Luann Craig put on a grand performance to lift Five Rivers Secondary School to the Malta Girls Under-15 Division Trinidad title in the Secondary Schools Football League.
She sank three goals and helped the East Zone U-15 winner Five Rivers defeat Holy Name Convent Port-of-Spain, 8-0 in the final played at the Bishop Anstey East ground in Trincity, on Tuesday.
Craig's teammates also produced fantastic showings with captain Kayla Baboolal and Shania Jordan each scoring a double while Letisha Morang, netted the other item for the champion for Five Rivers coached by Desiree Sargeant. Manager Sylvester Sandiford sang their praises for a job well done by both players and coaches.
He said, "We started four years ago with our U-19 team. Coach Desiree Sargeant came from St Augustine Secondary and since she reached Fire Rivers Secondary, it has just been upward mobility since. We got promoted to Championships two years ago where we came second last year then we won the Intercol.
"This year coach Desiree's plan was to see if we could have won all four East Zone titles and so far she has accomplished three. Tomorrow (today) please God, we're going to try to see if we get the fourth one and if we get the national U-15 gIrls' title that would just be gravy on a wonderful lunch for the 2019 season.
"Coach Desiree has been exceptional and our assistant coach Mergil Rosales and well me, the manager, we have worked with these girls. These girls have grown strength-to-strength. We have a couple of exceptional players on the team, again it's a team effort. Yes, we have the likes of Kayla Baboolal, the skipper of the U-15 team also we have Maya Blanc, skipper of the Championships team, we also have Shania Jordan, Maleka Morang, Luann Craig, an exceptional striker and Nena Grant on the big team.
"We have a lot of things to work on and a lot of things to achieve also."
The Trinidad winner Five Rivers move on to meet Tobago champion Signal Hill for the national title carded to be played next Thursday in Tobago. Signal Hill topped the round-robin competition to face off for the national title.
Today the action on the field will unfold at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, with a double-header where the Boys' and Girls' East champions will be crowned in the Coca Cola Intercol finals.
San Juan North is hoping to sweep the titles. In the opening match which kicks off at 1.30 pm, its girls' team will take on Five Rivers and later, the boys' unit will be challenged by St Augustine Secondary from 3.30 pm.
Students in school uniform entry are $20 while adults and students out of uniform, $40.
RESULTS
Five Rivers 8 (Luann Craig 3, Kayla Baboolal 2, Shania Jordan 2, Letisha Morang) vs Holy Name Convent 0.
Thursday's Matches
East Intercol Finals
Girls: Five Rivers vs San Juan North, 1.30 pm
Boys: San Juan North vs St Augustine, 3.30 pm
SOURCE: T&T Guardian