ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Head coach of Bassa FC and former national player, Schyan “Skem-up” Jeffers, has equated his team’s 2-0 victory over Villa Lions in the deciding Premier versus First Division Playoff match at Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) on Sunday to that of winning a league title.
The All Saints men had goals coming from midfielder Garry Barnes who netted in minute 31, and striker Roger Hurst who put the icing on the cake in minute 79, as Bassa cinched the decider after a second meeting between the two teams became necessary when they both ended the three-team round robin contest levelled on four points each and with a similar plus one goal difference.
According to Jeffers, however, his young squad has been through a lot during the 2011/12 season and hopes it will serve as a valuable experience going into the 2012/13 season slated to commence in September.
“I must say I am very joyful of the results yesterday (Sunday); the way the guys played (Sunday); the way how we worked together and executed our game plan properly, and it almost feels like winning a championship, also because I know this season we gained a lot of experience,” he said.
“If you watch from the beginning of the season to now, we (went) through a lot; from leading the competition right down to almost dropping out. So Sunday’s game was actually like a family reunion for us and we’ll move on from there,” he added.
Asked what he would change going forward as he plans his team’s immediate future, Jeffers said he would rather to improve upon what positives he has already instead of making changes.
“It’s not much of a change but it is to build on. It’s to add more to what we have done this season. We fell short in certain areas and we just need to build on that. As a coach you have to also be a mother and a father, a psychiatrist. You have to play a lot of roles as a coach and this is just my learning stage because I am dealing with young guys now who really need all of these aspects that I just mentioned and it helped me to gain experience as to how to go about dealing with these (situations), and it is by only being able to deal with these aspects that we can move forward and move forward as a good team,” Jeffers said.
The former Bassa and Parham player, who made a number of appearances for his inexperienced squad during the playoff competition, also sought to dispel the notion that he is considering a full-fledged comeback.
“If my services are needed then I will come on board because I am always in condition. But I think the young guys … they deserve to take the mantle now. They deserve to take the community at heart and carry the community where everybody wants the Bassa team to go. They have what it takes (and) I am only there to help them,” he said.
Bassa had defeated Ottos Rangers, 2-1, in their opening fixture of the round robin playoff before playing to a 2-2 draw against Villa in their second outing.
Villa, then needing to beat Rangers by at least two clear goal to secure promotion, could only manage a 2-1 victory which, in turn, pit them against Bassa for a second and final time in the contest.
A&R Plumbing and Electrical Celtics along with Virgin Holidays Fort Road had both gained automatic promotion to Premier Division.
