The future of St. Lucia Football was center stage in the minds of all who attended the launch of the St. Lucia Football Association {SLFA} Under-12 football competition.
The competition, which is in its 3rd year, has produced some outstanding talent which has not gone unnoticed by the heads of the SLFA, talent that has afforded the SLFA the personnel to prepare for the launching of a new Under-14 tournament in the coming months.
President of the SLFA Lyndon Cooper implored the young players to play fair and enjoy the sport but had a slightly different message for the custodians of the young footballers. “You have a responsibility and that responsibility is to play fair and to ensure that the participants, the players, the team that come under your control maintain a level of fairness and a level of respect for the game and the officials.” The SLFA President stressed that quite apart from the game, safety will pal an even bigger part of the operations of the tournament. “In 2026, you will see the addition of Child Safety Officers at every single venue that host the under-12 competition. I also want to indicate that it is now mandatory that every single Under-12 team be escorted, be part of the Under-12 District Primary School Team. No team should go to a venue without a Child Safety Officer.” The SLFA President indicated that Officers has been trained specifically for that purpose.
Permanent Secretary in Education, Youth Development and Sports, and Digital Transformation, Dr. Uralis Delaire, was clear that while the launch was about football it held a greater significance. “While this competition is about goals, passes and teamwork on the field, it is far more significant than that. Today we are witnessing the practical expression of government policy in action, a policy that places children, youth development and healthy communities at the very center of national development. This tournament reflects our firm belief that sports is not an extracurricular activity but a core pillar of education, social development and nation building.”
The tournament is being sponsored by Acado, The National Lotteries Authority and TAXI Sportswear.
Some 93 games will be played over the length of the tournament.