A concert signifying peace and unity will bring the curtains down on this season’s Blackheart Knockout Football Tournament scheduled to kick off today at the Daren Sammy Grounds.
The finals and third place playoffs will be played at the stadium followed immediately by the star-studded concert featuring local and international artistes.
Four-time Blackheart championship title- winners Dennery takes on Soufriere with La Celery to play Mabouya Valley for third place. Action time is 6:00p.m.
Blackheart communications officer Shannon Lebourne spoke to VOICE SPORTS about the promotions and the hype involved with activities surrounding the tournament, thus far, as the event organisers, teams and patrons commemorate Blackheart’s 21st anniversary year.
“The reponse to the tournament has been phenomenal. We are overwhelmed with the response from the Saint Lucian football fans and the footballing community. They have responded well to Blackheart, they miss Blackheart and Blackheart missed the people and we are back,” declared Lebourne.
He said, “the people have gravitated to the event in large unprecedented numbers”.
Commenting on the turnout at the respective venues, Lebourne added: “Dennery was overwhelming, Vieux Fort was just massive …Soufriere was exceptional and the numbers amazing. And it’s a testament to the quality of the Blackheart (Productions) brand, which David “Shakes” Christopher and the team would have built over 21 years.”
He expressed that people view the Blackheart tournament as the “biggest party in sport in Saint Lucia …and people know Blackheart as that annual football tournament which unifies people and communities. So, we’re very pleased with the numbers that we’ve seen…the publicity and the excitement and the atmosphere surroundings this year’s tournament is shaping up to be one for the records.”
Lebourne notes that it has been an “extremely commendable” performance for the top four teams coming through to showcase on the big stage. He emphasized that all teams include “youthful outfits … made up of young and older players and it’s extremely commendable that they’ve made it thus far”.
Some interesting factors to note, it is the first time in 11 years that Dennery and Soufriere will compete in a Blackheart finals; the two teams last played in 2009 and 2012, where Soufriere were on the losing end on both times.
With the teams having played in some tight challenges before, the Blackheart official anticipates that “a lot will be riding on today’s final. Dennery wants to win again …but Soufriere wants to win for the first time.”
On the other hand, La Clery and Mabouya Valley have been strong contenders in their own way. Mabouya has won the title multiple times and always pose a challenge to their opponents.
La Clery has improved and play a better brand of “high quality” football with some overseas players in their unit, alongside some national representatives.
Some other interesting data. While Dennery has earned a ‘three-peat’ in the Blackheart champions, Vieux Fort South bettered that record with a ‘four-peat’ four consecutive Blackheart titles, prior to the pandemic.
Lebourne describes the Peace and Unity Concert as a “leap up the ladder” for Christopher and his crew.
He asserted: “The whole concept is to play our part as Blackheart, as a strong brand with 21 years behind it …and to play our part in what has been a national concern with the levels of crime and violence that we see in Saint Lucia.
“Blackheart is a popular brand …and has made some inroads. Sports has that avenue of changing people’s mindset …as sports is proven to be an element that contributes to positive social change,” Lebourne said.
Meanwhile, the performing artistes including Norris Man and others will visit the Boys Training Centre (BTC) and the inner-city communities, today, to talk to the youth …spreading the message of unity and love for each other.