Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther Byer presents a prize to a player from the Clint Marcel Academy of Trinidad, following the parade of teams.
“In order for a nation to continue along a progressive path, there needs to be increased collaboration at all levels of society, between individuals and entities who seek to offer developmental programmes.”
This was the contention of Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, as she delivered the feature address at the 22nd Annual Barbados Cup football tournament, held at the National Stadium last Sunday evening.
Using the tournament as an example, Dr. Byer Suckoo encouraged partnerships that would initiate more developmental sports programmes, to not only create opportunities for the youth, but also create prospects for Barbados to be seen as a world class sports destination.
The Minister also commended the organisers for staging the competition at this time. She stated that the tournament was “a means to fruitfully engage the youth of the country during the Easter holiday period,” since many of our young people are not actively engaged at this time.
“The Barbados Cup attracts visitors to our shores and as the Government seeks to establish the sports sector as an economically productive one, the staging of high quality events will be critical,” the Minister said.
Tournament Director, George LasCaris, disclosed that this year’s games drew 38 teams, including Families First from St. John; Valerie from Brittons Hill, St. Michael; the Barbados Soccer Academy; and the Paradise Football Club from Dover, Christ Church. Teams from St. Martin, St. Vincent, St. Kitts and Trinidad and Tobago are also taking part in the tournament which kicked off with two exhibition tournaments.
In the first game, Kick Start of Barbados defeated Clint Marcel Academy of Trinidad 2-0 and in the Women’s local team match, Genesis defeated Technique 2-1.
Five hundred persons came to Barbados to be a part of the tournament, which will end this Saturday, April 11. The Barbados Cup is an opportunity for aspiring youth footballers to hone their technical skills and gain match experience.