THE Sab Sporting Facility will be a kaleidoscope of colors tomorrow from 10.00 am, as close to 180 Under-12 year-olds aspiring footballers, some making their debut for the first time will be representing their respective districts as the Ministries of Education/Youth Development and Sports in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Football Association kickoff the 2018 Inter District Primary School Football competition.
The day will commence with an opening ceremony starting with the playing of the National Anthem followed by prayers. A number of special invitees will be in attendance including – District Education Officers, Director of Youth and Sports, Schools Sports Coordinator, Curriculum Officers and SLFA President some of whom will deliver brief remarks; following which there will be a march past of the eight district teams following which all eyes will be glued on the pitch for a double header.
On the pitch from 11.00 a.m in Group B, Game 1- District 5 comprising – Ti Rocher, Mon Repos, Patience, La Ressource, Aux Lyon, DerniereRiviere, Richfond Combined, Micoud, Dennery Primary, Dennery Infant will play District 8 comprising – Bouton, Le Etangs Combined, Canaries, Soufriere Infant and Primary, Fond St. Jacques Primary.
In the second encounter from 12.30 p.m. Group A – District 3 comprising – Bocage, Marchand Combined, Ti Rocher, Forestierre, Ave Maria Girls, R.C. Boys Primary, Tapion Private and Dunnottar will come against District 2 which includes – Carmen Rene, Camille Henry, Gordon and Walcott Methodist Memorial, Canon Laurie Anglican, Eucarist Lewis S.D.A., Vide Boutielle Primary and Mon du Don Government School.
Matches will continue on Wednesday 17th, in Group A from 1.30 p.m. when District 1 comprising – Monchy, Gros Islet, Grande Riviere, Dame Pearlette, Balata, Babonneau, La Guerre, Fond Assau, Boguis and Des Barras Primary come up against District 4 comprising – Odsan, Ciceron, La Croix, Roseau Combined, Bexon, Anse la Raye Primary and Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre at the Sab Sporting Facility.
Also on the same day from 1.30 p.m. in Group B – District 6 comprising – Blanchard, Desruisseaux, Belle Vue, Vige, Pierrot, Grace, Plain View, Augier Combined, Vieux Fort Infant and Primary and Special Education takes on District 7 comprising – Banse la Grace, Piaye, Saltibus, RiviereDoree, Dugard, Roblot, Reunion, Delcer, Mongouge Combined, Laborie Boys and Girls Primary at the Phillip Marcellin Ground.
The preliminary round of the competition will run up until Friday 9th November; the two semifinal matches will take place on Tuesday 13th; 1st placed team in Group A versus the 2nd placed team in Group B at the Sab Sporting Facility from 1.30 p.m. The second semifinal will see 1st place team in Group B versus the 2nd place team in Group at the PMG at 1.30 p.m.
The third place playoff and final are scheduled for Friday 16th November from 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. respectively at a venue to be decided by the organizers.
Meanwhile SLFA President, Lyndon Cooper, at the official launch of the tournament last week, sent a clear message to the teachers responsible for the various school teams in the competition when he said, “It is the SLFA’s intention to continue to provide the necessary training and expertise to you the teachers to ensure that the players who are under your control get the best first hand training that is necessary”.
He continued, “It is the SLFA’s intention to get every single child within the primary school system who wants to play joins a club from 2019. This is going to create an opportunity for you and the players by the time 2019-2020 comes around, the players would have had the necessary skills that would have made the execution of the coaching programme at the primary school level much simpler and easier to follow”.
The SLFA Chief said, “We have the responsibility as partners to give you the necessary educational tools in terms of coaching to ensure the base is well solid and by the time the players get into a national programme our success story would definitely be better than where we are today”.
“What we are actually doing is preparing for Under-17 World Cup six years in advance; the policy framework at the SLFA is not for us to prepare today for tomorrow. It’s no longer a thing of the past; it is not part of the manual of the SLFA. The preparation must commence a minimum of two years in advance”.
Isabel Marquis, Schools Sports Coordinator said, “The holistic development of our island’s young athletes is one of our priorities as we seek to foster a spirit of cooperation among our student athletes”.
“This tournament enables us to identify talented young student athletes for development and it is our responsibility to give them our unwavering support as they develop”.
