Calarbar High School created history on Monday night in Florida, after becoming the first school from Kingston and the second Manning Cup team to win the Jamaica High School Alumni Sports Network(JHSASN) Soccer Tournament.

This after they defeated the previously unbeaten and first time finalist Old Harbour High School one nil in the Grand final at….

…the Lauderhill Sports Complex, in-front of a packed house. 

Ramone Palmer scored the vital goal in the 14th minute from the penalty spot for the boys from Red Hills Road, who lifted the National Weekly Cup along with a prize money of $2000.00 US, as their fans and the players sang the perennial cheer ‘C-bar a big side, while their photos were captured by the many Journalists on location.

It was fitting end to a less than perfect script for Calabar who started the tournament slowly losing one nil against group D opponents Clarendon College, on Sunday , before suffering a 2-nil blanking to last year’s Champions Bridgeport hours later, ………….and with those two results Calabar was staring at the exit door.

Then Calabar earned a lifeline by securing all three points and two goals as their opponent Dinthill had withdrawn from the tournament, on Monday and with that….a place in the second round was never wasted. The green and black standard bearers quickly settled down to business by brushing aside Excelsior High 2-nil via the penalty route, before overcoming a solid Wolmer’s High School for Boys team in a tense yet exciting 7-6 triumph on penalties in the semi-final.

Calabar also came in for two additional awards through Gareth Parks who was named the MVP of the final, and former National player Kemar Daley who won the trophy for the Most Valuable player of the Tournament. 

(Kemar Daley receives his award)

Said Lennox Creary, Captain of Calabar in speaking with Iriefm.net, ” It is a pleasure to lift this title tonight, its certainly an exciting feeling, my players bursting with joy right now, this occasion will be a memorable one and will always live in the hearts of all my team-mates who made the sacrifice to be here in 2018.”

Old Harbour’s Captain Tastin Reddicks, told Irie Fm.net that he was happy that his team represented well. ” I am giving thanks for finishing runners up, and while we badly wanted to win, and came up short, I take nothing away for our players, we will be back.”

In other sectional awards, Carlington ‘puller’ Smith of Old Harbour ran away with the Golden Boot awards for five goals scored in the Tournament, while Ackeem Flemming of Ferncourt took the prize for being adjudged the best defender.

There were also action on the netball courts, as despite the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Gordon, The Queens School weathered the storm and accumulated all of 13 points to win the Netball Championship.

Last year’s Champions Denbigh held on for second place with 10 points, with Kingsway High finishing third.

(Denbigh School School shooter in action )

Tournament Organizer Lavern Deer, encapsulated the 10th staging of the Tournament. ” Despite the rain, the threat of a storm, some minor hiccups, I am so overwhelmed , how the tournament ended. From our sponsors, to the City of Lauderhill,  our volunteers, the media, especially Irie Fm who has been here with us the longest,  I must say a special thanks. ”

She added, “Long and short of it we could not have done it without all hands on deck.  ” When you look at the players who battled in the rain, and the spectators who stayed to support the action, the music the food, the netball tournament that came late in the afternoon this just makes me super happy and I am already looking forward to the 2019 edition.