Sapphire Flax side foot home her secod goal in the Ballstars 2-0 win over Panthers on the opening day of the Johnny Hassan Women's Seven A Side league.

BVIFA President Andy Bickerton announced a host of awards and incentives, including a scholarship for the League's MVP 2012

The Premier, the Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith, the Honourable Minster responsible for Sports, Myron Walwyn, the Ag. Director of Youth Affairs and Sports Patrick Harrigan and Johnny Hassan along with his wife were all on hand at the Opening Ceremony.

A scrappy opening few minutes with both the Panthers and the Ballstars women struggling to come to terms with a tricky surface, settled down half way through the first period and the Ballstars began to play the brighter football.

Any remaining nerves were further settled at least for the Ballstars when a series of long throws from Murcella Gordon led to the opening goal of the game and the league.

The Panthers failed to deal with a bouncing ball deep in their penalty area and Sapphire Flax was quickest to react, spinning, to fire the ball home on 16 minutes.

The game was settled before the break when Flax burst down the Panthers left to evade a tackle and strike a powerful drive past the goalkeeper for her second.

During the second half both teams had chances to increase the goal’s tally with Kezia Gumbs, in particular unlucky to see her headed goal disallowed as the referee, correctly, adjudged the cross had gone out of play.

The Panthers also created chances but Gumbs, Laura Pompey and Gordon were on hand to snuff out any real danger.

Flax was very happy with her goals and also the team’s performance as the final whistle blew. “I’m feeling great,” she commented. “I’ve been waiting for these goals for a very long time and my team is going all the way. We are going to win this thing.”

The field conditions are far from ideal, being very hard and bumpy. A condition which is exacerbated by the fact that the Women’s League will be played on a narrower and shorter dimensions, making control and passing nigh on impossible.

As Flax added, “We had a little problem with the field, because we weren’t accustomed to it, but as the game went on we did what we had to do.”

Flax’s goals will also stand in her good stead to receive one of the many incentives and awards that BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton announced during the opening ceremony.

He concluded by adding, “In terms of personal awards, for the person scoring the most goals during this league, we’re going to present them with a laptop computer. For the Most Valuable Player, we’re going to provide them with a scholarship to go overseas and study.”