2015 New York Caribbean Cup Championship Soccer - Championship Final

Week 16 Sunday, September 6, 2015

2015 NY Caribbean Cup Championship Finals
After weeks of preliminary round football and playoffs the 2015 New York Caribbean Cup finals is on us. This Sunday, September 6, many times champions Team Jamaica play first time finalist Team Haiti in the 2015 finals at 4:45pm at Thomas Jefferson Sports Complex, 12508 Flatlands Avenue at Shepherd Avenue. The third place game between Team St Kitts & Nevis and Team St. Lucia kicks off at 2:30pm.

The Championship game between Team Jamaica and Team Haiti is a highly anticipated game. While Team Jamaica has their name on the championship trophy eleven times in the twenty-four year history of the Cup, they have not beaten Team Haiti in the last two years. In 2014 preliminary round action Les Grenadiers won 3-2, and earlier this year overcame the NY Reggae Boyz by the odd goal.

Will history repeat itself? Like years past the NY Reggae Boyz have not played well in the preliminary rounds but seem to turn on the switch, so to speak, as the playoff commence. While they have reached the final for the umpteenth time that playoff switch has not been evident yet.

On the other hand, while Team Haiti has not played particularly well this season they usually play their best when facing Team Jamaica.

Team Les Grenadiers mix skill with aggression in their play, while the NY Reggae Boyz is a touch team relying on smooth passing and positional play. With the Daout brothers, joint leading goal scorer Alfred Sonthonax, Marvens Dominique, Louis Robenson among others in their lineup Team Haiti is confident they will raise the Championship Trophy for the first time come Sunday.

For Jamaica to lift their twelfth championship their midfield and defense will have to be very alert. In addition, Romario Campbell will have to see his passes earlier and not slow down the game with his dribbling, while defensively, Asrick Samuels, the MVP of the 2013 and 2014 finals, has a new partner in Carlos Wright marshalling the central defense and so far they seem to have played well together. Up front, joint leading goal scorer in this year’s NY Caribbean Cup Tournament, Denzil Watson need to be more thoughtful in his shooting.

In the final analysis, whatever the outcome, this should be a great NY Caribbean Cup final.

The third place game between Team St. Kitts and Nevis and former champions Team St. Lucia at 2:30pm should set the platform for a great afternoon of New York Caribbean Cup Championship Soccer.

Although Team St. Lucia has reached the Cup final four times and will probably handle the pressure of Championship Day a little easier, the Sugar Boyz only venture into the final was 2008, however, this year under coach Roy Charles the Kittishians have been a lot more organized team on the field with a fitter and younger more enthusiastic bunch of players. It should be a very good opener for Caribbean Cup Championship Day 2015.

A presentation ceremony follows the final game.