Cox Coaching Academy retain Under-14 futsal title

COX Coaching Academy captured the Futsal Association of TT second Under-14 Boys Futsal Developmental tournament, held at the Southwest Regional Indoor Sport Arena in Egypt Village, Pt Fortin, recently.

The tournament was held in collaboration with the Pt Fortin Youth Football Academy. The tournament featured eight youth teams including one Secondary school

Presentation College, Chaguanas. The other participating teams were Pt Fortin Youth Football Academy, Banter Boys Futsal Club, Moruga Football Club, Broadway Attackers, Uprising Youths, Judah Praise Football Club and defending champions Cox Football Academy. The teams were placed into two groups of four for an exciting round-robin format.

The groups were named after Warren Archibald and Wilfred Cave – two national football legends from Pt Fortin. Cox Football Academy and Pt Fortin Youth Football Academy advanced first and second respectively from the Warren Archibald Group. Uprising Youths and Presentation emerged as the top two teams from the Wilfred Cave Group.

In the first semi-finals, Cox Football Academy made light of Presentation 8-0 and Pt Fortin Youth Football Academy edged Uprising Youths Football Club 5-3. This set up an electrifying all-south encounter between the finalists.

In the final, Cox Football Academy came from a goal down in the first half to defeat their southern counterparts Pt Fortin Youth Football Academy 3-1.

Donovan Drayton of Cox Football Academy won the MVP award, Tyshawn Simon of Pt Fortin Youth Football took home the Golden Boot award for his eight goals and the Golden Glove award for the best goal-keeper was given to Ozias Thompson of Uprising Youths.

“This youth futsal developmental tournament series is succinctly aligned with the player development pillar of the Futsal868 strategic plan,” said Geoffrey Edwards, president of the Futsal Association of TT.

“Our aim is to expand the series to include more age groups for both male and female school and club teams as we commit to increasing awareness of the sport of futsal. We are happy to have executed a fun, timely and successful event, as lauded by players, coaches, managers and spectators.”

The next futsal developmental tournament will be held during the Christmas school holidays. Interested teams can contact the association through WhatsApp at 787-7678, send a direct message to the association's Facebook or Instagram social media accounts at Futsal868 or email futsaltt@gmail.com.

The U-14 Male Futsal Developmental Tournament was supported by Republic Bank and Cinema One IMAX.