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‘The competition brought the community together’ - High praises for Allan ‘Skill’ Cole Corner League competition
November 13, 2024
As a crowd of fans watched on as Lennox United edged St Albans United 5-3 on penalties in the final of the Allan 'Skill' Cole Franklyn Town Corner League football competition last week, high praises for the event's staging rained in from stakeholders.
Lennox United, who were felled in the semi-finals of last year's competition, pulled off a spirited win as they clipped St Albans in a match which totally entertained the Franklyn Town community.
Nicholas Francis, head coach of Lennox United, praised his team for their performance as he explained that they saw out his game plan against a quality opponent.
"It was a very clinical display from the team. We went out there with a 4-3-3 formation to make sure that we didn't lose this game," he explained.
"We came up against a very spirited team in St Albans Lane who played some youngsters who were quick on the ball, but we made sure we stifled their midfield. I'm happy with the performance and they executed to the tee."
Francis praised the competition for its role in the community's development and as a positive force in Franklyn Town. He also said the competition provides a platform for young players to develop their skills in front of their home support and that it could be the stomping ground future national players.
"This year the competition was run good," he said. "I am happy and it brings the vibes to the community," he stated.
"I am happy that the community has put this competition together and I'm hoping we can go further next year. We have some quality youngsters and some of these youngsters, if they are serious about this, can go far, even to the national team."
St Albans' head coach, Romario Shirley, also voiced his support for the competition.
Shirley was pleased with his team's performance and felt their quality was deserving of the title. He stated that penalty shootouts are determined by luck.
"We played well and I don't think anything went wrong. Penalty shootouts can go any way, it all comes down to luck."
He added, "The competition was played last year and it brought the community together and it did the same this year. I think the promoters are doing a good job in the community right now."
FORCE OF UNITY
Andrew Geohagen, chairman of the Franklyn Town Community Development Project, also spoke on the importance of the competition.
Geohagen said the tournament stands as a major force of unity and peace in a community which had been rife with violence in the past.
He hopes the competition can grow as he invited more sponsors to show their support by aligning their brands to the community project.
"It was spectacular and a success as a peace project," he said. "It is a sport for development and while the competition went on, we had relative peace in the community. Some corners were not talking to some corners and the competition brought them together."
