By Carlena Knight
A new champion was crowned on Friday night in the Cool and Smooth Ministry of Sports Business League Football tournament.
APUA Telecommunications hoisted the coveted trophy at the New Winthorpes playing field, hammering Heritage Hotel 3-0.
Lissue Walker recorded a brace for the victors while the final goal came from Baryan James.
Hermitage Bay Strikers finished third.
Twenty-four hours later, the champion team would walk away with majority of the individual awards at the prize giving ceremony at the Presidential Suite of the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket stadium.
The champions secured six individuals awards to include: Best Striker and Most Valuable Player, Baryan “Keno” James; Best Goal Keeper, Tony Forsythe; Best Defender, Clifton “Boops” Silcott; Midfielder, Burrell Courtney Clarke; and Coach of the year, Collin “Spoony” Ralph.
In addition to the championship trophy and medals, team members were awarded for the first time in the league’s history with championship rings.
Manager of the year went to the second-place overall team, Heritage Hotel’s Jovan Smith.
Heritage, despite falling short also earned the first-place trophy for winning their zone.
General Post Office, Gail Christian Law Enforcers and former champions, West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) were the other zonal winners.