The 14th edition of the LUCELEC and BOSL Castries Youth League kicked into action last weekend, drawing more than 300 rising football talents from 10 competing clubs to the Sab Playing Field in Vigie. The opening weekend delivered a full slate of competitive action across the Under-12 and Under-17 divisions, with several teams claiming early wins to set the tone for the season ahead.
In the Under-12 age group, Monchy United emerged as an early standout, securing a narrow 2-1 victory over Lancers to open their campaign. The match got off to a blistering start, with Maxwell Andrew finding the back of the net twice in the opening three minutes to put Monchy United firmly in the lead. Lancers fought back quickly, with Jaden Biscette cutting the deficit to one goal just four minutes after Andrew’s second strike. Despite persistent pressure from Lancers for the rest of the match, Monchy United’s defensive line held firm to protect their lead and claim all three points.
Another Under-12 fixture ended in a fair 1-1 draw between Flames United and VSADC, a tightly contested match that showcased the depth of young talent in the league. King Altenor broke the deadlock for Flames United in the eighth minute of the first half, but Javel Lubin equalized for VSADC just four minutes later. Both teams pushed for a decisive winning goal through the second half, but solid defending from both sides prevented any further scoring, leaving the points shared between the two sides. Big Players FC also claimed three points on opening weekend, earning a walkover victory after FC Pioneers failed to field a full squad for their scheduled fixture.
Moving to the Under-17 division, Lancers turned in a dominant all-around performance to shut out VSADC 3-0. Kaylan Moise opened the scoring for Lancers, and subsequent goals from Ali Elliot and Alexander Elliot sealed the comfortable win. Lancers’ organized defensive unit denied VSADC any clear scoring opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, cementing their opening weekend victory.
Monchy United notched their second win of the opening weekend in a physical, hard-fought Under-17 matchup against Valley Soccer Club. Nasri Alexander and Curtrel Francois found the net for Monchy United, while Darius Prince responded with a single goal for Valley Soccer Club. The trajectory of the match shifted dramatically when Valley Soccer defender Kimani Joseph received a straight red card, forcing his side to play with 10 players for the majority of the contest. Monchy United capitalized on the numerical advantage to hold on for the win.
The competitive matches followed an upbeat opening ceremony that kicked off the 14th season of the league. The event drew attendees including participating young players, their families, tournament sponsors, and senior officials from the Saint Lucia Football Association and the Castries Football Council, all gathering to mark the launch of the annual youth development tournament.
Carmy Joseph, corporate communications officer for main sponsor LUCELEC, addressed the competing young players during the ceremony, emphasizing the long-term impact the tournament has had on local football development. She noted that over its previous 13 editions, the league has helped dozens of young footballers progress to competitive success at regional, national and international levels, and urged all participants to embrace the opportunity to test their skills, grow as athletes and showcase their talent on the local stage.