Three-day Clarendon Elite tourney gets under way this weekend

EIGHT SCHOOLBOY football teams, led by 2024 FLOW Cup champions Glenmuir High School, will step up their preparation for the 2025 season when they compete in the inaugural staging of the Clarendon Elite football competition, set to run over three days, starting this Friday at Glenmuir High School.

The competition, which is the brainchild of former Denbigh and Glenmuir High player Anthony Baker, will feature seven daCosta Cup teams and one Manning Cup team battling for a cash prize of $1 million. The winning team will walk away with $550,000, second place will receive $250,000, and the third-place team will earn $100,000. Additionally, individual prizes will be awarded for Best Defender, Best Striker, Best Goalkeeper, Best Forward, and Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Baker, who now resides in the United States, is excited about the competition as it represents an opportunity for him to give back to the sport that helped shape him growing up.

“I am extremely excited about this competition. As someone who grew up in the Clarendon football system, playing at the under-13 and under-15 levels, it is a proud moment for me to give back to the parish and continue the legacy started by John Green,” said Baker.

The Elite Sports Programme is a non-profit organisation established through AJR Sporting Goods, which is owned by Baker.

“The federation was created with a clear mission to develop, improve, and promote exceptional sportsmanship using high school teams,” he added.

Baker also mentioned that teams participating in this weekend’s tournament would receive sporting equipment, including football shoes.

He is appealing to fans in and around Clarendon to come out and support the event.

“I’m sure there will be some exciting football over the three days, and I’m just appealing to the fans to come out and support this venture,” he said.

Last year’s Ben Francis Knockout semi-finalist Denbigh High will feature in the opening match on Friday, going up against Manchester High, at 10:00 a.m.

At noon, Central High will take on Munro College, followed by Vere Technical versus Tivoli Gardens at 2:00 p.m., and Glenmuir High face Belair High in the final game of the day at 4:00 p.m.

The four winners will advance to Saturday’s semi-finals, with the top two teams meeting in Sunday’s final. The third-place playoff will precede the championship match.