Against a backdrop of torrential downpour that drenched Soufrière Stadium, Vieux Fort South’s young squad defied both adverse weather and in-game adversity to secure a landmark 4-2 victory over La Clery in the 2025 Blackheart/Saint Lucia Football Association Knockout Tournament final. The win not only delivered the first-ever under-20 title in the competition’s history to the side, but also earned the team a $30,000 cash prize, while head coach Alwyn Harris took home the honor of tournament’s outstanding coach.
In a post-match interview with St Lucia Times during the team’s jubilant celebrations, Harris emphasized that unshakable team confidence had been the foundation of their championship run from the opening whistle. “I just want to say thank you — to my players, to the entire Vieux Fort community that showed up for us every step of the way,” he said. “We walked into this tournament certain we would take the top prize, and I never stopped reinforcing that belief with the boys. I told them there is no team in this competition that could stop them if they stuck to our game plan and played like the unit we trained to be. There is no ‘I’ in team, and tonight they proved they are true champions.”
The road to the trophy was far from smooth for the green and white-clad side. Late in the second half, the squad faced two major setbacks: their starting goalkeeper was forced out of the match with an injury, and a defender was issued a red card, leaving Vieux Fort South down to 10 men for the closing stretch. Reflecting on the disciplinary incident, Harris noted that while the sending-off was a disappointing turn, the team’s ability to adapt under pressure ultimately secured the win. “We pulled that player aside, talked to him and told him to stay calm, but it still happened,” he said. “We got through it and got the win, but moving forward, we absolutely have to work on improving defensive discipline to avoid these situations in future matches.”
The first half of the final was a tightly contested back-and-forth battle. Vieux Fort South twice grabbed the lead, but La Clery responded with an equalizer each time, leaving the score tied going into the halftime break. Harris shared that his halftime pep talk focused on refocusing the squad and reinforcing the need for full 90-minute commitment, rather than letting up after scoring. “I told the boys at halftime that we hadn’t won the game yet — football is 90 minutes, not 45, and nothing is settled until the final whistle blows,” he recalled. “Every time we put one in the back of the net, we relaxed, we assumed the other team couldn’t come back. But La Clery wanted this win just as badly as we did. I reminded them that we have to stay locked in from the first minute to the last, and I hope this lesson sticks with us going forward.”
Fresh off claiming the 2024 Tier 2 title in the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL), Vieux Fort South’s upset win over Tier 1 defending champions La Clery sends a clear warning to the top flight ahead of the 2026 SPFL season, which kicks off in the near future. Harris made it clear that his young side is already preparing to compete for the top Tier 1 position when they make their debut in the top division. “Coach Jamil Joseph and the SPFL have everything locked in for the new season, and we’ve got a group of players in Vieux Fort that are hungry to prove they belong at the top level,” Harris said. “I have no doubt in them — they’re going to go out, give it their all, and show what they can do.”
Individual honors were spread across multiple standout players from the tournament. Vieux Fort South’s Obafami Poyotte earned MVP of the final honors, while teammates Kahlil Henry (best centre-back) and Kai Alexander (best goalkeeper) also took home individual trophies. Soufrière’s Eymani Butcher claimed two awards: best midfielder and Player of the Tournament. Gros Islet’s Rickelme Lionel won the Daren Sammy Trophy for finishing the tournament as top goal scorer.