Tivoli's Shawn McKoyfile

When Tivoli Gardens' Shawn 'Sooku' McKoy made the switch from neighbours Boys' Town ahead of the start of the just-concluded Digicel Premier League (DPL) season, he was rather clear in stating his reasons.

"I left (Boys' Town) because I want to win," McKoy stated during an interview with STAR Sports after his return to Collie Smith Drive last September, where his former team ran out 1-0 victors over the just-crowned DPL kingpins.

On Sunday, however, McKoy enjoyed the proverbial last laugh, as Tivoli Gardens returned the favour; clipping the 'Red Brigade' by a similar scoreline in their title-deciding clash at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

first place

It was TG's fifth lien on the title and the first for 25-year-old McKoy, who was obviously relishing the triumph - even if it came at the expense of the team he had represented for five years prior to joining the TG ranks.

"The whole idea of coming here to Tivoli Gardens at first, the reason I left Boys' Town in the first place, was to win a championship, and that is what happened, and I am just very happy about this," said a smiling McKoy, as confetti showered jubilant players and supporters in west Kingston.

"This team has shown me nothing but love and I love this team," he continued. "I'm just very happy right now. This is a good club, since coming here my career has grown and I'm happy I made the choice to leave Boys' Town."

tactical shift

McKoy was keen to point out that besides breaking his title duck, Tivoli Gardens also gave him an opportunity to improve his game, even if he found himself on the bench during the latter stages of the campaign after a tactical shift by coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.

"My performances were good, I am pleased with how I played. I have been there for the team throughout the season, it's just in the last phase the coach made some decisions and I cannot fight him on that. He explained to me that he was working with a new strategy and it worked out, I am a champion, it's all good," he beamed.

This is just the beginning for the busy-bodied defender-turned-midfielder, who is now targeting victory in the Flow Champions Cup knockout final - a competition he won two years straight with Boys' Town - and also a international contract.

"Flow Cup, that's the other one we are hunting so that we can become three-time champions in that competition, and from there I will be working on a contract to go overseas. Hopefully, that will all work out," said McKoy.

In-between all his celebrating, he did manage to find some time for his former teammates after the final whistle.

"Yes, I spoke to them, they all showed me love, no hard feelings from either side; it's all love," said McKoy, who still lives just a stone's throw away from Boys' Town's Collie Smith Drive. "Boys' Town is still my club, it's nothing but love, that's just the way football is."