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In the stands, the tension is at its peak. The minutes are ticking by, and regulation time in the final of the 11th Saint-Barth Foot Challenge is almost up. On the field at Saint-Jean Stadium, the young players from Vitoria SC of Guimarães and Stade Brestois are locked in a stalemate. While the Portuguese team is aiming for a third consecutive victory, the Brestois are looking to add their club’s name to the trophy case for the first time. The final whistle is approaching, and no goals have been scored. A free kick for Brest just a few yards from the Portuguese goal. The players gather around the ball, and the referee takes a moment to give his instructions. He blows the whistle, and the young Stade Brestois player takes his run-up. The shot is crisp. It nestles into the top corner of the Vitoria goalkeeper’s net. The Bretons are ecstatic. Barely enough time for both teams to return to their positions on the field and make a few passes before the referee raises his arm and blows his whistle three times to signal the end of the match. Stade Brestois has just snatched the trophy from Vitoria SC at the very last moment.
Passionate fans in the stands
As it does every year, the international tournament for players under 13 organized by the Ajoe soccer section was a resounding success on May 23 and 24. Thanks to the caliber of the invited clubs (Stade Brestois, FC Lorient, the Italians of Como 1907, Vitoria SC, the Canadians from the Soccer Elite Academy of Edmonton, the Martinique national team, the Saint Martin national team, and the Risc Takers of Sint Maarten), the passion of Ajoe’s two youth teams, the dedication of all the volunteers, and the enthusiasm of the crowd. The most fervent supporters, right from the first matches, were those of the Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes.
Even before the opening ceremony, large banners designed to cheer on the young players of the Portuguese club adorned the stadium stands. A few minutes after kickoff for the first two matches, a black-and-white parade surged through the tunnel amid a din of drums and chants. Throughout the weekend, the island’s Portuguese diaspora took over part of the stands, creating a festive atmosphere. Their cheers carried the Guimaraes players all the way to the final but were not enough to secure a third consecutive title.
The Body Control Gwada troupe put on a breakdancing performance on Sunday, May 24.
Ajoe’s youth hold on
For the players on both Ajoe teams, the goal is the same every year. To gauge their level, have fun, and strive to put up a spirited fight against opponents who train daily at the youth academies of professional clubs (Brest, Lorient, Como, Vitoria, Edmonton to a lesser extent) or who are part of the regional elite (Martinique, Saint Martin). In the group stage, Ajoe’s Team 1 finished in fourth place (ahead of the Risc Takers from Sint Maarten) after four matches, while Team 2, in the other group, finished fifth. Admittedly, they conceded a significant number of goals. But the young soccer players from Saint Barth did not disappoint. On the contrary, by giving their all in every match, they demonstrated their enthusiasm and love for the game, much to the delight of their coaches and numerous supporters. But the Saint-Barth Foot Challenge is not just about sports.
An aerial dance performance was presented before Sunday’s final.
A collective success
Indeed, the event is designed to be a family-friendly, welcoming, and convivial gathering. Thanks to the spirit instilled by the Ajoe volunteers who work throughout the tournament on the sidelines, on the playing fields, at the refreshment stand, and in the food service areas. Thanks to the dedication of Alan Dagorn, coach and head of the soccer division, and that of the association’s president, Cécile Coudreau. Thanks also to the participation of Ajoe’s arts educators, who, along with their students, put on performances before the kickoff of the tournament final. A collective success, in short. As every year, all the invited teams—players and staff included—were delighted by the welcome they received. “From the matches to the final barbecue on the beach, every moment was special,” wrote a representative from the Soccer Elite Academy in Edmonton.
For the twelfth edition of the Saint-Barth Foot Challenge in 2027, Alan Dagorn is already promising a field of teams as strong as it is prestigious.
