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As part of Pink October, the brand-new field at the Saint-Jean Stadium was buzzing on Saturday, October 17, during a gala evening dedicated to women’s soccer. Facing off against the Saint Martin team, the Saint Barthélemy players put on a true offensive spectacle, winning decisively by a score of 11 to 1 amid the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd.
At exactly 7:00 p.m., the kickoff took place in the spirit of solidarity. In the packed stands, many young girls watched their role models with admiration. Among them, a young fan wearing a French national team jersey spared no energy in cheering on the team.
In the crowd, the cause brings together all generations. “This kind of game is important for promoting equality in sports. As a girl, I find it very inspiring,” says Victoire, 10, who came to support the local team with a confident prediction: “5–0 for Saint-Barth!” A little further away, a trio of young soccer fans—Pierre, Liam, and Marley—are also enjoying the event. More accustomed to men’s soccer, they emphasize the importance of supporting women’s soccer and all predict that Saint-Barth will win hands down.
An offensive showcase on the field
On the field, the match began with a setback for Saint Martin: just two minutes into the game, a player was injured and had to be substituted. Spurred on by the announcer’s cheers (“And for St. Barth, come on, come on!”)—which the spectators quickly took up in unison—the local players didn’t take long to gain the upper hand.
As early as the 5th minute, Saint-Barth opened the scoring, before doubling their lead in the 9th minute. The goals came in quick succession: 3-0 by the 12th minute. Despite a comeback by the Saint-Martin team that narrowed the gap, the home team’s response was immediate. By the 18th minute, the scoreboard read 4–1 following a spectacular play: “The player pulled off a perfect dribble before firing a shot right into the top corner,” Marley enthuses from the stands. At halftime, the score is already 6-1.
The second half confirmed Saint-Barth’s dominance, as the team continued to score right up until the final whistle. After an hour of a hard-fought and festive match, the home team emerged victorious with a decisive 11–1 victory.
“A wonderful initiative”
Beyond the sporting result, this special evening—organized by the Territorial Olympic and Sports Committee of Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin (CTOS) and the Territorial Soccer Committee—aimed above all to promote women’s soccer and foster exchanges between the two islands.
On the field, joy was in the air. “It was so much fun, really exciting, and a little tiring, but we won!” said Paloma Lecointre, a Saint Barth defender, in the heat of the moment. On the Saint Martin side, forward Gana Selipou, despite the disappointment of the loss, praised the significance of the event: “It’s a wonderful initiative. It helps show women that they can play sports other than dance, for example.”
Saint Martin Defeats Saint Barth in the Opening Match
Before the women took the field at the Saint-Jean stadium, the Ajoe Under-15 team faced off against Juventus of Saint Martin. It was a fast-paced, spirited match that quickly swung in favor of the young visitors. At the final whistle, Juventus emerged victorious with a lopsided score of five to zero (5–0). It was a great experience, however, for both teams, who don’t often have the opportunity to face off against each other.
