1 week ago
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The Youth Football League (YFL) has announced a new competition to their calendar alongside their new partnership with sprint icon’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation.
At a press conference held yesterday at Funland Jamaica in Hope Gardens, the YFL announced that they are launching a new competition called the Champions Cup, starting this year.
The Champions Cup will be an invitation-only competition that will see the best four primary schools taking on the best four preparatory schools based on their performances throughout YFL competitions.
Paula Pinnock, managing director of the YFL, also announced that through their partnership with the Pocket Rocket Foundation, the MVP of the Champions Cup will earn a scholarship valued at $100,000. The scholarship will be renewed each year until the student graduates high school if the player is able to meet the behavioural and academic requirements, including maintaining an average above 60 per cent.
“This partnership with the Pocket Rocket Foundation is a major milestone for us,” Pinnock said.
“The Champions Cup will no doubt, be one of the most exciting youth tournaments Jamaica has seen, and we’re honoured to have the foundation on board as we continue building a platform that supports and celebrates our young talent.”
Fraser-Pryce welcomed the partnership with the YFL and stated that it aligns with her foundation’s objective of encouraging student athletes in their sporting and academic goals.
“We are proud to support this initiative by the Youth Football League. Our foundation has always been committed to developing well-rounded student-athletes, and this partnership gives us another opportunity to invest in the future of young talent,” said Fraser-Pryce.
The four primary schools selected for the inaugural staging are Corinaldi Avenue Primary, McAuley Primary, Balmagie Primary, and Spanish Town Primary.
They will face off against the selected top four preparatory schools: Hillel Academy, Sts Peter and Paul Prep, Mona Preparatory, and Lannaman’s Prep.
The competition’s draw was also held yesterday and will see Sts Peter and Paul Prep taking on Corinaldi Avenue Primary, and Mona Prep will face off against McAuley Primary.
Hillel Academy has been drawn alongside Spanish Town Primary with Lannaman’s Prep is set to take on Balmagie Primary.
Wayne Robins, chairman of the Jamaica Independent School Association, applauded the initiative and the work done.
“Their (YFL’s) work in youth football has been a game-changer for many young students, and the addition of the Champions Cup is a welcome innovation that will give top teams a new level of competitive exposure,” Robins said.
English (US) ·