Comsport Vincy Masters take the 2008 BIMF tournament

by Janique-ka John 16.MAY.08

After a grueling four days of competing against teams from the region and the world, Comsport Vincy Masters surpassed their mark last year of only reaching the Quarter Finals and emerged victorious, taking home the trophy and the title of the Champions of the 12th annual Barbados International Masters Football Festival.{{more}}

Comsport Vincy Masters had a well-mixed team, comprising of six New York based Vincentians: Alphonsus Browne, Derrick Dupont, Joel Wickham, Gary Daniel, Junior Israel and Robert Millington, and local players Reuben John, Michael John, Wayne Sandy, Alanzo Munroe, Robert Crosby, Carlos Thompson, Alfred McKenzie, Egbert Charles, Hollis John, Tyrone Prince, Donald Seales, Marc Defreitas, Meldon James, David Trumpet, Ivan Dupont and Charles Findlay.

They started off well, winning all three starting matches, and topping Group C with nine points. The Comsport Vincy Masters then went on to play British Airways, of England, winning 2-1, where Joel Wickham and Donald Seal scored one goal each. The Comsport Vincy Masters also defeated Notre Dame of Barbados, 2- nil, with Junior Israel and Joel Wickham scoring the goals. Derrick Dupont scored the only goal that was needed to defeat Barbados’ Benfica, 2007’s Masters’ Tournament Champs.

The team gradually gained velocity, defeating Trents in the Knockout Round, and moving on to the quarter-finals. Marc Defreitas, Joel Wickham and Derrick Dupont were instrumental in helping them to secure an effortless 3-nil victory over Pride of Bim. In the Semi-Final round, the team came up against Trinidad’s Saints FC. The game remained 1-nil in favour of Comsport Vincy Masters, until Saints FC scored with just four minutes to spare, forcing penalty kicks. Challenging as it were, Comsport Vincy Masters defeated Saints FC 4-3 after penalty.

In the finals, after a nil-nil draw, Comsport Vincy Masters overcame two time champions of the Masters Tournament Unity, of Trinidad, beating them 5:4 on penalty ,winning for the first time in the twelve year history of the Barbados International Masters Football Festival.

According to the Manager/Player Michael John of COMSPORT, “It was a sweet victory. We left here with a mission. We were well organized and disciplined. I am proud to be associated with this team. The overseas based players added value to the team and I must commend them. We all worked hard.”