2008/2009 Claro/KSAFA Major League Football champions - Rae Town FC

Central Kingston hotbed communities were abuzz with celebration over the past weeks, as die hard fans were delighted with the victory of the Rae Town football team, who are now the 2008/2009 Claro/KSAFA Major League Football champions.

Southside, Tel-Aviv and adjoining communities were beside themselves with joy as the longtime drought came to an end.

"The victory will enhance the existing peace in our community," boasted Donovan 'Whiteside' Evans, who has made the transition as a player, to a successful coach.

Despite going down 4-2 to Brown's Town in the final round played at Vauxhall High School on Saturday, Rae Town completed their fixture on 44 points, two cleared of Barbican, with Brown's Town in third place on 39 points. This means that Rae Town and Barbican have automatically qualified for the Super League which begins later this year.

"We want to dedicate this victory to our founding coach, Percival 'Itesman' Cordwell, who died on April 6 of this year," said Coach Evans, who has now gone back to the drawing board, to come up with a strategic plan to win the Super League.

Cordwell's death impacted almost everybody across the community and according to Evans, the Rae Town players had vowed to win the championship in his honour.

Apart from people like Joseph Manning and other influential individuals who supported the team over the years, Rae Town are very thankful to KSAFA President, Rudolph Speid, who helped the club to stay in existence.

The club was on the verge of going defunct, when Speid stepped in and assisted Evans and a few others who were left to handled the affairs of the club. An executive body was formed and the club was back on track.

While Rae Town has qualified before for Super League, this is their first major title over the past three decades. In the early 1990s, they were Red Label Wine City League winners.

Over the years, titles such as the under 16 Minor League, President Cup and Syd Bartlett have eluded them, which resulted in exodus of players migrating to other clubs, to play in the bigger leagues. This year Evans and manager Lloyd Bryan stuck to the task and kept the team together.

They made an impressive start in the Jackie Bell Knock Out competition. They were eliminated 3-2 by Harbour View, in extra time, during the quarter finals.