mayaro Primary)
St Patrick - Seon Shippley (La Brea RC)
Victoria - Mickel Rawlins (San Fernando Boys' RC)
Tobago - Jabari Francis (Bon Accord Primary)
Overall Boys - Jabari Francis