Right Start footballers collect prizes

At the prize-giving ceremony at the bank’s headquarters Park Street, Port-of-Spain, Lee explained that her bank created the tournament in an attempt to provide young, aspiring athletes with an avenue where they can practise and hone their skills on and off the playing field, while enhancing and developing discipline, self-control and team spirit at the same time.

She applauded all the participants at the tournament, including the Special Olympic teams. According to Lee, players on teams such CHILD and the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) continued to show that in spite of life’s challenges, one can still make a positive contribution to national development and nation building.

She described football as a global phenomenon that takes the world by storm. “It grips our attention whatever the stakes — World Cup, Euro Cup, the Champion’s League. It is this love that guides us at the bank to try and reach out and empower the young community through sport.”

She told the young players that they are stars in their own right. “It is you, the next generation who we look forward to representing Trinidad and Tobago in the future international tournaments.”

The winners of the respective divisions were presented with the Republic Bank Shield and over $50,000 worth in prizes, as well as a $50 Rightstart savings account. The runners-up in the various divisions also got a start towards their savings for the future with a $50 account from the bank.

This year Eastern Boys walked away with the Under-10 Division award with Dwight Yorke of Twenty Eighteen second. Dwight Yorke of Twenty Eighteen was voted the MVP in the division. San Juan Jabloteh copped both the Boys Under-13 and 15 category titles.

Meanwhile, St Anthony’s College claimed the award at the challenging Under-17 division while their striker Kwesi Alleyne was voted the Most Valuable Player of the division.

CHILD had two reasons to be happy on Saturday afternoon. First they collected the award for the U-17 category winner in the Special Olympic play-offs and later when their player Matthew Lewis was adjudged the MVP.

WINNERS:

Eastern Boys Gov’t ( Under 10); CHILD (Special Olympics) — (Under 17); San Juan Jabolteh (Under 13); Up Rising Youths (Girl’s Team); San Juan Jabolteh (Under 15); St .Anthony’s College (Under 17).

Runner Ups/MVPs:

Twenty Eighteen (U-10) — (Dwight Yorke from Twenty Eighteen — MVP); National Centre for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) — (Matthew Lewis from CHILD — MVP); Moruga FC (U-13 Boys) — (Kenton James from Malabar Young Stars — MVP); Best Warriors (Girls) — (Khirlene Jacob from Uprising Youths — MVP).

Debe High School (U-15 Boys) — (Antonio Jeffery from Crown Trace FC); San Juan Jabloteh (U-17 Boys) — (Kwesi Alleyne from St. Anthony’s College).