Manning, daCosta Cup teams tackle first-half-only tournament out west

THE CATHERINE Hall Stadium in Montego Bay will see its first action from the schoolboy football season on Saturday with the staging of the inaugural First Half Only 45 Football Schoolboy Extravaganza.

The event takes place under the patronage of His Worship, The Mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon.

The tournament promises an exhilarating day of competition and community spirit, beginning with an exciting ‘kickoff’ ceremony led by the mayor.

The day is expected to be an unforgettable experience, brimming with dynamic football action, vibrant music, and thrilling performances.

The evening’s highlight features matches involving St Catherine, Rusea’s, William Knibb, Manchester, Irwin high schools, and Cornwall College. The winning school takes home the grand prize of $500,000.

Coach of Irwin High School, Dr Dean Weatherly, said, “The 45-minute tournament is a great concept and is one where we can see the other talents that exist in western Jamaica as well as to see where we are in our training sessions. As far as the tournament goes, it is one that people need to come out and watch as they’ll be seeing some great young minds at work and talent on the field.”

In further support of the tournament, Anthony Patrick, coach of St Catherine High, called it “a welcomed opportunity, one we are looking forward to, and one that will benefit our players immensely, especially the youngsters we want to showcase this schoolboy season, ones who will be graduating this year. The 45-minute format is crucial –winning in the first half is always crucial, so this concept encourages a different type of sportsmanship. We’ll be putting our best foot forward to make an impact and allow the young talent to shine.”

In lending his support to the event, Mayor Vernon added, “Football presents limitless opportunities for community and individual development. The sport has experienced a significant decline in western Jamaica in recent years, evidenced by the success of teams at the national and schoolboy levels. Therefore, all support is needed to revitalise the discipline and provide an outlet for youngsters to be meaningfully engaged. It also provides unique advantages for sports tourism in western Jamaica, with Montego Bay being among the top destinations globally. As such, I’m vested to reimagine and rebuild western football by playing a key role.”

Erin Mitchell, of Wisynco, the tournament’s main sponsor, also chimed in on the potential of the tournament.

“Schoolboy football is a crucial pillar for many of our brands, and we are proud to support this initiative in the west, reinforcing our commitment to schoolboy football in Jamaica.”

With a day filled with activities and fierce competition, this event is set to be unforgettable for all in attendance. Pre-sold tickets are available at Western Sports, pre-sold bleachers, $1,000, and presold grandstand, $2500. At the gate, bleachers tickets will cost $1,500, while grandstand tickets move to $3,000. The event is slated to end at 10p.m.