Newcomers Blue Nation became the first team to qualify for the round of 16 in the East-West Corridor Football League on Thursday, despite a 2-1 loss to the Mt Pleasant Boyz at the Courland Recreation Ground in Black Rock, Tobago.
Having only entered the Tobago football scene in 2018 with a roster primarily comprising Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) talent, Blue Nation has quickly paid its dues. The team secured an unassailable lead in the Tobago Group, a position so dominant that Thursday’s result against Mt Pleasant had no bearing on their advancement.
Now, manager Crystal Wilson has shifted her focus to the round of 16, confident her charges can go all the way.
Entering the match with 13 points from four previous wins, there was little pressure facing a Mt Pleasant side that sat further down the table. National Under-17 striker J’Meke Watkins left his mark on the game with a goal in the 78th minute, but it proved insufficient, with Mt Pleasant Boyz scoring on either side of the half through Darion Moses and Jair Clarke.
Blue Nation finishes the group stage with 13 points from four wins and one loss. While Mt Pleasant sealed the runner-up spot with nine points wins out of five matches, only the group winner progresses. They will have to wait until next season for another shot at the nation’s largest community football league to date.
“We have never doubted our potential. We know exactly what we have in terms of the squad and what we can and cannot produce on the field. So, for us, it's a welcoming experience,” Wilson said. "I think for us, the boys expected it more than anything else. There was no doubt in terms of what they can do, and of course, moving on from here."
Quizzed on her team’s chances in the round of 16 and beyond, Wilson said, “We expect the boys to go out and give their best as per usual. We are prepared for that level in terms of competitiveness. That's what we envision generally, so we look forward to it. We are also going to use it as a steppingstone for growth. And also, the avenue to put our name out there. As I said, we are pretty new, and this is our first year for us in senior football.
“So, given that, we are expecting good things, we are hoping that we could go as far as and probably claim the title.”
Following the league's conclusion, an All-Star team will be selected to journey to Spain for a series of matches, providing players with opportunities for professional trials or contracts.
Meanwhile, the battle for the remaining round of 16 berths continues in the other zones: five teams will progress from the North, four from the East, and two each from the South, Northeast, and Central zones.
TOBAGO ZONE STANDINGS
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*GD*Pts
1*Blue Nation*5*4*1*0*13*6*7*13
2*Mt Pleasant Boyz*5*3*0*2*17*7*10*9
3*Kings United*5*2*1*2*11*10*1*7
4*Team Ready*5*0*0*5*3*21*-18*0
