Intercol 2022: Buckmire saves three penalties as Benedict’s beat “Pres” in epic shootout to claim South title

Whether you refer to them as the “Golden Lions” or the “La Romaine Lions”, St Benedict’s College lifted the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) South Zone Intercol title today after an epic 4-3 penalty shootout win at the Ato Boldon Stadium, following a goalless stalemate through 90 minutes with defending champions, Presentation College (San Fernando).

The 0-0 score line through regulation time doesn’t quite tell the story of the South Intercol finale though, as the two South heavyweights went at it from start to finish in an enthralling tactical match-up between Benedict’s coach Randolph Boyce and Presentation coach Shawn Cooper.

The penalty shootout was not short of drama either, as Benedict’s goalkeeper Ja-ir Buckmire rose to the occasion with three saves of immense quality—on an afternoon when Benedict’s attacking quartet was largely nullified by a well-drilled Presentation unit.

Both Buckmire and Presentation custodian Kanye Lazarus were intent on upstaging the game’s household names in the shootout, as Buckmire saved Presentation’s first kick from Dantaye Gilbert while Lazarus rose from his line to stop Benedict’s captain Tarik Lee.

“Kanye is ah keeper!” Presentation fans chanted, as they urged on their custodian with their version of the “Viking Clap”.

After eight kicks, the two teams were locked at 3-3. Up strode the 15-year-old Darrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia to take Benedict’s fifth and final kick—with a lengthy run up that West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph might be proud of.

“He going for power,” said one “Pres” supporter as he clasped his hands in prayer. Those prayers were soon answered.

Garcia, who had a penalty saved by Fatima College goalkeeper Tristan Edwards in the 2022 Premier Division Big 4 final, boomed his kick way over bar and nearly took out the Ato Boldon Stadium’s scoreboard.

He buried his face in his jersey and appeared almost inconsolable as he walked away. But little did he know that Buckmire had something very special up his sleeves.

The Benedict’s goalkeeper, who was back up to Thane Devenish for much of the season, casually walked into the six-yard box and asked for calm from his teammates.

Facing him for Presentation’s fifth—and potentially final—penalty kick was rugged holding midfielder Adah Barclay. In 2019, Adah’s older brother, Alem Barclay, captained the “Pres Lions” as they edged San Juan North Secondary to the National Intercol trophy.

Now was Adah’s chance to step out of his brother’s shadow. But Buckmire had no time for such sentiment, as he dived to his left to pull off a dramatic save.

On to sudden death kicks the two teams went, with scores still level at 3-3.

Benedict’s midfielder Ephraim Brown, who was an 89th minute substitute for the combative Rayshawn Crichlow, made it 4-3 with a precise right-footed strike into the top corner—after initially shaping as though he would hit it with his left boot.

And, with the weight of the Ato Boldon Stadium on his shoulders, Presentation striker Caleb Boyce walked towards the penalty spot next.

Buckmire dived to his right on this occasion and Boyce’s penalty was just the right height for him to extend his lanky frame.

Cue wild celebrations from the St Benedict’s players who are the school’s first zonal champions since 2014.

Eight years ago, they failed to add to the South Intercol trophy as East Mucurapo Secondary defeated them in the national final. They still have two more hurdles to get that far—starting with a surprise opponent in the National Intercol quarterfinal round on Monday.

Carapichaima East Secondary were initially booked to represent the Central Zone, only for that honour to be stripped away today due to their use of an ineligible player, goalkeeper Nicholai Rivers, in their shootout win over Chaguanas North Secondary earlier this week.

So it is Chaguanas North versus St Benedict’s College on Monday at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

One suspects there is more intrigue to come yet in the 2022 Intercol competition.

(Teams)

St Benedict’s College (4-3-3): 1.Ja-ir Buckmire (GK); 4.Keanu Morean, 6.Nesean Alexander, 5.Joshua Demas, 19.Lyshawn Morris; 8.Darrel Garcia, 20.Rayshawn Crichlow (15.Ephraim Brown 89), 12.Josiah Ochoa; 10.Nicholas Bobcombe, 7.Tarik Lee (captain), 11.Jeremiah Niles (21.Malacai Webb 83).

Unused substitutes: 22.Thane Devenish (GK), 2.Joshua Phillip, 3.Anthony Williams, 9.Jaden Grant, 18.Tyrique Lucas.

Coach: Randolph Boyce

Presentation College (San Fernando) (4-2-3-1): 1.Kanye Lazarus (GK); 2.Terrance Worrell, 5.Cody Cooper, 3.Abayomi George, 20.Joel Maitland-Wilson; 6.Levi Jones, 15.Adah Barclay; 16.Micah Brathwaite (17.Djibril Felix 90+2), 22.Dantaye Gilbert (captain), 7.Vaughn Clement (12.Duhrell Young 89); 9.Caleb Boyce.

Unused substitutes: 28.Zeronn Collymore (GK), 11.Isaiah Jacob, 13.Shawn Boodram, 14.Daniel Quashie, 21.Chaz Forde.

Coach: Shawn Cooper

Referee: Kwinsi Williams

Wired868 Man of the Match: Ja-ir Buckmire (St Benedict’s College)

Intercol Zonal Finals

(Fri 18 Nov)

QRC 0, Fatima College 5 (Michael Chaves 2, 41, Chaim Williams 15, Christian Bailey 25, Alijah Nunes 90+2) at Hasely Crawford Stadium;

(Mon 21 Nov)

Chaguanas North 2 (Nicholai Rivers OG 6, Lee Vann-David 19 pen), Carapichaima East 2 (Josiah Hypolite 17, Kaedon Thomas-Robertson 45+1) at Ato Boldon Stadium;

*—Carapichaima East initially won 6-5 on kicks from the penalty mark; but then were stripped of the title for using an ineligible player.

(Tue 22 Nov)

Signal Hill Secondary 1 (Jediah Phillips), Mason Hall Secondary 1 at Dwight Yorke Stadium;

*—Signal Hill won 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark.

(Wed 23 Nov)

San Juan North 0, Trinity East 1 (Jaheim Faustin 69) at Larry Gomes Stadium;

(Fri 25 Nov)

St Benedict’s College 0, Presentation (San F’do) 0 at Ato Boldon Stadium;

*—St Benedict’s won 4-3 via kicks from the penalty mark

National Quarterfinal

(Mon 28 Nov)

Chaguanas North Secondary vs St Benedict’s College, 3.30pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

National Semifinals

(Thu 1 Dec)

Fatima College vs Trinity College East, 4pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

(Fri 2 Dec)

Chaguanas North/ St Benedict’s College vs Signal Hill, 3pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

National Final

(Wed 7 Dec)

3pm, TBA