‘Girlz Can Play Too’ competition heads to Manchester

The Youth Football League (YVL) ‘Girlz Can Play Too’ under-13 five vs five football competition is set for its second week of action in Manchester today following success in its first weekend in Kingston at the UWI Mona Bowl. Action starts at 8 a.m. at Manchester High School.

Paula Pinnock, event organiser, said the competition was launched for young girls to have a platform to showcase their passion and love for the sport.

“Fostering inclusivity in sports is paramount for talent development and equality. By hosting this dedicated girls’ tournament, the YFL seeks to provide a platform where young female footballers can showcase their skills, build confidence, and inspire others to pursue their passion for the sport,” Pinnock said.

In its first week of action, Reinas Academy walked away as the Kingston champions as they ended the competition unbeaten.

Reinas advanced to the knockout round of the competition as Zone B winners after an emphatic 10-0 win over Castleton Primary before being held to a 0-0 draw with Ballaz Academy.

Ballaz Academy recorded a 6-0 win over Castleton for the runners-up spot in the group.

In Zone A, Glenmuir took the group after recording two wins and a loss on their way to the knockout round. They started their day with 4-0 win over Rousseau Primary before blanking Proven Academy 5-0. Their unbeaten run was ended at the hands of Genesis Academy, falling just short in a 2-1 defeat.

The win was Genesis’ only victory on the day. They finished as the group’s runner-ups after recording two draws in their other group fixtures. It was a goal apiece in both games when they faced Proven Academy and Rousseau Primary.

In the semifinals, Reinas Academy eased past Genesis with a 6-0l drubbing while it took penalties to decide the other finalists as Ballaz eliminated Glenmuir 2-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

Reinas scored twice to claim the crown as they defeated Ballaz 2-0 in the championship final.

Ballaz had better luck in the under-9 division where Ballaz Blue took home the title after a 2-0 win over Rousseau Primary in the final while Emmanuel Christian Academy took the under-7 title with a 2-1 win over Richmond Football Academy.

The ‘Girlz Can Play Too’ competition will continue with more teams battling for supremacy across the various age groups in the Manchester regionals today before making its final stop for the St Ann regionals on May 4.