By Samuel Peters
If you didn’t know, now you know is a popular phrase coined by popular social media influencer Daniel Lovelace. Well, you should have known that the place to be was at the ABFA Technical Centre onFriday to witness three quite compelling and contrasting encounters in the Cool and Smooth Ministry of Sports School League Qualifiers.
If you were there you would have witnessed the Antigua Grammar School edging out Jennings in the Under 14 Division, Princess Margaret School mauling Clare Hall Secondary School with four hat tricks in the Under 20 Girls, while in the Under 20 Boys Harrison Center shook off the PMS Hoodoo of 2025.
In the first encounter, last year’s winners AGS secured their place in the final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Jennings Secondary School. Temorey Henry proved to be the match-winner, scoring the lone goal in the 23rd minute. The young AGS side defended resolutely for the remaining minutes to preserve their slender advantage and book their spot in the championship match against PMS.
The second match, PMSl produced a stunning offensive display in the Under-20 Girls competition, overwhelming Clare Hall Secondary School 12-1 in what became a one-sided semi-final affair. The match showcased the remarkable talent within the PMS girls’ squad, with four players sharing the 12 goals in a devastating team performance.
Rolesha Humphreys led the scoring charge with a first-half hat-trick, finding the net in the 3rd, 20th, and 39th minutes. Iressia Allen matched that feat with goals in the 12th, 32nd, and 38th minutes. J’kayla Bellot also claimed a hat-trick with strikes in the 25th, 35th, and 56th minutes, while Karmieta Hughes completed the rout with three goals of her own in the 35th, 63rd, and 68th minutes.
The comprehensive victory sends the reigning Champions PMS into the Under-20 Girls final as overwhelming favorites against the Antigua Girls’ High School who are armed and waiting with the top scorer Nafisa Quashie.
In the most dramatic match of the evening, Harrison Centre dethroned defending champions Princess Margaret School to claim the Under-20 Boys title in a penalty shootout after an entertaining 2-2 draw. The result marks a reversal of fortunes from last year’s final, when PMS defeated Harrison Centre (then known as ABICE) 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to lift the Patrick C. Whyte trophy.
PMS’ Shumba Thomas struck first in the 6th minute to give the defending champions an early lead. However, Harrison Centre responded through Romario Christian, who scored in the 35th minute to level the match before halftime. Christian then gave Harrison the advantage in the 55th but Thomas answered once again in the 68th minute to complete his brace and force the match to penalties.
When regulation time ended 2-2, the penalty shootout would determine the champions. This time, Harrison Centre held their nerve to prevail from the spot and claim another shot at the title, avenging their penalty shootout loss from the previous year. They will clash with Antigua and Barbuda Colleges of Advanced Studies.
