The 3rd Annual CYDP Peace Cup Tournament 2011-2012 concluded near midnight last night at the MCC Grounds, where a first half goal from a corner kick by Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton was enough to give Yabra a 1-nil victory, and the championship, over Fort George United. On Monday of this week, Yabra had won game 1 in the best-of-3 games championship series by a similar 1-nil score.
Eighteen-year-old Bredda is in a “zone” right now. Though still of very small frame, his dribbling skills and football intuition are so formidable that right now he is, from our perspective, the most worrisome spectacle in a one-on-one situation for any defender in Belize. And that is taking nothing away from Deon McCaulay, who is still the nation’s top “goleador,” but not as intimidating with his dribble. The MVP in last year’s Belize City Champions Cup, Bredda was again the MVP in the CYDP Peace Cup, where he didn’t win the Most Goals, but assisted on many of his teammate’s, Jermaine Foster, who received the Most Goals trophy. Meanwhile, last year’s Belize City Smart Challenge Cup MVP Jarrett Davis spent some time trying to contain Bredda at the Fort George defensive end, and was unable to deliver on the other end for his team.
Earlier in the night, Victoria Street and West Lake United played for 3rd place, a one-game affair, and it was Victoria Street prevailing in penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation. Victoria Street seemed to have the game “in the bag” with a 2-nil lead in the second half, from goals by Jarron Myvett and Avian Crawford. But two late West Lake goals, the first a long strike by Shannon Flowers about 5 minutes before regulation, and the other a “run through” by Wayne Zuniga less than a minute before the long whistle, knotted things up at 2-2 to force overtime. But West Lake was only prolonging the agony, because, after a scoreless overtime, Anthony “Willie Bo” Bernard, in goal for Victoria Street, made a spectacular diving stop of West Lake’s first penalty by Shannon Flowers, and Victoria went on to win the penalty shootout, 4-2, to clinch 3rd place. Victoria Street penalty scorers were Avian Crawford, brothers Thomas and John Castro, and the last, the game clincher, by sweeper Michael Perrera. For West Lake, only brothers Devaun and Wayne Zuniga were able to convert from the penalty spot.
After the championship game, CYDP Trace Conflict Officer/Assistant Sports Coordinator Aldo Valdez distributed individual medals and team trophies to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams; and also trophies to individual awardees (see below).
Most Goals Scored – Jermaine Foster (Yabra)
Second Most Goals – Gilroy Thurton (Yabra)
Best Midfield – Avian Crawford (Victoria Street)
Best Forward – Jarrett Davis (Fort George United)
Best Defense – Leon Cadle (Yabra )
Best Goalkeeper – Nigel Burgess (Fort George United)
Best Coach – Jerome Meheia (Yabra)
Most Disciplined Team – Height United
MVP – Gilroy Thurton (Yabra)
The cash prize checks ($5,000 – 1st, $3,000 – 2nd, and $1,000 – 3rd) will reportedly be issued on Friday.
In 2008-2009, Yabra was the champion for the CYDP 1st Annual Tournament, with Majestic Alley (now re-named Fort George United) coming in 2nd. There was no tournament in 2009-2010; then in 2010-2011, Kelly Street took the championship, with Victoria Street in 2nd place; and now in 2011-2012, Yabra regained the crown, with Fort George the runner-up.