The Alzarri Joseph sponsored Attacking Saints football team.
By Neto Baptiste
There was heartbreak for Swetes FC but joy for the All Saints community as the Alzarri Joseph-sponsored Attacking Saints booked their spot in the top flight for the 2024/25 domestic football season with a nail-biting 2-1 victory over their opponents in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Premier Division vs First Division Playoffs on Monday.
Swetes, who had a dismal run in this season’s top flight resulting in them having to contest the playoffs, needed only a draw to maintain their status as a Premier Division team. It was, however, an added time strike from Joshua Samuel who netted in the 90+4 that sealed the deal for Saints. Samuel was driven off after his heroics for picking up a second yellow card. Carlos Tittle, also of Attacking Saints, was red-carded alongside Samuel for using offensive, insulting and abusive language or gesture to the referee.
Former national goalkeeper Prince Walter had given the All Saints men the advantage with a 30th minute opener from close range, but striker Shalon Knight had drawn Swetes level on minute 68.
One member of the Swetes coaching staff, Anjis Anthony, described the moment as overwhelming.
“Tears, like always when you play in those types of games — finals game, promotion games or championship games,” he said.
“So it was just overwhelming and a feeling I haven’t had in a long time. They are young guys and a lot of them have never been in the Premier Division so you also have to keep that in mind and let them know that if there is where you want to go then this is what you have to do.”
Anthony, a former Attackers and Bassa player, added that players must now understand that they will be playing at a higher level.
“That’s something we constantly pound in their heads, that the Second Division and the First Division is nothing like the Premier Division and you can play a practice match against a Premier Division and get the upper hand but its just a different atmosphere when you’re playing the Premier Division,” he said.
Meanwhile, Urlings FC earned promotion to First Division following a 2-0 victory over Young Lions, also on Monday, at the FA’s Technical Centre.
Devlyn Williams scored both goals for Urlings with strikes in minutes nine and 32. The result means that Young Lions has been relegated to the Second Division for the 2024/25 domestic season.
