Last weekend buzzed with exciting football action, as the women took to the field to kick off a highly anticipated action-packed female football season.
On Sunday, June 9, the Anguilla Football Association (AFA) Sunset Homes sponsored Female Football League officially kicked off at Raymond E. Guishard Technical Centre, with an opening ceremony and inspection of teams.
During the ceremony, Director of Sports, Mr. Andre Collins, congratulated all those who have made the tournament possible, including the sponsors and the Anguilla Football Association. He further urged the women to continue to play hard, while respecting each other, and for the love of the game.
Mrs. Janine Edwards, Sunset Homes representative, also congratulated the teams and noted that Sunset Homes are proud to contribute to the thrust of energy, time and resources that are being invested into women’s football by various stakeholders in Anguilla. She further challenged all the players to embrace the power of football in Anguilla, to enhance the quality of life in the community.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were AFA representative, Mrs. Diana Carty, and Female Technical Director, Mr. Colin Johnson, who thanked the players and coaches for their continued dedication to female football in Anguilla and wished the teams all the best in the tournament.
The soccerama event, that took place after the ceremony, comprised four rounds of 20-minute matches, where the losers of each match were eliminated and the winners advanced to the next round until the final round, the undefeated team was declared champions. With a great showcase of talent, from both senior and junior players, which gave the crowd a spectacular view of what is to come during the tournament, the matches got off to an impressive start.
In the first round, De Youngsters FC defeated Gazelles FC 2 goals to nil, while in the second round, Shining Stars FC defeated Lil Soldiers FC 1 goal to nil. In the third round, Super Stars FC went up against first-round winners, De Youngsters FC in a highly intense match. Having drawn nil – nil after 20 minutes of play, both teams went into penalty shoot-out where Super Stars FC emerged winners. In the fourth and final round, Shining Stars FC and Super Stars FC went head to head in an intense match up.
Having scored in the first half of play, Super Stars were able to hold off Shining Stars FC offence and reclaim their title as Soccerama champs once again.
The start of the league regular matches is scheduled to take place on Wednesdays and Sunday afternoons, with two matches being played.
