SVG WOMEN ARE WIFA QUEENS

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ senior female footballers had the crown of inaugural champions of the Windward Islands Football Association (WIFA) tournament placed on their heads last Saturday night.

And, there was no better place for their coronation, than in front of a sizeable home crowd at the {{more}}Victoria Park in Kingstown.

Facing Grenada, the Vincentians needed only to avoid defeat to take into their grasp the historic piece of silverware.

After an uneventful first half with a few “oohs and ahhs” as the home side came close on a few occasions to breaking the deadlock, it took second-half substitute Darie-Ann Duncan to send the crowd into a fit of excitement with a 74th minute strike.

That goal was the major highlight of an otherwise dour affair, as both teams failed to settle, given the prize on their heads.

Last Saturday’s St Vincent and the Grenadines versus Grenada clash was set up, as they came into the encounter both unbeaten.

The host, however, was sitting in the pole position on four points, after recording a 1-0 win over Dominica and a 2-2 draw with St Lucia.

In the Vincentians’ match-up with the St Lucians on Thursday night, a goal each from Jessica Miller and Gezeil Wilson enabled the host to cancel out items from Sasha Prospere and Joanne Prospere.

Grenada, on the other hand, drew 2-2 with St Lucia and 1-1 with Dominica.

The Grenadians kept an aim at lifting the tournament, staying even with Dominica in Thursday’s first match.

But more spice was put into the pot just prior to Saturday’s decider, when Dominica, arguably the most technically gifted of the four teams, handed St Lucia a 5-0 drubbing.

A goal each from Aaliyah Titre, Michlyn Morgan, Muryah Espirit, Kaysanda Alexander and Britney Stoute accounted for the Dominicans’ commanding efforts.

The win put Dominica at four points and in the runner-up spot, while St Lucia stayed on two points and at the bottom of the four team table.

Also on two points was Grenada, but they finished third, but virtue of a superior goal difference.

The next innovation for WIFA is the female Under-15 tournament, to be hosted here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, this December.

An inaugural Under-14 male tournament is scheduled for 2016, with the first Windward Islands club championships set for 2017. (RT)