By Tracey Liverpool
In a thrilling showdown at the Wisburg Ground, Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) boys once again emerged triumphant, retaining their title in the Exxon Mobil/New Era Inter-schools football tournament.
The highly anticipated final match between CWSS and Mackenzie High School (MHS) kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
MHS’s Azonno Benjamin set the tone by scoring the game’s first goal in the 19th minute, quickly matched by CWSS’s Amani King, who equalized the score just seconds later.
Keome Lowe’s goal in the 40th minute gave CWSS a lead, only for Jaheim to level the score at 2-2 in the 48th minute.
However, it was Pharez Nobel’s decisive goal in the 61st minute that secured CWSS’s victory with a final score of 3-2.
Prior to the intense final, Kwakwani Secondary faced off against Linden Foundation for the third-place position, with Kwakwani securing a 2-1 victory.
Keston Leacock and Keron Phillips scored for Kwakwani, while Ty Fraser netted Linden Foundation’s lone goal.
Exxon Mobil, the tournament’s sponsor, contributed five million dollars to ensure its success.
Ryan Hoppie, Exxon’s Community Relations Advisor, presented trophies and tokens to the participating teams, with a prize-giving ceremony scheduled to honor the top finishers.
As part of their victory, CWSS will receive funding for a developmental project to benefit the school.
The tournament showcased the talent and competitive spirit of young footballers and underscored the importance of sports in fostering teamwork, discipline, and community spirit.