Corneal launches Youth Cup

AN URGENT call has been made for the young and budding football stars to participate in the Trinidad and Tobago Youth Cup. Making this plea was Tournament Chairman Alvin Corneal at the launch of the 2004 edition at the Hospitality Suite, Carib Brewery Limited, Champs Fleurs yesterday. Speaking on the long-term need to improve the state of the sport Corneal, the former national player and coach indicated: “If we have to return to the base (of local football) we will have to look towards the youths in this country. “This tournament is designed specifically to have participation from every village in Trinidad and Tobago with the incentive for every youngster to show their talent to every coach available,” he said.

The third annual competition will be staged from April 3-10 at the five national stadiums — Hasely Crawford, Larry Gomes, Ato Boldon, Manny Ramjohn and Dwight Yorke. Corneal stressed that “we (the organisers) want to provide the best facilities and the best referees for the players” and added that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) will soon be having a database for all players involved in the week-long event. There will be two age groups for Boys Under-15 and Under-17 as well as Girls U-17 with a maximum number of 32 teams (comprising between 20-22 players) for each age group (boys) and 16 among the girls. Teams will be vying for the Challenge Trophy while prizes are also on the line for top individual performances, including most goals, best defender, most disciplined team and the most valuable player.