Majesty Gardens Infant School wins third PSAL basic school football title on debut

Majesty Gardens Infant School has taken the third staging of the PSAL Basic School football competition, beating defending champions Ascot Infant 1-0 in the final. Entering the PSAL Alparta Plus Infant Football tournament as first-time competitors, the Kingston-based school finished the season without a defeat.

Majesty Gardens is a community that has long been linked with violence rather than sporting headlines. Principal Marsha Valentine Taylor put her pupils forward for the tournament because she wanted them to show what children from underserved neighbourhoods can accomplish when they receive proper backing.

Naggo Head Infant claimed third place with a 2-1 win over Greater Portmore in the playoff for that spot. Twenty-one teams took part in the competition.

Taylor said the result proves that with the right attitude, support and systems in place, pupils from her community can reach the same heights as children in more affluent areas. She described the victory as a major milestone and said residents would be celebrating when the team returned home.

She called her charges multi-talented and recalled telling them before the match that football is unpredictable and that she would be proud of them whether they won or not. The children, she said, pushed through fatigue to secure the title and make her even prouder.

Members of the winning side said they were elated to be crowned champions after a demanding final. Their game plan focused on a strong defensive unit, while leaning on attackers who had been putting the ball in the net throughout the tournament.