Academy clinches 3-2 victory over Leon Hess, securing third consecutive title
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia (June 19, 2025) — Saint Lucia Sports Academy U-16 is reaffirming its reputation as the island’s premier youth football powerhouse after claiming a thrilling 3-2 victory over Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School in the finals of the Secondary Schools Football Championship.
The championship showdown was held Friday, June 13, at the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Technical Centre in Grande Riviere, where the Academy’s young footballers delivered a commanding performance to seal their third straight title.
According to Public Relations Officer Piero Benny Lewis, the win underscores the success of the Academy’s holistic sports program, which continues to produce top-tier athletes for Saint Lucia’s national teams.
“This is our third title in a row,” Lewis said, “and with nine boys already making the national under-19 football team last year, the results speak volumes about the quality of development here at the Academy.”
Lewis highlighted the team’s unwavering dedication and the rigors of their training regimen. Student-athletes at the Academy engage in strength and conditioning exercises twice weekly and participate in routine 2K races to build stamina and athletic discipline.
“Being fit made all the difference,” she added. “Our boys were able to outrun Leon Hess Comprehensive and capture the win.”
Preparation and discipline drive Saint Lucia Sports Academy U-16 success
Head football coach Dermark Monrose echoed that sentiment, noting that preparation and mindset were central to the Academy’s triumph.
“We knew it would be a challenging match, Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School came into the final without conceding a single goal in the tournament,” Monrose said. “But we struck early, scoring within the first five minutes. That gave us the psychological edge.”
Among the standout performers was defender Genai Mathre, who earned the title of Best Defender of the tournament. Team captain and midfield sensation, 13-year-old Leon Vidal, swept multiple honors, including Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, Most Valuable Player of the Final, and Best Midfielder.
“It was a tough game,” Vidal admitted. “Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School fought hard, but our team kept pushing, and we managed to come out on top.”
An Invitation to Future Stars
With the Sports Academy’s winning streak gaining momentum, Benny Lewis extended an open invitation to parents across the island who may have children with athletic promise.
“We’re more than a football school,” she noted. “We’re Saint Lucia’s only sports-focused boarding institution, supporting young athletes in football, cricket, and track and field. But we also provide full academic instruction and life skills development.”
The Sports Academy’s commitment to nurturing talent across multiple disciplines mirrors the recent rise of regional youth athletes, such as the Windward U-19 Caribbean youth cricket stars, who continue to gain international recognition. Together, these successes reflect the growing impact of structured youth development programs across Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean.
The Saint Lucia Sports Academy has rapidly established itself as a pipeline for national and regional sporting success. Its student-athletes balance intense athletic schedules with classroom excellence, emerging not just as sportsmen and women, but as well-rounded citizens. Notably, the Academy was the brainchild of former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who envisioned a national institution that would integrate world-class athletic training with academic rigor. Since its official launch in 2019, the Academy has grown into a flagship example of how targeted investment in youth development can yield transformative results.
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