This weekend’s Blackheart / Saint Lucia Football Association Knockout Football Tournament will pit north versus south, with both semifinals featuring rematches from earlier zonal games.
Games are set for Saturday and Sunday at Soufrière Stadium and Francis Baba Lastic Grounds. Veteran matches will take place before each Under-20 game, and there will be lots of entertainment.
On Saturday in Soufrière, the home team will play Vieux Fort South at 9 p.m. Soufrière beat Vieux Fort on penalties to claim the SLFA Southern Zone Under-20 title in April. That match took place at Vieux Fort’s Phillip Marcellin Grounds.
So far, second-seeded VFS has scored four goals without conceding any. Soufrière has scored seven and allowed just one goal.
On Sunday, Northern Zone winner Gros Islet will take on La Clery at 8 p.m. They last met on neutral ground in April, when Gros Islet won 2-0 in the Northern Zone final.
La Clery, the top seed in the Blackheart series, won their Round of 16 match 5-0 against Micoud and advanced past Mabouya Valley on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Gros Islet has stood out in the competition, winning 15-0 and 3-1.
Blackheart tournament director Shannon Lebourne says the veteran matches, featuring the same communities as the semifinals, will serve as a passing of the torch.
“Both these games are symbolic,” Lebourne explained. “Basically, we will see the Veterans or community elders, as they are called, passing the baton to the future legends. This promises to be touching, inspiring, and memorable.”
The People’s Tournament will feature halftime musical entertainment on Saturday in Soufrière, with Dominican bouyon artist Nice, Soufrière’s Gabby Gabby, and dancehall star Daan Chorus.
(TF)
