Home|Sports|Buccaneers sweep soccer titlesSports
The soccer segment of the sixth Bahamas Games is now completed
Simba FrenchSend an emailJuly 13, 2023 64 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
The New Providence Buccaneers reigned supreme on the soccer field as they lifted both the men and women’s titles at the sixth Bahamas Games yesterday. Both teams had a perfect run in the tournament, coming away with maximum points.
The Buccaneers’ men went into their final game of the tournament with nine points and having not conceded a goal. They went up against up Grand Bahama (GB) Lucayans at the Roscow A.L. Davies Soccer Field, and prevailed in a shutout again, winning 1-0. Larry Noel scored the lone goal of the game in the second half.
“I did it for the team. This is a wonderful thing to win, thanks to our coach. He told us from start that we were not going to lose. We came into the second half saying that we only needed one and we got that and came out on top,” Noel said.
Head Coach for the Buccaneers Dion Peterson, who has been a part of the previous five editions of the games, said it feels good to get the win. The soccer segment of the sixth Bahamas Games is now completed, coming to an exciting climax on Day Six of the games yesterday.
“This one is special because I have a whole new set of guys. The last time I coached, it was a different set of players. This one was special. From the first training session got underway, we were together. We pulled for one another and encouraged one another. We were a team from day one,” Peterson said.
In the game, the Buccaneers played possession ball, looking to play for a clean sheet but at the same time, remain with a perfect record. Wood Julmis found the back of the net in the first half for the Buccaneers with a close target shot but after discussions between the linesman and the referee, the goal was waived off as he was whistled for offside.
The Buccaneers kept pressing but the Lucayans’ defense stood their ground as the first half ended.
At the start of the second half, the Lucayans tried to break a 0-0 deadlock but Golden Gloves awardee Thajay Smith along with Golden Ball winner Jean Tilo ensured that there were no mishaps in the Buccaneers’ defense.
Noel capitalized on a ball that was rolling in the Lucayans’ 18-yard box and easily put it at the back of the net.
The medals were based on points, and finishing second behind New Providence was the Abaco Survivors. The Eleuthera Adventurers captured the bronze. Abaco and Eleuthera played to a 1-1 draw yesterday. Apart from Smith and Tilo, Buccaneers’ forward Ronaldo Green won the Golden Boots Award for scoring the most goals in the tournament.
On the ladies side, the Lady Buccaneers won 2-1 against the Lady Lucayans to finish undefeated and win the ladies title.
Head Coach of the Lady Buccaneers Sam Thibaud said his team came into the tournament locked in.
“Our team is a mixture of veterans and a few young players, so it was tough at first, getting them to gel but once they got in rhythm, they were unstoppable. We dominated in our first game but the second game was challenging and we wanted to pace ourselves. We got the win as fortune favors the bold,” Thibaud said.
Thibaud added that it felt good to get the gold medal especially after being a part of the games for the first time.
The Lady Lucayans won the silver medal while the Lady Survivors out of Abaco got the bronze medal.
In the individual awards, the Lady Buccaneers’ Melina McClure won the Golden Gloves Award and her teammate Kenyonique Thompson won the Golden Boots Award. The Lady Lucayans’ Phoebe Wilson won the Golden Ball Award.