‘Peace Through Sports’ football competition begins tomorrow

KINGSTON:

The Pocket Rocket Foundation will host the start of its ninth annual Six-A-Side ‘Peace Through Sports’ football competition tomorrow at the Red Stripe Sports Complex on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.

The event will begin with an opening ceremony and dress parade. During the next five weeks, 20 teams will compete every Saturday and Sunday, culminating in a grand finale on Saturday, November 30. Entry is free to the public.

Founder Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce spoke about the competition’s mission, saying, “This is about more than just football. It’s an opportunity to bring people from rival communities together and use sport as a way to build unity, trust, and discipline. We want the players from these communities to not only enjoy the game but also take away valuable life lessons.”

Dr Jermaine McCalpin, executive director of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, added, “The foundation is excited to facilitate this competition once again. It remains a powerful way to promote unity within communities and provide a platform for men with a passion for football to participate and compete for prizes. We are also grateful for the continued support from the Hunts Bay police for their support in ensuring a safe environment, allowing players to focus on the competition and the camaraderie it fosters.”

Teams will be divided into five zones, competing in a round-robin format. The top team from each zone, along with the three best second-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals. Prizes include cash awards, trophies, and individual accolades such as most valuable player, leading goalscorer, best defender, and most disciplined team.

This year’s competition is made possible by sponsors Nike, AFIMI, GraceKennedy’s 876 Water and Lucozade, FESGas, Rymax Lubricants, and Sanmerna Paper Products Limited.