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Swaby ‘overwhelmed’ with RJRGLEANER’s Division One triumph - Scotiabank lift Xpress Sports KSAFA Division Two football title
October 06, 2025
Tasked with the arduous role of preparing his team without a playing field on which to train, Fabian Swaby, head coach of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, said it was an overwhelming feeling to lift the Xpress Sports-sponsored Kingston and St Andrew Business House Division One football title.
RJRGLEANER dethroned National Housing Trust (NHT) 2-0 in Saturday's final at Ashenheim Stadium, Jamaica College.
Goals from Keanu Barrett in the 45+3 minutes and Lincoln Cassell in the 85th minute guided the team to the coveted title.
Meanwhile, Scotiabank crowned themselves champions in the preceding Division Two final, winning 2-0 against ATL.
Otra Baker (43rd) and Stephen Barnett (53rd) scored for Scotiabank.
FILLED WITH PRIDE
RJRGLEANER's Swaby was a coach filled with pride as he praised his players for their efforts against a strong NHT unit.
He said their win was all the more impressive as they had been without a designated field on which to train and were forced to put most of their preparations into strength training.
"I'm very overwhelmed about the victory," Swaby said. "It was a hard-fought victory and the reason why I feel so overwhelmed is that we didn't have a field to train, we just had to do mostly hills and sands.
"So for a team that did not actually have a field to do technical work, and to then come and win the Division One title, it's an overwhelming feeling."
The first half had brought an even contest between both teams, but Barrett would open the scoring right before the half-time whistle with a well-placed free kick that flew above the head of the NHT goalkeeper.
As they went in search of the equaliser in the second half, NHT had large spells of possession and RJRGLEANER played with a deep-sitting defence.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
They had a golden opportunity on the hour mark when Orane Ferguson broke through on goal, but he took just a second too long to pull the trigger, and saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Cassell would sink NHT's hopes of an equaliser when, with five minutes left on the clock, he doubled his team's lead with a shot high into the net.
Shaun Daley, head coach of NHT, said while disappointed with the result, he was proud of the team effort he had seen from his players.
"We can take a lot of spirit and a lot of motivation from being in the final for the second year running," he said.
"This shows me that we're doing something good over at NHT with the football team. We just have to take our loss, lick our wounds and come back again.
"Nonetheless, I just want to say congratulations to the champions and I am very proud of my players. We fought and we made it a good match. It was just that today wasn't our day."
MISSING CROWN
For Swaby, the win was also a personal achievement as he explained he had not been able to lift the title when he was a player for RJRGLEANER.
Now as a coach, he is happy to have finally been able to get his hands on the missing crown.
"Winning this championship is something that we've talked about and something that I had always wanted," he said.
"It's a joy and it's a part of my philosophy to win some trophies. As a player, I didn't get to win it but I get to win it as a coach, so it's really overwhelming and I love the victory.
Thanks to the many supporters who came out and were our 12th man. Their cheering spurred us on," Swaby admitted.
Meanwhile, Scotiabank's coach Damion Gordon credited their discipline for taking the championship.
"Scotiabank won the final 2-0 because the team played together and followed the tactical instructions," Gordon said. "We had good moments in the game and our key players turned up.
"I must first congratulate the ATL team for a competitive match, my team also for their hard work and resilience. I must also thank our supporters, management team who ensured that the players were comfortable and the Scotiabank executive team for supporting and believing in the team."
CHALLENGE TROPHY
The KSAFA Business House football competition will continue with the Challenge Trophy between knockout champions McKay Security playing Scotiabank on Saturday, October 11, at a venue to be announced.
The winner will play RJRGLEANER in the final.
