Samba snuffs out Nemwil Hope

Universal Mufflers Frenches/Samba FC is the 2004 Guinness National Football Club champions.
Their claim to this title came last Friday night at Victoria Park when they beat NEMWIL Hope International 1-0 in the final.{{more}}
Frenches/Samba, like Hope International, now has the right to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines at CONCACAF Champion of Champions Club Tournament.
Bevan Burgin was the toast of his club, when his well taken shot beat Hope’s custodian Melvin Andrews. Burgin’s 15th minute strike proved sufficient for Samba to lift the winner’s trophy and $3,500.
Burgin’s goal was one of the few highlights in an encounter that had a high pre-match billing but fell below expectations.
These sparks, though, were met with little applause by the large crowd, as most were concerned with the consumption of the readily available liquid refreshments.
For Hope, it was their second straight defeat in a final, having lost out to System 3 in the final of the Sion Hill League in December last year. Hope’s take-home package included the second place trophy and $1,500.
The Club final followed the Under-20 and the Masters finals.
As if scripted, all three finals ended 1-0. South Leeward bagged the Under- 20 crown over Layou. So, too, did African Tref against Rose Place United in the Masters final.
South Leeward earned $3,000 and Layou $1,500, while African Tref pocketed $2,500 and Rose Place $1,000.
With the three competitions running simultaneously, some of the individual awards were judged among all three. This decision by the organizers was an unprecedented move in local football competitions.
The Fair Play Award went to Inter-Secondary Schools. This team participated in the Club championship and placed third.
The Most Goals was by Ezekiel Cumberbatch of Menelik, a team in the Masters tournament.
Shandell Samuel of St. Vincent Motors System 3 was adjudged the Most Outstanding Forward.
Former national midfielder, Anthony Sam, copped the Most Outstanding Midfielder award. Sam represented the losing finalist in the Masters competition, Rose Place.
Another former national player, Verbin Sutherland, took away the Most Outstanding Defender award. Sutherland played for African Tref.
Hope and National goalkeeper, Melvin Andrews, secured the title of Most Outstanding Goalkeeper.
Rueben Small of South Leeward came away with the award as the Most Valuable Player.
Twenty-eight teams participated in Club championships, nine in the Under-20 league and 14 in the Masters.
The SVG Over-35 Masters Club ran the competitions.