ST LAWRENCE WOMEN manager Ivan Freitas may have only had one season in charge of the parish club, but he has led his side to the title.
Freitas admitted that a certain level of nerves and anxiety affected the side from completing the job prior to their last game against Grouville, but they got themselves over the line with a 4-1 triumph.
Jodie Botterill, Jess De Castro, Lara Couvert and Kelly Hughes all found the net at Le Boulivot.
The weekend turned out to be a perfect one for the Portuguese United men’s first-team player, as he managed his side to glory in the Jersey Women League, having helped United secure the Championship title in a playing capacity on Saturday afternoon.
Freitas said: ‘The competition of women’s football on the Island has got better and better over recent years.
‘I think this win will really motivate our academy girls to push on and try to emulate what this group managed this season.
‘We have managed to win the league, while Jersey Wanderers secured the first cup and Rozel Rovers have a chance to beat Wanderers in the second cup. There is potential to have three different clubs obtaining silverware come the end of the season, which is testament to the depth this league now has to offer.
‘I think the occasion got the better of us in previous games. We had the chance to clinch the league at an earlier stage, but it is really difficult to mentally prepare for those occasions in training.
‘The Grouville game; we settled and played our game, with some brilliant patient build up play. The issue in the previous two games is everything seemed a little rushed and forced, perhaps with the gravity of what was at stake.
‘My focus going into the final game was to play the attractive football that got us to where we were during the season and credit to the girls because they were faultless when it mattered most.’
Despite only leading the team for this season, Freitas was able to rally his group together to win a highly competitive league, with his side, Rozel Rovers and Jersey Wanderers competing in several tight contests throughout the year.
However, the goalkeeper was keen to heap praise on the club.
‘I inherited such a great squad. Many of the girls have played in Murattis and at Island Games level.
‘They have been a joy to coach and I certainly believe that some of the wiser heads in the team helped a lot when it came down to the last game of the season.
‘The occasion was big for us as the club and Grouville have improved a lot since the start of the year, so having some veterans on the team was so helpful during the day.
‘As soon as they got out there, they seemed to settle so quickly and establish the style of football that we have been successful with this season.’
Rozel meet Wanderers in the final of the Women’s JFA Cup on 10 May, while St Lawrence, as league champions, will play ‘The Rest’ on 17 May, for the Zany Labbe Memorial Trophy.
