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Football: Scholars International win 21st CIFA Premier League title

It wasn’t the thrilling finale football fans expected, but the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) crowned a regular season champion Sunday (17 March) at the T.E McField Sports Complex.

A Latinos Football Club forfeit at the Ed Bush Playing Field gave Bodden Town Football Club an automatic three points and a temporary lead in the standings, knocking Academy Sports Club out of contention for their first ever title before taking the field versus Scholars International Sports Club at the T.E McField Sports Complex. Needing a win and or draw to secure their 4th title in five years, Scholars took to the George Town pitch in search of their 21st league title.

Moments into the first half, Academy’s Romario Dixon got his pocket picked at midfield by Scholars Ron Douglas, who turn and fired from distance to beat keeper Rhon Royer to take a 1-0 lead into half.

In the 63rd minute, an Academy set piece saw Wesley Robinson rise for a header, only to knock it onto the foot of captain Mark Ebanks who gathered and fired past Scholars keeper Carlos Escobar for the equalizer.

Moments later, a Scholars counter attack saw a Rolly Bodden shot blocked, only for Dwight Dunk to pounce on the deflection and strike the winner for a 2-1 victory.

“We played well in patches,” said Scholars captain Oneil Taylor. “We got the three points. Winning (the title) means a lot, I can’t explain it, but it means a lot.”

With the win, Scholars secures it’s second straight appearance in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships. As league winners last year, the club will begin play in the 2019 CFU Club Championships next month in Curacao where they will seek to earn a spot in both the qualifying stage of the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League and the 2019 CONCACAF League.

Here is a look at their schedule:

5 April: v Fruta Conquerors (GUY)
7 April: v Santiago de Cuba (CUB)
9 April: v Jong Holland (CUR)
 
The top two teams of each group advance to the quarterfinals, with second and third place qualifying for the 2019 CONCACAF League. Fourth overall will play against the winners of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield in a playoff match to determine the final Caribbean spot to the 2019 CONCACAF League.
 
The top eight teams from the CIFA Premier League will now enter the inaugural Challenge Cup Series which is set to begin 24 March.

About the author

Jordan Armenise

Jordan Armenise

Jordan Armenise began his sports broadcasting journey with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). It was in this role where he was able to craft the immersive and enthusiastic approach to reporting, broadcasting and production you see here today in Cayman's sports community.

Jordan has also worked behind the scenes for a number of Canadian broadcasting & production companies such as CBC Sports, Cineflix Productions and Cream Productions.

Did he mention he was St. Clare of Assisi's 1994 Athlete of the Year?

Now dubbed 'The Sports Guy', Jordan relishes the role as Cayman 27 Sports Producer, where he can tell the stories of Cayman’s athletes. You can reach Jordan at or .

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