Photo: BVIFA/Charlie E. Jackson
The fan favourites Jamaica lifted the FLOW Nations Cup on Sunday 17th July, 2016 on the A.O. Shirley Ground, after a thrilling final saw them beat the BVI 2-1.
The Jamaicans went up half way through the first half courtesy of a strike from Sylvan Winter and in the second half a long range pile driver from Eric Campbell made it 2-0. The BVI refused to give up the cause and when Michael Baptichon scored his fifth goal of the Tournament to reduce the arrears, the large crowd sensed that they were in for a thrilling conclusion to a long day of action packed football.
However despite the best efforts of Golden Boot Winner and Tournament MVP, Baptichon, the Jamaicans held on to win.
Campbell was named Man of the Match for the Final and received a Samsung Smart phone from FLOW Managing Director Tim Ringsdoor, whilst his team received $2,000 in prize money, a trophy and individual medals.
Baptichon received a FLOW Alcatel Tablet, Trophies and $200 from the BVIFA and his team Runners Up medals as well as $1,000.
To reach the Champions podium, Jamaica had beaten St Lucia 4-2 on penalties after a dead locked 0-0 semi final in what was actually their second semi final in the double elimination format tournament.
First time of asking they had met the BVI and lost 1-0 to a Baptichon goal.
The Jamaicans had also beaten Guyana on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Guyana and thanks to a late wonderful exhibition of dribbling and finishing from Fitzroy Daley at the end of normal time.
The BVI had been inspired by the performances of Baptichon in the early rounds, cruising past St Kitts 2-0 with him scoring twice and dealing with St Vincent 2-1 with Baptichon again on the score sheet and Raul Roberts also scoring before Roger Roberts gave the Vincy a glimmer of soon to be extinguished hope.
St Lucia were valiant losing semi finalists having to play virtually nonstop for the last few games and beating St Kitts and St Vincent before being knocked out by the Jamaicans.
They had also suffered a 3-0 defeat to Guyana in their opening fixture with Derol Redhead netting twice and Michael Castillo the other scorer.
