Football: Women’s Patron’s Cup-Bibi’s brace gives Olympia Coast win |08 March 2006

After three years when women’s football here was a nine-a-side affair, the two teams fielded 11 players last Saturday.

Ste Anne United thought they could avenge last year’s Land Marine Cup defeat when striker Vesna César hit the target in the 14th minute to give them a dream start. But César’s effort was cancelled out by Olympia Coast’s striker Natacha Bibi in the 49th minute.

Georgina Barra gave Olympia Coast the lead in the 65th minute and Bibi added her second goal in the 67th minute to put the game beyond Ste Anne United’s reach.

Not only have Olympia Coast retained the Patron’s Cup, but they have now won it for a fifth time in six years.

Their other four triumphs in the first cup competition on the calendar came in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005.

In 2004, they lost the title to Dolphins who had achieved a League and Cup double in 2003.

In last year’s match, Olympia Coast beat the same Ste Anne United thanks to a lone 33rd minute goal by Bibi.

It must be noted that former athlete Bibi scored five times, a feat no other local female footballer has achieved, when Olympia Coast drubbed United Sisters 7-1 in the 2003 edition of the Patron’s Cup.

F. M.