Barbados’ most decorated soccer team, ICE Wales will have another chance to add more silverware to their overflowing trophy cabinet.
And unfancied St Peter Cosmos are poised to create their own history in local football when the teams clash in the KFC Knockout final, scheduled for the National Stadium on July 10.
Both teams upset the form book last Sunday night to win their semi-final matches even though Wales’ 3-2 victory over a Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame side wasn’t entirely a surprise as the six-time knockout kings were without the Lavine brothers, Donovan and Maradona and the experienced duo Rudy Grosvenor and John Hawkesworth.
But Cosmos, who finished fourth in the Remy Martin Division One competition this season, defied the odds to oust six-time champs Paradise 2-1 and advance to their first ever knockout final.
After reaching the quarter-finals for three years between 2007 and 2009, Cosmos will now be seeking to do what their northern counterparts, Youth Milan failed to do as a junior side way back in 1992 when they lost to Empire 1-0 in the Knockout final before a capacity crowd.
It will be a tough task against the Wales, who have won the Premier League a record 14 times (1964, 1967, 1969 to 1976, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 1986) and also boast seven Knockout titles in 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1984 and 1987.
No praise is too high for the Speightstown-based Cosmos, who are celebrating their 21st anniversary. They conceded an early goal in the 21st minute and had to come from behind for their 2-1 victory.
But their steely resolve was manifested when they had to play the last nine minutes a man short after captain Dwayne Headley was ejected for a second bookable offence.
David “Popeye” Forde, a sibling of former Barbados captain Norman Forde, once again showed his goal-scoring ability with strikes in the 38th and 76th minutes, both times benefiting from passes by defensive midfielder Headley. Long-standing manager Steve Cumberbatch said he was delighted that the Cosmos team, which have been moulded out of the club’s youth programme, are finally displaying the soccer skills they possessed.
“I’m really elated that the guys worked really hard this year. We failed to gain promotion to the Premiership from the First Division but nevertheless, we were willing and conscious of the fact that we wanted to get to the final in the Knockout,” Cumberbatch told MIDWEEK SPORTS.
“We were fortunate to draw whom we drew and we just capitalized on who we played. The guys were eager to play any one of the Premier League sides. It didn’t matter and they came out and played a wonderful game and I am very proud of them,” he said.
It was a fairly easy passage for Cosmos as they didn’t play any of the Division One or Premier League teams until the semi-finals. They thrashed Transport 5-1, edged Greens 2-1, beat Carlton 3-1 and won 2-1 against Crompton, all junior sides. Cumberbatch said the commitment of the players was now starting to pay off.
“We always had a very small squad but they are very committed. They worked tirelessly year after year from primary school and they are still playing good football and they are still with us. Our consistency and commitment is responsible for our success this season. However, we are hoping to attract some more players in the off season who will take us into the Premiership for next year,” Cumberbatch said.
Meanwhile, Wales’ coach Eric Alleyne lauded the Wales players for sticking to the game plan.
“Yes, I was confident of defeating the Dames once the players played to instructions and this was exactly what they did. They pressed strong, they played behind the ball and they played with confidence and that was the most important thing,” said Alleyne, a former Wales and Barbados captain.
Alleyne, one of the island’s best midfielders in his heyday, said he was pleased with the way 17-year-old Kemar Headley and 2007 Footballer of the Year, Dwayne McClean put away their goal-scoring opportunities.
“I think the finishing was excellent. I feel really happy with the way the guys finish. They shared the ball across the front of the Dames’ defence and they finished with confidence,” he added.
Apart from reaching the Knockout finals, the Wales are in joint second position in the Premiership.
“I think commitment and desire have taken us a long way this season. It has been a lot of team work, confidence in each other.
“I think the players respect each other and this is one of the things that really helped us because, besides that we haven’t been really preparing. It is very difficult to get these guys to come out and prepare, but psychologically, they live in a close proximity and they are always communicating with each other and constantly discussing the game and I think this generally brought that cohesiveness among them and helped them to really progress this season,” noted Alleyne.
He said it was important to maintain the legacy of the South Wales past players, who dominated football in the 1960s and 1970s.
“It is important, but it is a hard road to travel to emulate the guys of the past. It is a long way to go, but as long as we discipline ourselves and dedicate ourselves and work hard toward the goal, at the end, I think the desire and the extra ordinary system will come in place,” Alleyne said.
And he warned that they would be guarding against complacency when they face Cosmos.
“They are a young side. I’ve been hearing about this team for quite some time. You can’t really underestimate them. This is the third time they got to the quarter-final, so we just got to take it as it comes,” he said.