Players from CONEL’s Football Academy celebrate winning the Association of Colleges’ English Colleges Football Association (EFCA) Men’s Category 2C league title.
Football and Basketball Academies at College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) are celebrating becoming league champions.
The Football Academy team, run in partnership with Leyton Orient FC, won the Association of Colleges’ English Colleges Football Association (EFCA) Men’s Category 2C league title.
The side comfortably secured victory, finishing nine points clear of their nearest rivals – Lewisham Southwark College and Barnet and Southgate College.
The team has now been promoted to compete in EFCA Category 1 games next season.
Top scorer Suaibo Balde 17, who scored 25 goals, said: “It means everything to win a league title. We had a great cohesion, and I was proud to score many goals to help the team win.
“The coach has really helped me in training and made suggestions on how we can improve. It really made a big difference to our game and we got the results.”
Teammate Muhammed Asam, 17, added: “We have worked really hard and it has shown on the pitch. It was great to win the league in my first year at the College.”
CONEL’s second team were runners up in the Men’s Category 3B division.
CONEL's Basketball Academy, known as the Warriors, won the Community Basketball League Under 20s Men’s Division and the Under 18s Eastern Conference.
The College’s Basketball Academy team, known as the Warriors, won the Community Basketball League Under 20s Men’s Division and the Under 18s Eastern Conference.
They beat Wandsworth Wolves 48-35 and Barnet Bulldogs 49-30 in the play-off finals respectively to take the title.
TJ Burnett, 18, captained the teams in both matches and was named Most Valued Player in the under 20s game after scoring 15 points.
He said: “It feels great to have won. We played well during the season and only lost one game, and have shown what CONEL is all about.
“We worked hard as a team and had a good spirit and supported each other on and off the court, and had a real competitive desire to win.”
Teammate Jack Davis, 18, added: “The coaching at CONEL is the best I’ve had. It has given me more experience and understanding of the game, and shown me if you’re willing to keep trying you’re never going to be turned away.”
CONEL’s B team were also runners up in the Under 18s Community Basketball League Western Conference.
The College also finished fourth in the Association of Colleges Basketball London Men’s League following last year’s East Men’s League title win, and third in the Academy Basketball League.
The teams and the top and most improved players were recognised at an awards ceremony at CONEL’s Enfield Centre led by coaches Josemar Santos and Jay Williams.
Jonathan Silman, Head of Sport, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the progression of our Sports Academies this year. To win one title is great, but to win two is excellent.
“I am very proud that for the first time next year we will have both football and basketball represented at the highest level in college sport, which shows just how established they are at CONEL.”
Call 020 8442 3055 or click here for more information on Sports Academies and Sport and Fitness courses at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL).
Football and Basketball Academy Award Winners 2017-18
FOOTBALL
|
Player of the Year |
Romans Andrejevs |
|
Fans’ Player of the Year |
Potchu Mendes Calucane |
|
Manager’s Player of the Year |
Romans Andrejevs |
|
Most Improved Player of the Year |
Muhammed Asam |
|
Goal of the Season |
Suaibo Balde |
BASKETBALL
|
Most Valuable Player (AoC) |
Jack Davis |
|
Most Valuable Player (ABL) |
TJ Burnett |
|
Defensive Player of the Year (AoC) |
Tyrese Peters-Tovey |
|
Defensive Player of the Year (ABL) |
Alex Amisi |
|
Most Improved Player |
Mantvydas Matulevicius |