A Region Number One derby between zone champion Santa Rosa and Waramuri from 19:00hrs will headline today’s quarter-finals of the Digicel Schools Football Championship at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Santa Rosa earned their place in the Elite-8 section following a 5-2 victory over Region #10 winner Mackenzie High in their previous outing. Similarly, Waramuri brushed aside Region #10’s Kwakwani 4-1.
Meanwhile, Tucville will open proceedings against Region #9 champions St. Ignatius from 13:00hrs. Tucville crushed Region #2 champions Charity 4-1 in their prior fixture, whilst St. Ignatius mauled East Coast Demerara winner Buxton 5-2 in the preceding round.
In what is expected to be a gruelling encounter, Georgetown champion Dolphin opposes fierce rival Carmel at 15:00hrs in the ‘City Derby’. Dolphin was made to work in their 4-2 victory over Region #3 champion and dark horse Westminster to advance to the quarterfinals while Carmel dismissed Berbice Educational Institute 4-0 in their match.
Region #7 champions and perennial contenders DC Caesar Fox [formerly Waramadong], will lock horns with Charlestown from 17:00hrs. DC Caesar Fox earned their place in the quarterfinals following a 3-1 win over Mahaicony Technical Institute while Charlestown upset West Ruimveldt on penalty kicks.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization, during an invited comment, said, “We are very pleased with the level of play in the tournament. There are four hinterland teams and four South Georgetown teams [remaining]. It is in the DNA of the hinterland teams and we think the Georgetown teams would have benefited from their involvement in other tournaments. We anticipate all the matches to be keenly contested tomorrow because we believe each team earned the right to be there. The Digicel tournament has certainly made an impact on the school football landscape and as such we are very grateful for this tournament.”
Mendonca said also that a minute’s silence will be observed at the start of the first and fourth games in remembrance and homage of Dr. Olato Sam, Education Specialist in the Ministry of Education and former Chief Education Officer, who met an untimely death Friday.
According to Mendonca, Dr. Sam was instrumental in guiding the discourse between the entity and the Ministry of Education which led to the approval for the utilization of schools in the Courts Pee Wee Football ten (10) years prior, which birthed the calendar of school football activities that has become apposite with the Petra Organization.
