THERE IS A wind of change in schoolboy soccer with Harrison College capturing the Coca Cola Barbados Secondary Schools Football League Under-14 Boys’ title.The Kolij youngsters edged neighbours, The St Michael 1-0 in an exciting final at the National Stadium on Thursday, through a 38th minute strike from the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Carl Hinkson.The St Michael applied relentless pressure in the final minutes in search of the equaliser but the closest they came was when midfielder Kobi Steibel rattled the crossbar with a free kick.The vuvuzelas were missing and even though only the Louis Lynch Stand was well populated, the cheering from parents, schoolmates and others fans, made it feel like the World Cup in South Africa.Winning coach Winston Brathwaite attributed his team’s success to an all-round effort, pointing to the presence of deputy principal, Joseph Maynard, head of the Physical Education Department, Ryan Leacock and the many parents.“It was good cooperation and commitment and good organisation, especially in defence and the team actually maintained its shape for the majority of the game,” Brathwaite said.“We had exceptional parental support and guidance and input from some old scholars,” he noted.Harrison College conceded a solitary goal in the entire tournament while scoring 24, ironically, that goal coming in a match where they defeated The St Michael on their home ground 2-1 in the preliminaries.In the third-place boys’ match, St Leonard’s edged Combermere 1-0, with Shakur Francis scoring the winner in the second half.
